ELLIS–A new higher rate tier in water utility bills for Ellis customers is on the horizon.

Ellis City Council members voted unanimously during their June 1 meeting for an ordinance to be drafted which would widen the base tier to 4,000 gallons usage under Stage 2 Water Conservation. A higher rate–double the base rate– would also be charged to residents exceeding their base tier use under Stage 2.

Changes to allowable outdoor watering hours and water conservation stages were also discussed.

In other business, funding requests from the 2016 budget for outside agencies were heard, and the 2014 budget audit was presented.

The complete meeting minutes follow.

ELLIS CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING MINUTES June 1, 2015

CALL TO ORDER
Mayor David McDaniel called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. Present were Council members Holly Aschenbrenner, Gary Luea, Heather Luea, Jolene Niernberger, Bob Redger, and John Walz (arrived at 8:15 p.m.). Also present were Public Works Director Alan Scheuerman, City Clerk Amy Burton, Police Chief Taft Yates, Fire Chief Denis Vine, and City Attorney Olavee Raub.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
AMENDMENTS TO AGENDA
None
PUBLIC PRESENT
Kris Bollig, Dennis Bollig, Pat Bieker, Ken Martin, Pamela Dietrich, Adeline Henderson, Rose Tway, Tracey Andrews, Alberta Knoll, Buck Driggs, Steve Arthur, Joy Fischer, Ryan Augustine, Glen Keller, Ron Johnson, John LaShell, Jessica Shank, Nancy Wright, Jake Schartz, Teri Klitzke, Ryan Scheck, Roxie Ochs, Angie Johnston, Gilbert Kinderknecht, Cheryl Kinderknecht, Art Honas, Dena Patee, Dave Barber, Dan Pyle, Lori Miller (arrived at 7:57 p.m.), Julie Yarmer (arrived at 7:57 p.m.), Faith Scheck (arrived at 8:10 p.m.), and Brad Leiker (arrived at 8:30 p.m.)
CONSENT AGENDA
Council member Jolene Niernberger moved to approve the consent agenda containing the Minutes from the Regular Meeting on May 18, 2015 and Bills Ordinance #1974. Council member Bob Redger seconded the motion. The Council approved the consent agenda unanimously.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
None
PRESENTATIONS OF AWARDS, PROCLAMATIONS, REQUESTS & PETITIONS (HEARINGS)
None
SPECIAL ORDER
General Government: Financial
Teri Klitzke, representing Adams, Brown, Beran & Ball, Chtd., presented the 2014 financial audit report. The City received an unqualified, or “clean”, opinion from the auditors, meaning the financial statements are presented fairly in all material respects on the regulatory basis of accounting. Ms. Klitzke also reported the City did not have any statute violations or significant audit findings. Council will consider acceptance of the audit report at the next regular meeting.
Fire: Entry
Fire Chief Denis Vine requested approval for a new fireman. Council member Bob Redger moved and Council member Heather Luea seconded a motion to approve Brandon Petry as a volunteer fireman, effective immediately. The motion carried 5-0.
General Government: Financial – Budget Request
Jessica Shank, representing the Senior Companion program at Fort Hays State University, thanked the Council for past support and presented the Senior Companion 2016 budget request. Nancy Wright gave a testimonial on the Senior Companion program. Ms. Shank requested consideration from Council for $4,086.00, the annual support cost of one senior companion volunteer. Joy Fischer presented the budget request for the Foster Grandparent program. Ms. Fischer requested consideration from Council for $1,000.00 to partially support one foster grandparent to serve in Ellis. The Council took no action and will consider the request during budget preparation.
General Government: Financial – Budget Request
Steve Arthur and Ken Martin presented the Ellis Public Library’s 2016 budget request of four mills of the assessed valuation, and additional funding of $2,500.00 for employee benefits, $2,000.00 for programming, and additional funds for capital improvements, additional personnel, and projects totaling $12,000.00. The Council took no action and will consider the request during budget preparation.
General Government: Financial – Budget Request
Dena Patee presented the 2016 budget requests from the Ellis Alliance and Walter P. Chrysler Boyhood Home Museum. The Ellis Alliance is requesting $12,500.00 and the Walter P. Chrysler Boyhood Home Museum is requesting $18,000.00. The Council took no action and will consider the request during budget preparation.
General Government: Financial – Budget Request
Dan Pyle presented the 2016 budget request for the Ellis Recreation Commission. The Commission is requesting $5,000.00 to make improvements to Creek Side ball diamonds. The Council took no action and will consider the request during budget preparation.
Water: Committee
Ron Johnson, Chairman of the Water Advisory Committee, provided an update from the Committee’s recent meeting. The Committee continues to recommend allowable watering hours of 6:00 – 10:00 a.m. and 8:00 – 11:00 p.m. Mr. Johnson inquired if the Council wanted the Committee to review and develop regulations pertaining to xeriscaping plans. The Committee has already recommended that Council only allow grasses native to western Kansas in order to obtain a lawn permit. Once the Kansas Rural Water Association provides proposed revisions to the Water Conservation Plan, the Committee will meet to review the Plan. Finally, the Committee discussed possibly eliminating Stage 1 in that western Kansas may never be fully outside of a water crisis and there will always be a need to conserve water.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Water: Repair/Maintenance
Dave Barber, United States Department of Agriculture, and Buck Driggs, Driggs Design Group, discussed the City’s waterline improvement project. Mr. Barber provided estimates for grant funding if the waterline project was expanded. He recommended the City not modify the scope of the project at this time. Mr. Driggs will further discuss the waterline improvement project with Council at a future meeting.
Personnel: Benefits
Council took under consideration the employee health insurance proposals from Blue Cross Blue Shield and Freedom Claims Management, Inc. Lori Miller and Julie Yarmer provided clarification on the United Health Care policy and the plan design. After further discussion, Council member John Walz moved and Council member Heather Luea seconded a motion to accept the proposal from Freedom Claims Management, Inc. for the United Health Care employee health insurance plan and to maintain the Blue Cross Blue Shield dental insurance plan for the employees, effective July 1, 2015. The motion carried 5-1, with Council member Bob Redger opposed.
Water: Policy
City Attorney Olavee Raub discussed the Water Conservation Plan. The Plan that the Kansas Rural Water Association prepared did not include many of the proposed revisions discussed at the Council work session. The Plan developed at that meeting should be merged into the document submitted by KRWA. Ms. Raub has already submitted her suggestions to Doug Guenther at KRWA. Council member John Walz again stressed he would like for the creek bed indicators to be included as triggers in declaring the level of water conservation needed. It was the consensus of Council to include the creek bed indicators as long as the Plan is modified to state that a combination of triggers must be present in determining the level of water conservation the City declares. The proposed document currently states only one trigger must be present. The Council discussed the Water Advisory Committee’s suggestion to consider removing Stage 1 from the Plan. Ms. Raub explained the templates for a municipal water conservation plan always have three stages and maybe it would be better to review the triggers, rather than remove a stage. Council then discussed allowable watering hours. Council member Gary Luea stated the Council should take into consideration the Committee’s recommendation to further restrict the hours from what is currently allowed. Council member Holly Aschenbrenner stated the Kansas Water Office recommends no watering from 12:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Mr. Walz moved to accept the recommendation from the Water Advisory Committee modifying the allowable watering times to 6:00 – 10:00 a.m. and from 8:00 – 11:00 p.m. Mr. Luea seconded the motion. The motion failed 2-4, with Council members Gary Luea and John Walz voting for the motion, and Council members Holly Aschenbrenner, Heather Luea, Jolene Niernberger and Bob Redger voting opposed. Ms. Raub will have the revised Water Conservation Plan and revisions to the ordinance for the next meeting.
Water: Accounting/Billing
City Clerk Amy Burton discussed the current water utility billing ordinance and presented options for a revised billing structure. Council discussed the pros and cons of moving towards a true tier rate structure versus expanding the current ordinance to allow for an additional rate structure under Stage 2. Council member Bob Redger moved to have City Attorney Olavee Raub draft an ordinance widening the allowed base tier under Stage 2 to 4,000 gallons and providing for a rate double the base rate for those residents exceeding their base tier under Stage 2. Council member Holly Aschenbrenner seconded the motion. The motion carried 6-0.
Water: City Code
Ms. Raub presented a proposed Resolution removing the City from Stage 3 Water Emergency and declaring a Stage 2 Water Warning. Enforcement of the watering restrictions will not change and no warnings will be issued. Council member Holly Aschenbrenner moved and Council member Heather Luea seconded a motion to approve Resolution No. 511 declaring a Stage 2 Water Warning for the City. Upon a call for further discussion, Council member John Walz questioned how many lawn permits the City should allow at the same time. Ms. Raub stated the Council could direct the City Clerk to only allow a certain number of permits at a time on a first-come-first-served basis. Council then questioned the need for lawn permits when the allowable watering times provide enough water to establish a new lawn; therefore, no directive was made to the City Clerk’s office. Upon a call for the vote, the motion carried 4-2, with Council members Holly Aschenbrenner, Gary Luea, Heather Luea and Bob Redger voting for the motion, and Council members Jolene Niernberger and John Walz voting opposed.
NEW BUSINESS
General Government: License/Permit
Council considered a temporary Cereal Malt Beverage License for the Ellis Chamber of Commerce for the annual Riverfest event. Background checks have been completed. Council member John Walz moved and Council member Gary Luea seconded a motion to approve the temporary Cereal Malt Beverage license for the Ellis Chamber of Commerce. The motion carried 6-0.
Sanitation: Policy
Public Works Director Alan Scheuerman voiced concerns over the current holiday sanitation policy for two commercial customers. He feels the City is treating these two customers different than any other customer. The Council discussed the current policy and it was the consensus to not make any modifications to the current practice of paying overtime for two staff members to come in on a holiday weekend to dump the two customer’s dumpsters.
REPORTS FROM CITY OFFICIALS
Public Works
Mr. Scheuerman reported the Public Works Department has started their summer hours. From Memorial Day through Labor Day the Department’s hours are 7:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., with a half-hour lunch break. Mr. Scheuerman is waiting for an underwater epoxy to arrive in order to repair the pool liner. He praised the Department for their work in getting the cemetery ready for Memorial Day services. Brian Spano, Wilson & Co., will be at the next Council meeting to provide an update on the Wastewater Treatment Plant improvement project. Mr. Scheuerman will begin advertising for a full-time GPWE 1A staff position.
Water: Grant
Mr. Scheuerman is considering three possible grant opportunities to help fund the water exploration process. City Clerk Amy Burton submitted a grant application to USDA today, and Mr. Scheuerman is considering applications to the Kansas Department of Health & Environment and FEMA as well.
Special Highway: Petition
Mr. Scheuerman recommended the Council submit a Letter of Concern to the County regarding the 10th Street Bridge. The bridge has become a safety concern as the deck needs repaired. The bridge is not on the current County bridge rehabilitation plan. It was the consensus of Council to have Mayor McDaniel write a letter to the County voicing the City’s concerns.
Police
Police Chief Taft Yates presented the May Monthly Activity Report and the June staff calendar. Officers have participated in field sobriety training, as well as use of force procedures and firearms instruction. The Department assisted with the DARE graduation at Washington Grade School and also held the annual bicycle safety programs. In June, the officers will have several events with the annual Riverfest event and also complete their physical training test. Officer Wechsler will graduate on June 12th from the Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center.
City Clerk
City Clerk Amy Burton requested a work session to review the Capital Improvement Plan in order to start the budget document. A work session will be held on June 17th to discuss the Capital Improvement Plan.
Attorney
City Attorney Olavee Raub needs to be excused from the July 6th Council meeting as she will be out of town. The Public Hearing for the proposed Henman annexation is scheduled for that meeting, but Ms. Raub noted the Council does not have to take action that night. The Public Hearing is just for the Council to hear public comments.
Mayor/Council
Mayor David McDaniel would like for the City to send a thank you to the Baptist Church for their help in Memorial Park.
Council member Jolene Niernberger thanked Mayor McDaniel and Mayor Kanzenbach from Victoria for their efforts in voicing concerns over the County’s proposal to cut Emergency Medical Services to Ellis and Victoria. The proposal has been removed from consideration. Ms. Niernberger would also like Mayor McDaniel to invite Emergency Management Director Bill Ring to come speak to Council on the City’s Disaster Recovery Plan.
Council member Holly Aschenbrenner asked if Mayor McDaniel was still considering holding regular public forums. She also inquired of Mr. Scheuerman regarding the dredging of the creek. Mr. Scheuerman reported he is getting resistance from various agencies, and for the time being the project is on hold as no funding is currently available.
Council member John Walz discussed the City of Hays’ water project with the R9 Ranch and suggested it may be a good idea to invite City Manager Toby Dougherty to a Council meeting to give an update on the project. He also reported Ellis County will allow fireworks this year.
EXECUTIVE SESSIONS
Mayor McDaniel called for an executive session for personnel matters of non-elected personnel. A 5-minute executive session was proposed starting at 10:58 p.m. Mayor McDaniel asked for a motion to recess. Council member Jolene Niernberger moved to recess to executive session for personnel matters of non-elected personnel with the City Attorney and the Public Works Director present. Council member Bob Redger seconded the motion. The motion carried 6-0. The Council returned to open session at 11:03 p.m. No action was taken in executive session.
ADJOURNMENT
Council member Bob Redger moved to adjourn the meeting. Council member Holly Aschenbrenner seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 11:04 p.m.