Linn City Council
The Linn City Council met Jan 4. Present were mayor Les Spence, council members Dylan Dittmer, Mike Savage, Steve Joonas, Kyle Peters, and Tyler Herrs. Also in attendance was Lisa Voelker, ambulance director.
Lisa gave her monthly report. They made 135 runs for 2020; everything from 2020 has been billed and only 5 are outstanding. They have made 1 run for January already. Everyone who needed to recertify this year has done so. The state will be here in February to do their inspection and would like to get the ambulance fixed from hitting the deer in November before that time. She will talk to Kurtis and get that set up.
Claire was not present but Les had talked to him earlier in the week about what he had been doing. He has been checking the lift stations. The big motor grater is out at Ohlde’s getting fixed. He would also like to burn the dump pile at some point this winter. He is also planning on pushing snow if needed.
Old business: Generators. It was discussed to wait until they have a superintendent to make a decision on the back up generators for the lift stations.
The board went into executive session for elected personnel only for 10 minutes and extended it for 5 minutes.
New business: The city credit cards need to be changed because they are currently in Don and Jayne’s names. The council voted to have city cards changed to Alison Meyer’s and Lisa Voelker’s names for now. Jayne will take care of getting those changed.
The city building is in need of a new copier/scanner. It was discussed that Alison will contact Central Officer Service and Supply about a new one.
The council voted to increase 2021 wages by 5 percent for Lisa Voelker, Ned Peters, Alison Meyer, and Marissa Dittmer effective Jan. 1, 2021.
The council voted to increase the dollar amount the EMS staff gets paid per run by $20. This would go from $210 to $230 effective Jan. 1, 2021.
Sewer issues: Some issues were brought up with the mains and clean outs on Oak and 7th street. Les will continue to investigate this if there are more issues.
Debris pile: There was discussion about having the debris pile moved that is behind the city building. Les said he had been in contact with a couple people who would possibly take the de bris away.
Clifton Clyde USD 224
USD 224 met Jan. 4. Present were Bill Genereux, AJ Goeckel, Grant Knoettgen, Deb Ohlde, Karla Ostermann, Shawn Taddiken, and Kirstin Wernecke. Others present were superintendent Art Baker, principal Eric Sacco, clerk Denise Cyr, Lana Moore, Dillon Provost, Jarik Weiche, Lacie Rudolph, Aiden Rudolph, Jett Skocny, Molly Skocny, Russ Steinbrock, Tee Koch and Douglas Koch.
Student athletes were recognized for their fall honors. The board members were thanked for their service and provided a candle and popcorn from USD 224 and snacks by CCTA.
The governor’s plan on COVID-19 vaccinations has educators in phase two. Those vaccines should be available by the end of the month. A staff survey will be sent out to determine the number of staff that want the vaccine.
The second stimulus package did pass but the district is unsure yet of the additional dollars that the district will receive under the plan.
Curriculum Director Report: Lana Moore was present to discuss district testing and the PRK-4 social studies textbook adoption for this year.
Mid-Year Budget Review: Mr. Baker reviewed with the board a comparison of the budget over the last few years.
Mr. Baker presented a proposed calendar which mirrors the 2020-21 calendar except for the spring break. (At its December meeting the Kansas State Board of Education accepted the recommendation of the work group representing Kansas Board of Regents, KSBE, and Coordinating Council (KBOR, KSBE, and Kansas Chamber of Commerce) to align spring break calendars.) The proposed calendar will be shared with the staff at a calendar meeting on Jan. 11. In February, the board will review the staff recommendations on the calendar and then vote to approve a district calendar at the March meeting.
The board approved the selling of 25 tables on sealed bids as presented. The tables have been separated into lots of five and sealed bids will be opened on Jan. 29 at 11 a.m.
The board went into executive session to discuss job performance, staff resignations, hiring of staff, and supplemental contracts pursuant to non-elected personnel exception under KOMA. Mr. Baker and Mr. Sacco were invited to the session. The board accepted the resignation of William Ohlde as CCMS assistant track coach. The board approved extending the contract of Art Baker through the 2022-23 school year.
Haddam City Council
The Haddam City Council met Nov. 9. Present were mayor Steve Zenger, council members Brandi Selewski, Joe Greenwood and Michael Welch. Also present was clerk Cheryl Zenger. There was discussion about a returned check for water deposit.
It was approved to let Frank Morey rent the hall the first weekend in December for a charge of $300.
Meters that need repaired and replaced were discussed.
The council discussed the spending of the funds received from Cares. Brandi was put in charge of ordering needed supplies such as masks, hand sanitizer, sneeze guards and other virus protection supplies. It was decided that the purchase of big screen TV and laptop would be discussed at the next meeting.
The problem of dogs running loose was discussed.
Morrowville City
The Morrowville City Council met Dec. 7. Present were mayor Steve Talkington and council members Russ Slater, Steve Wright and Chris Roskilly.
The delinquent water bills and procedures were to be followed as they normally are done with the exception that past due account holders will be notified of shut off if payments are not received.
A bid for the new lift station was received from B & W Electric for the amount of $32,000. Construction will begin as soon as all the materials arrive. B & W Electric had started the order.
New forms with pricing and instructions for the use of the community building were provided to Steve Talkington.
Steve W. is working on getting street signs repaired and replaced.
Russ had not called Charles Schwindanmann with Rural Water Association. The City is asking him for ideas on how to repair the lagoons and ways to get the funding needed.
The City will pay the property tax due on the waste ground that was sold to Endicott Clay Products.
The Council approved to ask Janet Elliott to do the W-2s for the City if needed.
The council voted to trade evenly the City's Ford Ranger with snow plow for a dump truck with snow plow that belongs to Norman Elliott.