ELLIS – Campground Committee member Verda Flinn appeared before the Ellis City Council during its Monday evening meeting asking the city to begin soliciting bids for water and electrical work for the campground expansion project.  After some discussion, council members voted to first solicit bids for an engineer to develop detailed plans for the expansion.

In other business, Alan Scheuerman, public works director reported nearly 29 tons of material was collected during the recent  citywide cleanup.

The complete meeting minutes follow.

 

ELLIS CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING

Minutes

November 5, 2018

 

CALL TO ORDER

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

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

AMENDMENTS TO AGENDA

None

PUBLIC PRESENT

Barbara Perkins, Glen Keller, Verda Flinn, and Steve Ferland.

CONSENT AGENDA

Council member Jolene Niernberger moved to approve the consent agenda containing the Minutes from the Regular Meeting on October 15, 2018 and Bills Ordinance #2056.  Council member Holly Aschenbrenner seconded the motion. The Council approved the consent agenda 4-0.

PUBLIC COMMENTS

None

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

None

SPECIAL ORDER

None

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

Campground: Special Project

Verda Flinn, representing the Campground Committee, requested approval for the Committee to solicit bids for water and electrical contract work for the Campground Expansion Project.  Council discussed various grants that might be available to help fund the project.  Entire project bids would be necessary to include on any grant applications as well.  Council member Dena Patee moved and Council member Jolene Niernberger seconded a motion to allow the Campground Committee to solicit the needed bids for the Campground Expansion project.  Upon a call for discussion, Public Works Director Alan Scheuerman inquired who should draw up the specifications for the project in order to solicit bids.  An engineer would need to provide detailed plans in order to solicit utility bids.  Upon a call for the vote the motion carried 3-1, with Council member Holly Aschenbrenner voting opposed.  Council member Holly Aschenbrenner then moved for the Campground Committee to solicit bids for an engineer to develop detailed plans for the Campground Expansion Project.  Council member Dena Patee seconded the motion.  The motion carried 4-0.

At the October 1^st Council meeting, Council requested that a letter be drafted to the Girl Scouts regarding concerns noted during their annual event in September.  It was the consensus of Council to not send the letter and to just address the concerns prior to approval of next year’s event.

NEW BUSINESS

Parks/Streets: Event Request

Council member Holly Aschenbrenner moved to approve the Public Property Permit Application and the Request for Traffic Control for the annual Ellis Polar Express event.  The event will be held on December 1^st from 5:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m. in Playworld Park.  Council member Susan Eaton seconded the motion.  The motion carried 4-0, with Council member Dena Patee abstaining due to perceived conflict of interest.

General Government: Special Project

Council member Dena Patee moved and Council member Holly Aschenbrenner seconded a motion to authorize Mayor David McDaniel to sign the letter of support for ACCESS Public Transportation to assist the organization with their grant funding.  The motion carried 4-0.

Sewer: Acquisition

Public Works Director Alan Scheuerman presented one bid for the purchase of aluminum chlorohydrate for the Wastewater Treatment Plant.  Council member Dena Patee moved to approve the purchase of aluminum chlorohydrate from Brenntag in the amount of $1,260.30 with funds to come from the Sewer Utility Fund.  Council member Jolene Niernberger seconded the motion.  The motion carried 4-0.

Streets: Acquisition

Mr. Scheuerman continued by requesting approval to purchase winter mix asphalt.  Council member Holly Aschenbrenner moved to approve the purchase of 15 ton of winter mix asphalt from APAC in the amount of $2,300 with funds to come from Capital Improvement-Streets.  Council member Dena Patee seconded the motion.  The motion carried 4-0.

General Government: Financial

Security Bank of Kansas City has contacted City Clerk Amy Burton regarding the remaining TIF funds held in the City’s Project Fund.  The City is now able to close out the Project Fund and transfer the remaining monies to the Debt Service Fund to help pay off the Special Obligation Bonds.  Council member Jolene Niernberger moved to authorize Mayor David McDaniel to sign the Certification of Completion for the TIF Project.  Council member Dena Patee seconded the motion.  The motion carried 4-0.

Fire: Acquisition

Council member Jolene Niernberger moved to ratify the invoice from VLS Communications in the amount of $1,378.50 for the purchase of three pagers and battery packs for the Fire Department.  Council member Holly Aschenbrenner seconded the motion.  The motion carried 4-0.

REPORTS FROM CITY OFFICIALS

Public Works

Public Works Director Alan Scheuerman updated Council on the annual sewer cleaning performed by Mayer Services.  The Department received some complaints from residents since the contractor was a day late in arriving.  Council discussed adding a range of dates to the doorknockers, rather than just a start date.

Mr. Scheuerman reported that almost 29 tons of material was collected during the City Wide Cleanup.  The City incurred $2,168.25 in landfill fees.

Police

Police Chief Taft Yates presented the Monthly Activity Report for October and the November Staff Calendar.

City Clerk

Council reviewed the draft minutes from the recent Campground Committee meeting.  City Clerk Amy Burton reminded Council of the work session on November 7^th to review the 2019-2023 Capital Improvement Plan.

City Clerk: Training

Council member Jolene Niernberger moved to allow City Clerk Amy Burton to attend the annual Master Municipal Clerk’s Academy on November 15-16^th in Wichita.  Council member Dena Patee seconded the motion.  The motion carried 4-0.

Attorney

City Attorney Olavee Raub reported the second contract with the landowner has been successfully negotiated.  After the Mayor and the landowners have signed the contracts, Ms. Raub will schedule the closing date.

Mayor Update and Announcements

Mayor David McDaniel and Council member Jolene Niernberger updated Council on pressing issues discussed at the annual League of Kansas Municipalities Regional Supper in Oakley.

ADJOURNMENT

Council member Holly Aschenbrenner moved and Council member Dena Patee seconded a motion to adjourn the meeting.  The meeting adjourned at 8:34 p.m.

 

By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post

An agreement was made Thursday night with teachers on contract negotiations.

Both sides met with a mediator Thursday after negotiations reached impasse.

Superintendent John Thissen said no details of the contract will be shared with the public until the contract is ratified.

The two sides had reached an impasse over pay.

Classified staff and administrators, who are not part of the bargaining unit, are closely watching and waiting for the outcome of the teachers negotiations.

The board has said they will give classified staff and administrators the same pay raise as they give to teachers.

Classified staff had accidentally been given a 4.6 percent raise in July without board approval.

Last week, the board stopped that raise until an agreement could be reached with teachers.

Thissen said the district had budgeted a 4.6 percent raise for all staff.