April 30
CITY OF HIAWATHA
CITY COMMISSION MINUTES
MONDAY, APRIL 30, 2007 at 5:35 P.M.
HIAWATHA CITY HALL
723 OREGON ST.
1. Pledge of Allegiance/ Call to Order
The Hiawatha City Commission met regular session on Monday, April 30, 2007, at 5:35 p.m. at City Hall with Mayor Gernon, Commissioner Shamburg, Commissioner Collins, Commissioner Schmitt, and Commissioner Gamble present.
2. Approval of minutes of the April 23, 2007, City Commission meeting.
Commissioner Schmitt made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Shamburg, to approve the minutes of the April 23, 2007 City Commission meeting as presented. Motion carried. 3 ayes. 2 abstained. Commissioner Gamble and Commissioner Collins abstained.
3. CONSENT AGENDA
a. Approval of Payroll Appropriation #1082 in the amount of $36,765.65.
b. Approval of Utility Refunds in the amount of $16.02.
c. Approval of payment to BG Consultants, Inc. for March Downtown Streetscape Administration in the amount of $2,153.41.
d. Approval of payment to BG Consultants, Inc. for March Post Lantern Streetlight construction observation in the amount of $2,108.00.
e. Approval of payment to Brown County Treasurer for the second half of property taxes and special assessments due on the Longfellow addition in the amount of $20,460.20.
f. Approval of payment to Morrill Collision Repair, Inc. in the amount of $4,927.07, of which $500.00 is our deductible and $4,427.07 has been reimbursed to the City by the insurance company. This is for damages to the Water Department pickup.
g. Approval of revised USDA Statement of Budget, Income and Equity.
Commissioner Schmitt made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Shamburg, to approve the Consent Agenda as presented. Motion carried. 5 ayes.
4. Presentation of petitions, public comments, memorials.
Certificates of Appreciation were presented to Commissioner Schmitt and Commissioner Gamble by Mayor Gernon. Mayor Gernon, Commissioner Collins and Commissioner Shamburg expressed their appreciation to the retiring Commissioners. Mayor Gernon said that he would miss their wisdom and leadership.
Cathy Newland, Morrill Public Library, presented to the Commission, City Clerk and City Administrator, books which were written by Ray Bradbury, Farenheit 451, as a part of the National Endowment for the Arts program. She said that some free copies would be available at both City Hall and at the Library.
Old Business
5. Executive Session to discuss potential acquisition of real estate.
Commissioner Gamble made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Shamburg, to go to Executive Session to discuss the acquisition of real estate and to return at 5:52 p.m., and to include City Administrator Lynne Ladner and the Commissioners-elect John Sheeran and Vicki Denton. Motion carried. 5 ayes.
Commissioner Schmitt made a motion at 5:55 p.m., seconded by Commissioner Gamble, to return to open session. Motion carried. 5 ayes.
6. Helen Sourk request to adjust her March sewer charge at 711 Oregon.
Dave Grimm, Waste Water Superintendent, said that they had smoke tested the sewer lines in the Sourk building today and did have a small amount of smoke come into the building. This indicated that a small amount of the water from the leak did go into the city sewer. He suggested that she pay 25 % of the sewer charge plus the penalties.
Mayor Gernon said that he thought the 25% sounded fair. Commissioner Collins felt that the late fees should be forgiven because it had been in committee for three weeks. Commissioner Gamble agreed with Commissioner Collins.
Commissioner Schmitt said that there had been an issue at the Country Squire Motel in 2003. At that time the Commission adjusted off one-half of the sewer bill. They knew that at that time, there was no water going down the sewer because it was at their putt-putt golf course. She was in favor of adjusting off one-half of the Sourk bill.
Commissioner Collins made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Gamble, to collect a payment of 25% of the sewer cost, with no charge on the penalties, and full charge on the water. Motion carried. 4 ayes. 1 nay. Commissioner Schmitt voted nay.
Mayor Gernon said they should look into bringing back an ordinance which would make a ruling on the abatement of sewer charges on commercial usage.
7. Review truck lease/purchase options
Administrator Ladner told the Commission that she had sought proposals from all four banks in Hiawatha for the truck lease/purchase. She said that we had received proposals from Hiawatha National Bank, Morrill and Janes Bank, and Silver Lake Bank. Citizens State Bank had declined to submit a proposal.
She said that the Hiawatha National Bank proposed an annual payment of $15,027.95 for a term of five years. The Morrill and Janes Bank proposed an annual payment of $15,010.75 for a term of five years but with a documentation fee of $500 which would add an average of $100 per year to that payment amount. The Silver Lake Bank proposed an annual payment of $15,155.30 for a term of five years.
Commissioner Schmitt questioned whether or not there were any documentation fees in the Hiawatha National Bank proposal. Administrator Ladner said that to her knowledge there were no fees with their proposal. The Commission asked Administrator Ladner to check on this item.
The Commission decided to vote on the Hiawatha National Bank proposal contingent upon any fees being charged.
Commissioner Schmitt made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Collins, to approve the lease agreement with the Hiawatha National Bank contingent upon no documentation fees being assessed to the City in the lease agreement. Motion carried. 4 ayes. 1 nay. Commissioner Gamble voted nay.
New Business
8. Consider reappointment of Jean Abeita to the Hiawatha Housing Authority Board.
Administrator Ladner explained that Jean Abeita’s term had expired as of March 2007. The members of the board had unanimously requested the reappointment of Ms. Abeita to another term which would expire March 2011.
Commissioner Gamble made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Collins, to reappoint Jean Abeita to another term on the Hiawatha Housing Authority Board. Motion carried. 5 ayes.
9. Lynne Ladner, City Administrator.
Administrator Ladner told the Commission that the Fire Department had applied for a grant to FEMA for air packs and turn out gear. They have already submitted the grant because of the time element, but will withdraw it if the Commission does not approve. They would also like to apply for grant for a fire truck.
The Commission agreed to let them apply for the grants.
Administrator Ladner also asked permission from the Commission to transfer funds from savings for fund 48 to checking for fund 48 in the amount of $265,000.00 for the Post Lantern Project to pay April and May bills.
Commissioner Schmitt made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Collins, to authorize the City Administrator to transfer funds from the savings account for fund 48 to the checking account for fund 48 in the amount of $265,000.00. Motion carried. 5ayes.
Mayor Gernon asked Administrator Ladner what she had found out about the lamps for the Post Lantern Project from last week. She said that the lamps were a separate line item which were not included in the original bid and that she had ordered them from Kriz-Davis.
10. Mayor Crosby Gernon.
Mayor Gernon said that Jerry Aller, Tree Board, had approached him about reconvening the meetings of the tree board to see about planting some trees.
He also said that a person who was experienced with concrete had been looking at the Streetscape Project and was concerned that the concrete is pulling away from the buildings. He said that those cracks needed to be filled and wanted to have Brian Kingsley check this over.
Mayor Gernon also mentioned that the two west tennis courts need resurfacing. He knew some high school kids who might be willing to help with this. He asked that Administrator Ladner have Terry Smith, Recreation Superintendent and Dennis Hartter, Parks Superintendent, check on this.
Mayor Gernon asked about the status on the burned property on South Sixth Street. Administrator Ladner said that she had gotten a letter from Farm Bureau Insurance which indicated that on April 20 the insurance company had made an offer to the owner to either repair or tear down the property. This is currently under negotiation and they hope to have it resolved shortly. The state statute allows six months for them to do something before the City can step in.
11. Com. William Collins.
Commissioner Collins gave the two retiring commissioners a final farewell and said he was sorry to see them leave.
12. Com. Curtis Gamble.
Commissioner Gamble thanked everyone and said he had enjoyed serving the community for the last three years. He said they had gotten a lot of things accomplished and that he was proud to have served with this Commission. He said that it was all about moving forward in a positive direction. He said that he looked forward to the new Commission taking a proactive approach. He told Mayor Gernon that he was a good role model as a Mayor and that he appreciated his leadership. He said that he appreciated all the time and effort that Commissioner Schmitt had given to the community for the past 11 years.
13. Com. Marianne Schmitt.
Commissioner Schmitt said that the Commissioner should review the strategic plan which the K-State students had done with the Commission about three years ago. She said that she would like to see the revitalization of downtown continue. She also mentioned that they need to improve the entrances to the City and that she would also like to see the walking and biking trails issue continued.
Commissioner Schmitt said that it had been an honor and a privilege to serve on the Commission the last ten years and ten months. She said that there had been many decisions made, some of which had been quite difficult. She said that the decisions that she had made were based on the information that she had, her research, and her judgment of the issue, and that she had always voted on what she thought was in the best interests of the community. She said that the Commission currently has dedicated Commissioners and Mayor, and that the two new Commissioners have a desire to represent the community. She challenged the Commission to continue making the difficult decisions that will make Hiawatha an even greater place to live, to work, to raise families, and to retire, while balancing the needs of the community and its residents.
Mayor Gernon told her that they would take that challenge seriously.
14. Com. Steffen Shamburg.
Commissioner Shamburg said that it had been a pleasure working with both Commissioner Schmitt and Commissioner Gamble, and thanked them for their dedication. He said that he was looking forward to having Commissioner Sheeran and Commissioner Denton on board.
15. Adjourn.
Commissioner Shamburg made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Gamble, to adjourn. Motion carried. 5 ayes. Meeting adjourned at 6:24 p.m.