The city council met in adjourned session from the meeting of January 31, 2008 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 Steve Lewis, City Inspector Tony Martin, City Attorney Wayne R. Tate, Dave Bozone, Patty Bultman, Ashley Fiss, Dave Gustafson, Glenda Hart, Nathan Holman, Joe Holmes, Ron Keller, Joel Krosschell, Jan Leonard, O.D. Littrell, Lalane McClure, Brad Musgrove, Richy Shuck, and Robin Sullivan.

Mayor Jack E. Rowden presided.

The minutes of the meetings of January 7, 2008; January 21, 2008; and January 31, 2008 were approved as mailed.

Each member of the governing body was presented a copy of Municipal Judge Sherri Leonard’s report for the month of January, showing 46 new cases brought before the court and $3,610.00 remitted to the city.

City Inspector Tony Martin provided a monthly activities report.

Richy Shuck, with Heritage Christian Academy, asked the city council to consider giving the school a break on its electric rates or for guidance on any changes the school could make to cut down on its electric bill.

Councilman Bob Mason arrived at 5:27 p.m.

Electric System Supervisor Gary Rowden reported he had been studying the first year’s billing history since the implementation of the demand meter billing system for commercial customers with at least a 45 KvA transformer. Rowden suggested the demand meter billing be changed to apply to those commercial customers with a transformer size of 75 KvA or greater. Motion by Councilman Gary Baughman, seconded by Councilman Bob Mason, to table the matter for further review. Motion carried.

Members of the downtown improvement committee encouraged the city council to move forward with the KDOT Transportation Enhancement Application. Joel Krosschell, with Evans, Bierly, Hutchison & Associates, circulated drawings of the planned improvements and pictures of streetscape projects completed in other communities. The revised estimated cost of the project is $1,600,000.00. The city is responsible for 100 percent of the engineering for surveying and designing the project and 20 percent of the project costs. That total is estimated to be $481,139.13. The consensus of the council was to pursue the grant.

Nathan Holman, with United Prairie Ag, met with the city council to discuss the agreement between the city and UPA on the unit train. Holman stated he had not been able to find a vendor who would guarantee a remote-controlled system to activate the barricade signal lights. His preference would be to have UPA employees manually set and activate the lights at each of the six warning locations. Holman also presented a sample sign UPA has erected. The sign is smaller than the agreement specifies. Holman was instructed to add "when flashing" to the wording on the sign and to use the agreement’s specification as a minimum sign size. Suggestions were offered as to other means for remote-controlled activation. Holman will continue to work on meeting the terms and conditions of the agreement. If unable to do so, another meeting between the parties will be held to discuss any remaining issues.

Joe Holmes, who resides at 801 S. Madison, requested a stop sign be erected to slow down traffic on Eighth Street. Motion by Bob Mason, seconded by Greg Gill, that a stop sign be erected at the intersection of Eighth and Monroe Streets to stop the east and west traffic. Motion carried.

Bids were opened for the sale of two, 14-foot meeting room tables.

Citizens State Bank Stevens Co. Museum

Solid table $351.00 $357.00

Split table $127.00 each

Motion by Councilman Harper, seconded by Councilman Eshbaugh, to accept the bids of the Stevens County Museum. Motion carried.

Bids were opened for the sale of two, used mowers.

1997 Snapper 1998 Snapper

Jan Crawford $1,003.00 $1,501.00

David L. Helget $1,850.00

Jan Leonard $ 659.00

Tony Martin $ 901.00 $ 901.00

Will Schnittker $ 917.21 $1,233.11

Phillip Willis $ 500.00 $ 800.00

Motion by Harper, seconded by Gill, to accept the bid of David L. Helget for the 1997 Snapper and the bid of Jan Crawford for the 1998 Snapper. Motion carried.

PERSONNEL

City Clerk Thomas G. Hicks presented a revised ordinance on continued medical insurance coverage for retirees. Motion by Harper, seconded by Gill, to table discussion of the ordinance to allow the city council time to review the document.

Claims against the city were presented and audited. Motion by Gill, seconded by Harper, that Appropriation Ordinances No. 1855 and 1856 be passed. Motion carried.

Motion by Baughman, 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 7:51 p.m. with the meeting to reconvene in open session at 8:15 p.m.

The meeting reconvened in open session at 8:16 p.m.

Motion by Harper, seconded by Baughman, to raise the starting wages for non-certified police officers to $13.00 per hour and the starting wages of certified police officers to $13.64 per hour. Motion carried.

Motion by Harper, seconded by Eshbaugh, to employ David Goetzinger as a patrolman at a rate of $13.00 per hour, effective March 3, 2008. Motion carried.

Motion by Councilman Gary Baughman, seconded by Councilman Greg Gill, to restructure the salaries of the city council and mayor to $85.00 per week and $625.00 per month, respectively, effective February 11, 2008. In favor of the motion: Councilmen Baughman, Eshbaugh, and Gill. Opposed: Councilmen Harper and Mason. Motion carried.

Motion by Baughman, seconded by Eshbaugh, that the meeting be adjourned to March 10, 2008 at 5:15 p.m. Motion carried.