ELLIS–The city of Ellis spent a lot of money and time clearing streets during the most recent snow storms.
Public Works Director Alan Scheuerman told city council members last week that 35 man and machine hours were used just to clear the center lane in a nine block area, costing the city more than $2,500.
Scheuerman is requesting the city council to consider designating Emergency Snow Routes to increase public safety and to decrease costs for clearing snow. He wants the authority to ask residents to remove their vehicles from the designated Emergency Snow Routes within 24 hours preceding a predicted snow storm of two inches or more.
Council members agreed to examine the city’s snow removal policy at the next regular meeting.
The complete February 17 meeting minutes follow.
DRAFT COPY NOT OFFICIAL UNTIL APPROVED BY COUNCIL
ELLIS CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING Minutes February 17, 2014
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Lyle Johnston called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. Present were Council members Jeff Wolf, John Walz, Jolene Niernberger, Loran Gottschalk and Terry Redetzke. Also present were Public Works Director Alan Scheuerman, City Clerk Amy Burton, Police Chief Taft Yates, Fire Chief Denis Vine, and City Attorney Olavee Raub. Council member John Leiker was absent.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG
AMENDMENTS TO AGENDA
City Clerk Amy Burton requested the addition of consideration of approval to hire pool manager under the City Clerk’s Report.
PUBLIC PRESENT
Ryan Augustine, Ron Johnson, Brian Raub, David McDaniel, Sylvia Kinderknecht, Gary Luea, Sean Simmons, Bryan Ford, and Adam Olson.
CONSENT AGENDA
Council member John Walz moved to approve the consent agenda containing the Minutes from Regular Meeting on February 3, 2014 and Bills Ordinance #1943. Council member Jolene Niernberger seconded the motion. The Council approved the consent agenda unanimously.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
None
PRESENTATIONS OF AWARDS, PROCLAMATIONS, REQUESTS & PETITIONS (HEARINGS)
None
SPECIAL ORDER
Personnel: Exit
Mayor Lyle Johnston read a resignation letter from Council member John Leiker. Mr. Leiker is resigning his position in order to apply for the vacant Street Maintenance position in the City’s Public Works Department. Council member John Walz moved to accept the resignation letter of John Leiker. Council member Jeff Wolf seconded the motion. Motion carried 5-0.
Fire
Fire Chief Denis Vine gave his monthly report of the department’s activities. The Hays Fire Department has generously loaned the Ellis Volunteer Fire Department 500 feet of four-inch supply line at no charge until the Department can purchase their own. City Attorney Olavee Raub recommended the two parties formalize the agreement.
Personnel: Exit
Chief Vine continued by reporting that volunteer fireman John Dodson will be leaving the department due to an out-of-state job transfer.
Capital Improvement: Water Exploration
Bryan Ford and Adam Olson, from Bartlett & West, were present to discuss water exploration options for the City of Ellis. Mr. Ford presented an area map of groundwater and types of wells currently in use in the area. The proposed project is broken down into two phases. Phase 1 is groundwater investigation and test drilling, while Phase 2 is construction and well development. The preliminary cost estimate for the entire project is approximately $1.6 million. Mr. Ford believes the project would be eligible for USDA and CDBG grants.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
General Government: Special Project
It was the consensus of Council to hold a special meeting to discuss the possible revamping of the City website. Council asked Sean Simmons and Ryan Augustine to attend the special meeting to provide Council with ideas on available options. The meeting will be held February 26, 2014 at 6:30 p.m.
Industrial Development: Special Project
City Attorney Olavee Raub reported that she has contacted Penco to conduct the survey of the downtown buildings but has not received a response. Sylvia Kinderknecht asked if Council would hold a work session to allow Aaron White, Ellis County Coalition, to present some ideas on how to revitalize the downtown business district. The Council will schedule a work session in March.
NEW BUSINESS
Industrial Development: Accounting/Billing
Council took under consideration an Application for Local Incentives from Jus Teazin’ Hair Salon. The application does not meet the eligibility guidelines as currently written, as the salon started as a home-based business in 2011, but recently moved into a commercial building. However, Council feels the goal of the incentive program is to encourage businesses to open storefronts to provide jobs and expand the tax base. Council directed City Attorney Olavee Raub to clarify the policy on the Local Incentives to Businesses to address home-based businesses that later relocate to a commercial building. Council member Jolene Niernberger moved to accept the Application for Local Incentives from Jus Teazin’ Hair Salon as the business was not eligible for incentives when it first began as a home business, but has now moved into a commercial building. Council member Jeff Wolf seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously.
Streets: Policy
Public Works Director Alan Scheuerman would like Council to consider designating Emergency Snow Routes within the City to increase public safety and to decrease costs to the City for clearing snow. The City spent over $2,500.00 and 35 man and machine hours just clearing the center line for a nine block area. Mr. Scheuerman would like to have the ability to ask residents to remove their vehicles from the designated Emergency Snow Routes within 24 hours of a predicted snow event of 2” or more. This would allow the Public Works Department to fully clear the main routes in an efficient manner. City Attorney Olavee Raub will draft an Emergency Snow Route ordinance for further discussion. Council member John Walz would like Mr. Scheuerman to ask businesses along the proposed snow route for their input on clearing and depositing snow. Council member Jolene Niernberger questioned City Code Section 13-502 which states residents must clear their sidewalks within six hours of the abatement of the storm. She does not feel six hours is adequate to have the snow removed and would like to see the Code revised or eliminated. Council will revisit the City’s handling of snow removal at the next meeting.
General Government: Contracts
Council took under consideration a proposed franchise agreement with Wildflower Telecommunications, LLC. The company wishes to operate and maintain a communications system in the City of Ellis. Council reviewed the proposed agreement and directed City Attorney Olavee Raub to make minor revisions. City Clerk Amy Burton will contact Wildflower Telecommunications, LLC and ask a representative to appear at a future Council meeting to discuss the business and to propose a franchise fee.
REPORTS FROM CITY OFFICIALS
Public Works
Water: Repair/Maintenance
Public Works Director Alan Scheuerman reported that Utility Service Group plans to paint the water tower in 2014. He noted their current contract with the City allows them to increase their contract by 16% for 2015.
Streets: Repair/Maintenance
Mr. Scheuerman shared with the Governing Body a letter drafted by City Attorney Olavee Raub informing business owners and contractors of the City Codes regarding snow removal and obstruction of streets and sidewalks.
Personnel: Entry
Public Works Director Alan Scheuerman recommended the hiring of employees for the Street Maintenance, Parks, and General IA vacant positions. Council member Loran Gottschalk made a motion to approve John Leiker for the GPWE IV Street Maintenance Position at a probationary wage of $13.72 per hour effective March 10, 2014. Council member John Walz seconded the motion. Motion carried 5-0.
Personnel: Position Change
Council member Jolene Niernberger made a motion to approve the position change of Todd Walker from GPWE I Sanitation to GPWE II Grounds Maintenance at a probationary wage of $12.47 per hour effective March 1, 2014. Council member John Walz seconded the motion. Motion carried 5-0.
Personnel: Entry
Council member Jolene Niernberger moved to approve Thomas Lee for the GPWE IA General Public Works position at a probationary wage of $11.24 per hour effective February 24, 2014. Council member Jeff Wolf seconded the motion. Motion carried 5-0.
Public Works
Public Works Director Alan Scheuerman thanked the departments for their hard work and their willingness to put in extra hours during the recent snow storm.
Mr. Scheuerman reported on the recent water main break on Dorrance St. that resulted in the water tower being shut down for four hours. There are no shut-off valves in the area and approximately 250,000 gallons of water was lost before the tower could be shut down. The total loss of water is estimated to be around 300,000 gallons. The waterline improvement project currently underway will directly affect the area where the break occurred. Council directed Mr. Scheuerman to determine what it would cost to install line stops in the area.
Police
Police Chief Taft Yates presented the monthly report for January. Officer Geiger will be attending the KLETC Reciprocity Training in March. Chief Yates also hopes to begin interviews in March for the vacancy in the department.
City Clerk
Clerk: Training
City Clerk Amy Burton requested approval for her and Assistant City Clerk Charlene Weber to attend the annual Clerk’s Conference. Council member John Walz moved and Council member Jolene Niernberger seconded a motion to approve the attendance of Amy Burton and Charlene Weber at the Spring Clerk’s Conference in Wichita from March 12-14. Motion carried unanimously.
Personnel: Entry
Council member John Walz moved to hire Brittany Sheehan as the 2014 Pool Manager at a wage of $10.50 per hour effective February 17, 2014. Council member Jolene Niernberger seconded the motion. Motion carried 5-0.
Clerk
Ms. Burton noted that Senator Ralph Ostmeyer has scheduled a town hall meeting in Ellis on March 8, 2014 at 1:00 p.m. The meeting will be held at City Hall in Council Chambers.
Ms. Burton also informed Council of the League’s opposition to Senate Bill 211 mandating partisan fall elections for local office.
MAYOR/COUNCIL
Mayor Lyle Johnston noted that due to work commitments of two Council Members the next regular meeting scheduled for March 3, 2014 will not have a quorum. It was decided to move the regular business to be conducted at that meeting to a Special Meeting on March 5, 2014 at 7:30 p.m.
Council member John Walz questioned if the City should consider opting out of the NFIP program as an insurance agent has contacted him about insurance rates tripling for those new homeowners purchasing residences in the flood plain. Public Works Director Alan Scheuerman noted if the City opts out of the FEMA flood plain program, it automatically opts out of receiving any FEMA relief for snow, flood or fire disasters as well. Mr. Scheuerman noted the Senate has tabled the bill passing along the cost increases to homeowners for now. Also, the City participates in the CRS program which is a voluntary community rating system for NFIP communities to help lower flood insurance rates as well.
Mr. Walz would also like for the City to consider a text messaging program that the City could alert residents via text messages for water leaks, snow removal or road closures.
Council member Jolene Niernberger encouraged Council to contact Senator Ostmeyer or Representative Travis Couture-Lovelady to show opposition to Senate Bill 211. She also wanted to compliment the City crews for a job well done on snow removal during the recent snow storm.
ADJOURNMENT
Council member Terry Redetzke moved and Council member Jeff Wolf seconded a motion to adjourn. The motion carried unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 9:38 p.m.
