City Manager reports to Council on ice outage

The El Dorado Springs City Council met in regular session Monday, February 18, 2019, at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall.

Mayor Brad True led the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance.

Members present were Mayor Brad True, Mayor Pro Tem Randy Bland and Council Members Nick Bland, Cory Gayman  and Jim Luster.

Personnel present were Bruce Rogers, City Manager and Kandi Baldwin, City Clerk.

No one from the media was present.

On a motion by Luster, seconded by Gayman, the Council voted unanimously to approve the minutes of the January 21, 2019 meeting.

Rogers presented the Financial report for October, November and December in reports or written communications.

No one spoke during the public forum.

During the City Manager report, Rogers mentioned he received a letter from Compass Health (formerly Pathways), who currently rent two buildings from the City, requesting that their lease be changed to a month-to-month instead of an annual lease for 107 W Broadway.  They have outgrown the buildings and are in need of more space.  R Bland asked if there is another property owned by the city that was big enough to rent and Rogers stated there was not.  Gayman asked if it is just office space they were needing and Rogers said yes.  The Council was opposed to the month-to-month lease, but was willing to go to a 6 month lease when the current lease expires.  Rogers will make contact with Compass Health.

Rogers informed the Council Leica Geosystems, has contacted him about placing a GPS antennae on a building here in town.  It is an 80 inch antennae, and does not broadcast, which is used by surveyors.  The company would pay $1500 per year to the City for the use of a building.  Rogers stated he is going to check around to other towns and see if they have used this company and will report back to the Council.

Rogers mentioned the City is accepting applications for Budget Billing thru March 11th.  This program is 12 level payments, and is based on the yearly usage at a property.  The qualifications are, have a good payment history with not more than two (2) late payment penalties, not been shut off for non-payment and not written any insufficient/return checks in the last twelve (12) months.  A customer must be a resident of that property for at least one year.  Contact City Hall for an application and all other terms.

Rogers presented the Council with four proposals from qualified Airport Consultants to resurface the runway.  No interviews are required because all four consultants are pre-qualified from the State.  Jerry Shilt, Airport Manager, reviewed the proposals and gave his opinions.  The Council will also review the proposals and make a decision.

Rogers stated there was a Basketball tournament held at the School, hosted by the Community Center this past Sunday and went over the financials and the net profit was down over last year, due to having to cancel Friday nights games due to the weather.  The net profit for just the one day was $1,347.60.

Rogers informed the Council that the auditors will be present at the next meeting, March 4, to present the audit.

Rogers discussed the power outage and stated half of the services in town were out.  The circuit that feeds the nursing home is located beside Housh Dentistry, and is not easily accessed.  Bob Floyd assisted the City crews by bringing his lift to help reach the lines.  The City crews went in around 10 p. m. Wednesday, Feb. 6, and worked until around midnight on February 7th.  Well over 24 hours, then came back in Friday morning at 7 and worked till 6:30 p.m., and back in again and worked 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday.

A crew from Independence was called in for mutual-aid assistance. They sent a crew of 5 to help.  Between the City crews and the help from Independence, there was well over 300 man hours getting all electricity restored.  Rogers stressed to the Council the importance of tree trimming, as a number of the outages were caused my limbs on the lines.  Gayman asked how to change this in the future and Rogers stated we just need more of it.

Luster commented how our Utility crews and other departments that helped out did an outstanding job.  He received a phone call and they were very complimentary of the City crews.  Luster also wanted to thank Bob Floyd for the extra service he provided, also the Independence crew and the City crews.

During the Mayor/Council report, True signed a Proclamation for the Ronald McDonald House.