REGULAR MEETING
Monday, March 12, 2007 – 7:00 p.m.
The governing body of the City of Coldwater met in regular session with the following present: Mayor Ethan Hauptman, presiding, Council members Penny Bruckner, Chuck Salisbury, Tony Smith, Tiffany Sowa and Richard Thompson, Public Works Director Danny Shaw, Water Operator, Joe Ceballos, City Attorney Skip Herd, City Clerk, Kristal Sherman, Lake Manager, Ron White and City Marshal Doug Storie.
Mayor Hauptman called the meeting to order and led the flag salute.
Minutes were approved as written, motion by Penny Bruckner, seconded by Chuck Salisbury. Motion carried.
Marshal Doug Storie gave a report of his activities for the past month. Marshal Storie requested that “No Semi Truck Parking” signs be purchased and installed in front of Karen’s Korner and surrounding the two motels on Central Avenue. He is having problems with semi trucks blocking those businesses. He reported that he purchased a new cell phone from Altell, and also purchased a set of binoculars. He reported he is scheduled for training March 19th & 20th in Topeka and also April 3 – 5 in Wichita. Marshal Storie told the council that the reimbursement of $627.00 has been received from the State for 75% of the new computer costs and he is going to order restraints this week as the next pieces of equipment to be paid for by the grant.
City Attorney Skip Herd reported the condemnation hearing on Roseann Sullivan’s trailer has been continued until March 27th. Skip also reported he has learned that the City owns one lot beneath Pioneer Lodge and has been unable to find where the City might have transferred the lot to Pioneer Lodge. He will continue to follow up on the matter, and recommended that the city consider transferring the lot to Pioneer Lodge.
Water Operator Joe Ceballos reported he had received 2 different bids for the inspection/washout/disinfection of the old water tower. The bid from Utility Service of Pittsburg, KS is $1,350.00 and the bid from Liquid Engineering of Billings, MT is $2,945.00. Joe informed the council the last inspection was done in 2003 and it is due. Joe told the council he has been trying to contact Pixius to see if they would be interested in purchasing the old water tower, but has not been able to reach them and they haven’t returned his calls. He also noted that CMS, Pixius and Aquila all have their antennas on top of the tower. Mayor Hauptman asked the council to table the matter until the next meeting and he will do some calling around.
Public Works Supervisor, Danny Shaw reported he is in the process of taking applications for lake mowers for the summer and asked that the hourly wage be increased from $6.00 and $6.50 to $7.00 and $7.50. The council told him they would talk about wages when they discuss the annual wage increases later in the meeting. Danny also reported that the council should consider replacing the old white Chevy pickup. The council asked Danny for a list of vehicles owned by the City, and after discussion, the council asked Danny to bring bids back to the next meeting for a new or used pickup with the possibility of giving Danny’s current pickup to the lake manager for use at the lake.
City Councilman, Richard Thompson, gave a report on the gun range. He reported they need to build a fence around the sewer lagoons. He also reported they do not have an insurance company to insure the gun range and Debbie York at Peoples Insurance is working on that issue. Tiffany Sowa said she would contact Debbie to see about the insurance since that will need to be resolved before they can go forward.
Lake Manager, Ron White, reported all but 14 picnic tables have been repaired, with 50 of the tables having to be rebuilt. Pat Puderbaugh has been helping him with the table project. The 25 plastic picnic tables ordered should be in sometime this week. Ron also reported that the lake host work schedule is filling up. The only times open are Saturday and Sunday afternoons and Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday mornings. He told the council that he has hired Ken and Karen Pitzer to be assistant lake managers. He also discussed with the council his idea of putting signs at each of the lake host campsites to identify them apart from the rest of the campers.
Mayor Ethan Hauptman reported that a letter was received by South Central High School asking for a donation for After Prom, also noting that last year a donation of $200 was given by the City. Penny Bruckner made a motion that the City donate $200 to the school for After Prom, seconded by Tiffany Sowa. Motion carried.
Bills in the amount of $35,528.47 were presented for payment. Penny Bruckner moved to approve the bills as presented, seconded by Richard Thompson. Motion carried.
Tiffany Sowa made a motion the council go into executive session for thirty minutes to discuss employee evaluations. The motion was seconded by Chuck Salisbury and the motion carried. After returning to open session, a motion was made by Tiffany Sowa to approve wage increases, ranging from 2% to 4%, as follows, effective March 1st . , seconded by Penny Bruckner and the motion carried, with Richard Thompson opposing:
Danny Shaw, 3%-increased to $3,067.34 per month;
Ryan Beeley, 3%-increased to $12.36 per hour;
Ronnie Brosius, 4%-increased to $10.40 per hour;
Ron White – no change;
Rodney Keith, 3%-increased to $8.76 per hour;
Joe Ceballos, 3%-increased to $14.83 per hour;
Kristal Sherman, 4%-increased to $11.40 per hour;
Doug Storie, 2%-increased to $2,831.52 per month;
Part-time employees – no change
Lake Mowers - $7.00.
No further business was presented. Penny Bruckner moved the meeting adjourned, seconded by Richard Thompson. Motion carried.