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Regular Business Meeting February 6th, 2023

REGULAR BUSINESS MEETING

FEBRUARY 6, 2023

 

 

The meeting was called to order by the President of the Council, Carma Burns. The Pledge of Allegiance was stated by all present. Roll was taken and the Mayor, Rob Lessen and Gary Pommier were absent. The minutes from the previous meeting were presented. Richard Kerley made the motion to approve the minutes. Bob Lauck seconds the motion. The motion was approved. Carma Burns presented the evenings agenda. City Attorney Tom Hayes requested an Executive Session under legal matters with the Council. Richard Kerley made the motion to accept the revised agenda. Howard Camp seconds the motion. The motion was approved. Appropriation Ordinance #1 was presented to the Council. Bob Lauck asked a question about the Feld Fire Equipment bill. Bette Lessen explained the reason for the "testing". Carma Burns stated that the County maybe paying the yearly fee to SEKRPC for all towns/cities in Crawford Co. Bette said she would contact the Clerk's office prior to sending the check out. Richard Kerley made the motion to approve payment of Appropriation Ordinance #1. Bob Lauck seconds the motion. The motion was approved.

 

REPORTS

 

POLICE CHIEF: John Austin handed out his monthly report to the Council members.

 

SUPERINTENDENT: Tom Gorman handed out his monthly report to the Council members. Tom Hayes stated that Mr. Gorman may want to speak to the folks at Baldwin City since they were the first town to setup a solar farm.

 

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

 

POLICE CHIEF APPLICATIONS

Carma Burns stated that John Austin our interim Police Chief submitted his applications and after reviewing Mayor Rob Lessen informed Carma that he recommends Mr. Austin to be hired as our new Police Chief. Richard Kerley made the motion to hire John Austin as the City's Police Chief. Howard Camp seconds the motion. John accepted the position. John also stated that he is working on a new Assistant Police Chief.

 

WATER TOWER REPAIRS

Tom Gorman handed out paperwork from the original contract Nov. 2021 which the bid at that time was $131,999.00 and now it has increased to $142,559.00. This project will be paid through the ARPA funds that the County disbursed to the City which will cover 70% plus the repairs at $52,559.00. Richard Kerley made the motion to accept the revised contract using the ARPA funds for the work on the water tower behind City Hall. Howard Camp seconds the motion. The motion is approved.

 

N. WEST STREET PROJECT

Tom Gorman presented a new contract from KDOT on the N. West St. project and the cities expense now would be no more than $98,000.00. Richard Kerley made the motion to approve this new contract for $98,000.00. Howard Camp seconds the motion. The motion was approved.

 

NEW BUSINESS

 

DANGEROUS STRUCTURE'S

Bette Lessen explained to the Council about driving around Arma to inspect the homes and if they find a structure that needs to be discussed and/or inspected then they are correcting situations that may become nuisances. Bette also reported on the upcoming Sheriff's property sell that the City has funds involved with 4 of them. If they become part of the city, they will go into the City's Landbank.

 

PRESIDENT'S DAY

Richard Kerley made the motion to move the next council meeting to Tuesday Feb. 21st since President's Day is the 20th. Howard Camp seconds the motion. The motion was approved.

 

BALL GROUNDS KEEPER

Council discussed the hiring of JP Cleland as this year's grounds keeper. Carma read that the Mayor felt that Mr. Cleland could handle the 4 fields plus maybe work on rebuilding the bocci courts at the City Park. Howard Camp made the motion to hire JP Cleland for the ball grounds and bocci court work subject to setting the compensation for his labor's and to make the decision on salary at the next meeting. Richard Kerley seconds the motion. The motion was approved.

 

BALL PARK COOLER

Bette Lessen reported that Pepsi Company in Pittsburg removed the cooler because the Arma Recreation Committee was not purchasing enough product from them. Richard Kerley made the motion to donate $500.00 toward the expense of the purchasing of a new cooler. Bob Lauck seconds the motion. The motion was approved.

 

EXECUTIVE SESSION

Richard Kerley made the motion to go into executive session under legal issues with the Council, Attorney and Clerk for 3 minutes. 7:23 p.m. Howard Camp seconds the motion. The motion was approved.

Richard Kerley made the motion to go back into regular session at 7:26 p.m. Howard Camp seconds the motion. The motion was approved.

 

Richard Kerley made the motion to have Tom Hayes follow up on this legal matter. Bob Lauck seconds the motion. The motion was approved.

COMMENTS

Bob Lauck thanked Vanessa Kent for her quick and through work.

COMMUNICATIONS

Howard Camp made the motion to place all communications in file. Richard Kerley seconds the motion. The motion was approved.

PURCHASE REQUEST

Richard Kerley made the motion to accept Derailed Commodity's bid for flooring $2,494.82 plus labor $1,571.94. Bob Lauck seconds the motion. The motion was approved.

John Austin also reported on the ALICE training that looks like will be setup for this summer. John handed out paperwork on the materials that will need to be purchased.

 

Richard Kerley made the motion to adjourn the meeting at 7:43 p.m. Howard Camp seconds the motion. The motion was approved.

 

___________________________

Bette Lessen, City Clerk