CITY OF
MINUTES REGULAR MEETING JUNE 28, 2006
MEMBERS PRESENT: Ira Allen, Bob Sisson, Bruce Smith, Rich Hamit (7:07), Mayor Jack Young. Larry Coursen
absent.
OTHERS PRESENT: Jason Hielscher, Carolyn Meerian, Jon Brady, David & Kathy Alcorn, Mike Dickerson,
Jim Koger, Ed Harmison, Cheryl Brown.
The meeting was called to order at 7 PM by Mayor Young at which time roll was taken by the clerk.
MINUTES: Bob Sisson moved to approve the minutes of the June 14, 2006 meeting as written. Ira Allen seconded; motion carried 3-0. Bob Sisson made a motion, seconded by Ira Allen, to approve the minutes of the June 21, 2006 special meeting as written. Motion carried 3-0.
WARRANTS: Ira Allen moved to pay the warrants presented. Bob Sisson seconded; motion carried 3-0.
BUSH COMPLAINT: Carolyn Meerian was present to ask the council what can be done about a bush growing out of the culvert in the first driveway north of the stop sign at 9th and Maple. The bush obstructs vision of traffic coming from the north. The council agreed by concensus to have Bob Call remove the bush, with the property owner’s permission.
DRAINAGE ISSUES: Discussion of the drainage problems on Kris Stangis’ property was tabled since Stangis was not present and Vic Robbins has not submitted any recommendations to resolve the problem.
F.A.R. PERMIT: This was tabled as no new information has been received regarding their building plans.
TREE DUMP SITE: Several ideas were discussed about how to keep vehicles away from the field adjoining the tree dump site by the lagoons. Bob Sisson said that he would talk to Gailand Kennedy about installing fence of some kind to block the traffic without interfering with his farming operation.
SCHOOL SPORTS POSTER: Mayor
Young has been contacted by Cloyd McCurdy,
WIN Publishing, about the city being on a poster for the Santa Fe Trail High
School Fall/Winter sports poster. These
are 2x3’ color posters which will be placed in area businesses. This poster has been authorized by Dave
Watkins, Athletic Director at
2007 BUDGET PREP: Rich Hamit asked if the special meeting with Jim Long of Bogner & Long is still scheduled for Thursday, July 20th at 7 PM. Long is supposed to send a draft of the 2007 budget before July 20th for the council’s review. Several items to be considered were discussed. These include the following:
1. Additional revenue for the library, approximately $7,000
2. Second full-time maintenance employee
3. Funds needed for the
Ira Allen commented that the mill levy would probably need to be raised to do everything they want to do. Mayor Young said that they need to decide exactly what it is they want to do, and then see what funds would be required.
The council agreed that a second maintenance worker is needed. Bruce Smith suggested adding animal control back to the maintenance department with the police department as back-up. Smith said he’s never been convinced that “patrolling” the town was the best way to do animal control, but favors setting traps. Any new full-time personnel would only be entitled to employee-only health insurance, and would be responsible for any additional family coverage through payroll deduction. Sisson said that the salary should be high enough to encourage someone to stay. Jason Hielscher asked if contracting out some of the maintenance work would be better than hiring more people. Mayor Young said that it was more a matter of needing the additional hours, and also most of the work requires two people for safety purposes not to mention having someone as a back-up to Bob Call. Ed Harmison said that the city could use a skidloader, and that should be included in the budget over the next 2 or 3 years.
There was discussion about improvements to the maintenance building. Smith commented that with some re-arranging more equipment could be kept inside. Adding an office, water, and sewer service were discussed. Replacing the gravel floor was also added to the list of improvements needed. The possibility of moving the maintenance building to property by the lagoons was discussed. Ed Harmison said that the fire department had discussed building in another location, and selling the existing structure. The meeting was recessed for 20 minutes while several council members went next door with Chief Harmison to check out the measurements of the fire department.
After the meeting was called to order, Bruce Smith said the fire department has around 4,000 plus square feet of floor space. Allen said that the existing police department could be used as a council/court room which would allow the city office to use the whole room. Ira Allen said he would contact the president of the rural fire district board to see if they have any interest in selling the building.
Chief Harmison said that his health insurance premium will be decreasing in December, 2006 when his youngest daughter is no longer covered. However, the cost of gasoline has increased and both patrol cars will be needing new tires soon. He also needs to replace the vests, and he would like to have more part-time help. He isn’t going to ask for more money, but would like to keep the tax levy the same.
There was discussion about additional equipment that would be needed if a second full-time person is added in maintenance. There are no plans to add another vehicle at this time.
OVERBROOK ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION: Jon Brady presented a report showing some of the expenses the city currently has for the athletic programs, along with expenses the association pays. The only revenue the association has is from the fees to participate. Ira Allen asked what the income from the concession stand is used for. Brady said that it basically is used to pay the concession stand manager and the umpires. The current fee is $45 with a $10 refund if a parent helps in the concession stand during the season. This sign-up fee also pays for the shirts. There was discussion about ways to pay for shirts or uniforms other than the sign-up fees, such as sponsors. There is also a $40/team league fee. This year that was around $600. Jason Hielscher said that there are probably 30 players on “scholarship” this year. These are kids who wouldn’t be able to play if they had to pay the fees.
Bob Sisson asked if sponsoring week-end tournaments has been considered to raise money. Brady said this was tried twice last year, and only 3 to 5 teams were interested in playing. Sisson said he’s been to games in some other towns where they charge admission. Allen said he wouldn’t want Overbrook to be one of those towns.
Mayor Young said that while he’s glad that all the kids get to play, the parents of those who don’t pay the fee should be required to help either in the concession stand or field maintenance or umpiring. Allen asked if the parents of the “scholarship” kids have been approached about helping. Brady said that getting parents to help in the concession stand is very difficult under any circumstances. Mayor Young said that the fee should double, with the entire amount refunded IF the parent is willing to work in the concession stand. He said that at some point, parents need to participate in their kid’s activities. Allen said that this would penalize the kids. The mayor said the parents would be penalizing the kids. Sisson said that when his kids played, all the parents were expected to help a few times during the season. David Alcorn said that he doesn’t have a lot of money, but he might be willing to sponsor a child. Mayor Young said that would be something to consider as other people might be willing to do the same. Mike Dickerson, Osage County Herald, said that finding volunteers are getting hard to find in lots of activities, including sports car events. Bob Sisson said he would be against raising the tax levy on Overbrook citizens to pay for sports activities when a lot of the kids live outside the city limits. Cheryl Brown, City Clerk, said that this is the case for the library and the swimming pool also. They’re partially supported by a tax levy, but used by the surrounding community. Ira Allen said that as a business owner, he might have been more favorable to buying team shirts rather than pay for a sign to hang at the ball park. Brown said that people might not be able to sponsor a whole team, but could contribute to a fund for that purpose. Brady said he had contacted the youth groups of all the area churches about running the concession stand without success.
Brady said that he wants to make sure that maintenance of the park as a whole is considered in future budgets. The mayor said that these things will definitely be included in the budget.
Brady said
that someone from Westar Energy will be here tomorrow at 4 Pm to discuss a
variety of issues regarding
TOURNAMENTS: Jason Hielscher said they’ve been approached about hosting a charity tournament, and would like permission to allow alcohol on the premises, but not the sale of alcohol. Bruce Smith said that he doesn’t think the city can take an official stand on the matter, other than this is illegal on public property. If the teams decide to do this, it would be at their own risk.
CLERK’S REPORT: Cheryl Brown said she’s been contacted a few times about reserving the gazebo at the park. She talked to Marcia Elliott, Rotary president, about the matter as it was donated by Rotary. Elliott will be discussing this at their next meeting. Brown said that the city can take care of the reservations if Rotary doesn’t want to do it.
Brown mentioned a mix-up with the Osage County Herald and a photo shoot of the pool personnel. The owner of the Herald said that other arrangements have been made for a photo, but it may not be in the same issue as other towns.
Brown said that this is the last chance to buy the old council chairs, and she has an interested party if there are no other buyers.
Brown said that due to her taking vacation, and one of Jim Koger’s daughters having some surgery, City Hall may have to be closed on Wednesday, July 5th. The council agreed by concensus to close the office.
COUNCILMEMBER COMMENTS: Bruce Smtih said he has talked to Kramer Engineering about the F.A.R. property, but the conversation was very general.
Ira Allen said that he would like to have better communication about problems at the swimming pool. This is in regards to equipment problems, especially where safety is a factor, to prevent accidents.
Rich Hamit said that new lids have been ordered for the skimmers at the pool. Hamit also would like to have Bob Call check Jason Hielscher’s water meter since his usage seems to be high. The mayor said that Call will check it and replace it if necessary. Hielscher also said that there is a “speed bump” in the street by his house. Call will check this out, too. It may be one that will be torn up during the sewer project.
MAYOR’S REPORT: The mayor told the council about a Stormwater seminar coming up. The clerk said that the manual may be available.
EXECUTIVE SESSION: Rich Hamit moved to have an executive session for 5 minutes to discuss matters not related to elected members. Bruce Smith seconded; meeting recessed at 8:55 PM. Mayor Young called the meeting back to order at 8:00 PM. No action was taken.
MISCELLANEOUS: Mayor Young said that he was told this past Sunday night that there were dead fish at the city lake. He contacted Leonard Jirek Monday morning, and the problem is the aerator, and new parts have been ordered.
There being no further business before the council, Bruce Smith moved to adjourn. Bob Sisson seconded; meeting adjourned at 9:05 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Cheryl L. Brown
City Clerk
APPROVED:07/12/2006