ELLIS–Several Fort Hays State University Leadership students spent their spring semester working on various projects for the city of Ellis. Mayor David McDaniel recognized their efforts and thanked the students during the May 2 Ellis city council meeting.

In other business, the council approved a motion for Sargent Drilling to install test wells on two sites permitted by the Kansas Division of Water Resources to explore as potential new water sources for Ellis.

The complete meeting minutes follow.

ELLIS CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING MINUTES MAY 2, 2016

CALL TO ORDER
Mayor David McDaniel called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. Present were Council members Bret Andries, Holly Aschenbrenner, Gary Luea, Jolene Niernberger, Bob Redger, and John Walz. Also present were Public Works Director Alan Scheuerman, City Clerk Amy Burton, Police Chief Taft Yates, and City Attorney Olavee Raub.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
AMENDMENTS TO AGENDA
None
PUBLIC PRESENT
Buck Driggs, Cheryl Kinderknecht, Glen Keller, Nancy Patel, Kristine Tippin, Charlene Weber, Janeen Cox, Windy McClung, Charles Dick, Casey Thomlinson, Ty McCulloch, Amy Varner, and Taylor Swarts
CONSENT AGENDA
Council member John Walz moved to approve the consent agenda containing the Minutes from the Regular Meeting on April 18, 2016, Bills Ordinance #1996, and the December 2015 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)
Personnel: Special Project
Mayor David McDaniel presented a Citizenship Award to Nancy Patel, Fort Hays State University student, for her senior project of performing a Human Resource Audit for the City. Her project focused on employee recruitment, on-boarding, and termination.
Mayor McDaniel also presented a Citizenship Award to Kristine Tippin, Fort Hays State University student, for her senior project of developing a Wellness Program for the City. Ms. Tippin explained the benefits of a Wellness Program and how to implement and evaluate such a program.
SPECIAL ORDER
Water: Special Project
The Fort Hays State University Leadership 310 Team consisting of Amy Varner, Charles Dick, Casey Thomlinson, and Ty McCulluch, presented their semester project on educating Ellis residents about the sales tax election. They also were tasked with developing a mission statement for the City Clerk’s office and Public Work’s Department. Mayor David McDaniel presented each of the team members with a Citizenship Award recognizing their efforts.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Water: Repair/Maintenance
Buck Driggs, Driggs Design Group, gave an update on the Waterline Improvement Project. The preconstruction meeting was held on April 18th and work should begin in early May. APAC has requested a no-cost change order on Cottonwood Street. The order would allow APAC to bore, rather than trench, the utility line which could disrupt the root system of the trees lining the high school track. Boring the utility line would also be less disruptive to residents. Council member Bob Redger moved and Council member Holly Aschenbrenner seconded a motion to approve the change order requested by APAC to bore the utility lines on Cottonwood Street at no additional cost to the City. The motion carried 6-0.
NEW BUSINESS
General Government: Licenses/Permits
Council member John Walz moved to approve the Fireworks Permit Application from the Ellis Baptist Youth Group and Ellis Soccer Group to sell fireworks at 812 Washington Street. Council member Jolene Niernberger seconded the motion. Upon a call for discussion, Council member Gary Luea noted that it didn’t make sense to allow the sale of fireworks when Council could decide later to prohibit the discharge of fireworks. Upon a call for the vote, the motion carried 5-1, with Mr. Luea voting opposed.
General Government: Financial
City Attorney Olavee Raub presented the proposed ordinance levying the one cent sales tax approved at the special election on April 5th. Council member John Walz moved and Council member Bob Redger seconded a motion to adopt Ordinance No. 1403 levying a one cent sales tax effective October 1, 2016. The motion carried 6-0.
General Government: Contracts
Council member John Walz moved to approve the 2017 Budget Contract with Adams, Brown, Beran & Ball, Chtd. in the amount of $4,100. Council member Jolene Niernberger seconded the motion. The motion carried 6-0.
General Government: Contracts
City Clerk Amy Burton presented a proposed agreement with Standard & Poor’s for credit rating services for the 2016 Refunding Bonds. The service was estimated at $12,000 in the Preliminary Refinancing Analysis. Council member John Walz moved and Council member Bob Redger seconded a motion to approve the agreement with Standard & Poor’s for bond credit rating services in the amount of $10,750. The motion carried 6-0.
Sewer: Repair/Maintenance
Public Works Director Alan Scheuerman presented two bids for a sludge auger tube at the Wastewater Treatment Plant. Council member John Walz moved and Council member Gary Luea seconded a motion to accept the low bid from Conveyor Engineering & Manufacturing for the sludge auger tube in the amount of $1,930, with funds to come from the Sewer Depreciation Fund. The motion carried 6-0.
Personnel: Benefits
City Clerk Amy Burton presented the renewal rates for the City’s dental insurance for employees. The dental rates have actually decreased approximately 5.4%. Council member Bob Redger moved and Council member Bret Andries seconded a motion to approve the Blue Cross Blue Shield dental insurance plan for employees for the 2016-2017 plan year. The motion carried 6-0.
Water Exploration: Special Project
Council discussed the progress on exploring for additional water sources for the City. The new site has been approved by the Division of Water Resources, and the City is ready to revisit the two permitted sites to install test wells. Council directed Public Works Director Alan Scheuerman to start soliciting engineering bids for the project. Council member John Walz moved and Council member Bob Redger seconded a motion to have Sargent Drilling install the 5” test wells on the two permitted sites with funds to come from the Capital Improvement – Water Exploration Fund. The motion carried 6-0.
REPORTS FROM CITY OFFICIALS
Public Works: Training
Mr. Scheuerman updated Council on recent training he attended regarding building inspections and flood plain management.
Police
Police Chief Taft Yates presented the Monthly Activity Report for April and the staff calendar for May. Officer Smith will begin the Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center on June 20th and will graduate in September. Chief Yates noted the Honor Bell Foundation will stop in Ellis on May 7th. The Foundation hopes to place a 1,000 lb. brass bell in every national cemetery. Chief Yates hopes to return to full duty by June 1st.
City Clerk
City Clerk Amy Burton presented the December 2015 financial statements consisting of the Statement of Accounts, Treasurer’s Report, and the Security Deposit Worksheet.
Tourism: Special Project
The Tourism Task Force has requested donation items for the Ellis Get Away Basket as part of their promotional event All Aboard for Planes, Trains, and Automobiles. Council member Jolene Niernberger moved and Council member John Walz seconded a motion to donate a one-night stay at the Lakeside Campground and four daily swim passes for the Ellis Get Away Basket. The motion carried 6-0.
Attorney
Council member Gary Luea inquired on the progress on property salvage yards around town. City Attorney Olavee Raub will provide an update from Cassy Ziegler, City Prosecutor, for the next Council meeting.
Mayor Update and Announcements
Mayor David McDaniel reminded everyone of the June 1st filing deadline for City Council positions. Three Council member seats are up for election. Interested parties will need to file at the County Clerk’s office.
Mayor McDaniel and Council members Jolene Niernberger and John Walz provided an update from the Mayor’s Conference and Leadership Summit they recently attended in Junction City. One highlight of the conference was Mayor McDaniel’s nomination for Mayor of the Year. Mayor McDaniel was also elected as the Second Vice President for the Kansas Mayor’s Association.
Mayor McDaniel reported that the League of Kansas Municipalities will hold training on KOMA/KORA in Hays on August 5th.
Doug Shaw has been nominated Chairman of the Ellis PRIDE Committee.
ADJOURNMENT
Council member Bob Redger moved and Council member Bret Andries seconded a motion to adjourn the meeting. The motion carried 6-0. The meeting adjourned at 9:25 p.m.