ELLIS — In a special meeting Monday night, Ellis City Council members discussed the city’s desire to explore options for an additional water source.

The feasibility study to determine the viability of partnering with Trego County Rural Water District will be completed in 30 to 45 days.

Hays City Manager Toby Dougherty is scheduled to address the council at its March 17 meeting about Hays’ plan to develop the R9 Ranch in Edwards County as a long-term water source, and  geologist Robert Vincent will be asked to attend a future council meeting. The board will also talk about the future of the city’s one-cent sales tax, set to expire in 2016, and whether it should be extended to help pay for water projects.

The unofficial minutes, in draft form, of the special meeting follow.

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DRAFT COPY NOT OFFICIAL UNTIL APPROVED BY COUNCIL

ELLIS CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING  February 24, 2014

CALL TO ORDER

Council President Jolene Niernberger called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Present were Council members John Walz, Loran Gottschalk, and Terry Redetzke. Also present were City Clerk Amy Burton and Public Works Director Alan Scheuerman. Mayor Lyle Johnston and Council member Jeff Wolf were absent.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

AMENDMENTS TO AGENDA

None

PUBLIC PRESENT

Ryan Augustine, John LaShell, Sean Simmons, Dave McDaniel, Gayla Wichman, Gary Luea, and Ronald Johnson.

PURPOSE OF SPECIAL MEETING

Council President Jolene Niernberger stated the purpose of the special meeting was to approve the USDA annual reports, to further consider the City’s website, and to discuss water exploration.

Water: Financial

City Clerk Amy Burton presented the annual financial reports as required by the United States Department of Agriculture. Council member John Walz moved and Council member Terry Redetzke seconded a motion to approve the 2013 USDA Financial Reports as presented. Motion carried unanimously.

General Government: Special Project

Ryan Augustine discussed with Council the need to make the City’s website more user friendly and provide more visual appeal. The current website provides good information, but it is hard to navigate through the site. Sean Simmons visited with Council on the various types of websites and the need to determine the goal of the site. It is important to brainstorm what types of information each department of the City desires to include on the site. Gayla Wichman added the City has three types of users to consider – current residents, potential residents, and visitors – and the site should provide information relevant to each of these users. The Council also discussed how social media could enhance the City’s website and provide an outlet to quickly release information to the public. City Clerk Amy Burton will send out a memo to the Department Heads asking for their “wish list” for the website and compile the results.

Capital Improvement: Water Exploration

Council discussed the City’s desire to explore for an additional water source. The feasibility study to determine the viability of partnering with Trego County Rural Water District will be completed in 30-45 days. Hays City Manager Toby Dougherty plans to visit with Council at the March 17th regular meeting about Hays’ plan to explore south central Kansas for water. Council discussed whether to partner with a neighboring community or to explore for the City’s own water source. It was the consensus of Council to have Public Works Director Alan Scheurman contact geologist Robert Vincent to come to a Council meeting and discuss the City’s next step in the exploration process. Council member John Walz discussed the City’s one cent sales tax that expires in 2016. Council needs to consider if the additional sales tax should be continued for additional funding for water exploration.

General Government: Meeting

The Council will not have a quorum for the March 3, 2014 regular meeting. It was decided to move the meeting to March 5, 2014 at the regular time.

ADJOURNMENT

Council member Loran Gottschalk moved to adjourn the meeting. Council member Terry Redetzke seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 8:14 p.m.