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May 5, 2010 The Norton City Council met in regular session Wednesday, May 5, 2010, at 5:30 p.m., with Mayor David Corns presiding. Council members present were Kim Snyder, Roberta Ryan, Joe Leroux, Jeff Otter, Donna Foley and Toby Kuhn. Others present were Jon Boxler, Tony Grysch, Erica Bradley, Deena Wente, Debbie Lawson, Dan Bainter, Pat Morel, Karen Griffiths, Rob Lawson and Darla Ellis. Motion was made by Kim Snyder and seconded by Toby Kuhn to approve the April 21, 2010, council minutes. Vote taken. Motion carried. The following building permits were presented: Dan Bainter reported on clean up week and thanked the city crews for their hard work. They picked up 32 truck loads of trees, and 44 truck loads of construction debris and other items. Rob Lawson stated he would like to thank the city crews for their work during clean up week and stated it was a job well done. Jon Boxler was present on behalf of EMC Insurance to present a dividend check in the amount of $8,207.83 to the City of Norton. The Kansas Municipal Utilities Safety Group Insurance program through EMC Insurance includes over 450 cities, and a proportionate share of the total group dividend is paid out to all participants. Jon Boxler left the meeting at 5:33 p.m. Motion was made by Toby Kuhn and seconded by Kim Snyder to waive the formal third reading of Charter Ordinance #13. Vote taken. Motion carried. Motion was made by Toby Kuhn and seconded by Kim Snyder to adopt Charter Ordinance #13, repealing Charter Ordinance #9 and levying an annual tax for the purposes of maintaining the Norton Public Library at a rate not to exceed seven mills. Vote taken. Motion carried. Mayor Corns reported the city sales tax receipts collected in April of 2010 totaled $16,982.17 and the county sales tax receipts totaled $12,443.93 for a total of $29,426.10. The 2010 year to date sales tax receipts total $133,757.29, which is about $10,700 less than the receipts received by this time last year. Karen Griffiths stated she has drafted an interlocal agreement with Norton County for the inmate work crew. Economic Development Director Diane Stiles is reviewing the drafted agreement. Karen Griffiths stated she has prepared a petition for action against Tommy Finklea of the Texas Truck Store. She asked the Council to authorize her to file the petition, and she would receive 20% of whatever is collected from Mr. Finklea. The City does not have to pay a filing fee but would have to pay court costs and a service fee on the defendant which would be about $50. Jeff Otter stated he would like the Finance Committee to review the documents. Rob Lawson stated he has given the Mayor and council members an evaluation form for his performance review, as per his contract. Each member needs to complete the evaluation form, and the issue will be on the agenda for the next council meeting. Rob will do a self evaluation as well. Rob Lawson stated the City received a letter from the Moving Wall Committee, requesting assistance when the Wall comes to Norton September 23-27. The Parks Committee will discuss the request. He also reported the Animal Control building was damaged in a wind storm recently. The insurance adjuster was out and estimated the cost to repair it at $2,140.69. Jeff Otter stated the Finance Committee discussed the inmate work crew with the County Commissioners. The County has agreed to take charge of the program for the first 3 months, starting in June of 2010. They want to set up the old ambulance building with a wall down the center so they can use one side for storage and the other side for the work crew. They discussed who would administer the program. Rob Lawson stated he would like to put a calendar together in November for the 2011 calendar year. The Finance Committee will be in charge of meeting to decide on the calendar. They also discussed other communities and organizations using the crew, and set a per day fee for their use. The City and County will split the cost equally and each will get 100 days of work from the crew. The revenues from other entities using the work crew will be split equally as well. Jeff Otter stated Utility Plant Supervisor Chris Frack presented estimates for an enclosed pole barn for the wastewater treatment plant with gravel floor. A local company bid $16,900 and an Oklahoma company bid $14,900. Donna Foley reported the Public Safety Committee met and the City will be getting a $1,500 credit from OMB Police Supply for the 2003 Ford Crown Victoria. This credit will be used to buy equipment for the new Ford Explorer patrol unit. Motion was made by Donna Foley and seconded by Roberta Ryan to authorize city staff to install the radio lights and other miscellaneous equipment onto the new Ford Explorer with the work to be done on city property. Vote taken. Motion carried. The fire truck will be taken to Hays to have the gauge work completed. The Committee also discussed landlord responsibility, and staff will be reviewing the new codes regarding heat and water. Kim Snyder stated the Parks Committee met at Elmwood Park and looked at the condition of ground covering and equipment in the park. They will be discussing this further. Interviews for the Parks Maintenance position will be on Monday, May 10. If an existing employee is transferred, the transfer is to be made. If an outside applicant is chosen, a recommendation should be made to the council. Joe Leroux stated the Utility Committee met and discussed Chris Frack’s need for a pickup truck. Council had previously approved the purchase of a used pickup, but the sale fell through. The Committee stated now is not a good time to make this purchase and they are tabling it for now. Joe Leroux announced that Corey Urban was selected for the meter reader position. He is being transferred from the Power Plant, and his position at the Power Plant will not be filled at this time. Joe Leroux reported the Utility Committee has requested proposals from engineering firms regarding improvements to our power plant cooling towers, and proposals were received from HDR and Ollsen Associates. The Committee is discussing the following options for the future: closing down the power plant, overhauling the power plant, or closing down everything except #9 engine. The Committee will be meeting with a representative from Prairie Land on May 17 at 6:00 p.m. regarding these options. The Committee also discussed the review and recommendations from Chubb Group of Insurance Companies for the power plant. Mayor Corns stated he would like to apologize to the power plant employees for the added stress of not knowing what will be done with the power plant. The employees and the public are more than welcome to attend the meetings and give their input and feedback on this issue. Joe Leroux reported a request was received from the owner of Downtown Carwash to reduce his sewer rates. Tony Grysch stated that 30% of the water used at his carwash never goes into the sanitary sewer system due to evaporation, run-off and other reasons. The Committee offered to change which months are used to calculate his winter water average, but found that it wouldn’t make much of a difference. Other communities were surveyed, and none offer a reduced sewer charge to carwash owners. Joe stated the Committee recommends that the carwash will continue to have the sewer charge based on the winter water usage and no change will be made. Tony Grysch stated he doesn’t agree, but thanked the council for considering his request. Tony Grysch stated he has walked through the power plant, and it is immaculately maintained. He stated the employees have done an admirable job of keeping it up and maintaining the equipment. He said he knows it is old, but we have it for a reason. He asked what will happen if we need it, and it isn’t here anymore. He also stated someone might buy the City out and then jack up everyone’s rates down the road. Joe Leroux stated the Council is reviewing how much it will cost to make the necessary improvements so that the power plant can run safely and efficiently. Motion was made by Roberta Ryan and seconded by Kim Snyder to approve Appropriating Ordinance #9 as a whole. Vote taken. Motion carried. Motion was made by Kim Snyder and seconded by Toby Kuhn to adjourn. Council adjourned at 6:28 p.m.
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