Official Minutes

October 7, 2009

The Norton City Council met in regular session Wednesday, October 7, 2009, at 5:30 p.m., with Mayor David Corns presiding.  Council members present were Jeff Otter, Donna Foley, Toby Kuhn, Kim Snyder and Joe Leroux.  Roberta Ryan was absent.  Others present were Tom Montoia, Barb Goeken, Erica Bradley, Deena Wente, Debbie Lawson, Pat Morel, Karen Griffiths, Rob Lawson and Darla Ellis. 

Motion was made by Joe Leroux and seconded by Jeff Otter to approve the September 16, 2009, city council minutes.  Vote taken.  Motion carried.

Motion was made by Kim Snyder and seconded by Jeff Otter to approve the September 24, 2009, special city council meeting minutes.  Vote taken.  Motion carried.

No building permits were presented.

Motion was made by Jeff Otter and seconded by Donna Foley to waive the formal 3rd reading of Ordinance #1588.  Vote taken.  Motion carried.

Motion was made by Jeff Otter and seconded by Donna Foley to adopt Ordinance # 1588, restricting vehicular parking on the north side of E. Warsaw Street, starting at the terminus of N. Norton Street and E. Warsaw Street, thence east 109 feet.  Vote taken.  Motion carried.

Motion was made by Jeff Otter and seconded by Donna Foley to waive the formal 3rd reading of Ordinance #1589.  Vote taken.  Motion carried.

Motion was made by Jeff Otter and seconded by Toby Kuhn to adopt Ordinance #1589, restricting vehicular parking on the west side of South Second Street, starting at the terminus of S. Second and Horace Greeley Avenue, from a point north 55 feet to a point north 172 feet.  Vote taken.  Motion carried.

Motion was made by Jeff Otter and seconded by Kim Snyder to waive the formal 3rd reading of Ordinance #1590.  Vote taken.  Motion carried.

Motion was made by Jeff Otter and seconded by Kim Snyder to adopt Ordinance #1590, restricting vehicular parking to two hours on the east side of N. Norton Street, starting at the northern terminus of E. Waverly and N. Norton Street, thence north 70 feet.  Vote taken.  Motion carried.

Motion was made by Toby Kuhn and seconded by Kim Snyder to waive the formal 3rd reading of Ordinance #1591.  Vote taken.  Motion carried.

Motion was made by Toby Kuhn and seconded by Kim Snyder to adopt Ordinance #1591, amending the city water rates.   Vote taken.  Motion carried.

Motion was made by Toby Kuhn and seconded by Kim Snyder to waive the formal 3rd reading of Ordinance #1592.  Vote taken.  Motion carried.

Motion was made by Toby Kuhn and seconded by Jeff Otter to adopt Ordinance #1592, amending the city’s sewer rates.  Vote taken.  Motion carried.

Motion was made by Toby Kuhn and seconded by Kim Snyder to waive the formal 3rd reading of Ordinance #1593.  Vote taken.  Motion carried.

Motion was made by Toby Kuhn and seconded by Kim Snyder to adopt Ordinance #1593, amending the city’s solid waste rates.  Vote taken.  Motion carried.

Mayor Corns announced that Sue Urban has resigned her position from the Housing Authority Board.  This term expires on November 30, 2009.  Motion was made by Kim Snyder and seconded by Jeff Otter to accept Sue Urban’s resignation from the Housing Authority Board.  Vote taken.  Motion carried.

Motion was made by Kim Snyder and seconded by Joe Leroux to advertise for the vacant Housing Authority Board position to see who is interested in serving on this Board.  Vote taken.  Motion carried.

Karen Griffiths stated she met with the Finance Committee regarding updates to the Buildings and Construction chapter in the City Code.  She will meet with the Code Inspector to see if any changes need to be made to the Property Maintenance code and then will have ordinances for the council to consider.

Chief Morel passed out the monthly statistical activity report for the police department.

City Administrator Rob Lawson reminded everyone that city-wide clean up days are set for October 26, 27 and 28.  Crews will continue to pick up yard waste until it is no longer needed.  He stated crews are working on Horace Greeley Street and should be done soon.  There is a drainage problem along State Street by New Look Body Shop and the bricks are settling on E. Lincoln.  Crews will be working on these issues when they are done with Horace Greeley Street.

The radiators have been winterized at the power plant, and one is left in service year round.  Rob Lawson reported the recent wind storm broke off 3 poles, which have been repaired.  The 36 residents at the Norton Manor thanked the City for the new street.  The League of Kansas Municipalities will be having a regional supper in Hill City on November 5th at 6:00 p.m. if any of the council would like to attend.

Jeff Otter stated the Public Safety Committee met with the Police Chief and discussed a traffic speed display with built–in radar to put on Highway 36 by the school crossing.  A used device runs around $3,200 and a new one would cost $4,400.  The Committee also met with the Fire Chief.  He reported they had to repair the jaws motor again, and are waiting on a date with Hays Fire Equipment to get the valve on the truck repared.  The Fire Department will be busy presenting their fire prevention program at the school this week, and will also be preparing for the Halloween parade later this month.

Toby Kuhn stated the Finance Committee discussed the recodification of the City Code.  They are also discussing the issue of whether to make an amendment to the sewer loan agreement to include a portion of the sludge truck and the lift station repairs.

Motion was made by Toby Kuhn and seconded by Donna Foley to accept the low bid of $7,545 from Norton Sheet Metal for the replacement of the heating and cooling unit for the racquetball courts at the Recreation Center, to be paid from fund 01.22.359.  Vote taken.  Motion carried 4-0 with Jeff Otter abstaining from the vote due to his employment at Norton Sheet Metal.

Kim Snyder reported the Airport Board discussed the AWOS system and accepted the low bid of $3,300 from Jerry Miller.  The Airport Board received a grant for $3,600 for the system. 

Motion was made by Kim Snyder and seconded by Jeff Otter to approve Dan Sisk’s sidewalk replacement request at 311 N. Wabash Street, with the City providing the labor and the property owner paying the cost of materials directly to the concrete provider, contingent upon it meeting the city’s requirements.  Vote taken.  Motion carried.

Kim Snyder reported the Personnel Committee met and recommends that a disciplinary form should be removed from an employee’s personnel file after 12 months, if there have not been any further problems.  The committee discussed Martin Luther King Day as an observed holiday and did not recommend adding it.  They also discussed the creation of a sick leave pool and will be discussing this issue further.

Motion was made by Toby Kuhn and seconded by Kim Snyder to move into Executive Session at 5:50 p.m., for a period of time not to exceed 30 minutes with the Mayor, City Council and City Attorney present for discussion of non-elected personnel.  Vote taken.  Motion carried.

Council resumed at 6:20 p.m.  Mayor Corns declared a 5 minute recess at 6:20 p.m.  Council resumed at 6:25 p.m.

Motion was made by Toby Kuhn and seconded by Kim Snyder to return to Executive Session at 6:25 p.m., for a period of time not to exceed 20 minutes with the Mayor, City Council and City Attorney present for discussion of non-elected personnel.  Vote taken.  Motion carried.

Council resumed in regular session at 6:45 p.m.  No motions were made as a result of Executive Session.

Motion was made by Toby Kuhn and seconded by Jeff Otter to approve Appropriating Ordinance #19 as a whole.  Vote taken.  Motion carried. 

Motion was made by Toby Kuhn and seconded by Kim Snyder to adjourn. Council adjourned at 6:48 p.m.

ATTEST: City Clerk               Mayor: David N. Corns