REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING

 

                         APRIL 5, 2006                                      7:30 P.M.

 

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

 

ALSO PRESENT:  Ted Collins, Betty Lewis, Tammie Petrik, Russ Karn, Jeff Riley, Tim Hersh and Bill Butrick.

 

PRESIDING:  Mayor Janet Tyler.

 

The meeting was called to order at 7:30 p.m. with a quorum present.

 

Mike Batchelder moved to approve the minutes of the last Regular Council Meeting held March 1, 2006.  Donna Parish 2nd, motion carried unanimously.

 

Donna Parish moved to approve the bills for the month of March, 2006.  Mari Ann Parker 2nd, motion carried unanimously.

 

PRESENTATIONS

 

PRIDE President Betty Lewis asked the Council to consider approving  a Resolution for participation in the Kansas Pride Program for 2006. 

 

Mari Ann Parker moved to approve Resolution #06-03.  A Resolution declaring Highland to be an official entrant in the PRIDE Program for 2006.  Donna Parish 2nd.  By roll call vote:  Batchelder-yes, Parker-yes, Parish-yes.  Motion carried unanimously.

 

Tammie Petrik and Russ Karn of the Highland Recreation Commission talked about the summer ball program sign-up and setting up the teams by age group.  Russ Karn said he would be attending the next Lions’ Club meeting to discuss scheduling and concessions.

 

COMMITTEE REPORTS

 

A general discussion was held concerning the request of the Highland Med Clinic for

a couple of designated parking spots.  The Council agreed that the two spots already marked for handicap parking be enforced by law enforcement and to take no further action at this time.

 

OLD BUSINESS

 

Mike Batchelder moved to approve, seconded by Donna Parish, Ordinance #452.  An Ordinance of the City of Highland, Kansas , establishing rules and regulations for the usage of streets, alleys and other public rights of way within the city.  By roll call vote:

Batchelder-yes, Parker-yes, Batchelder-yes.  Motion carried unanimously.

 

It was agreed to wait for a response from Westar Energy concerning certain areas of the franchise agreement before discussing or approving the Ordinance for renewal.

 

Mari Ann Parker informed the Council that PRIDE Clean-up day (s) will take place on the weekend of April 21st.  The Council asked that citizens be encouraged to participate in the clean-up weekend because city wide enforcement of derelict properties will be addressed immediately thereafter.

 

Donna Parish voiced her concerns about trash dumpsters being placed in city streets.

Mike Batchelder stated he would contact K & M Refuse about this issue.

 

NEW BUSINESS

 

Mari Ann Parker moved to approve the supplemental agreement to the official detour agreement with the Kansas Department of Transportation.  Mike Batchelder 2nd, motion carried unanimously.

 

CITY OFFICERS REPORT

 

Mari Ann Parker moved to authorize the Mayor to establish a minimum bid price for the 2000 Ford police car and for the city to accept the highest bid received above this minimum.  Donna Parish 2nd, motion carried unanimously.

 

City Superintendent Jeff Riley talked of sewer line, water tower and street maintenance plans and the condition of the storm siren.  He reported on the K.R.W.A. Convention that he and Shawn Tilton had attended last week.

 

City Clerk Bill Butrick was asked to explore possible options for city investments.

 

Mike Batchelder moved to approve and have the Mayor sign a proclamation supporting April as “Fair Housing Month” and to post the proclamation on the bulletin board.  Donna Parish 2nd, motion carried unanimously.

 

9:20 p.m.  Mike Batchelder moved to go into executive session for ten minutes to discuss personnel and asked that Ted Collins, Jeff Riley and Bill Butrick attend the session.  Donna Parish 2nd, motion carried unanimously.

 

9:30 p.m.  Mike Batchelder moved to come out of executive session.  Mari Ann Parker 2nd, motion carried unanimously.

 

A general discussion was held to consider a part time employee to help the maintenance department with mowing, meter reading and other misc. duties.

 

Donna Parish moved to publish an ad for a part time helper for city maintenance and for Jeff Riley to be authorized to interview and hire this employee with the assistance of Mike Batchelder and Bill Butrick, and to start the employee at $7.50 per hour to start and to set the hours at a minimum of twenty five and a maximum of twenty nine and one half hours per week.  Mari Ann Parker 2nd, motion carried unanimously.

 

Donna Parish asked that bids for a possible purchase of a new storm siren be reviewed at the next regular council meeting.

 

9:43 p.m.  Donna Parish moved to adjourn.  Mari Ann Parker 2nd, motion carried unanimously.

 

 

 

________________________                ________________________

 

                   Mayor                                              City Clerk