February 2019 Meeting Minutes

Meeting Minutes for February 7th & 25th

February 7th

The Jetmore City Council met in regular session on February 7, 2019. Mayor Derek Olson called the meeting to order. Roll call was answered by Councilmen Jeff Channell, Michael Hendrickson, Jesse Pitts, Orval Shewry and Larry Steinbring. Also attending were City Administrator Michael Ort, City Attorney Clayton Kerbs and City Clerk Deb McKivergan.

Councilman Hendrickson made a motion to approve the consent agenda. Councilman Channell seconded the motion; vote unanimous.

ECONOMIC DEVELOMENT DIRECTOR REPORT:  Economic Development Director reported that she has been busy with year-end reports; updating Jetmore business brochures; working with shows to promote Hodgeman County; attended a conference in Manhattan and is working on possible grant applications. She gave out 4 e-Community loan packets in the past month. Hodgeman County had two participants in the Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge and won 1st place, the Trade Show and $250 to go towards the school. The state competition will be held on April 30th. She also reminded the council that Hg Fest will be held on Saturday, May 25th. Permission was granted to close streets as needed for the event and the City will once again provide money towards the meal and allow equipment use for the Kid Fest.

Terry Bradford and Scott Bradford met with the council to discuss the lease renewal for the farm ground. Councilman Channell made a motion to allow the lease to be changed to a 10 year lease and change the lessee from Terry and Angela Bradford to Terry and Scott Bradford. Councilman Hendrickson seconded the motion; vote unanimous.

CITY ATTORNEY REPORT:  City Attorney Clayton Kerbs reported that municipal court is going well and he has been working behind the scenes on the tax abatement paperwork.

CITY CLERK REPORT:  City Clerk Deb McKivergan reported notice of the annual meeting of the Kansas Rural Water Association and that it is time to appoint a voting delegate. Councilman Hendrickson made a motion to appoint City Administrator Michael Ort as the voting delegate and Brian Beil as the alternate. Councilman Pitts seconded the motion; vote unanimous.

BUSINESS ITEMS:  The City issued Industrial Revenue Bonds for the Pawnee Valley Lodge in 2008. The bonds have been retired and the owners are asking to release the lease of the City of Jetmore. Councilman Hendrickson made a motion to approve Resolution 2019-03, a resolution authorizing the sale and conveyance of certain property to Pawnee Valley Lodge, LLC. Councilman Channell seconded the motion; vote unanimous.

Mr. Ort presented Ordinance #661, an ordinance regulating the sale of cereal malt beverage and beer containing not more that 6% alcohol by volume within the City of Jetmore. This ordinance makes necessary changes to Chapter lll, Beverages, Article 2, Cereal Malt Beverages, of the Code of the City of Jetmore, bringing it into compliance with State Statute effective April 1, 2019. Councilman Channell made a motion to approve Ordinance 661. Councilman Hendrickson seconded the motion; vote unanimous.

Mr. Ort presented Resolution 2019-02, a resolution adopting a policy for the granting of exemptions from Ad Valorem taxation for economic development purposes. Councilman Hendrickson made a motion to approve Resolution 2019-02. Councilman Channell seconded the motion; vote unanimous.

Mr. Ort presented a lease proposal from Crop-Safe monitoring devices to be placed at the airport to monitor for pests. The council determined that it was not a good fit for the City at this time.

CITY ADMINISTRATOR REPORT:  City Administrator Michael Ort gave the council his travel schedule for February.

*Kevin DeValkenaere emailed to the City, KCAMP and the mechanical engineer the report from the block measurements and the quote for work. It was requested that Mr. Ort reach out to Fairbanks Morse for a quote on the same work. Fairbanks Morse declined to submit a bid, but made a couple recommendations for possible repairs. Mr. Ort forwarded these emails to the engineer and KCAMP and is waiting for a response from them. Farabee is working to get the block ready for installation.

*Mr. Ort noticed that line loss crept back up in 2018. He is researching causes of line loss and will make recommendations for addressing it in the near future.

*Mr. Ort met with Mr. Kerbs after the last council meeting and delivered the facts concerning the water project. He informed him of a phone conversation with the engineers from Earles Engineering. Mr. Earles said he would make one more submission to Dan Clair concerning blending wells 12 and 13. If that is unsuccessful, he will try to arrange a meeting in person with Mr. Earles, Dan Clair, and Mr. Ort in Topeka to negotiate a path forward with those two wells. That meeting should take place in the next couple of weeks. Mr. Ort will notify the council when that meeting takes place.

*Mr. Ort chose not to disconnect any non pay customers in December and January. If the weather continues to be cold, he will continue with that policy. When the weather warms up he will resume non pay disconnects.

*No code letters were sent in January.

*Mr. Ort was informed earlier this month by the landman for Vincent Oil that they have plans to drill a well on the original ¼ section leased for exploration. No time line was given.

*Mr. Ort visited with Senator Taylor and Representative Mastroni about the water project during a recent trip to Topeka for another meeting. He also visited with them about 156 Highway.

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

 

February 25th

The Jetmore City Council met in special session on February 25, 2019. Mayor Derek Olson called the meeting to order. Roll call was answered by Councilmen Jeff Channell, Mike Hendrickson, Jesse Pitts, Orval Shewry and Larry Steinbring. Also attending were City Administrator Michael Ort and City Clerk Deb McKivergan.

The meeting was called to discuss the Dodge City Co-op/Pride Ag Resources tax abatement application. The council went over the cost benefit analysis provided by the Economic Development Director.

Councilman Shewry made a motion to deny the tax abatement for the City. Councilman Channell seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken as follows:

Councilman Channell – Yea

Councilman Steinbring – Nay

Councilman Shewry – Yea

Councilman Pitts – Nay

Councilman Hendrickson – Nay

The motion failed 3-2. The council will hold a public hearing on March 7th at 7:00 p.m.

Councilman Hendrickson made a motion to adjourn. Councilman Pitts seconded the motion; vote unanimous.