March21st, 2016

The regular meeting of the Frontenac City Council, March21st, 2016 at Town Hall was called to order at 6:00 p.m. by Mayor Kennedy. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited by all. Roll call was answered by John Macary, Ethan Spurling,Pat Clinton, Dave Chiappetti, A.J. Menghini and Marc McCully. Tim Ziesenis and Trey Coleman arrived late.

Minutes of March 7th, 2016 were opened for discussion. A motion was made byMcCully, seconded by Macary to approve the minutes. This motion was unanimously approved.

Minutes of March 14th, 2016 were opened for discussion. A motion was made by Clinton, seconded by Spurling to approve the minutes. This motion was unanimously approved.

Appropriation ordinance #1667 was opened for discussion.

A motion to approve appropriation ordinance #1667 was made by Macary, seconded by Clinton and unanimously approved. Ziesenis arrived during the vote, he did not vote with the Council.

City Clerk: Mjelde asked for the Council’s approval for the following 2016 CMB application for Kansas Travel at 5005 Parkview Dr. in Frontenac, Kansas.

A motion was made by Menghinifor approval of the 2016 CMB License for Kansas Travel at 5005 Parkview Dr. in Frontenac, Kansas. This motion was seconded by McCully and unanimously approved.

Mjelde stated that she had included a copy of the contract between the City and the League of Kansas Municipalities for their review.

City Administrator: Kellogg stated that Kramer Engineering submitted an invoice for their services on the Cow Creek Lift Station project for an amount of $26,000. Kelloggasked the Council if they would like to make a draw on the loan to make that payment or if they would like for the City to cover the amount with the current operating budget. Chiappetti stated that the City would be reimbursed once the loan is accessed and it would save the City interest by paying the $26,000 out of the City’s operating budget. Kellogg recommended that the City pay the $26,000 out of the City’s current operating budget.

A motion was made by Macary, seconded by Menghini and unanimously approved to pay theKramer Engineering invoice totaling $26,000 out of the City’s current operating budget.

Kellogg explained to the Council that the amount of the delinquency on the water bills over the last five years is an annual amount around $33,000. Chiappetti questioned if the City is losing $33,000 a year, Kellogg stated yes. Mjelde explained that the delinquent bills are turned into the Set Off Program, which is a taxed base program, the City only gets paid back if the delinquent customer files tax returns in the State of Kansas. Chiappetti stated that process takes a while to recoup the money. Kellogg stated that if the customer moves outside of the State of Kansas we never recoup the owed money. Kellogg informed the Council that the current deposit amount on a rental property is $75.00, she suggested that we increase that amount to $150.00. By increasing the deposit to $150.00 the City’s amount of annual delinquencies would go from $33,000 to $12,700. McCully asked it the resident would get the $150.00 deposit back once they move out, Mjelde stated that once the final bill is accessed it will be taken out of the deposit and the customer will receive a refund check. If the bill is more than the deposit amount the customer will be sent a final bill for the difference. Ziesenis asked what the City of Pittsburg charges for a deposit, Spurling stated that he had checked into that and they charge $75.00. Clinton asked if a person is late on their water bill when do we shut off their water. Mjelde explained that once a bill has reached $100.00 past due the customer receives a shut off notice in which they have a certain amount of time to pay the bill in full. If the customer does not pay the bill by the given date their water will be shut off and the customer will be charged a $100.00 reconnect fee on top of the amount owed. Ziesenis asked what is the most the City is out per customer. Mjelde stated $100.00 however some bills are close to $100.00 each month so after two bills you are now at $200.00. Chiappetti stated that you are still losing money at $150.00 deposit. Menghini stated that is a pretty big increase. Ziesenis stated that he hates to see our deposit higher than an adjacent city. Menghini asked if the City has an ordinance pertaining to the water rates and shut off notices. McCully asked if the Council could get a copy of the ordinance in their council packet for the next meeting. This discussion was tabled until the next regular scheduled meeting on April 4th, 2016.

Kellogg asked the Council if the City Staff will be allowed a full day or a half day for Good Friday.

A motion was made by Clinton, seconded by McCully to give City Staff the full day off in observance of Good Friday. Coleman opposed, this motion was approved 7/1to give City Staff the full day off in observance of Good Friday.

Kellogg informed the Council that Crawford County Mental Health has purchased some property near the City Park that was owned by the Grilz family. Ron Albertini who serves on the Board of Directors for Crawford County Mental Health is asking if the City would absorb the cost to have water taken to that location. Menghini asked what the distance would be to run the water and sewer line from the main to the house that will be located on the property. Linda Grilz approached the Council and gave an in-depth overview of the plans for the property that Crawford County Mental Health has purchased. Cussimanio explained to the Council that the main is located on the east side of the road, they will have to bore under the road to the City’s easement and set the tap. The property owners would be responsible for running the line from the house to the tap. Cussimanio stated that the City has all of the equipment, it will take 3 guys and 5 hours to complete this job.

A motion was made by Chiappetti, seconded by Ziesenis and unanimously approved to have the City supply the manpower and materials to bore under the road and run a tap to the property line, then the property owners would be responsible for running the line to the City’s easement.

Menghini made a motion to go into executive session for 10 minutes to discuss non-elected personnel to include the City Attorney, City Administrator, City Clerk, Mayor, Public Safety Director and the Public Works Director. This motion was seconded by Macary and unanimously approved.

Council went into executive session at 6:26 p.m.

Council returned to regular session with no action taken except to return to regular session at 6:35 p.m.

Chiappetti made a motion to go into executive session for 10 minutes to discuss non-elected personnel to include the City Attorney, City Administrator, City Clerk, Mayor, Public Safety Director and the Public Works Director. This motion was seconded by Macary and unanimously approved.

Council went into executive session at 6:36 p.m.

Council returned to regular session with no action taken except to return to regular session at 6:46 p.m.

Ziesenis made a motion to go into executive session for 10 minutes to discuss attorney client privilege to include the City Attorney, City Administrator, City Clerk and the Mayor. This motion was seconded by Macary and unanimously approved.

Council went into executive session at 6:48 p.m.

Council returned to regular session with no action taken except to return to regular session at 6:58 p.m.

With no further business, a motion to adjourn was made by Ziesenis, seconded by Colemanand unanimously approved.