2011 Minutes (December 8, 2011)
KECHI CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
Thursday, December 8, 2011
Mayor Robert Jackson called the regular meeting of the Kechi City Council to order, the time was 7:00 PM.
Council Present: David McConnaughhay, Brian Adams, Debbie Jacobs & Kevin Opat. Virginia Riemann was absent.
Staff Present: Mark Tallman, City Administrator; Laura Hill, City Clerk; Norman Manley, City Attorney; Walter Kuykendall, Interim Chief of Police;
Visitors Present: Matt Heilman, Ark Valley News; Janet Faust, Richard Wolf, Sandra McConnaughhay, Victoria Jackson, Guy Rendoff, Mr. & Mrs. Brian Johnson, Nancy Ayres, Sara Turvey, Jennifer Sommers, Theresa Morlan
I. CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL
A. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
B. APPROVE CONSENT AGENDA
Motion by Debbie Jacobs to approve the consent agenda except for item #3 Special Meeting on the 15th for discussion. Second by Brian Adams. Motion carried 4-0-0.
Consent Agenda
1. Minutes of the November 10, 2011
2. Appropriations Ordinance #659
3. Set Special City Council Meeting- Thursday, December 15, 7:00pm, Kechi City Hall
4. General Accounting Practices Waiver for the Year Ending December 31, 2011
5. Natural Gas Safety - Returned Questionnaire Drawing
(Norman Manley drew the winner of the gas drawing during this time, to be announced later under the Mayor’s report.)
C. APPROVE AGENDA
Motion by Kevin Opat to approve the regular agenda, moving the executive session for the discussion of non elected personnel up on the agenda before the Chief’s report and insert council & Mayor reports after the Chief’s report. Second by Brian Adams. Motion carried 4-0-0.
II. COMMUNICATIONS
A. PUBLIC FORUM
(The main focus of this meeting was to hear concerns over the USD 259 boundary change study. USD259’s Superintendent and other school officials were invited but did not attend. )
Guy Rendoff opposes the boundary study suggestion, as he has a granddaughter which now attends Chisholm Trail elementary only 2 miles from home while the proposed location is over 8 miles away.
Mayor Jackson read an e-mail response from USD 259 John Allison, Superintendent regarding the invitation to speak to the city’s concerns. Mr. Allison stated he would get information about public meetings out to the Mayor as soon as the board voted on the locations.
Brian Johnson, resident spoke regarding what the city’s options were. He stated he was a Special Education teacher for Goddard and Maize. He asked if Kechi could attend USD 262 in Valley Center.
The Mayor stated that according to state law, children can any school in the state, not only the designated school.
Kevin Opat, Council President; suggested it would be helpful for the residents to start a “grass roots” effort to send a strong message to the district to change the proposed boundary for Kechi’s students.
Theresa Morlan spoke stating she liked the idea of community schools and having a choice. She did not feel it was fair to have elementary school kids to have to ride the bus for 45 mins or more in the morning and evenings.
Jennifer Sommers asked the possibility of carrying a petition to present to the board.
Debbie Jacobs, Councilmember asked if anyone had talked to any of the teachers to see what they had observed in the past with bused students and the effects of what impact it had on the children.
Brian Adams, Councilmember shared some of the same concerns. Appreciated the Mayor getting a response from USD 259’s board member Lynn Rogers regarding the invite to appear before the city council. Brian stated he had also talked to Barbara Fuller another school board member; Ms. Fuller had also shared her concerns with Brian.
Mayor suggested everyone e-mail or call the board members to voice their concerns. A print out with a map, numbers and emails were provided for the people attending this evenings meeting.
Brent Smith, resident; stated we should be proactive rather than reactive. Asked the city to get the email addresses in the Lamp and on Channel 7, possibly get the petition out before January. Put something in the utility bills.
Mayor Jackson stated the board will meet December 15th at 6:30 at North High to meet with the focus group. The meeting is not open to the public but came be listened to from an outside room.
III. DEPARTMENT REPORTS
EXECUTIVE SESSION
A. Non Elected Personnel
Motion by Debbie Jacobs to go into executive session for the discussion of non-elected personnel for 15 minutes and to include the City Administrator , interim Chief of Police, council, Mayor and City Attorney. Second by David McConnaughhay. Motion carried 4-0-0. The time was 7:35 PM
INTERIM CHIEF OF POLICE-Walter Kuykendall recommended to the council the hiring of two certified full time officers and the one certified part time officer listed on his proposal handed to the council, in accordance to the authorization the council had given him in late October. The first officer with a wage rate of $17.00 per hour, the second full time officer with a rate of $16.00 per hour and the part time officer with a rate of $15.50 per hour. He also recommended for the immediate retention concerns of Officer Shultz to increase his wage rate to $18.00 per hour.
Kuykendall thanked Richard Wolf and Janet Faust for sitting in on the interviews.
Debbie Jacobs stated when the council approved the hiring of the two full time and one part time she thought those positions included the Chief’s position.
David McConnaughhay again stated his concerns of the city needing a pay plan and a policy for rate increases or raises.
Brian Adams stated he was in a position to hire one full time and one part time and thought with the turn over the city has experienced in the last year or so, was a good indication the city was below market value for the wages.
Debbie Jacobs agreed the she was in favor of only hiring one full time officer. Thought it would be better to have more part time positions.
Kuykendall said it was slim to none to get more part time positions filled as he had just not had the interest.
Kuykendall stated he expected to have the Chief position filled in late February.
Mayor Jackson suggested Kuykendall involve a couple of community people in the selection process like what was done with the officer positions.
Motion by Brian Adams to authorize the hiring of the Interim Chief’s recommendation of #1 candidate at $17.00 per hour and the #3 candidate, the part time position at $15.50 and to increase Mr. Shultz’s wage rate to $18.00 per hour. Second by Kevin Opat. Motion carried 4-0-0.
COUNCIL REPORTS
Debbie Jacobs thought Lyle Powers did a good job at the Meet Santa Claus event on Saturday.
David McConnaughhay commended the ladies who helped with the Holiday Dinner on Tuesday. Kevin Opat also stated he liked the dinner on Tuesday and felt the food was the best the city has had. Commended the Mayor on his door prize drawings.
Brain Adams too thought a fantastic job had been done for the volunteers and committee people. Stated it was amazing to see how many individuals it took to make the city work.
MAYOR
Robert Jackson, Mayor also stated his appreciation of the work involved with the dinner and the individuals who donated items for the drawings.
There was some discussion of having a special meeting on December 15th to cover business items that was not put on tonight’s agenda due to the meeting being dedicated to the USD 259 boundary position. Items such as the Treasurer’s report, Len Marotte’s marketing proposal, Shane Yonce, Technology Specialist will be here to report to the council on the IT transition.
Mayor Jackson stated there was some language he did not agree with in the contract with Mr. Yonce, which was approved while he was in Florida.
Norman Manley stated it was an adhesion contract with a disclaimer of warranty. Stating most companies will only warrant other equipment and software acquired at a later date from another contact provider to what was covered by the manufactures warranty.
Motion by Brian Adams to hold a special meeting on December 15th to cover regular business items. Second by David McConnaughhay. Motion carried 4-0-0.
Mayor Jackson announced the winner of the natural gas public awareness drawing for $100.00 off the utility bill. The winner drawn earlier in the evening by Norman Manley, City Attorney was Chris Conyers of 251 Prairie Creek Drive.
VI. NEW BUSINESS
Mark Tallman, City Administrator recommended as the Deputy City Clerk Dee was going to be on vacation for an extended amount of time to hire someone to help out either from a temp. agency or one of the former applicants for a $10 - $11 per hour rate. He would like to speak with the previous candidate and see if there is still interest.
Kevin Opat stated he felt this could be left up to the Mayor, City Administrator & City Clerk to work it out. No further action or discussion.
V. ADJOURNMENT
Motion by Debbie Jacobs to adjourn. Second by David McConnaughhay. Motion carried 4-0-0. The time was 8:30 PM
Signed____________________________________ Attest__________________________________
Robert Jackson, Mayor Laura Hill, City Clerk