June 12
CITY OF HIAWATHA
CITY COMMISSION MINUTES
MONDAY, JUNE 12, 2006
6:35 P.M.
HIAWATHA CITY HALL
723 OREGON ST.
1. Pledge of Allegiance/ Call to Order
The Hiawatha City Commission met in regular session Monday, June 12, at 6:35 p.m. with Mayor Gernon, Commissioner Schmitt, Commissioner Gamble, Commissioner Shamburg, and Commissioner Collins present.
2. Approval of minutes of the June 5, 2006 City Commission meeting.
Mayor Gernon said that the minutes needed to be corrected to clarify that the Mud Run is not sponsored by the Hiawatha Police Department as stated on page 6 of the minutes. Commissioner Schmitt made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Gamble, to approve the minutes of the June 5 Commission Meeting, with the correction. Motion carried, 5 ayes.
3. Presentation of petitions, public comments, memorials.
Old Business
4. Appreciation Bonus for Jeanette Ward
Commissioner Schmitt made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Gamble, to approve the appreciation bonus for Jeanette Ward in the amount of $233.76. Motion carried, 5 ayes.
5. Mud Run FYI
A follow-up report from Interim City Administrator Tom Armour indicated that Sheila Schwalm of the Hiawatha Saddle Club had been contacted concerning the event and that it was alright with them that the event be held there. Mayor Gernon noted that it was not to be held in the arena, but outside the arena.
Commissioner Collins said that he understood that Police Chief Evans Woehlecke would be looking after the situation, and that insurance had been purchased by the individuals promoting the event so that the city would not be liable.
6. City Attorney’s Response to Warren Gatz Request
Mayor Gernon indicated that we need to get a release from Mr. Gatz so that this problem does not surface again.
Commissioner Gamble said that if they draw up a contract it will be the last payment, he was fine with the attorney’s recommendation.
Commissioner Collins made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Gamble, to approve the Warren Gatz request for $1000, with the sign off on it that this will be the last payment. Motion carried, 5 ayes.
7. Sesquicentennial Committee Member List
Mayor Gernon explained that under the advice of the city attorney and our insurance carriers it is recommended that they become an advisory committee so that they will come under our insurance. Interim City Administrator Tom Armour had recommended that the city officially appoint them as an advisory committee. For the record, we should note who they are.
Commissioner Schmitt made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Collins, that an advisory committee be appointed for the Sesquicentennial Committee, with committee members being Rebecca Schmidtberger, Joyce Shirley, Jim Akins, Lora Brobst, Bev Sunderman, Cathy Newland, Peggy LaCounte, Georgie Loyd, Jere Bruning, Anne Arnesen, Leslie Idol, Connie Mathewson, and Beth Spicer. Motion carried, 5 ayes.
New Business
8. Fire Department Grant for Purchase of Pump
Mayor Gernon explained that this was a grant awarded from the Volunteer Fire Assistance Program for the purchase of a pump. He said that Fire Chief Gary Shear had indicated that the cost of the pump would be $3550. The city is to pay for the pump and submit a bill to the Fire Management Coordinator by November 30, 2006. The grant would then reimburse the city $1725. The city’s portion would then be $1725, to be paid for out of the Fire Department budget.
Commissioner Shamburg made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Collins, to approve the Fire Department purchase of the pump and to use the grant money to fund one-half of the purchase. Motion carried, 5 ayes.
9. Budget Work Session FYI
Mayor Gernon said that they need to start some budget work sessions.
Commissioner Schmitt said that last year they had started about the end of June. She thought that June 19 would probably be a good time to start, and felt that this should give the department heads time to get some figures and requests together for next year. She thought that there should be some spread sheets in the administrator’s computer that could be used to set up the next year’s budget.
Mayor Gernon reminded that there is already a work session scheduled for June 26 for a grant work session.
Commissioner Schmitt said that they should be able to look at last year and anticipate next year’s expenses.
Commissioner Gamble agreed that a week should be enough for them to set up some figures.
Mayor Gernon requested that the City Clerk set up the work session and notify the department heads to get some figures together to bring to the meeting.
10. Appoint Acting City Administrator
Commissioner Schmitt noted that the Municipal Code states there should be an acting city administrator in the absence of the administrator, so that someone has the authority to make decisions. She suggested that Mayor Gernon be appointed as acting city administrator, if he would agree to that.
Mayor Gernon said that he would.
Commissioner Schmitt made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Collins, that Mayor Crosby Gernon be appointed as Acting City Administrator in the absence of Tom Armour. Motion carried, 5 ayes.
11. CONSENT AGENDA
a. Payroll Appropriation # 1059 in the amount of $40,343.07.
Commissioner Collins made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Gamble, to approve the consent agenda as presented.
12. Mayor Crosby Gernon.
Mayor Gernon said that it had been brought to his attention that the city needs to update the drug and alcohol policy. The city currently has a contract with Blue Lab, Holton, Kansas, for the drug and alcohol evaluations. Blue Lab has indicated that they would rewrite the policy for a fee of $200. He also wondered if temporary help would need to be tested. He suggested that we put this on as an agenda item for next week.
Commissioner Collins questioned why the city contracts with an outside company instead of the local hospital. He felt that the city should check prices.
Commissioner Gamble thought that Blue Lab was probably cheaper.
Commissioner Schmitt wanted to know what kind of contract we had with them.
Dave Grimm explained the main reason that an independent lab was contracted for doing the drug and alcohol evaluations was because the independent lab selects individuals for random testing.
Leon Trant said that he thought that the policy was meant to cover full time employees only and was never intended to cover the temporary help.
Mayor Gernon suggested that we check with the local hospital lab as to the price and services they could offer us. He also would like to review the contract with Blue Lab.
Mayor Gernon also mentioned that Jeff Conner with Koch & Co. from Seneca would like to come and speak to the commissioners next week.
Mayor Gernon also mentioned that he had forwarded a letter from Lesa Duryea, of Maple Heights Nursing Home, concerning a community development block grant to Marion Tubach, Economic Development Director, so that she could look into the matter.
Mayor Gernon then made an announcement that Elizabeth Lynne Ladner has been hired as the new City Administrator. She is from Rockford, Michigan. He said that she will be here July 5. He said that they were very impressed with her and that she will be a wonderful asset. Ladner is originally from Syracuse, Kansas.
13. Com. William Collins.
14. Com. Curtis Gamble.
15. Com. Marianne Schmitt.
16. Com. Steffen Shamburg.
Commissioner Shamburg publicly thanked the Chamber of Commerce and the Silver Lake Bank for sponsoring the EMS and the Law Enforcement event Monday night, June 12. The event was well attended. He also thanked the EMS and Law Enforcement personnel on behalf of the city.
17. Adjourn.
Commissioner Shamburg made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Gamble, to adjourn. Meeting adjourned at 7:15 p.m.