ELLIS – The Walter P. Chrysler Boyhood Home in Ellis is facing some financial difficulty and has turned to the city for help.
During the Feb. 18 meeting, city council members agreed to the museum’s request for the city to take over mowing the museum property. City employees already mow the grounds of the Ellis Railroad Museum.
The council also suggested museum board members pursue grant opportunities to help pay electricity costs.
In other business, bids received for the campground expansion project were presented by Buck Driggs, Driggs Design Group. The estimated project cost of $100,474.83 does not include picnic tables or in-kind cost of city staff labor and equipment. The city council voted for the Campground Committee to proceed with a Dane G. Hansen grant application for the project.
The complete meeting minutes follow.
ELLIS CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING
Minutes
February 18, 2019
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor David McDaniel called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. Present were Council members Bret Andries, Holly Aschenbrenner, Martin LaBarge, Jolene Niernberger, 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. Council member Steve Ferland was absent.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
AMENDMENTS TO AGENDA
None
PUBLIC PRESENT
Glen Keller, Verda Flinn, Buck Driggs, Sam Polifka, Myles Vine, Maleah Vine, and Westin Vine.
CONSENT AGENDA
Council member Jolene Niernberger moved to approve the consent agenda containing the Minutes from the Regular Meeting on February 4, 2019 and Bills Ordinance #2063. Council member Holly Aschenbrenner seconded the motion. The Council approved the consent agenda 5-0.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Sam Polifka, Board Member for the Walter P. Chrysler Boyhood Home, discussed the financial struggles surrounding the museum. At the last Council meeting, Chad Pritchett stated the Museum could save $75 per month by combining two electric meters. Mr. Polifka presented updated information that the cost savings would actually be closer to $25 per month.
PRESENTATIONS OF AWARDS, PROCLAMATIONS, REQUESTS & PETITIONS (HEARINGS)
None
SPECIAL ORDER
Fire: Report
Fire Chief Dustin Vine presented his monthly activity report. The Department is still looking for volunteer firefighters to fill vacancies in the Department.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Campground: Special Project
Buck Driggs, Driggs Design Group, LLC, presented cost estimates from bids received for the Campground Expansion Project. The estimated project cost of $100,474.83 does not include picnic tables or in-kind cost of City staff labor or equipment use. Those costs will be added in prior to submission of the application. The deadline for application for Dane G. Hansen grant funds is February 25th. Council member Bret Andries moved to authorize the Campground Committee to proceed with the Dane G. Hansen grant application. Council member Jolene Niernberger seconded the motion. The motion carried 5-0.
Museum: Repair/Maintenance
Council discussed the requests from the Walter P. Chrysler Boyhood Home to take over mowing of the museum property and to bear the expense of combining the two electrical meters. The City already mows for the Ellis Railroad Museum and it was the consensus of Council to take over that maintenance item for the Chrysler Museum as well. Regarding the expense of combining the two electrical meters, Council requested the Chrysler Museum explore grant opportunities such as the Ellis Community Foundation, Dane G. Hansen Foundation, or Midwest Energy, to help with that cost. Council member Holly Aschenbrenner moved to approve mowing the property at the Walter P. Chrysler Boyhood Home. Council member Bret Andries seconded the motion. The motion carried 5-0.
General Government: Policy
Council member Holly Aschenbrenner requested additional time to review the document revising the City’s Small Cell Aesthetic Standards. Council will further consider the document at the next Council meeting.
Sewer: Special Project
City Attorney Olavee Raub updated Council on the progress of obtaining the easements for the Cedar Lane Lift Station project. Letters have been sent out to the two property owners affected; however, Ms. Raub has not received a response back from either property owner.
NEW BUSINESS
Parks: Event Request
Council discussed the Public Property Permit Application and Event Request for Traffic Control for the annual Chrysler Car Show. The Public Works Department normally supplies extra poly carts; however, the number requested was not completed on the application. Also, the incorrect street was referenced in the Event Request for Traffic Control. Council requested the applicant make corrections to the application for consideration at the next Council meeting.
General Government: Financial
Council considered a claim submitted by Janice Leiker for reimbursement for repairing her concrete edging damaged during repair of a water break in July 2018. The edging was within the City’s right of way. Council member Holly Aschenbrenner moved to approve paying damages to Janice Leiker in the amount of $220.00 for damage done to her property within the City’s right of way. Council member Martin LaBarge seconded the motion. The motion carried 5-0.
Personnel: Policy
City Clerk Amy Burton and City Attorney Olavee Raub discussed proposed revisions to the City’s Catastrophic Sick Leave Program. The Program has reached its calculated maximum value cap. Although newly eligible employees are allowed to enroll into the Program when the cap has been reached, Ms. Burton requested clarification on how long these employees have to enroll under these circumstances. Since the open enrollment periods occur quarterly, Council suggested a 90-day window for newly eligible employees to enroll in the Program. Ms. Raub will make the suggested revisions to the Program for consideration at the next Council meeting.
Water: Policy
Ms. Burton presented the updated Water Emergency Operating Plan for consideration. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment recommends the Plan be updated annually. Council member Jolene Niernberger moved to approve the 2019 Public Water Supply Emergency Operating Plan as presented. Council member Bob Redger seconded the motion. The motion carried 5-0.
Sewer: Acquisition
Council member Holly Aschenbrenner moved to approve the purchase of aluminum hydrochlorate from Brenntag in the amount of $1,140 with funds to come from the Sewer Utility fund. Council member Jolene Niernberger seconded the motion. The motion carried 5-0.
Streets: Acquisition
Council member Holly Aschenbrenner moved to ratify the invoice from Crafco in the amount of $11,965.50 for street material for the 2019 Street Maintenance Program. Council member Bob Redger seconded the motion. The motion carried 5-0. Council had originally approved an amount of $11,925 at the January 21st Council meeting.
Special Machinery: Acquisition
Public Works Director Alan Scheuerman presented two bids for the purchase of a Skid-Steer loader. Mr. Scheuerman recommended the low bid from Bobcat. Council member Martin LaBarge requested additional time to consider the purchase. The purchase will be tabled until the next Council meeting.
Special Machinery: Acquisition
Consideration of the purchase of the jack hammer attachment for the Skid-Steer loader will also be tabled until the next Council meeting.
REPORTS FROM CITY OFFICIALS
Public Works
Council member Martin LaBarge thanked the Public Works Department for their recent work in the alleys.
Police
Police Chief Taft Yates reported that the Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center is already full for the March and April sessions. Currently, Officer Kolas is scheduled for the October session.
City Clerk
City Clerk Amy Burton presented the Health Insurance Savings Report for January and the updated concept plans for the swimming pool. The City plans to apply for Community Development Block Grant funding in May.
Attorney
City Attorney Olavee Raub requested an executive session at the end of the meeting.
Mayor Update and Announcements
Council member Jolene Niernberger reported that a citizen has approached her about the City developing a dog park.
Mayor David McDaniel announced that Senator Billinger and Representative Rahjes will hold a Town Hall Meeting at the Library Community Room at 8:00 a.m. on March 1st.
Executive Session
Mayor David McDaniel asked for a motion to recess into executive session at the request of City Attorney Olavee Raub. Council member Holly Aschenbrenner moved for City Council to recess into executive session for 15 minutes to discuss staffing in the Public Works Department pursuant to the non-elected personnel matter exception, K.S.A. 75-4319 (b)(1) with City Attorney Olavee Raub, Public Works Director Alan Scheuerman, and City Clerk Amy Burton present. The open meeting will resume at 9:24 p.m. Council member Bret Andries seconded the motion. The motion carried 5-0. No action was taken in executive session and the open meeting resumed.
Executive Session
Council member Holly Aschenbrenner moved for City Council to recess into executive session for 5 minutes to discuss staffing in the Public Works Department pursuant to the non-elected personnel matter exception, K.S.A. 75-4319 (b)(1) with City Attorney Olavee Raub, Public Works Director Alan Scheuerman, and City Clerk Amy Burton present. The open meeting will resume at 9:30 p.m. Council member Bret Andries seconded the motion. The motion carried 5-0. No action was taken in executive session and the open meeting resumed.
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 9:31 p.m.