ELLIS–Membership appointments were approved Sept. 6 by the Ellis City Council to the new Ellis Tourism Committee. Council members also approved a contract for installing WiFi in Ellis City Hall and unanimously voted to rescind the Water Warning status for the city.
The complete Sept. 6, 2016 meeting minutes follow.
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 City Clerk Amy Burton, Police Chief Taft Yates, and City Attorney Olavee Raub. Public Works Director Alan Scheuerman was absent.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
AMENDMENTS TO AGENDA
Fire Chief Denis Vine’s monthly report will be moved to the September 19th council meeting. Mayor David McDaniel requested an executive session at the end of the meeting.
PUBLIC PRESENT
Philip Martin, Sharon Disney, Glen Keller, Cheryl Kinderknecht, Travis Kohlrus, Dena Patee, and Sue Werth.
CONSENT AGENDA
Council member John Walz moved to approve the consent agenda containing the Minutes from the Regular Meeting on August 15, 2016, Bills Ordinance #2004, and the February and March manual journal entries. Council member Holly Aschenbrenner seconded the motion. The Council approved the consent agenda 6-0.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Mayor David McDaniel read a brief statement clarifying the purpose of the Public Comments section of the meeting. Public Comments is where the public may speak to the governing body for up to a maximum of five minutes. The governing body listens, but normally does not interact with the speaker, as this is the speaker’s time. Any discussion on a speaker’s comments may be made at the end of the meeting or added to a future agenda.
PRESENTATIONS OF AWARDS, PROCLAMATIONS, REQUESTS & PETITIONS (HEARINGS)
None
SPECIAL ORDER
Sewer: Petition
Sue Werth, 502 W. 3rd Street, requested permission to tap into the City’s sewer system. Ms. Werth currently accepts City sanitation service, but not water or sewer service. City Attorney Olavee Raub noted that City Code allows residents to tap into the sewer system without having City water service. It was the consensus of the Council to allow the tap into the City’s sewer system, contingent on Ms. Werth paying the sewer tap fee.
Economic Development: Committee
Travis Kohlrus and Philip Martin updated the governing body on recent developments with the Ellis Industrial Development Corporation. Mr. Kohlrus discussed various potential development sites on the north hill with both retail and fast food establishments expressing interest in locating in Ellis. The EIDC purchased the old motel on 2nd Street earlier this year, with plans to raze the building and vacate the lot to boost interest for new development. By consensus, the Council agreed to assist with the cleanup of the property with in-kind donations of labor and materials.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
General Government: Contracts
Council discussed proposals to install WIFI at City Hall from Golden Belt Telephone and Eagle Communications. In conjunction with that discussion, Council considered the costs associated with possibly transitioning to electronic Council packets. City Clerk Amy Burton presented cost estimates for laptops and packet software. After further discussion, Council member Holly Aschenbrenner moved to accept the proposal from Eagle Communications for the installation of WIFI at City Hall at a cost of $20.08 per month. Council member Bob Redger seconded the motion. The motion carried 4-2, with Council members Bret Andries and Gary Luea opposed. Council directed Ms. Burton to provide more information on the BoardDocs software application and laptop proposals.
General Government: Policy
City Attorney Olavee Raub presented the revised Citizen Complaint Policy. Council member Gary Luea moved and Council member Bob Redger seconded a motion to approve the policy as presented. Upon a call for discussion, Council member Jolene Niernberger expressed concerns that anonymous complaints could be investigated, in that if a situation is serious enough to warrant investigation, then the complainant needs to be disclosed. Ms. Raub noted that investigation of anonymous complaints is discretionary and would depend on the totality of the circumstances. Ms. Niernberger also inquired about the provision to allow an appeal to the Council. Ms. Raub noted the Council would be afforded the same information as the investigatory panel in order to make an informed decision. Upon a call for the vote, the motion carried 4-2, with Council members Gary Luea and Holly Aschenbrenner voting opposed.
Water: Policy
Council discussed a proposed resolution recalling a water warning for the City. Council stressed that watering of vegetation is still prohibited between the hours of noon and 7:00 p.m. and the waste of water is still prohibited. Residents are still encouraged to practice water conversation measures. Council member John Walz moved and Council member Holly Aschenbrenner seconded a motion to approve Resolution No. 530 recalling a water warning for the City. The motion carried 6-0.
NEW BUSINESS
Tourism: Committee
Mayor David McDaniel requested approval to appoint the following to the newly formed Tourism Committee: Holly Aschenbrenner, Cheryl Kinderknecht, Pauleen Edmonds, Guy Windholz, Swede Swenson, Chad Pritchett, David McDaniel, Travis Kohlrus, Glen Keller, and Art Honas. Council member John Walz moved and Council member Jolene Niernberger seconded a motion to approve the Mayor’s appointments to the Tourism Committee. The motion carried 6-0, with Council member Holly Aschenbrenner abstaining.
Campground: Committee
Mayor McDaniel noted the City already has a Campground Committee to task with exploring the campground expansion project. Those members include Police Chief Taft Yates, Public Works Director Alan Scheuerman, Grounds Maintenance Worker Travis Roland, Assistant City Clerk Charlene Weber, Mayor David McDaniel, and Mike Grogan, At-Large.
General Government: Committee
City Clerk Amy Burton reviewed a letter from the League of Kansas Municipalities providing the City an opportunity to register a voting delegate and an alternate voting delegate to represent the City at the League’s Annual Conference in October. Council member Jolene Niernberger moved and Council member Holly Aschenbrenner seconded a motion to elect John Walz as the LKM voting delegate. The motion carried 6-0, with Council member John Walz abstaining. Council member John Walz moved and Council member Bob Redger seconded a motion to elect Jolene Niernberger as the LKM alternate voting delegate. The motion carried 6-0, with Council member Jolene Niernberger abstaining.
Sewer: Policy
City Clerk Amy Burton presented the Fiscal Sustainability Plan for the City’s wastewater treatment plant. The Plan is required by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment as part of the financing agreement for modifications mandated by the State. The Plan establishes rate structures, reserve funding levels, and replacement schedules for plant equipment. Council member John Walz moved and Council member Gary Luea seconded a motion to approve the Fiscal Sustainability Plan as presented. The motion carried 6-0.
General Government: Repair/Maintenance
Don’s Electric recently performed an emergency repair at the dog shelter. Moles chewed through the electrical wire cutting power to the shelter. Council member John Walz moved and Council member Bob Redger seconded a motion to ratify the repair to the dog shelter by Don’s Electric & Rewind in the amount of $2,850 with funds to come from the General Fund. The motion carried 6-0.
Sewer: Contract
At the last meeting, Council approved the purchase of the Gorman Rupp sewer lift station from Haynes Equipment. City Attorney Olavee Raub recommended the Council also ratify Public Works Director Alan Scheuerman’s signature on the “Terms and Conditions” part of the contract. Council member John Walz moved and Council member Jolene Niernberger seconded a motion to ratify Mr. Scheuerman’s signature on the Haynes Equipment contract for the Gorman Rupp sewer lift station. The motion carried 6-0.
REPORTS FROM CITY OFFICIALS
Public Works
Council reviewed correspondence from Union Pacific Railroad regarding the drainage culvert at 10th Street & Spruce. Council will table further discussion until Mr. Scheuerman is available at the next meeting.
Police
Police Chief Taft Yates presented the Activity Report for August and the September staff calendar. Officer Smith will graduate from the Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center on September 30th.
City Clerk: Financial
City Clerk Amy Burton presented the Financial Statements consisting of the Statement of Accounts, Treasurer’s Report, and Security Deposit Worksheet for February and March. The July Health Insurance Savings Report was also reviewed.
City Clerk: Training
Council member Jolene Niernberger moved and Council member Bret Andries seconded a motion to approve Ms. Burton and Assistant City Clerk Charlene Weber to attend the Municipal Clerk’s Academy in Wichita. The motion carried 6-0.
Ms. Burton reminded Council of the training workshop with Gina Smith on September 14th. The League’s Annual Conference is October 8th – 10th. The League will also be holding a course on Ethics and Civility on November 4th.
Attorney
Mayor Update and Announcements
EXECUTIVE SESSIONS
Mayor David McDaniel called for an executive session to discuss property acquisition. A 10-minute executive session was proposed starting at 9:23 p.m. Mayor McDaniel called for a motion to recess. Council member John Walz moved and Council member Bob Redger seconded a motion to recess to executive session to discuss property acquisition with the City Attorney present. The motion carried 6-0. The Council returned to open session at 9:33 p.m. No action was taken in executive session.
ADJOURNMENT
Council member Bob Redger moved and Council member Holly Aschenbrenner seconded a motion to adjourn the meeting. The motion carried 6-0. The meeting adjourned at 9:34 p.m.