City Council

Regular Council Meeting June 14, 2021 1. Mayor Scott Schultz called the meeting to order at 7:00. Present were Council members Kale Dankenbring, Amanda Milne, Dara Carmichael, and Larry Finley. Also present were City Superintendent JR Landenberger, City Treasurer Jennifer Blair, Sheriff Cody Beeson, and City Attorney Lauren Reyelts. Council member David Butler was absent. 2. Minutes from the May 24 Council meeting were distributed and read. It was moved by Amanda and seconded by Kale to approve the minutes as presented. Motion passed. 3. Visitors – Elmer Kellner and Bernadine McLaughlin were present as observers. Helen Dobbs was present to discuss the extended Rural Opportunity Zone program. 4. Sheriff Report – Cody discussed the reports he presents to the Council and is working on getting them more accurate. They are getting new computers in their vehicles and they will be equipped with digital logs and that will help with reporting accuracy. It is currently an unusually slow time for the Sheriff Department so he is hoping to focus more on Ordinance violations. He is currently short staffed but is hoping to eventually add a deputy that will be exclusive to the town in the evenings. It was moved by Kale and seconded by Dara to accept and file the Sheriff Report. Motion passed. 5. Helen Dobbs – Helen presented the Council with information regarding the recently extended Rural Opportunity Zone program which would allow entities to participate in a program that would forgive student loans for people returning to rural areas. She will be attending the Commissioner meeting on June 15 to present the information to them. There is a resolution that would need to be signed if the City was interested. The Council agreed to see what the Commissioners decide to do but agreed there would not be any funding available from the City. 6. Elmer Kellner spoke to the Council regarding wanting to see more flowers around town. He commented on the improved trash situation around the town. He also discussed the welcome packets and indicated some new City customers aren’t receiving them when they move to town. 7. New Business: a. Hazard Mitigation Plan – The Council reviewed Resolution 2021-3, Adopting the Kansas Homeland Security Region A Hazard Mitigation Plan. A motion was made by Amanda and seconded by Kale to sign Resolution 2021-3 with the following vote: Kale – yes, Amanda – yes, Dara – yes, Larry – yes. Motion passed. b. Empire Motel Property Proposal – Amanda asked for an executive session regarding the proposal. c. Adams Brown Budget Engagement Letter - The Council reviewed the letter. A motion was made by Amanda and seconded by Kale to approve and sign the Budget Engagement letter and approved the amount of $1625.00 to prepare the budget. Motion passed. d. CIC Annual Support Agreement - The Council reviewed the agreement. It was noted the payment was made to them in the amount of $5,265.00 for the annual fee. A motion was made by Kale and seconded by Amanda to sign the agreement. Motion passed. e. Fireworks Licenses – Two fireworks license applications were presented to the Council. The Council reviewed both applications. A motion was made by Kale and seconded by Larry to approve applications from Flash Enterprises and Milne’s Mayhem. Motion passed. f. Chicken Permit – The Council reviewed a chicken permit renewal from Kim Zweygardt. A motion was made by Amada and seconded by Kale to approve the permit. Motion passed. 8. Old Business: a. Property Cleanup – The Council discussed the McCoy property at 417 E. Jackson Street. A motion was made by Amanda and seconded by Dara to sign Resolution 2021-4, a RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF ST. FRANCIS, KANSAS FIXING TIME AND PLACE FOR HEARING FOR OWNER, OWNER’S AGENT, ANY LIENHOLDER OF RECORD, ANDANY OCCUPANT TO APPEAR AND SHOW CAUSE WHY STRUCTURE SHOULD NOT BE CONDEMNED AND ORDERED REPAIRED OR DEMOLISHED, with the following vote: Kale – yes, Amanda – yes, Dara – yes, Larry – yes. Motion passed.  The Council discussed the property at 118 W. Emerson. A motion was made by Amanda and seconded by Dara to sign Resolution 2021-5, a RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF ST. FRANCIS, KANSAS FIXING TIME AND PLACE FOR HEARING FOR OWNER, OWNER’S AGENT, ANY LIENHOLDER OF RECORD, ANDANY OCCUPANT TO APPEAR AND SHOW CAUSE WHY STRUCTURE SHOULD NOT BE CONDEMNED AND ORDERED REPAIRED OR DEMOLISHED, with the following vote: Kale – yes, Amanda – yes, Dara – yes, Larry – yes. Motion passed. Lauren presented pictures of the Lampe property. A notice was served on June 14, 2021. The Council discussed the Poulson property at 104 W. Whittier. Lauren is still waiting for a signature via certified mail. b. Projects Pending – a) Lauren discussed the possibility of changing firework discharge times due to a request from Jennifer Milne. It was discussed that those kinds of matters need to be made to a council member or at a meeting. Mayor Schultz preferred it to be left the way it is. No further discussion. b) Lauren sent an email with a letter and easements attached to the Council from Jeter Law Firm regarding the access road. Most of the information sent was information that had been researched and presented by Amanda previously. c) Scott has been in touch with Greg Kite regarding the Bandshell. Mr. Kite has offered to assist with writing grants for improvements. The major update needed at this time is the seating area. Mr. Kite will be here for the alumni celebration. A special meeting will be held on Thursday, June 17 at 7 pm meet to with him. d) The Council agreed to meet on Tuesday, June 29 at 7 pm for a budget workshop. c. Streets Project – JR attended a preconstruction meeting on June 9, 2021. Prework will start on June 21 with no more than 2 consecutive blocks being worked on at a time. 9. Building Permits – It was moved by Kale and seconded by Dara to approve the following building permits: Ed Marin – 515 W. Spencer, replace cover over patio; Majestic Service– 510 W. Business US Highway 36, culvert; Ed Marin – 515 W. Spencer, replace patio; Michael and Amy Barfield – 404 Parkway, fence. Motion passed. 10. Superintendent Report – a) The boiler at the plant will be replaced in July. b) Ward Electric will begin work at the end of July and the street work will also begin in July. c) JR met with the architect on June 9 to survey the Theater. The electric appears to be in good shape and the plumbing is adequate. There is no timeline for the work. d) The County sprayed the area around the railroad and the crossover. e) The City received a credit on the most recent Prairie Land billing in the amount of $19,918.31 and we have been removed from the emergency call list to generate. We can say no to generating if asked. f) Miller and Associates is working on the water control specs. g) JR received a proposal from NexTech for security cameras at the recycling center area and compost pile area. He recommends the 60-month lease program in the amount of $275.00. It was moved by Amanda and seconded by Kale to accept the proposal for 60 months from NexTech. Motion passed. h) There is still no agreement with Sonoko but we do have one of their balers and they will be hauling a load of cardboard for us. i) JR is waiting for other proposals regarding maintenance of Keller’s Pond. h) They have put down outdoor carpet at the east end of the pool to help control weeds and stickers. j) JR requested 5 minutes of executive session for non-elected personnel to discuss a personnel issue. Dara asked that the City side of the front of city hall be cleaned up before Alumni Weekend. A motion was made by Amanda and seconded by Dara to accept and file the Superintendent report. Motion passed. 11. Attorney Report – no report 12. Clerk Report – a) Two bills from St. Francis Herald came in the mail after bills were processed. Jennifer asked to pay them both, one in the amount of 169.55 and the other in the amount of 165.00 out of cycle. A motion was made by Larry and seconded by Dara to pay the two bills out of cycle. Motion passed. It was moved by Amanda and seconded by Dara to accept and file the Clerk report. Motion passed. 13. Council Comments: Kale – none Amanda – none Dara – none Larry – none. 14. Mayor Comments – none 15. At 8:46 a motion was made by Amanda and seconded by Kale to recess into executive session for confidential data relating to the financial affairs or trade secrets of corporations, partnerships, trusts and individual proprietorships in regard to the Empire Motel property, with the open meeting to resume at 8:56. Motion passed. The open meeting resumed. No action was taken. The Mayor will contact Mr. Culwell and ask for a more detailed plan. 16. At 8:58 a motion was made by Amanda and seconded by Kale for the Superintendent, Council and Mayor to recess into executive session for the non-elected personnel exception for the subject of job performance and status, the open meeting to resume at 9:03. Motion passed. The open meeting resumed. No decision was made. 17. Ordinance 1051 – The Council reviewed bills on Ordinance 1051. A motion was made by Amanda and seconded by Kale to approve the bills in the amount of $269,919.59. Motion passed. 18. Adjournment: It was moved by Amanda and seconded by Dara to adjourn the meeting. Motion passed. ___________________________________________ City Clerk