ELLIS–The hiring of a new police officer was approved by Ellis City Council members during their Nov. 3 meeting.

Kirby Wechsler was most recently a part-time officer in Offerle. Wechsler will start his duties Monday, Nov. 17 and attend the Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center in March 2015.

In other business, the council approved an $8,853 bid from Layne Drilling for repairs to the city’s #2 water well.

Public Works Director Alan Scheuerman reported severely reduced pumping by Well #12 and Well #13. Scheuerman will ask if Layne can pull the pumps in Wells #12 and #13 and assess the problem while they are in town to make repairs to Well #2.

The full agenda minutes follow.

ELLIS CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING Minutes November 3, 2014

CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Lyle Johnston called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. Present were Council members Ron Johnson, Gary Luea, Dave McDaniel, Jolene Niernberger, and Terry Redetzke. Also present were Public Works Director Alan Scheuerman, Clerk I Margie Mickelson, Police Chief Taft Yates, Fire Chief Denis Vine, and City Attorney Olavee Raub. Council member John Walz and City Clerk Amy Burton were absent.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
AMENDMENTS TO AGENDA
None
PUBLIC PRESENT
Glen Keller, Ryan Augustine, Guy Riedel, and Jim Moeder.
CONSENT AGENDA
Council member Terry Redetzke moved to approve the consent agenda containing the Minutes from the Regular Meeting on October 20, 2014 and Bills Ordinance #1960. Council member Jolene Niernberger seconded the motion. The Council approved the consent agenda unanimously.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Jim Moeder informed Council of two upcoming Chamber events, the “Festival of Trees” and “Love Brightens a Tree.” Proceeds from the “Love Brightens a Tree” event will go to the Cancer Council of Ellis County. Mr. Moeder is requesting approval to use a tree in Memorial Park for this event. Council member Dave McDaniel moved to allow the use of a tree in Memorial Park for the Chamber’s “Love Brightens a Tree” event through Christmas Eve. Council member Ron Johnson seconded the motion. The motion passed 5-0.
PRESENTATIONS OF AWARDS, PROCLAMATIONS, REQUESTS & PETITIONS (HEARINGS)
SPECIAL ORDER
Fire: Training
Fire Chief Denis Vine recently attended the Regional Fire Chief Meeting in Hays where mutual aid plans were discussed. Recommended training standards for Kansas fire services were discussed at the recent Fire Chief Convention in Hutchinson. The standards are not mandatory, but highly recommended, for structural fire fighters, such as the Ellis Fire Department. The course to become certified to teach these standards is a 140-hour class. Chief Vine would like to use the $500 donation from the Williams Foundation to have a fireman pursue the certification to be able to teach the Ellis Fire Department members these recommended standards. Council member Jolene Niernberger moved and Council member Terry Redetzke seconded a motion to ratify the donation of $500 from the Williams Foundation to be used for the Department to pursue the KU Fire Instructor I certification. The motion passed 5-0.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Tourism
The Council discussed procuring the services from Central Brochure Distribution as presented by Chamber Director Dena Patee at the last meeting. Clerk I Margie Mickelson informed Council that at least annually she contacts approximately nine Kansas Travel Information Centers to see if they need additional “Ellis” or “Campground” brochures. Council member Gary Luea moved to not participate in the program offered by Central Brochure Distribution. City Attorney Olavee Raub reminded Council that no motion is necessary to not take action, to which Mr. Luea rescinded his motion. It was the consensus of Council that at this time they were not interested in the service.
General Government: Financial
City Attorney Olavee Raub reported that in talking to Rick Ensz, bond underwriter with Cooper, Malone and McClain, the City is not able to refund the 2006 bonds yet because the City hasn’t complied with the MSRB continuing disclosure requirements. Typically the underwriter of the bonds contacts the issuer to ensure compliance disclosure is met. It does not appear that has happened. Ms. Raub stated the City will need to file “Failure to File” forms for the last five years to become compliant. Ms. Raub will contact the City Clerk to see if she’d be able to do this. Once corrected, the City can move forward with the bond refunding.
Water: Repair/Maintenance
Public Works Director Alan Scheuerman presented a bid from Clarke Well and Equipment to drill an offset well near Well #2. This is the final bid requested by Council. Council now has a bid from both Clarke Well and Equipment and Layne to either make repairs to Well #2 or to drill a new offset well. Council member Dave McDaniel moved to accept the low bid from Layne in the amount of $8,853 to make repairs to Well #2 with funds to come from the Water Depreciation Reserve Fund. Council member Ron Johnson seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
General Government: City Code
City Attorney Olavee Raub presented various sample ordinances for Council’s review regarding open bodies of water. She could not find any ordinances that dealt with types of safety restrictions, other than zoning ordinances. Ms. Raub explained the differences between the City’s environmental codes and the zoning codes in respect to health, safety and welfare of the community. If an ordinance is approved solely as a zoning regulation, then existing structures would be grandfathered in. If an ordinance is adopted as a police power, then the ordinance can be applied to existing or potential nuisances. Council member Jolene Niernberger stated the property owner’s would be the liable party if something would happen, and that the City shouldn’t get involved in regulating resident’s private property. No action was taken.
NEW BUSINESS
General Government: Disposal
Clerk I Margie Mickelson explained that each year records are destroyed that are no longer required to be kept due to the City’s retention schedule. Council member Dave McDaniel moved and Council member Ron Johnson seconded a motion to authorize the destruction of public records as listed, and to authorize the Mayor to sign the Destruction of Records Certificate. Motion carried unanimously.
Sewer: Financial – KDHE Loan
Ms. Mickelson reviewed email correspondence between City Clerk Amy Burton and Corina Cox, Northwest Kansas Planning & Development, regarding loan application assistance for the KDHE sewer loan. Council member Terry Redetzke moved and Council member Gary Luea seconded a motion to approve loan application assistance from Northwest Kansas Planning & Development for the KDHE Revolving Loan Fund at a cost of $7,000, with funds to come from the Sewer Depreciation Reserve Fund. Motion carried 5-0.
Water: Repair/Maintenance
Public Works Director Alan Scheuerman informed Council that Well #12 and Well #13 have reported severely reduced gallons per minute (GPM). Well #12 was pumping 50 GPM in June; 22 GPM in July; and only 6 GPM in October. Well #13 was pumping 76 GPM this spring, but only pumping 51 GPM in October. Mr. Scheuerman will see if Layne can pull the pumps in Wells #12 and #13 while they are in town to make repairs to Well #2 to see if they can find the problem. This would save the City paying additional mobilization charges if Layne could perform the work in the same trip.
REPORTS FROM CITY OFFICIALS
Public Works
Mr. Scheuerman presented the latest well level depth chart. John Steel, Kansas Rural Water Association, will perform the draw-down tests on the wells on November 4th.
Personnel: Position Change
Mr. Scheuerman would like for current employee T.J. Lee to replace Matt Windholz as the City’s designated Water Operator. The State requires cities to designate one employee as the Water Operator; however, Mr. Scheuerman has two employees interested in becoming certified. Once the coursework is completed, a candidate may take the certification test up to four times. Per City policy, the City will pay for up to two tests. Council member Jolene Niernberger moved to approve the change in employee classification for T.J. Lee as Water Operator at a probationary wage of $14.34 effective November 3, 2014. Mr. Lee’s probationary period will continue until his Water Operator Certification has been achieved. Council member Ron Johnson seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously.
The Department is advertising for its two open positions in the Ellis Review, Hays Daily News, and Nex-Tech Classifieds.
Public Works: Special Event
Mr. Scheuerman reported on the City-Wide Cleanup event. The City crews are still working on cleaning out the trees and the buildings behind the Old Power Plant. Mr. Scheuerman would like to thank Golden Belt Telephone for their help during the event. Council expressed they would like to have a City-Wide Cleanup each year in the fall.
Streets: Acquisition
Mr. Scheuerman reported that he recently bid on, and acquired, a grapple fork for $875.00 and a sweeper attachment for the Bobcat for $925.00 from Purple Wave Auction. He also recently traveled to Stockton to view a zipper demonstration, which is a grinder that reclaims asphalt up to 4” deep and pulverizes it a correct size.
Police
Personnel: Entry
Police Chief Taft Yates reported that the interview board has selected Kirby Wechsler to fill the open position in the Police Department. Mr. Wechsler is currently a part-time officer in Offerle, KS. Council member Dave McDaniel moved to approve the hiring of Kirby Wechsler at a probationary wage of $14.08 effective November 17, 2014. Council member Jolene Niernberger seconded the motion. The motion carried 5-0. Chief Yates reported that Mr. Wechsler will attend the Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center in March 2015.
Officer Moeder has completed his 8-weeks of field training and per Kansas Statutes, is now allowed to be on duty without another officer accompanying him. Officer Moeder will leave for KLETC on January 5, 2015.
Police: Training
Chief Yates presented the monthly Activity Report for October and the November staff calendar. Officer McCollam will conduct drug awareness training at St. Francis Family Services and Officer Krom is working with Ellis High School on an accident re-creation scene for next spring. Chief Yates has been asked to speak to the Criminal Justice class at Fort Hays State University on Kansas Open Carry laws and dealing with sovereign citizens.
Police: Accounting/Billing
Chief Yates then explained to Council how Correct Care Solutions works for the City. When an individual is in police custody and has to be taken to the hospital, if the offender does not have medical insurance, then the City is obligated to pay their medical bills while in City custody. Correct Care Solutions will negotiate with the hospital to have the charges for services reduced. In one recent case, the hospital charges totaled $35,000 and Correct Care Solutions was able to negotiate the charges to where the City only paid $7,100. Correct Care Solutions only charges $17.50 per incident to provide this service.
City Clerk
Clerk I Margie Mickelson presented options for the City holiday observation dates in December. Staff has expressed a desire to switch the Christmas Eve holiday to December 26th to allow staff a four-day weekend. Staff is requesting Council allow City offices to close at noon on December 24th with the afternoon hours paid or unpaid, at Council’s discretion. Council member Jolene Niernberger moved to allow City staff to take time off from noon on December 24th through December 26th. Council member Gary Luea seconded the motion for purposes of discussion. Mr. Luea requested that the Clerk bring the City’s cost for the four hours paid leave on December 24th to the next meeting before a decision is made. The motion and second were then rescinded.
Ms. Mickelson reported on the City’s vehicle fuel/service rotation. One of the local vendors had expressed concerns that the City was not fueling at their establishment. Ms. Mickelson researched the fuel tickets for this year and it appears City employees are following the designated rotation schedule. Mr. Scheuerman added that most of the diesel is purchased at Co-op because the lines at Love’s Travel Stores tend to be very long.
Ms. Mickelson reported that as of October 31st the City has received 312 LMI surveys out of 925 distributed. Second requests will be mailed with the December 1st billing.
Attorney
Mayor/Council
Mayor Lyle Johnston reminded everyone to vote on November 4th. Regardless of the results of the school bond, Mayor Johnston hopes the community will come together in the end.
Council member Dave McDaniel asked for Department Heads to use the Employee Exit Review sheets when employees resign. He also asked for the Clerk’s office to research the sale of the power plant and any agreements entered into between the City and Midwest Energy. Mr. McDaniel asked for Mr. Scheuerman to look into a property at 11th and Cottonwood. He would also like to see the Council discuss future plans for the empty lots at 9th and Jefferson at the next meeting.
Council member Jolene Niernberger encouraged Council to look at the map of existing street lights to help give direction on future discussions with Midwest Energy. It would also be helpful to tour the streets in the dark to assess which ones may be excessive or needed. The Police Department should also give input in regards to possible safety issues with the lighting.
Council member Gary Luea asked if the steel tank behind the Old Power Plant has been removed. Mr. Scheuerman reported that Mr. Wiesner has not picked it up yet.
EXECUTIVE SESSIONS
Mayor Lyle Johnston called for an executive session to discuss property acquisition. A 5-minute executive session was proposed starting at 9:26 p.m. Mayor Johnston asked for a motion to recess. Council member Terry Redetzke moved to recess to executive session to discuss property acquisition with the City Attorney present. Council member Dave McDaniel seconded the motion. The motion carried 5-0. The Council returned to open session at 9:31 p.m. No action was taken in executive session.
ADJOURNMENT