BELOIT CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES

JANUARY 15, 2008

The Beloit City Council met in regular session on January 15, 2008 in Council Chambers. Mayor Phillip Roberts called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. City Council members in attendance were Pat Struble, Chad Thompson, Bill Foreman, Tom Maxwell, Craig Cousland, Susan Concannon, Butch Pontow and Denis Shumate. Also present were City Administrator Doug Gerber, City Attorney Harry Gantenbein, and City Clerk Charlene Abell.

Department heads in attendance were Stacy Thompson, Frank Gent, Caite Kendrick and Murray McGee.

Doug McKinney, Assistant Scout Master of Troop 98, offered the invocation. Boy Scout George Chapman led the Pledge of Allegiance.

Mayor Roberts stated that he would like to thank the city crews for the terrific job they are doing with the clean-up from the storm. The Isle of Lights was worthwhile again this year. Mayor Roberts reminded everyone of the filing deadline for Mayor and Council is Tuesday, January 22 at 12:00 p.m. Mayor Roberts welcomed Scout Master Bob Gibbens, Assistant Scout Master McKinney, George Chapman, Trent Allen, and Jeren Torkelson. These members of Troop 98 are working on attaining their Citizenship in the Community Merit Badge. Administrator Gerber introduced Rachel Waddell, Cody Hanel, Jessica Hake, Amber Engelbert, Kylie Miller and Brad Ellenz who are all part of the 2008 Youth Council. Jacee Simmons, Grant Deneke and Claire Thiessen are also part of the Youth Council this year, but were unable to attend the meeting.

Councilor Maxwell reported that he was asked by Cheryl Renter, owner of the Porter House Coffee Shop, if there could be a two hour parking limit in front of The Porter House. The residents of the Porter House are parking in the front of the building instead of using the designated parking lot. Councilor Pontow wished Youth Councilor Hake a Happy Birthday.

City Attorney Gantenbein did not have a report.

City Administrator Gerber reported that there is an amended agenda. The two items added were for closed sessions. Administrator Gerber also passed out an invitation to the Governing Body for the Chamber of Commerce Banquet that will be held on January 22.

Cheryl Christians was nominated as Employee of the Quarter. City Administrator Gerber presented the plaque to Curtis Christians and Leah Johnson in honor of Cheryl’s legacy of service and dedication to the Beloit community. Mr. Christians thanked everyone for the plaque and for everything the City has done for their family.

Mayor Roberts asked for comments from the public. There were none.

The Consent Agenda consisted of the meeting minutes of December 18 2007 and Appropriations 1A. A motion was made by Councilor Pontow and seconded by Councilor Maxwell to approve the Consent Agenda in its entirety. Roll call vote: Yeas: Thompson, Shumate, Maxwell, Foreman, Struble, Cousland, Pontow and Concannon. Nays: None.

Resolution #1-2008 setting fees for the City of Beloit outlines charges for various city services and programs. The fees are reviewed once a year by the Council. The Council reviewed the fee schedule at the December 18, 2007 work session. The fees in Resolution #1-2008 are similar to those in 2007, although a few have been changed. A motion was made by Councilor Struble and seconded by Councilor Concannon that Resolution #1-2008 be adopted. Roll call vote: Yeas: Thompson, Shumate, Maxwell, Foreman, Struble, Concannon, Pontow and Cousland. Nays: None.

Formal actions consisted of a software maintenance plan participation agreement between the City of Beloit and Nebraska Municipal Power Pool. The agreement relates to several software programs that are used by the City of Beloit including payroll, accounts payable, utilities and general ledger. A motion was made by Councilor Cousland and seconded by Councilor Shumate to approve the recommendation. Motion carried 8-0.

A motion was made by Councilor Struble and seconded by Councilor Pontow to recess into an executive session for a period of fifteen minutes for Attorney Client Privileged Information.

Motion carried 8-0. The session is to include the Governing Body, Attorney Gantenbein and Administrator Gerber. The session began at 7:15 p.m. and ended at 7:30 p.m. No motions or decisions were made.

A motion was made by Councilor Thompson and seconded by Councilor Maxwell to recess into an executive session for a period of fifteen minutes for Preliminary Consideration of Specific Personnel Matter of Non-Elected Personnel. Motion carried 8-0. The session is to include the Governing Body, City Administrator and City Attorney. The session began at 7:35 p.m. and ended at 7:50 p.m. No motions or decisions were made.

Councilor Thompson made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Councilor Concannon seconded the motion. Motion carried 8-0. The meeting ended at 7:50 p.m.

The work session began at 7:55 p.m. Present were Mayor Roberts, Councilors Struble, Concannon, Shumate, Maxwell, Cousland, Pontow, Foreman and Thompson. Also in attendance were City Administrator Gerber, City Attorney Gantenbein and City Clerk Abell.

Department heads present were McGee, Thompson and Gent. Also in attendance were Youth Councilors Rachel Waddell, Jessica Hake, Amber Engelbert, Kylie Miller, Brad Ellenz and Cody Hanel.

Correspondence and Staff reports consisted of the 2007 Police reports, the 2007 Code Enforcement reports, the December Community Development report and a KMU Legislative update.

City Attorney did not have a report.

City Administrator Gerber reported the youth basketball program started last Saturday. He reminded everyone of the Winemakers Dinner at the Smoky Hill Vineyard in Salina on Saturday, January 19, 2008. Gerber reported that he will be having lunch with Councilors Foreman and Pontow next Tuesday. Administrator Gerber reminded everyone that the filing deadline for Mayor and City Council is January 22, 2008 at noon. There was an article in the December Kansas Government Journal about the Beloit Wellness Center. The article was written by Administrator Gerber and Assistant to the Administrator Thompson. The Iola newspaper would like to reprint the article. Iola is trying to get the same project started in Iola. Administrator Gerber reported that the Park and Recreation department is going to try to set up a tribute to Cheryl Christians in the park this spring. The tribute will be located by the post rock step area on the west side of the white building. The Mitchell County Historical Society is trying to purchase the American Legion building located on Highway 14. Fred Severance has been in contact with Administrator Gerber about extending the sewer to that building. Estimates for the sewer would be around $7,000. The Historical Society has asked if the City would like to help with the project. Administrator Gerber stated that he thought that other entities should be asked also. A letter and a magazine were received from the Landoll Corporation. Last year a crew from Cessna did a photo shoot at the Moritz Memorial Airport to promote a new line of private jets that can land on small rural airport runways. The picture was featured on the back of an aviation magazine and Landoll sent a copy for the City.

Discussion items included the Library project and Health insurance.

At the last work session, the Council had a limited discussion about the library project. During that discussion the Council decided to meet with the Library Board to discuss the building of the new library. Architect Don Marrs and several Library Board members were present. Mr. Marrs gave a power point presentation comparing the costs of the new building, a remodel and addition to the Armory building and a remodel and addition to the existing Port Library building. A cost comparison handout was given to the Governing Body by Mr. Marrs that contained information on costs for concrete, masonry, thermal and moisture protection, doors and windows, finishes, specialties, electrical, plumbing heating/cooling and furnishings. After a long discussion, it was the consensus of the Governing Body to continue to move forward with the project and to assist the Library Board in helping the public become more informed about the project. The Governing Body all agreed that they each need to do their part to get more information to the public. Mayor Roberts thanked everyone for coming to the work session.

At 9:20 p.m. a short break was taken. The meeting resumed at 9:25 p.m.

A renewal notice was recently received from Blue Cross/Blue Shield for our current health insurance plan. The City’s renewal rates for 2008 are less than our 2007 rates. Administrator Gerber asked the Governing Body to consider renewing our current plan and not go out for bids from other companies this year. Everyone agreed this is the best course of action. The item will be on the next agenda for formal action.

The work session adjourned at 9:35 p.m.

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PHILLIP ROBERTS, Mayor

ATTEST:

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CHARLENE ABELL, CMC, City Clerk