The city council met in special session with the following present: Mayor Neal R. Gillespie; Councilmen Gary Baughman, Greg Gill, Gary Gold, Kim Harper, and Bob Mason.

Others present were Outside Utilities Supervisor Dean Banker, City Clerk Thomas G. Hicks, Electric System Supervisor Gary Rowden, and Sherry Goering.

The purposes of the special meeting were to review year-end finances, to consider paying off the debt on the electric interconnect line, to consider a proposal from the recreation commission on the operation of the swimming pool, to discuss retiree’s health insurance, and to discuss personnel matters.

Mayor Neal R. Gillespie presided.

City Clerk Thomas G. Hicks presented a year-end review of the finances in the general operating fund. The cash position has improved by $75,404.69. That increase is a result of an additional $30,938.79 in sales tax revenue and of a savings of $46,037.62 in eliminating the transfers to the street machinery replacement fund.

Councilman Gary Baughman arrived at 5:35 p.m.

The city clerk reported a loss of $297,027.39 in the electric fund in 2006. The city paid an additional $596,405.14 to Pioneer Electric for electricity purchases. The average cost per kWh for electricity purchased in 2006 was 5.6724 cents, an increase of 1.5488 cents over 2005. That increase was not passed on to the city’s electric customers. The city’s rates will have to provide additional revenue in 2007.

The city clerk reported funds are on hand to retire the city’s debt with Pioneer Electric on the financing of the interconnect line. Motion by Councilman Baughman, seconded by Councilman Mason, to authorize the payment of $550,713.99 to retire the debt. Motion carried. The city will save $190,954.69 in interest costs. The debt was not scheduled to pay out until May, 2017.

The recreation commission has presented a proposal for the operation of the swimming pool. No action was taken. A joint meeting will be scheduled between the city council and recreation commission.

Motion by Gary Gold, seconded by Gary Baughman, that the meeting go into executive session in regard to personnel matters. Motion carried. Mayor Gillespie called the meeting into executive session at 6:11 p.m. with the meeting to reconvene in open session at 6:41 p.m.

The meeting reconvened in open session at 6:41 p.m.

Motion by Bob Mason, seconded by Gary Baughman, that the meeting go into executive session in regard to personnel matters. Motion carried. Gillespie called the meeting into executive session at 7:25 p.m. with the meeting to reconvene in open session at 7:40 p.m.

The meeting reconvened in open session at 7:40 p.m.

Motion by Baughman, seconded by Gold, that the meeting be adjourned to February 5, 2007 at 5:15 p.m. Motion carried.

CITY COUNCIL MEETING

January 8, 2007

5:15 P.M.

The city council met in adjourned session from the meeting of December 26, 2006 with the following present:  Mayor Neal R. Gillespie; Councilmen Gary Baughman, Greg Gill, Gary Gold, Kim Harper, and Bob Mason.

Others present were City Inspector Vernon Anderson, Outside Utilities Supervisor Dean Banker, City Clerk Thomas G. Hicks, Chief of Police Steve Lewis, Electric System Supervisor Gary Rowden, City Attorney Wayne R. Tate, Dwayne Anderson, Richard Barnes, Jon Galle, Sherry Goering, Rick Hawkins, Mike Schechter, and Felix Trujillo.

Mayor Neal R. Gillespie presided.

The minutes of the meeting of December 26, 2006 were approved as mailed.

Councilman Kim Harper arrived at 5:17 p.m.

Each member of the governing body was provided a copy of Municipal Judge Kay Gill’s report for the month of December, showing 35 new cases brought before the court and $2,490.00 remitted to the city.

INSPECTOR

Each member of the governing body was provided a copy of City Inspector Vernon Anderson’s monthly activities report.

EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS

Stevens County Emergency Preparedness Director Mike Schechter approached the governing body about allowing Power Plants Foreman Richard Barnes to apply to serve on an incident management team through the Department of Homeland Security.  If selected, a two-year commitment and 100 hours of training would be required.  The city would be responsible for Mr. Barnes’ regular wages while away at training.  If deployed to a disaster, the city would be responsible for Mr. Barnes’ wages but would be reimbursed by FEMA.  Motion by Councilman Greg Gill, seconded by Councilman Bob Mason, that the city supports Mr. Barnes serving on an incident management team and accepts the obligations of such service.  Motion carried.

Councilman Gary Baughman arrived at 5:40 p.m.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Motion by Councilman Gold, seconded by Councilman Gill, that Ordinance No. 743, AN ORDINANCE EXEMPTING CERTAIN PROPERTY IN THE CITY OF HUGOTON, KANSAS FROM AD VALOREM TAXATION FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PURPOSES, be passed.  Vote:  Baughman, yes; Gill, yes; Gold, yes; Harper, yes; and Mason, yes.  Motion carried.

RETIREES

Several retired city employees were present to express their displeasure with the city council’s preliminary action at the December 26, 2006 meeting to require retirees’ to start paying a portion of their health insurance coverage.  Such action would be a hardship on their fixed incomes.  Motion by Baughman, seconded by Harper, to table the issue.  Motion carried.

PERSONNEL

A discussion was held on the city’s use-it-or-lose-it vacation policy.  With many city employees using up the remainder of their vacation in December, the city’s manpower to respond to the last two ice storms and the resulting damage was not full strength.  The consensus of the governing body was that in the case of emergency situations, city employees are expected to report for duty and if such emergency occurs at year-end, vacations may be carried over to the next year.

Claims against the city were presented and audited.  Motion by Harper, seconded by Gill, that Appropriation Ordinance No. 1830 be passed.  Motion carried.

Motion by Gold, seconded by Mason, that the meeting go into executive session in regard to personnel matters.  Motion carried.  Mayor Gillespie called the meeting into executive session at 6:40 p.m. with the meeting to reconvene in open session at 7:00 p.m.

The meeting reconvened in open session at 6:58 p.m.

PERSONNEL

Motion by Gold, seconded by Baughman, to confirm the hiring of Bryon Koehn as a master pat rolman in the police department at a rate of $13.42 per hour.  Motion carried.

BIDS

The chief of police was directed to get bids on leasing two new pat rol cars.

Motion by Gill, seconded by Mason, that the meeting go into executive session in regard to personnel matters.  Motion carried.  Gillespie called the meeting into executive session at 7:00 p.m. with the meeting to reconvene in open session at 7:30 p.m.

The meeting reconvened in open session at 7:30 p.m.

Motion by Harper, seconded by Gill, that the meeting go into executive session in regard to personnel matters.  Motion carried.  Gillespie called the meeting into executive session at 7:30 p.m. with the meeting to reconvene in open session at 8:00 p.m.

The meeting reconvened in open session at 8:00 p.m.

Motion by Baughman, seconded by Harper, that the meeting be adjourned to February 5, 2007 at 5:15 p.m.   Motion carried.

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