Fort Scott Biz

FS Commission Minutes of Special Meeting Aug. 5

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Minutes are unapproved until the Aug. 18 meeting

A special meeting of the Fort Scott City Commission was held August 5th, 2020 at 11:00 a.m. via teleconference by all Commissioners and City Staff calling into a teleconference line. This is due to an outbreak of coronavirus with City Hall staff.

ROLL CALL:

Roll call was taken with Commissioners stating their name and replying present. Commissioners K. Allen, R. Nichols, and L. Watts were present with Mayor J. Mitchell presiding. P. Allen was not present via teleconference.

AUDIENCE IN ATTENDANCE: Jeff Deane, City Attorney, was connected via teleconference. He reminded the Commissioners to state their name when voting to prevent a violation of Kansas Open Meetings Act.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES AND APPROPRIATIONS/CONSENT AGENDA:

  1. Approval of Appropriation Ordinance 1268-A totaling $960,076.89.

  1. Olsson Associates – Engineering – Airport Electric Vault Project – $2,457.92

  1. Olsson Associates – Engineering – Airport Electric Vault Project – $7,523.15

  1. Strukel Electric, Inc. – Contractor – Airport Electric Vault Project – $15,949.38

  1. Schneider Electric – Contractor – Energy Upgrade – $146,821.25

J. Mitchell read to the public all the items on the Consent Agenda. The minutes were moved under Consideration.

Kevin Allen said he would like to wait until all Commissioners were on the line. He stated that he had not received a new agenda. The City Clerk said that she emailed it to him again.

R. Nichols moved to approve the Consent Agenda. L. Watts seconded. R. Nichols, L. Watts, and J. Mitchell voted aye. K. Allen voted no. Motion carried 3-1.

APPROVED CONSENT AGENDA.

CONSIDERATION:

  1. Approval of minutes of the regular meeting of July 21st, 2020.

Lindsey said that she spoke with the City Clerk and the motion that was made at the last meeting regarding a joint meeting with the Lake Advisory Committee. She did not believe she was voting for a meeting with the Lake Advisory Board, the City Commission, and the public. She asked for clarification on this motion.

Jeff Deane, City Attorney, said he would review the video of the meeting and get back with her.

Kevin Allen asked if we would be discussing lake property.

Mayor said this will not be discussed.

Kevin Allen said that the minutes need to be changed from the last meeting before he will approve them.

Lindsey said that he should send his changes to Diane.

This item was tabled until the next regular meeting.

  1. Consideration of Health Insurance Contribution for employees – Dave Martin, City Manager, asked that the Commission approve to allocate an additional $20.00 towards their health insurance contribution starting October 1st, 2020. This will amount to approximately $24,000. Since increases will not be given this year to employees, this will help with the increase in insurance premium.

K. Allen asked that this be tabled due to budget constraints. This is going to cost $24,000.

Susan said that it has been included in the budget for 2021. She said that she could bring this back to the next meeting. This amount will not all be coming out of the general fund.

Lindsey said that this was brought up during the budget work session.

R. Nichols said that since this has been built into the budget, he would make a motion to approve the $20.00 additional premium towards the employee’s health insurance. L. Watts seconded. R. Nichols, L. Watts, and J. Mitchell voted aye. K. Allen voted no. Motion carried 3-1.

APPROVED HEALTH INSURANCE CONTRIBUTION FOR EMPLOYEES TOWARD THEIR HEALTH INSURANCE COSTS.

  1. Consideration of 5-year Capital Plan – Susan Bancroft, Director of Finance, said that this was discussed during the budget work session. This plan is a moving document and not set in stone. By State Statute 12-1, 117 and 12-1, 118, a 5-year plan has to be approved by the Governing Body. This is a planning tool for setting the budget as well as developing long term improvements and identifying equipment needs.

L. Watts moved to approve the 5-year Capital Plan. R. Nichols seconded. R. Nichols, L. Watts and J. Mitchell voted aye. K. Allen abstained. Motion carried 3-1.

APPROVED 5 YEAR CAPITAL PLAN.

  1. Budget discussion and approval to publish 2021 Budget – Susan Bancroft informed the Commission that she had emailed this document to them with their requested changes. These changes were made around our transfers. She spoke with our auditor and the League of Kansas Municipalities on this topic. At the next meeting, a charter ordinance will be brought before them on transfers. They are essentially the same with the exception of taking them from one fund to another.

L. Watts moved to approve to publish the 2021 Budget and hold the public hearing at 6:00 p.m. on August 18th, 2020. R. Nichols seconded.

Kevin said that he would vote no since he can only hear about every third word.

Pete Allen joined the meeting.

R. Nichols, L. Watts, and J. Mitchell voted aye. K. Allen and P. Allen voted no. Motion carried 3-2.

APPROVED TO PUBLISH THE 2021 BUDGET AND TO HOLD THE PUBLIC HEARING ON AUGUST 18TH, 2020 AT 6:00 P.M.

  1. Pool Closing Date Discussion – Dave Martin, City Manager, informed the Commission per the letter from Chasity Ware, Pool Manager, she has requested that the closing date of the pool be Sunday, August 9th, 2020. There are many lifeguards that will be leaving to go back to college.

Randy said that also she said that the volume is down for this year.

R. Nichols moved to close the aquatic center on Sunday, August 9th, 2020. J. Mitchell seconded. All voted aye.

APPROVED TO CLOSE AQUATIC CENTER ON SUNDAY, AUGUST 9TH, 2020.

ADJOURNMENT:

L. Watts moved to adjourn the special meeting at 11:30 a.m. R. Nichols seconded. All voted aye.

ADJOURNED MEETING AT 11:30 A. M.

The next regularly scheduled meeting will be held on August 18th, 2020 at 6:00 p.m.

RECORDED BY:

DIANE K. CLAY

CITY CLERK

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