City Council - Regular Meeting

This council meeting will now come to order May the 5th at 6:30 p.m. Uh would you please stand for the pledge of allegiance and remain standing for the invocation given by Reverend Buddy Cook Wellington Nazarene Church. Pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Reverend, let's pray. Heavenly Father, we thank you this evening for this meeting and for those who are leading our community. We just pray your blessing upon them and ask Lord that you would just guide them and direct them in all the decisions that need to be made. Lord, we know that uh we would need to ask this evening for a little bit of rain. Lord, we would pray that it would come on this side of the interstate and not the other. We'd have enough that we need uh for this community. Lord, we are just thankful for this community, for the place that it holds in Kansas, for the place of the people that live here. We pray your blessing upon the community and upon this evening, this evening in Jesus name. Amen.

Amen. Thank you, Reverend. Appreciate it. Uh, want to remind council uh to get close to your mics so everybody can hear you. Sometimes the folks at home can't hear you. Okay. Uh, Kyle, can I get roll call? Oh, yes. Even closer. Closer. How's that? A little better. My sound man taking care of it. All right. Thank you. Kyle, can I get a roll call? Miss Antonich here. Mr. Elmore here. Miss Grace here. Mr. Haye here. Miss Lucas here. Mr. West Morland here.

And Mayor Sorya, I am also here. All right. Um, we have audience participation. Uh, Colin Hansen with KPPP, you are up, sir.

Well, thank you, uh, Mr. Mayor and members of the council. It's a pleasure to be with you tonight and I appreciate you uh allowing me a few minutes to visit with you a little bit about what's going on at at your electricity provider KP Energy. Uh I know there's there's uh some new faces that I've probably not had a chance to to meet yet. So just in terms of a quick introduction um in addition to serving electricity to the city of of Wellington, we we provide 100% of the electricity to 23 other cities uh in Kansas. We are what's referred to as a power pool. So all 100% of the electricity in Wellington and each of those other 23 cities is comes through our organization and by pooling we think we can bring some affordability and reliability and make uh make us stronger. Um altogether we represent 200 megawatts of power and a lot of our utilities tend to be uh located sort of in the south central region. And so our office is actually in sort of the more industrial area of Witto down by the down by the airport. Of the 24 cities, 11 of those members own and operate generation, including the city of Wellington. I can't emphasize enough how important that memberowned generation is to our success and to our our reliability and for the health of all all of our 24 cities. Uh we have we are um governed by a nine member board of directors and would tell you that you're very well represented at KPPP. Uh Jason Newberry's been on our board for a number of years and and just a couple years ago served as our our president. A little bit about me. Uh I've been at KP now for just over four years. Uh really enjoying the challenge of of this new aspect and and portion of my career. For 22 years before that, I was the executive director of Kansas Municipal Utilities, which is the statewide trade association for municipal electric and gas, water, wastewater. So, in one way or another, I've been trying to support and protect cities like Wellington for 20 over 26 years now. And before that, I

worked for the Iowa Association Municipal Utilities. Was an Iowa kid growing up. And so, my entire career has been about been about public power and and municipal utilities. Um, you know, it's it really is an exciting time, I think, for KBP right now. We've got a lot of very interesting projects in the works. Um, and I'll I'll mention just a couple of those. Um, but before I do that, you know, really the thing that we always try to make sure that we stay laser focused on are number one, first and foremost, affordability and being as cost- effective as we possibly can for for you and your citizens. Number two, reliability. And then number three, providing some some innovative solutions in terms of affordability. Uh one thing that I like to to get to uh announce to to uh our members is our cost of our actual cost of electricity provided to you in 2025 was actually 10 a.5% less than what the cost of electricity was to serve you in 2015. And I think if you could find just about any other product or service that not only has the price stayed flat but actually decreased over that 10-year period, it'd be pretty pretty difficult to do. And we've done that while transmission cost, which is something that we can't control, has gone up 60% during that same time timetable. So we again try to make sure that we stay, you know, very much laser focused on that affordability piece. Um, three quick updates. Uh, one, we've we've rolled out something called a generation repair fund. Again, getting back to how important the memberown generation is to us. Uh, and so I know I believe you guys have have seen some information about providing some some funding to the city of Wellington for some power plant repairs. Uh, probably the best place to cover that would be during um the the portion of the evening tonight where we're looking at the the proposed uh power purchase contract. can answer any questions that you might have about that at that point. And second

project I wanted to mention is our PACE solar project. I have to admit it's been a little bit frustrating for me. I would love to tell you that right now it's in the ground and generating electricity and providing that back to the city of Wellington. Uh we we ended up with about a I'd say roughly about a six-month delay due to an executive order that came out of Washington DC. Then uh some supply chain issues kind of push push us back a little bit. Um but I I think we're we're on track to to um really you'll really start seeing some action there over the next couple months. Uh just as a reminder, there's seven communities in in that project. 18 megawatts total. Wellington is five of those 18 megawatts or second largest array. Um and from a financial standpoint, it's just it's it's a really good product for us. If we can get everything to come together, we get a a a loan from the Rural Utility Service of the Department of Agriculture, 20% forgiveness right off the top of eligible for tax credits underneath that, and then we've also applied and and successfully um received indication that we'll get some low to moderate income um credits back to the city of Wellington as well. So, again, working hard to try to make sure we um look at that affordability piece. Um the the electrical interconnection down there is done. Uh we believe first and second week of June you'll actually start seeing some dirt work and fence go up. We've got mechanical bids that are out uh due back on May 11th. So mechanical work out there should probably start soon thereafter hopefully in in the June to July time frame. Uh last last project I'll mention is is capacity where we're constantly looking for for not only supporting our existing support our existing power plants and our existing capacity out there but but new capacity at the same time. And we recently purchased four uh 3 megawatt CAT

engines. Those are just diesel engines, not not nearly as sophisticated as as what you have in your power plant. uh but needed needed for peaking purposes and and ended up purchasing the those because they were available. It's very hard with what's going on right now in the industry with data centers and the buildout to find any generation. So found those found them at a low cost and they were they were available. went through an RFP process and and closed that a couple weeks ago. And so though we've got some generators that'll be going to the cities of Mulvane, Ellenwood, and Greensburg, which they will be paying a portion of those, which again kind of help to defer the overall cost back to cities like Wellington. So, uh I I don't want to keep droning on. There's, like I said, there's a lot of fun and exciting things I think that are going on at KBP right now. Happy to answer any questions that you have at the appropriate time, though. So,

yes, Jerry, go ahead. Uh, thank you, Mr. Hansen. Um, when do you guys anticipate the PACE uh array project is going to finish? Well, you know, we're hoping to get things uh energized, I would say, late fall. Late fall.

Late fall. Yeah. So, so, you know, part of the the thing that keeps me awake at night is we had to borrow a significant amount of money to to to fund the construction of those. and only once they are done and energized may we apply for the the R US loan, get the loan forgiveness and then get the tax credits to help us pay that back. So, um you know, we're doing everything that we possibly can to accelerate that hoping by the end of the year to have those seven energized. Questions from council. Okay. All right. Thank you very much. Appreciate it. Thank you very much.

Okay. Uh next we have the consent of agenda, approval of minutes, approval appropriations, receipt of of council correspondence. Move to approve. We have a motion in the second. All those in favor? All those opposed. Uh next we have reports of mayor and council. And I'll start with Councilwoman Antinich. Well, the only thing I have I think Jamie, didn't you come out between 12th and 13th? And look at those trees that were right by the street there. Yes.

The whole everybody that lives along almost everybody uses that alley to get to B Street. They asked me to say thank you to be able to come out of that alley and look down and be able to proceed onto B Street. Mhm. where you can see and you're not halfway out there. Yeah. And I noticed that the stumps got ground up and everything. He's used all that for mulch. He's working on clearing up some of the stuff on the sidewalk. So, he's pleased. Everybody on the alley right there is I appreciate that.

In pretty good shape. So, thank you for that. I I appreciate it. That's all I have. All right. Councilman. Yeah, I just wanted to thank uh Reverend Cook for the invitation today. Thank you, Mr. Hansen, for coming out, giving us update on what KP is doing in the the Pace Array project. I want to thank Zack Cooper. He's not here uh tonight, but the robotics contest at Cali was fantastic. Um saw Mr. Mayor out there and a couple other folks. It's great time. Kids had a great time and uh it was a busy day, wasn't it? So, yeah, it was it was good stuff. Um and I think that that's all I have this evening. All right, Councilwoman. Thanks.

I'd like to remind everyone that the library has passes that are free for most of them up to five people, a family, whatever. And they are for Tangana, for um I'm trying to think, exploration place, the zoo, the trains for tots type of a thing. This year we do not have botanica. We do also have the Cosmosphere in a few other places. So, if you're a patron of the library and you would like the passes and you're not a patron, go please sign up at the library and put your name either on the waiting list. The art museum usually you can get the pass right away. Some of the others like Tunganika because it's so expensive and it takes up to five people. There might be a waiting list, but please, please use them. We keep hearing nobody knows anything about it, so now you do.

Yeah. Mhm. All right, Councilman Hayes. Uh, appreciate the trees going in downtown. Uh, I think our downtown looks so much better with trees and I look forward to them um growing and and seeing what they do. Uh, can we take a look at a couple parks there at Woodlon and Lincoln and Hargus East? I mean, the weeds are about 3t tall there on the wood lawn. Uh it's you could play hide and seek in there. That's it. Councilwoman Lucas.

Um yeah, I just um just wanted to mention our parks. I drove through all of them and they are looking a little overgrown and unweed. Um, and just was hoping that we could get our crews out there to work on those or maybe get together some more efficient plans on maintaining those. Um, there are some struggles. And then there were some maintenance concerns. The bathrooms out at Warden Park. Um, the pictures I received weren't good. So, there are some struggles over the weekend out there. That's all I have.

Councilman West Morland. I don't have anything to say. Okay. Uh Jason, just want to thank your crew for getting out there and uh getting the lights fixed on field one and two. They they they did appreciate that. And uh getting back to Councilwoman Lucas's uh remarks on the restrooms, we we have had some more vandilation on those some of those. This didn't look like vandalism. Okay. Well, I'm just

I'm aware. Okay. Just want the public to know that last week or two weeks ago, I believe, somebody went in and trashed a lot of the restrooms and people were saying, "Well, why can't we take care of them every day?" Well, that kind, you know, it's again, it's constant, isn't it? It's constant. It is just a constant thing

and it only takes several people just just to mess it up for everybody else. So, anyhow, that's all I have. Um, next we'll go to reports of city officials. Jeff. Okay. So, you have a uh application for uh planning commission vacancy. When we did the annual appointments, there was still a vacancy for a member of the planning commission who resides in the city. We put that back out there. We only received one applicant, uh, Jennifer Hershey. She has served on the planning commission uh currently and before. Uh she is the only applicant under the rules that have been established by the council. If you only have one applicant for position, you can consider and make the appointment same night.

Need a move that we accept Jennifer Hershey to the planning commission. Second. Okay. Um Kyle, can I get a roll call, please? Miss Grace, yes. Mr. Haye, yes. Miss Lucas, yes. Mr. West Morland, yes. Miss Antinet, yes. Mr. Elmore, yes. So, six yes votes to appoint Jennifer Hershey to the um vacant position of the planning commission board. All right. Uh Jeff, we have a second screen closing.

Sure. This is the annual summer reading kickoff. Um, we normally get a closure request. It is 7th Street from Washington Jefferson. It would be on May 21st from 2 to 6 p.m. Move to approve. Second. We have a motion to second. Uh, all those in favor? I

Those opposed. All right. We have no public hearing. Uh, ordinance. Uh, the first resolution. uh a resolution authorizing the ex execution of power purchase contract between the city of Wellington, Kansas and KPPP Energy, a municipal energy agency for the purchase of electricity and we had Jason already up. Jason,

kind of tag team this one. Uh mayor, council, so this is a power purchase contract with KP Energy. Uh we've had a standing power purchase contract with KPPP. The main change that this is doing is amending that contract to allow us to access that generation repair fund which Colin mentioned and it allows us to structure the repayment of that generation repair fund uh through our monthly billing. Uh does not extend the contract, does not do any of that. This just allows us access to those funds and changes the way that we repay those funds back to KPPP. Little highlight on that. The generation repair fund, which as Colin mentioned is fairly new to KPPP, I think we are probably the first or second.

We're the second ones to access that. Uh I kind of Scott Glaze and I kind of got that rolling when we were president and kind of pushed that through and it's kind of finally came about. It's going to be a great thing uh through KPPP. But this repair, off the top of my head, I think is going to be like $26,000. Uh $212,000. Uh KPPP is going to cover $106,000 of that with a grant. We don't pay that back. And then the other portion of it is going to be covered through this rate repayment, monthly repayment. So great thing for the city of Wellington. And this is also keeping those assets running for KPPP, which helps the pool as a whole. So,

any questions from councilman? Move to approve. Second. We have a motion and a second. Um, Kyle, can I get a roll call? Elmore? Yes. Miss Grace? Yes. Mr. Haye? Yes. Miss Lucas? Yes. Mr. West Morland? Yes. Miss Antonich? Yes. Okay. So, it's six yes votes in favor of resolution authorizing the power purchase contract between the city of Wellington and KPB. Do we have a number on that or anything? It's okay. Let's go with 6446. Let's go with it. 6 what?

6446. Okay. 6446. Poor Kyle.

Thank you, Kyle. Uh, second resolution, a resolution authorizing the city manager to execute an agreement with Online Construction Incorporated of Mary'sville, Kansas for the abatement of nuisance conditions at 1310 Northb Street in the amount of $19,750. Jamie or Jeff? So staff was directed to go ahead and bid these as part of the resolution giving the owners of the properties 10 days to clean the properties up. Uh at the previous council meeting we submitted the bids out, received one back. Um both of them were from the same company uh for the same amount of money. I also have actually the mayor received some information from a interested party who does not want to submit a bid but would like to uh make an alternate proposal but the the proposal is for inline construction for 19750 19 Yeah50.

Do we have I'll see if I can get them on. Okay. Yeah. Would that be per house or both houses together? Per. I'd like to move that we table this um because I I have a gentleman on the floor so you guys can hear. I like do a little discussion on it first.

Hi Dave. Jeff Porter and the city council of Wellington. So, uh, hey. Hi. Can we turn the volume up? Yeah. Can you all Can y'all hear me? Okay. We're getting there. What is that mic on? They're both on. Yeah. Okay. He's on. Yep. So, uh, council would be interested in hearing what you would like to propose in lie of us, uh, right? Issuing a contract. Okay. Um, great. I appreciate the time you're giving me. Um, can you all hear me? Okay. Yes. Yes.

Okay. So, what I propose is, first of all, this isn't the first time I've done this. I've done it a couple times, but what I'm proposing is, and I talked to uh Russell directly, that I come in and assist him in deciding how to get rid of everything. um you know, he feels like it has worth. Some of it does, some of it doesn't, and he agreed to let me help him make those decisions. This is something that can happen rapidly. Um there's trash, obviously, construction trash. Uh when I looked, there was no what I call typical like restaurant trash or anything like that, which is a which is good. So, there wasn't any food trash. it was just junk and and trash and metal scrap uh and old wood and pallets, things like that. So, those were easily gotten rid of. Um, so anyway, I told him I'd only help him if he allowed me to do the front and the back. I want to do the whole thing. I'm not interested in just doing the front, you know, to appease anybody. I want to take care of the problem. I think he just got in over his head. think he thinks he's doing something to make money, which he is. Uh, and it just got out of hand. So, I'm proposing cleaning it up. I I need a couple things from you guys to help make that happen and and feel free to ask questions, but uh I would like if it's possible for you guys to give me a goal to shoot for. In other words, I understand there's regulations and probably some health regulations and some city statutes. If I could have a brief synopsis of what you're looking for because I haven't really seen that, that would be nice. I kind of know already what you're looking for because I've done it. Um, number one. Number

two, I would like free trash if I could the other places. Uh, one allowed me to bring as much as I needed to the dump and I had to bring it myself, which I don't prefer. The other provided a dumpster and we did it that way. But there's more than one way to to get trash out of there. And then I just need a little bit of time because I don't want to go in and just massively get rid of everything, throw everything away because that is very difficult for someone like Russell to deal with because he feels like he has things that are worth some money and he actually does. So, I'm willing to facil facilitate all this. I'm willing to sit there and make decisions. Uh my wife's going to help. She's done this before. And I'm also willing to if he slips back a little bit and I've told him this, he can call me. You guys can call me because he seems to respond to me very well. Um I live in Witchah. I don't live in your town. I don't know anybody personally. I've talked to a few people at the city now and I've talked to Russell and the bottom line is I just want everybody to win here. And so it's just going to be an ongoing conversation. It will not happen in 3 days. That's not going to happen. I think most of the trash will be gone in a day or two. Probably all the trash for the most part. And we'll have whittleled it down to some piles that he can take to the dump. He has already made three loads. I went by Sunday. He had definitely made progress from the Wednesday before when I was there. He's I talked to him today. He said he's taken a couple more loads of metal. So, that's kind of where we're at. I just

want to facilitate help get this all cleaned up and uh everybody be happy. Now, I will say it it's probably going to take a few weeks to get this done. It's not going to be because I work so I can't do this every day, but Russell can work on it every day. So, so that's kind of what I'm laying out. If I left something out, uh Jeff you know, remind me. But that's kind of where I'm at. So, and oh, by the way, no charge. I'm not going to charge anything for this. So,

council, uh, could you, Dave, appreciate the, uh, the offer. Uh, this is Councilman Elmore. Could you uh, give us a time frame? I I know you said a few weeks. Are we talking eight weeks? We talking four weeks, couple weeks? What What do you think the need?

I think so. So, I think if you allow me trash, like some way to get rid of trash this coming weekend, which would only be Saturday. I'm not working my wife on Mother's Day. And then the next weekend, if we could have those two weekends for trash assistance, I think most of the metals to be gone. I think we're talking a couple weeks, honestly, because if I don't feel like he's moving fast enough, I'll get a dumpster in there. we'll get some help and we'll just throw it all in the dumpster. I'm hoping that's not what has to happen because then he really doesn't make any money on that stuff. But that's an option. I just don't want to take that option if I don't have to. So So 30 days is feasible.

Three weeks at the outside, but I'm hoping to So you would say 30 days is feasible to uh complete the project projects I should say. Talk a little closer to the Yes. Sorry. Uh 30 days is feasible. 30 days. I can hear you now better. Yeah. So, Councilman Elmore asked if 30 days would be a feasible time frame.

30 days would be Yeah, that that would be fine. I think I mean I I you know, I want this to be done. Um so, yes. Um I just can't imagine it'll take longer than that. I've seen the size of the yard. Um, I would like two or three weeks. Now, keep in mind there's he's still going to have a trailer back in his backyard. He's still going to have stuff like everybody else does. Uh, there won't be any trash. Um, but it'll still have some things because everyone does in their backyard. It's not going to be completely clean, so it's just grass. Uh, but I think it'll be a reasonable His fence probably won't be fixed, I'll be honest with you, cuz he doesn't have the money. But anything that's trash, if the fence is trash, we can haul it off. Those kind of things.

Uh, when you say a few things, we I don't want to go through a few things and then have to go through this whole process again. I think he needs to clean it up. Clean it up. Grass showing. If he has a trailer back there, fine. But he cannot be a scrap yard. He can't eat any scrap. If he wants to put scrap on his trailer, fine. But I think uh other than that, he needs to clean it up. Now, I guess also a question, how did you get involved in this?

So, how I got involved was I saw the city had some bids out. Okay. And I've done this work before, but when there's a living person involved, which I didn't know if there was or wasn't, I just drove by to see so I could bid. And then I saw, and I don't do this for a living, by the way. But anyway, I make extra money like anybody else. Uh, I saw this man there. He weighed me down and I started talking to him. He said, "Oh, no. I'm the owner." And so that's the only way I got involved. Um because if it was no owner, if they had passed on or whatever, I would have just put in a bid probably. So So you're going to make some money off the scrap metal. I'm not going to make a penny off of

Not a penny? No, nothing. You're just doing this out of your kindness of your heart. Uh well, I don't know if it's the kindness of my heart, but the Lord compels me to do things. Okay. And I solve problems for a living. This is the problem. That's my gift. So, I'm using it. That's that's the best answer I can give you. But I will not make I won't accept a penny from anybody. I won't take anything from anybody. I don't know. We thank you for that. Yes.

For cleaning helping to clean it up and and if it happens again, we will keep a close eye on it. Um that you will be back coaching the owner to not let this happen again. Yes. Thank you for volunteering me, John. Yeah, I'm happy to do that. And it doesn't have to be this guy. I don't know him any better than I know any of you. It can be another person. And you know, in your town, you probably have more than one. So, what is it you need from the city? It was free dump. And what was the other one? I'm sorry, it's really hard to hear. I

Sorry. He councilman West Morren has asked what aside from free dumping would you need from the city to facilitate your project here? Okay. I would like the free dumping and then I would like um just kind of a a a set of goals uh you know what you're expecting because right now you know I just want to know like the ordinances or some simple explanation of what you expectations I guess.

Okay. All right. Thank you. in written, you know, if that could be written down. We'd like to see this. You know, it it can be very simple. It doesn't have to be complex, but you know what good looks like to you so I know what good looks like to you.

Then you probably need to get a hold of code enforcement and talk to Jamie and say what's going to be good and what's not going to be good. So, I'm going to go ahead and and say that because of the way this ordinance and statutes are written, that is incumbent on the council to determine and put into a resolution. So, you really need to communicate what your expectations are to staff so that we can implement on that. That's kind of exterior to us. This is you guys acting as a quasi judicial body, not staff making a determination.

So, do I mean do you want us to go list the items? I mean, personally go over there. I mean, what I mean, I I just said it it needs to be cleaned up where there's grass showing. I mean, if he wants to keep some scrap metal on a trailer in the back of a pickup, fine. But that would be my expectations cuz this has been going on years and I think he might resort back to what he's been doing before. That's my expectations. as a policy body to lay that out. How many people are willing I mean how many people do you have lined up to help with this just besides yourself and Mr. Reigns?

Well, is that if that's a question for me right now me and my wife which we've done this by ourselves before. Um and I can probably call in some other friends and family. That's typically how we do it. Um uh Mr. Reigns I think has some family that's possibly available, but that's it at this point. Well, I see Stacy back there saying that she's going to be helping.

Okay. Yes. Well, my expectations are I I need to see a positive cleanup out of there. Um, and it sounds like that that's your goal, too, to get this cleaned up without, you know, Mr. Reigns having, you know, a a a bad issue over this. I understand what complex pain and stuff can do when, you know, but the neighbors need to be satisfied with that. And and I agree with Mr. Haye. If there's a trailer, he can put things in to get it up out of the yard where it can be mowed properly. Any trees that are growing up can be cut and make it look civilized. Um I'm I go by there a lot and that's my expectation. I'm council member Cindy Antonich and that's my expectation to be able to mow and and literally see grass and some good progress. I don't have a problem with 30 days.

Jamie, where have you been by there? I mean, have you seen a lot of Yes, I went by there Friday when I took these pictures and submitted them in the agenda, and I estimated he was about 45% at the time, but I know he's been working. And, you know, in my opinion, he's made pretty good progress that I thought he would,

but he's he's in the front yard is you can see the dirt, you can see the yard, and most of it was still on the sides of the house, and most of it was in the rear yard. But he was out there working at the time when I went went by and I visited with him a little bit. So, you know, I I don't have any any hardship grant him a little more time. I think he's earned it. He's he's at least made some made some progress more than what I again what I thought he would make at this point. I went by today and it it looks different. Completely different looking.

It looks different. So my question for the council is what what are your expectations just like what Jeff was asking. I mean we're going to have to set something down if it's I mean it's going it's going to have to be for everybody.

My expectations are combination one trailer in the back for his metal. Absolutely nothing else in the yard. No trash. No metal. Nothing. And so we can cut the grass, we can get the trees down and everything else because if we my opinion, if we give him a little leeway, it's going to happen all over again. So, I'm willing to give him one trailer for his his work, Mr. Mayor. Yes,

that would be I would agree with the rest of the council here's trailer with stuff in it. Um, and that would be it. May I Mr. Mayor? Yes. I mean, I agree essentially with all of that. My concern would be, do we have the authority to restrict a a trailer on one citizen with other citizens that may have multiple storage units in their backyard? I mean, that feels kind of restrictive, like we're maybe encroaching on some rights there. Good point.

Yeah. So, here's how I would respond to that is you are considering a nuisance. This is a nuisance and this is how we get to a resolution. If you are trying to apply the standard of a nuisance resolution to somebody else's property that doesn't have a nuisance case on it, we're talking two different things. So, I mean, basically, because you were acting as basically a judicial body here, you were saying the remedy to this nuisance is to clear the property and you allowed one trailer of stuff. Mhm.

And really the only way that you are going to have anybody tell us any differently is if he takes us to court because you are acting as a judicial body essentially in this thing. I mean this is why frankly this is why when you guys start talking about properties up there during council comments I ask you to stop because you are the stopping point. Well, you are making it. I don't want you looking as you prejudge things. So, if if that is your determination to how to resolve the nuisance,

that's that's it. Now, if you're worried about trying to say Jim Bob who lives nine streets over, has two trailers of stuff. Why is it fair that he gets two trailers of stuff and he only gets one if there's not an active nuisance case on it? We're not talking the same thing.

Okay. So that's I guess what I'm wanting clarification on to to start. I can say I probably limit my vocalization of properties in the community far more than others sitting up here. And this property I have not spoken very much of if at all um publicly. And I I just want to ensure that our basic code enforcement that we utilize when these properties are identified that we are not over exceeding that. Um to me a storage trailer in the backyard to to stay well you can only have one feels like an encroachment in my view. I obviously along with everybody else would love to see that property cleaned up for the health and benefit of not only the neighbors but also the individual that utilizes that property. that's would probably bring a lot of stress off of their shoulders. Um, but beyond saying so we can see the grass and its mowed, I just hesitate to put restrictions on storage containers in in the limit, that's beyond what we are putting on our community as a whole. Whether or not it is technically a nuisance property right now or not would be my concern. I would point out that in the past and I think you were either being considered for a council appointment or right on the council, but there was a case where the council dismissed it because the person had put it in neat piles

and staff kind of articulated we weren't necessarily favorable to that, but that was what the council decided the resolution was. So, at the end of the day, you guys decide the resolution.

Sorry. Um, so just I I'm sorry to ask you to explain this in a different way. So the way I'm taking your statement, Jeff, is that say we say one trailer, you can mow the grass, um, no spots for vermin to hide. They meet that condition, the nuisance is abated. We say the nuisance is abated. Then at that point, that no longer applies because we're not setting that as an ongoing um requirement. that we're setting that as the requirement to abate the current nuisance. Once that nuisance is abated, then we don't we're not encroaching on anybody because the same rules apply because the nuisance has been abated. Correct. Correct. And this is probably the third case we've had on this property,

right? In three years. So, so, but we're talking one nuisance. We're talking one nuisance. Yes. So, yeah. So, that helps that clarifies it better for you. Thank you. Yeah. So, David, my question to you is, how long do you think it'll take him to get rid of all the metal? You still there? I'm sorry. Was that for me? Yeah. Sorry. How long do you think it will take him or to get rid of all the metal? How long to get all

How long do you think it take to get rid of the metal? It's going to be a couple weeks. Okay.

Probably in total because some because I'm I've got to talk to him about what tra is trash and what is scrap metal cuz he's still got a little bit of that that he needs clarification. But that's why I'll be there. That's why I'll talk to him and that's why I'll make that happen. uh it it goes pretty quick once he he'll get to understand, you know, why I'm making those decisions. And so, and he just has to take a few loads. If he can't take it fast enough, I'll get a dumpster. So, I I think two weeks, most of that metal pile should be gone, if not all. He might have some on a trailer.

Okay. council. I'd like to see I would like the council to make a decision, but I would like to see if Mr. Kurts wants to come in and help Russell uh get it cleaned up. I think 30 days. Yeah. And then 30 days. I don't have a problem with that at all. Jamie, you can check on it. Just maybe letting us know also how how it's going. We're not telling you what you what he has to get rid of, but if you know, report back to us. Sure. Like maybe at the next meeting say, "Hey, it's getting there." So, okay. You need a motion? Yeah.

Then, do we table this till we get another resolution? I've got an additional now. Excuse me. Oh, sorry. Um my request be that um regardless of what we do with these uh resolutions two and three that we solicit additional bids to other companies that we didn't solicit because I feel that these bids are a bit excessive for the work that they're uh that they're going to do and I don't think it's a good financial decision for the city.

I agree. So, I would actually say if that's the direction, you need to reject the bids and instruct us to rebid because um that's not necessarily fair now that we've got a bid so that everybody knows what the biders bid. Yeah. No, fair enough. So, we need to reject the bid first or do you want to give it the 30-day thing first? So, here's what I will here here's what I will say. The resolution that you passed declaring this a nuisance and directing staff to bid this out said it was subject to any additional time granted by the governing body.

So if this is the will of the governing body to grant additional time. Okay, that that can be done just you know you might want to take some formal action just so we can memorialize it that you agree to do 30 days. Um but then we would need to take each of these and reject them because they written as two separate because these are two separate properties, right? Um and instruct us to rebid them because once again, I don't think it's necessarily fair that this bidder's known results is out there so everybody can try to come in and undercut them. I understand that it's it's a pricey thing, but you know, it's not fair to them.

Yeah. And then if when they clean it all up with Dave's help and and Stacy and that um we can reject those bids at that point too after the 30 days if it's totally cleaned up we won't need anybody else to come in. Well so what I would say is how about if when we give you the date at the next meeting if you think enough progress has been made we don't bid. We we don't just we don't put it out to bid. Okay, like that. That sounds good. Cuz if you cancel too many bids, people I don't want to cancel. Okay. I'd like to make a motion then that we extended 30 days and have an evaluation done at the next council meeting.

Second. We have a motion in the second. Kyle, can I get a roll call vote, please?

Mr. Mr. Haye. Yes. Miss Lucas. Yes. Mr. West Morland. Yes. Miss Antinet. Yes. Mr. Elmore. Yes. Okay. So, we have a mo. Yes. Yes. Miss Grace. Sorry. We have we're going to extend for 30 days for additional cleanup to be done. And after that 30 days, then we will decide on bid process. But we'll need a report. We'll need an update at the next council meeting. Yeah. Which is So, and thank you, David. David, are you still there? David,

thank you, David. Yes, you're you're welcome. And thank you. Thank you, David. Appreciate it. Thanks. Have a good evening. Thank you. We'll get with you on other things, Mr. Mr. Curs. Curbs. Oh, yeah. Okay. No problem. Uh Jeff has my email. So, and you guys got my phone number. So, I thank you very much and I'll I'll let you proceed with your business. Thanks so much. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, Stacy. Uh Jeff Jerry just brought something up. Do we need to vote on the free uh dumping?

It's a lot cheaper. We will work on that solution at the staff level. Um but if that's the direction you want us to go, we'll figure out a way. Um he likes to site a dumpster. We really don't have rolloffs, so we'll figure something out. But yeah, thank you. Thank you, council. I do appreciate it. Uh, next resolution. A resolution authorizing the city manager to execute an agreement with Inline Construction Incorporated of Mary'sville, Kansas for the abatement of nuisance conditions at the 1312 North B Street in the amount of $19,750. I make a motion to reject the bid.

Second. Oh, did we reject it? Well, you skipped to 1312. Uh, 1310 was actually the first one. Okay. 30 days. Say, "No, no, no. This is rejecting bids." Oh, the bids. Okay. This is the bids. I thought we weren't going to do that. We're rejecting the bids. Okay. I didn't. Do I need to change something, Jeff? I'll be happy to. You know what? We'll just do 1312 and we'll come back and do 1310. I think How about if we just reject both of them? I already made the motion. It was seconded. So yeah, there's already motion on the floor. So we have to go with that. Okay. Got it.

So what do we want to do here now? We're rejecting the second one. 1312. 1312. Okay. I Kyle, I need a I need a roll call, please. Mr. Hay, yes. Miss Lucas, yes. Mr. West Morland, yes. Miss Antonich, yes. Mr. Elmore, yes. Miss Grace, yes. Okay. So that is rejecting the bid at 1312 Northb from the inline construction. That resolution number resolution number. We're just rejecting it. You're right. Okay.

Okay. So, let me go back to resolution authorizing the city manager to execute an agreement with Inline Construction Incorporated of Mary'sville, Kansas for the abate mate abatement of nuisance conditions at 1310 North B Street in the amount of $19,750. I move that we reject the bid for 1310 North. Second it. We have a motion in the second. Kyle, can I get a roll call vote, please? Miss Grace. Yes, Mr. Haye. Yes, Miss Lucas. Yes, Mr. West Morland. Yes, Miss Antonet. Yes, Mr. Elmore. Yes.

So, six yes votes to reject that resolution as well. All right. Wow. Okay. Fourth resolution. A resolution authorizing the city manager to execute an agreement with professional engineering consultants PA Witchaw Kansas for the design bidding and construction of administration fees in the amount of 52,500. Jason guess handle this. So um are you all right? Do we need a call? Do we need to call you ma'am?

You can't breathe water, Jason. So um This is a a bid to do the design uh bid and contract or construction administration on a line rehab project on Olive Street. This is a line that we're touching a lot uh because it's losing its integrity. There's also some issues with the compliance with the lead and copper rules on this particular line. This will start the project. This was a capital improvement that was improved a project that was improved during the 2026 budget process. A question, Mr. Mayor. Yes.

I I know it just seems to me the engineering bids are so high and I I know a lot of reasons why, but do you think PC gets too comfortable over the years from your standpoint that they say, "Oh, well, City Wellington, they're just going to use us all the time. We're So, we're going to maybe raise our rates cuz we don't go out to bid.

No. Um, that's a short answer. If you want my longer answer, anytime you're dealing with a multi-disiplinary engineering firm, they generally have to, especially in the bidding on KOT projects and bidden on on projects that are getting federal or state funding, they have to basically submit their costs and you have to get third party review of those costs. And when we've done that on other projects, their costs have been found to be within the marketplace. I the other thing I'm going to point out is that all of the engineering firms are getting busier because if you have kept pace with what's going on, uh the KS, which I know you're very familiar with from an enforcement standpoint on the fire service side, the Ks have changed such that it used to be if you only did a if you did a mile or more of line replacement or new line, you had to get stamped plans and permits from KDHE. Uh now they have actually applied it to any project. You don't have to get the permit if it's under a mile, but you still have to get all the KDH review. So engineering firms are getting a lot busier because now we're have every city's having to submit all of these projects for review. So um it's not going to go away. And that's part of the reason why I mean when they first gave me that timeline, it's kind of long. But the problem is if we're going to have to design and submit and then have to potentially resubmit if they make any comments that they want changes. Yeah, this is unfortunately this is the new normal. that that went through I think in the 24th session and all of the K stuff got promulgated and approved about February

of this year. Okay. Thank you. All right. Move to approve. Second. We have a motion and a second. Uh Kyle, can I get a roll call? Mr. Hillmore? Yes. Miss Grace? Yes. Mr. Haye? Yes. Miss Lucas? Yes. Mr. Worland, yes. Miss Antinich, yes. So, six affirmative votes for resolution um add one

6447 to um execute an agreement with for professional engineering consultants for the Olive Street uh waterline project. Thank you, Kyle. Uh, go. We have no study items. Jerry?

Yes. Uh, we're going to move into executive session. So, I move that we recess into executive session to discuss uh responses to an inquiry from an administrative or judicial body in order to prevent prejudice to the governing body's position, preserve attorney client privilege, and to provide direction of staff regarding the governing body's answers. The justification for the executive session by state statute is consultation with an attorney for the public body or agency which would be deemed to privileged in the attorney client relationship uh statute 754319B2. The session shall include the council, mayor, city attorney and city manager and we will reconvene in open session in the council chambers at 7:40 in 15 minutes. All those in favor?

I. All those opposed. We are going into executive session.

Okay. The council re uh revenes in uh in open session at 7:40. Uh the council took no binding action during the executive session. I make a motion to adjurnn. Second. We have a motion to adjourn. All those in favor. All those opposed. We are journed.