City of Tekoa
COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
For March 20, 2017
I. CALL TO ORDER: Mayor John Jaeger called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Council members present at the meeting were Jaeger, Ted Blaszak, Alyssa Heagy, Roy Schulz, Carol Sturman, and David Tysz. Clerk/Treasurer Kynda Browning was also in attendance. Audience members included Keith Andersson, Donovan Chase, Debbie Groom, Bill and Diane Harp, Fran and Pete Martin, Monte and Cheryl Morgan, Niely Plumb, Teresa Raines, and Wendy Sienknecht.
II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Mayor John Jaeger asked those present to join him in the Pledge of Allegiance.
III. PROFESSIONAL CONSULTATION: Diane Harp was in attendance and talked about the community survey for the Healthy Tekoa Coalition and said they will also be doing a student survey. The Coalition is starting parenting classes again in April.
IV. COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE: Debbie Groom was in attendance and talked about the community center remodeling project and the .09 grant. She gave the council and audience a handout.
Ted Blaszak asked if we already voted to do the project. Mayor Jaeger said we voted to continue with the .09 project.
Wendy Sienknecht presented a petition that 138 people signed concerning renovation of the community center and theatre.
Ted Blaszak asked Wendy Sienknecht questions about the petition. It says there will be structural damage, but the structural engineer confirmed we can safely put a doorway between the community center and the Empire Theatre. Her biggest problem is the money the city is investing into the building. Dave Tysz said Wendy Sienknecht did open up a dialogue, and people have a right to question what we do.
Fran Martin, chairman of the Tekoa Empire Theatre Board, was in attendance representing the Tekoa Empire Theatre. They will look into the theatre board managing the community center when the renovation work is complete. The board will look at the pros and cons and will come back within a year and give the council a proposal.
Monte Morgan talked about the petition saying they will cause structural damage to the theatre, and Morgan said that was not factual. He said the paper that was presented by Debbie Groom was good work.
V. CORRESPONDENCE: There was none.
VI. OLD BUSINESS:
A. PUBLIC MEETING ON FEBRUARY 21ST: The comments above were concerning the .09 grant. Mayor Jaeger asked if anyone would like to make a motion to rescind the grant. Ted Blaszak said we voted on this project, and we need to go ahead with the plans.
B. STREET BUDGET STATUS: Mayor Jaeger talked about putting the street levy on the November ballot. Ted Blaszak asked if the office can put something together for the street budget for the April meeting, so people can understand where the street levy funds are spent.
C. PUBLIC SAFETY REPORT: Ted Blaszak suggested that something be put together so you can sue neighbors that are identified as a nuisance. Stephen Bishop said Garfield adopted an ordinance that addresses what a nuisance house is and how they take care of it.
D. ANIMAL ORDINANCE: Alyssa Heagy presented animal Ordinance No. 827 that added medium-sized animals and roosters. Roy Schulz made a motion to approve Ordinance No. 827 as presented. Alyssa Heagy seconded the motion; all council members voted yes.
E. FIRE DEPT. RATING: Donovan Chase was in attendance and said he has everything the fire rating bureau is requesting to look into for changing our fire rating. Browning will set something up with the rating bureau to re-evaluate our rating. Chase said the Fuchs building on Crosby Street is a fire hazard, because of a problem with the electrical. He will write a letter to them about the fire hazard. Chase also invited the mayor and some council members to the fire district meeting to talk about the city and the district joining together.
F. STATUS OF COHN TRUST: Mayor Jaeger said he talked to Ted Rasmussen and asked him to have something for us at the next meeting.
G. CONVERSION OF ORDINANCE BOOKS TO DIGITAL: Browning asked to do this at the April meeting.
H. BUILDING STATUS REPORT: Anderson Building: Keith Andersson was in attendance and said he met with people concerning getting his building (on the corner of Crosby and Main) put on the historical register. Mayor Jaeger said Zach Lanham, the city’s building inspector, has a concern with the south wall and the southwest wall. Mr. Andersson said he had three engineers look at the building. Zach Lanham said the brick on the south end needs to be picked up, and there should be a fence around it. Mayor Jaeger gave Keith Andersson a directive that he must put a temporary plastic fence up before Friday of this week (March 24, 2017) and will have two weeks to pick up the bricks on the south side of the building and put a metal fence up on the south end and on the west side (April 3, 2017). Mayor Jaeger gave Mr. Andersson a directive to hire a structural engineer to ascertain the safety of the sides of the building. The council expects a certified letter verifying the safety of the building at the April 17, 2017, council meeting. Mayor Jaeger said if this is not done before the next meeting, we will hire one and pass the costs on to Mr. Andersson. There was a gentleman in attendance who said he is familiar with the building and talked about the possibility of getting it on the historical register. Mayor Jaeger asked Mr. Andersson if he has any questions, and he said that he wanted something firm. Stephen Bishop, city attorney, said the directives provided by the mayor are to be considered a firm mandate.
Bowling Alley - Mayor Jaeger talked to the owners of the bowling alley, and they assured him that both the doors will be secured.
Galler Home – After the mayor contacts the sheriff to determine if it is still a crime scene, a letter will be sent to Diane Galler to ascertain plans for putting a fence around her burnt structure and when the clean-up process will begin.
David Bennett trailer, Fuchs family building, and Georgia Cummings trailer- were also discussed.
I. AREA COMMUNITY CENTER RENTAL: Next month.
J. SALE OF TANNER PROPERTY: We have a bid offer of $2500 from Jason Robinson for the Tanner lot. Ted Blaszak made a motion to accept the bid from Jason Robinson for $2,500.00. Dave Tysz seconded the motion; all council members voted yes.
K. FIVE-AND TEN-YEAR GOAL REVISION: Mayor Jaeger read the changes to the five-and ten-year goal revisions.
L. CEMETERY ORDINANCE: Mayor Jaeger presented Ordinance No. 833 amending putting the money for the sale of plots into the cemetery fund instead of the Endowment Fund. Dave Tysz asked if we can look at plot prices next month. Roy Schulz made a motion to pass Ordinance No. 833 as presented. Dave Tysz seconded the motion; all council members voted yes.
VII. NEW BUSINESS:
A. APPROVE DAVE TYSZ AS TEKOA CCS CONTRACT OPERATOR: Dave Tysz said the state is requiring all cities to have a cross connection control specialist by January 1, 2018. Duane Groom is going to a class to get his certification. Mayor Jaeger appointed Dave Tysz to act as the CCS Contract Operator until Mr. Groom can become certified.
B. JUNE MEETING DATE: Mayor Jaeger announced the dates for the next three meetings. They will be April 17, May 15, and June 5, 2017.
VIII. REPORTS:
A. MAYOR’S REPORT: There was none.
B. CLERK/TREASURER REPORT: There was none.
C. COUNCIL REPORTS: Ted Blaszak reported the following:
~He thanked Donovan Chase for all the work relative to gathering documents needed for the insurance rating.
~He said he thought the community meeting was good. He said in the future, when we rent out the community center, we should consider a higher rate so we don't compete against our own merchants.
~He is working with Kynda Browning to get a list of city owned properties.~There are two more cities and a county that have endorsed the trail and the Tekoa Trestle Association is starting a spring lecture series.
IX. CONSENT AGENDA:
A. APPROVE February 27, 2017, MEETING MINUTES: Roy Schulz made a motion to approve the February 27, 2017, meeting minutes as presented. Alyssa Heagy seconded the motion; all council members voted yes.
B. APPROVE BILLS FOR PAYMENT: Roy Schulz made a motion to approve payroll checks 12745 through 12753 and EFT payroll checks totaling $21,188.67; and check numbers 12754 through 12790 and EFT checks for $35,333.82 as presented. Alyssa Heagy seconded the motion; all council members voted yes.
X. ADJOURNMENT: Roy Schulz made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:45 p.m. Alyssa Heagy seconded the motion; all council members voted yes.
APPROVED:
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John Jaeger – Mayor
ATTEST:
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Kynda Browning – Clerk/Treasurer
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