ELLIS – Members of the Ellis Fire Department (EFD) will soon have new air packs to replace the existing equipment, some of which are 35 years old.

City council members approved two bids for $69,036.07 during their Nov. 20 meeting. EFD received a $35,000 grant from the Dane G. Hansen Foundation to help fund the purchase. Chief Dustin Vine also noted the Hays Fire Department has donated 200 feet of 1 ¾” water supply line to the Ellis Fire Department.

In other business, Mayor Dave McDaniel was called on to break a tie vote regarding the 2015 International Building Codes (IBC).

Ellis currently operates under the 2003 IBC. Future adoption of the 2015 codes would improve the rating issued by the Insurance Service Office (ISO) which sets flood insurance premiums, and keep the city current with the Community Rating System (CRS) for floodplain regulations. The 4-3 vote directed City Attorney Olavee Raub to draft the required ordinances to adopt the 2015 International Building Codes.

The complete meeting minutes follow.

ELLIS CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING
Minutes
November 20, 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, City Attorney Olavee Raub, and City Prosecutor Cassy Zeigler.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
AMENDMENTS TO AGENDA
Mayor David McDaniel requested adding consideration of a resolution to hold a public hearing on unfit structures under New Business, and ratification of an invoice from Bruckner Truck Sales under Old Business. Council member Dena Patee moved and Council member Jolene Niernberger seconded a motion to approve the additions to the agenda. The motion carried 6-0.
PUBLIC PRESENT
John Walz, Verda Flinn, Barbara Perkins, Brandon Pfeifer, Cheryl Kinderknecht, Gary Luea, Ronald Julian, Dustin Mattheyer, Denis Vine, Cody Nichols, Nickole Byers, Tim Kohlrus, Charlene Weber (arrived at 7:40 p.m.), and Travis Kohlrus (arrived at 7:55 p.m.).
CONSENT AGENDA
Council member Jolene Niernberger moved to approve the consent agenda containing the Minutes from the Regular Meeting on November 6, 2017, Bills Ordinance #2033, and the October manual journal entries. Council member Bret Andries seconded the motion. The Council approved the consent agenda 6-0.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
None
PRESENTATIONS OF AWARDS, PROCLAMATIONS, REQUESTS & PETITIONS (HEARINGS)
Committee: Award
Mayor David McDaniel recognized members of the Water Advisory Committee and presented Gary Luea, Bob Redger, Alan Scheuerman, and John Walz with a Citizen’s Award for their act of service. Member John Leiker was unable to attend.
SPECIAL ORDER
Fire: Report
Fire Chief Dustin Vine reported the City of Hays Fire Department has donated 200’ of 1 ¾” supply line to the Ellis Fire Department. The Department has started a Facebook page under “City of Ellis, Kansas Fire Department.” Chief Vine then discussed at length the importance of testing the fire hydrants regularly as several hydrants have been spot checked and tested well below the gallons per minute on record. Currently, the Fire Department has been testing the hydrants, but they would like the Public Works Department to take over the testing. Public Works Director Alan Scheuerman will propose an annual hydrant testing schedule at the next Council meeting.
Personnel: Entry
Fire Chief Dustin Vine announced that Zach Dinicola and Sydney Dinicola have joined the Fire Department. The Department is now fully staffed.
Tourism: Committee
Travis Kohlrus and Dena Patee, members of the City Tourism Committee, presented proposed billboard designs illustrating the “Visit, Play, and Stay” themes. The billboards highlight the various attractions in town and will replace the City’s five existing billboards. The City will also utilize one of the Chamber’s billboards to give the City three billboards to the east of town and three billboards to the west of town. Council member Holly Aschenbrenner moved and Council member Bob Redger seconded a motion to approve the billboard designs as presented by the Tourism Committee. The motion carried 6-0, with Council member Dena Patee abstaining due to perceived conflict of interest.
The Committee continued by presenting the 2018 advertising packages from Eagle Radio and Eagle Community TV. The package from Eagle Community TV increased $50 per month for a total annual investment of $4,200 for 375 thirty-second ads; and the Eagle Radio package remained at $2,448 per year for 34 commercials per month. Council will consider approval of the advertising packages at the December 4th Council meeting.
The Committee also has plans to place banners in Love’s Travel Stop and the Days Inn highlighting the museums, churches, medical clinic, parks, as well as other attractions in the City. The banners will be funded through a grant.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Campground: Special Project
Public Works Director Alan Scheuerman presented the elevation measurements for the proposed campground expansion project. The rocked camper pads will need to be approximately 4” higher than the grass to aid water runoff. Water will travel west to east, so the roadway will need to be slightly elevated to avoid puddling. Regarding concerns of covering up the old Roundhouse foundation, Mr. Scheuerman stated very little of the foundation would need to be covered up for the project to continue. Council asked for cost estimates to just install primitive camping sites for the first year of the five year plan. Committee Chair Charlene Weber will refigure the cost estimates and present at the December 4th Council meeting.
Public Works: Repair/Maintenance
Mr. Scheuerman reported that when Bruckner Truck Sales started the repairs on the Mack truck, they found two cracked brackets in addition to the previously approved repairs. Council member Bob Redger moved to approve the additional repairs to the Mack truck in the amount of $2,827.87. Council member Dena Patee seconded the motion. The motion carried 6-0.
NEW BUSINESS
Fire: Contract
Fire Chief Dustin Vine presented an addendum to the mutual aid agreement between the City and Ellis County Fire Department Company 6. The agreement documents procedures already taking place between the two Departments. Council member Bob Redger moved to approve the Addendum to the Ellis County Fire Rescue Mutual Aid Agreement as presented. Council member Dena Patee seconded the motion. The motion carried 6-0.
Fire: Policy
Chief Vine then presented the proposed Standard Operating Procedures manual for the Department. The first paragraph on page A-3 needs to be deleted as the Department does not inspect buildings for fire hazards. Council member Jolene Niernberger moved and Council member Holly Aschenbrenner seconded a motion to approve the Fire Department Standard Operating Procedures manual as amended. The motion carried 6-0.
Fire: Acquisition
Chief Vine presented bids to replace the Department’s air pack system. Some of the current air packs are over 35 years old. The Department received a $35,000 grant from the Dane G. Hansen Foundation in September to help fund the purchase. Council member Holly Aschenbrenner moved to approve the bid from Municipal Emergency Services for eight SCBA air pack systems and 20 cylinders and valve assemblies in the amount of $64,871.92, and the bid from Matheson for 4 – 6,000 PSI air cylinders in the amount of $4,164.15, for a total purchase price of $69,036.07. The purchase will be funded by the Hansen Foundation Grant ($35,000.00) and the Special Machinery Fund ($34,036.07). Council member Bob Redger seconded the motion. The motion carried 6-0.
Sewer: Acquisition
Council member Dena Patee moved to approve the purchase of a 3,000 lb. tote of aluminum chlorohydrate from Brenntag in the amount of $1,170.00 plus freight and material fees, with funds to come from the Sewer Utility Fund. Council member Jolene Niernberger seconded the motion. The motion carried 5-0. Council member Bob Redger was absent for the vote.
Public Works: Building Code
Public Works Director Alan Scheuerman discussed the 2015 International Building Codes (IBC’s). The City currently operates under the 2003 IBC’s. The City will need to adopt the 2015 Codes in order to improve the rating issued by the Insurance Service Office (ISO) which sets flood insurance premiums, and also to stay current with the Community Rating System (CRS) for floodplain regulations. The Codes will be adopted through a series of ordinances. Council member Jolene Niernberger moved to direct City Attorney Olavee Raub to draft the required ordinances to adopt the 2015 International Building Codes. Council member Bret Andries seconded the motion. 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 motion; therefore, the motion carried 4-3.
City Attorney: Contract
Council member Holly Aschenbrenner requested discussion on the contract between the City and Raub & Zeigler, LLC. Ms. Aschenbrenner expressed concerns that the City did not budget for the large overages on the contract and questioned how the costs could be reduced. City Attorney Olavee Raub stated the City receives a large discount on their hourly rate and the recent workload has been heavier than normal with numerous trials, code violations, and work related to dilapidated buildings. The Council discussed possible ways to reduce the attorney’s billable hours.
City Attorney: Violation Hearing
City Prosecutor Cassy Zeigler presented a proposed resolution declaring a public hearing for three unfit properties in town. The hearing will allow the owners of the properties to come before Council and explain why the properties should not be condemned. If the properties are declared condemned and set for demolition, the City would pay for the demolition costs up front, but could then assess the costs to the owner through the property tax roll. Council member Dena Patee moved and Council member Bob Redger seconded a motion to adopt Resolution No. 541 setting a public hearing for January 2, 2018 at 6:30 p.m. for the following properties: 210 E. 11th, 208 W. 12th, and 1309 Fauteux. The motion carried 6-0.
Executive Session: Security
Mayor David McDaniel asked for a motion to recess into executive session at the request of Police Chief Taft Yates. Council member Dena Patee moved for City Council to recess into executive session for 15 minutes to discuss security measures at City Hall pursuant to the matters relating to security measures provision exception, K.S.A. 75-4319 (b) (13) with Police Chief Taft Yates, City Attorney Olavee Raub, City Prosecutor Cassy Zeigler, City Clerk Amy Burton and Public Works Director Alan Scheuerman present. The open meeting resumed at 9:53 p.m. Council member Bret Andries seconded the motion. The motion carried 6-0. No action was taken in executive session.
REPORTS FROM CITY OFFICIALS
Public Works
Public Works Director Alan Scheuerman thanked Golden Belt Telephone and Midwest Energy for hanging the City’s Christmas stars on the light poles. Mr. Scheuerman visited with Chrysler Museum Board President Chad Pritchett regarding several repairs to be completed by the City at the museum. Mayor David McDaniel directed Mr. Scheuerman to only discuss needed repairs with Mr. Pritchett or Glen Keller. Mr. Scheuerman stated it is not financially feasible to get every City hydrant to over 500 gallons per minute, as requested by Fire Chief Dustin Vine. Mr. Scheuerman believes it is important to have both departments involved with the fire hydrant testing. Council congratulated Mr. Scheuerman on passing his Certified Building Inspector’s exam.
Police
Police Chief Taft Yates reported that officers have recently attended firearms and situational awareness training sessions. Chief Yates also attended an emergency preparedness meeting at the Good Samaritan Center.
City Clerk: Training
City Clerk Amy Burton requested approval to attend the IIMC Annual Conference in Norfolk, Virginia. The City will be reimbursed by the City Clerks and Municipal Finance Officers Association for Ms. Burton’s expenses since she serves on the Association’s Executive Board. Council member Bob Redger moved and Council member Jolene Niernberger seconded a motion to allow Ms. Burton to attend the IIMC Annual Conference in Norfolk, Virginia from May 20th – 23rd. The motion carried 6-0.
The Northwest Kansas Planning & Development Commission annual meeting will be November 29th in Hill City.
Ms. Burton reviewed the October Health Insurance Savings Report and the October financial statements consisting of the Statement of Accounts, Treasurer’s Report, and Security Deposit worksheet.
The City’s application for extension of appropriation of water rights has been approved by the Kansas Department of Agriculture.
Attorney
Mayor Update and Announcements
ADJOURNMENT
Council member Holly Aschenbrenner moved and Council member Bob Redger seconded a motion to adjourn the meeting. The motion carried 6-0. The meeting adjourned at 10:13 p.m.