ELLIS–Ellis will not be removing or shutting off any street lights.

City council members voted 5-0 Monday evening to use Old Electric monies to pay the newly increased Midwest Energy bill for the remainder of the year. The council also agreed not to raise the franchise tax for now.

Midwest Energy dramatically increased its bill to Ellis recently after discovering it has been undercharging the city for years.

Mayor Lyle Johnston and Council member Terry Redetzke were absent.

In other business, a Fort Hays State University Leadership 310 Team presented their strategic plan for bringing community awareness to the importance of the Community Development Block Grant Low-to-Moderate Income Surveys.

The students also outlined how they will obtain sufficient resident surveys to help the City become eligible to receive the grant. The team will conduct a telephone campaign in March, and then proceed to the door-to-door requests for those not reached by telephone.

The complete March 2, 2015, meeting minutes follow.

REGULAR MEETING Minutes March 2, 2015

CALL TO ORDER
Council President Dave McDaniel called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. Present were Council members Ron Johnson, Gary Luea, Jolene Niernberger, and John Walz. Also present were Public Works Director Alan Scheuerman, City Clerk Amy Burton, Police Chief Taft Yates, and City Attorney Olavee Raub. Mayor Lyle Johnston and Council member Terry Redetzke were absent.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
AMENDMENTS TO AGENDA
None
PUBLIC PRESENT
Robert Redger, Martin LaBarge, Holly Aschenbrenner, Bob Muirhead, Ryan Augustine, John LaShell, Brian Raub, Bret Andries, Glen Keller, Perry Henman, Jackie Henman, Charlene Weber, Shelby Stewart, Jesse Schneweis, Graham Swartzell, and Qiuya Xing.
CONSENT AGENDA
Council member John Walz moved to approve the consent agenda containing the Minutes from the Regular Meeting on February 16, 2015 and Bills Ordinance #1968. Council member Ron Johnson seconded the motion. The Council approved the consent agenda unanimously.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Bob Redger noted that he paid his filing fees before the filing deadline in January to run for City Council, submitted his responses to the questionnaire for the Town Crier in a timely manner, yet his response was the only candidate response not included in the quarterly publication.
Perry Henman addressed Council on behalf of his sister, Jackie Henman. Ms. Henman would like to build a house on the south end of town, to which Mr. Henman presented a petition to the Council for consideration to have the land annexed into the City limits.
PRESENTATIONS OF AWARDS, PROCLAMATIONS, REQUESTS & PETITIONS (HEARINGS)
SPECIAL ORDER
General Government: Special Project
The Fort Hays State University Leadership 310 Team consisting of Shelby Stewart, Jesse Schneweis, Graham Swartzell, and Qiuya Xing, presented their strategic plan for bringing community awareness to the importance of the Community Development Block Grant Low-to-Moderate Income Surveys, and outlined the steps they plan to take to obtain sufficient resident surveys to help the City become eligible to receive the grant. The Team will begin by conducting a telephone campaign in March, and then proceed to the door-to-door requests for those not reached by telephone.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Sanitation: Policy
City Attorney Olavee Raub presented a draft of the modified dumpster policy. Non-profits would make application to the City for use of a City-owned dumpster for a limited time for up to two times per year. The dumpsters would be available on a first-come first-served basis. Ms. Raub will make further revisions removing the provision of the City having the option to charge the non-profit entity, and also adding a provision that municipalities and quasi-municipalities would be exempt from the policy.
General Government: Accounting/Billing
Council member John Walz noted that the majority of the residents he has visited with do not want any street lights removed, nor do they want the franchise tax to increase. Bob Muirhead, Midwest Energy, noted that it would take approximately 30-45 minutes per street light to disconnect the bulb in order to evaluate if the street light could be removed. The City would need to remove almost one-third of the street lights to decrease the utility bill back to 2015 budget calculations. Council member Gary Luea moved to pay the increased portion of the Midwest Energy bill for the City street lights out of the Old Electric monies for the remainder of 2015, to not raise the franchise tax at this time, and to reimburse the Old Electric monies in the 2016 budget. Council member John Walz seconded the motion. Upon a call for further discussion, City Clerk Amy Burton reminded Council that a future Council cannot be bound to the budget statement included in the motion. Mr. Muirhead stated if the Council would decide to increase the franchise tax at a later date, the City would need to enter into a new 20-year franchise agreement. Upon a call for the vote, the motion carried 5-0.
Public Works: Building Code
City Attorney Olavee Raub presented proposed modifications to Code Section 4-125 allowing property owners to perform work on their own residences as long as building permits are obtained and the work is approved by the City inspector. The proposed addition would also allow property owners of rental property or “flip” houses to perform their own work under the same conditions. This will serve as the first reading of the proposed ordinance.
NEW BUSINESS
Water: Repairs/Maintenance
Council member John Walz moved to approve the quote from Layne Christensen for pump repairs to Well #13 in the amount of $10,681.70 with funds to come from the Water Depreciation Reserve fund. Council member Jolene Niernberger seconded the motion. The motion carried 5-0. The City will have repaired three wells in the last six months.
Campground: Policy
The City currently allows up to four sites at the Ellis Lakeside Campground to be used by extended-stay campers at any given time. Extended-stay campers must obtain approval from the Public Works Director and pre-pay their camping fees. Requests may be renewed on a month-to-month basis. With temporary workers entering the County to help with the wind farm project, the Council discussed the lack of rental property available, and possibly increasing the number of sites for extended-stay campers and expansion of the campground. No action was taken.
Personnel: Salary
City Clerk Amy Burton explained a procedural error back in 1997 increasing the pay for the Governing Body. An ordinance will need to be approved to fix the error. Council entered into a discussion on the pay for the Mayor, Council members, and the Treasurer. Council member John Walz moved to compensate the Mayor $50.00 per meeting, but that Council members should serve as an act of public service and not be compensated. Council member Jolene Niernberger seconded the motion for purposes of discussion. Ms. Niernberger agreed that serving on the Governing Body should be an act of public service to the community, and also agrees the Mayor’s pay should be increased due to the increased responsibility assumed in that role. She would also like to see the Treasurer’s pay revisited. Council member Dave McDaniel disagreed that Council members should not be compensated, as they are the decision makers for the City. Council member Ron Johnson stated that all members of the Governing Body are decision makers and either all should be paid, or none. Upon a call for a vote, the motion carried 3-2, with Council members Gary Luea, Jolene Niernberger, and John Walz voting for the motion, and Council members Ron Johnson and Dave McDaniel opposed. City Attorney Olavee Raub will revise the ordinance for possible approval at the next meeting.
General Government: Contracts
Ellis County is requesting a Right-of-Way Deed and Temporary Easement from the City for the planned improvements to widen and overlay Old 40 Highway from Ellis to Yocemento. Ms. Raub will contact Thomas Bennett with BG Consultants to obtain clarification of the tracts in question.
Swimming Pool: Acquisition
Public Works Director Alan Scheuerman presented bids for hydrochloric acid, calcium hypochlorite briquettes, and calcium hypochlorite granular for use at the pool and sewer plant. The briquettes are less expensive from Brenntag; however, the granular is less expensive from D. Gerber Commercial Pool Products. Mr. Scheuerman will contact the companies and see if the prices will be honored if the products are sold individually. Only Brenntag provided a bid on the acid. The chemical purchase will be revisited at the next meeting.
General Government: Fines/Fees
City Clerk Amy Burton presented the proposed updated fee schedule. The schedule now includes the dangerous dog fees, increases fees for campsites, as approved in the 2015 budget, and increases fees paid to witnesses to appear in municipal court. Council member John Walz moved to approve Resolution #507 adopting the fee schedule as presented. Council member Ron Johnson seconded the motion. The motion carried 5-0.
Personnel: Entry
Alyssa Dawson has agreed to manage the Ellis Municipal Pool again this season. Council member John Walz moved and Council member Jolene Niernberger seconded a motion to approve the Swimming Pool Management Agreement. The motion carried 5-0.
Personnel: Entry
Council member Gary Luea inquired if the City could hire someone to perform inspections, as Mr. Scheuerman is not a certified inspector and many of the codes are subject to interpretation. The cost to hire someone could be added onto the building permit fee. The City does currently have an agreement with the City of Hays to assist when needed. Council member Ron Johnson suggested Mr. Scheuerman take a webinar class certifying him for a variety of residential and commercial inspections. Mr. Scheuerman will look into the webinars.
REPORTS FROM CITY OFFICIALS
Public Works
Mr. Scheuerman reported the separating wall has been constructed at the shop annex, as directed by Council, and the Department is currently working on the remodeling of his office at City Hall. During the recent Safety Committee meeting, the board performed a safety inspection at the shop annex.
Water
Mr. Scheuerman presented the Comparative Water Report for the period January 10th – February 10th. The Regional Water Vision Team will hold a public meeting on March 3rd in WaKeeney at 1:00 p.m. and in Salina at 7:00 p.m. The meetings will help determine the region’s water supply goals and priorities. Mr. Scheuerman will also explore the possibility of dredging Big Creek to increase the oxygenation. The Governing Body reviewed the annual Progress and Management Report on Big Creek from the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks.
Police
Police Chief Taft Yates presented the Monthly Activity Report for February and the officer calendar for March. The DARE program will be starting this month at Washington Elementary. The Fort Hays State University Defensive Tactics Team will join the Department in presenting a program to Washington Elementary students on cyber bullying. The Department will be donating $150.00 out of the Police-Special Projects fund to help bring in Todd Keene and the Power Team. The Team will present an interactive program to Ellis High School students to empower them to stay drug-free and make positive choices.
Police: Repair/Maintenance
Chief Yates reported that additional work was needed to repair the 2012 Dodge Charger. Council member Dave McDaniel moved and Council member John Walz seconded a motion to ratify the increased bill from Ellis Auto Repair in the amount of $1,864.44 with money to come from the Police Department budget. The motion carried 5-0.
City Clerk
City Clerk Amy Burton reported the General Fund departments were able to transfer $40,253.01 in excess budget authority to the Special Machinery fund. Ms. Burton offered clarification on the sales tax expiring in 2016. That 1% sales tax is used to help pay the bonds for the water treatment plant. The City’s other 1% sales tax became effective in 1983 and is used for general operations. That sales tax does not expire. Ms. Burton noted the Clerk’s office will do an additional mailing to distribute Bob Redger’s questionnaire responses to the Town Crier. Mr. Redger has evidence showing the email was sent to Charlene Weber before the deadline, but Ms. Weber never received it. The Community Blood Screening will be held on April 24th from 7:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. in Council chambers.
Attorney
City Attorney Olavee Raub will prepare a resolution for the next meeting regarding the proposed annexation of the Henman’s property.
Mayor/Council
Council member John Walz provided an update from the Ellis County Extension Council’s meeting regarding establishing a PRIDE Committee for Ellis. The Committee focuses on improving the community through volunteer efforts. Holly Dickman has offered to present to the Governing Body on xeriscaping and drought tolerant plants.
Council member Jolene Niernberger would like for the Mayor to invite Ellis County Commissioner Marcy McClelland to a Council meeting to discuss the County’s budget shortfall and possible services to be cut in communities.
ADJOURNMENT
Council member Ron Johnson moved and Council member Gary Luea seconded a motion to adjourn the meeting. The motion carried unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 9:27 p.m.