REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING

 

                    JANUARY 9, 2008                               5:00 P.M.

 

PRESENT:  Mike Batchelder, Donna Parish, Mari Ann Parker and Tony French (5:05).  Ken Stewart was absent.

 

ALSO PRESENT:  Melanie Edie, Steve Gaul, Dick Powell, Ted Collins, Jay

Brock,  Jeff & Kim Riley, Jason Pendleton and Bill Butrick.

 

PRESIDING:  Mayor Marty Allen.

 

The meeting was called to order at 5:01 p.m. with a quorum present.

 

Donna Parish moved to approve the minutes of the last Regular Council

Meeting held December 19, 2007.  Mike Batchelder 2nd, motion carried unanimously.

 

Mike Batchelder moved to approve the bills for the month of December, 2007. 

Donna Parish 2nd, motion carried unanimously.

 

CITY OFFICERS REPORT

 

City Superintendent Jeff Riley reported that the city maintenance truck

had been fixed, that he and Bill Butrick had attended a meeting in Troy with

FEMA representatives,  that the well was still being operated manually due

to the controls, that the engine of the salt spreader needed replaced and

that city maintenance was trying to continue with debris removal whenever

they had time.

 

Code Enforcement Officer Steve Gaul updated the Council on verbal and

written warnings he had given and asked their advice on what should be

done about the old depot building and the storing of equipment on residential

premises.  Mayor Allen appointed the Law Enforcement Committee to bring

back a recommendation at the next regular meeting.

 

Gaul also stated he had been approached about what could be done about

barking dogs.  Mayor Allen appointed the Law Enforcement Committee to

bring back a recommendation on this issue as well to the next regular meeting.

 

Doniphan County Deputy Jason Pendleton informed the Council he would be

deployed for military duty on February 20, 2008 and would be gone for

thirteen months.

 

CITIZENS REQUESTS

 

Jay Brock asked if something could be done about the narrow alley behind

the funeral home which is in the 300 block of West Main.  He informed them

that once again his guttering on the building had been torn off by a delivery

truck using the alley.  Mayor Allen appointed the Street & Alley Committee

to look into possible options and bring back a recommendation to the next

regular meeting.

 

COMMITTEE REPORTS

 

Item number one under committee reports concerning crop growing within the

city limits was moved to the next meeting since Ken Stewart was absent.

 

Tony French reported briefly on the emergency notification system and stated

that preliminary costs seemed high, but he was continuing to look into it and

gather more information.

 

OLD BUSINESS

 

A question was raised about volunteers who would like to help with the

Community Center/Fire Station.  Mike Batchelder stated that anyone wishing

to volunteer should call him and their name would put on a list for areas

that would fit their qualifications.

 

Tony French moved to rescind and expunge from the minutes of the Regular

Council Meeting held October 3, 2007 the motion to switch to a cafeteria

plan and to pay for a single health insurance plan for employees with wage

increase to offset cost of other insurance.  Donna Parish 2nd, motion carried

unanimously.  City Clerk Bill Butrick made a single line through the motion

and wrote that this motion had been “Rescinded and Ordered Expunged”

with date and signature.

 

Tony French moved to set up a cafeteria plan for city employees and to

accept the proposal of Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Kansas for health insurance

and to make no modifications at this time.  Donna Parish 2nd, motion carried

unanimously.

 

NEW BUSINESS

 

The Council expressed their appreciation to Fire Chief Dick Powell for all his

years of service with the fire department.  Tony French moved to accept with

regret the resignation of Fire Chief Dick Powell.  Donna Parish 2nd, motion

carried unanimously.

 

A brief discussion was held concerning the adoption of a check endorsement

Policy.

 

Mari Ann Parker stated that the city needed to work closely with Nancy

Babcock and Anthros Medical Group concerning the burn pile.

 

Mari Ann Parker asked if she could gather information to establish Highland

as a  “tree city”.  The Council had no objections.

 

Bill Butrick reported briefly on the end of the year financial report for the year

ended, 2007.

 

6:18 p.m.  Tony French moved to adjourn.  Mike Batchelder 2nd, motion

carried unanimously.

 

 

____________________                      ______________________

 

           Mayor                                                      City Clerk