ELLIS–A motion for a five percent wage increase for Ellis city employees approved Dec. 7, was rescinded by city council member Bob Redger at the Dec. 21 meeting. Redger said he instead wanted to consider restructuring the employee wage rates. After further discussion, the council decided to explore hiring a consultant to perform a wage study before making any changes to the employee wage structure.
In other business, council members agreed to transition immediately to November local elections, as mandated by the Kansas state legislature last year. A charter ordinance must still be adopted to change from the traditional spring election in April to the fall election in November.
The Dec. 21 meeting minutes follow.
ELLIS CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING Minutes December 21, 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, Jolene Niernberger, Bob Redger, and John Walz. 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. Council member Heather Luea was absent.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
AMENDMENTS TO AGENDA
None
PUBLIC PRESENT
Doreen Timken, Steve Homburg, Cameron Moeder, Jacob Schartz, Harold Witthuhn Jr., Tyler Watson, Dominique Davis, Kayla Phillips, Glen Keller, Joe Kreutzer, Chris Krom, Tim Kohlrus, Brad Leiker, Shaun Burd, Charlie Kinderknecht, and Lyle Johnston (arrived at 7:50 p.m.)
CONSENT AGENDA
Council member Bob Redger moved to approve the consent agenda containing the Minutes from the Regular Meeting on December 7, 2015 and Bills Ordinance #1987. Council member Jolene Niernberger seconded the motion. The Council approved the consent agenda 5-0.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Charlie Kinderknecht addressed Council on concerns he has with drainage in the alley behind his property at 814 Washington. He asked Council to consider the project a priority as he has already spent over $7,000 replacing concrete floors due to improper drainage around the building.
PRESENTATIONS OF AWARDS, PROCLAMATIONS, REQUESTS & PETITIONS (HEARINGS)
None
SPECIAL ORDER
Fire: Repair/Maintenance
Fire Chief Denis Vine presented a summary of when the fire equipment and trucks were tested and inspected throughout the year.
The cost of the annual pump test on the firetrucks exceeded the $1,000 department head authorization; therefore, Chief Vine asked for ratification of the invoice. Council member John Walz moved and Council member Bob Redger seconded a motion to ratify the bill from Hays Fire and Rescue Sales & Service, LLC in the amount of $1,050 for the annual pump tests. The motion carried 5-0.
Fire: Acquisition
Ellis Volunteer Fireman Shaun Burd presented bids for a commercial washing machine for the Fire Department’s new bunker gear. Mr. Burd recommended the washing machine from Commercial Laundry Sales & Service. The Continental machine quoted in their bid is the same brand of machine used by Ellis County and Hays Fire Departments and comes highly recommended. Council member Jolene Niernberger moved to accept the quote from Commercial Laundry Sales & Service for the commercial washing machine in the amount of $3,080.08, with funds to come from the Fire Department budget. Council member Bob Redger seconded the motion. Upon a call for discussion, Council member Holly Aschenbrenner stated she would like to see the Fire Department explore grant opportunities before buying out of department funds. Upon a call for the vote the motion carried 4-1, with Council member Holly Aschenbrenner opposed.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Sewer: Special Project
Council member Gary Luea spoke to a representative from the Kansas Department of Health & Environment who offered to visit with City officials about acceptable options to store the sewer sludge. Public Works Director Alan Scheuerman informed Council that KDHE, along with the Environmental Protection Agency, regulate the containment and the transport of the sludge. If the sludge is going to be transported multiple times per week, the City will need to upgrade the truck used to haul the sludge. KDHE allows temporary containment sites for up to two years, but then the City would have to move the sludge to another location. After further discussion, it was the consensus of Council to table any decision on a permanent site until a KDHE representative can discuss possible containment options.
Personnel: Policy
Council reviewed revisions to the Personnel Policy and Guidelines as directed during the December 7th Council meeting. There being no further discussion, Council member Jolene Niernberger moved and Council member John Walz seconded a motion to approve the 2016 Personnel Policies and Guidelines as presented. The motion carried 4-1, with Council member Gary Luea opposed.
Tourism: Contracts
It was the consensus of Council to not pursue additional billboard advertising at this time.
Personnel: Salary
Council member Bob Redger discussed the five percent wage increase for City employees approved by Council at the December 7th Council meeting. Mr. Redger said he would like to rescind the motion granting the wage increase and consider restructuring the employee wage rates. After further discussion, the Council decided to explore hiring a consultant to perform a wage study before making any changes to the employee wage structure.
Water: Repair/Maintenance
Public Works Director Alan Scheuerman reported that Don’s Electric has received the well transducers and they will be installed the first part of January.
NEW BUSINESS
General Government: Financial
City Attorney Olavee Raub presented a resolution that will need to be approved the first meeting in January. The resolution calls for an election to renew the one cent sales tax that sunsets September 30, 2016. The sales tax proceeds are used to pay the bond and interest payments on the Water Treatment Plant improvements. The sales tax would renew for an additional ten years, the same time frame of the remaining bond payments.
General Government: City Code
Ms. Raub presented two versions of a Charter Ordinance transitioning city official elections to the fall of each year, as mandated by State of Kansas legislation. One version provides for April 2016 elections, with the transition implemented with the subsequent election. The other version provides for the transition immediately, thus postponing elections until November 2016. Ms. Raub stated the League of Kansas Municipalities recommends cities transition to November 2016 elections because the League is taking the position that cities no longer have authority to hold spring elections as the statutes do not provide for them. Ms. Raub echoed the League’s recommendation to postpone the April 2016 elections until November 2016. The City will also need to adopt an ordinance providing for an additional January meeting to install newly elected officials. It was the consensus of Council to transition immediately to November elections and for City Clerk Amy Burton to not certify open elected positions to the County for year-end. This will serve as the first reading of the Charter Ordinance.
Library: Committee
Council member John Walz moved and Council member Bob Redger seconded a motion to appoint Amber Deutscher to the Library Board. The motion carried 5-0. Ms. Deutscher will fill the unexpired term of Laney Roths.
Clerk: Accounting/Billing
Council member John Walz moved to authorize the City Clerk to pay vendor invoices due and payable at year-end. Council member Jolene Niernberger seconded the motion. The motion carried 5-0.
Special Machinery: Financial
City Clerk Amy Burton discussed the benefits and drawbacks of the General Fund departments (Police, Fire, Park/Cemetery, and Swimming Pool) transferring any excess budget authority to the Special Machinery Fund. Any monies transferred to the Special Machinery Fund lose their identity upon transfer; however, the Capital Improvement Plan keeps internal track of each department’s contributions to the Fund. Council member Jolene Niernberger spoke in favor of the transfer in that the department heads are charged with managing their department budgets and any excess budget authority should remain earmarked for that respective department’s future equipment needs. Council also discussed leaving the excess funds in the General Fund, where the monies stay unrestricted, to be budgeted for expenditure in 2017 for special projects. After further discussion, Council member John Walz moved and Council member Jolene Niernberger seconded a motion to transfer 50% of the General Fund departments’ excess budget authority to the Special Machinery Fund. The motion carried 4-1, with Council member Holly Aschenbrenner opposed.
Water: Repair/Maintenance
Driggs Design Group has informed Public Works Director Alan Scheuerman that it is time to start acquiring easements for the Waterline Improvement Project. Mr. Scheuerman estimated nine to twelve easements will need to be obtained. It was the consensus of Council to have City Attorney Olavee Raub begin the paperwork for acquiring the necessary easements for the project.
Public Works: Disposal
Mr. Scheuerman requested permission to sell the Ford tandem truck and the 1978 GMC 2-ton truck. Council discussed whether to sell the trucks by sealed bid or through an auction site. Council member Jolene Niernberger moved to sell the Ford tandem truck and the 1978 GMC 2-ton truck through the Purple Wave auction site. Council member John Walz seconded the motion. The motion carried 5-0.
REPORTS FROM CITY OFFICIALS:
PUBLIC WORKS
Water
Public Works Director Alan Scheuerman presented the Comparative Water Report for the period October 10th – November 10th.
Sewer: Special Project
The bid letting for the Wastewater Treatment Plant project will be December 22nd at 2:00 p.m. at City Hall.
Street: Repair/Maintenance
Mr. Scheuerman reported the new crosswalk at 18th Street and Monroe still needs signage, but is otherwise complete. Council member Jolene Niernberger asked if the crosswalk at 6th Street and Washington could be repainted.
Council member John Walz asked Mr. Scheuerman to review the drainage situation referenced by Mr. Kinderknecht under Public Comments. City Attorney Olavee Raub stated Council had an engineering study done years ago but the previous owner vacated the building; therefore, Council decided to postpone any repair.
Council discussed applying for a grant for LED lights for the Christmas stars. Council members Holly Aschenbrenner and John Walz will research grant opportunities.
Campground: Repair/Maintenance
Council member Holly Aschenbrenner asked for the status on the dock construction and the campground expansion.
Council member John Walz asked if it would be possible to remove the wood from the creek before it fills up again. Mr. Scheuerman will contact Stockton to see if the inmates would be available to help with the project.
POLICE
Police Chief Taft Yates reported the new patrol vehicle should arrive mid-January.
CITY CLERK
ATTORNEY
MAYOR UPDATE AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Mayor David McDaniel asked Council if they would like to schedule work sessions with the Cemetery Committee and Trades Board in January on the same night or different nights. Mayor requested City Attorney Olavee Raub’s presence at the work sessions. Ms. Raub noted she will be gone the week of January 11th.
Mayor McDaniel reported all staff annual evaluations have been completed by the Department Heads. The Department Head evaluation forms have been completed but the Mayor hasn’t reviewed them with staff yet.
ADJOURNMENT
Council member Bob Redger moved and Council member Holly Aschenbrenner seconded a motion to adjourn the meeting. The motion carried 5-0. The meeting adjourned at 9:30 p.m.