July 31
CITY OF HIAWATHA
CITY COMMISSION MINUTES
MONDAY, JULY 31, 2006
5:35 P.M.
HIAWATHA CITY HALL
723 OREGON ST.
1. Pledge of Allegiance/ Call to Order
The Hiawatha City Commission met in regular session on Monday, July 31, 2006 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 July 24, 2006 City Commission meeting.
Commissioner Schmitt made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Collins, to approve the minutes of the July 24, 2006 City Commission meeting as presented. Motion carried, 5 ayes.
3. Presentation of petitions, public comments, memorials.
Commissioner Collins made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Gamble, to go into executive session to discuss non-elective personnel. Motion carried, 5 ayes.
Commissioner Collins made an amended motion, seconded by Commissioner Shamburg, to go into executive session for a period of 15 minutes and to include City Administrator Lynne Ladner. Motion carried, 5 ayes. The Commission and City Administrator Ladner went into executive session at 5:39 p.m.
Commissioner Schmitt made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Shamburg, to return to regular session at 5:54 p.m. Motion carried, 5 ayes
Old Business
4. Joni Hernly, Hernly Associates, Inc., Report on Housing Grant Application.
Joni Hernly cancelled her appearance at this meeting.
5. Approval of 2005 Final Audit.
Commissioner Schmitt made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Collins, to approve the Final Audit for the year ending December 31, 2005. Motion carried, 5 ayes.
6. Approval of 2007 Budget for Publication.
City Administrator Ladner noted that all line items now match the State Budget form.
Commissioner Schmitt made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Collins, to approve the 2007 Budget for publication. Motion carried, 5 ayes.
New Business.
7. Approval of Contract with Lowenthal, Singleton, Webb & Wilson to Prepare 2006 Audit.
City Administrator Lynne Ladner noted that the cost for the services was not to exceed $13,900.
Commissioner Collins made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Gamble, to approve the contract with Lowenthal, Singleton, Webb & Wilson to prepare the audit for the year ending December 31, 2006 at a cost not to exceed $13,900; and authorize the mayor to sign the necessary documents. Motion carried, 5 ayes.
8. Approval of Contract with Lowenthal, Singleton, Webb & Wilson to Prepare Financial Forecasts for 2007 and 2008.
City Administrator Ladner explained that this was the contract that continued to have Lowenthal, Singleton, Webb & Wilson prepare the State Budget form for the city. The contract cost is $1850. This has been a standard practice of the City for several years. City Administrator Ladner said that she would like to see this preparation brought in house in the future, but was not confident that the City would have someone capable of doing so by time for the 2008 budget preparation in July of next year.
Commissioner Collins made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Gamble, to approve the contract with Lowenthal, Singleton, Webb & Wilson to prepare the State Budget forms for the year of 2008, at a cost of $1850, and authorize the mayor to sign the necessary documents. Motion carried, 5 ayes.
Commissioner Schmitt asked for clarification of the 2007 year in the contract.
City Administrator Ladner said that the forecasts were for 2007. She explained that the accounting firm would check to be sure that the 2007 revenues had been forecast correctly so that the unencumbered balances would roll over properly to 2008.
9. Approval of Final Payment to Lowenthal, Singleton, Webb & Wilson for Audit of Financial Statements for 2005.
City Administrator Ladner explained that the requested final payment was $3605, to complete the contract agreement for the 2005 audit year.
Commissioner Gamble made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Collins, to approve the final payment to Lowenthal, Singleton, Webb & Wilson in the amount of $3605. Motion carried, 5 ayes.
10. Approval of Payment for Hiawatha Youth Baseball & Softball Umpires.
Commissioner Schmitt made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Gamble, to approve the final payment to the Hiawatha Youth Baseball and Softball Umpires in the amount of $4220. Motion carried, 5 ayes.
11. Approval of Payment to City Attorney for Balance of June Charges.
Commissioner Collins made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Gamble, for the balance of June 2006 charges in the amount of $1724.50. Motion carried, 4 ayes. Commissioner Schmitt abstained.
12. CONSENT AGENDA
a. Appropriation Ordinance #1098 in the amount of $50,985.18.
b. Approval of Plumbing License for Schick Plumbing & Heating Co.
Mayor Gernon asked if Code Enforcement Officer Malcolm Grier had approved the application for the plumbing license. City Clerk Vivian Constable said that he had given her a stamped approved copy today.
Commissioner Collins said that he would like for Code Officer Grier to indicate his approval on the copy given to the commission in their packets.
City Administrator Ladner explained that due to his being on vacation all last week he was unable to approve the application until today, and the packets had already gone out.
Commissioner Schmitt made a
motion, seconded by Commissioner Shamburg, to approve the consent agenda as
presented. Motion carried, 5 ayes.
13. Lynne Ladner, City Administrator
City Administrator Ladner noted that the Streetscape Project is scheduled to start on August 14. They are looking at a very aggressive schedule, with a completion date moved up from December 1 to October 27 in time for the Halloween parade. They plan to do the entire north side of Oregon in Phase 1, then move to the south side of Oregon, and finally to the west side of 7th Street. A public meeting is tentatively scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on August 10.
Administrator Ladner also mentioned that she now has the names of firms to do a water & sewer rate study. She said that there are three private firms as well as the Kansas Rural Water Department. She will contact each of these concerning the water rate study. With the approval of the commission, the city may raise water rates after the study.
Administrator Ladner said that the City has been contacted by a recycling company to see if the community would be interested in having a mobile recycling center come to Hiawatha. She said that she will check into it further.
14. Mayor Gernon.
Mayor Gernon said that the City needs to follow up on the drug testing procedures.
He also wanted the City to check on their responsibilities on the firework permits.
15. Com. William Collins.
16. Com. Curtis Gamble.
17. Com. Marianne Schmitt.
Commissioner Schmitt mentioned the 2005 audit letter advisements on internal controls and operating efficiency. She would like the City Administrator to look those over and bring them back before the commission at a later date.
18. Com. Steffen Shamburg.
Commissioner Shamburg thanked City Administrator Ladner for getting the budget figures together so quickly.
19. Adjourn.
Commissioner Shamburg made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Gamble, to adjourn. Motion carried, 5 ayes. Meeting adjourned at 6:12 p.m.