REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING

 

June 2, 2004

7:30 P.M.

 

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

 

ALSO PRESENT:  Carol Hopkins, Roger Hopkins, Dick Powell, Russ Karn, Dorothy Diveley, Neal Hontz  and Bill Butrick.

 

PRESIDING:  Council President Jerry Bruns called the meeting to order with a quorum present.    Mayor Janet Tyler arrived at 7:35 p.m. and presided from that time on.

 

Mike Batchelder moved to approve the minutes of the last Regular Council Meeting held May 5, 2004.  Donna Parish 2nd, motion carried unanimously.

 

Mike Batchelder  moved to approve the minutes of the Special Council Meeting held May 17, 2004.  Mari Ann Parker 2nd,  motion carried unanimously.

 

Mari Ann Parker moved to approve the minutes of the Special Council Meeting held

May 19, 2004.  Mike Batchelder 2nd, motion carried unanimously.

 

Mike Batchelder moved to approve the bills for the month of May, 2004.  Donna Parish 2nd, motion carried unanimously.

 

7:35 p.m.  Mayor Tyler arrived to preside over the meeting.

 

Old Business

 

Russell Karn of the Recreation Commission stated that Rick Eberly is serving as the field manager for both ball parks for games and practices.   He asked on behalf of the Commission for the City to endorse Rick Eberly as Field Manager for the summer recreation program at a contracted amount of $1800.  Mari Ann Parker moved to accept the recommendation of the Recreation Commission to hire Rick Eberly as field manager for $1800.  Jerry Bruns 2nd, motion carried unanimously.

 

Mike Batchelder moved to ask Chris Gibson to serve on the Board of Zoning Appeals Committee.  Donna Parish 2nd, motion carried unanimously.

 

New Business

 

Jerry Bruns moved to approve the cereal malt beverage application of Casey’s Retail Company.  Mari Ann Parker 2nd, motion carried unanimously.

 

Councilmember Mike Batchelder addressed the Council about running electric line to the basketball court at the park.  He stated the current line is not sufficient to handle events that may be held there. 

 

Jerry Bruns moved to table the installation of the electric line to the basketball court and have Roger Hopkins bring back bids to the next regular council meeting.  Mike Batchelder 2nd, motion carried unanimously.

 

City Superintendent Roger Hopkins stated that the installation of the new water line on N. Ives Street would be worked on in June.  He also stated that he had some issues with Great Plains Locators, who locate for Sprint fiber optics, over digging to repair water lines.  The Council agreed to have the City Attorney look into this issue.

 

Police Officer Neal Hontz updated the Council on training, crime statistics forms and clean-up issues involving the Police Department. 

 

Mike Batchelder moved to accept the bid from John E. Smith of $351 for the International dump truck.  Donna Parish 2nd, motion carried unanimously.

 

Mike Batchelder moved to get estimates to fix the city grader.  Jerry Bruns 2nd, motion carried unanimously.

 

Mike Batchelder moved to have Superintendent Hopkins get bids on both tractors to sell and look into leasing a tractor to do city mowing.  Donna Parish 2nd, motion carried unanimously.

 

8:35 p.m.  Jerry Bruns moved to take a 10 minute recess.  Mari Ann Parker 2nd, motion carried unanimously.

 

8:45 p.m.  Mayor Tyler called the meeting back to order.

 

Committee Reports

 

Water & Sewer Committee Chairman Donna Parish stated that the Committee had met last week and recommended the following rate changes for the water.  A one dollar ($1.00) increase per thousand gallon over the minimum used and a two dollar ($2.00)

increase on the minimum charge.  

 

Mike Batchelder moved to approve the recommendation of the Committee for the $1.00 increase per thousand gallon and a $2.00 increase on the minimum charge and to have the City Attorney draft the necessary documents as Ordinance #444.  Jerry Bruns 2nd, motion carried unanimously.

 

Committee Chairman Donna Parish stated that the Committee recommended a $2.00 increase on the minimum sewer charge which would be approximately a 17%  increase and to apply that increase to other buildings not charged the same as residences.

The Committee also recommended that the College Administration Building be changed to  the same sewer charge as Yost and Irvin Hall. 

 

Jerry Bruns moved to accept the Committee’s recommendation as presented and to have the City Attorney draft the necessary documents as Ordinance #445.  Mike Batchelder 2nd, motion carried unanimously.

 

The Committee asked that the City Attorney look into what would be defined or considered as family living areas for the water and sewer ordinances.  It was agreed that Attorney Ted Collins, Clerk Bill Butrick and the Water & Sewer Committee would meet to determine what charges should apply for double or multiple residences and to draft in the ordinance to be prepared.

 

Donna Parish moved to appoint  “The Kansas Chief” as the official city newspaper for 2004 and to draft as Resolution #04-03.  Mike Batchelder 2nd, motion carried unanimously.

 

Jerry Bruns moved to start negotiations on the security contract with Highland Community College and to have the Law Enforcement Committee bring back their recommendation to the next regular council meeting.  Mari Ann Parker 2nd, motion carried unanimously.

 

Donna Parish informed the Council she may be absent for the July meeting.

 

Police Officer Neal Hontz asked if the Council would consider ways that office space in the Police Department could be increased.

 

9:22 p.m.  Jerry Bruns moved to go into executive session for five minutes to discuss personnel.  Mari Ann Parker 2nd, motion carried unanimously.

 

9:27 p.m.  Jerry Bruns moved to come out of executive session.  Donna Parish 2nd, motion carried unanimously.

 

Mike Batchelder moved to increase Carol Hopkins hourly wage twenty five cents per hour since probation period had been completed.  Donna Parish 2nd, motion carried unanimously.

 

9:30 p.m.  Mari Ann Parker moved to adjourn.  Jerry Bruns 2nd, motion carried unanimously.

 

 

______________________________         ____________________________

 

                   Mayor                                                           City Clerk