January 4, 2023
The Jetmore City Council met in regular session on January 4, 2023. Mayor Derek Olson called the meeting to order and led the group in the Pledge of Allegiance. Roll call was answered by Councilmen Jeff Channell, Connie Chavez, Charles Leet and Mike Thornburg. Absent was Councilman Kyler Fetters. Also attending were City Administrator Michael Ort, City Attorney Clayton Kerbs and City Clerk Deb McKivergan.
Councilman Chavez made a motion to approve the consent agenda containing the December 7, 2022 minutes and Appropriation Ordinance #2022-12. Councilman Thornburg seconded the motion; vote unanimous.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT REPORT: HCED Director Sailor-Anne Seiler gave the following report: We were not awarded the SEED grant and she is looking for feedback on the application. She received and completed the paperwork for the marketing grant and new marketing materials are coming soon. The Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge is scheduled for February 7th. S & P Catering will hold a grand opening on January 13th. Ms. Seiler will be sharing a booth with HorseThief Reservoir at the Winter Expo later this month. The subscriptions to WKREDA and TIAK are renewed. BASE 2.0 has been released. Fifty lbs. of deer meat has been picked up and delivered. Three HG County businesses have been selected for the Network Kansas Business Accelerator Cohort. Only ten were awarded in SW Kansas. USD #227 will be hosting a poverty simulator later this month and would like participation from the city. Approximately $800 of Hg Bucks were sold over the holidays. NWKS tax credits in the amount of $1000 were sold, bringing $300 back to HCED; plans are to increase that number next year.
CITY ATTORNEY REPORT: Mr. Kerbs reported that court is going well. The year was finished with 189 total citations.
CITY CLERK REPORT: The Clerk presented Resolution 2023-01, the GAAP Waiver resolution. Councilman Chavez made a motion to approve the resolution. Councilman Thornburg seconded the motion; vote unanimous.
BUSINESS ITEMS: Mr. Ort received an insurance proposal from Federal Insurance in the amount of $29,965 for the equipment breakdown policy; an increase of 61% over the previous policy. There is a single $100,000 deductible. The council decided to opt out of the additional coverage, per staff recommendation.
Two bids were received for the city park bathroom project; Premier Homes in the amount of $144,000 and Mendez Construction in the amount of $105,000. Councilman Chavez made a motion to accept the proposal from Mendez Construction with the $8,500 line item for demo removed and having the city crew demo and haul away the debris. Councilman Thornburg seconded the motion; vote unanimous.
Mr. Ort presented the required annual report of the City of Jetmore Land Bank.
CITY ADMINISTRATOR REPORT: Mr. Ort presented his January travel/training/meeting schedule and the staff birthdays and anniversaries.
*The Fund health report for the year 2022 was given to the council.
*Mr. Ort attended an online meeting with the engineer, Doug Goetz, and Dan Clair from KDHE , regarding the preliminary engineering report for well #12 to clarify options for treatment and determine that it is in the best interest of the city to pursue a new water well.
*Tony from SitePro visited with Mr. Ort to go over the proposal they had drafted for Jetmore. In the end it was determined that at this time their system is not something that is a necessity for our city and we can continue to utilize our current system.
*Mr. Ort visited with the council about the upcoming ICMA conference Sept. 30-Oct. 4 in Austin, Texas and the fact that the council meeting is on October 4. Mr. Ort was encouraged to attend the conference and, if necessary, be absent from the October council meeting.
Councilman Channell made a motion to go into executive session to discuss non-elected personnel pursuant to the non-elected personnel exception. K.S.A. 75-4319(b)(1) for 15 minutes with the Mayor and Council present. The open meeting will resume in the council chamber at 8:24 p.m. Councilman Chavez seconded the motion; vote unanimous. Councilman Thornburg made a motion to come out of executive session. Councilman Channell seconded the motion; vote unanimous. Councilman Thornburg made a motion to give all employees a 5% cost of living wage increase. Councilman Chavez seconded the motion; vote unanimous.
GOVERNMENT BODY COMMENTS: Dog tags were discussed and city staff were given guidance to not charge dog owners the $5 and $10 per dog fees for new or renewing dog tags in 2023. Registration of dogs will continue to be required.
Councilman Thornburg reported that approximately 90 meals were served at the Feed the Spirit Christmas Day meal. Approximately 60 people were in attendance and 30 meals were delivered.
Mayor Olson reported that Halle Schroeder has been chosen as the Southwest Regional winner of the League of Kansas Municipalities’ “My City, My Home” essay contest and would be honored in an awards presentation in Topeka as part of Local Government Day on January 25th. Councilman Channell made a motion to adjourn. Councilman Chavez seconded the motion; vote unanimous. The meeting was adjourned at 9:03 p.m.