March 27
CITY OF HIAWATHA
CITY COMMISSION MINUTES
MONDAY, MARCH 27, 2006
5:35 P.M.
HIAWATHA CITY HALL
723 OREGON ST.
The Hiawatha City Commission met in regular session March 27, 2006 at 5:35 p.m. at City Hall with Mayor Trant, Commissioner Shamburg, Commissioner Collins, and Commissioner Schmitt in attendance. Commissioner Gamble was absent.
1. Pledge of Allegiance/ Call to Order
2. Approval of minutes of the March 20, 2006 city commission meeting.
Commissioner Shamburg made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Collins, to approve the minutes of the March 20, 2006 city commission meeting. Motion carried, 3 ayes. Commissioner Schmitt abstained.
3. Presentation of petitions, public comments, memorials
Old Business
New Business
4. Consider a request from Brian Kingsley, BG Consultants, representing the Northeast Kansas Bioenergy Group, LLC, to discuss proposed water demands for a Biodiesel plant.
Brian Kingsley with BG Consultants talked about water service to the proposed site, located approximately 1 mile south of Padonia, Kansas, and 2 miles west of US 73 highway. BG Consultants is requesting cost estimates from the city to provide electrical service for the site. He explained that they are currently exploring three options for the development of this site. The options are as follows: Phase #1, biodiesel facility; Phase #2, addition of an ethanol facility; Phase #3, additional industrial development/expansion.
Kingsley discussed the water usage necessary for the different phases and answered questions from the commission members. He indicated that Phase #1, the biodiesel facility, is ready to move forward with the development of the project.
Commissioner Collins expressed concern about supplying the amount of water necessary to operate the plant. He asked if it needed to be treated water, and if high nitrate water could be used, because Hiawatha has a well north of town only about 2 miles from Padonia that is capable of producing a lot of water but it is high in nitrates.
Kingsley said that it did need to be potable water, and that high nitrates and minerals would need to be removed.
Kingsley also said that the city needs to consider pump maintenance, and administration costs before setting a water rate, and that they need to consider the economic aspect of the project as opposed to making money on the water.
Mayor Trant decided that the city needs to take a close look at the city’s capacity to produce enough water to operate the plant, and be sure that the city can still cover Hiawatha’s needs first.
No further action was taken.
5. Consider approval of ordinances to implement changes to the Personnel Manual for reporting officials and pay increases.
Interim City Administrator Tom Armour told the commissioners that Ordinance #959 is based on the 60 cent increase already agreed upon at last week’s meeting.
Mayor Trant said that he felt that the rate in the ordinance for the salary of the city administrator should be removed, since we will be hiring a new administrator and setting the rate for the new administrator based on their qualifications.
Commissioner Schmitt, Commissioner Collins, and Commissioner Shamburg felt that it would not be necessary to remove the city administrator rate, because we had already indicated that the salary of the new administrator would be based on experience.
Commissioner Schmitt made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Collins, to approve Ordinance #959 to determine and establish the salaries and compensation to be paid to the employees and certain other officials of the City of Hiawatha. Motion carried, 3 ayes, 1 nay. Mayor Trant voted nay.
Ordinance #960.
Commissioner Shamburg made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Collins, to approve Ordinance #960 to amend the personnel policies and guidelines for the City of Hiawatha, Kansas, dated January 20, 2005. Motion carried, 3 ayes, 1 nay. Mayor Trant voted nay.
6. Consider funding options for signal light replacements as part of the Main Street project.
Interim City Administrator Tom Armour emphasized that we would like the approval to contact Gene Long (corrected name David Long) at Atchison to do help with the assessment of the cost.
Mayor Trant pointed out that this is a non-participating cost not included in the Main Street project that the grant funds will not cover.
Commissioner Collins felt that if the signal light replacement wasn’t covered as part of the Main Street project, we don’t need to do it, while Commissioner Schmitt pointed out that it would be more cost efficient to do it at the same time.
Mayor Trant explained that the project mainly concerns the placement of control cables under the street for traffic lights, and that Dave Long is actually the individual we could contact. He does not work for the city of Atchison, but is an independent contractor who does work for the city of Atchison.
Interim City Administrator Tom Armour said that it is not ready for project funding yet.
Mayor Trant said that we should look into the project further and discuss it at a later date.
No further action was taken.
7. Consider approval to solicit bids for farming of city owned property at Bruning Park and the airport.
Commissioner Schmitt made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Shamburg, to approve solicitation of bids for farming the Bruning Park and airport property, and the addition of 7.58 acres at Bruning Park to the farmable area, and that letters be sent by certified mail, return receipt requested. Motion carried, 4 ayes.
8. Solicit volunteers to be recognized during volunteer recognition week April 24 to 28.
Mayor Trant said that this project is already underway, that it was discussed that we do it on an annual basis, and that we just need a confirmation that we are going to do this.
Commissioner Schmitt made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Collins, to approve the effort and the process of annually recognizing community volunteers, and to recognize them at the city commission meeting on April 24, 2006. Motion carried, 4 ayes.
9. CONSENT AGENDA
a. Appropriation Ordinance #1087 in the amount of $132,444.24.
Commission Collins questioned if the $12,000.00 amount for the operation and maintenance manuals were included in the contract price.
Mayor Trant said that it was his understanding that it was, with Dan Fisher of Rural Development, in giving his approval of that charge, placed it as part of the contract and not above the contract.
Commissioner Schmitt made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Collins, to approve Ordinance #1087 in the amount of $132,444.24. Motioned carried, 4 ayes.
10. Interim City Administrator Tom Armour – Executive session (approximately 45 minutes) for discussion of non-elected personnel, review applications for city administrator position with Mark Tomb, League of Kansas Municipalities.
Interim City Administrator Tom Armour discussed some future agenda items.
Commissioner Schmitt made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Shamburg, to go into executive session for non-elected personnel and to return at 7:25 p.m. Motion carried, 4 ayes.
Commissioners returned to open session at 7:25 p.m.
Commissioner Schmitt made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Shamburg to return to open session. Motion carried, 4 ayes.
Commissioner Schmitt made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Shamburg, to amend the previous motion to go into executive session, to include the presence of Mark Tomb with the League of Kansas Municipalities and Interim City Administrator Tom Armour. Motion carried, 4 ayes.
10. Mayor Leon Trant
Mayor Trant asked the commission if they wanted to set a special meeting for Tuesday, March 28 at 5:30 p.m.
Commissioner Collins made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Shamburg, to set a special meeting for 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 28, to review the candidates for the city administrator. Motion carried, 4 ayes.
11. Com. William Collins
12. Com. Curtis Gamble
13. Com. Marianne Schmitt
14. Com. Steffen Shamburg
Commissioner Shamburg made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Schmitt, to adjourn. Motion carried, 4 ayes. Meeting was adjourned at 7:35 p.m.