ELLIS – The city of Ellis continued discussion of enforcement of property violations, while also confirming Monday night the final details for condemnation of two properties.

Following two executive sessions, council members voted unanimously to accept the Ellis Golf Club’s counteroffer of $1,500 for the purchase of 1.67 acres of land.

Fire Chief Dustin Vine reported firefighter Brianna Witchey will write several grants for replacement of pagers.  Vine said EFD has 12 pagers, which are 30 years old, for its 20 firefighters.

The complete meeting minutes follow.

 

ELLIS CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING

Minutes

February 19, 2018

CALL TO ORDER

Mayor David McDaniel called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. Present were Council members Bret Andries, Holly Aschenbrenner, Susan Eaton, Jolene Niernberger, Dena Patee, and Bob Redger.  Also present were Public Works Director Alan Scheuerman, City Clerk Amy Burton, Police Chief Taft Yates, Fire Chief Dustin Vine, City Attorney Olavee Raub, and City Prosecutor Cassy Zeigler.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

AMENDMENTS TO AGENDA

None

PUBLIC PRESENT

Dean Gottschalk, Nancy Wright, Glen Keller, Mark Flax, Myles Vine, Westin Vine, Cheryl Kinderknecht, Guy Windholz, Nickole Byers, Rick Gaschler, Brianna Witchey, and Donnie Younger.

CONSENT AGENDA

Council member Holly Aschenbrenner moved to approve the consent agenda containing the Minutes from the Regular Meeting on February 5, 2018 and Bills Ordinance #2039.  Council member Dena Patee seconded the motion. The Council approved the consent agenda 6-0.

PUBLIC COMMENTS

Mark Flax informed Council that he will be at the next Council meeting to discuss code definitions, citizen complaint procedures, and to address a lot that needs mowed.

Nickole Byers, Chamber of Commerce, asked for the City to consider donating a used telephone pole to repair one the Chamber’s billboards.

PRESENTATIONS OF AWARDS, PROCLAMATIONS, REQUESTS & PETITIONS (HEARINGS)

Tourism: Award

Mayor David McDaniel recognized members of the Tourism Committee and presented Glen Keller, Cheryl Kinderknecht, David McDaniel, Dena Patee, and Guy Windholz with a Citizen’s Award for their act of service.  Committee members Pauleen Edmonds, Verda Flinn, Travis Kohlrus, Jenette Lewis, and Steven Schmidt were unable to attend.

SPECIAL ORDER

Fire: Report

Fire Chief Dustin Vine reported that Equity Bank is offering “Firefighter Fridays” where the bank will donate $20.00 to the Fire Department for each new checking account opened.  Coffee and donuts will also be offered during the promotion.  Firefighter Brianna Witchey has offered to write several small grants for the Department in hopes of replacing the Department’s pagers.  The Department only has twelve pagers for its twenty firefighters and the pagers are thirty years old.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

General Government: Contract

Executive Session

Mayor David McDaniel asked for a motion to recess into executive session at the request of the Ellis Golf Club representatives.  Council member Holly Aschenbrenner moved for City Council to recess into executive session for 15 minutes to discuss the Ellis Golf Club pursuant to the confidential data relating to financial affairs or trade secrets exception, K.S.A. 75-4319 (b)(4) with City Attorney Olavee Raub and Ellis Golf Club representatives Dean Gottschalk, Rick Gaschler, and Donnie Younger present.  The open meeting will resume at 7:57 p.m.  Council member Dena Patee seconded the motion.  The motion carried 6-0.  No action was taken in executive session.

Executive Session

Mayor David McDaniel asked for a motion to recess again into executive session.  Council member Holly Aschenbrenner moved for City Council to recess into executive session for 10 minutes to discuss the Ellis Golf Club pursuant to the confidential data relating to financial affairs or trade secrets exception, K.S.A. 75-4319 (b)(4) with City Attorney Olavee Raub and Ellis Golf Club representatives Dean Gottschalk, Rick Gaschler, and Donnie Younger present.  The open meeting will resume at 8:08 p.m.  Council member Jolene Niernberger seconded the motion.  The motion carried 6-0.  No action was taken in executive session.

Post Executive Session

Ellis Golf Club representative Donnie Younger asked for Council to consider a counteroffer of $1,500.00 for the purchase of land located at the golf course.  Council member Jolene Niernberger moved and Council member Bob Redger seconded a motion to accept the Ellis Golf Club’s counteroffer of $1,500.00 for the purchase of 1.67 acres of land and to direct City Attorney Olavee Raub to prepare the contract and deed documents.  The motion carried 6-0.

General Government: Violation

Council reviewed progress on the cited violations at 211 E. 11^th Street.  Only six violations have been addressed out of the twenty-five cited by Public Works Director Alan Scheuerman.  City Prosecutor Cassy Zeigler noted that the property owners have not been in contact with her to discuss the property.  Council expressed frustration with the lack of violations addressed and would like to visit with the property owners at the next meeting to discuss their intent with the property.  Council member Bret Andries moved to direct City Prosecutor Cassy Zeigler to contact the property owners at 211 E. 11^th Street to request they appear at the March 5^th Council meeting to discuss their plan to rectify the cited violations.  Council member Bob Redger seconded the motion.  The motion carried 6-0.

General Government: Violation

Ms. Zeigler continued by reporting the City is ready to move forward with condemnation of the properties at 1309 Fauteux Street and 208 W. 12^th Street.  All resolutions, publications, and mailing requirements have been satisfied.  Public Works Director Alan Scheuerman reported that Flatlander Dirtworks needs to add a maximum of $400 to each demolition bid to account for the recent fee increase at the Ellis County Landfill.  Council member Bob Redger moved and Council member Bret Andries seconded a motion to proceed with demolition of the properties at 208 W. 12^th Street and 1309 Fauteux Street, to contact the Fire Department prior to demolition to afford them the opportunity to train in the structures, and to increase the demolition bids from Flatlander Dirtworks by $400 for each property.  The motion carried 6-0.

NEW BUSINESS

Special Machinery: Acquisition

City Clerk Amy Burton presented a bid from Municipal Emergency Services for the purchase of air packs and valve assembly units for the Fire Department.  The four valve assembly units were approved for purchase back in November; however, Chief Vine wishes to purchase two additional air packs.  Council member Holly Aschenbrenner moved and Council member Dena Patee seconded a motion to approve the purchase of two air packs from Municipal Emergency Services in the amount of $9,717.98, with funds to come from the Special Machinery Fund.  The motion carried 6-0.

Special Machinery: Acquisition

Police Chief Taft Yates reported that when Ka-Comm installed the equipment into the new Ford Explorer, a different console unit had to be used instead of the one originally quoted, resulting in a small price difference.  Council member Dena Patee moved to ratify the additional charges of $249.06 from Ka-Comm for outfitting the 2018 Ford Explorer.  Council member Bob Redger seconded the motion.  The motion carried 6-0.

Tourism: Contract

The Tourism Committee has recommended a digital advertising package from the Hays Daily News to run from May 1^st – August 1^st.  The package is $250 per month for a total investment of $1,000.  Council questioned how this digital advertising differed from the package from Eagle Communications.  The deadline to accept this quote is February 28^th; however, Council decided to table consideration until the Committee can clarify the package benefits.

Tourism: Contract

City Clerk Amy Burton presented the 2018 contract with Lamar for the City’s five billboards.  The renewal reflects a 3% increase from last year.  Council expressed disappointment in the new wraps in that they are much darker than expected.  Council member Holly Aschenbrenner moved and Council member Bret Andries seconded a motion to approve the contract with Lamar in the amount of $8,372, with funds to come from the Tourism fund.  The contract period runs from May 4, 2018 – May 2, 2019.

General Government: Economic Development

Council reviewed a sample Economic Development policy provided by the Ellis Industrial Development Coalition.  Council felt the sample policy was directed more at industrial development rather than downtown development.  Council hopes to bring business downtown in order to get consumers into town and see what else Ellis has to offer.  Council member Dena Patee shared information about a sales tax rebate program used by a town in Oklahoma.  New and existing businesses that expand their workforce are eligible to receive a percentage rebate on the sales tax they contribute to the City.  Ms. Patee will contact the City for more information and share at a future meeting.

REPORTS FROM CITY OFFICIALS

Public Works

Public Works Director Alan Scheuerman presented the annual Water Treatment Plant Inspection Report and the Comparative Water Report for the period December 10^th – January 10^th.  The percentage of water accounted for has significantly decreased, leading Mr. Scheuerman to believe the City has leaks underground that haven’t surfaced yet.  Doug Guenther, Kansas Rural Water Association, is assisting the Department in determining the cause for the decreased percentage.

Mr. Scheuerman thanked Ellis County Public Works for allowing the use of their Grizzly machine at the City’s burn site.

General Government: Special Project

Council member Holly Aschenbrenner moved and Council member Bob Redger seconded a motion to gift a used telephone pole to the Ellis Chamber of Commerce to repair their billboard.  The motion carried 6-0.

Police

Police Chief Taft Yates updated Council on several training opportunities for the Department this month.

City Clerk

City Clerk Amy Burton presented the Health Insurance Savings Report for January.

Attorney

City Attorney Olavee Raub reported the land contracts for the new water well sites have been drafted.  Ms. Raub will review the contracts with Water Advisory Committee representatives this week.

Mayor Update and Announcements

Mayor David McDaniel reminded Council of the legislative visit on February 23^rd at 8:00 a.m. in the Ellis Public Library Community Room.

Council member Bob Redger added that the first Lenten Breakfast will be at the Methodist Church on February 21^st at 6:45 a.m.

Council member Holly Aschenbrenner updated Council on the Community Block Party event to take place this summer.

ADJOURNMENT

Council member Dena Patee moved to adjourn the meeting.  Council member Bret Andries seconded the motion.  The motion carried 6-0.  The meeting adjourned at 9:10 p.m.

TMP-M

TMP-Marian High School is pleased to announce that Dave Zachman has accepted the position of High School Guidance Counselor. He will begin his role in preparation of the 2018-2019 academic year.

In the role of High School Guidance Counselor, Zachman will provide students with guidance in both academics and career planning as well as lead pre-enrollment, class scheduling, test preparation and scholarship efforts.

Zachman began his career in education teaching Social Studies at Macksville High School, Macksville, KS, then becoming K-12 Guidance Counselor also in Macksville. He joined Russell High School, Russell, KS in 1999 as the High School Guidance Counselor. Mr. Zachman holds a a Bachelor of Arts in History and a Master of Science in Counseling, both from Fort Hays State University.

“The importance of the guidance counselor to the success of our students and their future is great. We are pleased to have Mr. Zachman join the TMP-Marian family and are excited by the experience and opportunities he will bring to the position,” said TMP-Marian Principal Chad Meitner.