BELOIT CITY COUNCIL MEETING TUESDAY JULY 5TH

Beloit City Council Meeting

Tuesday, July 5, 2016

By Terry Bailey

The Beloit City Council conducted their regularly scheduled bi-weekly meeting at City hall on Tuesday evening, July 5, 2016. All Councilors were present as was Mayor Tom Naasz, Interim City Administrator Jay Newton, City Attorney Katie Schroeder, and City Clerk Amanda Lomax.

In the time reserved for comments from Councilors Andrew Grabon said he had observed and had reports made to him about careless and inappropriate use of fireworks. Grabon said they were not grievous acts but simply ones that could cause injury to people.

City Attorney Katie Schroeder said city’s have the ability to limit the days and times of the day when fireworks can be discharged. She gave as an example of Glen Elder who instituted a more restrictive policy because the people thought enough was too much.

Schroeder also spoke about legislation that went into effect July 1^st. Two new regulations was the inability of the City to limit employees from participating in concealed carry. Another issue deals with political signs and their size and placement.

Interim City Administrator Jay Newton gave the Council an update on the activities of The Austin-Peters Organization which has been hired to conduct a search for a new full-time City Administrator. The have been actively advertising in trade publications and professional organizations. They have received seven resumes. The deadline for applications is July 15. After that point they will meet with the City Council on July 22 to discuss how to best proceed. Plans ae being made to set up personal interviews for chosen applicants the week of August 8^th.

Eric Burks, President of NCK Technical College and Dale Gengler, Commercial Driver’s License instructor spoke to the Council about changes in the driving route for the tractor-trailer training vehicle. The closing of Hiway 14 on North Independence closed a major training route for the CDL students. When the closing became imminent, the school provided information to the state which in return notified the College about a new route for their training drives. Evidently this new route is not a popular one with the residents in the areas being driven. He acknowledged they had received several complaints and even a visit by Chief of Police Elam about concerns. Burks wanted to inform the public that the route the vehicle is driving is one mandated by the State. He said “It wasn’t like we just went out and started driving all over town. These things are carefully controlled by the State.” He told the Councilors that they intend to return to the previous route as soon as the Hiway 14 project is completed.

The Council approved Ordinance 21898 establishing the zoning regulations and zoning map with the removal of the two mile extraterritorial zoning plans.

The Council approved bids from Jensen Ag Service for two demolitions in the amount of $10,000 each for the Community Development Block Grant program.

The Council approved the bid for the Employees Blue Cross Blue Shield Health Insurance. The cost to the City to provide health insurance to the employees is $750,000.

All issued were addressed and no items for the work session the meeting was adjourned.

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Beloit, KS 67420, USA