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March 17, 2010 The Norton City Council met in regular session Wednesday, March 17, 2010, at 5:30 p.m., with Mayor David Corns presiding. Council members present were Jeff Otter, Donna Foley, Toby Kuhn, Kim Snyder and Roberta Ryan. Joe Leroux was absent. Others present were Corina Cox, Erica Bradley, Deena Wente, Dan Bainter, Mitch Jones, Jeff Wolf, Pat Morel, Karen Griffiths, Rob Lawson and Darla Ellis. Motion was made by Kim Snyder and seconded by Jeff Otter to approve the March 3, 2010, council minutes. Vote taken. Motion carried. The following building permit was presented: Corina Cox of Northwest Kansas Planning and Development Commission was present to review guidelines for the upcoming CDBG grant application deadlines. She stated applicants need to have equal matching funds in order to be competitive. The City can only apply for one grant per year, so the City would have to decide whether to apply for a new fire truck or for curb and guttering. Rob Lawson stated staff will pull the low to moderate income surveys which were conducted by Norton County a few years ago, to see if the City would qualify for the low to moderate income requirement to proceed with the CDBG grant application process. Corina stated she also works with the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program and there is a 95%/5% funding ratio. The fire truck would qualify under this program and a workshop is being held this Saturday for the program. Motion was made by Toby Kuhn and seconded by Kim Snyder to waive the second reading of Ordinance #1599, authorizing and providing for the codification of the general ordinances of the City and the publication of such codification in loose-leaf book form. Vote taken. Motion carried. Motion was made by Toby Kuhn and seconded by Roberta Ryan to waive the second reading of Ordinance #1600, adopting the codification of ordinances of the City of Norton. Vote taken. Motion carried. Mayor Corns stated the 2010 Census forms have been mailed out to the community, and it is very important to the community that everyone complete these and return them. For every person who does not complete these forms, it costs the Norton County community $1,250 in funding. Rob Lawson reiterated the importance of citizens completing and mailing back the forms. Motion was made by Toby Kuhn and seconded by Kim Snyder to approve Change Order #3 for the contract with Downey Drilling for the well renovations, Phase II, on project #267-C1-003. The change order adds the USDA Rural Development requirements to the Downey Drilling contract, to make the expenditures eligible for USDA reimbursement. Vote taken. Motion carried. City Administrator Rob Lawson reported the Airport Board discussed the 20 year master plan, which includes 3 new hangers, a helicopter landing pad, new approach lighting at the ends of the runway to allow for GPS landings, a lighted wind sock, and electric and water line upgrades. They also discussed the possibility of extending the runway an additional 500 feet. The items will be submitted to the FAA and KDOT for possible funding through government fund matching programs. Rob Lawson stated Dan Steffen from the Department of Commerce and James Foster with the Office of Rural Opportunity will help the City develop a 5 year plan and vision statement. Motion was made by Kim Snyder and seconded by Toby Kuhn to have Rob Lawson proceed with setting up a meeting with Dan Steffen from the Kansas Department of Commerce and James Foster with the Office of Rural Opportunity to help the City develop a 5 year plan and vision statement. Vote taken. Motion carried. Rob Lawson stated Downey Drilling has completed the wellfield project. The City will need to decide how much to charge in liquidated damages for finishing the project late. Downey Drilling has submitted a pay request for $45,000 and the City will need to decide how much of that to hold out. Jerry Bantam would like to move the personnel in the timing tower at the racetrack to the northwest corner of the grandstand. The Parks Committee will discuss this. Rob Lawson reported that Jim Frack submitted a letter stating that due to unforeseen circumstances, he has withdrawn his offer for the 1994 Ford, which the city council had approved the purchase of during the last city council meeting. Jeff Otter reported the Public Safety Committee met with the Code Inspector regarding some definitions which he would like to have added into the City Code. The Code Inspector has obtained definitions from other cities and would like them added in order to clarify some issues. Jeff Otter asked the City Attorney and Code Inspector to meet to review the issues and then meet with the Public Safety Committee. Jeff Otter reported the Police Chief obtained bids from three local licensed gun dealers for three shotguns for his department. Motion was made by Jeff Otter and seconded by Kim Snyder to accept the low bid from Vern’s Gun Room for 3 Remington 870, 12 gauge pump shotguns in desert camouflage color, at a total cost of $912, to be paid from budget line item 01.11.359. Vote taken. Motion carried. Jeff Otter stated the Fire Chief gave his monthly report to the committee. The Fire Chief has received price quotes for the SCBA air compressor and cascade system which ranged from $34,876 to $37,269. He will report back to the Public Safety Committee with more information on the bids. Donna Foley reported the Economic Development Board met and discussed a new copy machine and also discussed the Vietnam Moving Wall which is coming to Norton in September. The Storefront Renewal Program deadline is approaching. Mayor Corns appointed Kim Snyder to the KMEA Director 2 Board position. Motion was made by Donna Foley and seconded by Roberta Ryan to accept the appointment. Vote taken. Motion carried. Donna Foley stated the Utility Committee would like to thank the City of Hays for their donation of aeration system parts. Motion was made by Donna Foley and seconded by Toby Kuhn to have the City staff advertise for quotes that would be good for up to 45 days on the installation of the sewer plant aeration system. Vote taken. Motion carried. Motion was made by Donna Foley and seconded by Toby Kuhn to have city staff contact at least three qualified engineering firms for a price quote to design a new engine cooling system for the power plant, that would include a complete set of specifications and drawings. Vote taken. Motion carried. The Utility Committee met with several individuals to discuss various utility issues and the City will be discussing this further. Toby Kuhn reported that insurance bids were requested for the business protection policy for the City. The City requests bids every three years. Boxler Insurance was the only agency that submitted a bid. Motion was made by Toby Kuhn and seconded by Kim Snyder to approve the bid from Boxler Insurance for the City’s business protection policy in the amount of $101,977. Vote taken. Motion carried. Toby Kuhn stated the City received a letter from Greg Mann, to inform the City that USD #211 is exercising its option of extending the lease on its offices at 105 E. Waverly for another five years. Motion was made by Toby Kuhn and seconded by Roberta Ryan to approve the annual contract for a “testing only maintenance agreement” with Fire Alarm Specialist, Inc. for the Norton Recreation Center, at a cost of $380, to be paid from budget line item 01.22.281. Vote taken. Motion carried. Motion was made by Toby Kuhn and seconded by Jeff Otter to have the City pay Nex-Tech for the installation of a security system at the Library, at a cost of $226, to be paid from budget line item 01.22.281. The Library will pay the monthly charge thereafter. Vote taken. Motion carried 4-0 with Donna Foley abstaining due to her employment with Nex-Tech. Toby Kuhn stated representatives from the Norton Public Library met with the Finance Committee to request a 1 mill increase for the operation of the library. The Library is currently limited to 6 mills, which was set in 1998. Motion was made by Toby Kuhn and seconded by Kim Snyder to have the City Attorney prepare a Charter Ordinance to increase the mill levy limit from 6 mills to 7 mills for the Norton Public Library. Vote taken. Motion carried. Toby Kuhn reminded everyone that on March 22, the Finance Committee will meet with the Mayor of Atwood to discuss their experiences with the use of inmate labor for various projects in their community. It will be held at 5:15 p.m. at the Economic Development Office. Six applicants were interviewed for the Public Works Maintenance I position. Motion was made by Kim Snyder and seconded by Roberta Ryan to offer the Maintenance I position to Denny Nickell at a starting pay range of 5-A. Vote taken. Motion carried. Motion was made by Kim Snyder and seconded by Jeff Otter to advertise for the position of Meter Reader, due to the upcoming retirement of the current meter reader. Vote taken. Motion carried. Roberta Ryan stated the Chamber Board has been discussing their upcoming events, including the Annual Banquet, the Winner’s Circle, the Chamber Golf Tournament and the Norton Car Show. They also discussed the Moving Wall. Motion was made by Jeff Otter and seconded by Kim Snyder to approve Norton Elmwood Park Racing Association’s use of the grandstand area for consumption of cereal malt beverages during the sanctioned race dates of March 28, April 10, April 24, May 8, May 22, June 12, June 19, July 10, July 31, August 1, August 21, September 4, September 5 and September 18, 2010, as per Section 3-103(e) of the Norton City Code. Vote taken. Motion carried. Motion was made by Jeff Otter and seconded by Kim Snyder to approve the cereal malt beverage license for Jerry Bantam, doing business as Norton Elmwood Park Racing Association, to have a beer garden in the grandstand area in Elmwood Park, during sanctioned races for the 2010 race season. Vote taken. Motion carried. Motion was made by Toby Kuhn and seconded by Kim Snyder to move into Executive Session at 6:34 p.m., for a period of time not to exceed 20 minutes with the Mayor, City Council, City Attorney and City Administrator present for discussion of non-elected personnel. Vote taken. Motion carried. Council resumed in regular session at 6:54 p.m. No motions were made as a result of Executive Session. Motion was made by Jeff Otter and seconded by Toby Kuhn to approve the renewal of the Class A Club License for Harmonson Redd Post #63 of the American Legion. Vote taken. Motion carried. Motion was made by Roberta Ryan and seconded by Kim Snyder to approve Appropriating Ordinance #6 as a whole. Vote taken. Motion carried. Motion was made by Kim Snyder and seconded by Toby Kuhn to adjourn. Council adjourned at 6:54 p.m.
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