November 16, 2020 LECOMPTON CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
7:00 P.M. Mayor Jimmy Wilkins brought the Lecompton City Council Meeting to order at 620 E. Woodson Ave, Lecompton, KS. Council Members Tim McNish, Mary Jane Hoffer, Matt Roberts and Owen Mallonee were present at roll call. The following were also present: City Clerk Lynley Sanford, City Superintendent Rance Roberts. Council member Stephanie Confer was absent. Residents or township members attending included Casey Quigley, Sam Goodwin, Brad Goodrick from Lecompton Fire Department, Steve Baalman and Brian Kerath with KDOT and Greg Weathered with HNTB. Meeting was streamed on Facebook live.
Owen Mallonee motioned to approve the meeting minutes for the November 2nd, 2020. Mary Jane Hoffer seconded the motion.
Motion passed 4 yeas, 0 nays
Matt Roberts motioned to approve the bills before the City Council. Owen Mallonee seconded the motion.
Motion passed 4 yeas, 0 nays.
Sam Goodwin spoke to the City Council providing an update for fundraising for the fire fighters relief fund. The total they were trying to achieve in donations was $12,000. Approximate current fundraising balance is around $10,000 leaving a remaining funding balance of $2,000. The council would really like to see Berry Plastics donate to this fund, as a company they depended heavily on support from the Lecompton Community for agreeing to the land use where their building was constructed. The Fire Department is still planning to meet with Rural Water district 6 and the Lecompton Township. Sam Goodwin asked if the City would be willing to be the “stop gap” for any remaining funds that the fire department was not able to raise. The council asked that Sam come to the next council meeting on December 7th and they could discuss that.
Greg Weathered with HNTB provided a review of the updates to the I70/Lecompton intersection on the South Lawrence Traffic way Corridor. Mayor Jimmy Wilkins asked if there were any plans to rename the I70/Lecompton exit. Greg Weathered indicated that it was not likely but he could not guarantee. He also said that if the naming of that intersection would change, that Lecompton would still be included on the signage for that exit.
Mayor Jimmy Wilkins then asked: as of today, the current turnpike access is known as the Lecompton interchange. 10 years from now, if he was having a conversation with someone, and asked them to meet him at the Lecompton Interchange, would that person know where he’s talking about?
The KDOT representatives seemed to think that is what it would be referred to, but no one the KTA attended the meeting for comment. KTA has regulations on naming exits, and they are moving away from exits named for City’s. Jimmy asked if the signage that is in the KTA right of way 10 miles East and West advertising for Lecompton would stay. The KDOT representatives said there was no reason why that signage would not be staying. They also indicated the exit number for Lecompton would stay the same.
Rance Roberts
– Would it be possible to pay out unused vacation time and paying comp time down to 80 hrs?
Mary Jane Hoffer motioned to pay out remaining vacation time at the last council meeting and pay down Rance’s comp time to 80hrs at the last council meeting of the year. Owen Mallonee seconded the motion
Motion passed 4 yeas, 0 nays
Lynley Sanford
– Updated council on late utility billing for the month and allowing a few extra days before assessing late fees in December.
– Still looking for someone to be our park lighting Santa. We have a few ideas we will talk to a few people.
Old Business
– Updates regarding 339 Halderman property. Mayor Wilkins has spoken with property owner Greg Trendel. Greg says the bank is in the process of foreclosing on the property, it should happen fairly quickly. Not sure what that means for the property and how the City may proceed.
– Falk residence at 637 Whitfield is looking rough. Siding is pulled back, windows are broken out. Thinking a letter may need to be sent. City Clerk did note that the property owners there had called to see about getting a permit for electrical inspection so they could start rebuilding. They have been demolishing all summer. Mayor Jimmy Wilkins indicated we should keep an eye on it.
– Sidewalk funding – No current updates, we did receive an email confirming submission and notice that it may be feb/march of 2021 before we hear anything.
New Business –
– City Council reviewed job descriptions and zoning code policy’s for employee’s. Council asked that the clerk speak with Jeff about rewording the start salary for positions as set by ordinance. If we have to have a cap, if not, can we eliminate it?
Council would like to look at hiring someone in a pay range that would interest someone with some skills by the first of the year.
8:32PM – Matt Roberts motioned to adjourn. Mary Jane Hoffer seconded the motion.
Motion passed 4 yays, 0 nays
Lynley Sanford, City Clerk