October 26, 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: Mike Gillen, Jim Woodruff, Tom Kuhns, Kalani Spurgeon, Bonita Neal, Loren Borger and Jim Seley.

First on the agenda was the utility hearing, two people were given extensions.

Police Chief Loren Borger presented the monthly police report.

DeLissa made a motion to go into executive session for 15 minutes for personnel matters of non-elective personnel, seconded by Hartnett with 4 in favor. No action was taken.

Jim Seley with Layne Western was here to talk to the Council about Well #5. Seley said his company offers a hydrology study which will tell us where all of the cities water rights are located and find out if the city is in compliance with the State. They can also conduct a pump test study for all of our wells which gives a report on the wells productivity and prioritizes which well will need to be fixed or upgraded first. Both studies will cost about $15,000 each. Mayor asked Cordes if he thought a study was necessary, Cordes said he would like to see the hydrology study done so we know were the city stands. It would cost around $250,000 to offset Well #5, if we were to drill another well then we would need to plug Well #5 which would cost around $10,000 to $30,000. No action was taken.

The October 12th, 2009 minutes were approved as presented.

Mayor asked the Council if they would like to add a time frame to Ordinance #618 for the building permits. DeLissa would like to see 2 to 3 years for a time frame, Knott said he thought that would be too long. Discussion was had and the Council agreed to have an ordinance written up stating a 1 year time frame with the possibility of an extension when needed.

Mayor asked the Council if they would like to purchase a police vehicle. Knott would like to know if we could use the public safety fund for other departments when buying a vehicle. Hartnett asked that Cordes get bids on a ½ ton and a ¾ ton and present it to the Council.

Hartnett said he thought the curbs and gutters that were repaired in front of the Fowler State Bank looked unleveled. Cordes said the existing sidewalk was not level so when they replaced the curb and gutter it would look unleveled also.

Neel presented 4 collection agency companies for the Councils review. Neel said she would like to see the City sign up with 2 companies. The Kansas Set-Off Program is offered to municipalities but you will only get paid if the customer will be getting a tax return for that year. She also suggested going with Kansas Counselors, Inc., they have the cheaper collection fee and they work strictly off of commission so they will try hard to get the customer to pay. The Council agreed to go with both of Neels' decisions.

Discussion was had on a study for the power plant to decide if the City needs another engine. Cordes said both companies he contacted were not willing to commit on a price range for the study.

DeLissa asked if the water line to the cemetery has been fixed yet, Woodruff reported no. Cordes said he thinks the Council should consider patching the line if we have to fix Well #5. The consensus of the Council was to patch the hole and tell the cemetery board that this is the last time we will repair the water line.

Mayor updated the Council on the information he has received for the downtown clean up ordinance. Mayor will write a letter to the downtown store owners and send it to the attorney to read over about the owners not being in compliance.

New Business:

Neel informed the Council that the County Courthouse will be closed on Dec. 24th & 25th and on Jan. 1st for the holidays. The Council agreed to give the City employees the same days off.

Neel presented a spreadsheet on the updated insurance premiums due January 1st, 2010. Neel said she has not talked to the representative at this time but as soon as she has a conference with BCBS she will bring more information to the Council.

Neel asked the Council if they would like to pay for an extended warranty and software maintenance contract for the Neptune handhelds and Neptune software. The price would be $3,729 for a yearly contract. DeLissa asked Neel to call other cities to see if they are having problems with the handhelds before we sign the warranty contract.

Mayor’s Report:

Mayor said Rodger DeGarmo has asked that Ed Dye’s position for the Eco Devo Committee be replaced by the Mayors request.

Mayor asked if the Council would consider changing Ordinance #801 to read: That the second and fourth Mondays of each month, at the hours of 7:00 p.m. at the Meade City Building, is hereby designated as the time and place for holding of the regular meetings of the City Council unless previous notice is publish in the official City paper. The Council agreed to have the attorney draw up a new ordinance.

Mayor updated the Council on a KDOT meeting he attended. He said there was a presentation on a four lane highway going from Wichita to Liberal. There will be no Hwy 54 bypass around the City of Meade.

Mayor said he has received a letter from a local Pastor about the liquor sales ordinance passed. Hartnett asked if there would be time to get a vote question put on the November ballet.

DeLissa made a motion to go into executive session for personnel matters of non-elective personnel for 10 minutes, seconded by Hartnett with 4 in favor. No action was taken.

DeLissa made another motion to go into executive session for personnel matters of non-elective personnel for 10 minutes, seconded by Hartnett with 4 in favor. No action was taken.

With no further business to come before the Council Hartnett made a motion to adjourn, seconded by DeLissa with 4 in favor.

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Bud Doerflinger, Mayor

Attest:

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Tiffany Neel, City Clerk