ELLIS–Longtime employees of the city of Ellis were honored by the mayor and city council members during their Monday evening meeting.

Mayor David McDaniel presented annual service awards to Charlene Weber – 30 years; Steve Homburg – 15 years; Joyce McCollam – 5 years; Chris Krom – 5 years; and Jake Schartz – 5 years. Danny Wickham was not present to receive his award for 20 years of service.

In other business, the council approved a $6,000 purchase of 20 new fire helmets as requested by Fire Chief Denis Vine. Following a presentation by the Ellis Community Foundation, the city agreed to partner with the group in a fundraiser for a new water slide feature at the municipal swimming pool.

The complete Oct. 17 council meeting minutes follow.

ELLIS CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING
Minutes
October 17, 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, 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 Prosecutor Cassy Zeigler. Council member Bob Redger and City Attorney Olavee Raub were absent.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
AMENDMENTS TO AGENDA
Mayor David McDaniel added to the agenda consideration of sewer line repairs under New Business and an Executive Session at the end of the meeting.
PUBLIC PRESENT
Steve Homburg, Nan Brown, Chris Krom, Danna Krom, Mark Bongartz, Dena Patee, Ed Weber, Charlene Weber, Jake Schartz, Sharon Disney, Cheryl Kinderknecht, Mark Flax, Glen Keller, Pauleen Edmonds, and Wanda Weber (arrived at 7:35 p.m.).
CONSENT AGENDA
Council member Jolene Niernberger moved to approve the consent agenda containing the Minutes from the Regular Meeting on October 3, 2016, with the date correction as noted, and Bills Ordinance #2007. Council member Gary Luea seconded the motion. The Council approved the consent agenda 5-0.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Mark Bongartz asked for Council to consider designating a place in town for archery hunters to practice.
PRESENTATIONS OF AWARDS, PROCLAMATIONS, REQUESTS & PETITIONS (HEARINGS)
Personnel: Award
Mayor David McDaniel presented annual service awards to the following employees: Charlene Weber – 30 years; Steve Homburg – 15 years; Joyce McCollam – 5 years; Chris Krom – 5 years; and Jake Schartz – 5 years. Danny Wickham was not present to receive his award for 20 years of service.
SPECIAL ORDER
Fire: Acquisition
Fire Chief Denis Vine reported that several volunteer firemen presented to kindergarten through third grade students during Fire Prevention Week. Two bids were presented for new fire helmets. The current helmets are over 15 years old; however, fire helmets normally only have a life expectancy of 5 years. Council member John Walz moved and Council member Jolene Niernberger seconded a motion to approve the low bid from Danko Emergency Equipment for 20 new fire helmets at a cost of $6,035.80, with funds to come from the Fire Department budget. The motion carried 5-0.
Swimming Pool: Special Project
Dena Patee and Pauleen Edmonds, representing the Ellis Community Foundation, proposed a fundraiser to purchase and install a double water slide feature for the Ellis Municipal Pool. The slides have safety netting and can be moved to a new pool, if one is later constructed. Council member Holly Aschenbrenner moved and Council member John Walz seconded a motion to partner with the Ellis Community Foundation on a fundraising project for a water slide feature for the pool. The motion carried 5-0.
Tourism: Committee
Dena Patee reported results from the recent “All Aboard for Ellis” advertising campaign. Both the Days Inn hotel and the Chrysler Museum saw at least a 65% increase in visitors during May and June. The Committee recently held a Coffee and Calendars event and is currently working on a radio and television advertising campaign for 2017.
Public Works: Violation
Mark Flax read a portion of a mowing violation letter he received in August 2015 regarding his rental property at 305 E. 14th. He questioned why he received a mowing violation letter for fireweeds, yet the school district is allowed to keep their grass around the tennis courts overgrown without violation.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Street: Repair/Maintenance
Public Works Director Alan Scheuerman reviewed correspondence received from Kelly Klausmeyer from the Natural Resources Conservation Service regarding the topography in the area of 10th Street and Spruce. The report indicated water would have to be 5 feet above the railroad tracks before it would back up into that location.
NEW BUSINESS
Sewer: Special Project
City Clerk Amy Burton presented the sixth set of pay applications for work performed to date on the Wastewater Treatment Plant Project. Council member Holly Aschenbrenner moved and Council member John Walz seconded a motion to approve Pay Application #6 to APAC in the amount of $103,315.95. The motion carried 4-1, with Council member Gary Luea opposed.
Council member John Walz moved to approve the payment to Northwest Kansas Planning and Development Corporation in the amount of $1,500.00 for KDHE loan administration services. Council member Jolene Niernberger seconded the motion. The motion carried 5-0.
Council member Holly Aschenbrenner moved and Council member John Walz seconded a motion to approve Pay Request #6 to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment in the amount of $104,815.95. The motion carried 5-0.
Council member John Walz moved to authorize the Mayor to sign the necessary pay documents for the Wastewater Treatment Plant project. Council member Jolene Niernberger seconded the motion. The motion carried 5-0.
General Government: Contract
City Clerk Amy Burton presented the 3-year renewal service agreement from Glassman Corporation for the City’s HVAC system. Council member John Walz moved and Council member Jolene Niernberger seconded a motion to approve the 3-year service agreement as presented at a cost of $1,580.00 per year. Upon a call for discussion, Council member Holly Aschenbrenner suggested we bid out the service contract to local vendors. Council member Bret Andries added that the contract would need to be with a certified Carrier dealer in order to not negate the warranty. Upon a call for the vote, Council members Jolene Niernberger and John Walz voted in favor of the motion, Council members Holly Aschenbrenner and Gary Luea voted opposed, and Council member Bret Andries abstained, due to perceived conflict of interest. The Mayor voted in favor of the motion; therefore, the motion carried 4-2.
General Government: Finance
City Clerk Amy Burton presented the USDA General Obligation Bond Ordinance and Resolution for review. Council member John Walz moved and Council member Holly Aschenbrenner seconded a motion to adopt Ordinance No. 1410 authorizing the issuance of general obligation bonds in the amount of $567,000 for the Waterline Improvement Project. The motion carried 5-0.
Council member John Walz then moved to approve Resolution No. 531 authorizing the sale of the general obligation bonds. Council member Jolene Niernberger seconded the motion. The motion carried 5-0.
Sewer: Repair/Maintenance
Public Works Director Alan Scheuerman reported that during the annual sewer cleaning Mayer Specialty Services found two areas of the City’s sewer lines in need of urgent repair. Mobilization fees can be minimized if Mayer performs the repairs while they are in town for the cleaning. Council member Holly Aschenbrenner moved to approve the proposals from Mayer Specialty Services to perform the heavy cleaning and repairs to the sewer lines in an amount not to exceed $16,000, with funds to come from the Sewer Depreciation Reserve and Sewer Utility funds. The motion carried 5-0.
REPORTS FROM CITY OFFICIALS
Public Works
Public Works Director Alan Scheuerman presented the Comparative Water Report for the period August 10th – September 10th. The Governor’s Water Conference is November 14th – 15th in Manhattan.
Sewer: Training
Aeromod is offering an operator training course in Manhattan at no cost to the City. Council member John Walz moved and Council member Jolene Niernberger seconded a motion to allow Steve Homburg and Joe Kreutzer to attend the Aeromod course in Manhattan November 1st – 2nd. The motion carried 5-0.
Public Works: Training
Council member Bret Andries moved to allow Danny Wickham, Brad Leiker, and Jake Schartz to attend confined space and open trench certification training in Manhattan October 26th – 27th. Council member John Walz seconded the motion. The motion carried 5-0.
Police
Police Chief Taft Yates discussed the request made during Public Comment by Mr. Bongartz regarding designating a place for archery hunter’s to practice shooting. Uniform Public Offense Code Section 10.6 prohibits the firing of any projectile weapon within the city limits except within the confines of a building; therefore, State law prohibits the act, not City ordinance. Council discussed possibly designating an area for archery shooting at the current police department gun range. Chief Yates will report back on the possibility of using the gun range.
City Clerk
City Clerk Amy Burton presented the draft minutes from the recent Campground and Tourism Committee meetings. The September health insurance savings report was also reviewed. Ms. Burton reminded the Council that the City offices will be closed October 20th for the annual inventory.
Attorney
Mayor Update and Announcements
Mayor David McDaniel acknowledged two letters received opposing the closing of 9th Street for the Trunk or Treat event on October 31st. A revised event request only partially closing the street has since been received for consideration.
Mayor McDaniel also noted the receipt of a letter from Ellis High School Golf Coach Matt Carroll voicing support for the golf course. City representatives will try to schedule a meeting with the Ellis Golf Club investors this week.
Mayor McDaniel and Council members Jolene Niernberger and John Walz shared with Council information on the numerous training sessions they attended at the recent League Annual Conference in Overland Park. They were also able to visit with numerous vendors and other City representatives about building inspections, municipal pools, and municipal golf courses. The City will host a League training session on February 23rd.
Council member Gary Luea asked City Prosecutor Cassy Zeigler for updates on several ongoing court cases.
ADJOURNMENT
Council member John Walz moved and Council member Holly Aschenbrenner seconded a motion to adjourn the meeting. The motion carried 5-0. The meeting adjourned at 10:16 p.m.