Ellis considers costs between polling place and mail-in ballot election

ELLIS–Ellis city council members approved a resolution during their Feb. 1 meeting calling for a sales tax election. They also discussed the costs between a polling place election and a mail-in ballot.

During a vote to hire a new Public Works Dept. employee, council member Holly Aschenbrenner said she has a problem with the current pay structure and plans to vote against any new employees until the pay structure is revamped. Mayor Dave McDaniel broke the tie vote, ending in a 4-3 decision to hire Travis Roland.

The complete meeting minutes follow.

ELLIS CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING Minutes February 1, 2016

CALL TO ORDER
Mayor David McDaniel called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. Present were Council members Holly Aschenbrenner, Gary Luea, Heather Luea, Jolene Niernberger, Bob Redger, and John Walz. Also present were Public Works Department Crew Foreman Dan Wickham, City Clerk Amy Burton, Police Chief Taft Yates, City Attorney Olavee Raub, and City Prosecutor Cassy Zeigler. Public Works Director Alan Scheuerman was absent.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
AMENDMENTS TO AGENDA
Mayor David McDaniel requested the addition of an executive session for purposes of non-elected personnel and consideration of a Public Works Department employee under New Business.
Council member Holly Aschenbrenner requested an additional executive session for purposes of non-elected personnel.
PUBLIC PRESENT
Josh Eaton, Glen Keller, and Cheryl Kinderknecht
CONSENT AGENDA
Council member John Walz moved to approve the consent agenda containing the Minutes from the Regular Meeting on January 18, 2016, Bills Ordinance #1990, and the October and November manual journal entries. Council member Holly Aschenbrenner seconded the motion. The Council approved the consent agenda 6-0.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
None
PRESENTATIONS OF AWARDS, PROCLAMATIONS, REQUESTS & PETITIONS (HEARINGS)
None
SPECIAL ORDER
Josh Eaton expressed interest in having the City hire him to perform spot repairs on the City’s brick streets. Mr. Eaton believes the brick streets add to the small town charm of Ellis and they need to be maintained. It would help him out as a business owner as he could perform the repairs during the winter months, opposite his landscape business. Mayor David McDaniel noted that any work hired out must go through a competitive bid process.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Streets: Repair/Maintenance
In light of Public Works Director Alan Scheuerman’s absence, Council member Holly Aschenbrenner asked to table discussion of additional street projects until the next Council meeting.
NEW BUSINESS
Public Works: Acquisition
Public Works Department Crew Foreman Dan Wickham presented bids for a portable welder/generator. Currently, the City is borrowing a portable welder from Mr. Scheuerman, as the City’s welder is inoperable. Mr. Scheuerman has also allowed the City use of his personal generator. Council member Jolene Niernberger moved to purchase the Miller Bobcat 225 welder from Matheson at a cost of $3,589.38 with the cost to be split between the Campground, Special Highway, and General-Parks funds. Council member John Walz seconded the motion. Upon a call for the vote, Council members Jolene Niernberger, Bob Redger and John Walz voted in favor of the motion. Council members Holly Aschenbrenner, Gary Luea, and Heather Luea voted opposed. Mayor David McDaniel broke the tie by voting in favor of the motion; therefore the motion carried 4-3.
Water: Acquisition
Mr. Wickham then presented bids for a utility line locator tool. The Department has been using a rod that is proving to be highly inaccurate. Mr. Wickham recommends the purchase of the Radiodetection RD7100. Midwest Energy and the City of Stockton currently both use that same locator with good results. Council member Holly Aschenbrenner asked if any of vendors have demonstrated their product to the Department. It was the consensus of Council to table consideration of the purchase until further information is received.
Campground: Repair/Maintenance
Council discussed the campground dock project. Mr. Scheuerman has submitted a grant application to the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, but the City won’t know the status of that application until June. Any money spent before the grant becomes available is not eligible for funding under the grant. Council discussed whether to wait for possible grant funding this summer, complete the framing portion now, or forgo the grant application and complete the entire project now. Council member John Walz moved to approve the framing of the campground dock at a cost not to exceed $2,200. Council member Bob Redger seconded the motion. The motion carried 4-2, with Council members Heather Luea, Jolene Niernberger, Bob Redger, and John Walz voting in favor of the motion, and Council members Holly Aschenbrenner and Gary Luea voting opposed.
General Government: Financial
City Attorney Olavee Raub presented a resolution calling for the sales tax election and submitting the proposition. The resolution is the next step in preparing for the sales tax election and states the sample wording for the ballot. Council discussed the cost difference of holding the election at the polling place versus a mail-in ballot. City Clerk Amy Burton will contact the County Clerk for estimates on the cost of holding the election. Council member John Walz moved and Council member Jolene Niernberger seconded a motion to approve Resolution No. 522 calling for the sales tax election and submitting the proposition. The motion carried 6-0.
Executive Session
Mayor David McDaniel called for an executive session for personnel matters of non-elected personnel. A 15-minute executive session was proposed starting at 8:03 p.m. Mayor McDaniel asked for a motion to recess. Council member John Walz moved and Council member Holly Aschenbrenner seconded a motion to recess to executive session for personnel matters of non-elected personnel with the City Attorney, City Prosecutor, Police Chief and City Clerk present. The motion carried 6-0. The Council returned to open session at 8:18 p.m. No action was taken in executive session.
Personnel: Entry
Public Works Department Crew Foreman Dan Wickham requested approval to hire Travis Roland to fill the vacancy in the Public Works Department. Council member John Walz moved to approve the hiring of Travis Roland at a probationary wage of $13.17 per hour effective February 15th. Council member Jolene Niernberger seconded the motion. Upon a call for discussion, Council member Holly Aschenbrenner stated she has a problem with the current pay structure and plans to vote against any new employees until the pay structure is revamped. Upon a call for the vote, Council members Jolene Niernberger, Bob Redger, and John Walz voted in favor of the motion, and Council members Holly Aschenbrenner, Gary Luea, and Heather Luea voted opposed. Mayor McDaniel broke the tie by voting in favor of the motion; therefore, the motion carried 4-3.
REPORTS FROM CITY OFFICIALS
Public Works
Mr. Wickham presented the bids from M&D Excavating and J Corp for the installation of the water and sewer mains for the annexed land on Lakeview Street. The bids were supplied for informational purposes only, as the City has already approved payment of one-half the installation up to $8,000.
The Department has fielded several calls on the trucks being auctioned on the Purple Wave Auction site.
Council member John Walz passed along several compliments he has received regarding the progress of the City’s street rehabilitation program.
Police
Police Chief Taft Yates presented the February staff calendar, the January Monthly Report of Activity, and the 2015 Annual Report. In the Annual Report, Chief Yates reviewed the officer’s training hours, the types of incidents, and a comparison of incidents and written reports for two cities of similar size. Chief Yates also reported the new patrol car should be ready this Wednesday.
City Clerk
City Clerk Amy Burton presented the October and November financial statements consisting of the Statement of Accounts, Treasurer’s Report, and the Security Deposit Worksheet. Ms. Burton also presented an annual report of the Recycling Center with the estimated savings in landfill costs by diverting product from the landfill.
The City has received notice from the Kansas Department of Commerce that the City’s application for a Community Development Block Grant has been awarded. The City will receive $400,000 for a Street Improvement Project.
Clerk: Training
Ms. Burton requested approval to attend the annual Spring Conference in Wichita from March 16th – 18th. Council member Jolene Niernberger moved and Council member Bob Redger seconded a motion to approve Ms. Burton’s attendance at the annual Spring Conference. The motion carried 6-0.
Attorney
City Attorney Olavee Raub reminded Council she will be absent at the February 15th Council meeting. City Prosecutor Cassy Zeigler will attend the meeting in her absence.
Mayor Update and Announcements
Cemetery: Committee
Council member John Walz moved and Council member Holly Aschenbrenner seconded a motion to approve the appointment of Randall Johnson to fill the vacancy on the Cemetery Committee. The motion carried 6-0.
The Ellis County Law Enforcement Center Open House has been rescheduled to February 27th from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
On February 20th from 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. Senator Ralph Ostmeyer, Representative Ken Rahjes, and Representative Sue Boldra will be in Ellis to visit with residents. The meeting will take place at City Hall.
The K-State Research and Extension Office will be holding their Board Leadership Training Series beginning February 23rd.
The PRIDE organization will hold a meeting on February 27th to review information from the First Impressions committee.
Mayor David McDaniel and Council members Jolene Niernberger and John Walz attended Local Government Day in Topeka and had a chance to visit with several legislators. One issue of concern is the proposed tax lid whereby cities will be forced to adopt their budget without even knowing their tax valuations from the County.
Council member Holly Aschenbrenner and Public Works Director Alan Scheuerman met with representatives from Midwest Energy regarding the City’s Christmas lights. The City has approximately 57 units and it would cost $400 – $500 to replace each unit. As an alternative,
the Ellis High School Ag teacher has offered for her class to weld shapes for the City that the City could then add tinsel and lights to. The class is offering to do this at no charge to the City; all they ask for is the ability to place FFA Welcome Signs at the entrance into town. The City would only have the cost of the materials. Midwest Energy has a grant available in the fall that could help fund the project.
EXECUTIVE SESSIONS
Mayor David McDaniel called for an executive session for personnel matters of non-elected personnel. A 10-minute executive session was proposed starting at 8:57 p.m. Mayor McDaniel asked for a motion to recess. Council member Holly Aschenbrenner moved and Council member Bob Redger seconded a motion to recess to executive session for personnel matters of non-elected personnel with the City Attorney present. The motion carried 6-0. The Council returned to open session at 9:07 p.m. No action was taken in executive session.
Mayor David McDaniel called for an additional executive session for personnel matters of non-elected personnel. A 5-minute executive session was proposed starting at 9:08 p.m. Mayor McDaniel asked for a motion to recess. Council member Holly Aschenbrenner moved and Council member Heather Luea seconded a motion to recess to executive session for personnel matters of non-elected personnel with the City Attorney present. The motion carried 5-1, with Council member Jolene Niernberger opposed. The Council returned to open session at 9:13 p.m. No action was taken in executive session.
ADJOURNMENT
Council member John Walz moved and Council member Jolene Niernberger seconded a motion to adjourn the meeting. The motion carried 6-0. The meeting adjourned at 9:14 p.m.