KECHI CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES

Thursday, April 12, 2012

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, Virginia Riemann, Debbie Jacobs & Kevin Opat.

Visitors Present: Matt Heilman, Ark Valley News; Rogene Matson, Fred Dimick, Janet Faust, Sandra McConnaughhay, Victoria Jackson, Keith Lane, Mr.& Mrs. Richard Wolf

I.  CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL

A.   PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

B.      APPROVE CONSENT AGENDA

Motion by Virginia Riemann to approve the consent agenda. Second by Debbie Jacobs. Motion carried 5-0-0.

Consent Agenda

C.   APPROVE AGENDA

Motion by Virginia Riemann to approve the regular agenda, and to include an executive session for 30 minutes for after old business for discussion of Police Chief applicants & City Administrator applicants include the council, Mayor, City Attorney. Second by Debbie Jacobs. Motion carried 5-0-0.

II.   COMMUNICATIONS

A.  PUBLIC FORUM-none

B. CIVIC GROUPS

1. 1. Historical Post Office Update – Richard Wolf pointed out on the contract with the moving company a clause regarding tying up equipment.
   2. Park Board –none
   3. Chamber of Commerce- Janet Faust, President; reported the chamber is moving forward with the artisan lane festival, Saturday, September 1 9-4.   They are planning to put a bill stuffer out in the next utility mailing and will be at city hall assisting with the mailing.   The Chamber group completed the Face Book and Twitter classes but think they need a little more training and will taking another Face Book class.   Working on the award winning float for the Kechi Fair and also plan to have the Sloppy Joe fund raiser again

C.  WASTE CONNECTIONS – The Kechi City Council passed a contract on Feb 9, 2012 for service with Waste Connections. The contracted stated it was an exclusive for trash and recycling service but it was our belief the contract was only for recycling to be exclusive and the trash service optional. Jason Zepp, District Manager for Waste Connections said they answered a request for proposal in good faith according to that request. The city clerk said that the city administrator sent out the RFP initially with the request for an exclusive contract but later she believe corrected the requested to be exclusive for recycling. Hill stated there were approximately 125 residents who did not have the service. The council stated they did not want an exclusive trash service. Waste Connections said without an exclusive contract the price for the combined service would be $14.75.  Norman Manley, City Attorney stated he didn’t think the city could legally offer an exclusive contract for trash service. Mr. Zepp felt that was no longer the case.

D.   DEPARTMENT REPORTS

POLICE DEPARTMENT – Interim Chief of Police, Walter Kuykendall reported the sonic wall device that allows officers to use the computer system remotely was no longer working.  Technology Specialist can fix the problem with a new device for $575.00 or the city can lease the equipment for $75.00 per month.

Motion by Virginia Riemann to approve the recommendation of Chief Kuykendall to purchase the equipment outright to repair the remote service from Technology Specialist. Second by Kevin Opat. Motion carried 5-0-0.

Kuykendall reported the quote for the Motorola Radios for the department, which came in less than the amount the council initially approved.

Kuykendall stated the Police Department is moving forward with hiring part time officers and is currently working with two individuals for those positions.

CITY CLERK –Laura Hill, City Clerk reported the city had received a check from Southwest National Bank in the amount of $1,334.47.  SWNB was the bond payee through an escrow account for the city on refunding bonds from back in the late 1980’s and early 1990’s.   The bonds had paid off and this amount was remaining in the account. The money will be deposited into the bond and interest fund.

TREASURER- Sally Lane, City Treasurer presented the financial report for the month ending March 31^st, presented YTD figures for budget comparison. Also, stated she had added a line for delinquent taxes on the budget.

Presented preliminary items for the Capital Improvement & Equipment Reserve Plans for the council to review. Answered any questions the council had. Some of the items on the Equipment Reserve list were addressed by the city superintendent.

SUPERINTENDENT – Larry Kallenberger, City Superintendent; requested authorization to update the code enforcements laptop with MS2010 Pro like the rest of the computer system.
This will allow Holidaye to work out in the field with the laptop and also be compatible with Larry’s computer. The cost is $379.00

Motion by Virginia Riemann to authorize the purchase of MS2010 Pro for $379.00 for code enforcement’s laptop. Second by Brian Adams. Motion carried 5-0-0.

Kallenberger also reported he had hired one seasonal person, Joshua Perez,  for the utility department and would start Monday April 16^th.

Motion by Debbie Jacobs to approve the hiring of the seasonal employee at $11.00 per hour to begin full time on Monday April 16^th. Second by Kevin Opat. Motion carried 5-0-0.

Larry asked for the possibility to hire the second seasonal at part-time or less than 40 hours per week.

Motion by Virginia Riemann to authorize the second seasonal employee to be a part time position at $11.00 per hour. Second by Kevin Opat. Motion carried 5-0-0.

MAYOR

Robert Jackson, Mayor; reported on the quote for assisting with the City Administrator search, however most of the work had already been done previously by WSU.   
Asked the council if they were receiving the League News via e-mail. They were not. The clerk stated she would get them added to the mailing list.

Briefly discussed the building incentives. Asked staff to bring back a proposal to the council with what they felt was a better plan for incentives. 
Reviewed the proposed personnel policy sections F1-F5. Regarding sick leave, rest breaks, holidays, vacation leave etc.

Asked the council to be prepared to review  Sec. G, H, I, J & K at the next meeting.

Motion by Virginia Riemann to approve the quote from the city’s current agent. Second by Kevin Opat. Motion carried 2-2 Adams & McConnaughhay voting nay, Robert Jackson breaking the tie voting aye.

COUNCIL

Kevin Opat reported he had agreed to sit here at City Hall with Stuart and Assoc. to re-glue the carpet on April 28^th if the maintenance guys could clear out the offices on Friday.

David McConnaughhay asked about the back flow testing and how it was monitored.  

IV.    NEW BUSINESS - none

V.    OLD BUSINESS-none

VI.      EXECUTIVE SESSION –Applicant Review for Chief of Police & City Administrator

Motion by Kevin Opat to go into executive session for the applicant review for 30 minutes beginning at 9:05 PM Second by Virginia Riemann. Motion carried 5-0-0.

VII.    ADJOURNMENT

Motion by Virginia Riemann to adjourn. Second by Kevin Opat. Motion carried 5-0-0. The time was 9:45 PM

Signed____________________________________    Attest__________________________________

Robert Jackson, Mayor                                             Laura Hill, City Clerk