REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING

 

                      FEBRUARY 4, 2004                            7:30 P.M.

 

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

 

ALSO PRESENT:  Roger Streib, Harold Rush, Francis Gordon, Katie Hargis, Roger Hopkins, Orville Sutherland, Dick Powell, Chad Clary, Ted Collins, Neal Hontz,  Mark Allen and Bill Butrick.

 

PRESIDING:  Mayor Janet Tyler.

 

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

 

City Clerk Bill Butrick administered the “Oath of Office” for newly appointed council member Donna Parish.

 

Tony French moved to approve the minutes of the last regular council meeting held January 7, 2004.  Jerry Bruns 2nd, motion carried unanimously.

 

Jerry Bruns moved to approve the minutes of the special council meeting held January 21, 2004.  Donna Parish 2nd, motion carried unanimously.

 

Jerry Bruns moved to approve the bills for the month of January, 2004.  Tony French 2nd, motion carried unanimously.

 

PRESENTATIONS

 

Harold Rush addressed the Council about finding a place to put a fitness machine and asked about using the Community Center.  The Mayor explained that the use of the Community Center for a private business would not be feasible, however, the City would try to help in any way they could to help Mr. Rush find a place to start his business.

 

COMMITTEE REPORTS

 

Law Enforcement Committee Chairman Jerry Bruns informed the Council that the traffic map is being updated by the Police Department and is approximately 50% finished.

 

Jerry Bruns moved to install “Yield Signs” for east & west bound traffic on S. Iowa and

W. Virginia Streets.  Tony French 2nd, motion carried unanimously.

 

OLD BUSINESS

 

7:53 p.m.  Mike Batchelder moved to go into executive session for ten minutes for legal counsel.  Jerry Bruns 2nd, motion carried unanimously.

 

8:03 p.m.  Mike Batchelder moved to come out of executive session.  Jerry Bruns 2nd, motion carried unanimously.

 

City Attorney Ted Collins explained to Orville Sutherland the zoning issues involved with the construction of a car port.  He informed Orville that the carport would be classified the same as a structure or building and would require a building permit to be issued if all set backs could be met.  Attorney Collins further stated that the current location of the carport would be a violation of the zoning ordinance and that if another location could be looked into that he or City Clerk Bill Butrick would be willing to answer any questions he may have.

 

City Superintendent Roger Hopkins was instructed to get estimates from Herzog Contracting Corporation for all unasphalted short blocks, N. Ives Street, E. Main Street

(cemetery road) and W. Missouri and to bring the estimates to a future council meeting.

 

The Council briefly discussed a proposal for the construction of an assisted living facility.  Mayor Tyler stated she would contact the owners and invite them to Highland to see what their expectations or interest might be.

 

NEW BUSINESS

 

Tony French moved to purchase a laser printer from Dataco DeRex for $775.00.  Mari Ann Parker 2nd, motion carried unanimously.

 

Jerry Bruns moved to approve Resolution #04-01.  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.   Mari ann Parker 2nd.   By roll call vote:  Batchelder-yes, Parker-yes, French-yes, Bruns-yes, Parish-yes.  Motion carried unanimously.

 

Mari Ann Parker moved to contact the High School, Grade School, College and those that attended the first Recreation Commission meeting and invite them to another meeting on February 18, 2004 at 7:00 p.m. at City Hall and to have a notice published in the local county paper.  Mike Batchelder 2nd, motion carried unanimously.

 

The Council agreed that no action be taken on hiring a Summer Recreation Director until after the meeting on the 18th.

 

Tony French moved to accept with regret the resignation of Cheryl Slaugh.  Mari Ann Parker 2nd, motion carried unanimously.

 

 

 

CITY OFFICERS REPORT

 

City Superintendent Roger Hopkins informed the Council that the transmission had gone out of the International dump truck.  He stated that he had hired a couple of dump trucks locally to help with hauling off the snow.

 

The Mayor and Council stated that they had received several good comments about the snow removal and commended city maintenance for their efforts.

 

Police Chief Chad Clary updated the Council on  property clean-up.  He stated that written warnings would be issued but they would be given up to March 15th to finish due to the inclement weather.

 

City Clerk Bill Butrick stated that Utility manager program would be installed on Friday, February 6th if weather permits.  He stated that the training session would last about four hours.

 

Mayor Tyler informed the Council that the Doniphan County Economic Development Commission would be holding their meeting at the college on February 9th.

 

Mayor Tyler also stated that the Doniphan County Chamber of Commerce would be holding a ribbon cutting ceremony at Porters Building Center in Elwood on February 6th at 10:00 a.m.

 

Fire Chief Dick Powell spoke of an estimate he received on a new city firetruck.  He said that the cost of the truck would be around $169,000 and that there is a grant available thru FEMA where the city would have to match 10%.  The LMI Survey would need to be completed before such grant application could be submitted.  Mayor Tyler and Council member Batchelder are currently working on the survey.

 

9:35 p.m.  Jerry Bruns moved to go into executive session for five minutes to discuss personnel.  Mari Ann Parker 2nd, motion carried unanimously.

 

9:40 p.m.  Jerry Bruns moved to come out of executive session.  Mike Batchelder 2nd, motion carried unanimously.

 

Tony French moved to advertise the part-time assistant City Clerk position in the local county paper.  Jerry Bruns 2nd, motion carried unanimously.

 

9:41 p.m.  Tony French moved to adjourn.  Jerry Bruns 2nd, motion carried unanimously.

 

 

_______________________                       ________________________

 

            Mayor                                                            City Clerk