CITY OF COLDWATER |
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REGULAR MEETING
Tuesday, June 10, 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 , City Attorney Skip Herd, Lake Manager , Pat Puderbaugh, City Security Officer, John Schmeidler and City Clerk , Kristal Sherman.
Guests included Chris Bruckner.
Mayor Smith called the meeting to order and led the flag salute.
Minutes from the May meeting were approved as written, motion by Penny Bruckner, seconded by Chuck Salisbury. Motion carried.
A letter from a regular camper at the lake, Carol Owens was read by the council. She complained of their electric breaker blowing and requested an upgrade to a 50 amp breaker from the 30 amp breaker that is currently in place. Danny Shaw told the council he is currently in the process of getting a bid from CMS to see what the cost will be to upgrade the campsites to 50 amp breakers, he estimates it will cost $20,000.00 to upgrade 25 sites on the East side. Danny will continue to get bids to upgrade the electric breakers for the upcoming 2009 budget. Lake Manager , Pat Puderbaugh told the council that while they’re talking budget, he recommends they look into the cost of storm shelters. With the amount of severe weather the lake has seen this year, the storm shelters have been used frequently and there is not an adequate amount of shelters for the number of campsites at the lake.
The council reviewed a list of 2009 budget requests from Prairie Plaza manager, Darlene Caraway.
Councilman, Chuck Salisbury addressed the council on ways the council could better get along and handle city business more effectively in the future.
Lake Manager , Pat Puderbaugh told the council the lake mowers were doing a good job and complemented the Duttons and Koehns for the upkeep of the restrooms. Pat reported the PA system and siren has been installed in the lake pickup and noted that at his request, the air conditioning not be repaired, saying there were more important things the money could be spent on. He also reported he could not hear the tornado siren from the east side of the lake to the west side and also said the lake needs more warning of impending storms. He did say there was wind damage to the large shelter and it has been turned in to insurance. Pat also reported on the large amount of broken glass and litter around the lake this year and asked law enforcement to issue tickets for anyone caught with glass bottles or littering, thinking that if a few tickets are written, word would get around and it would take care of the problem.
Officer John Schmeidler gave his report of activities for the month. He also reported he finished the two-week academy and tested 2nd in the class. John also reported he has moved the old patrol car to his residence so he can work on it in his spare time to get it ready to put up for bids. John told the council he has ordered the vinyl for the new patrol car graphics and hopes to get them on soon.
Mike Baldwin, Superintendent of South Central Schools, asked the council to ready the park for a tennis court. He has a possibility of 15 girls signed up for tennis this coming school year and needs an additional place to practice. Danny Shaw said that tennis nets were purchased by the City when the court was installed and most of the hardware requested by Mike Baldwin is already in place. After the council discussion, Klete Hackney made a motion to allow Danny to purchase any equipment if needed to make the tennis court playable, seconded by Tiffany Sowa and the motion carried.
City Attorney, Skip Herd asked the council to read the work utility vehicle ordinance he had drafted at their request. After discussing the matter, the council tabled the discussion until later in the meeting. Skip also told the council there had been a complaint about burning in the City and they might want to wait until the county reworks their burning regulations before they adopt a city burning ordinance. The council agreed.
Council member, Tiffany Sowa told the council she has been asked if the pool could host a swim-a-thon for Jamie Bruckner and waive the fees. Richard Thompson made a motion the pool host the swim-a-thon, waive the fees and pay the lifeguards for their time served. The motion was seconded by Chuck Salisbury and the motion carried.
Public Works Director, Danny Shaw first told the council Linda Lytle is requesting a zoning variance to install a deck at her home located at 301 N. Philadelphia . After a discussion, Klete Hackney made the motion to approve the variance for Linda Lytle, seconded by Richard Thompson and the motion carried. Danny reported he has not received a bid from CMS for the electrical problems in the veteran’s building, but he did ask BKM Electric of Meade, KS to look at the problems and give an estimate, they thought it would be four or five thousand dollars. The council instructed Danny to keep trying to get a bid from CMS. Danny asked the council to go into executive session for personnel matters. Klete Hackney made a motion the council go into executive session with Danny for an hour to discuss personnel matters, seconded by Tiffany Sowa and the motion carried. After an hour, Klete Hackney made a motion to extend the executive session for 30 minutes, seconded by Tiffany Sowa and the motion carried. After returning to open session, no action was taken.
Tiffany Sowa asked permission to sell fireworks on behalf of the SCHS cheerleaders, and to keep the same days and hours to sell and discharge fireworks as was put in place last year. Klete Hackney made a motion the SCHS cheerleaders be allowed to sell fireworks, that fireworks be allowed to be sold from July 1st through July 4th and to allow the discharge of fireworks within the city limits on July 1st, 2nd and 3rd from 10:00 am to 9:00 pm and on July 4th from 8:00 am to 12:00 midnight, seconded by Penny Bruckner, and the motion carried.
Motion was made by Penny Bruckner and seconded by Tiffany Sowa to approve the Cereal Malt Beverage License application for Venture Foods. Motion carried, with Chuck Salisbury abstaining.
Motion was made by Penny Bruckner and seconded by Tiffany Sowa to approve the Cereal Malt Beverage License application for Convenience Xpress. Motion carried, with Chuck Salisbury abstaining.
After review, Klete Hackney made a motion to approve a new city ordinance number 2008-2, which would allow liquor stores to sell liquor in the City of Coldwater on Sundays, except Easter, from 12:00 noon to 8:00 p.m., seconded by Penny Bruckner and the motion carried with a vote of 4 to 1, Chuck Salisbury voting no.
The council read a letter from Mike Deewall asking permission on July 10th to allow the Sunflower RC&D members that attend the dinner at the Veteran’s Building to drive around the lake at no charge since Sunflower RC&D was instrumental in the construction of the lake. After discussion by the council, Richard Thompson made a motion to allow the members who attend the Sunflower RC&D supper July 10th to drive around the lake at no charge, seconded by Chuck Salisbury and the motion carried.
City Clerk, Kristal Sherman, reported she had contacted Blue Cross and Blue Shield trying to reduce the amount of the fifteen percent increase of the City’s health insurance renewal rates, she also said she had asked that a representative from Blue Cross meet with the council, but was told the City’s group was too small. The increase will raise the current coverage cost from $859.28 to $982.67 per month per employee for a full family plan. The clerk told the council a decision had to be made about the health insurance tonight because the renewal date is July 1st and Blue Cross will be calling her in the morning for the needed information. After a lengthy discussion, Richard Thompson made a motion to go with Option 2 at a cost of $916.96 per month per employee for a full family plan, and will double the deductible from $750.00-$1,500.00 to $1,500.00-$3,000.00. The motion was seconded by Klete Hackney and the motion carried 3-0, with Chuck Salisbury and Penny Bruckner not voting.
Under unfinished business, the Utility Vehicle Ordinance was again discussed at length and with a modification stating the utility vehicles may not be driven on Central Avenue , Tiffany Sowa made a motion to approve Ordinance No. 2008-3 authorizing the operation of work-site utility vehicles on the streets of the City of Coldwater , seconded by Richard Thompson and the motion carried. The council also stated Officer John Schmeidler will be in charge of drafting the permit and tags for the vehicles.
Richard Thompson suggested the school crossing signs on the corner of Central Ave. and Maple Street be removed, the council agreed.
Bills in the amount of $54,317.07 were presented for payment. Penny Bruckner made a motion to approve the bills as presented, seconded by Chuck Salisbury. Motion carried.
No further business was presented. Penny Bruckner moved the meeting adjourned, seconded by Chuck Salisbury and the motion carried