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April 15, 2009 The Norton City Council met in regular session Wednesday, April 15, 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 Joe Leroux, Brandy Leroux, Alex Leroux, Amy Leroux, Holly Puga, McKenzi Linner, Diana Smith, Tony Grysch, John Carlin, Jim Railsback, Deena Wente, Dan Bainter, Jeff Wolf, Pat Morel, Karen Griffiths, Rob Lawson and Darla Ellis. Motion was made by Elaine Mann and seconded by Kim Snyder to approve the April 1, 2009, council minutes. Vote taken. Motion carried. The following building permits were presented: Holly Puga was present to discuss the Week of the Young Child, which will be April 19-25, 2009. She stated they will have special activities planned from April 18-25. Mayor Corns reported he signed a Proclamation declaring the week of April 19-25, 2009 as the Week of the Young Child in Norton, Kansas. Mayor Corns stated there is a vacancy in Ward II for the City Council position. Nobody filed for the position, and then there were 4 people with write-in votes. The individual with the most write-in votes has declined the position, so the Mayor will make an appointment at the next city council meeting. Police Chief Pat Morel stated he had asked for a Lieutenant position at a previous Public Safety Committee meeting for officer retention. He stated since the position would not be filled for several years, he would like to withdraw the request. Police Chief Pat Morel stated on March 16, he called the dealership about ordering the Dodge Charger. The car had to be reordered, because they lost the order. He said the deadline to order in 2009 is April 30. Morel asked for permission to order the second car in order to meet the April 30th deadline. He stated the other car is in the budget, and the dealer said that the 2010 cars will be at least 10% higher. They will have to go into the rebid process after April 30th, and did not know how long it would be before you can order the cars. Toby set a Public Safety Committee meeting on Monday, April 20 at 5:30 p.m. to discuss this issue. Mayor Corns stated Katherine Kohr has resigned her position on the Housing Authority Board, effective April 15. Motion was made by Toby Kuhn and seconded by Jeff Otter to approve the Mayor’s appointment of Sharon Bennett to the Housing Authority Board to fill the unexpired term which expires November 30, 2012. Vote taken. Motion carried. Mayor Corns presented plaques of appreciation to Council members Elaine Mann and Wally Burton. Wally Burton served as a council member of Ward III from January 21, 2009 to April 15, 2009. Elaine Mann served as a council member of Ward II from April 20, 1999 to April 15, 2009. The Mayor thanked them for their service to the City of Norton. Elaine Mann stated she thinks Norton is in good hands with the current council members because she knows they have the City’s best interest in mind. City Clerk Darla Ellis gave the oath of office to re-elected Mayor David Corns and Council Member Kim Snyder of Ward I and newly elected Council Member Joe Leroux of Ward II. Motion was made by Toby Kuhn and seconded by Jeff Otter to nominate Donna Foley as Council President. There were no other nominations from the floor, so Toby Kuhn moved that nominations be closed and Kim Snyder seconded. Vote taken. Motion carried. Motion was made by Donna Foley and seconded by Kim Snyder to approve the Mayor’s Council Committee Appointments as follows:
Vote taken. Motion carried. Motion was made by Jeff Otter and seconded by Kim Snyder to accept the following board appointments: Motion was made by Kim Snyder and seconded by Toby Kuhn to approve the appointment of Darla Ellis as Norton City Clerk. Vote taken. Motion carried. Motion was made by Toby Kuhn and seconded by Kim Snyder to approve the appointment of Patty Rowh as Norton City Treasurer. Vote taken. Motion carried. Motion was made by Donna Foley and seconded by Jeff Otter to approve the appointment of Pat Morel as Norton Chief of Police. Vote taken. Motion carried. Motion was made by Jeff Otter and seconded by Kim Snyder to approve Karen Griffiths as the Norton City Attorney. Vote taken. Motion carried. Motion was made by Donna Foley and seconded by Toby Kuhn to approve the appointment of Doug Sebelius as the Norton City Prosecutor. Vote taken. Motion carried. Motion was made by Toby Kuhn and seconded by Kim Snyder to approve the appointment of Mitch Jones as the Norton Fire Chief. Vote taken. Motion carried. Motion was made by Kim Snyder and seconded by Jeff Otter to approve the appointment of Kirk Nuzum as the Assistant Fire Chief. Vote taken. Motion carried. Motion was made by Toby Kuhn and seconded by Donna Foley to approve the appointment of Jerry Hawks as the Norton Municipal Judge. Vote taken. Motion carried. Motion was made by Toby Kuhn and seconded by Jeff Otter to approve the appointment of the Norton Telegram as the Official City Newspaper. Vote taken. Motion carried. Motion was made by Jeff Otter and seconded by Kim Snyder to approve the appointment of KQNK as the Official City Radio Station. Vote taken. Motion carried. Motion was made by Toby Kuhn and seconded by Kim Snyder to approve the appointment of Dr. Jeff McKinley as the City Health Officer. Vote taken. Motion carried. Mayor Corns declared a ten minute recess for pictures. Council reconvened in regular session at 6:08 p.m. Mayor Corns read the Fair Housing Proclamation, declaring the month of April as Fair Housing Month, and signed the proclamation. Rob Lawson stated according to the new Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa safety act, the City must have an inspector certify that the municipal pool is equipped with acceptable devices or systems which are designed to prevent entrapment by the pool drain. He reported that he has contacted an engineer and a contractor regarding inspecting the drain, and whoever gets here first will be inspecting it. Miller and Associates will be preparing a contract for designing the drum thickener at the sewer plant. The City-wide clean up went well. The lights at Schrum field will be completed in the next few weeks, and construction of the restroom in Elmwood Park will resume soon. The Code Inspector has prepared a progress report which is in council packets. Budget request forms have been given to the department heads and council; if there are any projects the council wants included in the budget, he would like them to fill out the form and return it. Motion was made by Donna Foley and seconded by Jeff Otter to reschedule the May 6th City Council meeting to Wednesday, April 29th at 5:30 p.m. Vote taken. Motion carried. Motion was made by Jeff Otter and seconded by Joe Leroux to approve Resolution #4-2009, making additions and amendments to the City of Norton Employee Handbook and Norton Personnel Rules. This Resolution amends Article 4-12 regarding the new regulations of the Family and Medical Leave Act. Vote taken. Motion carried. Donna Foley stated the Public Works Committee is still in the process of talking about a new refuse truck and necessary repairs to the current truck. She also reported the Economic Development Board approved 15 projects for funding under the Storefront Renewal program. These businesses will receive matching grants to improve their storefront. She stated the Paint the Town Program started on April 15, and if anyone is interested in the program, they can get more information at the City Office. Toby Kuhn invited everyone to a Finance Committee meeting on Monday, April 27 at 5:30 p.m., to discuss long range planning goals for budgeting purposes. Motion was made by Kim Snyder and seconded by Toby Kuhn to approve the use of the livestock barn on August 28 and 29 for a Barbecue Contest in Elmwood Park. Vote taken. Motion carried. Motion was made by Kim Snyder and seconded by Jeff Otter to issue a temporary beer license to the Norton Chamber of Commerce for a beer garden located in a roped-in area in the livestock barn in Elmwood Park on August 28 and 29. Vote taken. Motion carried. Motion was made by Kim Snyder and seconded by Jeff Otter to approve the use of the livestock barn on April 27th for the 4-H/FFA Spring Livestock Judging show. Vote taken. Motion carried. Karen Griffiths stated she will do the new member training on April 29th after the council meeting is concluded. She invited everyone to attend. Motion was made by Donna Foley and seconded by Kim Snyder to approve Appropriating Ordinance #8 as a whole. Vote taken. Motion carried. Motion was made by Kim Snyder and seconded by Donna Foley to adjourn. Council adjourned at 6:29 p.m. ATTEST: City Clerk Mayor: David N. Corns |