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Fort Scott City Commission Minutes of Aug. 20

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CITY OF FORT SCOTT

CITY COMMISSION MEETING

Minutes of August 20, 2019 Regular Meeting #15

The regular meeting of the Fort Scott City Commission was held August 20th, 2019 at 6:00 p.m. in the City Commission Room, 123 S. Main, Fort Scott, Kansas.

ROLL CALL:

Commissioners Adamson, Bartelsmeyer, Mitchell and Nichols were present with Mayor Parker presiding.

INVOCATION: Pastor Paul Rooks, Grace Baptist Tabernacle, said a prayer asking God for guidance for the City, our Government and City officials.

AUDIENCE IN ATTENDANCE: Robert Uhler, Rachel Pruitt, Darrell Parker, Traci Reed, Bobby Reed, Lindsay Watts, Shaun O’Brien, Zach Adams, Eric Jefferson, Steve Hohulin, Richard Clark, Reitha Clark, Devin Tally, Arnold Schofield, Janet Braun, Paul Ballou, Paul Rooks, Chris Anderson, Daymeion Anderson, Ryan Thomas, Alex Schafer, Dalton Carpenter, Clint Roberts, Deb McCoy, Terry Sercer, Ally Turvey, Daren Hutchison, Jacob May, Clayton Miller, Michael Miles, Max Fanning, Travis Shelton, Deb Needleman, Dave Bruner, Michael Mix, and representing the press, Jason Silvers of the Fort Scott Tribune.

PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS: None

APPROVAL OF MINUTES AND APPROPRIATIONS/CONSENT AGENDA:

  1. Approval of minutes of the regular meeting of August 6th, 2019.

  1. Approval of Appropriation Ordinance 1244-A totaling $338,300.97.

Bartelsmeyer moved to approve the Consent Agenda. Nichols seconded. All voted aye.

APPROVED CONSENT AGENDA.

APPEARANCE/COMMENTS/PUBLIC HEARING:

  1. APPEARANCE:

  1. Terry Sercer – 2018 Audit Presentation – Mr. Sercer appeared before the Commission to present the 2018 Audit. He reminded the Commission that this is an unqualified opinion, but the highest level of opinion received. This financial statement presents fairly the aggregate cash and unencumbered cash balance for the City of Fort Scott as of December 31, 2018.

He said that the City did not have any violations with compliance with Kansas Statutes. He stated that the General Fund has a good solid balance. There are no federal or grant violations.

He stated that there was one cash basis violation. In the Convention and Visitor Bureau fund, the expenditures exceeded the budget. If this had been caught, the budget could have been amended before year end, but it was not.

City Manager thanked Rhonda Dunn for the relationship between Terry Sercer and her and how they work together.

Mitchell moved to approve the 2018 Audit. Nichols seconded. All voted aye.

APPROVED 2018 AUDIT.

Zach Adams – Waggoner Group Update – Mr. Adams reminded the Commission that they are a company from Jackson, Mississippi who is working with Bedco and the City to develop a strategic implementation plan to this community. Their approach is that “Great Communities Drive Economic Development”. Their scope of work is to develop a framework or strategy for implementation of the City’s priorities based on: Comprehensive Plan, Stakeholder Input, and Recent plans and studies. This includes the local side and the federal side. They started back in December of 2018 with a kickoff with City leadership and then developed an initial strategic implementation report on July 2019. They went to Washington, D.C. in March of 2019 and sent follow up letters to Senators Moran and Roberts, and Congressman Watkins. A second trip is placed the week of September 23, 2019. They used demographics, looked at top employers and employment rates, recreation and tourism opportunities, reviewed downtown Fort Scott, and held stakeholder interviews. There are nearly 3 million people within a two hour drive to Fort Scott. Their group looked at our community assets which include: Fort Scott National Historic Site, National Cemetery, Lowell Milken Center, Gordon Parks Museum, Historic downtown, Gunn Park, Lake Fort Scott, and LaRoche Baseball Complex. A Strength-Weaknesses- Opportunities-Threats Plan (SWOT) was created. They recommended the following goals: 1) Encourage business growth in infill locations; 2) Promote a vibrant downtown “Main Street” type approach; 3) Improve multi-modal connectivity and accessibility; and 4) Promote Fort Scott as a “Great Community”. A final strategic implementation report will be presented at a later date.

B. CITIZEN COMMENTS (Concerning Items Not on Agenda – 3 minute

limit per citizen) – None

  1. PUBLIC HEARINGS:

Bartelsmeyer moved to open the Public Hearing at 6:32 p.m. Adamson seconded. All voted aye.

OPENED PUBLIC HEARING AT 6:32 P.M.

  1. 6:00 p.m. – 2020 Budget Hearing – Adoption of 2020 Budget – Rhonda Dunn, Director of Finance, updated the Commission on the process and the input into the 2020 budget. Priorities were set including: Streets; Debt Management; Maintain flat mill levy; more existing cash flow; Meet departmental needs, not wants; Economic Development; Building Maintenance; and Health Care. The 2020 budget results include a revenue of $16,518,860. This has decreased $139,000 from 2019. There is a 3% increase in utility rates; increased property valuation; decrease from Mercy ambulance payments; sales tax has not increased from 2018. Expense budget: $17,934.555: increased budget by $300,000 from 2019; street budget increased $350,000 from 2019; operational cuts of approximately $155,000. 2020 Budget results: Reducing and eliminating transfers from General Fund. Utilizing existing cash to meet priorities. The mill levy will remain the same.

She stated she had Terry Sercer, City auditor, review the State budget forms. He identified a discrepancy in the Debt Service Cash from the 2018 audit. The budget needed adjusted to include $340,000 in additional cash in debt service.

She is requesting approval to re-publish the 2020 budget in the local newspaper and to hold a budget public hearing on September 3rd, 2019 at 6:00 p.m.

Parker moved to approve to publish the 2020 budget public hearing notice and to hold a public hearing on September 3rd, 2019 at 6:00 p.m. Bartelsmeyer seconded. All voted aye.

APPROVED TO PUBLISH THE 2020 BUDGET PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE AND TO HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING ON SEPTEMBER 3rd, 2019 AT 6:00 P.M.

Mitchell moved to close the Public Hearing at 6:57 p.m. Nichols seconded. All voted aye.

CLOSED PUBLIC HEARING AT 6:57 P.M.

CONSIDERATION:

  1. Consideration of Certificate of Appropriateness – 123 S. National – Shiney Studio – Replacement of Roof – Robert Uhler, Community Development Director, informed the Commission that the Design Review Board recently met on July 24th, 2019 to review the Certificate of Appropriateness. The Design Review Board voted to not approve the Certificate of Appropriateness due to the fact that they wanted to install a metal roof on this historical building. Kansas State Historical Society Association (SHIPPO) is not in agreeance with this metal roof either. He asked for permission to work with the owners on an acceptable type of roof to install. This will go back before the Design Review Board again and then back before the City Commission as they are just a board of recommendation.

Discussion was held regarding a time frame due to the water leakage in the building.

Nichols moved to not approve the Certificate of Appropriateness for the Shiney Studio building at 123 S. National and an update be given at the next City Commission meeting on this building. Mitchell seconded. All voted aye.

RECOMMENDED NOT TO APPROVE THE CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS FOR THE SHINEY STUDIO AT 123 S. NATIONAL AVENUE AND FOR AN UPDATE TO BE GIVEN ON THIS BUILDING AT THE NEXT MEETING.

  1. Consideration of approval to purchase Pumper Truck – Fire Dept. – Dave Bruner, Deputy Fire Chief, informed the Commission that he is seeking approval to purchase a new pumper truck for the Fire Department. The current pumper truck is 27 years old with 3,500 engine hours and 36,000 miles on it. According to NFPA Standards, any apparatus standards that are over 25 years old should be replaced. Items that are now needed is a top mounted panel which the current truck has a side mount. Also a 1,000 gallon tank is needed and the current truck has a 500 gallon tank. A full warranty is also needed. Options were looked at which included rebuilt wrecked trucks, refurbished used trucks, and a body refurbished/chassis change truck. Compared to the costs of a new truck and the fact that there is no warranty on a used truck, the new truck is the recommendation. There were three new trucks looked at which included the E-One Pumper from Springfield which cost $513,000; the Rosenbauer Pumper from Hays, Kansas which cost $491,000; and the Pierce Pumper of Olathe, Kansas which cost $465,000. Their recommendation is the Pierce Pumper truck from Olathe, Kansas in the amount of $465,000. It has the full warranty, the top mount panel, and the 1,000 gallon water tank. His recommendation is for the Pierce Pumper truck from Olathe, Kansas. The ultimate goal is to provide fire safety for this community as well as give the firefighters the best equipment they can have so they can return home to their families also.

Bartelsmeyer moved to approve the Pierce Pumper truck from Olathe, Kansas in the amount of $465,000. Parker seconded. All voted aye.

APPROVED PIERCE PUMPER TRUCK FROM OLATHE, KANSAS IN THE AMOUNT OF $465,000.

  1. Consideration to secure financing for the Pumper Truck – Rhonda Dunn asked for approval to look for sources for funding for this pumper truck. She will contact local banks and other establishments and look for the lowest financing available and bring this back before them at the next meeting. No general obligation bonds will be used.

Mitchell moved to approve to securing financing options for the pumper truck. Adamson seconded. All voted aye.

APPROVED TO SECURE FINANCING OPTIONS FOR THE PUMPER TRUCK AND BRING BACK BEFORE THE COMMISSION AT THEIR NEXT MEETING.

  1. Consideration of street closing – Wreath Ride – August 24th – Allyson Turvey, Tourism Manager, informed the Commission that she was appearing on behalf of Kevin Wagner who had a previous commitment tonight for the Wreath Ride. The ride will be held on Saturday, August 24th. Last year the group raised enough funds to place a wreath on every grave at the National Cemetery which amounted to about 7,000 graves. This year CFI Transports will be bringing 13 semi-trucks to the event along with about 200 motorcycles. They want to move from Buck Run parking lot to Main Street. She asked for approval to close Main Street from 1st to 3rd Street to allow the semi-trucks to park there and all the motorcycles. They will arrive at 8:30 a.m. and depart at 11:30 a.m. for the ride. They will utilitze Memorial Hall also for their luncheon that day. She asked for approval to close Main Street on Saturday, August 24th from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m.

Mitchell moved to close Main Street on Saturday, August 24th from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. for the Wreath Ride. Bartelsmeyer seconded. All voted aye.

Approved to close Main Street on Saturday, August 24th from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. for the Wreath Ride.

  1. Consideration of approval to rebid Water Treatment Plant clarifier – painting and sand blasting – Michael Mix, Water Utilities Director, informed the Commission that at the last meeting the Commission voted to reject the two bids that were received due to the cost. He is asking approval to rebid this project.

Parker moved to approve to rebid the Water Treatment Plant clarifier painting and sand blasting bid. Adamson seconded. All voted aye.

approved to rebid the Water Treatment Plant clarifier painting and sand blasting bid.

  1. Consideration of Resolution of Intent – Purpose of Financing or Refinancing the acquisition, construction, improvement and equipping senior living – Presbyterian Manors, Inc. – Rhonda Dunn informed the Commission that this resolution is part of the City of Wichita and a cooperation agreement relating to the Presbyterian Manors. They are issuing Health Care Revenue Bonds at a cost not to exceed $53,000,000 to finance improvements to the Presbyterian Manors facilities. The City can either approve and agree to it, reject it, or take no action. If you take no action, approval is assumed. Her recommendation is to take no action.

COMMISSION/STAFF:

  1. Director Updates: None

  1. City Commission:

Bartelsmeyer – Remarked that we did some really great things tonight. She is excited about the economic development opportunities.

Mitchell – Remarked that she was approached by someone asking to see if golf carts with lights could be used at night.

City Manager said that he and Travis Shelton will look into this.

Nichols – Remarked that it was a good meeting.

Adamson – Said that she agrees with Cindy about the excitement with the Waggoner group.

Parker – Remarked that it is the Commission’s intent to move this town forward.

  1. City Manager:

  1. Lake Fort Scott Advisory Committee – City Manager said that the creation of the Lake Advisory Committee ordinance will come before them at their next meeting. JoLynne Mitchell will be the City’s representative and Jeff Fischer will be the County’s representative. There are people opposed to the proposed condos and people that are not opposed to it. Letters of interest will be accepted after the adoption of the ordinance. Some of the questions that he has heard are about zoning. The County will not do any zoning at the Lake.

ADJOURNMENT:

Bartelsmeyer moved to adjourn the meeting at 7:41 p.m. Adamson seconded. All voted aye.

ADJOURNED MEETING AT 7:41 P.M.

The next regularly scheduled meeting is to be held on September 3rd, 2019 at 6:00 p.m.

RECORDED BY:

DIANE K. CLAY

CITY CLERK

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