REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING

 

                               APRIL 4, 2007                                        7:30 P.M.

 

PRESENT:  Mike Batchelder, Tony French, Ken Stewart, Donna Parish and Mari Ann Parker (7:35 p.m.)

 

ALSO PRESENT:  Betty Lewis, Jeff Riley, Pete Koenig, Marian Thompson, Marty Allen, Ted Collins and Bill Butrick.

 

PRESIDING:  Mayor Janet Tyler.

 

The meeting was called to order at 7:32 p.m. with a quorum present.

 

Mike Batchelder moved to approve the minutes of the last Regular Council Meeting held March 7, 2007.  Tony French 2nd, motion carried 4-0.

 

Ken Stewart moved to approve the bills for the month of March, 2007.  Tony French 2nd, motion carried 4-0.

 

PRESENTATIONS

 

Pete Koenig of the Kansas Rural Water Association gave a presentation of the GPS mapping that is being done through the Association.  He stated that the city’s water & sewer systems’ has approximately 915 points which would cover the number of meters, valves, manholes, water lines and sewer lines that could be located and put on viewing software and files and that wall map’s and map books could also be made available.

He further stated that this system should find system locations within one foot.

 

Koenig stated that the estimated cost to prepare the data would be $6500 and that wall maps would cost $75 each and map books $150 each.

 

Ken Stewart moved to hire K.R.W.A. at an estimated cost of $6500 to prepare the viewing software & files for the city’s water & sewer systems.  Tony French 2nd, motion carried unanimously.

 

CITIZENS REQUESTS

 

Betty Lewis of the PRIDE Committee thanked the city for their donation for the purchase of the liability insurance and fireworks for the sesquicentennial celebration. 

 

Betty Lewis also presented a resolution to be an official entrant in the PRIDE Program for the year 2007. 

 

 

 

Tony French moved to approve Resolution #07-02, Kansas Pride Program entry for 2007.

Ken Stewart 2nd.  By roll call vote:  Batchelder-yes, Parker-yes, French-yes, Stewart-yes, Parish-yes.  Motion carried unanimously.

 

Betty Lewis asked about the status of the Degginger Park Fund money.  The Mayor explained that the money is currently in a C.D. at the bank and that the city has made no decision’s at this time on using the money.

 

Ted Collins updated the Council about security, the use of City Hall for displays and restroom availability for the upcoming sesquicentennial celebration.

 

OLD BUSINESS

 

Mike Batchelder stated that a letter of award was received from the Governor of the State of Kansas for a grant amount of $299,050 for the construction of a multi-purpose building that will house a fire station and community center.  Batchelder also stated that a meeting would be held at 11:00 a.m., Friday, April 6th at City Hall to find out what the next steps will be to move forward with the construction.

 

City Attorney Ted Collins said that a basic agreement had been reached with the cemetery association for donation of the property for the location of the fire station/community center.  He further stated a land exchange was being discussed with Highland Community College and the Cemetery Association and also that a street agreement with the college was yet to be determined.

 

Ken Stewart moved to reimburse the Cemetery Association up to $3000 for their expenses involved with the land exchange with Highland Community College for their donation of the land.  Tony French 2nd, motion carried unanimously.

 

The Council reviewed the estimate for damages at the Harold Huss residence and agreed they would submit the claim to the insurance company and wait for their response.

 

Mike Batchelder gave an update on property clean-up in the community and stated that complaints would be filed in the near future through the City Attorney’s office.

 

Batchelder also asked the Council about their intentions for the old depot building.

After a brief discussion, it was agreed to explore the possibility of tearing it down, however, to welcome public input on the matter and to also find out if there would be any interested parties that would like to tear it down for the lumber.

 

Ted Collins provided a brief update on a community type foundation being established.  He stated he had visited with several people but was still waiting on a response from the school district.

 

 

 

NEW BUSINESS

 

Bill Butrick provided information concerning electronic submitting of driver suspension notices and court reporting to the Department of Revenue.  He stated that a web portal was being offered through the Division of Vehicles that he would probably use for the

reporting at this time.  He further stated that the reporting was to start July 1, 2007.

 

Mayor Tyler asked the Street & Alley Committee to meet with Jeff Riley to look into street asphalting and maintenance and to contact Herzog Contracting for estimates.

Riley was also asked to prepare a map, with the assistance of Butrick, concerning the time frame of when streets were last asphalted and recommendations for streets in the most need of repair.

 

Mayor Tyler stated that she and Mike Batchelder had attended a meeting recently to determine the interest involved in the construction of assisted living centers in Doniphan County.

 

Jeff Riley reported on the pump repair on well #4 that had taken place.  He also stated that Utility Services, Inc. would probably be doing tower maintenance on the big tower in May and that it possibly could take up to thirty days to do this maintenance and that it may require conserving water during that time by everyone.

 

Mari Ann Parker, on behalf of city officials, thanked Janet Tyler for her many years of service as Mayor and Council member for the City Of Highland.

 

10:00 p.m.  Donna Parish moved to adjourn.  Tony French 2nd, motion carried unanimously.

 

 

________________________                   _______________________

 

                Mayor                                                      City Clerk