CITY OF OVERBROOK

 

MINUTES                       REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING                                        MAY 24, 2006

 

 

MEMBERS PRESENT:                 Larry Coursen, Rich Hamit, Ira Allen, Bruce Smith, Bob Sisson,

                                                Mayor Jack Young.

 

OTHERS PRESENT:                    Peggy Waldman, Scott Averill, Jim Gates, Mike & Roxane Fawl,

                                                Frank & Sherry Rhodes, Carolyn Meerian, Vic Robbins, Marian

                                                Massoth, Jon Wilhite, Becky Coltrane, Rex Fleming, Charlie &

                                                Brooke Davis, Beverly Hix, Jon Brady, Jim Gates, Kathy Alcorn,

                                                Max Friesen,    Bob Call, Ed Harmison, Jim Koger, Anne Hassler,

                                                 Cheryl Brown.

 

 

            The meeting was called to order at 7 PM by Mayor Young.  Roll was taken to determine the presence of a quorum.

 

 

MINUTES / WARRANTS:          Bruce Smith moved to approve the minutes of the May 10, 2006 regular meeting as written.  Larry Coursen seconded; motion carried 5-0.   Ira Allen made a motion, seconded by Larry Coursen, to approve the minutes of the May 17, 2006 special meeting.  Motion carried 5-0.

There were no warrants to be approved.

 

LIBRARY BUDGET:       Peggy Waldman, Librarian, brought a revised 2007 budget proposal for the library.  Mayor Young said that he appreciated her work on this, and that the matter would be discussed more fully at the next meeting.  Scott Averill said that due to wanting to serve the community, he hopes the council will approve the budget. 

 

F.A.R. PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT:      Mayor Young asked what the plans are for developing their property.   Mike Fawl said they are planning to develop this area providing everything is feasible depending on the economy and other factors.   The mayor replied that part of the basis for his asking  is in regards to sizing of lift stations, etc to handle all the possibilites now rather than have to add to it at a later date.   Fawl said that future plans could include a restaurant, strip mall with several businesses, and possibly a health club.  Fawl did emphasize that these additional businesses could be up to 25 years away.  At this time, the plan is for a gas station with a restaurant with a basement meeting room.  This would also serve as a storm shelter.  There was discussion about the property lines and the survey done by the city last year.  Fawl presented his legal descriptions, and thinks that maybe the city survey was done using incomplete legal descriptions.   Rich Hamit suggested that Vic Robbins look at the legal descriptions to see if there is an over-lap of property.  Robbins arrived at this time, and was given the documents.   The mayor asked that other business be conducted while Robbins is looking at the documents.

 

CARD PAYMENTS:         Mayor Young suggested that the city wait until some surrounding businesses use the program offered by Card Payment Solutions before making any decisions.  Concensus to wait.

 

COUNCIL CHAIRS:       Rich Hamit said that lower-end quality chairs run around $130, with better ones around $270.  Bruce Smith moved to purchase 7 new chairs for approximately $270 each.  Bob Sisson seconded; motion carried 5-0.  The council agreed that the dark blue would be the best color choice.  Hamit said he would place the order through Thompson Crawley in Topeka. 

 

RETIREMENT PAYMENT:         Larry Coursen made a motion, seconded by Bob Sisson, to pay Bob Call and Cheryl Brown the difference between their KPERS and the police department’s KPF retirement in semi-annual payments rather than one payment at the end of the year.  Motion carried 5-0.

 

F.A.R. PROPERTY:        Vic Robbins said he can’t determine if there’s an overlap in the legal descriptions for the F.A.R. property and the city’s property by reading the documents.  Ira Allen asked if the property should be surveyed again with the cost being split.  Robbins recommends more evaluations of the deeds before having another survey done.  Fawl said that they would be giving the city an easement on the property should it belong to F.A.R. anyway.  The 20’ in question would give them access to the city lake road.  There was discussion about the stakes used for the city’s survey.  In response to sharing the cost of another survey, Fawl said that they would just give the city the 20’ after they get done with this whole process.  Their main reason for wanting the 20’ was to have access to the lake road to use as another entry on to the highway. 

            Mayor Young asked how the council wants to proceed with the actual development of the F.A.R. property regarding sewer and water service.   Vic Robbins said that any extension of a public water or sewer system has to have engineered plans submitted to and approved by KDHE.  These plans need to include a determination of the demands for a 20-year period, and the engineer for the project has to evaluate the city’s systems and make a statement as to whether or not they can support the development with KDHE making the final approval.  The mayor asks who initiates this process.  Robbins said that it’s been his experience that the developer hires an engineer to draw up the plans and specs, then the city applies to KDHE with those plans and specs for the extension, with the extension becoming part of the city systems.   Ira Allen said that the city ordinance requires the developer to have the engineering done.  Regardless of who hires the engineer, KDHE will have to approve the extension.  Bruce Smith said that this needs to be done on a long-term basis to consider future development in this same area.  Robbins agreed, but said that the city shouldn’t tie one developer’s plans to future possibilities.   The council agreed by concensus that the engineering should be done by F.A.R..   Robbins agreed that the city should be involved with the plans since the system will eventually belong to the city.  Fawl said that one possibility would be for the city to vacate or de-annex the property and they could proceed as private rural property.  Ira Allen was not in favor of having this property be outside the city limits.  Council agreed by concensus.  Fawl said that the city ordinance allows a septic system within the city limits.  Bruce Smith said that Article 3, Section 4 gives the option of a septic system provided there is a minimum of 3 acres and they would have 90 days to connect to a sewer system when available.  Smith says that it doesn’t state that the city has to approve such a request.  Jon Brady and Marian Massoth, employees of KDHE, stated that KDHE would probably have Osage County handle the matter.   Rich Hamit made a motion that the city allow F.A.R. to  install a septic system if KDHE and Osage County approves it, with the understanding that the property be connected to the city sewer system when available.  Motion died for lack of a second.   Smith said that he would want more information about what affect a commercial septic system would have.   Larry Coursen moved that the septic system be disallowed, and that F.A.R. provide the necessary engineering to develop the plans and specs.  Bob Sisson seconded the motion; motion carried 4-1 with Hamit voting against.  Robbins stated that KDHE would probably never allow commercial waste to go into a septic system.  Fawl said that the city has probably just killed the project because he isn’t going to spend $300,000 for a lift station.  Bob Sisson said that the city’s lift stations cost between $27,000 and $33,000 several years ago.  Frank Rhodes asked if the city would take over the maintenance and was told yes, it would become part of the city’s system.  The mayor said that F.A.R. still has to come up with plans to satisfy KDHE before the city can approve anything.  The mayor said that the city has not said “no” to running sewer and water lines to their property.  Fawl said he doesn’t expect the city to pay for any sewer lines on their property other than setting the lift station back to where it’s hooked up to the sewer line.  There was discussion about the size of water line F.A.R. would like to have.  Max Friesen asked that the city consider his future subdivision when studying the utilities.  Rex Fleming stated he was concerned about the city not having a long-range plan, and things seem to be done piece-meal.  Sisson said that’s pretty much how the whole town has been built.  Mayor Young said that while he may agree with Fleming, right now the issue is plans from F.A.R. to be approved by KDHE.  Jon Brady stated that he agrees that Fawl and Friesen need to come up with plans, but the city should also do some planning about development in this area.  The mayor asked the capacity in which Brady is speaking and was told by Brady “as a private citizen” with no vested interest in the project being discussed.  He did say that he works for KDHE.  Frank Rhodes said he’s concerned about spending a sizable amount of money for all these plans, only to be told by KDHE that the city’s systems can’t handle their development.  Smith asked Robbin’s opinion.  Robbins said that their engineer should be able to do a preliminary assessment to give F.A.R. guidance.   He thinks that the city’s wastewater lagoons and sewers can handle the development.   Jon Wilhite, president of PRIDE, hopes that this project can be worked out for the benefit of the community. 

 

SEWER REHABILITATION:        Vic Robbins said that he has talked to Josh Hawkins, Joshua Excavating, regarding the start date for the project.  Hawkins will contact his subcontractor about starting work on the manholes as soon as everything has been approved by KDHE.  The work on the sewer lines will probably not start until August.   Robbins said he’s visited with Rod Geisler about borrowing additional money from KDHE to complete the rehab project.  The city has to complete another financial capability worksheet, but there’s no requirement to hold another hearing.   Michael Coffman said that the bid bond submitted by Joshua Excavating seems to be in order.  Robbins has been working on the paperwork necessary that accompanies the bidding, etc.   Robbins said that there may be some problems with the site certification KDHE requires due to not having all the easements.  Marian Massoth will talk to Geisler about this as soon as possible.  Robbins said that we also have to get a permit due to more than 1 acre of land being disturbed.  This requires that a stormwater pollution plan be submitted.  This wasn’t included in the contract, so the city will probably be responsible for the plan.  Robbins said that the city could try to ask the contractor to develop the plan.  Robbins said he can fill out the application, but would prefer the contractor develop the actual plan for KDHE. 

            Robbins said that he’s staked out the easements for Richard Wright’s property.  Mayor Young said that Wright has requested the city pay for his attorney fees to review the documents.  Wright is requesting payment of $675.  After some discussion, Bruce Smith moved to offer Wright half of $675 upon presentation of the bill.  Bob Sisson seconded the motion; motion carried 3-2 with Coursen and Allen voting against paying even half. 

            Robbins said that he’s not been able to meet with Pat Neil, Sr  or the Dales, or Sharon Gunter about their easements.  The city doesn’t have a permanent easement on Gunter’s property which needs to be addressed later. 

            Bob Sisson asked Robbins if the manhole on Wright’s property is the end of the line.  Robbins said that the service ends at the manhole on Wright’s property. 

            Mayor Young said that they need to address the tree on Jim Gate’s easement.  The bid to bore that block of line was $330,000 as opposed to trenching for $20,000.  The losing bid to bore it was almost $50,000.  Robbins said that even boring a small section would cost a lot more.   Gates had agreed to pay up to $500 towards boring the line to save a large tree.  Gates asked if the city is sure that the sewer line is in the easement.  Robbins said he’s reasonably sure that it is.   Gates asked for proof that the tree is on the easement.  Robbins said it would require a legal survey.  The contract states that trees removed outside the permanent easement will be replaced with 2 smaller trees, and the ones inside the permanent easement are subject to an agreement between the city and the land owner.  Gates asked about the berm and shrubs.  Robbins said that the contract requires that yards are replaced to the original condition.  The lines will be videoed before the work starts.  Gates asked if the manholes can be relocated to avoid replacing the line on his property.  Robbins said that the tree might still be in jeopardy, and the extra cost would be about $10,000. 

            Bob Sisson moved that the city deny payment to Richard Wright for his attorney fees regarding the easement.  Larry Coursen seconded.  Motion carried 5-0.

 

2007 BUDGET: Rich Hamit moved to table discussion of the 2007 budget; Bruce Smith seconded; Motion carried 5-0.

 

COUNCILMEMBER COMMENTS:          Ira Allen said Mitchell’s would like to have some saturock put at the end of their driveway on Maple.  The mayor said he’ll talk to Bob Call about this.  Allen also wanted to know when the electrical box will be hooked up since Westar has installed the poles at the city lake.

            Rich Hamit said that the pool is up and running.  Joni Hudson has hired the guards for the season.  A new phone and answering machine had to be purchased as well as having the cash register re-keyed due to the phone and key to the cash register being missing.

MAYOR’S REPORT:      Mayor Young said Galen Kennedy has complained about people driving through his field to use the tree dump site by the lagoons.  Solutions other than closing the dumpsite were discussed.  The council agreed to have Bob Call get some prices to fence off a certain area for the tree dump to prevent driving on Kennedy’s property.

 

PROPERTY OWNER:       Jon Wilhite would like the city to consider grading the alley behind his property on Elm Street to improve the drainage.  Allen asked if this area will be dug up for the sewer rehab.  The mayor wasn’t sure, but Wilhite was willing to wait until the mayor checks into it.

 

ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION:        Jon Brady asked if the clerk has heard anything about the drag.  Brady talked to the company today and they couldn’t find any information related to the order.  Brown said she’ll check into it tomorrow.   Brady also presented a 2007 budget proposal for the Overbrook Athletic Association for the council to consider.  The mayor said he and someone from Midland Fencing will be meeting to get some figures that can be used for grant applications, etc.  The mayor asked that Brady bring some revenue figures to a future meeting to compare with the budget expenses he brought tonight.  Brady said he would.

 

 

 

            There being no further business before the council, Rich Hamit moved to adjourn.  Larry Coursen seconded; meeting was adjourned at 9:30 PM.

 

 

 

 

 

                                                                                    Respectfully submitted,

 

 

 

 

                                                                                    Cheryl L. Brown

                                                                                    City Clerk

 

 

 

 

APPROVED:  June 14, 2006