The owners of the Ellis Golf Course, a group of 20 investors, may be selling the course because of because of financial concerns. Hays Post incorrectly reported the group was interested in purchasing the golf course. We apologize for the error.
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ELLIS–The waterline improvement project in Ellis is going more slowly than anticipated.
A letter from APAC Construction Manager Alan Moore cited incorrect maps, significant rainfall and unexpected installation of a gas line as reasons for the delay. The work was to have been completed by Sept. 30.
City council members voted four to two during their meeting Monday night to grant a deadline extension to Nov. 23.
Owners of the Ellis Golf Course, a group of 20 investors, may be selling the course because of because of financial concerns. Group representative Ron Keithley told the council the city needs to consider providing financial help with utility rates, the purchase of chemicals and equipment, and some maintenance labor. Mayor Dave McDaniel told Keithley the city will set up a committee to meet with the investors. The golf club is tentatively set to close in December.
The Sept. 19 complete meeting minutes follow.
ELLIS CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING Minutes September 19, 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, Fire Chief Denis Vine, and City Attorney Olavee Raub.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
AMENDMENTS TO AGENDA
Mayor David McDaniel requested an executive session at the end of the meeting.
PUBLIC PRESENT
Steve Ferland, Buck Driggs, Nan Brown, Don Younger Sr., Glen Keller, Sharon Disney, Randy Honas, Dean Gottschalk, Neil DeWerff, Art Gross, Ron Keithley, Cheryl Kinderknecht, Dena Patee (arrived at 7:34 p.m.), and Brian Frickey (arrived at 7:41 p.m.)
CONSENT AGENDA
Council member Jolene Niernberger moved to approve the consent agenda containing the Minutes from the Regular Meeting on September 6, 2016 and Bills Ordinance #2005. Council member Bob Redger seconded the motion. Mayor McDaniel noted a change in the minutes regarding the Tourism Committee. Dena Patee should be listed rather than Art Honas. Upon a call for the vote, the Council approved the consent agenda 6-0.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Ron Keithley expressed concerns to Council regarding drainage on the west side of his residence on Cedar Lane.
PRESENTATIONS OF AWARDS, PROCLAMATIONS, REQUESTS & PETITIONS (HEARINGS)
None
SPECIAL ORDER
General Government: Contracts
Ron Keithley, representing the group of twenty investors for the Ellis Golf Club, spoke to Council regarding the current lease agreement with the City for the golf course land. Due to the Club’s current financial situation, the Club has been put up for sale immediately. Mr. Keithley inquired if the City would be willing to sell the land which houses the outbuildings, if a potential buyer is interested. Mr. Keithley expressed that the Club has received no financial help from the City, and if a potential buyer is to be successful, the City needs to consider financial help with utility rates, the purchase of chemicals and equipment, and also provide some labor for the maintenance of the course. The Club is tentatively set to close in December. Mayor McDaniel stated the City will set up a committee to meet with the investors.
Streets: Financial
Dean Gottschalk, representing Finish Line Lease Service, spoke to Council regarding an unpaid bill with the City. In March, Council approved their bid to haul up to 1,200 ton of street material from the Ellis County stockpiles to the City. The driver from Finish Line routinely pulled material from the wrong pile, and upon the County calling Public Works Director Alan Scheuerman, requested the material be brought back and material taken from the correct pile. Mr. Scheuerman stated he informed Finish Line three separate times which pile to pull the material from. Mr. Gottschalk is requesting compensation for having to haul the material back to the County. Council member Bob Redger moved and Council member Jolene Niernberger seconded a motion to approve payment of the bill from Finish Line Lease Service in the amount of $2,272.60 for the loads hauled back to the County stockpiles. The motion carried 6-0.
General Government: Committee
John Walz provided an update from the PRIDE committee. The first project will be the cleanup of bushes and shrubs in Memorial Park. Volunteers will work in the park October 3rd – 7th. Council member Bob Redger complimented Public Works General Maintenance worker Joe Kreutzer on the trimming of the trees and bushes in the City parks thus far.
Fire: Special Project
Fire Chief Denis Vine reported that all of the SCBAs and fire truck pumps have been tested and all passed inspection. On September 17th, Ellis hosted a mutual aid drill with County emergency responders and fire departments, and also City of Ellis Police, Public Works, and Clerk’s offices. The drill was that a tornado hit Ellis and the responders had different rescue scenarios to work through. In all, almost 50 individuals participated in the drill. Chief Vine also noted that sign up is available at the City office for a free smoke detector. The Fire Department will install the smoke detectors and instruct residents on fire safety. The detectors are available through a grant from the Red Cross.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Water: Repair/Maintenance
Buck Driggs, Driggs Design Group, updated Council on the progress of the Waterline Improvement Project. Council expressed frustration with the project timeline and the length of time roads have had open holes. Mr. Driggs shared a letter from APAC Construction Manager Alan Moore, which explained many of the obstacles encountered with the project, including incorrect maps on the locations of the water lines, significant rainfall, and Midwest Energy installing a gas line right where the waterline was expected to be installed. Mr. Driggs expressed gratitude to APAC for keeping change orders to a minimum, as there have been many things APAC could have charged the City with, and chose not to. The original contract provided APAC with 150 working days and a project completion date of September 30th. They have used 72 of the 150 working days and are requesting a project deadline extension to November 23rd. Mr. Driggs and Council both expressed they would like to see APAC crews on site more to complete the project. Council member John Walz moved and Council member Jolene Niernberger seconded a motion to allow APAC to extend the project completion date to November 23rd. The motion carried 4-2, with Council members Holly Aschenbrenner and Gary Luea opposed.
Streets: Repair/Maintenance
Council discussed bids from Driggs Design Group and Penco for a topographic survey and engineering design for the street drainage issue on South Walnut Street. City Attorney Olavee Raub and the Council discussed the City’s obligations, and if correction of the drainage falls on the developer, the property owner, or the City. Ms. Raub will meet with Public Works Director Alan Scheuerman to discuss the several drainage issues brought before Council recently.
General Government: Agenda
City Clerk Amy Burton reviewed proposals for laptops and application software for electronic council packets. To convert to electronic council packets would cost the City approximately $6,000. There would be a recurring cost of $3,000 per year to subscribe to the document management system application. Conversion to electronic packets was not budgeted for in 2016 or 2017; therefore, Council decided to table further consideration until closer to year end when budget availability can be determined.
NEW BUSINESS
Water: Repair/Maintenance
Council reviewed the third set of Pay Estimates for work performed to date on the Waterline Improvement Project. Council member Gary Luea moved and Council member Bob Redger seconded a motion to approve Pay Estimate#3 to APAC in the amount of $81,748.46. The motion carried 6-0.
General Government: Committees
Mayor David McDaniel requested Council approval for appointments to unexpired committee positions. Council member John Walz moved and Council member Gary Luea seconded a motion to appoint Brian Raub to the Senior Advisory Committee and Monte Cox to the Trades Board. The motion carried 6-0.
Streets: Repair/Maintenance
Public Works Director Alan Scheuerman reviewed maps of the City’s sand streets with hopes of making improvements to these streets by adding 2” of millings as time permits. There would be no additional cost as the City already has the millings in inventory. Council member Jolene Niernberger moved to approve adding 2” of millings to the City’s sand streets. Council member Bob Redger seconded the motion. The motion carried 6-0.
REPORTS FROM CITY OFFICIALS
Public Works
Water
Mr. Scheuerman presented the most recent Well Level spreadsheet and Comparative Water Report for the period July 10th to August 10th.
It was the consensus of Council to further explore widening the culvert on 10th Street. Mr. Scheuerman will check with other government agencies for possible funding assistance for the hydrology study.
The Governor’s Water Conference will be held November 14th – 15th in Manhattan.
Sanitation: Policy
Due to significant rainfall this summer, Council inquired if the grass cart season could be extended past October 1st. Council member Holly Aschenbrenner moved and Council member Gary Luea seconded a motion to extend the grass cart pickup to November 7th. The motion carried 6-0.
Mr. Scheuerman will contact Travis Kohlrus, Ellis Industrial Development Corporation, regarding the City providing assistance in the cleanup of the old motel property.
Streets
Council requested Public Works assist Ellis High School with spreading dirt around the building foundation.
The Spruce Villa Board complimented the Public Works Department for the work completed on their parking lot.
Police
Police Chief Taft Yates encouraged all Council members to attend Officer Smith’s graduation from the Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center on September 30th in Hutchinson.
City Clerk
Tourism: Repair/Maintenance
Lamar Signs has reported that the City’s billboard sign at mile marker 211 needs replaced. Council member Bret Andries moved to replace the sign at a cost of $864 with funds to come from tourism monies. Council member John Walz seconded the motion. The motion carried 6-0.
General Government: Training
City Clerk Amy Burton reminded Council of the League’s Annual Conference on October 8th – 10th and the League’s course on “Ethics & Civility” on November 4th.
Attorney
Mayor Update and Announcements
Mayor David McDaniel thanked those Council members and staff who attended the training session with Gina Smith on September 14th.
Mayor read a letter from Ellis County Administrator Phillip Smith-Hanes inviting Council to meet with the County Commissioners to discuss topics of joint interest.
Council members Bob Redger and Gary Luea volunteered to meet with the Ellis Golf Club investors as the City representatives.
Council discussed holding a community forum event to allow residents to meet with the Governing body in a relaxed setting. It was the consensus of the Council to hold an appreciation event for City committee volunteers in the fall, with the community forum to be held next spring.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
Mayor David McDaniel called for an executive session for personnel matters of non-elected personnel. A 7-minute executive session was proposed starting at 10:01 p.m. Mayor McDaniel asked for a motion to recess. Council member John Walz 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 10:08 p.m. No action was taken in executive session.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
Mayor David McDaniel called for an executive session for personnel matters of non-elected personnel. A 10-minute executive session was proposed starting at 10:09 p.m. Mayor McDaniel asked for a motion to recess. Council member Bob Redger moved and Council member Bret Andries 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 10:19 p.m. No action was taken in executive session.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
Mayor David McDaniel called for an executive session for personnel matters of non-elected personnel. A 5-minute executive session was proposed starting at 10:20 p.m. Mayor McDaniel asked for a motion to recess. Council member John Walz 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 and Public Works Director present. The motion carried 6-0. The Council returned to open session at 10:25 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 10:26 p.m.
Today Mostly sunny, with a high near 92. Breezy, with a south southwest wind 10 to 20 mph.
