REGULAR MEETING
Tuesday, May 8, 2007 – 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, Chuck Salisbury, 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.
Guests included Donna Ward, Tony Bruckner and Ronny Brosius.
Mayor Smith called the meeting to order and led the flag salute.
Mayor Smith explained the first order of business is to appoint a new council member to take his place since he has been appointed Mayor. Tiffany Sowa made a motion the council go into executive session for fifteen minutes to discuss council prospectives, the motion was seconded by Penny Bruckner and the motion carried. After the executive session, there were two nominations made for the new council member: Klete Hackney and Loretta Heft. Richard Thompson made a motion for Klete Hackney to be appointed as the councilman to take Tony Smith’s place, seconded by Penny Bruckner and the motion carried 3 to 1. City Clerk, Kristal Sherman called Klete Hackney on the phone inviting him to join the meeting.
Minutes were approved as written, motion by Tiffany Sowa, seconded by Chuck Salisbury. Motion carried.
Donna Ward expressed her concern to the council regarding the street problem at the corner of 6th and Topeka. When it rains, the water is flooding her basement. After discussing the situation at length with Donna, Joe Ceballos and Danny Shaw said they will work on the problem.
New Councilman, Klete Hackney joined the meeting and was sworn in by City Clerk, Kristal Sherman.
Marshal Doug Storie gave a report of his activities for the past month. He told the council he had the patrol car tuned up and the oil changed at a charge of $303.16. He also told the council he had assisted Protection Police Chief, Darren Konrade with the child seat inspection campaign. City Attorney Skip Herd reported the condemnation on Roseann Sullivan’s trailer will begin after June 1st, and the condemnation hearing on Clark Bibb’s property has been continued until June 12, 2007.
Water Operator Joe Ceballos reported he has all the fire hydrants flushed. He reported the cost for him to do the work on pump #4 himself is $4,121.23, that is in comparison to the bid from Layne Western of $9,606.00. A discussion was held on the disposition of the old water tower and the possibility of offering the water tower to Greensburg free of charge. The council instructed Joe to get with Larry Ellis and do pressure tests on the fire hydrants to see if we can do without the old water tower and report back at the next meeting.
Public Works Supervisor, Danny Shaw first wanted to revisit the situation that Donna Ward brought up with her street. He stated the problem should not be a city problem and after discussing the matter with Danny, the council made a motion to haul a few loads of dirt to Donna Ward’s yard and she can get someone to level it out. The motion was seconded by Chuck Salisbury and the motion carried. Danny said he has been asked by Jeff Levering to borrow a city dump truck to help with his clean up of the lots where he lives on east Main Street. After discussing the matter, Chuck said he would ask the tenant in his apartment if he would want to help Jeff with his clean up, he cuts iron, etc. and may be interested. Danny asked permission to put up for sealed bids the concrete saw and Dixon mower that is no longer being used, the council agreed. Danny reported the hydraulic pump on the backhoe needs replaced and after a discussion, Penny Bruckner made a motion to replace the pump for $1,200.00, seconded by Tiffany Sowa and the motion carried. Danny also reported that Steve Herd has asked him to waive the late fee the county has been paying on the water bill because they can only pay their bill at a certain time of the month. After discussing the matter, the council declined the request saying if they did it for one business/person, they would need to do it for everyone. Discussion was held on the repair of the fence at the ball field. Danny told the council the bid from superior fence was $4,270.46 to go back with 065 pipe. Klete Hackney informed the council he was interested in giving a bid to repair the fence and would charge $500.00 above any materials needed. They agreed to table the matter and have Klete check to see if he can get 24’ pipe before they proceed.
Lake Manager, Ron White, reported on FEMA renting 15 camper lots at the lake for three months to house tornado victims and FEMA employees. He also reported the bird and wildflower tour will be making a stop at the lake the weekend of May 19th.
Danny Shaw stepped back up to the podium to ask the council about Leonard Kiehl, the city code enforcer. Former Mayor, Ethan Hauptman was looking elsewhere for a replacement for Leonard and did not get that completed before he had to leave town. Mayor Tony Smith is going to try to get a hold of Ethan to see about his replacement. Danny also asked for more help for the summer. After discussing what he has planned for projects for the summer, Tiffany Sowa made a motion to move Eric Burt to summer help for Danny and have Danny hire a mower for the lake to take Eric’s place, the motion was seconded by Richard Thompson and motion carried.
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: Doug Storie
Meeting time: second Monday of every month at 7:00 p.m. at the City Office
Mileage reimbursement rate: $.485 per mile
Tiffany Sowa made a motion to approve all official appointments, seconded by Penny Bruckner. Motion carried.
Council member Penny Bruckner told the council there is a group of citizens wanting to buy a piece of land in the city limits to let kids ride their A.T.V.’s. After discussing the matter in length, it was decided to table it until the June meeting and Tiffany Sowa will talk to City Attorney, Skip Herd about a possible city ordinance relating to the matter.
Tiffany Sowa informed the council that her and Penny Bruckner conducted interviews for the pool manager on Friday, May 4th and were ready to hire the manager, but with the Greensburg tornado she has found out the manager of the Greensburg pool has relocated here in Coldwater and is Red Cross certified. Tiffany wanted everyone’s opinion about asking her if she would be interested in being pool manager here before they offered it to our applicants who are not Red Cross certified. The council told her to offer it to Wanda Booth and if she is not interested, to go with whom they had decided on before.
Motion was made by Klete Hackney and seconded by Tiffany Sowa to approve the Cereal Malt Beverage License application for Express Lane (formerly Convenience Plus). 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 Hub’s Corner (formerly K&B’s). Motion carried, with Chuck Salisbury abstaining.
City Clerk, Kristal Sherman informed the council that Jerold Garten’s water has been shut off since November, 2006 and he has made no attempt to pay his delinquent bill. After discussion about the past due bill, Richard Thompson made a motion that Jerold needs to have his water bill paid by the June council meeting or the council will start condemnation proceedings against him. The motion was seconded by Chuck Salisbury and motion carried.
The golf cart permit application for Clarence Gillet that was tabled from last month was under review again. Since the April meeting, Clarence has submitted a disabled identification card. Tiffany Sowa made a motion to approve the golf cart permit for Clarence Gillet, seconded by Penny Bruckner and the motion carried with Richard Thompson abstaining.
A golf cart permit application for Delbert Herd who resides at Pioneer Lodge was brought before the council for approval. After discussing the application with City Marshal Doug Storie, Delbert has not met all of the safety requirements needed on his golf cart. The application was tabled until the June meeting, and the Marshal is to let Delbert know what is needed.
Mayor Smith told the council they need to make new committee assignments since personnel has changed. The new committees are as follows: Police: Mayor; Lake: Penny Bruckner & Chuck Salisbury; Oil & Gas: Chuck Salisbury & Penny Bruckner; Streets: Klete Hackney & Richard Thompson; Parks & Pool: Tiffany Sowa & Klete Hackney; Water & Sewer: Richard Thompson & Tiffany Sowa.
Mayor Smith informed the council they need to elect a new president of the council. Both Tiffany Sowa and Chuck Salisbury were nominated as president and after the vote, Chuck Salisbury was voted president of the council 3 to 2.
Bills in the amount of $72,329.61 were presented for payment. Richard Thompson moved to approve the bills as presented, seconded by Penny Bruckner. Motion carried.
City Clerk, Kristal Sherman, read the council an e-mail she had received from the League of Kansas Municipalities regarding the Greensburg tornado. The league has set up a fund that other Cities can donate to, and all proceeds will go to the City of Greensburg itself for their rebuilding. Penny Bruckner made a motion to donate $2,500.00 to the City of Greensburg, seconded by Chuck Salisbury and the motion carried.
No further business was presented. Tiffany Sowa moved the meeting adjourned, seconded by Chuck Salisbury. Motion carried.