December, 2004
November 1, 2004Mayor Merkel called the special hearing to order at 6:50 PM on Monday, November 1, 2004. Councilmembers present were Mike Holman, Jerry Jackman, James Mueller, Warren Johnson, and Chryll Ginn. The Council discussed property conditions of 408 N. Birch with the property owner Dee Pool. Mayor Phillip Merkel called the regular meeting to order at 7:00 PM. Also present for the meeting were Bret Heim, City Attorney; Shane Smith, Police Chief; Loretta Roberts, Ambulance Director, Barbara Shoate, Asst. Ambulance Director; Lori Evans, City Clerk; and Mike Stodgell, City Superintendent. Dee Pool, Steve Crume, Bonnie Booth, and Lee Roberts were visitors. Councilmember Ginn moved to proceed with demolition of the building and clean up of the property as previously discussed. Johnson seconded the motion, motion passed with Jackman and Mueller approving and Holman abstaining from the vote. Councilmember Johnson moved to approve the November consent agenda consisting of: October 2004 regular council meeting minutes, November pay ordinance totaling $62,739.44, and corporate resolution for purchase of a $20,000.00 certificate of deposit (CD) to replace a CD maturing November 13, 2004. Mueller seconded the motion, motion passed with all approving. VISITORSSteve Crume informed the Council that he had purchased the building that formerly housed the Senior Center. Mr. Crume said he has a renter for the building that would like to use the property to operate a catering and private party business. Mr. Crume said the business would allow the customers to carry in alcohol for private consumption but will not offer alcohol or mixes for sale. City attorney Heim advised the Council that he didn’t really foresee a problem as long as the business did not provide alcoholic beverages in any way to the patrons. Discussion followed with the Council agreeing they saw no problems with Mr. Crume’s plans.OLD BUSINESSProperty Review of 303 E. First – The Council requested the clerk to send a letter to the property owner expressing the Council’s appreciation for her efforts to clean up the property.Increase in Water Rates from Public Wholesale Water Supply 5 – Mayor Merkel informed the Council that bulk rates for water purchased from Public Wholesale Water Supply #5 have increased by .15¢ from $1.85 to $2.00 per thousand gallons. No action was taken. Employee Payroll and Benefits – Topic was tabled until later in the meeting. Review of Chapter 3-202(f)(g) of the Moran City Code – Attorney Heim told the Council that he did not see a problem with legally striking this section from the Code. Upon further review of Chapter 4 Heim suggested the Council standardized Chapter 4 by changing references to the “Building Official” to “Building Inspector. NEW BUSINESSPostage Meter Rental Contract – Clerk Evans informed the Council that the postage meter currently used by the City has been in service since 1993 and will not meet new requirements that will be implemented by the United States Postal Service (USPS) in 2005 and 2008. As the current postage meter contract is nearing renewal Clerk Evans submitted a comparative worksheet showing pricing and operational cost for postage meters offered by Pitney Bowes, Neopost, and FP Mailing Systems. The Council discussed usage of the postage meter and the necessity of having a postage meter. Clerk Evans said the office would be willing to hand stamp envelopes to evaluate the need of renting a meter. The Council agreed that the Clerk should decide whether to continue renting a postage meter or to hand stamp envelopes.Review of Chapters 5, 6, and 7 of the Moran City Code – Attorney Heim suggested the Council consider deleting Chapter V, Section 3: Public Dances. The Council agreed with this suggestion. The Council then agreed to delete all wording in Chapter 6 and to substitute or reference Charter Ordinance No. 3. No other changes were discussed. The Council agreed to review Chapters 8, 9, and 10 at the December meeting. Termite Problems at the Moran Library – Superintendent Stodgell notified the Council that the City crew has found new termite activity at the Library while making repairs. The Council walked to the Library to inspect the damage then returned to the meeting room. Clerk Evans was asked to contact Terry Pruitt at TNT Pest Control and ask that the he inspect the problem immediately.
DEPARTMENTAL REPORTSFire Chief – Chief Merkel informed the Council that the Fire Department had received ten new sets of hazmat awareness gear courtesy of a grant awarded to Allen County Emergency Preparedness Committee.Chief Merkel requested approval to purchase a radio estimated to cost $750.00, for Craig Miller. The radio purchase could be funded by city and fire funds as Craig uses the radio as both Asst. City Superintendent and Asst. Fire Chief. Councilmember Mueller moved to approve the purchase of the radio, Jackman seconded the motion, motion passed with unanimous approval. Ambulance Director – Nothing to report. Police Chief – Chief Smith reported the department had a fairly quiet Halloween weekend with little to report. He noted the School left the football field lights on all weekend as a protective measure and that the security light at Cedar and Oak would not come on when the football field lights were on. Superintendent Stodgell suggested the photocell on the light was catching too much light from the football field lights and that the City crew try turning the photocell on this light away from the football field to see if this rectifies the problem. Chief Smith thanked the Council for allowing him to attend training in Great Bend at the end of October. Superintendent – Superintendent Stodgell reported the City crews’ activities for the month of October as follows:
Superintendent Stodgell also requested approval to trade the blade that came with the John Deere tractor for a rototiller. Councilmember Johnson moved to give Stodgell the authority to do as he sees fit regarding the trade. Ginn seconded the motion, motion passed with all approving. Councilmember Johnson asked Superintendent Stodgell if the City crew could move a security light closer to the abandoned railroad tracks on south Linn Street. Superintendent Stodgell said he didn’t think that would be a problem. City Clerk – Clerk Evans reported general and miscellaneous income for the month of October as follows:
Clerk Evans asked for approval to attend a KPERS meeting in Chanute on November 18, 2004. Mueller moved to approve the request, Johnson seconded the motion. Motion passed with all approving. Clerk Evans notified the Council that beginning January 1, 2005 the City will be required to submit state payroll tax withholdings bi-weekly instead of monthly. Employee Payroll and Benefits (cont) – Councilmember Mueller moved the Council meet in executive session at 9:40 PM for 20 minutes to discuss employer-employee relations. Johnson seconded the motion, motion passed with all approving. The Council returned to open meeting at 10:00 PM. Councilmember Ginn moved to adjourn to executive session at 10:02 PM for an additional 30 minutes to continue discussing employer-employee relations. Johnson seconded the motion. Motion passed with all approving. The Council returned to open meeting at 10:32 PM. Councilmember Ginn moved that city employees be given the following raises effective January 1, 2005:
ADJOURNMENTCouncilmember Mueller moved the meeting adjourn at 10:37PM. Ginn seconded the motion, motion passed with unanimous approval.
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December, 2004
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