March 8, 2010 City Council Minutes
Meade, Kansas

The meeting was called to order in the Council Meeting Room by Mayor Bud Doerflinger at 7:00 P.M. Council members present were: Richard Knott, Lance DeLissa, Edward Dye and Chris Hartnett with Cliff Hailey absent. Also present were City Administrator Dean Cordes and City Clerk Tiffany Neel. Visitors were: Mike Gillen, Jeff Mather, Sarah Lewis Finke, Ken Fairchild, Jim Cruise and Tom Kuhns.

First on the agenda, Sarah Finke asked the Council if she could possibly use the Girl Scout cabin for her flower business this summer. Knott asked how long she would want the property, Finke said from May until July. DeLissa said if we could work out the legalities then he would be in favor. Neel is to get more information.

Ken Fairchild with Olsson Associates was here to go over the proposal he sent to the Council about a generation capacity study project. He also told the Council that the EPA has set a new regulation to reduce emissions of toxic air pollutants from certain existing diesel powered stationary reciprocating internal combustion engines. Operators of these stationary diesel engines will be required to install emission control equipment that would limit air toxic emissions by up to 70% for stationary non-emergency engines with a site rating greater than 300 HP. Knott asked how much we run on diesel, Cordes said it switches to duel fuel so we would have to put a converter on them. Fairchild agreed.

Jim Cruise asked if the Council would give him permission to close off the 100 block of North Springlake up to the alley so he could put up tents and chairs during Alumni weekend. He said he would like to fence off the area and he would need an ordinance or a resolution from the City stating that he was given permission so he can get his liquor license extended outside of his building. He also asked if he could do the same thing for Dalton Days weekend. Neel is to get a resolution drawn up from the attorney.

The February 22nd, 2010 minutes were approved as corrected.

The March 8th, 2010 Appropriation Ordinance in the amount of $413,311.63 was approved on motion made by Hartnett, seconded by DeLissa with all in favor.

Building permits #10002 and #10003 were approved on motion made by Hartnett, seconded by DeLissa with all in favor.

Cordes said he has sent a 60 day letter to the property owner for the property on Belle Meade and Cedar for the condemnation of the house and he has received the certified mail certificate back from the property owner.

Cordes has spoken with Joe Mertens about the Cemetery water line and the Cemetery Board will have a meeting Tuesday to discuss the proposal from the City.

Annexation was brought up again and Dye said he would like to see the property that is already surrounded by the City be annexed in. He also said he would like to annex all the property owners willing to be annexed in the City and raise the rates on the owners that do not want to be annexed. Knott said we should figure out a rate and put a percentage mark up on it every year like we have on the airport. Hartnett and Knott would like to see what it will cost to get services to customers that do not already have a hook up. Mayor said he agrees with Dye because it is going to take time to get figures on all of the properties sewer, water and electric hook ups. No action was taken.

Neel said she has 6 people signed up to help with the volunteer work for the downtown and residential clean up. Trash and Treasure day has been changed to April 24th, 2010 and the City will conduct their City wide clean up week after that date.

Mayor asked the Council to look at Ordinance #618 and make the necessary changes. The Council agreed to change the ordinance and have Neel bring it back to the next Council meeting.

Cordes informed the Council that the City crew has patched the Library roof to keep it from leaking and the insurance adjuster was here last week to see if the roof would be covered under insurance. The inspector said there is hail damage and the City has replacement coverage on the roof. Cordes is to get bids for the roof replacement.

New Business:

Cordes said Pete Earls came to look at the Berryman buildings on Main Street to give a report on the property and see if the City employee could tear the buildings down. Earls gave the go ahead but Dye was concerned about cracking the exterior walls on the properties next to the building. Cordes said our insurance policy would cover the repairs.

Cordes said he had talked to Kirk Thompson about the smart meter that Kepco was going to bid on. Thompson said Kepco could not compete with the bid Cordes had from Mid States. DeLissa made a motion to accept the bid from Mid States for real time metering, seconded by Dye with all in favor.

Cordes updated the Council on the progress with the Bachman building being torn down on South Fowler Street. Cordes said he had recently talked to each Council member individually about the demolition. Knott said they also wanted to get it torn down before the new sidewalk was put in.

Neel told the Council she had talked to the attorney about selling the mini park to an interested buyer and the City has no rules or regulations on selling City property. The consensus of the Council is to have the attorney draw up an easement for the property owner next door to tear down the building and use the mini park property during demolition.

Mayor’s Report:

Mayor wanted to encourage all citizens to please fill out the 2010 census and send it back.

Knott asked Cordes if he has had any complaints about sediment in water lines. Cordes said he has had 2 customers talk to him and he thought it was just calcium build up. Knott also said he is concerned about 4 wheelers in town. He has seen a few riding around town and wants to know if there is an off road ordinance in place.

DeLissa asked if the attorney could maybe give a seminar to the police officers about all of the Cities ordinances and policies.

Dye asked how the vet clinic went on Saturday. Neel said it was very busy and there were about 40 more animals than last year.

With no further business to come before the Council Knott made a motion a motion to adjourn, seconded by Dye with all in favor.

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Bud Doerflinger, Mayor

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