August 2020 Meeting Minutes

August 6, 2020

The Jetmore City Council met in regular session on August 6, 2020. Mayor Olson opened the meeting and led the group in the pledge of allegiance. Roll call was answered by Councilmen Jeff Channell, Connie Chavez, Kyler Fetters and Larry Steinbring. Absent was Councilman Mike Hendrickson. Also attending was City Administrator Michael Ort, City Attorney Clayton Kerbs and City Clerk Deb McKivergan.

Councilman Steinbring made a motion to approve the consent agenda. Councilman Chavez seconded the motion; vote unanimous.

There being no public comment for the budget hearing, Councilman Channell made a motion to approve the 2021 budget as published. Councilman Fetters seconded the motion; vote unanimous.

Councilman Steinbring made a motion to approve the land bank budget as published. Councilman Fetters seconded the motion; vote unanimous.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR:  ED Director Lea Ann Seiler presented the following report; the sales tax in HG County was up 21.4% over June of 2019 and up 9.1% over last fiscal year. The sales tax for Jetmore was up 46.7% over June of 2019 and up 9.7% over last fiscal year. Several events and workshops are on hold for now; hopefully to begin soon. Ms. Seiler is working on USDA matching grants for the City of Hanston, the City of Jetmore and hopefully the museum and will work with the City Administrator to complete the city’s application. She continues to work on the podcasts. Touchless menus and touchless billboards have been completed. She provided supplies to Schaffer Furniture for a show in Breckenridge CO this week. Ms. Seiler will be serving as a panelist for the ORP Southwest Kansas meeting in late August. She has processed $45,000 in grant monies and $77,500 in low interest loans for local businesses since March. She attended many meetings in conjunction with the SPARK funding. She is looking into moderate income housing funding opportunities.

CITY ATTORNEY REPORT:  City Attorney Clayton Kerbs reported that in-person court was held in July and court continues to go well.

CITY CLERK REPORT:  City Clerk Deb McKivergan presented the BCBS health insurance policy renewal. The increase is about 16% this year. Councilman Channell made a motion to renew the policy. Councilman Steinbring seconded the motion; vote unanimous. Advance Insurance presented an option to increase the City’s term life policy from $30,000 to $50,000 for $8.60 more per month, per employee. Councilman Fetters made a motion to approve the Advance Insurance increase. Councilman Channell seconded the motion; vote unanimous.

Councilman Chavez presented a check for $1000 on behalf of the Community Foundation, to be used for the bathroom project at the City Park.

BUSINESS ITEMS: The applications for the outside maintenance position were reviewed. There were four applicants that were interviewed by the City Administrator. The Mayor and Administrator presented a recommendation to hire two applicants, Jimmy Eagan and Derek Weber at $16.00 per hour. Councilman Fetters made a motion to hire both applicants at the recommended $16.00 per hour. Councilman Chavez seconded the motion; vote unanimous.

Councilman Channell made a motion to approve Ordinance No. 664, an ordinance incorporating by reference the “Standard Traffic Ordinance for Kansas Cities”, edition of 2020. Councilman Fetters seconded the motion; vote unanimous.

Councilman Fetters made a motion to approve Ordinance No. 665, an ordinance incorporating by reference the “Uniform Public Offense Code for Kansas Cities” edition 2020. Councilman Chavez seconded the motion; vote unanimous.

Councilman Channell made a motion to rename the shooting range at the city lake the “Roy Hargadine Memorial Shooting Range”. Councilman Chavez seconded the motion; vote unanimous. The city will provide a plaque and plan a re-naming ceremony soon.

City Administrator Michael Ort presented a social media policy to establish regulations that are intended to help facilitate and enhance the exchange of information and ideas through the City’s Social Media. Councilman Fetters made a motion to approve the policy as presented. Councilman Steinbring seconded the motion; vote unanimous. Mr. Ort also presented an update to the social media policy for the employee handbook. Councilman Fetters made a motion to approve the social media policy for personnel. Councilman Chavez seconded the motion; vote unanimous.

Mr. Ort presented a lease proposal from Vincent Oil for property located at Township 24 South, Range 23 West: Section 6 SE/4 and Section 8 W/2NW/4NW & SW/4NW/4 & North 15 acres for NW/4SW4. Councilman Steinbring made a motion to approve the lease. Councilman Fetters seconded the motion; vote unanimous.

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

*The audit report will be presented in September due to a delay in the state’s review and approval of the single audit.

*The power plant was run; some tweaking was performed and will be run again tomorrow.

*The City recently had a work comp claim that is working its way through the process at this time.

*The electric work for the new camping spots has been completed and the outside staff will run water lines as soon as able. Jake Foltz of Garden City made an offer to do the dirt work to level the new spots and lay concrete to further improve the spots. In return for this work he asked that we dedicate one spot to him for the camping season next year. He has also offered to donate labor to level and place concrete pads in the existing 14 spots in the future.

* Since the passing of Roy Hargadine, there is a vacancy on the lake board. Shirley Hargadine was asked if she would like to fill the position; she declined and suggested Eric Ford be appointed. Eric has expressed interest and would like to serve. Casey Fitzgerald has also asked to serve and his position would make seven on the board.

*Mr. Ort has suggested that a formal parking lot be established at the gun range. It would consist of an area leveled with gravel on most of it, but concrete for one van accessible spot for ADA compliance. A small ramp to the shooting platform would also be needed. Mr. Foltz is willing to do this work when he comes to do the work at the camping spots. The council agreed to have Mr. Ort get a formal proposal for the council when we get closer to the actual date; sometime before the next camping season.

*The roof repair on the city office/shop will begin next Tuesday, August 11th.

*The street sealing project for the year began this week and will be completed early next week.

*$6,400 in COVID related expenses were forwarded to the county for reimbursement under the CARES Act. This will increase by a small amount as a result of time off for an employee to be tested for COVID. Funds also may be planned for and expended through the end of the year. A couple of projects have been identified to expend some more of the CARES Act funding for the benefit of the city and our residents/visitors.

*One code enforcement letter was sent in July.

Councilman Channell made a motion to go into executive session for consultation with the city attorney pursuant to the attorney-client privilege exception K.S.A. 75-4319(b)(1) for 10 minutes with the Mayor, Council, Administrator, Attorney and Clerk present. The open meeting will resume in the city council chamber at 9:30 p.m. Councilman Steinbring seconded the motion; vote unanimous. Councilman Steinbring made a motion to come out of executive session. Councilman Fetters seconded the motion; vote unanimous. No action was taken. Councilman Channell made a motion to adjourn. Councilman Steinbring seconded the motion; vote unanimous.

August 13, 2020

The Jetmore City Council met in special session on August 13, 2020. Mayor 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, Kyler Fetters and Larry Steinbring. Absent was Councilman Mike Hendrickson. Also attending was City Clerk Deb McKivergan.

The meeting was called to complete the paperwork for the USDA Rural Development Grant to be used for the new roof on the city office.

Councilman Chavez made a motion to approve Resolution 2020-03, a resolution concerning acceptance and compliance with various requirements to obtain financial assistance from United States of America, acting through the United States Department of Agriculture, Rural Development. Councilman Fetters seconded the motion; vote unanimous. Councilman Channell made a motion to adjourn. Councilman Steinbring seconded the motion; vote unanimous.