KVSV

TUESDAY SEPT 20 BELOIT CITY COUNCIL MEETING

 

Beloit City Council

 

Tuesday, September 20, 2016

 

By Terry Bailey

 


 

The Beloit City Fathers assembled Tuesday evening to discuss matters relevant to the smooth operation of the City. All Councilors were present as well as the Mayor, Tom Naasz, City Administrator Jason Rabe, City Attorney Katie Schroeder and City Clerk Amanda Lomax.

 

In the time reserved for comments by the Councilors, Lee McMillian expressed thanks to the

 

large number of children reside. He believes it was an important step to making the area a more child friendly neighborhood.

 

Councilor Lloyd Littrell expressed his thanks for the fountain in the park north of the Municipal Building becoming operational.

 

Jay Langley, accountant for the accounting firm of Clubine and Rattele, Chartered, was present to review the recently completed audit of the city’s “books.” He said the purpose of an audit is to fairly and accurately depict “what is what” with the City’s financial status.

 

Langely spent a period of time pointing out significant numbers relevant to the budget with the Councilors. Summing up, he said, “My list of items that need improvement is very short and most not of great significance. The City of Beloit is in good shape.”

 

There were no ordinances or resolutions for the Council to consider.

 

The first of several formal action on the agenda was bid consideration for the East Main project. The estimated cost for the work was $1,544, 599. Four bids have been received for the project ranging from a low bid of $1,440,337.89 to a high bid of $2,125,550.31. The Council voted unanimously to accept the low bid of $1,440, 337.89 submitted by Pavers, Inc. of Salina. The expected timeline is for the work to begin in mid-November but only after the K-14 project is completed. The anticipated completion date is for all work to be done by Memorial Day, 2017.

 

Next was the consideration of bids submitted for residential trash collection within the City of Beloit. As of January 1, 2017 Mitchell County will no longer be involved in trash collection and the City will need to assume the contracting of services.

 

Three bids were received by the City for residential trash collection but only two were viable bids. One bid was from Hiserote Trash Service at a monthly cost of $12.68 per household. The other bid was from Dunstan Trucking for $18.60 per household. After considerable discussion about the pros and cons of both bids, the Council voted unanimously to accept the low bid submitted by Hiserote’s, effective January 1, 2017.

 

A bid submitted by Paul’s Tree Trimming Service for $35,000 was accepted for a city-wide tree trimming job. The purpose of the tree trimming was to keep tree limbs cut back to a point where they do not cause electric lines to be struck down during our many storms. The last time this project was undertaken it took three years but they vendor stopped and started work several times to pursue other work. The Council stressed that if they award a contract to a vendor, they expect the vendor to stay with the job and not be take on other work.

 

Chief of Police, Dave Elam, addressed the Council regarding the purchase of a new patrol car to replace a 2000 model Crown Victoria. Elam said he had located an acceptable vehicle which listed for $36,000 but could be purchased for $28,000 with a trade in.

 

Mayor Tom Naasz said while he supported Elam’s request for a new patrol car, he was hesitant to support the purchase with only one bid. He said since the Council was spending the tax payer’s money, he felt obligated to try to be as diligent as possible with their spending habits. He continued by saying that while they may or may not get a more competitive bid by soliciting more bids by more vendors, they should try to do so.

 

Councilor Andrew Grabon made a motion to table the purchase of a new police vehicle while attempting to gain more bids for such a purchase. Raymond Pontow seconded the motion. It passed unanimously.

 

Having addressed all the items on the printed agenda, the business meeting was adjourned and the work session was called to order.

 

City Administrator Jason Rabe highlighted several items for the Council to consider.

 

He said the water testing project was going forward although slower than hoped. There is a limited number of portable labs necessary to do the testing and there is a big demand for them.

 

Rabe had met with Vicky Mears to discuss possible avenues to increase the use of the Little Red Schoolhouse. He said it was his understanding that at one time, local school “marms” utilized the school house by holding classes there and staffing the building so that it could be kept open to welcome guests to visit the building. Rabe said, “We may have run out of school marms. The fashion in which the school house was once used seems to have ran its course and other possibilities should be pursued.”

 

Chris Jones, Code Enforcement Officer, has tendered his resignation effective October 31. Efforts have been made to find a replacement with limited success. Jones serves as the Code Enforcement Officer and the Animal Control Officer. Thought has been given to splitting the combined jobs into two separate positions.

 

At the end of the work session, Mayor Naasz called attention to the atrocious railroad crossing on South Hersey Street. He reminded the council that Kyle Railroad has promised to fix it for several years. In spite of saying they will rectify the situation, noting has been done.

 

The meeting was adjourned.

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Beloit, KS 67420, USA