REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING

FEBRUARY 2, 2005

7:30 P.M.

 

PRESENT:  Mike Batchelder, Tony French, Donna Parish and Mari Ann Parker.

 

ALSO PRESENT:  Jason Pendleton, Katie Hargis, Carol Hopkins, Deb Fox, Jeff Riley, Shawn Tilton, Ted Collins, Russ Karn, Tammie Petrik, Rachel Williams and Bill Butrick.

 

PRESIDING:  Council President Jerry Bruns.  Mayor Tyler was absent.

 

The meeting was called to order at 7:30 p.m. with all councilmembers present.

 

Mike Batchelder moved to approve the minutes of the last Regular Council Meeting held January 12, 2005.  Donna Parish 2nd, motion carried unanimously.

 

Tony French moved to approve the minutes of the Special Council Meeting held January 24, 2005.  Mike Batchelder 2nd, motion carried unanimously.

 

Donna Parish moved to approve the bills for the month of January, 2005.  Mike Batchelder 2nd, motion carried unanimously.

 

PRESENTATIONS

 

Council President Jerry Bruns informed the Council that the 10” water line was too deep for city equipment to expose and that a bigger backhoe would be needed to reach the depth of approximately fourteen feet.

 

NEW BUSINESS

 

Tony French moved to approve Resolution #05-01.  A Resolution of finding that financial statements and fixed asset accounting prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP)  are not relevant to the requirements of the cash basis law and budget laws of Kansas and are of no significant value to the governing body or the general public of the City of Highland.  Mike Batchelder 2nd.  By roll call vote—Batchelder-yes, Parker-yes, French-yes, Bruns-yes, Parish-yes.   Motion carried unanimously.

 

Recreation Commission members Russ Karn and Tammie Petrik were in attendance to update the Council of any changes or requests for the upcoming summer recreation program.  They presented copies of umpire pay from last year and said that the equipment should be sufficient except for a few small items.  They also stated that at their Commission Meeting it was decided to raise the fee for each participant to $15.  Russ Karn presented figures from last year of 107 kids and coaches, three tournaments were hosted  and sixteen games were held at Highland Community Park and nineteen held at Scottie Park.  Karn went on to state that the umpires from last year did an excellent job.

The Council commended Russ and Tammie as well as the rest of the Commission members on the work they had done last year.

 

Mari Ann Parker moved to allow the Recreation Commission to hire a Summer Recreation Director at the same pay as last year.  Donna Parish 2nd, motion carried unanimously.

 

Mari Ann Parker moved to accept the renewal of the employee health insurance with Community Health Plan.  Tony French 2nd, motion carried unanimously.

 

CITY OFFICERS REPORT

 

Tony French asked about updating software for the Clerk’s office and agreed to look into the cost and software that would be available for city accounting.

 

Acting Police Chief Jason Pendleton informed the Council that communications with the College were going well and that department activities were also getting better even though they are one officer short.

 

City Superintendent Jeff Riley talked of street repairs and future water line projects and stated he would be bringing estimates of the costs to the planning meeting to be held February 16, 2005.

 

GOVERNING BODY COMMENTS

 

Councilmember Donna Parish asked that new council candidates Ken Stewart and Robert Powell be invited to the Planning Meeting on February 16th.  Mike Batchelder stated he would invite them.

 

City Attorney Ted Collins updated the Council about conversations he had with other city and county representatives concerning the sales tax issue.  He stated that he and City Clerk Bill Butrick would be putting something together in the near future  pledging support of the sales tax coming up in the April election.

 

8:20 p.m.  Tony French moved to go into executive session for fifteen minutes to discuss personnel.  Donna Parish 2nd, motion carried unanimously.

 

8:35 p.m.  Mike Batchelder moved to come out of executive session.  Tony French 2nd, motion carried unanimously.

 

8:35 p.m.  Tony French moved to adjourn.  Mari Ann Parker 2nd, motion carried unanimously.

 

________________________                        _________________________

                  Mayor                                                          City Clerk