May 10, 2010 City Council Minutes
Meade, Kansas

The meeting was called to order in the Council Meeting Room by Mayor Bud Doerflinger a 7:00 P.M. Council members present were: Richard Knott, Lance DeLissa, Edward Dye and Cliff Hailey and Chris Hartnett absent. Also present were City Administrator Dean Cordes and Billing Clerk Jeanne Berghaus. Visitors were: Kaitlyn Reichmann, Brenda Reimer, Mike Gillen, Brad Ackerman, Jim Woodruff and Tom Kuhns.

Dean Cordes introduced Kaitlyn Reichmann, a senior at Meade High School. She attended the Community Conversation meeting along with about 100 other people. In ten years she would like to see more jobs and restaurants, competitive wages, and new buildings put up and the old buildings fixed up. She would like to see more people her age active in the government and more support from the city with school activities.

Brad Ackerman asked the council for a $1000.00 donation for the fireworks display this year. Motion was made by Knott to approve a $1000.00 donation, seconded by Dye with all in favor.

The April 26th, 2010 minutes were approved as written.

The May 10th, 2010 Appropriation Ordinance in the amount of $ 422,575.71 was approved on a motion made by DeLissa, seconded by Dye with all in favor.

Building permits #10013, #10016, #10017, #10018 and #10019 were approved on motion made by DeLissa seconded by Dye with all in favor.

Cordes updated the council on the bathroom repairs at the Park. Gary Knott started May 9 and Larry Knott will assist him.

Regarding replacing Ordinance 618 with Ordinance 820: Cordes said not all of the planning committee has had an opportunity to study it.

Annexation was brought up, Dye said those properties inside city limits need to be annexed in. Knott suggested they wait until they have a full council. DeLissa suggested notification for all concerned as to the date of the next meeting, Hailey agreed. Neel will notify each property owner.

Cordes reported that the grading work was completed for a businessman and more work may be solicited later.

DeLissa pointed out that the census information provided in the report on the Meade
County Housing Assessment Project is ten years old and wondered if the council would prefer to wait for new census totals before committing to a donation.

Cordes asked the Council if they would consider tearing down a house for a citizen so he could add on to his existing residence. DeLissa motioned to demolish the trailer house at 421 N. Baltimore. Hailey seconded with all in favor.

New Business:

The Mayor announced that the city’s new police officer, Scott Whitesides, will start work May 17th, 2010.

The Mayor would like to change an ordinance in the Zoning Ordinance book, article XXII, section 1, #2 regarding sign regulations. He stated what should be changed and he will have Neel work up the changes. Woodruff stated that when people tape signs on metal poles the tape removes the paint, and staples on the power poles are hard on gloves and hands.

Mayor’s Report:

The Mayor reported on his Mayor’s Conference. The sessions he reported on where “Setting Community-wide goals”, which cited positive examples of providing community direction and involving other cities in the county by working together for the same goals.

Another session focused on a community’s desire to cooperate for a common goal, through communication and a willingness to change.

One of Saturdays meetings were “Current Economic Outlook for Kansas and the U.S.” This had the largest turnout. Ms. Felix expressed with certainty that the economy will turn around in 5-10 years. However, it was brought to her attention that “new government jobs” will only last a few years and that the self-employed were not considered in her figures. Ms. Felix promised a more realistic report will be delivered in the near future.

The Mayor found out that many grants and funds just aren’t available for a lot of other cities either and that perhaps Meade needs a local grant writer to help tackle the problem and the system.

The Mayor reported that the Positive Pursuit Community Conversation was lively and positive. June 12 is the day of the “Vision Retreat”. At that time, they will begin to set goals and start committees on specific jobs. Cordes will keep everyone informed.

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

____________________________
Bud Doerflinger, Mayor

Attest: