CITY OF COLDWATER
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REGULAR MEETING
Monday, April 14, 2008 – 7:00 p.m.
The governing body of the City of Coldwater met in regular session with the following present: Mayor Tony Smith , presiding, Council members Penny Bruckner , Klete Hackney , Charles Salisbury, Tiffany Sowa and Richard Thompson , Public Works Director Danny Shaw , Water Operator, Joe Ceballos, City Attorney Skip Herd, City Clerk , Kristal Sherman, and City Security Officer, John Schmeidler.
Guests included Darren Konrade , Doug Storie, Douglas Storie and Chris Bruckner.
Mayor Smith called the meeting to order and led the flag salute.
Minutes were approved as written, motion by Richard Thompson , seconded by Klete Hackney . Motion carried.
Doyle and Ferrel Hazen left a building permit and zoning variance request to build a storage shed in the back yard of their home, with the City Clerk for council approval. After conferring with Danny Shaw and discussing the matter, Richard Thompson made a motion to grant the zoning variance request, seconded by Penny Bruckner and the motion carried.
Officer Schmeidler gave a report of his activities since April 1st, his first day on the job. He also gave the council a report on the new patrol car that had been purchased April 4th from the Kansas Highway Patrol. The cost of the car was $14,500.00, it has 50,000 miles on it and with the help of Darren Konrade , has purchased and installed a new light bar. John did tell the council that the radar needs to be repaired and he is in the process of getting the graphics for it.
Doug Storie told the council on March 6th, his dog was picked up and put in the dog pound. He said he nor his wife were notified that the dog had been put in the pound and they had been looking for him that evening. He discovered the dog had been impounded late that night, but had not taken the dog home even though he had a key to the pound. In order to get his dog the next day, he told the council he paid $27.00 and thought he had been overcharged by what the new dog ordinance states. Doug asked that his $27.00 be refunded since he would not have had to pay it had he been notified that the dog was in the pound. Mayor Smith told Doug the council would discuss it later in the meeting and let him know.
City Attorney, Skip Herd told the council he has been working on tax exemption for the east park and has the papers ready for signature. He also reported that Dennis Sangster has closed on his property at Comanche Estates. Skip also discussed with the council the covenants and contract of Comanche Estates for the purpose of safeguards against people buying lots for speculation instead of for building a home for themselves.
Mayor Smith told the council that the Patriot Guard plans an overnight stay in Coldwater and asked if they had a problem of them camping on his lot that he just acquired, at the south end of town. The council told him they did not see a problem with that.
Water Operator Joe Ceballos asked the council to make a motion regarding charging $50.00 per month, per company that has an antenna on the old water tower, noting that it was discussed at the last meeting, but never got voted on. Chuck Salisbury made a motion to charge CMS and Southern Pioneer $50.00 per month rental for their radio antennas on the old water tower, seconded by Penny Bruckner and the motion carried. The council also made it known that if Southern Pioneer wants to take their antenna down they have fifteen days to do so. Joe reported that Layne Western has completed the work on water well #4. The council asked if they had gone back in the well with a video camera after the work had been done to prove the chemical treatment had worked. Joe said they had not made a video after the work had been done, and the council suggested next time that be done.
Public Works Director, Danny Shaw told the council he has received calls from Glenda Hallet asking him why a new sewer line has not been put in at 408 E. Maple and the 3 homes it involves. After discussing the situation, the council indicated they were not interested in paying to make the line a city sewer main since it’s a private line now, even though it serves three homes. The council instructed Danny to figure the cost of a new line there and how much it would cost each of the property owners to have the line replaced and then ask the property owners if they agree to pay to put the new sewer line in. Danny asked the council what they wanted to do about Pat Wells sewer line since it was cleaned out by Doug Brooks of Protection and will be billed to the City when it should be paid by Pat. The council instructed the City Clerk to bill Pat for the sewer clean out as soon as she receives the bill. Danny asked the council if he could switch his phone number to the lake phone since lake manager Jim Herd does not want to carry the lake cell phone. The council agreed. Danny reported that he has had an offer from someone to rent 30 acres of the City farm land just east of the City sewer lagoons. After discussing the matter, Klete Hackney made a motion to accept $625.00 as a donation for the rental of the farm land, seconded by Richard Thompson and the motion carried. Danny asked the council to give Eric Burt a 50 cent raise since this is the second summer he’s worked for the City. Richard Thompson made a motion to give Eric Burt a 50 cent raise, seconded by Klete Hackney and the motion carried. Danny asked the council for permission to buy 35 new street signs for a total cost of $600.00. Richard Thompson made a motion to allow Danny to purchase 35 street signs with the proper street names on them at a cost of $600.00, seconded by Chuck Salisbury and the motion carried.
Mayor Smith thanked Protection Chief of Police Darren Konrade for all his time and effort he has spent helping Officer John Schmeidler get the new patrol car equipped, and for helping John get settled in his new job. Mayor Smith presented Darren with four lake permits as a token of the City’s appreciation.
Darren Konrade recommended Officer Schmeidler attend the Transportation Conference in Topeka April 29th and 30th, he felt it would be beneficial to the City if he attended. A discussion was held whether or not Officer Schmeidler needs to attend the two-week temporary officer training course. Mayor Smith said he would call KLETC and check to see if John can work here on the hardship rule and then attend the full-time academy coming up in September.
Danny Shaw told the council there have been many mechanical problems with the mowing pickup which is a 1988 Chevy and asked the council if they wanted him to get it fixed or check into a different pickup. Darren Konrade told the council about a site on the internet that sells vehicles at a discount. After discussion, the council instructed Danny to get figures together on what a new pickup would cost and report back. Danny also asked the council if they wanted him to schedule a city wide clean up day, the council agreed to the clean up day and instructed Danny to set a date and advertise it in the paper. Danny then asked the council to go into executive session for a few minutes. Richard Thompson made a motion to go into executive session for personnel matters with Danny Shaw for ten minutes, seconded by Tiffany Sowa and the motion carried. After returning to open session, no action was taken.
Mayor Smith opened the only bid received on the old city hall computer, it was from Danny Shaw for $75.00. Klete Hackney made a motion to accept the bid of $75.00 from Danny Shaw for the computer, seconded by Chuck Salisbury and the motion carried.
Tiffany Sowa gave a report the Comanche County Economic Development Foundation is now offering all three cities in the county their own page on their website. After discussing the matter, the council agreed to have Tiffany check further into specific details, such as how many pages the City can have on the website, before agreeing to move the City’s website to the CCEDF website. Tiffany also reported that her and councilman Klete Hackney will be conducting interviews with Adele Lopez, Shala Unruh and Debbie Koehn for the pool manager position this Saturday beginning at 11:30 a.m.
City Clerk, Kristal Sherman asked the council, on the request of Traci Ballard, if Traci will be permitted to hold her gymnastics class one night a week in the veteran’s building when the next school year starts. After discussion, Tiffany Sowa made a motion to allow Traci Ballard to use the building for gymnastics one day a week and to charge her $25.00 per month, seconded by Penny Bruckner and the motion carried.
Tiffany Sowa told the rest of the council she did not realize she was on so many council committees and asked someone to take her place on the gun range committee. Klete Hackney volunteered to take Tiffany’s place on the gun range committee, with the Mayor and the rest of the council agreeing to the change.
City Clerk, Kristal Sherman, presented the employee handbook for final approval. She asked the council to review it thoroughly and noted changes that had been made throughout the last several months. Chuck Salisbury made a motion to approve the revised employee handbook, seconded by Tiffany Sowa and the motion carried.
Danny Shaw and Darren Konrade came back before the council with figures for a new pickup truck, for a Ford the cost is $20,196.00, Dodge cost is $20,192 and GMC cost is $22,144. Darren told the council what options come with each package and the council asked him to take off all extra options he could, come back with a final price and a decision would be made from there.
Bills in the amount of $141,017.57 were presented for payment. Richard Thompson made a motion to approve the bills as presented, seconded by Penny Bruckner . Motion carried.
Under unfinished business, Doug Storie’s dog was discussed further. Councilman, Richard Thompson explained Doug’s dog was caught inside Alfred Thompson’s chicken pens and, therefore, does not feel Doug’s money should be refunded. It was also brought to light that under the new dog ordinance, Doug was actually undercharged by $5.00 since the new fine is $25.00 and boarding fee is $7.00, and he paid $27.00. After discussing the matter further, it was agreed by the council to deny refunding Doug Storie’s money for getting his dog out of the pound.
Tiffany Sowa asked the council if they would agree to pay for anyone interested in taking the lifeguard training and for her to take them to Dodge City for the training. She said she is having problems finding enough lifeguards needed to run the pool for the summer. The council all agreed.
City Clerk, Kristal Sherman, read a letter to the council from the Bank of America, the company that handles the City’s credit card account. In order for her to make any changes to the account, someone needs to be appointed as an authorized contact for the City. Richard Thompson made a motion that City Clerk, Kristal Sherman be appointed the authorized contact for the City of Coldwater on the Bank of America account, seconded by Tiffany Sowa and the motion carried.
Klete Hackney made a motion the council go into executive session for 10 minutes for personnel reasons, seconded by Tiffany Sowa and the motion carried. After executive session, no action was taken.
Richard Thompson reported that the maintenance crew has started working on south Topeka Street in front of Curt Rush’s house.
No further business was presented. Tiffany Sowa moved the meeting adjourned, seconded by Klete Hackney and the motion carried