December 2020 Meeting Minutes

December 3, 2020

The Jetmore City Council met in regular session on December 3, 2020 at the Jetmore King Center, to allow for social distancing due to COVID-19. Mayor Derek 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, Michael Hendrickson and Larry Steinbring. 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. Councilman Hendrickson seconded the motion; vote unanimous.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT REOPRT:  ED Director Lea Ann Seiler reported that Jetmore sales tax is down slightly from 2019-2020. She is working with two local businesses on loan applications. She completed the application for the Main Street Affiliate Program for Jetmore. The Hg. County display was delivered to the Travel Center in Goodland. Funding for seven automatic water bottle filling stations was distributed through the HERO grant in November. She received the Zach Mannheimer grant that works with rural communities to provide them with tools needed by communities to combat “urban flee”. There will be a virtual meeting in December and hopefully an in-person meeting in April. Scott Linden’s Wingshooter USA ran again and Lea Ann had five inquiries for 2021 in the next five days. Fourteen Rooster Roundup bands have been turned in already. Christmas on Main will look different this year with less in person events. She is working with an alumnus to set up an entrepreneurial grant for the Vo Ag Class. There are still funds for banners; she asked if we would like them to be seasonal. Two 55” electronic billboards were completed and installed for HCHC with a COVID grant. An online childcare licensing workshop was held in November. She continues to attend a lot of her meetings via ZOOM. The Health Department’s new building is nearing completion and with that she will get a new office in early 2021. She is encouraging local gifting with Facebook posts of ideas to help you shop locally for Christmas.

CITY ATTORNEY REPORT:  City Attorney Clayton Kerbs asked the council about setting a fine for no permit at the city lake. Currently it is a must appear and the Judge sets a fine up to $100. Mr. Ort and Mr. Kerbs will work on an ordinance to set the fine at $50 plus court costs and bring it to the next regular council meeting.

CITY CLERK REPORT:  City Clerk Deb McKivergan presented two cereal malt beverage renewal requests. Councilman Fetters made a motion to approve the renewal request from Dollar General for sale in original and unopened container and not for consumption on the premises. Councilman Steinbring seconded the motion; vote unanimous. Councilman Hendrickson made a motion to approve the renewal request from Jetmore Food Center for sale in original and unopened container and not for consumption on the premises. Councilman Chavez seconded the motion; vote unanimous.

BUSINESS ITEMS:  Mr. Ort presented a new home incentive plan that was re-introduced a few months ago. The new plan would offer a $5,000 incentive per home to a limited number of home builders. The new plan would offer the incentive to a builder even if the builder was not an owner/occupant and would also offer allowances for duplexes. Councilman Fetters made a motion to adopt the New Home Incentive Program. Councilman Hendrickson seconded the motion; vote unanimous.

* The Community Fisheries Assistance Program (CFAP) is due to be renewed. It would be a 10 year contract for $2,650 per year. A decision was postponed until more information could be gathered from the program administrator.

*Mr. Ort presented an Equipment Breakdown Renewal for the power plant/substation. Councilman Chavez made a motion to renew the plan with a premium of $15,586. Councilman Hendrickson seconded the motion; vote unanimous. 

*Two variance requests were made – one for a shed at 816 W. Bramley and one for a fence at 408 Clay. Councilman Channell made a motion to approve the variance request at 816 W. Bramley for Chad Jones. Councilman Hendrickson seconded the motion; vote unanimous. Councilman Fetters made a motion to approve the variance for the fence at 408 Clay for Quincy Donovan; contingent upon him returning the request with the required signatures. Councilman Hendrickson seconded the motion; vote unanimous.

CITY ADMINISTRATOR REPORT:  Mr. Ort presented his December meeting/conference schedule.

*The emissions test on November 17th was completed successfully. The power plant will be run on December 15th for  a planned outage for maintenance work. 

*There was another water main break in the 600 block of Roughton Street. A 20’ section of pipe was replaced. If another break occurs in this section all of the line will be replaced to the shut off valve.

*The replacement pole and light fixtures for the pole at the power plant that was damaged in September have arrived and will be replaced in the next week.

*Mr. Ort had arranged with the quarry for rock we will need for the 2021 chat and seal project. He visited with the council about working with local trucking companies if they can compete with Hannebaum Trucking on their price. Mr. Ort will continue to work on this.

*KDHE was recently in Jetmore to test for the presence of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, the virus that causes COVID-19. This is a statewide effort and the largest community in each county was sampled. The report indicated that the result is considered to be a moderate level of infection in the community and at this time these results are information only and no action is required or recommended. Follow up testing was mentioned as “likely” at the beginning of 2021.

*One code enforcement letter was sent in November.

Councilman Chavez made a motion to go into executive session for consultation with the city attorney pursuant to the attorney-client privilege exception, K.S.A. 75-41(b)(1) at 8:20 for 10 minutes, with the Attorney, Administrator, Mayor, Council and Clerk present. Councilman Hendrickson seconded the motion; vote unanimous. The meeting will resume in the council chamber at 8:30. Councilman Chavez made a motion to come out of executive session. Councilman Steinbring seconded the motion; vote unanimous. No action was taken.

Councilman Hendrickson made a motion to give all full time employees and the assistant city clerk a $600 Christmas bonus and to give all part time employees a $300 Christmas bonus. Councilman Channell seconded the motion; vote unanimous. Councilman Hendrickson made a motion to adjourn. Councilman Channell seconded the motion; vote unanimous. The meeting was adjourned at 8:34 p.m.

December 7, 2020

The Jetmore City Council met in special session on December 7, 2020. Mayor Derek 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 Michael Hendrickson. Also attending were City Administrator Michael Ort and City Clerk Deb McKivergan.

The meeting was called to hold the hearing for the 2020 budget amendment and to discuss the Community Fisheries Assistance Program contract renewal.

There being no public comment, Councilman Channell made a motion to approve the amendment to the 2020 budget. Councilman Chavez seconded the motion; vote unanimous.

Lowell Aberson, with Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism met with the council and explained the benefits and opportunities available through the CFAP program. Councilman Channell made a motion to continue with the program and enter into a 10 year contract with KDWPT. Councilman Fetters seconded the motion; vote unanimous. Councilman Channell made a motion to adjourn. Councilman Steinbring seconded the motion; vote unanimous.