REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING

 

                          AUGUST 3, 2005                                 7:30 P.M.

 

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

 

ALSO PRESENT:  Katie Hargis, Bill, Debbie and Lance Leach, Jeff Riley, Ted Collins and Bill Butrick.

 

PRESIDING:  Mayor Janet Tyler.

 

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

 

Tony French moved to approve the minutes of the last Regular Council Meeting held July 6, 2005.  Ken Stewart 2nd, motion carried unanimously.

 

Ken Stewart moved to approve the minutes of the Special Council Meeting held July 21, 2005.  Mike Batchelder 2nd, motion carried unanimously.

 

Mike Batchelder moved to approve the bills for the month of July, 2005.  Ken Stewart 2nd, motion carried unanimously.

 

CITIZENS REQUESTS

 

Bill Leach asked the Council for street access to Block 43, lots 7 & 8 for a new residence.  Mayor Tyler asked the Street and Alley Committee to look into the Leach request and bring their recommendation to a future meeting.

 

COMMITTEE REPORTS

 

Water and Sewer Committee Chairman Donna Parish informed the Council of a meeting with proposed Rural Water District #6 members and their engineer.  Parish stated that it is believed there is sufficient water to supply the proposed district.  She further commented that the initial connection charge given to the city would be a significant

amount but that the amount paid per thousand gallon would not be determined until further studies were done.

 

Mari Ann Parker moved to give a vote of confidence on behalf of the city for the district to pursue further studies and that they be assured that the city would be willing to sell water to them if all criteria is met.  Tony French 2nd, motion carried unanimously.

 

City Attorney Ted Collins suggested that the city’s engineer be contacted to be involved with the water studies.   City Clerk Bill Butrick was asked to call BG Consultants.

 

 

NEW BUSINESS

 

Mike Batchelder moved and Tony French 2nd, to approve Ordinance #450.  An Ordinance of the City of Highland, Kansas regulating public offenses within the corporate limits, incorporating by reference the “Uniform Public Offense Code for Kansas cities,”  edition #2005.  By roll call vote:  Batchelder-yes, Parker-yes, French-yes, Stewart-yes, Parish-yes.  Motion carried unanimously.

 

Ken Stewart moved and Mike Batchelder 2nd, to approve Ordinance #451.  An Ordinance of the City of Highland, Kansas regulating traffic within the corporate limits incorporating by reference the “Standard Traffic Ordinance for Kansas cities,” edition # 2005.  By roll call vote:  Batchelder-yes, Parker-yes, French-yes, Stewart-yes, Parish-yes.

Motion carried unanimously.

 

City Attorney Ted Collins reviewed the new laws affecting liquor sales in Kansas.

He explained that the city had the option’s of restricting, prohibiting or expanding

these laws and if no action was taken at all, the city would be using the new laws as set out by state as of November 15, 2005.  The Council agreed to do more research before the next meeting which would allow more time for public input and stated this input would be welcome, and discuss or make a decision at the September 7, 2005 regular meeting.

 

Tony French moved to upgrade three cell phones for the city and to share expense with the EMT’s and have them added on to the current plan.  Mike Batchelder 2nd, motion carried unanimously.

 

CITY OFFICERS REPORT

 

City Clerk Bill Butrick reminded everyone about the Public Hearing for the proposed 2006 budget to be held August 9, 2005 at 7:00 p.m. and also that he had been receiving

numerous complaints about dogs running at large.

 

Mari Ann Parker moved to purchase a pole saw at a cost of $539 and an air compressor for $349 for city maintenance.  Tony French 2nd, motion carried unanimously.

 

Mike Batchelder moved to contract Ken Herring at $25 per hour to assemble the city maintainer to make it operational.  Mari Ann Parker 2nd, motion carried unanimously.

 

8:30 p.m.  Ken Stewart moved to go into executive session for thirty minutes to have consultation with the City Attorney.  Tony French 2nd, motion carried unanimously.

 

9:00 p.m.  Donna Parish moved to come out of executive session.  Mike Batchelder 2nd, motion carried unanimously.

 

Mari Ann Parker moved to approve the Law Enforcement Cooperative Agreement with the Doniphan County Sheriff as presented by the City Attorney and authorize the Mayor to sign the agreement.  Tony French 2nd, motion carried unanimously.

 

Mayor Tyler asked the Law Enforcement Committee to meet and discuss the dog problems, weed ordinance, code enforcement officer and other issues within the city and bring their recommendation to the next regular council meeting.

 

9:08 p.m.  Ken Stewart moved to adjourn.  Mari Ann Parker 2nd, motion carried unanimously.

 

 

____________________________          _________________________

 

                   Mayor                                                 City Clerk