January 2017 Meeting Minutes

Meeting Minutes for January 5th

                                                                                                                                            January 5, 2017

The Jetmore City Council met in regular session on January 5, 2017.  Mayor Derek Olson called the meeting to order.  Roll call was answered by Councilmen Michael Hendrickson, Jesse Pitts, Pete Shewry, Scott Smith and Larry Steinbring.  Also attending were City Administrator Michael Ort and City Clerk Deb McKivergan.

Minutes of the previous meeting were approved as presented.

Councilman Hendrickson made a motion to pay the bills for December, Appropriation Ordinance #2016-12.  Councilman Steinbring seconded the motion; vote unanimous.

Chris Klein, with AV Energy, presented an application to place an 18,000 gallon propane tank upon the property located at 1220 South Main in Jetmore.  Councilman Hendrickson made a motion to approve the application.  Councilman Smith seconded the motion; vote unanimous.

Phillip Fishburn, a project advisor with Midwest Assistance Program, visited with the council about the process of funding through the USDA/RD and explained the steps of the process from here forward.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT REPORT:  Economic Development Director LeaAnn Seiler was absent but provided the following report to the council:  Economic Development was recently awarded a $75,000 HERO Grant (Healthy Eating Rural Opportunity) that will be paid out in two payments and will be used to encourage healthier eating options that will utilize resources in the community.  She is looking into a notice she received about funding for the Safe Routes to School project that she received from Dale Luedke and KDOT.  She is not sure of details and will look into it further before following through with it.  She encouraged the council to attend an upcoming webinar on January 18th called Small Town Trends.  It is made possible through e-community funds and is intended to generate positive action on Main Street and throughout the community.  LeaAnn will put together a brochure highlighting Hodgeman County to be placed on the Central Brochure Distribution displays across Kansas.  The Rooster Roundup and the Longest Tail Feather contest will come to a close at the end of January.  Her upcoming shows include Winter Expo; Monster Buck Classic; and the United Wireless Wedding and Special Events Extravaganza Expo.  These are all a joint effort with HorseThief Reservoir.  She is working with a local photographer to update the pictures on the website.

CITY CLERK REPORT:   City Clerk Deb McKivergan reminded the council that the trees at the tree farm were ready to be transplanted and asked them to think about where we might place them and who might have a tree spade to move them.  The GAAP Waiver Resolution was presented for consideration.  Councilman Steinbring made a motion to approve Resolution 2017-01, a GAAP Waiver resolution.  Councilman Smith seconded the motion; vote unanimous.

CITY FOREMAN REPORT:  City Foreman Brian Beil reported to the council the activities for the month of December.  He also asked about the concrete blocks at the race track.  He has a party interested in purchasing them for $10 each.  After a discussion of if or how the city could use them, it was decided to sell them for $10 each, the buyer hauls them.

CITY ADMINISTRATOR REPORT:  City Administrator Michael Ort presented the council with his January travel schedule.  *He presented a letter to Mr. William Carr with KDHE asking them to provide KDHE funds for interim financing on the water tower project.  Councilman Pitts made a motion to allow the Mayor to sign the letter requesting temporary funding.  Councilman Steinbring seconded the motion; vote unanimous.

*Mr. Ort asked the council if the outside crew could get paid for overtime on Monday, Dec. 19th after working late to repair a water main leak.  Currently the policy states that overtime is paid only after 40 hours worked.   This week included a holiday.  It is not required by FLSA that employers pay overtime when a holiday prevents employees from physically working 40 hours.  The Administrator would like to modify the previous overtime policy to allow for staff to be paid overtime, regardless of hours worked in a week, if they are called out after hours to restore an essential city service, with the consent of the Administrator and the Mayor or a member of the City Council.  The council decided to leave the policy manual as is for now but asked the Administrator to draft a policy change for the council to review at the February meeting.  Councilman Smith made a motion to grant a variance to the current personnel policy and pay the staff for overtime hours for the water main break on December 19th at Highway and Roughton streets.  Councilman Hendrickson seconded the motion; vote unanimous.

*Mr. Ort has directed Kelsey Keese, assistant city clerk, to examine our city website and make recommendations for how we can make our website more user friendly, useful and interactive for our residents.  He has also asked Jarom Ort, who is studying graphic design, to help in modifying the website when a plan in finalized.  Mr. Ort will present the completed plan to the council for authorization to proceed.

*Five copies of the sewer maintenance program RFP have been sent out.  The request is for a three year agreement, like last time, cleaning 1/3 of the town each of three years and videoing 10% of the lineal feet cleaned.

*Mr. Ort sent a letter to Mr. Allen Nichols on 12/27 updating him on the status of our cross connection control program.  Five locations were identified as needing a backflow prevention device.  Contact has been made with all and they are either already compliant or working to become compliant with the city code.

Mr. Ort then introduced Mr. Eric Harman to the council.  Mr. Harman is interested in the City Attorney position.

Councilman Hendrickson made a motion to go into executive session for ten minutes with the Council and Administrator present.  Councilman Smith seconded the motion; vote unanimous.  Councilman Hendrickson made a motion to extend the session for 10 minutes.  Councilman Smith seconded the motion; vote unanimous.  Councilman Smith made a motion to come out of execution session.  Councilman Hendrickson seconded the motion; vote unanimous.  Councilman Smith made a motion to go into executive session for 10 minutes with only the council present.  Councilman Hendrickson seconded the motion; vote unanimous.  Councilman Hendrickson made a motion to come out of executive session.  Councilman Smith seconded the motion; vote unanimous.

Councilman Smith made a motion to increase all City employees’ wages by 2 ½% effective January 1, 2017.  Councilman Steinbring seconded the motion; vote unanimous.

Councilman Steinbring made a motion to increase the City Administrator’s wages by $2500 per year.  Councilman Hendrickson seconded the motion; vote was four (4) in favor with Councilman Shewry voting against.

Mayor Derek Olson appointed Eric Harman to the unexpired term of Craig Crosswhite for the position of City Attorney.  Councilman Steinbring made a motion to approve the appointment of Mr. Harman to the position of City Attorney.  Councilman Hendrickson seconded the motion; vote unanimous.

Councilman Steinbring made a motion to adjourn.  Councilman Smith seconded the motion; vote unanimous.