CITY OF FORT SCOTT

CITY COMMISSION MEETING

Minutes of February 19, 2019 Regular Meeting #3

The regular meeting of the Fort Scott City Commission was held February 19^th, 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: Jason Pickert, Rhonda Dunn, Darrell Parker, Michael Mix, Paul Ballou, Deb Needleman, Robert Uhler, Michelle Wooldridge, Jara Martin, Nick Ruhl, Josh Jones, Darren Crays, Bobby Duncan, Alex Swank, Chalia Swank, Deb McCoy, Jeff Fischer, Larry Gazaway, Dave Bruner, Brian Allen, Paul Rooks, Rod Hughes, Michael Miles, Shawn Goans, Max Fanning, Kevin Allen, Jason Gorman, Patrick J. Wood, Stuart Gulager, Rachel Pruitt, Clayton Miller, and representing the press, Jason Silvers with the Fort Scott Tribune and Sarah Jane Tribble representing Kaiser Health News.

PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS: None

APPROVAL OF MINUTES AND APPROPRIATIONS/CONSENT AGENDA:

1. Approval of minutes of the regular meeting of February 5^th, 2019.

2. Approval of Appropriation Ordinance 1232-A totaling $505,644.58.

Bartelsmeyer moved the Consent Agenda. Adamson seconded. All voted aye.

APPROVED CONSENT AGENDA.

APPEARANCE/COMMENTS/PUBLIC HEARING:

1. APPEARANCE:

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

limit per citizen) –

Michelle Wooldridge – She stated that she lives in the 400 block of Crawford and there is a water drain issue there. She said she had called City Hall and reported it. She walked the street and it is coming from an organization’s yard from a drain that is a block and a half away.

City Manager asked her for her phone number and he will get her an answer tomorrow on this.

Bobby Duncan – He stated that in May of 2017 the City updated to the 2012 IBC Code. He said that Dave Bruner, Deputy Fire Chief, recommended the update of the code and to stay current with the Kansas State Fire Marshal’s Office. He said that the Kansas State Fire Marshal’s Office still has the 2006 IBC Code. He said Mr. Bruner’s statement is incorrect. He also stated that he believes the purchase of the fire trucks should go to the voters in November. He stated figures given by the former Director of Finance, Jon Garrison, regarding expenditures and carryover of funds for 2019. He stated that we will be spending more money than bringing in. He said that the current commissioners have proved that they do not possess the kind of integrity that is derived from good judgement.

Mayor Parker thanked them for their comments.

3. PUBLIC HEARINGS:

Mitchell moved to open the Public Hearing at 6:07 p.m. Bartelsmeyer seconded. All voted aye.

OPENED PUBLIC HEARING AT 6:07 P.M.

6:00 p.m. Final Closeout Public Hearing – 124 E Wall – CDBG Grant – Approval for Mayor to sign closing documents – Rhonda Dunn, Director of Finance, informed the Commission that this public hearing is being held to close out the CDBG grant for 124 E. Wall. Susan Galemore, with Southeast Kansas Regional Planning Commission, was unable to attend due to the weather conditions. She asked if there were any comments from the public regarding this project. Seeing none, she asked the Commission to approve for the Mayor to sign the final closing documents on this project.

Bartlesmeyer moved to approve for the Mayor to sign the final closing documents on the CDBG grant for 124 E. Wall. Nichols seconded. All voted aye.

APPROVED FOR THE MAYOR TO SIGN THE FINAL CLOSING DOCUMENTS ON THE CDBG GRANT FOR 124 E. WALL STREET.

Nichols moved to close the Public Hearing at 6:09 p.m. Adamson seconded. All voted aye.

CLOSED PUBLIC HEARING AT 6:09 P.M.

CONSIDERATION:

1. Discussion on Fire Trucks – Paul Ballou, Fire Chief, appeared to give the Commission and the public further information on the Fire Department’s need for two new fire trucks. He said that the department currently has five trucks in its fleet. Two of the trucks have reached the 25 year mark in their service. According to the National Fire Protection Agency standards, when vehicles reach that age they should be replaced. He said that there is an option to refurbish, but it is not recommended by the NFPA. He said that due to the age of the trucks, it is difficult to find parts when repairs are needed. One of the trucks is a 1992 pumper truck and the other is the 1993 ladder truck. The pumper truck has nearly 40,000 miles on it. If the purchase of the trucks goes through, he would like to find another fire department for the pumper truck, but it would depend on liability.

City Attorney said that given the liability issue, he didn’t recommend doing that.

Chief Ballou said that the ladder truck has been a great truck and seen a lot of use. The truck is showing its age and wear. In 2012, the department did apply for a grant to refurbish the ladder truck and discovered the cost would be about $370,000 plus an additional $100,000 to rehabilitate the engine. He said that the fire trucks would be purchased from Conrad Fire Equipment from Olathe, Kansas. He recommended upgrading to the ladder truck with the 100’ ladder. Their current ladder has a 75’ ladder.

Mayor Parker expressed that this is much needed equipment even though it has caused some tension. This is very critical and we also need to think about the fire fighters, putting their lives in danger for us, and the equipment that they need.

City Manager stated that the City is not increasing taxes to fund the fire trucks.

Rhonda Dunn, Director of Finance, shared a calendar regarding the steps to issue General Obligation Temporary Notes. On February 5^th, 2019, the City Commission approved the Resolution authorizing the Notice of Intent to purchase two fire trucks. It was published in the local newspaper on February 9^th and February 16^th. On February 17^th, the 60 day protest period began. On April 5^th, the protest period will end. No action can take place until that protest period ends. The total costs of General Obligation Temporary Notes will not exceed $1,915,000. Proceeds from the bonds would be used to fund the purchase and money from sales tax for utility debt would be used to pay down the purchase over time. It will be funded out of our existing budget.

Commissioners thanked all of them for the additional information.

2. Consideration to solicit RFP’s for new life insurance benefit offering – Deb Needleman, Human Resource Director, asked the Commission for approval to send out a Request for Proposal (RFP) for life insurance benefit offering. This life insurance product would be available for the employee to take with them when they leave City employment without conversion to a higher premium rate. It would be no cost to the City and include a guarantee issue for the employee, their spouse, children, and grandchildren. She would send out the RFP and come back to them for final approval.

Adamson moved to approve to solicit RFP’s for new life insurance benefit offering. Bartelsmeyer seconded. All voted aye.

APPROVED TO SOLICIT RFP’S FOR NEW LIFE INSURANCE OFFERING.

COMMISSION/STAFF:

1. Director Updates:

Ambulance Update: Dave Bruner – Mr. Bruner introduced Sarah Jane Tribble with Kaiser Health News. She is working on the closure of Mercy and how the City is dealing with the future.

In February, there were 96 calls with 56 transfers. This was during the 18 day closure with no emergency room. Those transfers went to Pittsburg, Nevada, Girard, and Iola. He said that they anticipated the worse but didn’t have the worse time. They did add a fourth ambulance but are now back to three crews. Last week two new transfer vehicles were donated to the Bourbon County EMS with one donation from Timken and the other from Mercy Health Foundation. These will be utilized for long distance transfers but can also be utilized on calls.

Consideration of Bids – 16 Self Contained Breathing Apparatus – Dave said that bids were taken for 16 SCBA’s. A grant was received for this purchase in the amount of $99,524. Four bids were received with one company submitting a no bid. Casco Industries, Inc. of Oklahoma City submitted a bid in the amount of $94,185; Weis Fire & Safety Equipment of Salina, Kansas submitted a bid in the amount of $100,102.26; and Conrad Fire Equipment of Olathe, Kansas in the amount of $104,112.23. He asked for approval for the low bid from Casco Industries of Oklahoma City in the amount of $94,185.00.

Parker moved to approve the low bid from Casco Industries, Inc. of Oklahoma City in the amount of $94,185.00. Bartelsmeyer seconded. All voted aye.

approved the low bid from Casco Industries, Inc. of Oklahoma City in the amount of $94,185.00 for purchase of 16 self contained breathing apparatuses.

Health Care Update: Dave Martin – Dave stated that Sarah Jane Tribble is doing a great job chronicalizing all the steps the City has taken since the announcement of the closure of Mercy.

Dave stated that this started with the announcement of the closure of Mercy on October 1^st. They formed a task force and have met with a lot of people. They relied on Via Christi and CHC to assist us. He met with Randy Casen of Ascension Via Christi last week. He is convinced that Via Christi has very high hopes to provide health care in our community and partnering with CHC will be a part of that. The task force is still in place and we have to make sure that what happens in 2021 is what Fort Scott needs. He invited Dave, Rachel and Robert to a Chamber coffee that was held at Via Christi last week. They have a vision for rural health care. Senator Moran was in Fort Scott today. His office helped assist Via Christi meet guidelines to get the emergency room operating quickly here. Dave said that we would not be here if the doctors hadn’t signed contracts with CHC.

Rachel thanked the medical community for staying here in this community to work.

Finance Update: Rhonda Dunn – Rhonda passed out the quarterly report that will be published in tomorrow’s paper. The quarter ending in September will also be published. She said that the books are balanced every day by Marlene Braker to Landmark Bank. Sales tax is looking very favorable right now.

Legislative Update: Robert Uhler – Robert gave the Commission a quick update on the legislative issues going on in Topeka. In Kansas, so far, there are 585 bills filed. The City is tracking about 120 of those bills. The total for the year there will be over 1,000 bills that are filed. In the end, there will be only about 80 or 90 bills that are passed. There have been lots of meetings with the new Governor and new Secretary’s and bringing them up to date on happenings in Fort Scott. He has also been in contact with Senator Moran’s office in keeping the federal level updated also.

Commissioner Nichols asked if there were any major bills he was tracking.

Robert said the 911 bill, utility issues, and some public service wire issues are major bills he has been tracking. He testified on the ROZ which is the Rural Opportunity Zone in support for Senator Hildabrand and is also working with KDOT on Highway 69 to get the rest of the four lane constructed.

2. City Commission:

Bartelsmeyer – Thanked all the people who reported tonight. It was good information to have.

Adamson – Said she has heard really great things about our ER and that people are really happy it is open again. She said if anyone in the community has questions about the fire trucks to seek them out and they will try to answer them the best they can.

Nichols – He echoed Commissioner Adamson’s comments.

Mitchell – Nothing to report.

Parker – Nothing to report.

C. City Attorney: Nothing to report.

3. City Manager: Nothing to report.

ADJOURNMENT:

Mitchell moved to adjourn the meeting at 6:59 p.m. Bartelsmeyer seconded. All voted aye.

ADJOURNED MEETING AT 6:59 P.M.

The next regularly scheduled meeting is to be held on March 5^th, 2019 at 6:00 p.m.

RECORDED BY:

DIANE K. CLAY

CITY CLERK