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July 7, 2010 The Norton City Council met in regular session Wednesday, July 7, 2010, at 5:30 p.m., with Mayor David Corns presiding. Council members present were Justina Smith, Roberta Ryan, Jeff Otter and Toby Kuhn. Council members Kim Snyder and Donna Foley were absent. Others present were Diane Stiles, Curtis Eveleigh, James Foster, Rick Mullen, Harriett Gill, Deena Wente, Dan Bainter, Debbie Lawson, Pat Morel, Karen Griffiths, Rob Lawson and Darla Ellis. Motion was made by Roberta Ryan and seconded by Jeff Otter to approve the June 16, 2010, city council minutes. Vote taken. Motion carried. The following building permits were presented. Rick Mullen of Ag Valley Coop stated he has submitted an application for water services outside the city limits for their new facility east of Norton on Highway 36. He was invited to the next Public Works Committee meeting to discuss his request. Curtis Eveleigh was present to request that the Amusement Association be allowed to build a carport in front of the ferris wheel in Elmwood Park. This would be for their carnival game during the fair and would be at the Amusement Association’s expense. They would like to pour a cement pad, and it would be a permanent structure that would be there year-round. He stated when the fair isn’t going on, a picnic table could be put under it for public use. Motion was made by Jeff Otter and seconded by Roberta Ryan to allow the Amusement Association to construct a carport in Elmwood Park for the fair games. He was instructed to stop by City Hall to get a building permit. Vote taken. Motion carried. Diane Stiles, Economic Development Director was present to give her semiannual report. She stated Nex-tech has developed an internal calendar for the inmate work crew, and there will be a link that Rob Lawson and Robert Wyatt can go to on the website to see the calendar. She stated Worden Shelton stated they are in the process of hiring the inmate work crew supervisor, and if Rob cannot sit in on the interviews, they will run their selection by him. She also reported a Northwest Technical College outreach campus is coming to Norton and a reception will be held on Saturday, August 21st at the Golf course. She also stated Ag Valley Coop is expanding and plans to have the full facility up and running within 2 years. This will create jobs in addition to being a benefit to local farmers. She stated Family Dollar is considering moving into the building where Dollar General was, and wants a tax incentive. She will discuss this with the Finance Committee. Diane stated many businesses have been making improvements using the Storefront Renewal funds. She also stated they would like to work on housing in Norton County, because with the Stockton Correctional Facility reopening, they are expecting an increased need for housing in Norton. She reported the Young Professionals had their organizational meeting and want to have a family event at the swimming pool. She asked if the City would waive the charge for them to have a pool party on August 7th. Karen Griffiths stated Sebelius & Griffiths will sponsor it for the charge of $75. James Foster, Office of Rural Opportunity Representative from the Kansas Department of Commerce, introduced himself and stated he has been working with Diane Stiles regarding available resources for Economic Development. James also does Strategic Planning for communities. James Foster, Diane Stiles, Curtis Eveleigh and Rick Mullen left the meeting at 5:55 p.m. Motion was made by Toby Kuhn and seconded by Jeff Otter to waive the formal second reading of Ordinance #1602, increasing municipal court costs by $1.00. Vote taken. Motion carried. Mayor Corns reported the city sales tax receipts collected in May of 2010 totaled $20,804.24 and the county sales tax receipts totaled $16,397.85 for a total of $37,202.09. The 2010 year to date sales tax receipts total $206,023.14. He stated receipts for the year are lower than last year. Mayor Corns reported the Library Board is requesting that the City pay for a system kit with five smoke sensors plus installation at the Public Library at a cost of $510.85. Motion was made by Toby Kuhn and seconded by Jeff Otter to approve the purchase of the smoke sensor kit to be purchased from line item 01.22.280. Vote taken. Motion carried. Motion was made by Roberta Ryan and seconded by Jeff Otter to adopt Resolution #7-2010, making additions and amendments to the City of Norton Employee Handbook and Norton Personnel Rules, regarding use of tobacco products and smoking policy. Vote taken. Motion carried. Chief of Police Pat Morel reported Adam Wahlmeier has submitted his resignation from the Police Department and has accepted a job at the Sheriff’s Office. His last day with the City will be July 9. Motion was made by Toby Kuhn and seconded by Justina Smith to authorize the Police Department to advertise for the police officer position due to the resignation. Vote taken. Motion carried. Rob Lawson reported the Nex-Tech security system has been installed at the Power Plant. He also stated Midwest Energy visited the power plant, and are not interested in buying it. They stated they would help the City with whatever decision the council makes regarding the plant. Sunflower Electric also came out for a site visit of the power plant. They are not interested in purchasing the power plant either, but are very interested in our generating capacity. It is very important that the City pass the annual capacity test; if we fail this test a new power contract will have to be renegotiated. Sunflower has offered to attend a meeting with the Council to explain what the options are, and how each one affects our system. Rob Lawson reported the 2011 budget is ready for the Finance Committee’s review on July 13th. He stated he would like all council members to ask questions and have input on next year’s budget. The budget has to be published in the newspaper no later then July 23rd, 2010 in order to have the budget hearing during the August 4th city council meeting. Motion was made by Toby Kuhn and seconded by Roberta Ryan to approve Project # 36-69 KA-0739-01 with KDOT for Highway 36 improvements on the East edge of Norton, and authorize Mayor Corns to sign the Agreement. The improvements include 100 feet inside the city limits. Vote taken. Motion carried. Rob Lawson reported the fair rides are currently being put up by city crews. He also stated the USDA financing for the water plant is progressing well. Pre-closing of the loan is set for August 4th, 2010, and closing is set for August 17th, 2010. The City will pay a large portion of the SRF loan with KDHE off on August 18th, 2010. Motion was made by Jeff Otter and seconded by Toby Kuhn to set the 2011 budget hearing for August 4th at 5:45 p.m. at City Hall. Vote taken. Motion carried. Motion was made by Jeff Otter and seconded by Roberta Ryan to approve the 3% cost of living for the City employees to be effective with the next payperiod. Toby Kuhn asked that the motion be tabled until the full council is present to discuss this topic. Jeff Otter rescinded his motion with permission of the second. Jeff Otter stated he was contacted by the new physician who is moving to Norton who would like the City to consider fixing their tennis courts. The physician stated he would be willing to pay the cost to fix one court. USD 211 has submitted a proposal regarding improvements to the tennis courts, and has agreed to pay half the cost of the improvements if the City will pay the other half. The cost proposal is from VersaSport of Kansas and includes cleaning and preparing the court, filling and repairing the cracks and birdbaths, and installing 18,720 square feet of VersaCourt Multi-sport game court materials, with a total cost of $57,900, which includes a 15 year warranty. Motion was made by Jeff Otter and seconded by Roberta Ryan to transfer $30,000 from Electric Replacement to Electric General Fund. Vote taken. Motion carried. Motion was made by Jeff Otter and seconded by Roberta Ryan to transfer $30,000 from Electric General to General Parks fund. Vote taken. Motion carried. Motion was made by Jeff Otter and seconded by Roberta Ryan to match USD 211’s cost toward the purchase of a Versacourt tile system from VersaSport of Kansas for the tennis courts, with the City’s share of the cost not to exceed $28,950, to be paid from line item 01.16.436. Vote taken. Motion carried. Motion was made by Roberta Ryan and seconded by Jeff Otter to waive the formal first reading of Ordinance #1603, amending Section 9-107 of the City Code regarding the home detention fee. Vote taken. Motion carried 3-1 with Toby Kuhn voting no. Motion was made by Toby Kuhn and seconded by Jeff Otter to approve Rob and Debbie Lawson’s curb replacement request at 114 E. Park Street, with the City paying the cost of the concrete, and the owner paying a private contractor for the labor. Vote taken. Motion carried. Motion was made by Toby Kuhn and seconded by Jeff Otter to approve Rob and Debbie Lawson’s sidewalk replacement request at 114 E. Park Street, with the City providing the labor and the property owner paying the cost of materials directly to the concrete provider. Vote taken. Motion carried. Marla and Curt Bozarth would like to have the tree replaced that they had to take down in the cemetery due to the recent storm. Motion was made by Roberta Ryan and seconded by Jeff Otter that the City replace the tree on the Marla and Curt Bozarth lot. They would like to have a flowering tree if possible. Vote taken. Motion carried. Motion was made by Roberta Ryan and seconded by Justina Smith to require all full time employees except city office and police department employees to have a Commercial Driver’s License; newly hired full time employees will have to obtain a CDL within 6 months of hire and all current full time employees who do not have a CDL will have 6 months to acquire a CDL. Motion was rescinded with permission of the second. The issue will be discussed further at the Personnel Committee meeting. Motion was made by Jeff Otter and seconded by Roberta Ryan to approve the Chamber of Commerce’s temporary cereal malt beverage license on July 9th for consumption on the premises at a confined beer garden located at 216 E. Washington Street for the Norton Car Show event. Vote taken. Motion carried. Motion was made by Roberta Ryan and seconded by Jeff Otter to approve the Norton American Legion’s temporary cereal malt beverage license during the 2010 Norton County Fair for consumption on the premises at a confined beer garden at the grandstand booth in Elmwood Park. Vote taken. Motion carried. Motion was made by Jeff Otter and seconded by Roberta Ryan to approve Appropriating Ordinance #13 as a whole. Vote taken. Motion carried. Motion was made by Jeff Otter and seconded by Justina Smith to adjourn. Council adjourned at 7:04 p.m. ATTEST: City Clerk Mayor: David N. Corns |