CITY OF HUGOTON

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CITY COUNCIL MEETING

June 7, 2010

5:15 P.M.

The city council met in adjourned session from the meeting of May 10, 2010 with the following present:  Councilmen Gary Baughman, Mike Eshbaugh, Kim Harper, and Bob Mason.  Absent:  Mayor Jack E. Rowden and Councilman Greg Gill.

Others present were Outside Utilities Supervisor Dean Banker, City Clerk Thomas G. Hicks, Municipal Judge Sherri Leonard, Chief of Police Courtney Leslie, City Inspector Tony Martin, Electric System Supervisor Gary Rowden, City Attorney Wayne R. Tate, Neal Gillespie, Kevin Powers, Alvin Riley, and Don Trentham.

“President of the Council” Kim Harper presided.

BIDS

Bids were considered for temporary notes to finance the milling and blacktopping of Washington Street from First to Eleventh Street and First Street from Main to Harrison Street and installing a new main sewer lift station at Second and Adams .

  DeWaay Financial Network          1.14899%

  First National Bank of Elkhart        2.34140%

  UMB Bank with                             1.47400%

    Citizens State Bank

Motion by Councilman Bob Mason, seconded by Councilman Gary Baughman, to accept the bid of DeWaay Financial Network.  Motion carried.

FINANCE

Motion by Eshbaugh, seconded by Baughman, that Resolution No. 2010-3, A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING ISSUANCE OF GENERAL OBLIGATION TEMPORARY NOTES, SERIES B, 2010 OF THE CITY OF HUGOTON, KANSAS, IN THE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF $440,000 FOR THE TEMPORARY FINANCING OF A PORTION OF THE COSTS OF CONSTRUCTION OF CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CITY; ESTABLISHING THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE TEMPORARY NOTES, be passed.  Motion carried.

The minutes of the meeting of May 10, 2010 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 May, showing 21 new cases brought before the court and $2,233.46 remitted to the city.

MUNICIPAL COURT

Municipal Judge Sherri Leonard presented a sampling of court costs from other cities.  She recommended increasing the City of Hugoton ’s court costs from $40.00 to $60.00.  Motion by Eshbaugh, seconded by Baughman, to accept the recommendation and that a charter ordinance and subsequent resolution be prepared to allow for the increase.

CITY INSPECTOR

City Inspector Tony Martin presented his monthly activities report. 

MANUFACTURED HOMES

The city inspector recommended amending the city’s manufactured home ordinance to require the owner of a double-wide being moved into town to also own the lot on which the double-wide is being located.  Relocating a double-wide from a rented lot is not an easy task. The inspector will get copies of ordinances from other cities for the city attorney to review.

STREETSCAPE IMPROVEMENT

The city has received a complaint from the business operator on the east side of the 600 block of Main Street where the mid-block crossing for the Streetscape Project will be located.  The planter in the bulb-out is directly in front of the complainer’s front door.  He does not want a tree to be placed in the planter.  The engineer on the project related that the original plans did not call for trees in the planters.  The trees were added after the plans were sent to the landscaper.  The engineer’s recommendation is to eliminate the trees at the mid-block crossings, so additional bushes and flowers can be planted to add seasonal colors, and to use the savings on the trees for cost overruns on the project.  Motion by Baughman, seconded by Mason, that trees be placed in the planters according to the final plans.  Motion carried.

GOLF COURSE

Alvin Riley and Don Trentham, representing the golf course board, reported the golf course is still having trouble with the sprinkler system.  The ongoing problem of gravel keeps some of the sprinkler heads from turning and causes some of the sprinkler heads to seep when the water is off.  Despite those issues, most of the course is now being adequately watered. 

GOLF COURSE

Riley and Trentham presented a proposed 2011 budget for the golf course for the council to review prior to the city’s budget process.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Economic Development Director Neal R. Gillespie provided documentation on Great Plains Gas Compression’s application for tax abatement for the 2007-2008 building expansion.  Motion by Councilman Baughman, seconded by Councilman Eshbaugh, to recommend granting the tax abatement.  Motion carried.  A public hearing on the application will now be scheduled.

TRAFFIC

The city clerk has received a complaint about a truck damaging the street in the 600 block of Third Street .  The truck is turning out of the alley and tearing up the blacktop.  While acknowledging the problem of trucks abusing streets meant for residential traffic, the council was not willing to take any kind of preventive action unless a secure site is developed as an alternative for local truckers to park their trucks.

CITY CODES

Electric System Supervisor Gary Rowden encouraged city officials to adopt an ordinance on wind generation and net metering.  Rowden has provided the city clerk with a sample ordinance being promoted by Kansas Municipal Utilities.

PLANNING COMMISSION

“President of the Council” Kim Harper reported Mayor Jack E. Rowden has recommended the re-appointment of Richard Rome, Tom Romero, and Tony Stegman to the planning commission.  Motion by Eshbaugh, seconded by Mason, to confirm the appointments, with terms to expire in June, 2013.  Motion carried.

BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS

Harper also reported the mayor has recommended the re-appointment of Darrin Hewitt and Tony Stegman to the board of zoning appeals.  Motion by Mason, seconded by Eshbaugh, to confirm the appointments, with terms to expire in June, 2013.  Motion carried.

Claims against the city were presented and audited.  Motion by Eshbaugh, seconded by Baughman, that Appropriation Ordinances No. 1911 and 1912 be passed.  Motion carried.

Motion by Eshbaugh, seconded by Baughman, that the meeting go into executive session in regard to personnel matters.  Motion carried.  “President of the Council” Kim Harper 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 6:47 p.m.

PERSONNEL

Motion by Mason, seconded by Baughman, to hire the most qualified applicant as recommended by the chief of police for the vacant patrolman’s position at a starting wage of $14.60 hr.  Motion carried.

PERSONNEL

Motion by Baughman, seconded by Mason, to promote Gene Johnson to police sergeant, effective June 8, 2010 at a wage of $18.42 hr.  Motion carried.

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