April 23
CITY OF HIAWATHA
CITY COMMISSION MINUTES
MONDAY, APRIL 23, 2007
at 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, April 23, 2007, at 5:35 p.m. at City Hall with Mayor Gernon, Commissioner Schmitt, and Commissioner Shamburg present. Commissioner Collins and Commissioner Gamble were absent.
2. CONSENT AGENDA
a. Approval of Minutes of the April 16, 2007, City Commission meeting.
b. Appropriation Ordinance #1119 in the amount of $26,222.45.
c. Approval of Contractor License for Harding Contracting, Inc.
d. Approval of payment to League of Kansas Municipalities for the final draft of the Municipal Code in the amount of $2,100, and mileage for the Code conference on January 8, 2007, for a total of $2,161.06.
Mayor Gernon pointed out several corrections that needed to be made to the minutes. On page four, item 9, in the first paragraph, next to the last sentence, “on” should be “one.” On page five, item 10, second paragraph, next to the last sentence, the phrase should read “….must be at least 18 years of age, the street department has requested and received bids for…..” On page seven, fifth paragraph, “eluded” should be “alluded.” On page eight, item 15, first paragraph, the phrase should read “…..the city’s law enforcement should be made aware of the situation.” On the same item, paragraph three, second and third sentences should read, “Right now the City does not have ordinances to keep concealed weapons away from city parks such as Bruning Park, Noble Field, the Aquatic Center, and the City Lake. He felt that this ability to enact ordinances is consistent with fundamentals for self-determination…..”
Commissioner Schmitt made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Shamburg, to approve the Consent Agenda with the corrections to the minutes as noted. Motion carried. 3 ayes.
3. Presentation of petitions, public comments, memorials.
There were no petitions, public comments, or memorials.
4. Recognize Dennis Hartter, Streets and Parks Superintendent, for 15 years of service.
Mayor Gernon and the Commission expressed their appreciation to Dennis Hartter for his fifteen years of service with the City of Hiawatha.
Old Business
There was no old business.
New Business
5. Appointment of Peggy LaCounte as a Morrill Public Library Trustee.
Commissioner Shamburg made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Schmitt, to approve the request to appoint Peggy LaCounte to fill the open position on the Library Board of Trustees. Motion carried. 3 ayes.
6. Appointment of Paula Starr as a Morrill Public Library Trustee.
Commissioner Shamburg made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Schmitt, to approve the request to reappoint Paula Starr to a second term on the Library Board of Trustees. Motion carried. 3 ayes.
7. Consider approval to allow administrator to apply for a grant from the Bureau of Waste Management for assistance in the purchase of new playground surfacing materials for the City parks playground areas.
Administrator Lynne Ladner explained that the Bureau of Waste Management, a division of the Department of Health and Environment, is soliciting applications for the Waste Tire Grant Program for SFY 2008. This grant would pay for 50% of the cost to purchase and install new playground surfacing materials at the City’s parks playgrounds including Bruning Park, Kiddie Corral, City Lake, Starr Park, and the park at Cheyenne and Fourth Street.
She asked permission to submit a grant to the state for help with the purchase of new playground surfacing. She said that Terry Smith, Recreation Director, is calculating how much of the surfacing material would be needed. The cost of the material needed and available funding would dictate the amount of grant money requested at the 50% cost.
She also said that the Kiwanis Foundation has indicated that they would do some work at Kiddie Corral.
Rance Hixson, on behalf of the Kiwanis Foundation, said that they would like to have input from the young ladies who worked so hard on the Boundless Playground grant application, if they would be interested. They would also like to work with Terry Smith to put together a good project.
Commissioner Schmitt made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Shamburg, to approve the request to apply for the grant from the Bureau of Waste Management for new playground surfacing materials. Motion carried. 3 ayes.
8. Consider approval to allow administrator to solicit bids for the redesign and updating of City website.
Administrator Ladner explained that the City’s website is in need of updating and redesign. She has been approached by community organizations that would like to update or create websites and have them linked to the City’s website. She asked permission of the Commission to solicit bids for the redesign and update of the City’s website.
Commissioner Schmitt made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Shamburg, to approve the request to solicit bids for the redesign and updating of the City’s website. Motion carried. 3 ayes.
9. Consider approval to allow administrator to solicit bids for the replacement of the A/C unit for City Hall.
Administrator Ladner explained that the A/C unit that services City Hall has had a difficult time in working properly for the past couple of years. The unit is in need of replacement prior to the high season for use so that there does not come a time when the building is without a cooling unit. This item has been budgeted for 2007 year.
She had specifications drawn up by a local firm for both an A/C unit and heating unit. She would like to take bids on Option 1, the A/C unit by itself, and Option 2, the A/C unit combined with a heating unit.
Commissioner Schmitt made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Shamburg, to approve the request to solicit bids for the new A/C unit using options 1 and 2 as recommended by the city administrator. Motion carried. 3 ayes.
10. Consider approval to move forward with rear parking lot improvements at the Law Enforcement Center.
Administrator Ladner explained that the dirt parking lot to the rear of the Law Enforcement Center creates a considerable mess when the weather is wet. It also makes it difficult for the LEC to be handicapped accessible when it is muddy. The Street Department has reviewed the project and has the ability to put a hard surface on the parking lot. This project has been budgeted for fiscal year 2007. She asked permission to have the Street Department proceed with this project.
Dennis Hartter, Street Superintendent, explained that they planned to lay a six-inch concrete slab for the parking lot.
Commissioner Shamburg made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Schmitt, to approve the request to move forward with improving the rear parking lot of the Law Enforcement Center with a hard surface. Motion carried. 3 ayes.
11. Consider approval to move forward with alley replacement south of the Post Office.
Administrator Ladner explained that the 2007 budget includes the funds to do an alley replacement project. The proposed alley is located south of the Post Office. The Street Department needs to plan their project schedule so that they are able to successfully utilize all staff members and summer help to maximize effectiveness. Permission to move forward with this project would enable the department to start on the project early in the summer to ensure that it is completed in a timely manner.
Dean Tollefson said that it was his understanding that the next alley project to be done was the 500 block alley, and then the 800 block.
Dennis Hartter explained that alley south of the Post Office has wire showing and was creating a hazard for those using the alley.
Commissioner Schmitt made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Shamburg, to approve the request to move forward with the alley replacement project for the alley located south of the Post Office. Motion carried. 3 ayes.
12. Consider approval to purchase 400 lamps for the Post Lantern Streetlight project.
Administrator Ladner explained that the City has received several quotes for the lamps (light bulbs) for the Post Lantern Streetlight fixtures. The low bid for the lamps was Kriz-Davis at $19.00 per lamp.
She asked the Commission to approve the purchase of 400 lamps at $19 each for a total of $7600.
Mayor Gernon asked Administrator Ladner to check to be sure they were not included in the original bid.
Administrator Ladner said that she and Rick Koenig, Lights Superintendent, thought that the lamps were a separate line item. She suggested that the Commission approve the purchase contingent on reviewing the original bid quote. She indicated that since the Kris-Davis bid would expire April 24, a decision needed to be made at this meeting.
Commissioner Shamburg made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Schmitt, to approve the request to purchase 400 lamps for the Post Lantern Streetlight Project from Kris-Davis at $19 per lamp, for a total of $7600, with that purchase contingent upon determination of whether or not the lamps were included in the purchase from Sternberg Lighting. Motion carried. 3 ayes.
13. Lynne Ladner, City Administrator.
Administrator Ladner noted that the sale of the property at 909 Shawnee was completed. She said that the Commission needed to authorize the Mayor and City Clerk to sign the deed.
Commissioner Schmitt made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Shamburg, to authorize the Mayor and the City Clerk to sign the deed on the property at 909 Shawnee. Motion carried. 3 ayes.
Administrator Ladner reminded the Commission that they had authorized last week the purchase of a dump truck using a lease/purchase program. Hiawatha National Bank would be willing to do this, and at a slight savings over the bid from Daimler Chrysler Truck. She would like permission to move forward and authorize the mayor to sign the lease agreement.
Commissioner Schmitt asked if all the local banks had been contacted concerning this lease/purchase. Administrator Ladner said that it was her understanding that the other banks were not interested in doing a lease/purchase agreement but had not actually contacted each of them.
Ed Sourk, Silver Lake Bank, said that he would be interested.
Commissioner Schmitt said that the City was obligated in giving the other banks the opportunity to bid on this. Administrator Ladner said that she would contact the other banks.
She also told the Commission that the pump tests for the fire trucks were due again at a cost of $225 per truck. She said that the company had agreed to do the tests in Hiawatha and have other communities around Hiawatha bring their trucks here for the testing to save on mileage. She would like permission to move forward with these tests. The Commission agreed to allow it.
Administrator Ladner asked how much to price the new Municipal Code book if anyone wants to purchase one. Mayor Gernon said to check with copying firms to see how much they would charge to make copies of the book. There will be a copy at the public library.
She also noted that the Lake Project Grant has been completed and as soon as the bills are all in, they will be applying for the reimbursement.
She said that the City had received a thank-you note from the Handicap Playground group, Sophia Fortmeyer, Bryn Wright, Sammie Shamburg and Nancy Jackson. She said that they were interested in helping with the Kiwanis Foundation.
She told the Commission that she would be gone from Wednesday afternoon until next Monday, but would be available by cell-phone and e-mail in case anything came up.
She reported that Dave Grimm and she had met with Helen Sourk on the sewer issue at 711 Oregon. Dave’s recommendation was to abate at least one-half of the sewer charge.
Mrs. Sourk noted that the pit in the basement was not hooked into the city sewer. She said that Novak & Lay had documented that prior to her purchase of the building. She said that the water had not reached the manhole outside, but had run onto the grass in the back of the building and soaked in. She felt that none of the leaked water had gone into the city sewer system.
Mayor Gernon suggested that they wait until a full commission was present to make a decision. He would also like to visit with Dave one more time.
Administrator Ladner showed the Commission a proposed new format for the city’s building permits to better track and facilitate the permits. She would like to get quotes done to get these made up. The Commission agreed to allow this.
14. Mayor Gernon.
15. Com. William Collins.
16. Com. Curtis Gamble.
17. Com. Marianne Schmitt.
Commissioner Schmitt asked about the water rate study. Administrator Ladner noted that Lynette Grier, Utility Billing Clerk, is still working on the spreadsheet.
She asked the status of the burned house at Sixth and Pottawatomie. Administrator Ladner indicated that Malcolm Grier, Code Enforcement Officer, is pressuring the insurance company and the owners to get it demolished. Commissioner Schmitt asked that he stay on top of that.
18. Com. Steffen Shamburg.
19. Adjourn.
Commissioner Shamburg made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Schmitt, to adjourn. Motion carried. 3 ayes. Meeting adjourned at 6:19 p.m.