This page was prepared
January, 2002
December 3, 2001The Moran City Council met in regular session on Monday, December 3, 2001. Mayor Phillip Merkel called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM. Councilmembers present were Mark Barnett, Mike Holman, James Mueller, and Debbie Sager. Also present were Bret Heim, City Attorney; Jason Prock, Police Chief; R. Shane Smith, Police Officer; Loretta Roberts, Ambulance Director; Lori Evans, City Clerk; and Mike Stodgell, City Superintendent. Warren Johnson, Ruby Eisenbrandt, Audrey Maley, Bill McAdam, Joan Morrison, Newt Bacon, and Gene McDermit were visitors attending the meeting. Lee Roberts arrived at 10:22 PM.
CONSENT AGENDACouncilmember Mike Holman moved to approve the minutes of the regular council meeting held Monday, November 5, 2001, the December pay ordinance totaling $48,273.52, and the Corporate Resolution for Emprise Bank renewing a $20,000.00 certificate of deposit maturing December 13, 2001. Mueller seconded the motion, motion passed with all approving.
VISITORSAll visitors were present for agenda items.OLD BUSINESSOath of Office – Warren Johnson was given the oath of office and was sworn in as a new Councilmember.Property Condemnations and Improvements
Senior/Community Center Donation – Mayor Merkel said he had spoken with Bill Burche representing the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Burche did not have any additional information regarding the Church’s donation of funds, but that the Church board will meet on Wednesday, December 5th and he may have additional information following this meeting. Councilmember Sager said she thought the Council had agreed not to participate with the County in building a senior/community center. Mayor Merkel noted that it would be disappointing if the community lost out on the chance of additional funding for the senior/community center. Councilmember Barnett asked why the Presbyterian Church members do not donate the funds directly to the County to help in building the senior center. Additional discussion followed with the Council agreeing it was not feasible for the City to guarantee any matching funds and the County should proceed with building the senior center as they see best fit. Utility Billing Formats – Councilmember Sager moved the City begin using a letter-based utility billing format versus using a postcard-billing format. Holman seconded the motion, motion passed with all approving. DEPARTMENTAL REPORTSFire Chief – Chief Merkel asked the Council for approval to purchase $1,000.00 worth of turn out gear before the fiscal year ends. Councilmember Mueller moved to approve the purchase, with Johnson seconding the motion. Motion passed with all approving. Additionally, Chief Merkel asked to appropriate any remaining fire department funds at the year-end, up to $5,000.00, to be transferred to the Fire Equipment Reserve Fund. Councilmember Barnett moved to approve the transfer of funds as requested. Sager seconded the motion, motion passed with all approving.Ambulance Director – Director Roberts requested approval for two ambulance personnel to fly one-way to Goshen, IN to help drive the new ambulance back to Kansas. Estimated travel costs would be between $400.00 and $1,000.00. Mayor Merkel called for a motion. Councilmember Sager asked if it was necessary to send two people as EMS Director Don Leaphart and another member of the Iola Fire Department would be flying out to assist in driving the unit back. Councilmember Barnett said he had no problem with Director Roberts making the trip, but didn’t feel that two ambulance personnel needed to go. Councilmember Sager moved to approve sending Director Roberts to Goshen, Holman seconded the motion. Motion passed with all approving. Superintendent – Superintendent Stodgell reported the following activities for the month of November:
City Clerk – City Clerk Evans reported the following income for the month of November:
The Clerk noted that the November income would be updated in January to reflect interest income for the month. Councilmember Muller moved to approve a request from the Clerk to purchase three additional memory chips for the City’s computers and a CD-RW drive for the police department computer. Johnson seconded the motion, motion passed with all approving. Police Chief – Chief Prock requested approval to change the police departments’ cellular phone rate plan to include additional airtime minutes and to purchase a new cellular phone. Councilmember Barnett moved to approve the request. Mueller seconded the motion, which passed with all approving. Additionally, Chief Prock asked for approval to purchase the following equipment for the police department: car opening tool set, $30.00; badge for Officer Smith, $50.00; chain link handcuffs, $15.00; leg irons, $40.00, and evidence tape, $15.00. Councilmember Mueller moved to approve the purchase request, Holman seconded the motion, motion passed with all approving. The Council also directed Chief Prock to purchase a dog catching pole to aid in capturing stray dogs.
NEW BUSINESSRural Fire Contracting with City for Service Coverage – Bill McAdam and Gene Demerit, representing the Marmaton/Osage Volunteer Fire Fighters, asked the City Council to consider entering into an agreement where the City would provide maintenance and housing of the rural fire equipment. The rural fire equipment is currently housed at the Moran fire station, but it is becoming more difficult to maintain the equipment as needed. Mr. McAdam offered $5,000.00 per year if the City would enter into a ten-year agreement with the Marmaton/Osage rural fire department. If the City chose not to renew the contract, the fire trucks and equipment would be returned to the Marmaton/Osage Department.Mayor Merkel asked about the current maintenance and insurance costs, Mr. McAdam advised they spend approximately $1917.00 annually for insurance and maintenance. The Council discussed the possibility of allowing the 1995 GMC fire truck to leave the City Limits and agreed they do not want to allow the City truck to leave the city limits at this time. City Attorney Heim said he would recommend the City enter into a contract for services, if the Council decides to proceed with the offer. After additional discussion, the Council agreed to have the City attorney draft a contract for the Council to review at the January Council meeting. Councilmember Mueller will contact the City’s insurance carrier to check on the impact to the City’s insurance rates. Topic was tabled until the January meeting. Reserve Funds for Water, Electric, and Sewer Utility Funds – Mayor Merkel suggested the Council consider establishing reserve funds for the water and electric funds such as the City has for the sewer fund. The Council agreed it would be a good idea to establish reserve funds and asked the clerk to add the topic to the May Council meeting agenda. Cereal Malt Beverage License Applications – Councilmember Mueller moved to approve the cereal malt beverage applications for Pete’s, Stub’s Market, Moran Mini Mart, and the Landmark. Sager seconded the motion, motion passed with all approving. Approval of 2002 Council Calendar – Councilmember Sager moved to approve the Council meeting on the regularly scheduled meeting date of the first Monday of each month with the exception of meeting on the first Tuesday following Labor Day. Mueller seconded the motion, which passed with all approving. KPERS Group Life Insurance – Discussed and tabled until the January Council meeting. Annual Employee Benefits Review - Tabled until later in the meeting. 2002 Budget Amendment - Councilmember Mueller moved to adjust the 2002 budget to receive all available funds for the Local Ad Volarem Tax Reduction. Sager seconded the motion, motion passed with all approving. Accounts Receivable Payment Terms - The City Clerk advised the Council of a problem with customers signing agreements for the city crew to install or upgrade electric, water, and/or sewer service and not honoring the agreement. The Council agreed to require a 20% down payment for any work to be performed by the city crew and to attach special assessment taxes back to property owner who neglect to make payments as agreed. OTHERThe Clerk submitted a letter received from City of Lindsborg outlining the State of Kansas’s Capital Tunnel Project, which would use federal and state funds to build underground tunnels to connect new State Office buildings. In this letter, the City of Lindsborg encouraged all Kansas cities to join them in voicing opposition to the project and use of state tax monies for funding the project. Councilmember Mueller moved to approve issuing a letter directed to the City’s state representative and senator voicing the Council’s opposition to the project. Sager seconded the motion, motion passed with Holman and Johnson approving and Barnett abstaining from the vote.Additionally, the Clerk also submitted a letter from the Ad Astra Kansas Capitol Dome Sculpture Project asking the City of Moran to sponsor an engraved brick to be placed in the Plaza Area. The 4” X 8” bricks cost $250.00 each and are permanently inscribed with the donator’s name or sentiment. Discussion followed with no action taken. Annual Employee Benefits Review (cont) - Councilmember Mueller moved the Council meet in executive session at 9:58 PM for 20 minutes to discuss personnel matters. Sager seconded the motion, motion passed with all approving. Council returned to open meeting at 10:18 PM. Mayor Merkel called for action, with Councilmember Sager moving that all hourly personnel receive a 25-cent per hour raise effective January 1, 2002. Ambulance Director and Assistant Ambulance Director will receive an additional $10.00 per week in salary. Sager also moved that each full time Employees be given a $25.00 Christmas gift certificate to be used at any participating business in Moran. Barnett seconded the motion, motion passed with all approving. Councilmember Sager moved the meeting adjourn at 10:25 PM. Mueller seconded the motion, motion passed with unanimous approval. ||city main page|| council members|| council minutes|| city codes|| city information|| pictures|| |
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This page was prepared January, 2002
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