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City Contact Information:
City Office-414 Main St.
Clerk-Pat Strine, Office
913-833-4471
Email:
effcity@carsoncomm.com
City Manager-Buzz Faught
913-426-2853
Email:
bfaught2@hotmail.com
Emergencies Call
911
City
Council
phone
email
James Potts-Mayor 913-833-9381
overgoods@yahoo.com
Kirk Kloepper
913-833-5421
Todd Eckert
913-833-2865
Mark Hurst 913-833-5231
satch04002@yahoo.com
Robert Blunt
913-833-9351
Kirk Wohlgemuth 913-833-5435
CITY OF EFFINGHAM CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
MAY 5, 2010
COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT WERE: KIRK WOHLGEMUTH, BOB BLUNT, MARK HURST, KIRK
KLOEPPER AND TODD ECKERT. MAYOR JIM POTTS CALLED THE MEETING TO ORDER AT
7:00 P.M.
Blunt moved to accept the minutes of the previous meeting as written.
Wohlgemuth seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously.
Hurst moved to approve and pay the bills. Wohlgemuth seconded the motion.
The motion carried unanimously.
The city clerk reported that all final drawdown requests for the water
project have been submitted. Kramer has requested that the city pay
Engemann Drainage Co. $943.00 for repairing the fire hydrant at the water
tower. The payment can be taken from the city’s portion of the final
payments. This will be the final payment to Engemann. Kloepper moved to
pay Engemann Drainage Co. $943.00 for repair of the fire hydrant from city
funds. Eckert seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously.
Brandon Cummings was present and asked the council for permission to have a
beer garden on his property during the Atchison County Fair. He plans to
have a 50’ X 50’ area roped off for the beer garden and will use wristbands
to identify underage persons. The council told him to pick up an
application at the city and fill it out. They can consider it at the June
meeting.
City Superintendent, Buzz Faught gave his report to the council. He
reported that he took the old dump truck to Valley Falls to see what it
would cost to get it fixed. The truck’s rear-end is out and would cost
$5,200 to repair. There are several other problems with the truck that
would need to be repaired also. He has been offered $2,500.00 for the
motor. Kloepper moved to sell the dump truck’s motor and transmission and
scrap the truck. Eckert seconded the motion. The motion carried
unanimously.
Faught also reported that he will begin filling the swimming pool tomorrow.
The spreader box has been moved from the city’s lots on George Street and
hung up at the shop. He told the council that he bought a different street
sweeper for $975.00 and sold the old one, which was not working, for
$1,100.00. The water system chart recorder was malfunctioning, but has been
fixed. He reported that we have been receiving complaints about calcium in
the water and the water smelling bad. The amount of polyphosphate added to
the water has been increased to correct these problems.
Kloepper asked why we are spreading rock when we bid it out for hauling and
spreading. Faught told him that Martin does not have time to spread the
rock for us so he is spreading the rock himself and we are paying Martin the
lower bid for hauling the rock only. Kloepper also asked why he had not
been contacted about filling the ditch by High’s. He told Faught that most
of that ditch is on the lumber yard property and filling it has caused water
to stand there. Faught said he was told that Horsty was contacted and
agreed with filling the ditch. Faught was instructed to personally talk to
all property owners involved before undertaking similar jobs and get
permission in writing from them all to avoid future problems.
The Agreement for Use of Putthoff Park for Events was discussed. City
Attorney Buddenbohm said he will add that usage must end by 11:59 p.m. This
will keep usage within the same day. Wohlgemuth moved to set the charge for
use of the park at $100.00 per day. Eckert seconded the motion. The motion
carried unanimously. Blunt moved to adopt the agreement with the changes
agreed upon. Kloepper seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously.
The Agreement to Demolish Structures was discussed. City Attorney,
Buddenbohm pointed out that the city will need to check property records to
verify actual owners of properties before demolition agreements are signed.
All owners, including those buying on contract, should sign the agreement.
Adding language that states the deposit will be returned if the property
owners comply completely with the agreement will be added. Buddenbohm also
suggested that the agreement state that the property owners must have all
utilities properly disconnected before demolition begins. There was some
question as to whether or not the city should have this type of program and
if it is necessary with the Minimum Housing Standards in place. Kloepper
moved to table discussion on this matter until the June meeting. Eckert
seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously.
The council instructed Buddenbohm to have Dennis Foster inspect the McVey
property on 9th Street for compliance with the Minimum Housing Standards.
City Superintendent, Buzz Faught reported that the grant he was pursuing for
replacement of the city’s water meters has turned out to be a loan. The
loan is available from the National Rural Water Association and is for 80%
of the project cost. The city would have to pay $7,763.97 and NRWA would
loan the city $31,055.90 at 3% for 10 years. The loan repayment cost would
be approximately $300.00 per month. With the new touch-read meters, there
would be no need for the city to employ a meter reader as reading the meters
would take considerably less time and water would not have to be removed
from meter pits to allow the meters to be read. The cost of paying the
meter reader exceeds $300.00 per month. Therefore, the city would not incur
any extra expense with this loan. In fact, we would save a few dollars.
The new meters should be more accurate than the aging meters the city now
has. Many of the old meters do not working properly. Replacing them should
give a more accurate accounting of water usage and possibly raise revenues.
There are funds included in the loan for hiring help to install the meters,
replacement of damaged meter pits and a mini excavator. Eckert moved to go
ahead with the loan application and borrow the money for the water meter
replacement project from the National Rural Water Association for 10 years
at 3% interest. Blunt seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously.
There was a discussion on the need to raise water and sewer rates in the
near future. Raising water rates should eliminate the need to increase
property taxes to cover the balance of the pool bond payment that was not
levied in the current budget. Raising sewer rates will bring us closer to
the state average and help us to better fund operations. The city clerk
will get information together on these raises and present it to the council
at the June meeting.
Rate for the pool were discussed. Eckert moved to leave the daily
admissions at $2.25 and punch cards at $12.50 for 10 punches and $25.00 for
20 punches and to raise the season passes to $180.00 for 4 family members
plus $10.00 for each additional family member. Kloepper seconded the
motion. The motion carried unanimously. Babysitters are not considered
members of the families they babysit for. The price for pool parties will
be a lump sum charge that will cover wages for lifeguards and the pool
manager plus a per-person charge for each attendee. The per-person charge
should be more than half the regular daily admission charge. The charge
will help pay for chemicals lights, etc. used during the pool party. The
pool manager can figure the pool party charge based on these guidelines. It
was noted that the pool manager should be reminded that pool employees must
be paid overtime for hours in excess of 40 per week. This should be taken
into account when setting the pool party charge.
Purchasing a dump tank for the city fire department to use at fires was
discussed. A 3,000 gallon tank with and aluminum frame can be purchased for
about $1,100.00. Eckert moved to purchase a dump tank for the city fire
department. Hurst seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously.
Eckert moved to adjourn the meeting. Blunt seconded the motion. The motion
carried unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 8:28 p.m.
PatStrine, City Clerk
APRIL 7, 2010
COUNCIL MEMBERS
PRESENT WERE: KIRK WOHLGEMUTH, BOB BLUNT, MARK HURST, KIRK KLOEPPER. MAYOR
JIM POTTS CALLED THE MEETING TO ORDER AT 7:00 P.M. TODD ECKET ARRIVED AT
7:08 P.M.
Hurst moved to accept
the minutes of the previous meeting as written Blunt seconded the motion.
The motion carried unanimously.
Blunt moved to
approve and pay the bills. Wohlgemuth seconded the motion. The motion
carried unanimously.
Steve Caplinger,
Hegarty-Caplinger Insurance, was present about the City renewing the
insurance policy for another year. Everything has been brought up-to-date.
He suggested that when the slide is installed at the pool, the City needs to
notify them. Kloepper moved to accept the insurance policy package. Eckert
seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously.
Mayor Potts opened
the Performance Public Hearing for the CDBG Project No. 07-PF-707. There
were no comments. Eckert moved to close out the water project. Kloepper
seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously. Eckert moved to close
the Performance Public Hearing. Hurst seconded the motion. The motion
carried unanimously.
Michael Kramer,
Kramer Engineering, was present to discuss the completion of the water
construction project Loan Agreement with KDHE. Maguire Iron, Inc has their
payroll report in order. There was a problem with the fire hydrant at the
new water tower and Engemann Drainage Co. had to fix it. A conduit clamp
had been dropped down the pipe. Roger Engemann had came and looked at it
to see what it would take to fix it and then he came back to fix it.
Engemann asked for the cost of two trips and labor which amounted to $550.00
and the materials used amounted to $393.00 for a total of $943.00.
Discussion was held and the council felt the $943.00 should be withheld from
payment to Maguire Iron. Kramer had not discussed with the tank
manufacturer the problem that had occurred. The council felt that Kramer
Engineering should have contacted Maguire Iron prior to the council meeting
to let them know about this problem. Then Kramer could of reported if
Maguire Iron agreed to this at the council at the meeting. Michael Kramer
will e-mail Maguire Iron about the $943.00 going to the other contractor.
Kramer submitted Final Invoice No. 7030 in the amount of $12,080.00 for
consideration. The Final Application for Payment submitted by Maguire Iron
was for $38,066.25. Wohlgemuth moved to approve the final payment to
Maguire Iron less the $943.00 with the stipulation pending the agreed
outcome from -$943.00 (conduit clamp inside the fire hydrant) and to approve
KPWSLF Request for Payment #20 in the amount of $31,539.52 for payment of
these final bills. Eckert seconded the motion The motion carried
unanimously.
Mayor Potts signed
the certificate for completion of construction for KDHE for KPWSLF Project
#2461.
Bob Hosack, Hosack
Community Planning and Development Services, mailed his final invoice for
work completed for CDBG Project #07-PF-707 and Invoice #4 in the amount of
$1,660.00. Hurst moved we pay to Hosack Community Planning & Development
Services Invoice #4 for the total of $1,660.00 and to have Mayor Potts sign
Request No. 6 - Final for $6,419.00. Blunt seconded the motion. The motion
carried unanimously.
Jennifer Hansen, Pool
Manager, reported that the assistant manager and lifeguards for the pool
have been hired. There will be 4 full-time lifeguards, 3 part-time
lifeguards, with 3 substitutes available. First year lifeguards will be
paid minimum wage and those who have been lifeguards in the past will
receive 25 cents more per hour. The pool will be open Monday - Thursday
from 12:30 P.M to 7:00 P.M., Friday & Saturday from
12:30 P.M. - 8 P.M.,
and Sunday from 12:30 P.M. - 6 P.M. Special times will be held for aerobics
and lap swimming. Details are being worked out for a teen night to be held
5 times during the season. Once again Hansen plans to purchase beverages
from 7-Up as last year. They provided a cooler for free and it worked out
really well. Hansen is looking into buying chips directly from Frito Lay.
She will order 6 more lounge chairs, which is a full pallet, and will get a
price break of $118.00 each. A new basket rack for out front is needed
which holds 32 baskets. She will be ordering this also. She also needs to
refill the First-Aid Kits and will be looking into some equipment for
aerobics. She requested the council to approve toddlers to use “Little
Swimmers”. Eckert moved to require toddlers to use “Little Swimmers.”
Blunt seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously. She will have
“Little Swimmers” available to purchase. Discussion will be held next month
on the “official opening” for the slide. Nancy Keith has given Mayor Potts
the list of donors for the pool, Potts will be printing the list, and
ordering an aluminum case to put the list in. Also donations of $1,250.00
from the Holyrod family had been received and they have requested the money
be used to purchase two benches for the pool. Faught and Hansen will decide
where the benches should be set and Hansen will order them.
Jennifer Hansen,
Junior Class Sponsor, asked if it was OK to haul off the broken tables from
the Blue Building when they are getting ready to set up for the Prom while
they have a trailer there. Everyone agreed that the old broken tables are
unsafe and need to be hauled off.
Buzz Faught, City
Superintendent, informed the council that the county will not be able to do
chip and seal this year on our streets. The street sweeper ‘s PTO has
locked up and will be costly to fix. He received a price of $1,070 for
scrap and the council felt he should let it go for that amount. Faught will
be looking for a replacement. He will replace the smaller stop signs with
the correct size stop signs. Faught stated at that the Effingham Community
Growth meeting, the people stated that there was no public rest room.
Discussion was held on using the blue building restrooms. Steel doors would
have to be installed to the area going into the large room. This would be
expensive and the council felt that vandalism, etc. could occur. The most
logicial step would be to put a sign on the Municipal Building saying public
restrooms. They would be available when the City Office and Library are
open. Also a public restroom sign would be put across the street in the
DJ’s Food and Fuel area pointing over to the Municipal Building. This
would be a starting point for the public restrooms.
Faught had attended
the Kansas Rural Water meeting in Salina recently and met with the people in
charge of the grant the City had applied for. He was told they saw no
reason why we should not receive the grant for touch-read water meters and a
mini-excavator. Discussion was held on the draft for Putthoff Ball Park.
Some concerns were parking for the spectators and for the people involved in
the event. It was agreed that all activities should be over by midnight.
Also if a pit was dug, it would have to be filled in directly so no washing
was done if it would rain. The Ball Association will still need to use the
storage area only of the concession stand. The council thought it would be
a good idea to take pictures of the fences surrounding the ball park.
Buddenbohm, City Attorney, will make changes to the draft.
On the Blue Building
Lease for Auctions, Buddenbohm stated he had added the section about the
Fire Lane. The Fire Lane signs are up and people will be ticketed if they
park in the Fire Lane. Discussion was held on the draft agreement to
Demolish Structure(s). Decided to add if the owner wants to haul off
debris he can do so but it must be done within 2 days of the City completing
demolition. Buddenbohm will draw up a new draft with the changes.
Buddenbohm said he had been in contact with Dennis Foster, Northeast Kansas
Environamental Services, about 2 houses (701 William Street & 602 Elizabeth
Street) that are of concern. Foster is looking into the matter.
Mayor Potts announced
that Abor Day Foundation has named Effingham as a Tree City USA for 2009.
No action was taken on naming someone from the council to be on the Tree
Board.
A request from Rhonda
Thorpe about a street light for the 700 block of 9th St was discussed.
Westar will be contacted by the City Clerk to find out how much it would
cost to add a street light somewhere in that area and report back at the
next meeting.
Riding dirt bikes was
brought up. They have been riding them all over at high speed. The riders
are not obeying stop signs, etc. Buddenbohm will talk to Sheriff Calhoon
about writing tickets.
Blunt moved to meet
in executive session from 9:20 P.M. until 9:25 P.M. Hurst seconded the
motion. The motion carried unanimously. At 9:25 P.M. the regular meeting
resumed. The council agreed to pay Sue Martin the City Clerk’s wages
retroactive from when she started filling in for Pat Strine until Strine
comes back to work.
Eckert moved to
adjourn the meeting. Kloepper seconded the motion. The motion carried
unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 9:32 P.M.
Sue Martin, Acting
City Clerk
MARCH 3, 2010
COUNCIL MEMBERS
PRESENT WERE: KIRK WOHLGEMUTH, BOB BLUNT, MARK HURST, KIRK KLOEPPER, AND
TODD ECKERT. MAYOR JIM POTTS CALLED THE MEETING TO ORDER AT 7:00 P.M.
Blunt moved to
approve the minutes of the previous meeting as written. Eckert seconded the
motion. The motion carried unanimously.
Kirk Kloepper moved
to approve and pay the bills. Eckert seconded the motion. The motion
carried unanimously.
Buzz Faught, city
superintendent, gave his report to the council. No prints have been
received to date for the water improvement project. Plans are to start
fixing potholes tomorrow, weather permitting. He has ordered 15 new stop
signs and yield signs to replace the faded ones. The extra pump for the
swimming pool has been received and the slide should be arriving directly.
Faught reported about
the grant from the National Rural Water to purchase touch-read meters. He
was wondering if he could add a mini-excavator to the grant. The City’s
portion of payment would now be $9,000 instead of the $7,000. The council
felt that it should be added to the grant application as we would never get
one that cheap.
Faught listed the
spreader bed off of the old dump truck on Craig’s list and had one
response. Hoffman Auction has a standing bid of $900. Faught will contact
Jeff Hoffman. It was reported that a water leak of approximately 1 million
gallons at Jim Oswald’s rental house at 412 Howard had been found. At the
new water tower, Faught will be spreading rock to make a drive around the
water tower for the fire trucks. The cost of a 2-1/2 inch meter is $869.00.
Faught discussed the
use of the Puthoff Park for recreational activities such as demoliton derby,
tractor pull, and mud-a-thon, etc. Concerns about insurance were
questioned, deposit, etc. Faught is to meet with Leonard Buddenbohm, city
attorney, to draw up papers to be signed by the user and report back at
next month’s meeting.
Kloepper reported
that signs on the church stand in the park need to be put up. At the last
auction held at the Blue Building, someone had parked in front of the church
stand and this blocked the fire lane which is to stay open at all times.
The owner of the vehicle parked in front of church stand didn’t want to move
it. Kloepper talked to the deputy and he suggested that under the “ No
Parking” signs on the church building to add “Fire Lane” signs. Parking
in front of the church building would of made it very difficult for the fire
trucks to get out if they had to. Fire Lane signs will be purchased. It was
also suggested to have Buddenbohm look at the Blue Building Lease for
Auctions and to add the stipulation about “No Parking” in the Fire Lane.
Buddenbohm suggested
that the council encourage citizens to complete their census report.
Everyone needs to be counted in the City which only helps the City receive
grants, etc.
Discussion was held
on the draft ordinance regarding the amount of the county-wide sales tax
that the city will turn over to the county for operating the joint
communications center and the solid waste transfer station. It was reported
that the three other cities in the county turn over all their county sales
tax to the county. If the City keeps part of the county-wide sales tax it
would pay for the pool bond in 2010 and 2011 without a mill levy increase.
Eckert moved to adopt Ordinance #2010-02 authorizing the amount the City of
Effingham will distribute to Atchison County for providing the services of
joint communications center and solid waster transfer station for the
county-wide sales tax. Kloepper seconded the motion. The motion carried
unanimously.
In Ordinance No.
2010-01 minimum housing code there was a clerical error. Ecket moved to
adopt Ordinance No. 2010-03, minimum housing code. Wohlgemuth seconded the
motion. The motion carried unanimously.
Kloepper moved to
adopt Ordinace No. 2010-04, authorizing the assessment of court costs for
the Municipal Court of the City of Effingham. Hurst seconded. The motion
carried unanimously. Court costs are now $60.00.
Faught reported about
the tearing down of old houses in the City. He suggested that the city
knock down the house and the property owner would pay for the roll-offs for
the debris to be hauled away. Faught would have to talk to the property
owner to see if they would agree. He will meet with Buddenbohm to draw up
papers for the property owner to sign and report back at the next meeting.
Mayor Potts reported
about the website. For 3 years, it would cost $602.00 to maintain the
site. It could be up to 999 pages with 24/7 technical support. The city
could put anything on it such as minutes, etc. Potts offered to set up the
website. There would be no expense for 3 years. Kloepper moved to have
Potts set up the website for the city. Eckert seconded the motion. The
motion carried unanimously.
A request from Roger
Frederick for Martha’s Stitch Shop to lower the water bill was considered.
He had a stool leaking. Blunt moved to deduct half of the water charge from
Martha’s Stitch Shop water bill this one time only as has been done in
similar cases. Hurst seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously.
Mayor Potts stated he
would put an article in the The Newsleaf about how important it is
that each person be counted in the census for the City.
Faught announced
there would be an Effingham Community Growth meeting on March 17th at 7 P.M.
Eckert moved to
adjourn the meeting. Kloepper seconded the motion. The motion carried
unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 7:45 P.M.
Sue Martin, Acting City Clerk
JANUARY 6, 2010
COUNCILMEMBERS PRESENT WERE: KIRK WOHLGEMUTH, BOB BLUNT, MARK HURST, KIRK
KLOEPPER AND TODD ECKERT. MAYOR JIM POTTS CALLED THE MEETING TO ORDER AT
7:00 P.M.
Hurst moved to accept the minutes of the previous meeting as written.
Eckert seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously.
Blunt moved to approve and pay the bills. Hurst seconded the motion. The
motion carried unanimously.
City Superintendent, Buzz Faught gave his report to the council. He
reported that the cost of “No Parking” signs is $52 each. If we put these
up at the Seabury and 7th Street intersection as requested by USD
#377 Superintendent, Steven Wiseman, we would need to purchase 3 signs.
Publication costs of an ordinance to designate a specific “No Parking Area”
will also have to be taken into consideration. It was suggested that those
parking in violation be contacted and the curb painted yellow to designate
the standard clearance at each corner. A letter will be sent to the Board
of Education with costs for this project. If they wish to pay those costs,
the city will proceed. Faught told the council that the swimming pool slide
we were expecting to purchase is no longer being made. Continental Pools,
Inc. is looking for a comparable slide for us. He also reported that we are
running out of room to put the snow that is being cleared off the streets.
He has arranged for Austin Martin and Tim Coder to pick up and haul the snow
to the ball park for $75/hr. per each piece of equipment used. He received
a call from the state surplus about the dump truck we have been waiting
for. The truck we wanted was taken by the Attorney General, but there are
other trucks available. He will be going to check them out.
City Attorney, Leonard Buddenbohm presented the Agreement for Use of the
Municipal Building by Atchison County Emergency Preparedness as an emergency
operations center in the event of a disaster. After reviewing the
agreement, Eckert moved to accept the agreement. Hurst seconded the
motion. The motion carried unanimously. The agreement will be sent to the
Atchison County Commission for their approval and signatures.
Brian Brull and Jill Thorne were present to discuss snow removal on George
Street in front of their residences. They both reported that there was only
one lane of traffic on the street and there was a drift that was causing
problems on the Saturday after the storm. Kloepper said he drove down the
street and it was terrible. Wohlgemuth, who also lives on George Street,
said he also drove down the street and did not think it was in bad shape.
All streets were bladed as soon as possible. Faught even had extra help
with the snow removal. However, it is impossible to keep them clear and
keep all the drifts knocked down when the wind is blowing like it was on
Friday and Saturday. After much discussion, Faught was told to clear only
main intersections when the wind is blowing over 25 miles an hour as it is a
waste of time and fuel. He was also told to initially clear one lane for
traffic on each street until all streets can be fully cleared. Kloepper
asked who had piled the snow on the sidewalk in front of the café. Faught
said the city clears the snow off the parking on Main Street. He said there
was nowhere else to go with the snow at the time the street was cleared. He
will try not to pile snow on the sidewalk in front of the café again.
Kloepper said that he did not think the city trucks should be taken out of
town. When the snow storm hit, the dump truck and plow was at Faught’s
house. Mayor Potts said he had told Faught to take the truck home so he
would be able to get into town to clear snow. The truck was snowed in at
Faught’s part of the day until his drive could be cleared and the truck dug
out. Faught told the council that he did not use the city’s truck to clear
his snow. It was drifted in. He hired a neighbor to clear his drive and
dig the truck out. He came into town and started clearing snow as soon as
he got the truck out. Kloepper said he thought it would be cheaper to pay
Faught mileage to come back into town on city business than to have him
drive the old city truck home every day. Mayor Potts reminded Kloepper that
he was the one who made the motion to allow Faught to drive the old truck
home. He also questioned why he drives the new truck home for lunch.
Faught said he has no problem driving his own truck if that is what the
council wants.
Buddenbohm told the council that the League of Kansas Municipalities has a
code that would give the city more authority to deal problem properties like
the one at 701 William. It would allow the city to inspect the property or
obtain a search warrant to do the inspection. The city superintendent or
his designee can be the enforcing officer for these inspections. Dennis
Foster, County Sanitation Inspector, has agreed to do these inspections for
the city. The council was given a copy of the code to look over. Kloepper
moved to have Buddenbohm draw up an ordinance incorporating the code into
the city’s code of ordinances. Eckert seconded the motion. The motion
carried unanimously.
A sign listing all those who donated toward the purchase of new equipment
for the pool was discussed. Also recognizing those who organized special
events to raise funds for the pool was considered. The number of donors
will be determined and presented with sign options at the next meeting.
Renewing the city’s membership in the League of Kansas Municipalities was
considered. The cost for the one-year renewal is $260.17. Kloepper moved
to renew the city’s membership in the League of Kansas Municipalities.
Hurst seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously.
Eckert moved to designate the Mayor, City Clerk, City Treasurer and Kirk
Kloepper as check signers for the year 2010. Blunt seconded the motion.
The motion carried unanimously.
Hurst moved to designate the Farmers and Merchants Branch of the Exchange
National Bank as the depository for city funds for the year 2010. Eckert
seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously.
The cost of living adjustment for employees’ wages was not discussed.
An offer from BG Engineers to help the city acquire stimulus funds for
projects was discussed. The city superintendent has been working with
Kansas Rural Water Association to determine if we can qualify for stimulus
funds. This service is free from KRWA. BG Engineers would bill the city
for working on this. The council decided to pass on the offer.
How much of the city’s share of the county-wide sales tax will be returned
to the county in the future was discussed. The sales tax revenues are used
to fund the solid waste transfer station and the joint communications
center. The City of Atchison does not return their entire share of the tax
revenues to the county. It does not make sense for the City of Effingham to
be return a larger portion of our county-wide sales tax revenues to the
county than the City of Atchison does. The City Attorney was instructed to
draw up a draft ordinance that would no longer require the city to return
all of the county-wide sales tax revenues to the county for consideration at
the next regular meeting.
Becker-Dyer-Stanton Funeral Home had a water leak due to a break in their
lawn sprinkler system. They have requested a reduction in their water
bill. The City Clerk was instructed to reduce the bill by half this one
time as is routinely done in these cases.
The City Superintendent reported that while working to repair the hydrant at
the fire station, he discovered that it is no longer connected to the water
system. The line it is connected to runs under the Blue Building and was
disconnected when it began leaking several years ago. He asked about
running a line around the building to connect the hydrant. It was decided
that it was not necessary as they are connecting to the water heater line
when they need water in the fire station.
The city superintendent was directed to check the property at 602
Elizabeth. The door has been standing open and someone was seen entering
the structure.
Eckert moved to adjourn the meeting. Hurst seconded the motion. The motion
carried unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 8:13 p.m.
Pat Strine, City Clerk |