September, 2007
August 6, 2007The Moran City Council met in regular session on Monday, August 6, 2007. Mayor Phillip Merkel called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM. Councilmembers present were Mike Holman, Jerry Jackman, James Mueller, Warren Johnson, and Chryll Ginn. Also present were Bret Heim, City Attorney; Shane Smith, Police Chief; Lori Evans, City Clerk; and Mike Stodgell, City Superintendent. Debbie Jones, Raymond Knight, Kem Colgin, Becky Henson, and Suzanne Pollman of Westar were visitors attending the meeting. Bill Birnel of Westar arrived after the meeting began. 2007 BUDGET HEARINGMayor Merkel opened the budget hearing and called for questions or comments regarding the proposed budget. No questions or comments were raised. Councilmember Johnson moved to adopt the budget as published. Ginn seconded the motion, motion passed with unanimous approval.Councilmember Johnson moved to approve the August 2007 consent agenda consisting of: July 2007 regular and special Council meeting minutes, August 2007 pay ordinance totaling $90,260.32, and corporate resolution for purchase of a $30,000.00 certificate of deposit (CD) to replace a CD maturing August 15, 2007. Holman seconded the motion, motion passed with all approving. VISITORSRaymond Knight presented a letter to the Council regarding dogs running at large in their neighborhood and asked to Council if there was anything the City could do to help with the situation. Mr. Knight further noted the dogs in question were running loose when he left home to attend this meeting. Chief Smith left the meeting to try to catch the dogs while they are loose. The Council told Mr. Knight they would have Chief Smith follow up with the situation to see if the problems persist in the future.OLD BUSINESSHorse Shoe Pits at City Park Councilmember Johnson expressed concern about rebuilding the horseshoe pits and said he would rather see the money spent for new playground equipment unless the pits are used more often than they have been in the past. Discussion followed with the Council agreeing to build temporary horse shoe pits for this Moran Day and will reconsider the need to build new pits next year.Westar Update - Suzanne Pollman reviewed Westars proposed transmission services to the City of Moran and estimated the monthly charges to the City would be $2,000.00 to $3,000.00. These charges would be in addition to the actual fuel charges. Bill Birnel asked the Council for a an extension of the current contract until June 1, 2008, or until the new agreement is finalized, whichever comes first and asked the Mayor to sign a letter agreeing to the extension. Attorney Heim reviewed the request and following his recommendation Councilmember Ginn moved the City approve Westars request. Mueller seconded the motion, motion passed with all approving. Utility Meter Reading and Billing Dates Topic was tabled until May 2008 Council meeting. Councilmember Ginn presented a $2,000.00 check from the Moran Day Committee to the City to purchase playground equipment for the City Park. NEW BUSINESSCereal Malt Beverage Application Councilmember Johnson moved to approve Kem Colgins cereal malt beverage application for Colgins 113 located at 4015 US Hwy 54. Holman seconded the motion, motion passed with all approving. Kem also requested approval to hold a street dance in front of the Landmark for two hours on Moran Days and asked if the Council had a preference a to the time of the dance. The Council didnt have any preference as to time but suggested Kem contact the neighbors to the south regarding his plans for the dance.OLD BUSINESS (cont)Water Project Update Clerk Evans relayed an e-mail from Shawn Turner reporting the City would have the loan agreement before the end of August.Purchase of Playground Equipment for City Park Topic was tabled until September 2007 meeting. Code Book Revisions Clerk Evans said she was approximately 75% done with the Code book revisions and should have the revision completed by the next meeting. Storm Shelters The Council reviewed e-mail responses from other Citys regarding their experience with building storm shelters. No action was taken. Ordinance 1092 Vacating First Street Between Linn Street and City Limits Councilmember Mueller moved to approve Ordinance 1092 AN ORDINANCE VACATING THAT PORTION OF FIRST STREET LOCATED BETWEEN LINN STREET AND THE WEST BOUNDARY OF THE CITY LIMITS OF THE CITY OF MORAN, KANSAS. Councilmember Ginn seconded the motion, motion passed with Mueller, Ginn, Jackman, and Holman approving and Johnson abstaining. Employment Vacancy The Council agreed to rerun the employment vacancy advertisement in the Iola Register for three days and to advertise in the vacancy in the Fort Scott Tribune for three days. Chip and Seal City Streets The Council discussed chip and seal of City roads and were advised that Bill King had already taken the City off of the list for the current year. As an aside to the chip and seal question, the Council discussed a problem with large trucks damaging City streets due to being overweight. The Council reviewed City Code 14-208 regulating truck parking on City streets and asked the Clerk to publish the regulations in the Citys September newsletter. NEW BUSINESS (cont)Donation of Photos to the City of Moran Councilmember Mueller moved the City purchase 25-30 photo frames to display photos donated by Bill McAdam. Holman seconded the motion, motion passed with all approving.2007 Audit/2009 Budget Agreement with Jarred, Gilmore, & Phillips Councilmember Ginn moved the Mayor sign the agreements with Jarred, Gilmore, & Phillips to provide audit services for fiscal year 2007 and budget preparation for fiscal year 2009. Jackman seconded the motion, motion passed with all approving. Resolution 2007-03 Councilmember Mueller moved to adopt Resolution 2007-03 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MORAN, KANSAS AUTHORIZING TEMPORARY CAMPING AT THE CITY PARK. Johnson seconded the motion, motion passed with all approving. Candy for Moran Days Parade Councilmember Holman offered to speak with his employer, Russell Stover, to see if they might be willing to donate candy for the Moran Day Parade. DEPARTMENTAL REPORTSFire Chief Chief Merkel informed the Council that Joe Carr and Kevin Davis, volunteer firemen, are attending training sessions at Elsmore. He also noted the department is applying for a FEMA grant to purchase equipment and the department is outfitting the City fire truck so the department can mount air packs on the truck.Police Chief Chief Smith notified the Council that the department had met the STEP grant requirements and will receive a $3750.00 grant award to purchase equipment. He noted he was considering the purchase of a PBT machine and new handheld radar. Chief Smith requested approval to attend a four day training class in Johnson, Iowa. Lodging and meals are provided with training and the only costs to the City would be mileage and meals for the round trip. Councilmember Mueller moved to approve the request, Johnson seconded the motion, motion passed with all approving.
Superintendent Superintendent Stodgell submitted the following activity report for the month of July 2007: Stodgell informed the Council that the meter panels at the Marmaton Village need replaced due to age. He requested approval to use an electrical contractor to assist with the repairs and estimated the labor and equipments cost for the project would be around $2706.18. Mueller moved to approve making the necessary repairs with the assistance of contractor. Holman seconded the motion, motion passed with all approving. Stodgell reported the bucket trucks all passed testing performed by Protective Equipment Testing (PET), but noted the bucket on the 1995 bucket truck needs replaced. The Council asked Stodgell to check pricing and asked the topic be placed on the September agenda. City Clerk Clerk Evans reported income for the month of July 2007 as follows:
Evans reported the City has received a request to refund connect fees for Dustin Patterson, an individual who applied for utility service and then decided not to move to Moran. The Council reviewed the City utility agreement that states connect fees are non-refundable, following discussion Councilmember Mueller moved to refund $100.00 of the $150.00 connect fees to Mr. Patterson. Johnson seconded the motion, motion passed with Holman and Jackman approving, and Ginn opposed. The Council agreed to conduct yearly fraud risk assessments at the regular Council meeting held in February and the special meeting held in July. Councilmember Mueller moved the City purchase QuickBooks Pro with the Payroll module as requested by the Citys auditors Jarred, Gilmore, and Phillips. Ginn seconded the motion, motion passed with all approving. The Council discussed damage done when a resident backed over the raised sewer manhole located west of the Village. No action was taken. There being no further business to come before the Council, Councilmember Ginn moved the meeting adjourn at 10:28 PM. With Mueller seconding the motion, motion passed with unanimous approval.
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September, 2007
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