REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING

 

                              FEBRUARY 13, 2008                             5:00 P.M.

 

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

 

ALSO PRESENT:  Kim Bomberger of the Kansas Forestry Service, Bobby Smith, Joe Florence, Ted Collins, Joe Sinnett and John DeCoursey of Kansas Gas Service, Robert Powell, Steve Gaul and Bill Butrick.

 

PRESIDING:  Mayor Marty Allen.

 

The meeting was called to order at 5:00 p.m. with all council members present.

 

Tony French moved to approve the minutes of the last Regular Council Meeting held January 9, 2008.  Mari Ann Parker 2nd, motion carried unanimously.

 

Ken Stewart moved to approve the bills for the month of January, 2008.  Donna Parish 2nd, motion carried unanimously.

 

PRESENTATIONS

 

Kim Bomberger of the Kansas Forestry Service presented an assessment of the tree damage and condition of trees in the public right-of-way.  She stated that the survey would classify the trees as fair to poor condition and that there were two trees that probably should be removed for safety purposes.  Bomberger spoke of the criteria to become a tree city and about a future meeting to be held at the Troy Community Center where all citizens are welcome to attend.

 

Mayor Allen appointed the Parks & Recreation Committee to bring back a recommendation involving tree removal and becoming a tree city member to the next regular council meeting.

 

City Attorney Ted Collins reviewed Ordinance #469 with the Council concerning the Kansas Gas Service franchise.  Joe Sinnett and John DeCoursey of Kansas Gas Service were present to answer any questions.

 

Tony French moved to approve Ordinance #469, seconded by Mari Ann Parker, An Ordinance of the City Of Highland, Kansas granting to Kansas Gas Service a natural gas franchise and repealing Ordinance numbers 310 and 423.  By roll call vote:  Batchelder-yes, Parker-yes, French-yes, Stewart-yes, Parish-yes.  Motion carried unanimously.

 

CITIZENS REQUESTS

 

City Attorney Ted Collins stated he had received a complaint from Larry Gilmore about the City piling snow in the drive-way to his building.  Mayor Allen said he would get with city maintenance to look into the problem.

 

COMMITTEE REPORTS

 

The Council reviewed a memo from City Attorney Ted Collins explaining the Law Enforcement Committee’s recommendation for growing crops within the city limits.

Ken Stewart moved to accept the recommendations to prohibit growing crops,  and other guidelines as established by the Committee and prepare as City Ordinance #470.  Donna Parish 2nd, motion carried 3-2 with Batchelder and French voting “No.”

 

The Council reviewed another memo concerning zoning issues with no changes being made to current policy.

 

The Street & Alley Committee’s recommendation was to talk with Westar Energy about moving a pole in the alley of the 300 block of West Main.  Ken Stewart said he would try to contact someone from Westar and bring a report to the next regular meeting.

 

Ken Stewart reported about the monitoring visit from the Kansas Department of Commerce & Housing concerning the grant for the construction of the Community Center/Fire Station.  Stewart also reported that the approximate cost to have a built in generator at the new building would be between $25, 000 to $35,000.

 

City Attorney Ted Collins updated the Council about the legal descriptions, land transfers and annexation concerning the road going to the new building.

 

NEW BUSINESS

 

Mari Ann Parker moved to make necessary changes to the Emergency Water Supply Plan adopted in February of 2007 to include changing emergency contact phone numbers for the Mayor and city maintenance assistant and to add generator leasing to section III for disaster planning.  Ken Stewart 2nd, motion carried unanimously.

 

Mike Batchelder moved to approve Resolution #08-01, GAAP Waiver for 2008.  Tony French 2nd, motion carried unanimously.

 

Mike Batchelder moved to appoint Joe Florence as Fire Chief for the City Of Highland.  Ken Stewart 2nd, motion carried unanimously.

 

City Clerk Bill Butrick administered the “Oath of Office”  to Chief Florence.

 

Mike Batchelder moved to purchase a plaque for outgoing Chief Dick Powell for his many years of service on the department and as Fire Chief.  Tony French 2nd, motion carried unanimously.

 

GOVERNING BODY COMMENTS

 

Mari Ann Parker reminded everyone of  the Appreciation Dinner for EMT personnel, Fire Department personnel and Ice Storm volunteers to be held February 18, 2008 at the HUMP Church.

 

Tony French stated he will be meeting with the school superintendent about the alertify system.

 

Tony French moved to place an ad in the county newspaper for a part-time worker in the maintenance department.  Mari Ann Parker 2nd, motion carried unanimously.

 

Bill Butrick updated the Council about the recent meetings with FEMA representatives and informed them that most information was complete except for completing the equipment logs.  He further stated that this information was up to February 1, 2008.

 

Code Enforcement Officer Steve Gaul informed the Council that power lines between Kansas and Kiltie Dorms looked frayed in spots.  Mayor Allen said the college will be contacted.

 

Steve Gaul asked about the “old depot building” and what the decision was of the City as to whether they were going to tear it down or restore it.  Mari Ann Parker stated that an appraiser is going to be contacted hopefully within the next 30 days to give an opinion if the building is restorable or not.

 

6:33 p.m.  Ken Stewart moved to adjourn.  Tony French 2nd, motion carried unanimously.

 

 

______________________                 ______________________

 

               Mayor                                                City Clerk