City Council

MINUTES OF THE COUNCIL MEETING OF THE CITY OF PAOLA, KANSAS 6:00 O’CLOCK P.M. November 14, 2017 Held in the Municipal Court Room at the Paola Justice Center 806 N Pearl Street in Paola The Governing Body of the City of Paola, Kansas, met with Mayor Stuteville presiding. Council Members present: Mayor Artie Stuteville and Council Members Jim Pritchard, Gee Gee Wilhoite, and Leigh House. Council Members absent: Aaron Nickelson. Also present: City Manager Jay Wieland, City Clerk Dan Droste, City Attorney Lee Tetwiler, Police Captain Kevin Colwell, Human Resources Director Vicki Belt, Dave Smail, and others. CALL TO ORDER: The regular council meeting was called to order by Mayor Stuteville. ROLL CALL: Mayor Stuteville and Council Members Pritchard, Wilhoite, and House were all present. Council Member Aaron Nickelson was absent. CEREMONY: City Manager Jay Wieland introduced Don Poore as the City’s new Chief of Police. Manager Wieland read a press release which highlighted Chief Poore’s 39 year career in Law Enforcement, 20 of which has been with the Paola Police Department. The ceremony concluded with Chief Poore’s wife, Janet, and his daughter, Yvonne, pinning his badge and collar rank emblems on his uniform. Chief of Police Poore addressed the Governing Body and all those in attendance. He thanked the Mayor, City Council and City Manager for their confidence in his ability to lead the Paola Police Department, and he also thanked all of those who supported and mentored him throughout his career. PRESENTATION: Laverne Kappler with the American Legion Riders addressed the Council and thanked the City for supporting their efforts in bringing the Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall to Paola last July. He presented a very nice framed picture of the Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall to Mayor Stuteville. The picture will be displayed at City Hall. INTRODUCTION: Public Works Director Kirk Rees introduced Kevin Richardson, the new Public Works Utility Superintendent, to the Mayor and City Council. Agenda Item 1 - CONSENT AGENDA a. Approval of minutes of the meeting of October 10, 2017. b. Approval of Salary Ordinances 17-21, 17-22, and 17-23. c. Approval of Appropriation Ordinances 863 and 864. d. Approval of the Journal Entries Report for October, 2017. e. Approval of the Pledged Collateral Report for October, 2017. Paola City Council Minutes – November 14, 2017 Page 1 Council Member Pritchard made a motion to approve the Consent Agenda as presented and authorize the Mayor to sign. The motion was seconded by Council Member Wilhoite and all voted aye. The motion passed 3 to 0. Agenda Item 2 - COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC – No one addressed the Council. Agenda Item 3 - UNFINISHED BUSINESS – None. Agenda Item 4 – NEW BUSINESS Agenda Item 4a - Consider Certificate of Election Results. City Clerk Droste presented the Certificate of Election Results from the Miami County Clerk and Election Officer. The results are as follows: Mayor: Artie Stuteville 366 votes 97.08% Write In 11 votes 2.92% Ward 1: Dave Smail 109 votes 97.32% Write In 3 votes 2.68% Ward 3: Leigh House 82 votes 100.00% Write In 0 votes 0.00% Clerk Droste reported that the installation of the new Council will take place at the first meeting in 2018, January 8th, which is the second Monday of the month. Council Member Wilhoite made a motion to accept the certificate of election results naming Artie Stuteville – Mayor, David Smail – City Council Ward 1, and Leigh House – City Council Ward 3 as the candidates receiving the most votes. The motion was seconded by Council Member Pritchard and all voted aye. The motion passed 3 to 0. Agenda Item 4b - Consider an Ordinance vacating a portion of an utility easement. Manager Wieland reported that as was discussed at the City Council Work Study Meeting on November 7th, the City has received a request to vacate a portion of the utility on Lot 29 in Hidden Meadows. He noted that City Staff does not object to the request for the following reasons: the easement currently contains no utilities; the lot has other utility easements along the front and rear property lines; the easement is not required to provide utilities to a house that would be constructed on the lot; the developer has agreed to provide additional utility easements when the vacant property to the north is platted; and the easement creates a challenge in constructing a house on the lot. He presented an Ordinance that would vacate the easement as requested. After additional discussion, Council Member House made a motion to approve AN ORDINANCE VACATING A PORTION OF AN UTILITY EASEMENT IN LOT 29, HIDDEN MEADOWS ESTATES II, A SUBDIVISION IN THE CITY OF PAOLA, Paola City Council Minutes – November 14, 2017 Page 2 KANSAS. The motion was seconded by Council Member Pritchard and all voted aye. The motion passed 3 to 0 and the Ordinance was assigned number 3121. Agenda Item 4c - Consider the renewal of the City’s group health insurance policy with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas. Manager Wieland reported that Human Resources Director Vicki Belt presented renewal options for the City’s Group Health Insurance Plans to the City Council at their Work Study Meeting on November 7th. At that meeting, the City Council discussed the City’s Group Health Insurance Plans with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas which renew on January 1 st. Blue Cross has offered to renew the existing plans with a 27%+ premium increase. After exploring options, Blue Cross has offered alternative plans with premium increases in the 23% to 24% range. Although this is still a very large increase, staff recommends these alternative plans in lieu of renewing our existing plans. Spreadsheets detailing the features and premiums for the new plans were presented to the City Council. Human Resources Director Bent reported that enrollment meetings are scheduled for Thursday, November 16th, to explain the changes to employees. After additional discussion, Council Member Pritchard made a motion to approve the renewal of the City’s group health insurance policy with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas, as presented. The motion was seconded by Council Member Wilhoite and all voted aye. The motion passed 3 to 0. Agenda Item 4d - Consider approval of a Resolution amending the City of Paola Personnel Manual. Human Resources Director Belt reported that pursuant to the discussion at the City Council Work Study Meeting on November 7th, a Resolution is being presented that would amend the following sections of the City’s Personnel Manual:  Adding Section 5.4 Mandatory Attendance.  Amending Section 6.1 Holiday Leave.  Amending Section 6.2 Vacation.  Amending Section 6.3 Sick Leave.  Amending Section 6.16 Shared Leave.  Amending Section 8.3 Absences Without Leave. After additional discussion, Council Member Wilhoite made a motion to approve A RESOLUTION AMENDING THE CITY OF PAOLA PERSONNEL MANUAL, EFFECTIVE NOVEMBER 15, 2017. The motion was seconded by Council Member House and all voted aye. The motion passed 3 to 0 and the Resolution was assigned number 2017- 010. Agenda Item 5 - COMMITTEE REPORTS Janelle Sanders, Director of the Paola Chamber of Commerce, reported on upcoming Chamber Events: Wine and Brew Event on November 17 and the Mayor’s Christmas Tree Lighting with Santa on the Square on November 24th. Paola City Council Minutes – November 14, 2017 Page 3 Agenda Item 6 - STAFF REPORTS Clerk Droste reported that sales tax revenue for the month of October amounted to $222,786 bringing the year-to-date total to $2,133,243 which is 5.5% more that the same time period last year. Manager Wieland presented a plaque from the Master Gardeners to the City for supporting the 2017 Miami County Garden Tour. Manager Wieland reported that he and Clerk Droste met with representatives from KWIKOM Communications who were inquiring about placing communications equipment on the water towers owned by the City and the Marais Des Cygnes Public Utility Authority. KWIKOM provides wireless internet and phone to rural areas and rural communities. The Council supported city staff in negotiating with KWIKOM for new tower leases. Agenda Item 7 - MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS FROM THE COUNCIL - There were no additional matters discussed by the City Council. Agenda Item 8 - MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS FROM THE MAYOR Mayor Stuteville commented on the new benches at the Veterans Memorial that were installed as a part of an Eagle Scout Project by Garrett Rausch. She indicated that the benches are very nice. Agenda Item 9 – ADJOURNMENT With no additional business to come before the Council, Council Member Pritchard made a motion to adjourn. The motion was seconded by Council Member Wilhoite and all voted aye. The motion passed 3 to 0. _________________________________ Artie Stuteville, Mayor ATTEST: [seal] ______________________________ Daniel G. Droste, City Clerk Paola City Council Minutes – November 14, 2017 Page 4