Current Council Minutes and Agendas
City Council Minutes 03/03/08
Meeting called to order. Kathy Regier/Lanny STucky moved to approve February minutes. Passed.
Gary Fisher/Randy Frazer moved to approve February bills. Passed unanimously.
Informed the council that the rural fire district was preparing a budget to present to the council for the 2009 budget year. They will not be attending this meeting as previously scheduled but should be ready by the next (April) meeting.
Discussed the need to replace the bed on the International dump truck. A new bed and hoist will cost 10-12 thousand dollars. Mike Strausz has suggested that we purchase a used dump trailer. This would allow 66% greater hauling capacity and better utilize manpower. A good used trailer costs in the neighborhood of 15-20 thousand dollars, maybe a little more. The consensus of the council is to approve purchase of a trailer in this price range.
The waterway which drains the Countryside development has been cleaned of trees and silt by Vogts Earthmoving. Because it's too muddy to haul out at this time the dirt was windrowed next to the waterway. The City crew will remove the dirt when it's dry. There is a cement valley providing access to the property across the waterway that, if lowered, might improve the drain rate a little more. The administrator is looking into this.
The council reviewed the official policy and procedures of the City of Moundridge for the granting of property tax exemptions and tax incentives for real and personal property used for economic development purpose. The policy allows for incentives primarily in manufacturing for job creation and increased tax base. The City also has some incentives available to encourage business development by providing lots for expansion and job creation.
Gary Fisher/Randy Frazer moved to reappoint Hank Siemens to the Kansas Municipal Energy Agency Board of Director #2 position. Passed unanimously.
Announced the time and place of the employee appreciation supper. The group will be attending the Diamond W Chuckwagon Supper at the Old Cowtown Museum in Wichita on Saturday, March 29 at 5:30 p.m.
Lanny Stucky/Kathy Regier moved to go in to executive at 6:50 for a perios of 10 minutes to discuss the natural gas lawsuit. Passed unanimously. Returned to general session 7 p.m.
Meeting adjourned.
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES 02/04/08
Meeting called to order, Gary Fisher absent. Minutes approved as presented.
Kathy Regier/Hank Siemens moved to approve January bills. Passed unanimously.
Continued last month's discussion on affordable housing. A developer is interested in developing the property the City owns in the north half of the northeast quarter of section 23. This property consists of approximately 35 acres. The idea is to provide homes target priced in the 100 to 120 thousand dollar area. The consensus of the council is that they will be willing to consider various financing options and development strategies for this property, but that they do want houses to fall into this pricing area. They would like to see a preliminary plat prior to making any firm decisions.
Discussed business incentives in the community. The administrator will review the incentive policy previously approved by the council and report back.
Discussed several fire department issues. The consensus of the council is that it is acceptable for members of the fire department to use the City shop and equipment to do maintenance on fire equipment after regular working hours, as long as one of the maintenance crew is a City employee, and that only essential persons are present at the time the work is being done. The administrator will also check with the City's insurer to see if this is acceptable. It was also reported that the Rural Fire Board will attend next months meeting to discuss financial issues for District #7. Currently, the City pays $6000 per quarter and allows the rural board to administer the funds.
The President has declared certain counties in Kansas eligible for Federal emergency funds and so FEMA representatives will conduct a meeting later this week to advance the process of recovering expenses incurred during December's ice storm. The City will evaluate whether the amount recoverale is worth the effort after the meeting.
Lanny Stucky/Randy Frazer moved to approve Resolution 2008-03, a resolution which authorizes membership of the City in the Kansas Municipal Energy Agency's Mutual Aid Program and authorizing the execution of all documents relating to the City participation therein. The Council determined to join the program after disucssions at last month's council meeting.
Discussed the policy of not including Habitat housing in the housing grant program. It was determined to continue that policy.
Discussed the issue of allowing CMB consumption at a barbeque cook-off event if the event were located on City property. McPherson County and the City of McPherson have decided not to allow consumption at their "When Pigs Fly" event at the McPherson Airport. Legal council advised that to do so would set precedent and if allowed should actually be done by ordinance. The council is not interested in doing either and the consensus is not to allow CMB consumption on City property at any events.
Discussed scheduling an employee appreciation event. The consensus was to try to schedule an evening at the Main Street Theatre in Buhler in March.
Tony Turner of Kansas Municipal Electric Agency contacted the administrator and informed him that he would be able to start the electric rate analysis in May.
May Stephan nominated Scott Green to serve on the Moundridge Library Board. Randy Frazer/Kathy Regier moved toapprove this nomination. Passed unanimously.
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES 01/07/08
Meeting called to order. Kathy Regier and Gary Fisher absent. Lanny Stucky/Hank Siemens moved to approve the minutes of December 3, 2007. Passed unanimously.
Randy Frazer/Lanny Stucky moved to approve the minutes of the special meeting held December 17, 2007. Passed unanimously.
Hank Siemens/Randy Frazer moved to approve December bills.
Randy Frazer/Lanny Stucky move to approve Resolution 2008-01, GAAP waiver. The resolution waives the requirements of K.S.A. 75-1120a(a) as they apply to the City of Moundridge for the year ended December 31, 2007. Passed unanimously.
Randy Frazer/Hank Siemens moved to approve Resolution 2008-02, a resolution delineating the boundary of the City. Passed unanimously.
Lanny Stucky/Randy Frazer moved to transfer sixty thousand dollars from the Water Fund to the Water Utility Surplus Fund. Passed unanimously.
The City has been approached by a developer interested in developing the balance of the City’s property in the northeast quarter of section 22. The council discussed the types of housing needed in town. One thought brought out in the discussion is that there is a place for an intermediate proceed home in the neighborhood of one hundred to one hundred twenty thousand dollars. The sale of houses in this price range would undoubtedly make available more housing around town, priced in a range accessible to first time buyers. The council also discussed some affordable housing programs containing a “Sweat-equity” component for first time buyers. Efforts have been made by various groups trying to address housing needs in Moundridge at various levels, and the council will attempt to discern the most plausible way to accomplish this. The administrator will continue the groundwork on various options and address the issue further at the next meeting.
A group is considering having a barbeque cook-off in Moundridge. They wanted to know if the event could be held on City property, and if so, could an exception be made to the restriction of cereal malt beverages on city property for that event. The council said they would for sure allow the event of City property, perhaps the lots east of the grocery store, or parks, or maybe the historical grounds. They were willing to consider the exception of the CMB restriction but asked the administrator to check out what has been done at the “When Pigs Fly” event at the McPherson airport, and to check the legalities involved with such an exception.
The Kansas Municipal Energy Agency, of which the City is a member, has developed a mutual aid program which can provide assistance to each other in the even of an emergency that affects the operation of their electric utility of their electric utility. The consensus of the council was to join this program. There are currently close to eighty members. As a member the city may either request or provide emergency assistance when a natural disaster or emergency threatens service to customers. It is a “neighbors helping neighbors” cooperative effort. From the standpoint of qualifying for the reimbursement of costs associated with emergency assistance from FEMA in the event of a declared disaster mutual aid agreements for public assistance are required to be in written form. Consensus of the council was to join the KMEA mutual aid program. There might also be need to establish mutual aid agreements with other towns, especially locally, that are not members of KMEA but still have mutual interests with Moundridge.
Informed the council of a claim for damages which was filed with Employers Mutual.
Lisa Teter, newly appointed director of the Library, provided an annual report which described the various programs offered to the public and other facts concerning circulation, finances, and services.
Randy Frazer/Lanny Stucky moved to approve the CMB license for Moundridge Food Market.
Lanny Stucky/Randy Frazer moved to approve continuation of the storefront improvement program in combination with the Chamber of Commerce. In this program the City will pay 25% of the first $1000 spent on the improvement of any storefront in the downtown area. The Chamber will pay a like amount.
The consensus of the governing body was to authorize connecting the sewer line of the new building on the historical property to the city sewer system.
There is a meeting this coming Thursday at the McPherson County law enforcement center with representative of FEMA. They will discuss the eligibility requirements and procedure to follow for reimbursement for cost associated with the recent ice storm. The City will evaluate whether it has reasonable looses to recover.