CITY OF COLDWATER
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REGULAR MEETING
Thursday, May 15, 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.
Guests included Beverly Clark, Jim Herrington, Connie Cox, Chet Mendenhall and Chris Bruckner.
Mayor Smith called the meeting to order and led the flag salute.
Minutes from the April meeting were changed to show Doug Storie’s dog was caught in Alfred Thompson’s chicken pens, not Richard Thompson ’s chicken pens as had originally been written. Motion by Chuck Salisbury, seconded by Tiffany Sowa to approve the minutes. Motion carried.
Jim Herrington explained that he and Helen bought the land where the East Park is, deeded it to the City and funded the playground equipment and shelter for the park. After he wrote a letter to the council a couple of years ago, asking the council to name the park, the council denied his request. He asked the council to reconsider naming the park, and would like it to be named “ Big Toy Park , since the kids refer to it as such, but would just like them to name it something since it’s not the “new park” any longer. The council told Jim they would discuss it later in the meeting and let him know.
Beverly Clark made a request the council set a date for the City’s 125th anniversary celebration, asking they consider the weekend of July 3rd, 4th and 5th; or July 31st, August 1st and 2nd. After discussion, Penny Bruckner made a motion the date for the celebration be July 31st, August 1st and 2nd, seconded by Chuck Salisbury and the motion carried. Beverly also said now is the time to be asking for volunteers to help with the celebration and also donations, the council asked Dennies Andersen to run an ad in the Western Star asking for volunteers and donations and to direct such calls to the Coldwater City Hall.
Lake Manager , Pat Puderbaugh first introduced Connie Cox from Ingalls , KS as assistant lake manager, noting that her and her husband will soon be moving to Comanche County . Pat gave his report on preparations he has been making for the busy lake season and getting settled in his job as lake manager. He told the council that more and more campers are requiring 50 amp breakers and they need to think about upgrading the existing 30 amp breakers to accommodate the newer trailers. He asked the council for permission to buy 2 new radios for the lake. A four channel radio costs $365.00 and a sixteen channel radio costs $395.00, he recommended the sixteen channel radio so they could get police, fire, weather, etc. channels. Pat reported the lake pickup has a few problems, including dying while he is driving down the road. Penny made a motion to go into executive session with Pat Puderbaugh for personnel reasons for 10 minutes, seconded by Chuck Salisbury and the motion carried. After returning to open session, no action was taken on the executive session.
Richard asked the council to make a decision on naming the east park. After discussing the matter, Richard made a motion to name the east park “ Big Toy Park ”, seconded by Chuck Salisbury and the motion carried. Chuck also stated that Tom Offield has offered to make a sign for the park free of charge.
City Attorney, Skip Herd told the council, a few citizens have come to him saying they want to buy a Japanese SUV which cannot be tagged in the state of Kansas, but is road-worthy and can be insured, and want to know if they would be able to drive it in the City limits. Skip presented the council with an ordinance adopted by the City of Dodge City and asked them to look it over. After discussing the matter, the council instructed Skip to compose an ordinance, and will ask Officer John Schmeidler to compose a permit form and let him be the one to issue the permits for the vehicles. Skip also informed the council, he needs more information from the gun range committee before he can draw up a membership agreement and liability waiver for the gun range. Councilman, Richard Thompson , said he would work on getting him the information.
Water Operator, Joe Ceballos reported on the progress he’s making on laying the new water line at the Comanche Estates. As of this date, he has 300 feet of pipe laid and hooked up to the fire hydrant. He also reported that Jack Sooter has some trees at the park he needs removed, the council instructed Danny and the maintenance guys to cut the trees down. The council agreed to look at the big cottonwood tree and determine if it needs to come down since it is such a big tree.
Public Works Director, Danny Shaw reported the oil company Valero Oil Co. he has contacted to deliver oil to the City will only take payment by 30-day invoice or an automatic debit of the City’s checking account. He would like to do business with this company because it will save the City $0.80 cents a gallon for the oil. After discussion, Klete Hackney made a motion to authorize City Clerk, Kristal Sherman to pay for the street oil upon receipt of the invoice, seconded by Tiffany Sowa and the motion carried. Danny recommended the city adopt a fee for getting called out to tend to a citizen’s pet in case the pet’s owner is out of town and the pet needs tending to. He told the council he was recently called out to tend to a pet that had wrapped it’s chain around a tree so tight he couldn’t get loose to get food or water. Richard Thompson made a motion the City charge $25.00 per call out to take care of an animal in need, seconded by Tiffany Sowa and the motion carried. Danny told the council about the electrical problems in the kitchen of the Veteran’s Building and also with the refrigerator in the kitchen. After discussing the electrical problems, the council instructed Danny to repair any problems in the kitchen and Richard Thompson made a motion to purchase a new refrigerator for the kitchen of the Veteran’s Building at a cost under $650.00, seconded by Chuck Salisbury and the motion carried. Danny also told the council he felt the council committees were set up for a good reason and felt the committees should be given more decision-making responsibilities, he felt the $500.00 spending limit, without council approval, he is under now, was too limiting to purchase many necessary items before waiting until the next council meeting to get the approval for such spending. After discussing the situation, the council agreed to raise the spending limit to $2,500.00 in emergency situations. Danny reported the FEMA money in the amount of $26,604.00 was received and deposited in the general fund. Danny also reported the dollar figures he researched to replace the private sewer line discussed at the last meeting. It will cost $14,400.00 total, and asked the council how they wanted the homeowners to pay for it: $960 per homeowner per year for five years, $480.00 per year for ten years, or $230.00 per year for fifteen years. The council agreed to have Danny give each homeowner the choice of spreading the payments out to five, ten or fifteen years. Danny asked the council to make a decision about the mowing pickup and the lake pickup, both of which need to be replaced or repaired. He told them the transmission, ball joints and seat needs to be repaired on the mower pickup and air conditioner and electrical problems on the lake pickup. After discussion, Tiffany Sowa made a motion to repair both the mower and lake pickups, seconded by Penny Bruckner and the motion carried.
Discussion was held regarding the purchase of two radios for the lake. Klete Hackney made a motion to buy two sixteen channel radios for the lake at $395.00 a piece, seconded by Tiffany Sowa and the motion carried.
Tiffany Sowa reported the Hunter’s Safety Course will be held May 27th in Protection at the Legion Building and May 29th and May 31st in Coldwater at the Veteran’s Building. The participants have to pass their test on the 31st in order to be able to go out to the gun range to shoot. Tiffany invited the council to go out to the gun range after lunch on the 31st.
City Clerk, Kristal Sherman told the council Traci Ballard has asked if the gymnastics mats can be stored for the summer in the Veteran’s Building. Klete Hackney informed the council he found out the mats are actually owned by the Coldwater Recreation Commission and felt like they should be stored at the high school. The remainder of the council agreed.
The official appointments were brought before the council:
Official banks: Peoples Bank and Coldwater Native Bank
Official paper: The Western Star
Municipal Judge: LeRoy Zielke
City Treasurer: Jerry Allen
City Clerk : Kristal Sherman
City Attorney: James “Skip” Herd, based on requirement to attend regular council meetings
Building inspector: Danny Shaw
City Marshal: John Schmeidler
Meeting time: second Monday of every month at 7:00 p.m. at the City Office
Mileage reimbursement rate: $.485 per mile
Richard Thompson made a motion to approve all official appointments, seconded by Klete Hackney . Motion carried.
Tiffany Sowa asked to discuss the way a call-around vote was made recently by the Mayor regarding Dennis Byram constructing a loading dock along the railroad right-of-way in the East part of the City. She felt she was made to make a hasty decision and didn’t want that to happen in the future.
The old patrol car was discussed. Mayor Smith told the council it had been tore apart by John and Darren Konrade and needs to get put back together. Informed them that after John gets back from the academy, he will give him a week to put it together and next month they can put it up for sealed bids. The council discussed the graphics needed for the new police car, saying John has the necessary equipment to make them himself and would like to make them, but didn’t want to “step on any toes” at Ragtime Embroidery. Richard Thompson volunteered to go talk to Cindy Offield at Ragtime Embroidery to stop a problem before it starts. The council also discussed the request by Officer Schmeidler about purchasing a taser and a digital video camera for the patrol car. Richard Thompson made a motion to purchase a new digital in-car video system for the patrol car at a cost of $4,500.00, seconded by Tiffany Sowa and the motion carried.
Tiffany asked the council to consider purchasing two recycle bins for the pool from the county at a cost of $125.00 a piece. Penny Bruckner made a motion to purchase two recycle bins for the pool at $125.00 a piece, seconded by Richard Thompson and the motion carried.
City Clerk, Kristal Sherman informed the council the employees health insurance renewal is coming up July 1st and it looks like the rates will go up 15%. After discussion, the council instructed Kristal to contact County Clerk , Alice Smith to find out steps they are taking to try to get their rates lowered.
Mayor Tony Smith informed the council he does have water meters, but no water line on the property he recently acquired at the south end of the City. After discussion, the council told the Mayor the City will pay to run the water line to the meter.
Penny Bruckner reported that Sara Hess has asked if she is able to sell liquor on Sundays. Mayor Smith instructed the City Clerk to check with the City Attorney before giving her an answer.
Bills in the amount of $51,833.93 were presented for payment. Penny Bruckner made a motion to approve the bills as presented, seconded by Chuck Salisbury. Motion carried.
The council discussed the changes made to the golf cart permit application for lake purposes. Tiffany Sowa made a motion to accept the changes made to the golf cart permit application, seconded by Richard Thompson and the motion carried.
No further business was presented. Chuck Salisbury moved the meeting adjourned, seconded by Penny Bruckner and the motion carried.
SPECIAL MEETING
Thursday, May 29, 2008 – 8:30 A.M.
The governing body of the City of Coldwater met in special session for the purpose of the Water Operator position, with the following present: Council President, Chuck Salisbury presiding, Council members Penny Bruckner , Klete Hackney , Tiffany Sowa, and Richard Thompson and City Clerk Kristal Sherman.
City employee, Ronnie Brosius was supposed to be at the meeting to ask the council questions he had about the Water Operator position, but council member Richard Thompson informed the council he had spoke to Ronnie before the meeting and he is not interested in taking the job. In fact, he told Richard he is going to be turning in his two-week notice, letter of resignation today.
City Clerk, Kristal Sherman asked the council if they were going to keep the lifeguard wages the same as they were last year, or give them a raise. After discussion, Klete Hackney made a motion to give a 25 cent raise to the lifeguards that were new last year, making their hourly wage $6.25, and a 10 cent raise to Shelby Wagnon as a third-year lifeguard, making her hourly wage $6.35, with the assistant manager pay at $6.50, seconded by Tiffany Sowa and the motion carried.
Tiffany Sowa made a motion to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Klete Hackney and the motion carried.