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February 4, 2009 The Norton City Council met in regular session Wednesday, February 4, 2009, at 5:30 p.m., with Mayor David Corns presiding. Council members present were Jeff Otter, Donna Foley, Toby Kuhn, Kim Snyder, Elaine Mann, and Wally Burton. Others present were Jerry Jones, Brandy Leroux, Deena Wente, Dan Bainter, Pat Morel, Karen Griffiths, Rob Lawson and Darla Ellis. Motion was made by Kim Snyder and seconded by Jeff Otter to approve the January 21, 2009, council minutes. Vote taken. Motion carried. The following demolition and building permits were presented: Mayor Corns reported the city sales tax receipts collected in December of 2008 totaled $20,965.91, and the county sales tax receipts totaled $17,353.39, for a total of $38,319.30. This is the first payment received in 2009. Mayor Corns reminded the council and public of Kay LeBeau’s retirement reception at the Norton Public Library on February 10th, from 2:00 – 5:30 p.m. He also reported the Norton Public Library will be celebrating their 100th anniversary on June 11, 2009. They will request a Mayor’s proclamation regarding the celebration, and plan to have a jazz band from FHSU perform. They will also have author Nancy Pickard here to talk about her book. Rob Lawson will contact the Shriners about being at the event. They would like the City to contribute funds to help pay for the celebration, estimated at $900. Motion was made by Elaine Mann and seconded by Kim Snyder to contribute $900 from the Hansen Foundation money to use for the Library’s 100th anniversary celebration. Vote taken. Motion carried. Pat Morel distributed a statistical report of the police department’s activities during the month of January. He also asked what the procedure will be to sell the 2003 Chevy Impala, and asked if the Airport Board has decided if they want to use the 2001 Chevy Impala as a courtesy car. The Airport Board has decided to use the local limousine service rather than the Impala. Motion was made by Kim Snyder and seconded by Elaine Mann to dispose of the 2001 Chevy Impala. Toby Kuhn stated the Public Safety Committee will discuss the procedure to sell the 2001 and 2003 Chevy Impalas. Vote taken. Motion carried. Rob Lawson reported that the State Revolving Loan Fund has a new program that has funding for certain types of projects, and recipients only have to pay back 50% of the loan. The City’s wastewater project engineer is working on a belt press/drum thickener for the sewer plant and this new funding program might be able to be used for this project. The City might qualify for this program with our existing SRF loan as well. He stated Miller & Associates will be at the council meeting in March to present Phase II of the water plant project. Rob Lawson stated the recent letter received from KDHE about the City’s water rates and loan repayment is an informational letter, not a warning letter. It is a reminder to the City that some adjustments need to be made to our rates in order to comply with our loan agreement with them. Rob stated he contacted Ranson Financial Consultants for rate reviews of our utilities. The water rate study will be free through a KDHE program, and the Ranson consultant will try and include the other utilities while they are here. Rob Lawson stated he received information from Murphy International Development Corporation on wind energy for smaller utilities and businesses. A handout is available for review if anyone is interested. Motion was made by Toby Kuhn and seconded by Kim Snyder to approve Jerry Jones’s request to use the racetrack in Elmwood Park for motorcycle races on August 9, 2009. He is the local spokesperson for the individuals who will be sponsoring the race. They will follow the requirements on the “Application for Park-Grandstand Use”, pursuant to Ordinance #1235. Vote taken. Motion carried. Motion was made by Kim Snyder and seconded by Elaine Mann to approve Larry Patterson’s request to have a Demolition Derby in Elmwood Park on August 22, 2009, subject to the requirements of the Park/Grandstand Use Agreement. He said he will not be using the grandstand area, but has agreed to pay for water and electricity. City Attorney Karen Griffiths stated according to the City Code, head tax is to be paid for the grandstand area and the area fenced around the half mile race track and facilities within the race track area, so head tax would be required. Vote taken. Motion carried. Elaine Mann stated the City had applied for a housing rehabilitation grant several years ago, but the target area was too big so it was turned down. She asked if the City would consider reapplying for the grant with a smaller area. Rob Lawson said he and Jeff Wolf are meeting with Amy Griffey of Northwest Kansas Planning and Development Commission in the near future, and will discuss this issue. Jeff Otter reported the Personnel Committee discussed changes to the Personnel Manual. They recommend including a copy of the evaluation forms and disciplinary form in the manual. The positions of Power Plant Operator II and Water/Sewer Plant Operator II would be eliminated. They also recommend eliminating the first four ranges on the payscale, and shifting the remaining ranges up so that the current range 5 will become range 1. Additional ranges will be added to the end. The Park/Cemetery Supervisor position and City Clerk position would be moved down one range. The meal allowance will be changed back to a daily allowance with receipts required. They also recommend eliminating the extra day off for the New Year’s Holiday, and giving an additional discretionary day instead. The discretionary day would be added for 2010. Motion was made by Jeff Otter and seconded by Elaine Mann to have the City Attorney prepare a Resolution establishing these changes. Toby Kuhn clarified that no employees will be receiving a pay raise at this time. Vote taken. Motion carried. Motion was made by Donna Foley and seconded by Toby Kuhn to purchase a 2000 Ford F-350 1-Ton supercrew pickup from Kansas State Surplus at a cost of $8,000. It is a clean unit with a utility box and good tires, and has 193,000 miles on it. Funding will come from the Water Distribution fund. Vote taken. Motion carried. Motion was made by Donna Foley and seconded by Toby Kuhn to advertise for a Lineman position. This additional position was included in the 2009 budget. Vote taken. Motion carried. Motion was made by Donna Foley and seconded by Toby Kuhn to approve the bid of $29,750 from Rubble Inc. of Parker, Colorado, to crush approximately 3000 tons of rock and concrete from the wastewater treatment plant, to be paid from Special Highway funds. The crushed rock will be used for parking lots, road base and alleys in various locations in Norton. Vote taken. Motion carried. Donna Foley reminded everyone that February 1-7 is Buy Local Week in Norton County. She discussed the Scavenger hunt which is being done as part of the Buy Local Week. Toby Kuhn reported that the Fire Department received an appreciation plaque from Don & Paula Bolt for the many years of providing fire protection services at the Elmwood Park Speedway. Motion was made by Toby Kuhn and seconded by Donna Foley to approve the purchase of a 2009 Dodge Charger with Police package, through Odessa Ford Chrysler for the Police Department for $20,666.60. The issue of buying a used Highway Patrol vehicle was discussed and they had a car available with 50,000 miles on it, but the price difference was only $5,000, so the Committee is recommending the purchase of a new unit with a full warranty. Vote taken. Motion carried. Motion was made by Kim Snyder and seconded by Jeff Otter to approve Appropriating Ordinance #3. Vote taken. Motion carried. Motion was made by Toby Kuhn and seconded by Elaine Mann to allow Murphy International Development Corporation to come and make a presentation to the City on wind energy. Vote taken. Motion carried. Motion was made by Kim Snyder and seconded by Toby Kuhn to adjourn the meeting. Council adjourned at 6:15 p.m. ATTEST: City Clerk Mayor: David N. Corns |