Monthly City Council Meeting Unofficial
Draft/Copy
Council Meeting February 12, 2024
Council Chambers:
ROLL CALL: The City Council of Lincoln Center convened in regular session at 6:30 p.m. with Mayor Travis Schwerdtfager presiding. Councilmembers present: Angela K. Corpstein, Hayden Howard, Elijah Keever, Mark Luce and Melodee K. Larsen. Officials present: Attorney Jeffrey A. Norris, Clerk Heather N. Hillegeist. Also present: Superintendent Jeff Ahring.
VISITORS: Visitors in attendance for all or portions of the meeting: John Baetz and Kelly Gourley.
AGENDA AMENDMENTS: There were no amendments to the agenda.
MINUTES: Upon motion by Larsen, seconded by Corpstein, Minutes of the January 10, 2024, regular meeting were approved as written.
PAYROLL VOUCHER: Payroll Voucher No. 24-01, for January wages and salaries in the amount of $80,014.04, was presented. A motion by Keever, seconded by Corpstein, to approve said Payroll Voucher, carried.
ACCOUNTS PAYABLE: Accounts Payable lists were reviewed, including prepaid invoices in the amount of $82,254.59, and unpaid invoices totaling $212,677.22. Upon motion by Corpstein, seconded by Larsen, all said invoices in the amount of $294,931.81, were approved for payment.
DELINQ. ACCNTS.: Four (4) accounts, totaling $1,810.60, were on the list of delinquent utilities reviewed.
POST ROCK COMMUNITY FOUNDATION: Post Rock Community Foundation Board Chair, John Baetz, presented the Governing Body with the 2023 annual report of grants and scholarships that (PRCF) supplied. Baetz wanted to remind the Governing Body know that any donations made to (PRCF) in February, would be matched by the Dane G. Hansen Foundation at 200%. After discussion, Luce moved to approve a $500 monetary donation to the Post Rock Community Foundation in February. Motion seconded by Corpstein, carried.
ZONING/PLANNING REGS: Attorney Norris requested guidance from the Governing Body on the future direction on zoning and planning ordinances. Norris explained at this time the city code does not address any zoning. Norris has been researching other cities ordinances regarding “tiny homes/container homes” and most ordinances refer to the zoning codes. After discussion, Norris was given some guidance on what the Governing Body was trying to achieve with said ordinance; minimum tiny home size, one tiny home per lot with specific lot size, each home metered and connected to city utilities, off street parking. Norris will continue to work on an ordinance to present at the March meeting.
PERSONNEL: Superintendent Ahring report he had received notice of a resignation from Ethan Curnutt effective February 2, 2024. After discussion, the city will continue to advertise for open positions.
WEBSITE PROPOSALS: Clerk Hillegeist presented the Governing Body with some proposals for new website proposals. Hillegeist explained she had contacted multiple companies with a start-up price range of $2,614 - $16,615 and some would be building a new website from start to finish. Each of the companies offers an alert system that customers could sign up for using text or email. All websites would be compatible with applications that could be filled out directly using a pdf filler which would be a separate purchase. Hillegeist recommended the Governing Body consider a proposal from Municipal Impact, they only contract with small municipalities or small water systems of less than 3,000 population. The price is population based and would be cost effective for the city. After discussion, Larsen moved to approve Municipal Impacts proposal for $2614 and the annual fee for a pdf filler of approximately $187. Motion seconded by Luce, carried.
SALARY COMPENSATION ORD NO 746: Attorney Norris presented “AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE NO. 715 AND ARTICLE 3, SECTION 1-315 OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF LINCOLN CENTER, KANSAS, SPECIFYING THE COMPENSATION OF THE OFFICE HOLDERS OF THE CITY OF LINCOLN CENTER, KANSAS” Said ordinance provides compliance with K.S.A. 14-201, designating compensation for elected and appointed City officials. Larsen moved to adopt said Ordinance with the following compensation ranges: Mayor $200-2,000 per month, Council Members $50-500 per meeting, City Treasurer $185-1,500 per month, Municipal Judge $185-1,500 month, City Clerk $3400-10,000 per month, Deputy City Clerk $14-35 per hour, City Attorney $100 per month (plus additional time as billed) and Fire Chief $85-2,000 per month. Motion seconded by Corpstein. Upon call for vote, the following Councilmembers voted Aye: Corpstein, Howard, Keever, Larsen, and Luce. Councilmembers voting Nay: None. The Ordinance was declared passed, was approved and signed by the Mayor, assigned #746 by the City Clerk, and ordered to be published once in the Official City Newspaper
NUISANCES: Attorney Norris reported public officer, Robert Loveless completed the report declaring the property on Park Street as a health nuisance. Attorney Norris was instructed to move forward with the Resolution to abate the property for the March council meeting. Said resolution would set a date and time for a hearing.
EDUCATION: Clerk Hillegeist advised she would be attending the City Clerk’s Conference being held in Manhattan on March 19th-22nd.
POOL: Clerk Hillegeist relayed the advertising for pool managers and lifeguards would be in the February 14, 2024 newspaper and on the cities website. Notices of classes and job openings have been sent to Lincoln Jr./Sr. High School.
BIKE ACROSS KS: Clerk Hillegeist relayed to the Governing Body that Lincoln was selected for the 2024 Bike Across Kansas (BAK) trip. The BAK Director will be here for a site visit in March and he said to plan for around 1000 people on June 11th. Hillegeist is looking for some members for a planning committee for the event.
SCHOOL ST.: Superintendent Ahring informed the Governing Body on the condition of School Street following a water leak that was discovered. Ahring has been in touch with companies about the issue and they will continue to try different strategies to get the street open as soon as its repaired.
TRUCK PURCHASE: Superintendent Ahring reported that he found a truck that would be more adequate to pull the new vac trailer that the city purchased. Deep Creek construction has a 2005 Chevy C4500 Kodiak Truck for sale with 160,000 miles. The asking price is $34,000. Ahring would try to negotiate the price down if possible. Keever moved to authorize Ahring to spend up to $34,000 for the truck, Larsen seconded the motion, carried.
WATER LINES: Superintendent Ahring requested the Governing Body review the city code regarding maintenance of water utility lines. After discussion, Hillegeist was instructed to put the item on the agenda for the March council meeting.
FIRE CHIEF COMPENSATION: Councilmember Larsen moved to increase the monthly salary of the City Fire Chief to $450 effective immediately following the publication of the Ordinance in the official newspaper. Motion seconded by Luce, carried.
ADJOURN: There being no further business, Corpstein moved to adjourn. Motion seconded by Luce, carried. Council adjourned at 7:43 p.m.
/s/ Heather N. Hillegeist, MMC
City Clerk
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