HOISINGTON — As part of the reorganization of the council, in the wake of former Council President Brian Wilborn stepping down in July, the council elected a new president Monday evening. Karen VanBrimmer, the senior councilwoman, was nominated by Michael Aylward and the nomination seconded by Chris Smith, and with the approval of the rest of the council, minus Carrol Nather who was absent, she will serve as president for the rest of the year.
The council also discussed a request from Don Doerschlag, manager of Casey’s General Store, for $150 from the Transient Guest Tax fund to help with advertising expenses for the Muscular Dystrophy Association fundraiser scheduled for Saturday afternoon, Aug. 13. In his letter to the council, Doerschlag stated he hopes to make it an annual event that will not only bring people to Hoisington, but bring the community together in a family oriented event to help raise money for the MDA.
However, it was pointed out by several council members, including Travis Sinn and Michael Aylward, that other businesses have never asked the city for help with their events, and there was concern approval could cause a “snowball effect.” Still, it was noted that the fundraiser was for a good cause, and members struggled to decide. Finally, the proposal died for lack of a motion.
City manager’s report
City Manager Jonathan Mitchell reported the Main Street repaving from Sixth Street to Ninth Street will begin shortly after Labor Day and is expected to be complete before Thanksgiving. The Kansas Department of Transportation has also approved a request for road closure for Broadway from Thursday, Sept. 1 through Tuesday, Sept. 5 to allow a Midway to be set up for Labor Day Weekend.
The Hoisington Swimming Pool will close for daily operation on Sunday, Aug. 14, but enough lifeguards and staff have committed to allow the city to reopen the pool on the next two weekends. Hours will be from 1-5 p.m. for open swim, and 5-6 p.m. for adult swim on Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 20-21 and Aug. 27-28. Staffing cannot be found for Labor Day weekend, however.
Reporting on the municipal complex HVAC project, he said three companies, one each from Ellinwood, Great Bend and Hoisington, have walked through and are expected to have bids turned in by the noon deadline Friday, Aug. 12. The city will consider those bids and will offer recommendations at the Aug. 22 meeting.
Mitchell said the HOI Duplexes are now full, and work on a driveway at Fourth and Maple Streets is nearly complete. Habitat for Humanity also began work on its Sixth and Pine Streets build over the weekend.
United Way of Central Kansas awarded funds to four Hoisington non-profits: the Commission on Aging, Toys for Tots, the Hoisington Historical Society and the Hoisington Food Bank. On Monday, Aug. 15, UWCK’s Stuff the Bus will be at the Town and Country grocery store.
Other items of discussion and actions taken included:
• Approval of the consent agenda which included a cereal malt beverage consumption permit for the Kansas Heat Softball Teams for an end of season barbecue at Bicentennial Park Horseshoe Pit Shelter from 5-8 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 14 and a CMB consumption permit for the Hoisington Chamber of Commerce for Labor Day Weekend festivities, the demolition derby on Sept. 4, the street dances on Sept. 3 and 4, and the opening barbecue and beer garden.
The consent agenda also included the approval of minutes from several special meetings held since the previous meeting concerning discussion of the 2017 budget. On Aug. 1, the council determined that it would look into acquiring a pumper truck for the fire department from the Forestry Service and attempt to sell the old pumper. They also concluded that now is not the right time to build a new fire station. The police department also withdrew its request for a seventh officer. Hoisington residents will see a 6 percent increase in water, a 5 percent increase in sewer, and a 1 percent increase in the franchise fee. The mill levy has been stable since 2012.
• Two ordinances were considered. Ord. No. 1524 for adoption of the Standard Traffic Ordinance Code published by the League of Kansas Municipalities. The STO allows communities to incorporate current traffic laws with the passage of a single ordinance.
• Ord. No. 1525, the Uniform Public Offense Code, also from the LKM, allows the city to incorporate approximately 100 public offenses that can be adjudicated in municipal courts.
The 2017 budget hearing will be held on Aug. 22 at 7 p.m. in conjunction with the regularly scheduled council meeting.
