January, 2010
January 11, 2010
The Ellsworth City Council met in regular session on the above date at 7:00 P.M. in the Council Chambers at City Hall.
Mayor Stephen Bahan called the meeting to order. Council members present were Irene Pacey, Alan Stefek, John Whitmer, Mary Wires and Cole Worrell.
Also in attendance were Timothy Vandall, City Administrator; Carey Hipp, City Attorney; David Smith, Chief of Police; Harold Waymaster and Jim Beauchamp, Water/Sewer Department; Linda Denning, Ellsworth County Independent Reporter and David Cranston, Kirkham Michael.
The first item of the meeting was the consent agenda consisting of the minutes from the December 28, 2009 meeting and Claims Ordinance #A01-1209. Cole Worrell motioned to approve the consent agenda. John Whitmer seconded the motion. When put to vote all vote aye. Motion carried.
David Cranston, Kirkham Michael Engineers addressed Council. Discussion centered on the ground cover of an exposed pipe. Once the pipe has been covered there is a concern dirt may wash down into the clarifier. A guard rail will need to be installed to avoid the problem. If the guard rail cannot be installed by the Water/Sewer Department a change order will be necessary to complete this part of the project. The refurbishing of the shed located at the ponds will be completed by City employees.
Timothy Vandall, City Administrator, reported the Downtown Streetscape project is almost complete. A large section of concrete still needs to be poured at EES. Mr. Vandall also noted many of the light poles have been installed in the wrong locations and several do not have banner arms. These problems fall to the contractor to correct if the poles were properly marked on the plans. Mr. Vandall recommended removing the banner arms extending from the poles on 1st and 2nd Streets to allow clearance for taller vehicles. Mr. Vandall was instructed to contact the architect requesting he share the cost for the area on E. First Street that was not included in the project. Mr. Vandall then noted bricks for the project will continue to be sold. They will be laid once annually by the Street Department. Cole Worrell inquired if some of the traffic signs within the project need to be moved. Mr. Vandall will contact the Street Superintendent concerning the signs.
The 2010 Pay Plan was tabled until later in the meeting.
Following review by Council, Alan Stefek motioned to approve Pay Request #7 from APAC-Kansas, Inc., Shears Division. Irene Pacey seconded the motion. When put to vote all vote aye. Motion carried. Cole Worrell motioned to approve Pay Request #4 from Heartsone, Inc. Mary Wires seconded the motion. When put to vote all vote aye. Motion carried.
Alan Stefek motioned to approve the letter of understanding with Clubine Rettle to perform the audit of the 2009 financial statements of the City. Irene Pacey seconded the motion. When put to vote all vote aye. Motion carried.
Mr. Vandall then distributed 3 bids for a greens mower. Golf Course personnel recommended the purchase of the Toro brand mower. Funds were budgeted in Municipal Equipment for this purchase. Alan Stefek motioned to approve the purchase of the Toro greens mower. Cole Worrell seconded the motion. When put to vote all vote aye. Motion carried.
Mr. Vandall next volunteered to take the Mayor and Council members to the Wastewater Treatment Plant to observe the work being done. Mr. Vandall then reviewed a proposal from Benefit Management Incorporated. Council requested a representative from the company attend the next meeting.
Mr. Vandall informed the Council over the next few weeks he will be reviewing the 2009 ending balances in depth. He also reported Quarterly Safety meeting are again being implemented. The meetings may save the City up to 5% on Workers Compensation Insurance. Also as renovations wrap up at the Police Department they will begin at the Golf Course meeting room. Ceramic tile will replace the current laminate flooring.
Mr. Vandall has spoken with Don Cikank in reference to his inoperable vehicles and motor boats. Mr. Cikank will be attending the next Council meeting.
Mr. Vandall then requested each Council member consider their top 3 priorities for Capital Improvements and Municipal Equipment. These 2 funds are to be discussed at the recessed meeting on January 25th.
Alan Stefek motioned Council enter Executive Session with the City Administrator at 8:10 P.M. for the purpose of discussing non-elected personnel and the Council return to the regular meeting at 8:40 P.M. Irene Pacey seconded the motion. When put to vote all vote aye. Motion carried.
Council entered Executive Session at 8:10 P.M. and returned to the regular meeting at 8:40 P.M. Alan Stefek motioned to approve the 2010 Pay Plan with Council recommendations and that the merit increase percentages on the Pay Plan are not mandatory but suggested only. Irene Pacey seconded the motion. When put to vote all vote aye. Motion carried.
John Whitmer motioned to approve a merit increase for David Dolezal. Alan Stefek seconded the motion. When put to vote all vote aye. Motion carried. John Whitmer next motioned to approve a merit increase for DeAnne Hoch. Irene Pacey seconded the motion. When put to vote all vote aye. Motion carried. Alan Stefek then motioned to approve a merit increase for George Ward. Irene Pacey seconded the motion. When put to vote all vote aye. Motion carried. The last motion was made by Alan Stefek to approve a merit increase for Harold Waymaster. Mary Wires seconded the motion. When put to vote all vote aye. Motion carried.
There being no further business on proper motion the meeting was recessed until January 25, 2010.
Patti L. Booher
City Clerk
January 25, 2010
The Ellsworth City Council met in recessed session on the above date at 7:00 P.M. in the Council Chambers at City Hall.
Mayor Stephen Bahan called the meeting to order. Council members present were Irene Pacey, Alan Stefek, John Whitmer, Mary Wires and Cole Worrell.
Also in attendance were Timothy Vandall, City Administrator; Carey Hipp, City Attorney; Adam Larsen, Water/Sewer Superintendent; Jon Halbgewachs, Kirkham Michael Engineers; Harold Waymaster, Water/Sewer Department; Dallas Scrip, Benefit Management, Inc.; John Kerschner and Linda Denning, Ellsworth County Independent Reporter.
The Clerk presented a request for an extension of a Water/Sewer termination. Irene Pacey motioned to approve the request. John Whitmer seconded the motion. When put to vote all vote aye. Motion carried.
Alan Stefek motioned to approve the consent agenda consisting of the minutes of the January 11, 2010 meeting. Cole Worrell seconded the motion. When put to vote all vote aye. Motion carried.
Don Cikanek addressed Council in reference to the nuisance located on his property. Mr. Cikanek was requesting an extension to remove the nuisance. Council instructed the City Attorney to prepare a resolution for consideration at the next meeting to abate the nuisance. Council will choose the time frame to include in the resolution at the meeting.
Dallas Scrip, Benefit Management Inc., presented information on a Health Reimbursement Administration Option Plan to decrease the expense the City pays for health insurance. The plan would increase the deductible for health insurance. The City would assume the difference between the $1000 to $2500 deductible. Mr. Scrip reviewed examples of the risk the City would assume. Following discussion Council took no action.
Jon Halbgewachs next addressed Council. Mr. Halbgewachs reviewed progress at the WWTP. The first concern is the ground cover over a 10” return pipe. Mr. Halbgewachs assured Council the coverage is adequate. Another concern is a swale in the same line. Mr. Halbgewachs will direct the contractor to straighten the line prior to completion of the project. The next item of concern was keeping soil from the coverage from washing into the clarifier. Mr. Halbgewachs did not believe the soil would create a problem. A possible correction would be to install a short retaining wall/barricade. Council requested Mr. Halbgewachs research options and report back. Mr. Halbgewachs also informed Council it will take some time for the biological processes to begin working once the project is complete. It could possibly take 6 months to a year to be within KDH&E requirements.
Tim Vandall, City Administrator, distributed copies of change orders to date for the Streetscape project. Numerous problems have been reported with recently installed electric poles. Not all poles on Douglas Avenue have banner arms. The manufacturer has recommended adding banner arms to them. The manufacturer would cover the expense of the placement, but the arms would not match. Another recommendation was to move the poles with banner arms from side streets to Douglas Avenue. An additional problem is not all poles have electricity. A change order of approximately $14,000 would be necessary to put electric sockets on roughly ½ of the poles.
Irene Pacey submitted her priorities for Capital Improvements and Municipal Equipment. Alan Stefek inquired if the new lift station is operable. There is one minor problem with the station, but it is being addressed by the contractor.
Irene Pacey then motioned Council enter Executive Session with the City Administrator, at 8:40 P.M. for the purpose of discussing non-elected personnel and the Council return to the recessed meeting at 8:50 P.M. Cole Worrell seconded the motion. When put to vote all vote aye. Motion carried.
Council entered Executive Session at 8:40 P.M. and returned to the recessed meeting at 8:50 P.M. Alan Stefek motioned to approve a merit increase, as recommended by the City Administrator, for Clarissa Cunningham based on her annual review. Irene Pacey seconded the motion. When put to vote all vote aye. Motion carried.
There being no further business on proper motion the meeting was adjourned until February 8, 2010.
Patti L. Booher
