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CITY COUNCIL MEETING

April 11, 2011

5:15 P.M.

The city council met in adjourned session from the meeting of March 7, 2011 with the following present:  Mayor Jack E. Rowden; Councilmen Gary Baughman, Mike Eshbaugh, Greg Gill, Kim Harper, and Bob Mason.

Others present were Outside Utilities Supervisor Dean Banker, City Clerk Thomas G. Hicks, Chief of Police Courtney Leslie, City Inspector Tony Martin, Electric System Supervisor Gary Rowden, City Attorney Wayne R. Tate, Gary Baker, Don Beesley, Dave Bozone, Mary Carson, Andy and Mary Chappell, Mark Crawford, Robert Floyd, Neal Gillespie, Jan Leonard, Mark Newton, Neil Olivier, Lizann Shugart, Paul Stoner, and Ruthie Winget.

Mayor Jack E. Rowden presided.

PERSONNEL

City Clerk Thomas G. Hicks administered the oaths of office to re-elected Mayor Jack E. Rowden and re-elected Councilmen Mike Eshbaugh and Bob Mason.

Councilman Gary Baughman arrived at 5:17 p.m.

BIDS

Bids were considered for General Obligation Bonds for permanent financing on the milling and blacktopping of Washington Street from First to Eleventh Street and First Street from Main to Harrison Street, on the installation of new pumps at the main sewer lift station at Second and Adams, and on purchasing the water rights acquired by Stevens County as a part of the new Pioneer Manor project.

    Citizens State Bank                    2.410470%

    Country Club Bank                     2.971253%

    DeWaay Financial Network     3.199740%

    First National Bank                    2.645145%

Motion by Councilman Mike Eshbaugh, seconded by Councilman Bob Mason, to accept the bid of Citizens State Bank.  In favor of the motion:  Councilmen Baughman, Eshbaugh, and Mason.  Abstained:  Councilman Harper.  Motion carried.

FINANCE

Motion by Kim Harper, seconded by Gary Baughman, that Ordinance No. 777, AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF HUGOTON, KANSAS, AUTHORIZING ISSUANCE OF THE CITY’S GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS, SERIES 2011, IN THE AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF $1,265,000.00, TO FINANCE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CITY; PROVIDING FOR THE LEVY AND COLLECTION OF AN ANNUAL TAX TO PAY PRINCIPAL OF AND INTEREST ON THE BONDS; AUTHORIZING OTHER DOCUMENTS, COVENANTS AND ACTIONS WITH RESPECT THERETO, be passed.  Vote:  Councilman Baughman, yes; Councilman Eshbaugh, yes; Councilman Harper, yes; and Councilman Mason, yes.  Motion carried.

FINANCE

Motion by Baughman, seconded by Eshbaugh, that Resolution No. 2011-1, A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE SALE AND DELIVERY AND PRESCRIBING THE FORM AND DETAILS OF GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS, SERIES 2011, IN THE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF $1,265,000.00, OF THE CITY OF HUGOTON, KANSAS, PREVIOUSLY AUTHORIZED BY ORDINANCE NO. 777 OF THE CITY; MAKING CERTAIN COVENANTS AND AGREEMENTS TO PROVIDE FOR THE PAYMENT AND SECURITY THEREOF; AND AUTHORIZING OTHER DOCUMENTS AND ACTIONS RELATED THERETO, be passed.  Motion carried.

The minutes of the meeting of March 7, 2011 were approved as mailed.

Each member of the governing body was provided a copy of Municipal Judge Sherri Leonard’s report for the month of March, showing 24 new cases brought before the court and $4,565.35 remitted to the city.

INSPECTOR

City Inspector Tony Martin presented his monthly activities report.

STREETS

Don Beesley and Mark Crawford, representing USD 210, presented a plan for the construction of a new baseball field and a practice infield on property the school purchased behind Alco.  The planning commission is requiring Twelfth Street and Polk Street to be developed.  The area for Twelfth Street is currently an 88-foot right-of-way on an already recorded plat.  For Polk Street to continue south, it would split the school’s property.  School officials asked the city council to consider reducing the right-of-way for Twelfth Street to 60 feet and to allow Polk Street to curve to the east edge of the newly-acquired property.  Motion by Harper, seconded by Mason, to approve the school’s requests for the two streets.  Motion carried.

CITIZENS’ COMPLAINTS

City Inspector Tony Martin reported on his research to control the downtown area’s pigeon problem.  One possible solution to eventually reduce the pigeon population is to use OvoControl, a birth control for birds.  No action was taken.

CHARGE OFFS

Motion by Harper, seconded by Eshbaugh, that uncollectible utility accounts in the amount of $5,492.02 be charged off with every effort made to collect the accounts.  Motion carried.

TAX ABATEMENT

Lizann Shugart asked the city council to set a date and publish a notice for a public hearing on Great Plains Gas Compression’s request for tax abatement.  The city council agreed to set the hearing for 5:15 p.m. on Monday, May 9, 2011.

CITIZENS’ REQUESTS

Neil Olivier, speaking on behalf of the Dust Bowl Riders, asked the city council for permission to block off Sixth Street from the alley between Main and Monroe to Monroe Street from noon to midnight on Saturday, June 11 for the poker run festivities.  Motion by Harper, seconded by Eshbaugh, to grant the request.  Motion carried.

Councilman Greg Gill arrived at 6:10 p.m.

IMPROVEMENTS

EBH engineer Paul Stoner talked to the city council about a “Safe Routes for Schools” grant program administered through the Kansas Department of Transportation.  If selected as a recipient, the city would receive up to $15,000.00 in phase one planning and up to $250,000.00 in phase two construction and inspection.  There is no local match, but the city would be responsible for initial design and survey work.  Stoner estimated those expenses at $3,500.00.  The deadline for submission of the application is May 31, 2011.

IMPROVEMENTS

Stoner also discussed applying for a “Hike and Bike Trail” grant from the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks.  A tentative plan was presented to tie in a “Hike and Bike Trail” with the “Safe Routes for Schools” project to create a sizeable loop in town.  Expenses for the “Hike and Bike Trail” are paid 80% by the State and 20% by the locality.  The city would also be responsible for all of the design costs.

IMPROVEMENTS

Motion by Harper, seconded by Mason, that Jan Leonard and Courtney Leslie be appointed as the city’s representatives to serve on a committee to develop a “Safe Routes for Schools” application.  Up to three representatives from the school will complete the committee.  Motion carried.

INSURANCE

The city clerk presented values on the street lights, benches, trash receptacles, and sound system recently installed as a part of the streetscape project to be considered for insurance coverage.  The outside utilities supervisor presented a list of equipment to be considered for “replacement value” coverage on the city’s policy.  The city clerk was instructed to get quotes on the cost of the additions and changes.

ADDITIONS

The planning commission and Stevens County Commissioner’s (as owners) have approved the final plat of Pioneer Addition.  Motion by Councilman Harper, seconded by Councilman Eshbaugh, to accept the plat as presented.  Motion carried.

WATER

Motion by Harper, seconded by Eshbaugh, to approve the 2011 Water Conservation Plan.  Motion carried.

WATER

Motion by Harper, seconded by Gill, to approve the 2011 Water Emergency Plan.  Motion carried.

RECREATION COMMISSION

Mayor Rowden announced the appointment of Bobbi Talbert to the recreation commission.  Motion by Harper, seconded by Gill, to confirm the appointment, with term to expire in April, 2015.  Motion carried.

GOLF COURSE

Mayor Rowden announced the re-appointment of John Akers and Tony Hall to the golf course board.  Motion by Eshbaugh, seconded by Mason, to confirm the re-appointments, with terms to expire in April, 2014.  Motion carried.

IMPROVEMENTS

Consideration was given to instituting a funding match program for improving business facades along the streetscape route.   A sample of a grant application from the City of Liberal’s facade program was presented.  After discussion, the consensus was to utilize the remaining funds left over from money set aside for the Streetscape Project for the costs associated with the “Safe Routes for Schools” grant.

Claims against the city were presented and audited.  Motion by Mason, seconded by Eshbaugh, that Appropriation Ordinances No. 1931 and 1932 be passed.  Motion carried.

IMPROVEMENTS

Outside Utilities Supervisor Dean Banker presented a quote of $18,534.00 from McBride Construction, Inc. to replace the intersection at Fourth and West City Limits.  Motion by Harper, seconded by Mason, to accept the proposal.  Motion carried.

PARKS, BID

Mayor Rowden presented a quote for installing underground sprinkler systems in Raydene Park.  Motion by Harper, seconded by Gill, to accept the bid of $17,570.00 from Thomas Landscape to install a sprinkler system in the two west blocks of Raydene Park.  Motion carried.

CITY PROPERTY

City Attorney Wayne R. Tate discussed the proposed lease agreement with Verizon Wireless to locate a cellular phone tower on city property south of the shed at 411 S. Monroe. 

CITY PROPERTY

Motion by Mason, seconded by Gill, for the city attorney to prepare a real estate contract for the purchase of the property next to the main sewer lift station at Second and Adams for $15,000.00 and to authorize the mayor to execute the agreement.  Motion carried.

Motion by Eshbaugh, seconded by Harper, that the meeting go into executive session in regard to personnel matters.  Motion carried.  Mayor Rowden called the meeting into executive session at 8:00 p.m. with the meeting to reconvene in open session at 8:15 p.m.

The meeting reconvened in open session at 8:25 p.m.

PERSONNEL

Motion by Bob Mason, seconded by Greg Gill, to pull the letter of reprimand dated January 14, 2011 from the personnel file of Alan Thomas.  In favor of the motion:  Gill and Mason.  Opposed:  Baughman, Eshbaugh, and Harper.  Motion defeated.

Motion by Gill, seconded by Mason, that the meeting be adjourned to May 9, 2011 at 5:15 p.m.  Motion carried.

 

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