Council Minutes for the June 14, 2011 Regular Meeting

LUCAS CITY COUNCIL
LUCAS CIVIC CENTER
REGULAR MEETING
June 14, 2011
7:00 PMMAYOR: Jennifer Bates
COUNCIL: Tarry Dougherty, Sheree Herold, Tammy Seirer, Trent Leach and Sue Wenthe
EMPLOYEES: Gary Ward, Gary Bretz, James Rezabek, Julie Bretz, Kay Mettlen
OTHERS PRESENT TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL: Janae Talbott- Russell County Economic Development, Lenny Tyson - President of the Russell County Economic Development Board.
CITIZENS PRESENT: George Wolbert, Lyn Leach, Mary Ann Steinle, Amanda Steinle, Lois Cooper, Connie Dougherty, Linda Brant, Douglas Hickman, Eric Abraham and Bill Schneider.
7:00 PM Mayor Jennifer Bates called the meeting to order. Tarry Dougherty moved to accept the minutes of the May 10, 2011 meeting with corrections. Tammy Seirer seconded. Motion carried 5 yes votes
7:10 PM Janae Talbott of Russell County Economic Development addressed the Council on activities her office is envolved in to promote Russell County through advertising- locally, nationally and internationally. RCED helps communitites with funding for municipal projects and provide assistnace in funding other enterprises. They are working with the national bass tournament to be held at Wilson Lake in June and are working with several round table meetings that will be held in Russell later this year. The RCED micro loan fund helps both existing and new businesses. Other projects include, Project 281 and a program to give cash incentives to new businesses employing 5 people or more. Janae told of Govenor Brownback's Rural Opportunity Plan that will help pay off student loans for qualifying graduates.
7:12 PM Lynn Schneider arrived at the meeting. Lenny Tyson, chairman of the Russell County Economic Development Board of Directors explained the 1/2 cent sals tax that comes back into Russell county for Economic Development. The 1/2 cent sales tax was established to eliminate the need for an increase in the mill levy to support economic development and help fund public infrastructure. In 2010 the City of Lucas received $17,560.64 and was asked for $1562.00 back to fund operational expenses of RCED. Lenny Complimented Lucas for keeping the City updated and for the way Lucas markets itself.
7:35 PM Tammy Hower arrived at the meeting.
7:36 PM Lagoon pump purchase was the first item under Old business. Tarry Dougherty will contact DDD Mettlen Farms for approval to irrigate onto their porperty. The rains have raised the level in the lagoon and it could be lowered now. Russell Yarnell will be contacted to see if there are EPA regulations for water pumped onto farm ground and if there are any requirements regarding distance from inhabited property.
7:46 PM Sue Wenthe moved to adopt an amendment to the procurement policy allowing employees to make purchases from a list of re-occuring purchases by informing the Mayor prior to to purchases and with their approval purchases could be made and the council would then be notified of the purchase. Tammy Seirer seconded teh motion. Tammy Seirer, Sheree Herold and Sue Wenthe voted yes. Trent Leach and Tarry Dougherty cast no votes. Motion carried. Ken Cole will draft an amendment for the procurement policy.
8:05 PM Bill Schneider left the meeting. Tammy Seirer moved to adopt Resolution 11-1 establsihing a fund for the money received from the McCrystal Trust. The fund would operate like a savings account with the interest income remaining in the fund. Purchases from the fund are to be used to enhance the quality of life in Lucas. Trent Leach seeconded the motion. Motion carried 5 yes votes. Sheree Herold moved that the money recieved in 2011 be moved to the new fund. Sue Wenthe seconded. Motion carried 5 yes votes.
8:09 PM No action was taken on the awning over the bleachers at the baseball field.
8:12 PM Council instructed Gary Ward to Contact Rick Watson , of Watson Electric about the transformer needs of United Ag and get bids to present to the Council at the July 12, 2011 meeting.
8:21 PM Airport re-surfacing bid from Holland Paving dated Septemeber 2012 was discussed.
8:23 PM Tammy Hower left the meeting. Conmcil asked that Holland Paving be contacted to make sure the runway, turnaround,taxi and parking areas were covered in the bid, and to see if the bid needed to be updated. Concl also asked if bids from other contractors could be obtained and brought to the July Council Meeting or to a Special Meeting if necessary.
8:33 PM Mayor Jennifer Bates appointed Kay Mettlen City Treasurer and Mary Ann Steinle City Clerk, replacing Julie Bretz who will no longer be an employee of the City. Sue Wenthe moved to approve the appointments. Tammy Serier seconded the motion. Sue Wenthe, Tammy Seirer and Sheree Herold cast yes votes. Tarry Dougherty and Trent LEach voted no.
8:40 PM Mary Ann Steinle took the Oath of Office. Connie Dougherty and Julie Bretz left the meeting.
8:45 PM Discussion was held on the quote received from Heinze and Associates on Airport Liaability Insurance.
8:51 PM Marlys Yarnell left the meeting. Tammy Serier moved to accept the bid from Heinze and Associates with liabiltiy limits of $500,000 PP/BI for $1,853.00. Tarry Dougherty seconded the motion. Motion carried 5 yes votes
8:55 PM City Attorney, Ken Cole made additions to the Waiver of Liability that will be signed by partcipants in the Highland Games during the Adam's Apple Festival on September 3, 2011.
8:53 PM Trent Leach moved to pay dues of $200.00 to Pioneer Country Development. Sheree Herold seconded. Motin carried 5 yes votes.
8:59 PM Janae Talbott, Lenny Tyson and Gary Bretz left the meeting. Concil asked that a meeting date be set with Sam Brock to set the 2012 Budget. Dates suggested was July 1st with July 8th as an alternate date. Meeting is to be scheduled from 11:30 am to 1:00 PM.
9:03 PM Gary Bretz returned to the meeting.
9:07 PM Eric Abraham left the meeting.
9:09 PM The Multijurisdictional Mitigation Plan was tabled until the July 12, 2011 meeting.
9:13 PM The Council asked that the League of Kansas Municipalities be contacted for the publications on Fair Labor Acts and Employee Guidelines.
9:14 PM Sue Wenthe and Sheree Herold will have a report on Job dexciepitons for the July Meeting.
9:15 PM Tarry Dougherty moved that the budgeted transfer of $25,000 be made from the Electric Fund to the General Fund. Tammy Seirer seconded. Motion carried 5 yes votes.
9:17 PM George Wolbert left the meeting. Under Financial review Mayor Jennifer Bates asked that the posting of the interest earned on the CD's be checked and also the transfer of $3,500 from Electric to Industrial Development.
9:27 PM Doug Hickman left the meeting.
9:36 PM Lois Cooper told Council she had placed an ad in the Salina Journal for the Rest hOme property and is working on a website. A CD on the Rest Home was taken to Russell County Economic Development so they can sahre it through their office.
9:37 PM Doug Hickman returned to the meeting. Gary Bretz told the Council about problems the City Crew has in reading utility meters when dogs are penned by the metsrs. Gary has been sweeping streets, and spraying fo mosquitos when weather permits. More spray may need to be purchased. Council consensus was to spray two or three times a week until mosquitos are under control. The street center lines and curb markings are being repainted.
9:39 PM James Rezabek reported he has rotated some water valves. James said there are six water valves that need to be replaced. Sheree Herold moved to purchase 4 pallets of salt from Troy's. Tarry Dougherty seconded the motion. Motion carried 5 yes votes. Tammy Seirer moved to order 2 repair kits for the brine pump at the nitrate plant, not to exceed $1,000. Sue Wenthe seconded the motion. Motion carried 5 yes votes.
9:47 PM Gary Ward told the Council that the lights at the SE corner of the football field were struck by lightening. USD#299 asked if the City would replace or help repair them. The City crew may contact Larry Height with Russell County for assistance in pumping oil from a ground storage tank and transferring it to an overhead tank for future use. Mayor Jennifer Bates asked that a safety harness be ordered.
9:59 PM Tammy Seirer asked if a bill would be sent to the Grassroots Art Centr for use of the bucket truck after the storm damage to the building.
10:14 PM Mary Ann Steinle said she has prior commitments and will be available to begin her job as City Clerk on Monday, June 20, 2011. Council consensus was to set her start date as June 20, 2011.
10:17 PM Tammy Serier asked who was in charge of the "Get Lucas" facebook account. She was told the City has nothing to do with it and has no control over the postings.
10:18 PM Approval of bills was the next item on the agenda. Tammy Serier moved to allow the bill from Lucas Lumber in the amount of $75, for lumber for the bleachers at the ballfield. The lumber was ordered by a Council Member and ticket was not signed by a City employee. Trent Leach seconded the motion. Motion carried 4 yes votes. Sue Wenthe abstained. Trent Leach moved to pay the bills as presented. Sheree Herold seconded. Motion carried 5 yes votes.
10:32 PM Sue Wenthe regarding Personnel asked if she could have a copy of the hours worked by each employee at each pay period. Streets, Tammy Seirer will work with the crew about what streets need to be worked on and have a schedule for the street work by the July 12, 2011 meeting. For the Park report Sheree Herold said she was looking into pricing rock climbers for the park. Sheree asked if the city crew could look into repairng the swings. Trent Leach had no report on Industrial Development and Tarry Dougherty had no report on Utilities.
10:43 PM Tammy Serier moved to enter Executive Session at 10:45 PM for 10 Mintues to discuss non-electd personnel- compensation. Sue Wenthe seconded. Motion carried 5 yes votes.
10:45 PM Council enteded Executive Session.
10:55 PM Council exited Executive Session. Tammy Seirer moved to pay Mary Ann Steinle $7.50 per hour as City Clerk. Sue Wenthe sesconded. Motion carried 5 yes votes.
10:57 PM Tarry Dougherty moved to adjourn. Trent Leach seconded. Motion carried 5 yes votes.