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April 1, 2009 The Norton City Council met in regular session Wednesday, April 1, 2009, at 5:30 p.m., with Mayor David Corns presiding. Council members present were Jeff Otter, Donna Foley, Toby Kuhn, Elaine Mann and Wally Burton. Kim Snyder was absent. Others present were Chris Miller, David Blau, Chris Frack, Dan Bainter, Brandy Leroux, Deena Wente, Pat Morel, Karen Griffiths, Rob Lawson and Darla Ellis. Tim Bashford arrived at 5:36 p.m. Motion was made by Elaine Mann and seconded by Jeff Otter to approve the March 18, 2009, council minutes. Vote taken. Motion carried. No building permits were presented. Chris Miller of Miller and Associates was present to discuss the final stages of the design, plans and specifications for Phase II of the Water Treatment plant project. He said Phase II includes the redrilling of five of the City’s existing wells; they will all be brought up to the current standards, and the pumping allocation will be increased. He said the point of diversion will need to be changed with the Department of Water Resources, as the new wells will be drilled within 50 feet of the existing wells. Motion was made by Elaine Mann and seconded by Jeff Otter to authorize Mayor Corns to sign the necessary point of diversion paperwork for the water wells, so Chris Miller can proceed with the necessary paperwork. Vote taken. Motion carried. Chris Miller stated Phase II will also include replacing the elevator at the water plant and installing safety fencing around the wellfield and water treatment plant sites and lagoons. Backup generation will be installed on the lake valve, as well as at the wellfield. Some valves in the water plant will be replaced, and a pressure-sustained valve will be installed. Covers will be installed on the clarifiers to keep them from freezing in the winter and heated buildings will be installed over the bulk tanks. He stated some piping in the plant that is no longer needed will be reduced and some computer upgrades will be made. He stated a concrete containment structure will be built around the diesel storage at the power plant for water safety purposes. Phase II was originally estimated to cost $1.9 million. Chris stated the bids should be less than that because we don’t need the additional clarifier that was originally planned. He stated within the next two weeks, the paperwork will be sent into KDHE for Phase 2. It should take about 30 days for KDHE to review and approve the plans. After KDHE approves the plans, the project will be put out for bid, so by the June or July meeting, the City Council can approve a bid and construction can begin. Rob Lawson stated he attended the Kansas Rural Water Association conference last week, and the City of Norton was recognized as the “Most Improved Water System in Kansas”. The City was nominated by Norm Windholz with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. Rob thanked Chris Miller and David Blau for everything Miller and Associates has done for the City. He said congratulations and good job to the Mayor and Council for the recognition on the Water Treatment Plant project. Motion was made by Toby Kuhn and seconded by Donna Foley to waive the formal third reading of Ordinance #1583. Vote taken. Motion carried. Motion was made by Toby Kuhn and seconded by Donna Foley to adopt Ordinance #1583, allowing for the recovery of costs of collection as to delinquent accounts owed to the City of Norton. Vote taken. Motion carried. Mayor Corns reported the city sales tax receipts collected in February of 2009 totaled $24,114.74, and the county sales tax receipts totaled $17,627.39, for a total of $41,742.13. The year to date total receipts in 2009 total $115,207.90. Rob Lawson stated Prairie Land received a request from Norton County to allow them to attach their new EMS facility to Prairie Land’s sewer line. Prairie Land would like to give ownership of their dedicated sewer line to the City of Norton so that Norton County will be allowed to attach to that line. Mayor Corns asked if the line is big enough to accommodate both the EMS Facility and the proposed church. Karen Griffiths stated she would like to review the original agreement with Prairie Land and discuss the issue at committee. The request was referred to committee. Rob Lawson stated he has been in contact with Rod Geisler with KDHE regarding the completion of the sewer plant project. The City still has a little money left from the original loan, but some work needs done on some of the manholes, and the Washington Street lift station that flooded a few months ago needs rebuilt. KDHE has a stimulus package with a loan that only requires you to pay back 50% of the amount borrowed. Rob said the new plant is more efficient than the old plant and so there is more sludge to haul. He stated a drum thickener and a floater truck is needed to haul the sludge. The drum thickener would reduce the amount of sludge by at least half. He would like to try to get some stimulus money for the drum thickener and floater truck, which should cost about $300,000; with the stimulus loan, the City would only have to pay back $150,000. Motion was made by Jeff Otter and seconded by Elaine Mann to authorize the City Administrator to prepare the paperwork to apply for the stimulus money, and hire an engineer to have the plans drawn up to send in with the paperwork. Vote taken. Motion carried. Rob Lawson stated other stimulus money is available for street improvements, drainage improvements and curb and gutter projects. Thaniel Monaco of BG Consultants met with Rob this week, and they looked at 9 different places in Norton which need improvements. Thaniel Monaco will work up an engineer’s estimate of costs for these 9 projects, so the City will have project costs available and can decide whether to apply for the stimulus money when more details regarding the conditions of the money are known. Motion was made by Donna Foley and seconded by Elaine Mann to approve the Norton County Museum’s request for 5 feet of curb replacement at 105 E. Lincoln, with the City paying the cost of the concrete, and the owner paying a private contractor for the labor. Vote taken. Motion carried. Wally Burton reported that a group of individuals would like to have a barbeque contest in Elmwood Park in August. They are looking at some available locations for the contest and will report back to the council when a location is decided. Wally Burton asked the City Attorney to prepare an ordinance, which would prohibit unauthorized disinterments in the Norton Cemetery. Motion was made by Wally Burton and seconded by Jeff Otter to authorize the purchase of a Grasshopper mower from Engel’s Sales and Service at a cost not to exceed $10,000, which is the amount that was budgeted. City Attorney Karen Griffiths asked if bids had been obtained. City Administrator Rob Lawson stated Engel’s Sales and Service is the only business in Norton that sells Grasshopper mowers. Motion was amended with permission of the second to authorize the purchase of a Grasshopper mower at a cost not to exceed $10,000, from Engel’s Sales and Service, which is the single source supplier in Norton for Grasshopper mowers. Vote taken. Motion carried. Wally Burton stated the Parks Committee met with Paula Bolt and individuals interested in the Elmwood Park racetrack. He stated an open discussion was held with everyone present regarding the future of the track and recommended changes to improve the track. The Committee asked Paula Bolt to obtain cost estimates from contractors for the changes to the racetrack that she feels are necessary to improve the racetrack. Motion was made by Wally Burton and seconded by Toby Kuhn to grant permission for a Scout Day camp on June 6th in the northeast part of Elmwood Park, where a few people will be camping out overnight. Vote taken. Motion carried. Jeff Otter stated the Personnel Committee will discuss the Family Medical Leave Act changes that need to be included in the employee handbook. Toby Kuhn reported the Public Safety Committee met with the Animal Control Officer, and received a report of her activity and number of calls for 2008. The Animal Shelter passed the recent inspection with no issues. Elaine Mann stated citizens need to keep their pets contained and under control. Currently the ordinance restricts people from having more than 2 dogs. The Public Safety Committee met with the Fire Chief, and asked him to prepare a monthly report on the Fire Department’s activity. The Police Chief requested that the position of Police Lieutenant be created. Kuhn stated there are currently four positions for the six officers and if this position is added, there would be five positions. The Public Safety Committee would like the Personnel Committee to discuss this to see if any additional positions are desired in other departments. The Police Department received 8 or 9 applications for the Police Officer position and testing will be done on April 22. Motion was made by Toby Kuhn and seconded by Donna Foley to approve Appropriating Ordinance #7 as a whole. Vote taken. Motion carried. Motion was made by Jeff Otter and seconded by Elaine Mann to adjourn. Council adjourned at 6:25 p.m. ATTEST: City Clerk Mayor: David N. Corns |