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CITY COUNCIL MEETING

December 5, 2011

5:15 P.M.

The city council met in adjourned session from the meeting of November 21, 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, Stephen Epperson, Beth Looney, Alvin Riley, Chantry Scott, Moran Tomson, and Ruthie Winget. 

Mayor Jack E. Rowden presided.

The minutes of the meetings of November 7, 2011 and November 21, 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 November, showing 11 new cases brought before the court and $2,948.00 remitted to the city.

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

CITY INSPECTOR

City Inspector Tony Martin presented his monthly activities report.

POWER SUPPLY

Stephen Epperson, with Pioneer Electric Cooperative, Inc., delivered the bad news that Pioneer Electric’s proposed contract with the city would result in the city paying 25% more for electricity than under the current contract that expires in May, 2012.  Mr. Epperson stated the structure of the current contract is being changed to level the rates municipalities are paying with the rates being paid by Pioneer’s other customers.  That change had been previously projected as a 17% increase.  The additional increase is a result of EPA requirements to lower emissions from Sunflower Electric Power Corporation’s generating facilities. Epperson explained the adders in the new contract are used for equity to enable Sunflower to borrow money for improvements. 

GOLF COURSE

Alvin Riley reported the golf course is going to be able to pump enough water to perfect the additional water rights at the golf course.

LICENSES

Motion by Councilman Kim Harper, seconded by Councilman Bob Mason, that cereal malt beverage licenses for calendar year 2012 be approved for White’s Kingco, Inc. at 113 W. 6th for sale in original and unopened containers and not for consumption on the premises and for China Restaurant Kansas, Inc. at 700 South Main Street for consumption on the premises.  In favor of the motion:  Councilmen Baughman, Eshbaugh, Harper, and Mason.  Opposed:  Councilman Gill.  Motion carried.

PERSONNEL

Motion by Kim Harper, seconded by Bob Mason, that Ordinance No. 787, AN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING AN ON-CALL TIME POLICY FOR EMPLOYEES OF THE CITY OF HUGOTON, KANSAS, REPEALING ORDINANCE NO. 656 AND REPEALING ALL OTHER ORDINANCES OR PARTS OF ORDINANCES IN CONFLICT HEREWITH, be passed.  Vote:  Baughman, yes; Eshbaugh, yes; Gill, yes; Harper, yes; and Mason, yes.  Motion carried.

FINANCE

Motion by Harper, seconded by Gill, that Resolution No. 2011-4, A RESOLUTION FINDING THAT GAAP-PRESCRIBED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ARE NOT RELEVANT TO REQUIREMENTS OF THE CASH BASIS AND BUDGET LAWS OF KANSAS AND ARE OF NO SIGNIFICANT VALUE TO THE GOVERNING BODY OR THE GENERAL PUBLIC OF THE CITY OF HUGOTON, KANSAS, be passed.  Motion carried.

TRAFFIC

Discussion returned to the issue of keeping non-local truck traffic off recently overlaid Washington Street and First Street and West City Limits.  The city council will try to meet with the county commissioners on December 19, 2011 to determine if the county has any plans to improve the bypass northwest of town to eliminate the stops and turns so through-trucks will use the bypass.

CITY CODES

No changes were suggested on the codification of city ordinances.  An ordinance adopting the codification will be presented at the year-end meeting.

PERSONNEL

City Clerk Thomas G. Hicks presented the city group’s 2012 Blue Cross and Blue Shield renewal.  Rates are going to decrease by 5.5% for single employees and employee/spouse, 4.8% for employee/dependents, and 4.4% for employees/children.  That overall 5% reduction is contingent on the city remaining grandfathered.  The non-grandfathered rates would be about 5% more.

PERSONNEL

In order to remain grandfathered, the city cannot decrease the percent of the premiums paid by the city for the members of the group by more than five percentage points from the 2010 amounts paid by the city.  Ordinance No. 750 sets an annual cap of $100,000.00 the city will contribute towards retired employees and eligible spouses health insurance premiums.  According to Ordinance No. 750, the amounts necessary to be paid by the 2012 non-employee participants in the group will exceed the five percent limitation.  Motion by Baughman, seconded by Mason, that in accordance with the annual review provision of Ordinance No. 750, the city will increase its share of the participation costs for 2012 to $119,500.00 for the retirees and eligible spouses, so the city can maintain grandfathered status.  Motion carried.

PERSONNEL

Motion by Baughman, seconded by Mason, to accept the grandfathered Blue Cross and Blue Shield rates as presented.  Motion carried.

Claims against the city were presented and audited.  Motion by Baughman, seconded by Gill, that Appropriation Ordinances No. 1947 and 1948 be passed.  Motion carried.

TRANSIENT GUEST TAX

Mayor Rowden presented a request from the board of convention and tourism activities to contribute $1,000.00 for pheasant hunting promotions.  Motion by Eshbaugh, seconded by Gill, to approve the request with the expenditure coming from the transient guest tax.  Motion carried.

Motion by Harper, seconded by Eshbaugh, that the meeting go into executive session in regard to personnel matters.  Motion carried.  Mayor Rowden called the meeting into executive session at 6:45 p.m. with the meeting to reconvene in open session at 6:50 p.m.

The meeting reconvened in open session at 6:51 p.m.

Motion by Gill, seconded by Eshbaugh, that the meeting be adjourned to December 27, 2011 at 5:15 p.m.  Motion carried.  

 

CITY COUNCIL MEETING

December 27, 2011

5:15 P.M.

The city council met in adjourned session from the meeting of December 5, 2011 with the following present:  Mayor Jack E. Rowden; Councilmen Gary Baughman, Mike Eshbaugh, Greg Gill, and Kim Harper.  Absent:  Councilman Bob Mason.

Others present were City Clerk Thomas G. Hicks, Chief of Police Courtney Leslie, City Inspector Tony Martin, Electric System Supervisor Gary Rowden, Alfredo Don Juan, and Ruthie Winget.

Mayor Jack E. Rowden presided.

FINANCE

At 5:15 p.m., the city council held a public hearing on amending the 2011 budget for the general fund.  No one appeared in connection with the budget hearing. The general fund budget is being increased from $1,950,000.00 to $2,065,000.00.  The budgets for the park department, police department, and golf course are being increased by $25,000.00, $20,000.00, and $70,000.00, respectively.  Motion by Councilman Kim Harper, seconded by Councilman Greg Gill, that the budget amendment be approved as published. 

The minutes of the meeting of December 5, 2011 were approved as mailed.

CHARGE OFFS

Motion by Kim Harper, seconded by Mike Eshbaugh, that uncollectible utility accounts in the amount of $3,292.64 be charged off with every effort made to collect the accounts.  Motion carried.

Councilman Gary Baughman arrived at 5:20 p.m.

CITIZEN’S REQUEST

Alfredo Don Juan asked the city council what steps would need to be taken to allow liquor-by-the-drink in the City of Hugoton.  The request will be referred to the city attorney for direction.

LICENSES

Motion by Harper, seconded by Eshbaugh, that cereal malt beverage licenses for calendar year 2012 be approved for Alco Discount Store #365 at 509 W. 11th Street, Express Lane #24 at 520 East 11th Street, and Presto #1602 at 1000 South Main Street for sale in original and unopened containers and not for consumption on the premises and for Don Juan Bar El Paisa at 608 S. Monroe Street for consumption on the premises.  In favor of the motion:  Councilmen Baughman, Eshbaugh, and Harper.  Opposed:  Councilman Gill.  Motion carried.

CITY CODES

Motion by Harper, seconded by Eshbaugh, that Ordinance No. 788, AN ORDINANCE ADOPTING THE CODIFICATION OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF HUGOTON, KANSAS, AUTHORIZED BY ORDINANCE NO. 494, PROVIDING FOR THE REPEAL OF CERTAIN OTHER ORDINANCES NOT INCLUDED THERIN, EXCEPTING CERTAIN ORDINANCES FROM REPEAL AND SAVING CERTAIN ACCRUED RIGHTS AND LIABILITIES, be passed.  Vote:  Councilman Baughman, yes; Councilman Eshbaugh, yes; Councilman Gill, yes; and Councilman Harper, yes.  Motion carried.

FINANCE

Motion by Baughman, seconded by Harper, that Resolution No. 2011-5, A RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING A CHARGE FOR CHECKS OR AUTOMATED CLEARING HOUSE TRANSFERS EXECUTED TO THE CREDIT OF THE CITY OF HUGOTON, KANSAS THAT ARE NOT HONORED BY THE CUSTOMER’S ASSOCIATED BANK, be passed.  Motion carried.

INSURANCE

A proposal for $86,129.00 was presented for the renewal of the boiler and machinery insurance policy to cover mechanical failures of the engines at the south power plant.  Motion by Councilman Baughman, seconded by Councilman Harper, that the city self-insure and not renew the boiler and machinery policy.  Motion carried.

WATER

Motion by Harper, seconded by Baughman, to authorize the mayor and city clerk to execute the quit claim deed for the city’s share of the irrigation water rights in the West one-half of Section Twenty (20), Township Thirty-Three (33) South, Range Thirty-Seven (37) West of the 6th p.m. to Abengoa Bioenergy Biomass of Kansas, LLC.  Motion carried.

PERSONNEL

Motion by Harper, seconded by Gill, to grant a 3.2% increase in salaries and wages, effective January 1, 2012 and that Resolution No. 2011-6, A RESOLUTION FIXING MONTHLY SALARIES AND HOURLY WAGES FOR EMPLOYEES AND OFFICERS OF THE CITY OF HUGOTON, KANSAS, be passed.  In favor of the motion:  Gill and Harper.  Opposed:  Baughman and Eshbaugh.  Mayor Rowden cast the deciding vote in favor of the motion.  Motion carried.

Claims against the city were presented and audited.  Motion by Harper, seconded by Gill, that Appropriation Ordinance No. 1949 be passed.  Motion carried.

Motion by Harper, seconded by Gill, that the meeting go into executive session in regard to personnel matters.  Motion carried.  Rowden called the meeting into executive session at 6:32 p.m. with the meeting to reconvene in open session at 6:42 p.m.

The meeting reconvened in open session at 6:40 p.m.

Motion by Harper, seconded by Gill, that the meeting be adjourned to January 9, 2012 at 5:15 p.m.  Motion carried.

 

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