CITY OF COLDWATER
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REGULAR MEETING
Monday, August 11, 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 and Richard Thompson , Public Works Director Danny Shaw , City Attorney Skip Herd, City Marshal, John Schmeidler and City Clerk , Kristal Sherman.
Guests included Jim Vonfeldt , Chris Bruckner and Alex Bruckner.
Mayor Smith called the meeting to order and led the flag salute.
No persons appeared for public comment concerning the 2009 budget hearing. Chuck Salisbury moved the budget be approved as published, seconded by Penny Bruckner . Motion carried.
Minutes from the July meeting were approved as written, motion by Chuck Salisbury, seconded by Penny Bruckner . Motion carried.
Jim VonFeldt, with the auditing firm VonFeldt, Bauer and VonFeldt of Larned, Kansas , presented the council with the 2007 audit report. Jim went through the audit report with the council page by page, explaining the report.
Officer John Schmeidler gave his report of activities for the month. John thanked the council for allowing him to attend the drug interdiction course in Oklahoma City . He said he felt the information he learned was very beneficial to him as an officer. He reminded the council he will leave for the 14-week Kansas Law Enforcement Training academy this coming Sunday and also informed them the KLETC officials highly recommend he be on the City’s health insurance policy by the time he begins the academy.
The council asked City Attorney, Skip Herd, if they could enter into a contract between the City and John Schmeidler stating he will work for the City for a determined amount of time if they pay for his expenses to attend the academy. After discussing the matter, Richard Thompson made a motion to have John Schmeidler sign a document saying he will work for the City of Coldwater for 2 years after completing the KLETC academy or he will have to pay back the expenses the City paid for him to attend the academy, seconded by Klete Hackney and the motion carried. Skip agreed to draft the contract for signature.
Richard Thompson made a motion the council go into executive session for personnel reasons for 10 minutes, seconded by Klete Hackney and the motion carried. After returning to open session, the council agreed to add John Schmeidler’s to the City’s health insurance policy group, paying his full-family plan.
Water Operator, Chad Mull told the council he has learned to read meters, fix water leaks and work on the water docks since he’s been on the job and feels he is learning the job pretty well. Danny reported he has ordered tools for Chad , and the council instructed Danny to mark all new tools belonging to the City. City Clerk, Kristal Sherman, reported the meter reader is not working and it has been sent in for an estimate on how much it will cost to repair. Kristal told them the current meter reader was purchased in 1999 and a new one will cost in excess of $5,000.00. The council discussed repairing it if the cost is less than $2,000.00, otherwise, they felt a new one should be purchased. Kristal said she will do a call-around as soon as she gets the cost estimate.
Public Works Director, Danny Shaw reported he has located an extended cab, heavy duty ¾-ton Ford pickup from McKay Ford in Woodward , Oklahoma , with a utility bed, to replace his pickup for $28,742.00 which is $242.00 over the limit the council set at the last meeting. Klete Hackney made a motion to approve the purchase price of $28,742.00 for a new pickup for Danny, seconded by Richard Thompson and the motion carried. Danny asked the council what they wanted to do with the old water tower. It has never been taken off line, and after he reviewed the inspector’s report from last year it should be off line. After discussing the matter, the council instructed Danny to tell Comanche County Fire Chief, Larry Ellis he has a week to do the needed tests to determine whether or not the City needs to keep the old water tower on line to provide adequate fire protection in the City and if it’s not needed, to take it off line. Danny also told the council an entire pallet of water line fittings that had been sitting at the Comanche Estates had been stolen sometime during the summer. He didn’t know if insurance will cover the stolen property or not, but will check into it.
Mayor Smith asked John Schmeidler if the old patrol car is ready to be put up for sale, he said the only thing left to do to it is get the graphics off. After discussion, the council agreed to advertise it for sale by sealed bids with the stipulation of whoever buys the car has to either remove the police graphics or paint over them before title is given.
An application for a Cereal Malt Beverage license was presented for M&W Midwest Properties LLC d/b/a Lucky’s #7. Penny Bruckner made a motion to approve the license, seconded by Richard Thompson and the motion carried, with Chuck Salisbury abstaining.
An application for a Cereal Malt Beverage license was presented for Garry G. Smith, Jr. and Donna L. Smith d/b/a Comanche Tavern. Richard Thompson made a motion to approve the license, seconded by Klete Hackney and the motion carried, with Chuck Salisbury abstaining.
Bills in the amount of $80,578.44 were presented for payment. Penny Bruckner made a motion to approve the bills as presented, seconded by Richard Thompson . Motion carried.
Klete Hackney asked the council whose responsibility it is to trim tree limbs hanging into the street. Danny told him if traffic is being impeded by branches, the maintenance crew has been trimming them back, but in this case it might be a good idea to talk to the homeowner first before trimming the limbs.
Lake Manager, Pat Puderbaugh joined the meeting and reported there was a softball tournament last weekend that brought in many tents and also told the council ever since July 4th weekend, the lake has been full or nearly full. He’s crediting it to the gas prices this summer, people are not driving their normal distance for vacation and coming here to camp. Pat told the council he has had campers ask if they can store their campers at the lake over the fall/winter season. After discussing the matter, the council agreed not to compete with the two businesses in town that offer storage and told Pat to direct the campers to them if they want to store their campers. Pat also reported there has been a lot of swimming in undesignated areas all around the lake, the council asked Pat what he recommended to cut down on that and he said he would like to get rid of the reeds along the shoreline and mark a “no wake zone” all the way around the shoreline with buoys, then allow swimming in the no wake zone. The council agreed it was a good idea and asked him to look into the cost of buoys. Pat again brought up the topic of campers leaving their air conditioners on when they are not at the lake and suggested charging an additional fee of $100 per month for those who choose to run their air conditioners while they are gone from the lake. After discussion, the council agreed to implement such a policy before next year’s camping season.
No further business was presented. Chuck Salisbury moved the meeting adjourned, seconded by Penny Bruckner and the motion carried.