04-17-1978 Minutes Organizational1
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City of Salina, Kansas
Regular Meeting of the Board
of Commissioners
April 17, 1978
The Regular Meeting of the Board of Commissioners met in the Commissioners'
Room, City -County Building, on Monday, April 17, 1978, at four o'clock p.m.
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The Mayor asked everyone to stand for the opening ceremony.
There were present:
Mayor Keith G. Duckers, Chairman presiding
Commissioner Dan S. Geis
Commissioner Karen M. Graves
Commissioner Gerald F. Simpson
Commissioner Jack Weisgerber
comprising a qourum of the Board, also:
L. 0. Bengtson, City Attorney
Norris D. Olson, City Manager
D. L. Harrison, City Clerk
Absent:
None
The Minutes of the Regular Meeting of April 10, 1978 were approved as
printed.
THE MAYOR PROCLAIMED the Week of April 23 through 29, 1978 - "ENERGY
AWARENESS WEEK IN SALINA, KANSAS". The Proclamation was read by Mary Ann Powell,
League of Women Voters, Energy Chairperson.
THE MAYOR PROCLAIMED the Week of April 23 through 29, 1978 - "NATIONAL
YWCA WEEK", AND APRIL 23rd - "INTERNATIONAL DAY AT THE SALINA YWCA". The
proclamation was read by Pam Heidrick, YWCA President.
THE MAYOR PROCLAIMED April 29, 1978 - "KANSAS TECHNICAL INSTITUTE
AWARENESS DAY". The proclamation was read by Jim Bigelow, K.T.I. Student.
STAFF AGENDA
BIDS WERE RECEIVED for the construction of the Carver Neighborhood
Center:
Bob Albers Construction
Base
$132,487.00
Alternate
1
add
15,754.00
Alternate
2
add
5,220.00
Alternate
3
deduct
2,500.00
Will require 240
calendar days.
Western Construction, Inc.
Base
$136,500.00
Alternate
1
add
13,000.00
Alternate
2
add
4,600.00
Alternate
3
deduct
3,500.00
Will require 200
calendar days.
Nelson & Company Building
Contr. Base
$141,900.00
Alternate
1
add
12,500.00
Alternate
2
add
5,200.00
Alternate
3
deduct
2,400.00
Will require 210
calendar day
Architect's Estimate
Base
$142,000.00
Alternate
1
add
19,500.00
Alternate
2
add
3,500.00
Alternate
3
deduct
2,000.00
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A motion was made by Commissioner Graves, seconded by Commissioner
Geis to refer the bids to staff for checking and to report back before the end
of the meeting with a recommendation. Ayes: (5). Nays: (0). Motion carried.
A MOTION was made by Commissioner Simpson, seconded by Commissioner
Weisgerber to set the date of May 1, 1978 to receive bids for $755,000.00 Internal
Improvement Bond Series P-221, and instruct the City Clerk to advertise for
bids. (Street and utility improvements in Engineering Projects 75-596, 76-609,
and 77-617). Ayes: (5). Nays: (0). Motion carried.
THE CITY ENGINEER filed plans and specifications for street and utility
improvements in Engineering Project 78-636, for Eastridge, Georgetown and Riverda'
Additions. A motion was made by Commissioner Weisgerber, seconded by Commissionei
Graves to approve the plans and specifications as filed. Ayes: (5). Nays: (0).
Motion carried.
A MOTION was made by Commissioner Weisgerber, seconded by Commissioner
Graves to set the date of May 1, 1978 to receive bids for Engineering Project
78-636, and instruct the City Clerk to advertise for bids. Ayes: (5). Nays:
(0). Motion carried.
THE CITY ENGINEER reported on Petition Number 3691, filed by George
Mull for parking restrictions on the south side of Wayne Avenue from Roach
Street to Lewis Street, and recommended the approval of Petition Number 3691,
with the addition that the restriction be extended to Belmont Boulevard to cover
the entire frontage of the school property. The signs will read, "NO PARKING
ANYTIME". A motion was made by Commissioner Geis, seconded by Commissioner
Simpson to accept the City Engineer's recommendation. Ayes: (5). Nays: (0).
Motion carried.
A RESOLUTION was introduced and passed entitled: "A RESOLUTION
authorizing the installation and marking of the south side of Wayne Avenue from
the east line of Roach Street to the west line of Belmont Boulevard, as a no
parking zone." A motion was made by Commissioner Geis, seconded by Commissioner
Simpson to adopt the Resolution as read and the following vote was had: Ayes:
Graves, Simpson, Weisgerber, Geis, Duckers (5). Nays: (0). Carried. The Mayor
approved the Resolution and it is numbered 3363•
THE CITY ENGINEER reported on Petition Number 3694, filed by Kenneth
Wasserman, for street and utility improvements to serve Block B, Park West
Addition, that the signatures on the petition represent 790 of the property
within the benefit district and it therefore a valid petition. A motion was
made by Commissioner Graves, seconded by Commissioner Simpson to accept the City
Engineer's report and approve the petition. Ayes: (5)• Nays: (0). Motion
carried.
PUBLIC AGENDA
PETITION NUMBER 3696 was filed by residents in South Salina - "We the
people of South Salina, having seen the designers plot of the South Salina Park,
strongly support the plan. A South Salina park is definitely needed and we
would request the progess be expedited as rapidly as feasible.
"We wish to publicly express our appreciation for the quick action of
the city government in implementing the park once it was approved and their
concern for our tax dollars in not wasting money on expensive studies and needless
committees.
"It is also requested that the remaining hedge row be removed as soon
as possible. The present hedge row is unsightly and will not fit into the
overall design of the park. It is requested that one or several of this tree
species be planted in the nature area to represent the osage orange, which is
common to the area."
Mr. Lee Rankin, 2608 Bret, was present and said the residents have
noticed the work has slowed down and asked what the City Commission plans?
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Mr. Olson reported that plans for the street, water and sewer improvemen s
are ready to file so that work can proceed.
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A motion was made by Commissioner Simpson, seconded by Commissioner
Graves to refer the petition to the Salina Park Advisory Board, for consideration
as a priority item on its first agenda. Ayes: (5). Nays: (0). Motion carried.
COMMISSION AGENDA
"CONSIDERATION of the City purchasing Schilling Manor Housing from
General Services Administration." (Sponsored by Commissioner Simpson)
Commissioner Simpson - As a followup of our meeting with General
Service Administration, and other interested parties the other day at which time
it became very obvious that the City of Salina has no means to acquire this
property, and that it is necessary to refer back to G.S.A. to go to private bids
and I have heard some comments of concern, and naturally so, about this situation;'
but I guess I am basically an optimist and I think that private interests can
assume this responsibility and through an orderly disposition of the complex,
enhance and encourage the continued economic growth of Salina and perhaps and
hopefully can provide a segment of our community an opportunity to upgrade their
housing situation, so Mr. Mayor I would move that we authorize the Mayor to sign
a letter to the General Services Administration advising them the City of Salina
has no interest in purchasing Schilling Manor.
Commissioner Graves seconded the motion. Ayes: (5). Nays: (0).
Motion carried.
STAFF MEMBERS AND THE ARCHITECT reported on bids received for the
Iconstruction of Carver Neighborhood Center, that Bob Albers Construction Company,
Inc., is the low bidder with the base bid and alternates 1 and 2, of $153,461.00,
and that all documents submitted with the bid are in order. A motion was made
by Commissioner Geis, seconded by Commissioner Weisgerber to award the contract
for the construction of Carver Neighborhood Center to Bob Albers Construction
Company, Inc., in the amount of $153,461.00. Ayes: (5). Nays: (0). Motion
carried.
Mayor Duckers - I would like to have the privilege of making a couple
of final comments as Mayor of Salina. First of all, I see in the audience a
very close personal friend of mine who also happens to be a former mayor of
Salina, Bill Usher. I would also like to express to Bill, who is the chairman
of the executive committee of St. John's Military School, which I preside over
from time to time, when I am not involved in Salina business, I would like to
take this opportunity to publicly express thanks to my Board of Trustees. Mr.
Simpson is one of my Trustees also, for the time they have permitted me to take
away from my responsibilities there to give to the City of Salina, and I sincerely
appreciate that Bill and Jerry. A year ago today I expressed some administrative
goals that I had that I felt were worthy of our efforts this year, primarily in
the area of sensitivity to the problems of all of the citizens of Salina, and I
feel that we were a sensitive commission. I think that we dealt with some
difficult items where sensitivity was necessary, not the least of which was
Lower Indian Rock Park and the problems that this was going to create for some
of the neighbors in that area. The flood problem in youth Salina. We met with
these people in south Salina and gave them an opportunity to express their views
to us and I felt that we met that goal. I also have called for all of us to
pull together to reach common goals and I think that we did that. The most
significant to me, at least, was the Bicentennial Center and finally being able
to, after the burning of mush midnight oil, agree on how it was to be built and
where it was to be built, and what it was to look like, and what color the seats
were going to be, and all those things we came to grips with and we did pull
together on that. I am extremely pleased that the Neighborhood Center Program,
which Carmen Chirveno does such a fine job heading up, is off the ground and
Memorial Hall is being remodeled and the Centennial Park building is under
construction and we have just today awarded Carver Center and I think that is
another example of our pulling together. I think we were sensitive to the
grievances of the citizens of Salina. We have had our share of phone calls, I
know I have, and I know each of you have, and letters and personal calls and I
think that when people were upset we gave them a chance to express their views
to us and we tried to deal with them. I stated that I thought that the strength
Df Salina depended on an active public, and jokingly at least, some have kidded
us about all the appointments and the new boards and the commissions and groups
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that were created. Not the least vocal of this group was the City Manager, but
think in all frankness Norris, and others on the staff, we believe in involving
people in Salina in making things happen. The Energy Commission, I think, has
I been a real plus that was the creation of this Commission. The bike trail group I)
which is meeting, and the park board which will have its initial meeting this
week, and certainly the Bicentennial Center Governing Authority which has been �I
working very hard in getting that going. These were all newly created boards
and involved more people,more of our citizens in municipal government; but at
the same time we had the guts to do away with one committee that had served its I'
purpose, and served it well, and that was the baseball committee, Jerry, that
you appointed when you were mayor, and they came to grips with some real difficult
questions and they did their job well, and so when it was completed we disbanded j
it. I pointed out that I felt that this Commission was made up of five individual!
who had personal integrity and after serving with all of you for a year I can
only say that I know the four of you do have and I feel that you have proved it
to the citizens of Salina, and I have been very proud to be the chairman of your
Commission. It seems to me that we have been objective and impartial and we
have been free of bias, and most important I think, we have been free of the
desire for any personal gains in making public business decisions and we have
made a lot of them that involved a lot of the public's money this year. We have
made some mistakes to be sure, but I think we have been willing to admit them
when we did and we have dealt with them and been willing to give credit where it
was due. I think my final point a year ago was that when I took office I hoped
that when asked for an opinion we would evaluate all of the facts and then say
what we mean, and certainly I have found that each of the four of you will speak
out on how you feel about an issue and we haven't always agreed but we have been
able to see each other's point. But there is a lot yet to be done and whoever
is sitting here next week, I know, will want to get on with the program. We
have made, I think, great strides and improved county - city relations and we
are all pleased about this. Together with the Board of Education and the County
we soon will be hiring an energy coordinator and I think this is an excellent
example of cooperation between the three taxing units. The move to reinstitute
the Metropolitan Planning Commission which, for one reason or another, was
dissolved several years ago, the fact that the County has indicated to us, the
county governing group, the County Commissioners have indicated to us that they
are willing to cooperate with our planning and getting this thing back together
as one entity is most gratifying. This needs to be coming before the tri -
governmental council soon and I hope it can be implemented post haste. There
are other things that we haven't gotten done, frankly I feel that we are letting
the citizens of Salina down every day that we don't do something about the
railroads. A week has passed since they were going to be doing something within
a week and they still haven't, and I think we have to stay on those people and
make them face up to their responsibilities. But so much for my swan song. It
is time to reorganize and elect a new presiding officer to be Mayor of Salina
for the next year. I would just simply like to conclude by thanking each of you
for your cooperation and for your friendship and for your frank counsel, and
certainly to Norris Olson and all the staff, and Larry Bengtson, and all of you
for helping me and helping all of us this year. It has been a wonderful year, a
wonderful experience and I thank the citizens of Salina for permitting me to
serve them. At this time, I want to put on the hat of a City Commissioner and
turn the gavel over to the City Clerk, Don Harrison, who becomes the presiding
officer and acting mayor of Salina and we will let him take over and organize.
ORGANIZATION MEETING
The Board of Commissioners convened for the purpose of organizing.
D. L. Harrison, City Clerk, presiding.
Nominations for Mayor: A motion was made by Commissioner Geis, secondedll,
by Commissioner Graves, to nominate Commissioner Weisgerber for Mayor and Chairman!
of the Board of Commissioners.
There were no other nominations. The Presiding Officer declared the
nominations closed, and a vote was taken. Ayes: (5). Nays: (0). Commissioner j
Weisgerber was declared unanimously elected Mayor and Chairman of the Board of
Commissioners.
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Nominations for Acting Mayor: A motion was made by Commissioner
Duckers, seconded by Commissioner Simpson to nominate Commissioner Graves for
Acting Mayor and Vice-chairman of the Board of Commissioners.
There were no other nominations. The Presiding Officer declared the
nominations closed, and a vote was taken. Ayes: (5). Nays: (0). Commissioner
Graves was declared unanimously elected Acting Mayor and Vice Chairman of the
Board of Commissioners.
The City Clerk turned the gavel over to Mayor Weisgerber.
A motion was made by Commissioner Geis, seconded by Commissioner
Simpson, that the Regular Meeting of the Board of Commissioners be adjourned.
Ayes: (5). Nays: (0). Motion carried. The meeting adjourned at 4:48 P.M.
D. L. Harrison, City Clerk
Mayor Weisgerber - Keith, on behalf of all of the citizens of Salina,
and certainly on behalf of this City Commission we want to thank you for the
fine job that you did as Mayor of Salina during this past year. I think everyone
in this room realizes that it was an exceptionally busy year, with a great many
major projects. I would like to list these. Unless you really look back over
them you may not realize how many there really were. Our Bicentennial Center,
we let the contracts and startedthe construction. On the renovation of Memorial
Hall to a community center, the architect was hired, the work was done, constructi
contract was let and that work is started. On Carver Center, as you know today,
the architectural work was finished and the contract was let for the construction
of that building. On the Centennial Center, the architect was hired and that
work done and is under construction contract now. The ball diamond complex, as
Keith mentioned, was a bit of a problem, it was worked out and the architectural
plans are now in progress and they soon will be ready for construction on that
particular complex. The engineer was hired to make the flood survey in south
Salina, an engineer was also hired to do a study of the river to see what could
be done about the river situation through Salina. Construction contracts were
let in the Water Department to handle the sludge and also to build the lines
that are necessary so that the residents in south and southeast Salina can have
an ample supply of good clean water. Preliminary work has been done on Schilling
Manor. The decision has been made as to which way the city is to go. Also
started a winterization and rehabilitation program with the use of CD funds.
These are just some of the unusual and major events of this last year in which
Keith served as Mayor, and if we look forward to next year I think we would have
to feel that a great deal of next year's activities are going to center around
continuing progress on the items that have already been started. And the disposit
of Schilling Manor will certainly be one of the most important things that the
City will be involved in during this next year. It is also to be hoped, certainly
that progress can be made on these railroad tracks, which it seems to be a
perennial and long standing problem, but I do believe we are getting closer.
wish I could say that this next year would also see the improvement in the
paving of Crawford Street. That is in the progress and in the works, but it
would not appear that funds will become available during this next year, so
perhaps Karen, or perhaps Dan, on down the line, may be the Mayor when this
change eventually comes about. There will be decisions to be made next year
regarding the flood situation in south Salina when the engineer's report is
received. The same will also hold true of the river study to decide where we go
from there. Energy will be a continuing problem. There no doubt will be an
energy coordinator, jointly with the City, County and School Board. As these
various buildings, we have named 4 of them, as they become operational then
there will be the problems of staffing, of budgeting, of finding the money to
operate them properly and seeing that they become useful additional capital
investments in the City of Salina. While we are speaking of staffing of those,
let me mention one thing which has been mentioned before, but is so easy to
overlook the importance of it. When we think about these more outstanding
things, the more visible things that people have an interest in, it is so easy
to overlook things which we take for granded. A good police department, a good
fire department, good garbage pickup, sanitation, sewer system, water. All
these things that we have every day. I want to issue a special thanks to Norris
Olson and to all the department heads, because this day to day operation is an
administrative situation and without good administrators, these things that in
Salina we take for granted, we would not have, and certainly that is basic for
the Commission to see that this is done. Again, Keith, a thanks from all of us
for your year, and hope that the projects that you have started be continued
well into the next year, and that all goes well.''
A motion was made by Commissioner Geis, seconded by Commissioner
Simpson, that the Regular Meeting of the Board of Commissioners be adjourned.
Ayes: (5). Nays: (0). Motion carried. The meeting adjourned at 4:48 P.M.
D. L. Harrison, City Clerk