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Newest Uniontown council member faces improvement projects
New people on the Uniontown City Council faced a lengthy agenda at Tuesday evening's monthly meeting.
Amber Kelly was sworn in as a new councilwoman, replacing Sally Johnson, who stepped into the city clerk's position in late May.
Jess Ervin was elected in April, and at May's monthly meeting, both the city clerk, Sara Roufs, and Steve Geiger, the city's maintenance supervisor, tendered their resignations.
Bob Rich, who was the part-time city worker, stepped into the superintendent's position at that time. The city is still looking to replace the part-time city maintenance position.
Despite all this change, the city is moving forward with completing the necessary paperwork for the extensive water project that the city has been approved for, in addition to training for the new employees.
Last month Rich attended a chlorine safety seminar, and a Stage 2DB Rule workshop, and this month asked for and received approval to attend a natural gas distribution workshop on Aug. 1 in Osage City. The Stage 2DB Rule workshop concerned a change in procedures for testing the city's water supply.
City Clerk Sally Johnson also has been increasing her knowledge of her job. Last month she attended a city clerk fundamentals workshop, and did in-house training for information about Kansas Public Employees Retirement System. This month she was approved to attend an asset management workshop on July 23 in Iola and a Kansas Open Meeting Act/Kansas Open Records Act workshop on Aug. 23 at Emporia.
Larry Neville, treasurer, told the council there is good financial news.
"The city is financially stable with cash flow, and we are starting to put money into our reserves. We try to carry over 25-30 percent."
Currently, the city has a year-to-date income of $96,263, he said.
Despite last years ditch improvements in the town, several residents say that the June 15 rain deluge inundated their yards.
Blake Cox, 504 Sherman St., told the council of the flooding to his yard.
"It's pooling in my yard. What action are you potentially taking so that it doesn't come into that area?" Cox asked the council.
Councilwoman Danae Esslinger said she, too, along with her neighbors, had water standing in her front yard during the deluge. Esslinger lives on Seventh Street.
Rich told the council that the rain washed out the driveway at Nickie Davis' house, and a culvert had been requested by Jeremy Hall for her.
Mayor Larry Jurgensen said the city is working on the situation.
The city is working on trees in the ditch between Sherman and Wall streets and Fifth and Sixth streets.
"Bob has looked at the county to do some work," Jurgenson said. "We are waiting on bids from Mark Davidson, Pilgrim's Tree Service, to get the trees out. We are putting a 15-inch culvert at Barry's (Boyce) house. We need to talk to the Georges about putting a waterway in."
Jurgensen listed what the city has been doing recently regarding the flooding issue.
"I don't think that citizens know of the expense of culverts being replaced, because they don't know the details of what needs to be done to be replaced," Rich said.
The council approved putting a culvert on Sixth Street. Councilman Dustin Goalden, who is also a volunteer firefighter, said the fire department will clean out the culverts on the Boyce and Davis properties by using high pressure water.
It also approved hiring Wilkinson Drywall to install new double-hung windows and paint the walls at the community center. Wilkinson Drywall was the only bidder on the improvement project, with an estimate of $13, 544. The bid was approved.
The council then stepped outside to see what colors the buildings should be painted. They decided to keep the color scheme in harmony with the Union State Bank building directly to the south of the community building.
"They (Wilkinson Drywall) talked like they could get it done before Old Settler's weekend," Jurgensen said.
The annual Old Settler's Picnic event is held on Labor Day weekend.
Ervin said he would talk to school personnel about creating a new sign for the front of the building, which is used to put public notices on. The current sign is deteriorating and the council members said it would look bad when the improvements are made to the exterior of the building.
The council members said they are still seeking a part-time worker to assist Rich.
Rich told the council that he has had several inquiries, "But when they find out it's weekend work, they disappear."
The council decided advertise in the Fort Scott Tribune, put notices around town and on the next water bill the city sends out.
Shannon Bruegge, Uniontown High School Almuni president, and Susan Eldridge, treasurer, came to the council to seek approval for a special all-school reunion around July 4, 2015.
The duo proposed that the event be held at the Uniontown City Park, and that year instead of the Union State Bank providing the food, local food vendors be asked to provide food for the Independence Day celebration on July 3. Bruegge estimated that there could be 600 extra Uniontown High School graduates at the free fireworks event that evening.
On Saturday, July 4, classes would set up tents on the square to gather to visit. There would be a dance, with invitations to food vendors.
The committee said that having classes in some type of year order would make it easier for people to find friends. They plan to ask the UHS football team to be on trash pick-up for both nights.
Bruegge said they are coming for approval early because they need to start raising money for the event, which happens every five years.
Goalden said they would have the city's attorney look at the proposal and then let the committee know what the council decided.
In other business, the council:
* Approved the purchase of an external hard drive for the city clerk's computer.
* Heard that the financial audit will be July 24 and 25.
* Heard that display boxes have been secured for the Honor and Remember Flags that were donated to the city by a recent fundraiser. The flags honor two local fallen soldiers, Ryan Campbell and David Hall.
* Because the time on the emergency sirens has been incorrect, the sirens will be sounded five days a week in an attempt to get them back on a regular test schedule.
* Approved water project Resolutions 2013-03122 and 2013-03123 for standards for procurement, bidding and contract awards; lease or purchase of the water tower property; lease for access easement to the tower; and a water contract.
* Discussed delinquent accounts that go back to 2008, which totaled more than $9,000. That is more than one-half of the arrearage in 2012-2013.
"I don't feel we are taking good care of the city's assets, if we don't take care of this," Johnson told the council.
* Heard from the clerk that the League of Kansas Municipalities recommends updating personnel policies to prohibit employees from carrying weapons while on duty. The recommendation comes on the heels of new state legislation that allows concealed weapons to be carried into public buildings -- unless those entities file for an exemption.
* Heard that Johnson has created a new form which she said will allow her to keep better track of keys let out for the rental of the community building.
* Approved a proposed policy for retention and destruction of the city's records.
* Asked the clerk to research new signage for the water tower and present that information to the council for approval.
* Scheduled a city budget work session at 8 a.m. Saturday, July 27.
* Called an executive session to discuss non-elected personal to last 10 minutes. The group then came out to ask for another 10 minutes to include Rich. No action was taken following the executive session.