December 29, 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, Edward Dye, Chris Hartnett, and Cliff Hailey. Also present were: City Administrator Dean Cordes and City Clerk Tiffany Neel. Visitors were: Barb Feldman, Jonna & Derek Evans, Russell Ohnick, Roy Seybert, Joe Mertens, Mike Gillen, Heather Moore and Tom Kuhns.

First on the agenda, Mayor wanted to thank the city workers for going beyond the call of duty to come to work while on vacation to help repair the water line in Hwy 54.

Two people were given an extension on their utility bill.

Joe Mertens presented a quote from Bartel Well & Drilling to drill a well at the Cemetery for the amount of $7,529.83. Cordes presented a price to replace the water line if they did not drill a well. The piping is a 4” plastic pipe at $1.76 per foot and does not include installation. The consensus of the Council was to have the Cemetery Board ask if the County Commissioners would help pay for a portion of the well along with the City and the Cemetery Board paying the other portion.

The appropriation ordinance in the amount of $390,551.86 was approved on motion made by DeLissa, seconded by Hailey with all in favor.

The November 23rd, 2009 minutes were approved as corrected.

Old Business:

Cordes updated the Council on the progress at the airport. Most of the construction is done, they still have the entrance to the front parking way and fence to be put up but they are waiting on warmer weather.

Cordes asked if the Council would like to replace the sidewalk, curb and gutter on the North side of the City office all the way to the stoplight. Council asked Cordes to get a price quote.

Cordes told the Council that the digger truck has been purchased. It is a 2009 Ford F-750 with 21 engine hours, 12 PTO hours, and 1,408 miles for $140,000. It is being leased through Meade State Bank on a 4 year term at 3.6% Dye made a motion to purchase the 2009 Ford digger truck for $140,000 seconded by DeLissa with all in favor.

Neel asked the Council if they would like to donate to Skills USA and the Meade High School Wrestling Club. Dye said the school stuff needs to stay with the school and the parents. Hartnett said he would make a motion to donate $100 because it is for the kids, seconded by Knott with 4 in favor, Dye voted no.

Mayor asked Neel and Cordes if they had found out any information about having physical addresses on the front of the houses. Neel said the county did not require numbers to be put on the front of the houses but it is difficult for the meter readers to find an address if it is not numbered. Gillen said the hardest numbers to determine are the buildings on Main Street.

New Business:

Cordes talked about the Positive Pursuits group that has been created to help Meade, Fowler and Plains create new community building ideas. Cordes said the group has raised the $4,500 for the first phase.

Cordes said we have received the new fuel tank and it is in service.

Cordes said we are having problems with the runway lights again. Airport Development has been contacted and they are helping the City try and fix the problem. Hartnett said this is a service the City provides and he would like to see it fixed.

Cordes said Kenneth Harshberger has contacted him about going in together on a grant between the City and the school. The school is trying to get a grant to help pay for the heating and air units that need replaced at the High School. It is a 50/50 grant that can be used for energy conservation. No action was taken.

Cordes asked the Council if they would consider going into executive session at the end of the meeting for personnel reasons.

Neel asked the Council if they would like to approve the cereal malt beverage licenses for 2010. Knott made a motion to approve The Snappy Shop, seconded by Hailey with all in favor. Knott made a motion to approve Cruisers, seconded by Dye will all in favor. Knott made a motion to approve Benny Garten, seconded by Hailey with all in favor. Knott made a motion to approve Dart In, seconded by Dye with all in favor. Knott made a motion to approve Shane Vanderpool, seconded by Hartnett with all in favor.

Mayor’s Report:

Mayor said at the last Chamber meeting they discussed downtown beautification. The topics were appearance improvements, removing the eyesores, welcome banners on light poles, promote sidewalk/landscaping on west side of Alco and attract more small business for downtown.

DeLissa asked if we have received the water meter antennas to put on the meter cans, Cordes said we have received them but have not put them on at this time.

Dye wanted to thank ALL the City employee for everything they do, he wanted them to know that he appreciates them very much.

Hartnett was approached by a former councilman that heard a rumor and was concerned. He heard the access street from Hwy 54 to Belle Meade through the Beam Center parking lot will be closed off. The former councilman thought that the City had a right-of-way through the property. The Council asked for more information.

Knott made a motion to go into executive session for personnel reasons for 10 minutes, seconded by Hartnett with all in favor. No action was taken.

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

____________________________
Bud Doerflinger, Mayor

Attest: