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Regular Business Meeting May 1, 2023
Mayor Rob Lessen called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. The Pledge of Allegiance was stated by all present. The roll call was taken, and all members of the city council were present. The mayor asked for a moment of silence in memory of Mary Lou Peace who had passed the previous week. The minutes from the previous meeting were presented to the Council. Gary Pommier made the motion to approve the minutes. Carma Burns seconds the motion. The motion was approved. The mayor presented the evenings agenda. Under Item 6 and Executive Session was added, Non-Elected Personnel matters. Under Unfinished Business Item A) Mini Excavator payment plan was removed from the agenda. Item D) Wayne Ronning, property cleanup was added. Under New Business Item B) GAPA Waiver was corrected GAAP. Richard Kerley made the motion to approve the revised agenda. Howard Camp seconds the motion. The motion was approved. Appropriation Ordinance #4 was brought up for discussion. No questions presented; Carma Burns made the motion to approve Appropriation Ordinance #4 for payment. Bob Lauck seconds the motion. The motion was approved.
Carma Burns made the motion to go into executive session for 10 minutes on the topic of Non-elected Personnel matters. Gary Pommier seconds the motion to go into executive session. The motion passed. 6:38 p.m.
Howard Camp made the motion to go out of executive session and back into regular business. Carma Burns seconds the motion. The motion was approved.
MAYOR'S ANNUAL APPOINTMENTS
Mayor Lessen announced his 2023-2024 appointments as follows;
Tom Gorman, Superintendent, Bette Lessen, City Clerk, Tom Hayes, City Attorney, Mike McLeod, Fire Chief, John Austin, Police Chief, Joleen Edwards, Treasurer and Tim Fielder, Judge.
Morning Sun Newspaper as the official press.
Community National and Girard National Banks
Meeting Dates are the 1st and 3rd Monday's of the month beginning at 6:30 p.m.
Council Members Departments:
Howard Camp, Streets; Richard Kerley, Utilities; Carma Burns, Clerk's office, and Finance; Gary Pommier, Police/Fire Departments and Bob Lauck, Recreation and Library.
REPORTS
POLICE CHIEF
John Austin reported on attending John Moutz's graduation last week at the academy. Also, the department is working on nuisances around town. Carma Burns brought up the County Attorney's May 25th training class.
SUPERINTENDENT
Tom Gorman handed in his written report that he reviewed with the City Council.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
TREE REMOVAL
Tom Gorman reported on the limbs that need to be removed from the Kerley's tree that is in the power lines and the transform. The cost of this job is $850.00. Howard Camp made the motion to have Dickerson's remove the limbs for $850.00. Gary Pommier seconds the motion. The motion was approved. Richard Kerley abstained from the vote.
K.M.E.A. SOLAR POWER GRANT
The City Council discussed the paperwork on the solar grant. Gary Pommier made the motion to table the issue. Howard Camp seconds the motion. The motion was approved. Carma Burns will contact K.M.E.A. for this grant.
WAYNE RONNING
Wayne Ronning reported on his work of cleaning up the vacant property on the corner of N 8th and W. Perry. The council allowed Wayne to trim up the property. Discussion on the size of the lot was held, this will be investigated and reported at the next meeting.
NEW BUSINESS
TEXTCASTER
Bob Lauck reported on Textcaster an app that can be setup on your cell phone for information on any type to be shared with the folks in Arma. Bob stated that the cost to begin is a 200.00 setup fee with a 100.00 monthly cost up to 500 participating. Bob Lauck made the motion to hold a zoom meeting with the company at 6:00 p.m. on the 15th. Carma Burns seconds the motion. The motion was approved.
GAAP WAIVER
Richard Kerley made the motion to accept the 2023 GAAP Waiver report. Gary Pommier seconds the motion. The motion was approved.
EMPLOYEE REPORTS
Rob Lessen brought up the idea of having the superintendents from the different departments submit their written monthly reports to the City Clerk to put in the packets so that the Council members can read over and if any questions are asked the superintendent can answer at the meeting. Carma Burns made the motion to have the department heads submit their written reports. Gary Pommier seconds the motion. The motion was approved.
VANESSA KENT; DEBT/CREDIT PAYMENT PLAN
Vanessa reported to the City Council that a new debit/credit company "Government Window" has approached the office about lowering the fee from 3.7 to 2.5 which would save the customer money in the transaction. The council asked Vanessa to get recommendations from other companies using Government Window and report at the next meeting.
COUNCIL COMMENTS
Richard Kerley stated that he recently met the new resident moving into the Petry house on N. 2nd.
Bob Lauck is working on the "Safe Sidewalk" project which is through the State.
Gary Pommier reported on attending the K.M.E.A. Board of Director's meeting in Wichita. Gary also congratulated Fox Insurance Company for just recently celebrating their 100 years in business.
Carma Burns reported on the trash that the City employees must remove prior to cutting city property.
COMMUNICATIONS
Bette Lessen reported on receiving a bill for $550.00 from the Pittsburg Area Chamber of Commerce. Bette stated that the city has been a member of this organization since 2009 however the members of the City Council has rarely used the organization which should benefit the city however, over this period little has been accomplished. Bette asked the City Council if they would like to continue paying a membership fee for something that they don't use. This topic will be brought back up at the May 15th meeting.
Gary Pommier made the motion to accept and to place on file the communications. Howard Camp seconds the motion. The motion was approved.
PURCHASE REQUEST
No request was made.
Carma Burns made the motion to adjourn the meeting at 7:55 p.m. Howard Camp seconds the motion. The motion was approved.
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Bette Lessen, City Clerk