REGULAR MEETING
Monday, January 12, 2009
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 Chad Mull, City Attorney Skip Herd and City Clerk , Kristal Sherman.
Guests included Chris McDaniel, Mary McDaniel, Joe Spence, Jerry Allen, Darrol and Pauline Miller, Brian Adams, Dwight Pepperd, Clarence Gillet, Noel Zahn, Chris Bruckner, and Alex Bruckner.
Mayor Smith called the meeting to order and led the flag salute.
Minutes from the December meeting were approved as written, motion by Chuck Salisbury, seconded by Richard Thompson . Motion carried.
Don Heller, with EBH and Associates engineering firm had a diagram of the water tower he passed out, and explained to the council the centerline inlet pipe broke apparently when the floor shifted. He said he didn’t know what caused the concrete floor to shift, but speculated there was a leak in the elbow underneath the floor and water went out through the side of the foundation causing the dirt to wash away and allowed the floor to settle. He assured the council that an EBH crew of surveyors had already inspected the tower, and the integrity of the tower is fine. He told the council EBH has been in contact with Caldwell Tanks, the contractor that built the water tower itself, and they are planning on coming to inspect the tower and will tear out the floor to see exactly what happened. He said he didn’t know when they were planning on coming to Coldwater, but hoped it would be soon. Coldwater citizen Darrol Miller asked what would have happened had we not had the old water tower? Council members explained the city water pumps would all be put on line and would be able to pump enough water to serve the residents and businesses. Dwight Pepperd asked what was going to be done to the old water tower, noting he felt both water towers should be maintained to better serve the City. Dwight and Joe Spence both said they had better water pressure at their homes when both towers were on line. Water Operator, Chad Mull said it will cost the City over $50,000.00 to get the old water tower up and running to meet State specifications. Mayor Tony Smith told everyone present, the council will discuss the water tower further, later in the meeting and asked Don Heller from EBH to stay for further discussion.
Noel Zahn told the council he would like to rent the city-owned lot where the old tree dump is, stating he wants to put some horses in the pasture there. After discussing the matter, the council agreed to Noel using the lot, but asked City Attorney, Skip Herd to draw up a contract for a year stating he will only be allowed to have two horses in the pasture at a time and in lieu of rent paid, he will maintain the fence there. They also told Noel he will be responsible for the water bill, and he asked the city clerk to fax a water application to the school for him to fill out.
Chris McDaniel introduced himself, his wife and child to the council. He told the council he was hoping to work as a reserve officer with City Marshal John Schmeidler . Chris said he wants to become a police officer and would be willing to work with the city marshal at no cost to the City, to gain experience. The council asked City Attorney, Skip Herd to draw up a waiver of liability for Chris to sign, and also asked the city clerk to check with the City’s insurance carrier to see if Chris would be able to drive the patrol car since he is not an actual employee of the City. The council thanked Chris and his family for coming to the meeting.
Lake Manager , Pat Puderbaugh showed the council an example of a tag he wants to use as a requirement for golf carts at the lake this summer in order to help law enforcement and lake staff identify individual golf carts. Pat reported he has been in contact with CMS concerning the upgrade of hookups in areas D and F needing done before the start of the season, April 1st. Pat passed out a sheet showing what the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks charges for their park fees and a sheet showing Lake Coldwater ’s current fees and a fee increase the lake committee recommends for the 2009 season. After discussing the matter, Klete Hackney made a motion to raise fees at Lake Coldwater as follows: RV Electric/Water Hookup monthly rate from $225.00 to $250.00; RV Full Hookup monthly rate from $250.00 to $275.00; vehicle permits, first permit stays same price of $15.00, second and third permits raise from $5.00 to $10.00 each; jet ski permit from $75.00 to $125.00. The motion was seconded by Chuck Salisbury and the motion carried. Pat also recommended the two-week discount for permits, usually occurring the last two weeks in January, be reconsidered. After discussing whether or not to offer a discount on permits, the council agreed to limit the two-week discount to vehicle permits only and only on the 1st vehicle purchased, it will be discounted to $10.00 from the $15.00 price. The discount will run from January 19th through the 30th.
City Attorney, Skip Herd told the council he sees no problem with the proposed vicious dog ordinance the council will be considering. The council reminded Skip he need to make a contract between the City and Noel Zahn on the property Noel wants to keep his horses on and also needs to do the waiver of liability for Chris McDaniel to sign. Skip said he has received a call from Byran Spence, who is Joe Spence’s son, he is a consulting engineer that handles problems with different projects and said he would be willing to consult with the council concerning the water tower at no charge to the City.
Water Operator, Chad Mull reported to the council it will take $53,900.00 to get the old water tower back to state regulations and will cost the City $57,600 over a ten-year period to keep it up to specifications. The new tower will cost $28,800 over a ten-year period to keep it up to specifications. The council then asked Don Heller with EBH what he recommended the council do as far as keeping the old tower up and running. He said he would not recommend it, he would instead use the $53,900.00 and $57,600.00 it will take to keep the old tower going, toward upgrading the distribution system. He said that’s why people are having water pressure issues, it’s not the water towers, but the way the water is being distributed throughout the City. The homes that have less water pressure, have smaller pipes going to their homes. Tiffany Sowa made a motion to NOT repair the old water tower and instead spend the money on upgrading the water distribution system, seconded by Penny Bruckner and the motion carried. Chad asked the council for permission to purchase a dialer device for the water system and one for the sewer system at a cost of approximately $600.00 each, to work as a monitor and eliminate the need to check on the water and sewer systems on the weekends. Richard Thompson made a motion to buy the dialer device at $1,000.00 or less for each the water and sewer stations, seconded by Tiffany Sowa and the motion carried.
Public Works Director, Danny Shaw , along with Superintendent of USD 300, Mike Baldwin and Brian Adams, Comanche County Ambulance Director, asked if the City would be interested in constructing a building by the water tower to house the radio systems. The school and Comanche County would be willing to pay for part of the building, but they did not have time to build it. Danny said the maintenance guys would be willing to build it. Richard Thompson made a motion the City construct a building by the new water tower to house the radio systems, with the costs to be split between the City, County and School. The motion was seconded by Chuck Salisbury and the motion carried. Danny asked the council to adopt a policy concerning dumping of sewage from septic tanks in the sewer lagoon. After discussion, the council agreed to have Danny check with KDHE before making a decision. Danny asked the council if they would want to sell the old electric pedestals they are upgrading at the lake. The council agreed to sell them to anyone that wants one for $25.00. Danny also suggested the council put the old lake pickup, a 1988 ¾-ton Chevrolet pickup, up for bids. The council agreed.
Mayor Smith asked the council to review the vicious dog ordinance 2009-1 for approval. After discussing the proposed ordinance, Chuck Salisbury made a motion to accept the ordinance 2009-1, with a minor change made, seconded by Tiffany Sowa and the motion carried.
An “engagement letter” from auditors Vonfeldt, Bauer and Vonfeldt was presented to the council for their approval to hire them for the 2009 year. Richard Thompson made a motion, seconded by Tiffany Sowa to hire Vonfeldt, Bauer and Vonfeldt as the official auditors for the year 2009, motion carried.
Bills in the amount of $55,345.12 were presented for payment. Chuck Salisbury made a motion to approve the bills as presented, seconded by Richard Thompson and the motion carried.
Under unfinished business, Mayor Smith asked the council to consider purchasing shirts for Chris McDaniel when he is patrolling with John Schmeidler . Klete Hackney made a motion the City purchase 4 uniform shirts for Chris McDaniel, seconded by Tiffany Sowa and the motion carried. The subject of buying John Schmeidler a taser gun was discussed. John had a catalog list of items highlighted he wanted to purchase along with the gun. After discussion, the council added the Taser camera and USB download kit to the list of items to order. Tiffany Sowa made a motion the City purchase a taser gun, with accessories, in the amount of $1,634.40, seconded by Richard Thompson and the motion carried. The council also reviewed the law enforcement patch designed by City Marshal John Schmeidler . Richard Thompson made a motion to accept the patch designed by John Schmeidler as the official City Marshal patch for the City of Coldwater , seconded by Tiffany Sowa and the motion carried.
No further business was presented. Richard Thompson moved the meeting adjourned, seconded by Tiffany Sowa and the motion carried.