ELLIS–Fireworks will be allowed to be sold and discharged in Ellis July 2-5. City council members approved the 2017 resolution at their June 19 meeting.

Fire Chief Dustin Vine reported the fire trucks have all passed the regular pump inspection tests. He also reported the Ellis Fire Department has two vacant positions and noted the north wall of the fire station is starting to collapse.

The council also heard from Glen Keller, chairman of the Planning Commission/Board of Zoning Appeals, who presented the 2017 Comprehensive Plan Goals and Objectives. Approval of the document will be made at a future meeting after further review by the city council.

The complete meeting minutes follow.

ELLIS CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING Minutes June 19, 2017

CALL TO ORDER
Mayor David McDaniel called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. Present were Council members Bret Andries, Holly Aschenbrenner, Susan Eaton, Jolene Niernberger, Dena Patee, and Bob Redger. Also present were Public Works Director Alan Scheuerman, City Clerk Amy Burton, Police Chief Taft Yates, Fire Chief Dustin Vine, and City Attorney Olavee Raub.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
AMENDMENTS TO AGENDA
PUBLIC PRESENT
Josh Eaton, Brian Raub, Maleah Vine, Westin Vine, Cheryl Kinderknecht, Glen Keller, and Andrew Scheck.
CONSENT AGENDA
Council member Jolene Niernberger moved to approve the consent agenda containing the Minutes from the Regular Meeting on June 5, 2017, Bills Ordinance #2023, and the January 2017 manual journal entries. Council member Dena Patee seconded the motion. The Council approved the consent agenda 6-0.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Josh Eaton expressed concerns over not having a licensed building inspector in the Public Works Department and asked why the City is not fixing the brick streets. He also questioned why a specific contractor in Ellis is allowed to perform work in town without a license.
PRESENTATIONS OF AWARDS, PROCLAMATIONS, REQUESTS & PETITIONS (HEARINGS)
General Government: Petition
City Attorney Olavee Raub discussed a Notice of Claim from Mark Flax requesting payment for damages to a water line at his rental property during the Street Improvement Project. Mr. Flax is requesting reimbursement of parts in the amount of $47.84 and his labor to complete the repair calculated at $50 per hour, for three hours, for a total amount of $197.84. Public Works Director Alan Scheuerman stated the line was broken by the contractor, and the City flushed the line to the meter at Mr. Flax’s property. Ms. Raub stated the liability for the broken line, and subsequently the claim, would rest with the contractor. Ms. Raub will submit the claim to the contractor for review, and will also inform Mr. Flax of the status of the claim.
SPECIAL ORDER
Fire: Report
Fire Chief Dustin Vine reported the fire trucks have all passed the regular pump inspection tests. The Department is currently short two firemen. Chief Vine will be at the Fire Station on June 22nd at 4:00 p.m. to facilitate his portion of the City Facility Inspection Tour. He expressed concerns that the north wall of the Fire Station is starting to collapse.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
NEW BUSINESS
General Government: Committee
Glen Keller, Chairman of the Planning Commission/Board of Zoning Appeals, presented the 2017 Comprehensive Plan Goals and Objectives as prepared by the Commission. The document is useful for Council during budget preparation as it prioritizes items important for growth and sustainability for the City. Council would like to table approval of the document until the next meeting to have more time to review.
Water: License/Permit
Council considered an application from Andrew Scheck to drill a new water well at his residence. The City is not currently under a declared water emergency that would prohibit the drilling. Therefore, Council member Bob Redger moved and Council member Holly Aschenbrenner seconded a motion to approve the Application for Permit to Drill Private Water Well for Andrew Scheck. The motion carried 6-0. Mr. Scheck will need to pay the permit fee at the Clerk’s office prior to drilling.
General Government: Land Disposition
Representatives from the Ellis Golf Club were to attend to see if the City might be interested in selling land that surrounds the club house and cart sheds. No representatives were present; therefore, this item will once again be tabled until a future meeting.
Public Works: Special Project
Public Works Director Alan Scheuerman wanted to discuss a drainage issue on the south side of the golf course; however, since Ellis Golf Club representatives were not present this item will be tabled until a future meeting.
General Government: Committees
Mayor David McDaniel presented his list of recommended annual appointments. Volunteers are appointed by the Mayor with approval by the Council. Mayor McDaniel would like to change the name of the Senior Advisory Committee to the Community Advisory Committee. City Attorney Olavee Raub will draft a resolution for the name change. Council member Bob Redger moved to approve the Roster of Appointments as presented. Council member Jolene Niernberger seconded the motion. Upon a call for discussion, Council member Holly Aschenbrenner asked which committees were required, as she believes it is unnecessary to have so many committees. Ms. Niernberger countered that committees offer the community a chance to voice their opinions and invest in the community by helping make decisions. Public Works Director Alan Scheuerman added that committees are important to conduct the research for projects and offer recommendations. Upon a call for the vote, Council members Bret Andries, Jolene Niernberger, and Bob Redger voted in favor of the motion, and Council members Holly Aschenbrenner, Susan Eaton, and Dena Patee voted opposed. Mayor David McDaniel broke the tie by voting in favor of the approval of the Roster of Appointments; therefore, the motion carried 4-3.
General Government: Policy
City Attorney Olavee Raub presented a resolution permitting the dates for discharge of fireworks from July 2nd through July 4th, per Council direction. City Clerk Amy Burton asked for Council to consider extending the resolution to July 5th, as the dates on the resolution under consideration don’t agree with the dates listed on the permits to sell fireworks that Council previously approved. Council member Holly Aschenbrenner moved and Council member Dena Patee seconded a motion to approve Resolution 536 declaring the dates of discharge of fireworks, as amended to read July 2nd through July 5th. The motion carried 6-0.
Fire: License/Permits
Council member Bob Redger moved and Council member Holly Aschenbrenner seconded a motion to approve the Application for License to Sell Cereal Malt Beverages for the Ellis Fire Department, pending successful background checks, during the Ellis Junior Free Fair. The motion carried 6-0.
Clerk: Disposal
City Clerk Amy Burton presented the list of documents set for disposal according to the Records Management Policy. Council member Holly Aschenbrenner moved to approve the Certificate of Destruction of Public Records as presented. Council member Bob Redger seconded the motion. The motion carried 6-0.
Campground: Traffic
Mayor David McDaniel requested Council consider new or additional signage directing patrons to the Lakeside Campground. Public Works Director Alan Scheuerman will look into the size and cost of new signage.
REPORTS FROM CITY OFFICIALS
Public Works
Public Works Director Alan Scheuerman presented the Comparative Water Report for April 10th – May 10th.
The Facility Inspection Tour will begin at 4:00 p.m. on June 22, 2017.
Mr. Scheuerman reported he has made four attempts to contact the appraiser. Council suggested in order to obtain a quote for appraising the new well sites, without success. He has already obtained one quote for the service. Council requested Mr. Scheuerman contact another appraiser to obtain a second quote.
Mr. Scheuerman reported that the installation of the variable field drives during the Wastewater Treatment Facility Project saved the City $1,100 in electricity costs in just one month.
Police
Police Chief Taft Yates reported he has met with County law enforcement agencies and the Ellis County Attorney’s office regarding Senate Bill 367 amending the juvenile justice system. The Department also recently assisted with the Driver’s Education class at Ellis High School.
City Clerk
City Clerk Amy Burton presented the Financial Statements for January 2017 consisting of the Statement of Accounts, Treasurer’s Report and Security Deposit Worksheet. Ms. Burton also presented the Health Insurance Savings Report for May 2017.
The bids for the janitorial contract for City Hall are due by noon on June 30th.
The swimming pool slides are being installed and the Community Foundation will hold a free swim event on July 1st. Ms. Burton inquired if the City still wanted to host the annual July 4th free swim event since it is only a few days after the Foundation’s event. It was the consensus of Council to proceed with the July 4th event.
The magnets produced by the Kansas State University Watershed District have been mailed. The City has a small supply of the mailings. Council suggested distributing the magnets to new residents when they sign up for services.
Attorney
City Attorney Olavee Raub reported she has been able to obtain an address for the owner of the property on Fauteux Street and is in the process of serving notice of the code and environmental violations.
Ms. Raub addressed a complaint by a resident on the east side of town alleging that the City is violating the zoning codes by storing construction materials in an area zoned agricultural. Ms. Raub stated the storage of the materials does not create a zoning violation. Ellis County has informed Mr. Scheuerman that they would allow the City to store some of the material on their property; however, the County has also received complaints from residents requesting their stockpile be moved as well. Mr. Scheuerman asked Council for suggestions of where they would like the stockpile to be located, as the City has no other area large enough to store that quantity of material. After hearing suggestions from Council, Ms. Raub stated she will provide the resident with a status update.
Mayor Update and Announcements
Mayor David McDaniel requested discussion on Josh Eaton’s comments during Public Comment. Mr. Scheuerman stated that when Midwest Energy contacts the City to perform a natural gas test, the City only performs a pressure test, as City Code warrants, and not to verify if it was installed correctly. Council member Bret Andries confirmed Mr. Scheuerman’s comments, adding that no inspections are required to be performed, just the pressure testing. Mr. Scheuerman also stated that the City does perform routine maintenance to the City’s brick streets; however, to perform major repairs will take significant dollars that Council has not budgeted for in the past. In regards to the named contractor who Mr. Eaton alleges is performing work in the City without a license, City Attorney Olavee Raub stated she needs a formal complaint filed by either the Department Head or citizen in order to investigate and prosecute.
ADJOURNMENT
Council member Bob Redger moved and Council member Dena Patee seconded a motion to adjourn the meeting. The motion carried 6-0. The meeting adjourned at 9:16 p.m.