June 22, 2009 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, Ed Dye and Chris Hartnett with Cliff Hailey absent. Also present were: City Administrator Dean Cordes and City Clerk Tiffany Neel. Visitors were: Denice Kuhns, Roger Musgrove, Jim Woodruff, Mike Gillen, Heather Moore, Kalani Spurgeon and Jim Cruise.

First on the agenda was the utility hearing. Two people were given extra time to pay their bill.

Assistant Police Chief Roger Musgrove presented the monthly police report for the Council to review. Hartnett asked if Musgrove thought the radar signs were slowing traffic down, Musgrove said yes. Knott said they are still speeding by Cottrell’s. Musgrove said the speed limit states 55 mph at that location and the State will not move the sign. Knott asked who we would talk too about moving it and if we could go over his head to get results. Dye asked how much fuel the officer’s use, Musgrove said they fill up about every 2 days and they do not let the tank go below half full.

Cordes informed the Council that Curtis Campbell has sent a letter to JAG and Klaver Construction to let them know they will be receiving a bill for a $500 rental fee to keep the cement slabs on City property. DeLissa said we need to find out what parties are responsible.

Mayor asked the Council if they would like to have Curtis Campbell write up an ordinance on loud music. Knott asked how we would deal with it. DeLissa said we would basically have something on paper to back up the police officers if there was a complaint. Dye said the ball games are loud but he doesn’t complain. DeLissa said he felt sorry for families with children, it would have been hard to put them to bed at a decent time if the music was so loud. Dye said it is a shame we try to get new businesses in town and then we beat them down. Knott said he appreciated Cruiser’s for wanting to work with the City. The Council agreed that they would work with Cruiser’s on this matter.

The June 8th, 2009 minutes were approved as corrected.

The May 2009 Treasurers report was presented for the Council’s review.

Building Permits #9023, #9024 and #9025 were approved on motion made by Hartnett, seconded by Dye with all in favor.

Old Business:

Cordes informed the Council that the summer help is working on the outside of the old sewer plant building and getting it ready for the cat pound.

Cordes presented a proposal to the Council for a 48 foot trailer to store the Christmas decoration in. The cost for the trailer would be $2,000 and the County will help the City haul the trailer to and from the sewer plant. Dye made a motion to purchase the trailer for Christmas decorations and storage, seconded by DeLissa with all in favor.

Mayor asked Cordes at the last meeting to look at an alternative option for the power plant if we did not want to buy an engine. Cordes said he would contact Foley Tractor about a trailer mounted cat engine if an emergency ever arises. Mayor asked Cordes to find out what electrical work we would need to do at the power plant to make this work.

Neel handed out samples of rubber mulch for the Council to look over. Dye would like Neel to check into the cost of buying a small rubber mat to put in front of each slide to keep the ground covered. DeLissa made a motion to accept the bid from Playsafe for rubber mulch in the amount of $1,380, seconded by Dye with all in favor.

DeLissa gave a report on the financial committee meeting that was held on June 16, 2009. DeLissa stated that the finances were down about $250,000 but if you add up all the unexpected expenses like the new upgraded meters, meter equipment, tractor, website and one time expenses it came to about $250,000. He also stated that we still have revenue coming in so we are in pretty good shape.

Cordes presented a price list and pictures of community lighted signs for advertising events. Hartnett asked if we would put the sign up at the stoplight. Cordes said he has talked to the owner of the empty lot by the stop light and they would like to sell the property and the building that Corner Auto is in. Hartnett asked Cordes to call Richard Blehm and see if he is interested in buying the property. Cordes said the other option would be at the ambulance building at the end of town. DeLissa said it could be put on the City building and said we need to decide what we will use it for.

Cordes talked to Leon Rogers about solar heating for the City pool. Rogers said they did not use solar panels but they did sweat copper lines together and regulate the water. DeLissa asked Cordes to call Plains and see how much their gas bill ran to heat their pool and what their temperature ran. Cordes said the $43,000 it would cost to get heat installed would be cheap compared to buying solar panels.

Cordes reported he has sent a 30 day clean up letter to Eco Devo for their property on the corner of Hart and Rainbelt. DeLissa asked if the City could haul off the junk that is outside. Cordes said he did not know the liability issues. Hartnett asked if we still do cleaning for the City of Minneola. Cordes told them we would not do it this year. Knott said it did not make since that we can do work for other Cities but we cannot help out our own town. Mayor said that the insurance will not cover private citizens but it will cover other entities.

New Business:

Cordes informed the Council that the new tornado siren was installed on June 11th.

Cordes gave the Council an amount of $576 to fix the street repairs on Springlake and Grant. DeLissa asked if we had an agreement drawn up or can the citizen keep parking in the same spot. Cordes will get with Curtis Campbell.

Cordes presented Ordinance 814 for consideration:
Ordinance 814
AN ORDINANCE PROVIDING FOR ADOPTION OF THE REVISED MUNICIPAL ZONING ORDINANCE FOR THE CITY OF MEADE, KANSAS.
Knott made a motion to approve Ordinance 814, seconded by Hartnett with 3 in favor, Dye apposed.

Neel informed the Council that they had a copy of the fireworks display insurance coverage in their packet for review.

Dye said he has had a few people ask about the website and what it has cost. Knott asked how long it will take to get it up and running. Mayor said it has been up for months.

Hartnett asked if the security cameras at the park are not working anymore. Cordes said it is down at this time and the security company is shipping a replacement.

Mayor’s Report:

Mayor wanted to remind everyone that the Ranch Rodeo and County Fair will be coming up in July.

Mayor was confronted last Tues morning about the Council members standing outside talking after the Council meetings. Mayor stated that it is legal for 2 council members to communicate after the meeting.

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

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Bud Doerflinger, Mayor

Attest:

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Tiffany Neel, City Clerk