10-30-1972 MinutesI
City of Salina, Kansas
Commissioners' Meeting
October 30, 1972
The Regular Meeting of the Board of Commissioners met in the Commissioners' Room,
City -County Building, on Monday, October 30, 1972, at four o'clock p.m.
The Mayor asked everyone to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag and a
Moment of Silent Prayer.
There were present:
Mayor Jack Weisgerber, Chairman presiding
Commissioner Leon L. Ashton
Commissioner Robert C. Caldwell
Commissioner Mike Losik, Jr.
comprising a quorum of the Board, also:
L. 0. Bengtson, City Attorney
Norris D. Olson, City Manager
D. L. Harrison, City Clerk
Absent:
Commissioner Norma G. Cooper
The Minutes of the Regular Meeting of October 16, 1972, were approved as mailed.
Bosun Mate First Class, Jerry L. Luedtke, Navy Recruiter, presented a U. S. Navy
Recruiting Command Certificate of Appreciation to Mayor Weisgerber for public spirited
cooperation in furthering the excellent relations between the U. S. Navy and the public of
this community. Mayor Weisgerber thanked him for the Certificate.
STAFF AGENDA
AN ORDINANCE was introduced for second reading entitled: "AN ORDINANCE providing
for the amendment of Zoning Ordinance Number 6613 and the Zoning District Map therein and
thereby adopted and providing for the rezoning of certain property within the City and
prescribing the proper uses thereof." (For the Rezoning of Lots 26, 28, and the West z of
Lot 30, Cloud Street, Addition to the Grounds of Kansas Wesleyan University, to District "C"
(Apartment District), requested in Petition Number 3274, filed by the Hillcrest Agency.)
A motion was made by Commissioner Ashton, seconded by Commissioner Losik to adopt the
ordinance as read and the following vote was had: Ayes: Ashton, Caldwell, Losik, Weisgerber'
(4). Nays: (0). Carried. Commissioner Cooper absent. The Mayor approved the Ordinance
and it is numbered 8254. The ordinance was introduced for first reading October 16, 1972.
AN ORDINANCE was introduced for second reading entitled: "AN ORDINANCE providing
for the amendment of Zoning Ordinance Number 6613 and the Zoning District Map therein and
thereby adopted and providing for the rezoning of certain property within the City and
prescribing the proper uses thereof." (For the rezoning of Tracts 2 and 3, described and
requested in Petition Number 3275, to District "D" (Local Business District), filed by
C. L. Clark and Harry Steele.) A motion was made by Commissioner Losik, seconded by
Commissioner Ashton to adopt the ordinance as read and the following vote was had: Ayes:
Ashton, Caldwell, Losik, Weisgerber (4). Nays: (0). Carried. Commissioner Cooper absent.
The Mayor approved the ordinance and it is numbered 8255. The ordinance was introduced for
first reading October 16, 1972.
AN ORDINANCE was introduced for second reading entitled: "AN ORDINANCE providing
for the amendment of Zoning Ordinance Number 6613 and the Zoning District Map therein and
thereby adopted and providing for the rezoning of certain property within the City and
prescribing the proper uses thereof." (For the rezoning of the South 143 feet of the West
175 feet of Block 1, Eisenhower Addition to District "EE" (Local Service District), requested
in Petition Number 3280, filed by William Graves.) A motion was made by Commissioner
Caldwell, seconded by Commissioner Losik to adopt the ordinance as read and the following
vote was had: Ayes: Ashton, Caldwell, Losik, Weisgerber (4). Nays: (0). Carried.
Commissioner Cooper absent. The Mayor approved the ordinance and it is numbered 8256. The
ordinance was introduced for first reading October 16, 1972.
"Now the steps I have recommended should be accomplished so that our decision,
whatever it is, should be made prior to 1 January 1973. Now we cannot delay any longer on
making a decision on this problem, so Mr. Mayor I would make a motion that the four steps
I outlined be carried out and I will repeat these four steps, and my motion is:
1. To furnish the sub -committee of the Citizens' Advisory Committee copies
of the recent study and arrange for them to meet with Wilson and Company
representatives to be briefed.
2. They should make their report to the full Citizen's Advisory Committee
at a special called meeting, and the Citizens' Advisory Committee should
make their recommendations to this Commission.
3. The City Commission should then call a special meeting, discuss the
course of action to be taken, and make the decision.
4. The steps I have recommended should be accomplished so that our decision,
whatever it is, will be made prior to 1 January 1973."
The Commissioners discussed the possibility of having an evening meeting with the
sub -committee of the Citizens' Advisory Committee, and Wilson and Company representatives
as soon as Mrs. Cooper returns.
I I
I
was made to cover the period 1968 to 2010. Still no action was taken. 1971 we had another
rates in
this report are based on
report outlining water treatment facilities. Now, in February of this year we approved
$9,500.00 to be spent to update our studies again. This study, due in July, was a few weeks'
from
late. The results and recommendations were presented to this City Commission by Wilson and j
Urban Development, and
Company representatives, and to date no action has been taken. As the Journal stated at one,
point, studies are used for two purposes, one of these purposes is to postpone action. We
Housing
cannot pursue this course any longer. We must act before this last study that we have paid
Development funds, this
for becomes obsolete.
"Now it was decided by this Commission that the Citizens' Advisory Commission be
asked to participate in these studies and to offer their suggestions and recommendations.
They appointed a sub -committee to research this, but unfortunately the sub -committee did
not receive copies of this last study, nor were they informed, until about five hours
the City
before Wilson and Company briefing time, that they should attend. As a result, they had no
if new water rates could
representation. This is no fault of theirs. And now, where do we stand? And what is the
delay? And what do we need to do to get going again?
the need
"We stand exactly where we were thirteen years ago. Nothing accomplished, money
if they could be raised later.
spent. The delay is our fault. We have not followed through to keep the process going.
There is one excuse being rendered, and I want to clarify it. Recently an editorial came
out regarding the petition on minimum housing and water rates. I quote one paragraph from
the editorial, 'The parallel between these two stories is that the City Commission would
enact legislation pertaining to the water study if the minimum housing code petition was
not hanging over their head.' Now, I take strong exception to that statement since this
Commission, at no formal meeting had a formal discussion on these two matters, and has not
taken a formal position that this is the case. In addition, I take a very dim view of any
City official, elected or appointed, who would make statements that would tend to discredit,
intimidate or harass individuals circulating petitions or attempt to influence the public
to sign or not to sign a petition. As far as I am concerned a circulating petition requires
no action or remarks from this Commission or staff. It is only after the petition is
presented that action be taken on it, and I will defend the right of the people to circulate
the petitions freely, regardless of their contents.
"Now back to the water rates. What do we need to do to get going again?
Number one, we need to furnish the sub -committee of the Citizens' Advisory Committee copies
of the recent study, arrange for them to meet with Wilson and Company representatives to be
briefed. Number two, they should make their report to the full Citizens' Advisory Committee
at a special called meeting, and the Citizens' Advisory Committee should make their
recommendation to this Commission. Number three, the City Commission should call a
special meeting, discuss the course of action to be taken and make the decision.
"Now the steps I have recommended should be accomplished so that our decision,
whatever it is, should be made prior to 1 January 1973. Now we cannot delay any longer on
making a decision on this problem, so Mr. Mayor I would make a motion that the four steps
I outlined be carried out and I will repeat these four steps, and my motion is:
1. To furnish the sub -committee of the Citizens' Advisory Committee copies
of the recent study and arrange for them to meet with Wilson and Company
representatives to be briefed.
2. They should make their report to the full Citizen's Advisory Committee
at a special called meeting, and the Citizens' Advisory Committee should
make their recommendations to this Commission.
3. The City Commission should then call a special meeting, discuss the
course of action to be taken, and make the decision.
4. The steps I have recommended should be accomplished so that our decision,
whatever it is, will be made prior to 1 January 1973."
The Commissioners discussed the possibility of having an evening meeting with the
sub -committee of the Citizens' Advisory Committee, and Wilson and Company representatives
as soon as Mrs. Cooper returns.
Mayor Weisgerber commented
that the
rates in
this report are based on
the
possibility of the availability of funds
from
Housing and
Urban Development, and
if we loose
our minimum housing and loose all our
Housing
and Urban
Development funds, this
will effect
the rates.
Commissioner Caldwell asked
the City
Attorney
if new water rates could
be
established at this time, and then if
the need
arises,
if they could be raised later.