Harrisburg City Council met Sept. 21.
Here is the minutes provided by the Council:
Mayor John McPeek presided over the meeting with Commissioners Natalie Miller, Beth Montfort, Richard Harper and Mike Weirauch answering roll call.
Pastor Jerry Wells from the Dorrisville Social Brethren Church led the group in prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance.
Mayor McPeek stated: I would like to address a lie that is currently circulating around the City of Harrisburg. At no time, never, has the City entertained, received, solicited or considered any offer from American Water, or any other private company, to sell our Water & Sewer system. I consider our Water & Sewer Department, our employees and the infrastructure to be a valuable asset. Anyone who hears this lie, please consider the source, as that person is misinformed.
Commissioner Harper made a motion to approve the following items under the Consent Agenda:
1. Minutes of the Regular Meeting of September 7, 2017.
2. Accepted the Circuit Clerk’s Court Fee disbursement in the amount of $1,397.20.
3. Bill from Brown & Roberts for St. Mary’s Drive design in the amount of $33,000.00 to be taken out of MFT.
4. Bill from SI Workwear for Gott in the amount of $20.99 to be taken out of Council Contingency.
5. Bill from Siegels Uniforms for Gott in the amount of $1,732.11 to be taken out of Council Contingency.
6. Bill from Siegels Uniforms for Gott in the amount of $54.00 to be taken out of Council Contingency.
7. Bill from Siegels Uniforms for Gott in the amount of $185.98 to be taken out of Council Contingency.
8. Bill from Ray O’Herron for Gott in the amount of $215.64 to be taken out of Council Contingency.
9. Bill from Ray O’Herron for Gott in the amount of $30.00 to be taken out of Council Contingency.
10. Bill from Ray O’Herron for Gott in the amount of $60.56 to be taken out of Council Contingency. Commissioner Montfort seconded. By roll call vote, all voted yes. Motion carried.
Fire Chief John Gunning reminded Council about the proposal from McClure Engineering for Phase I and Phase II assessment of the old Junior High. He stated Phase I was an onsite survey without any staff studies. Phase II involved sampling and final recommendations to comply with EPA requirements. He stated the total cost was estimated to be $13,500.00. However, the information would be necessary for the City to decide how best to handle the property. Commissioner Montfort asked where the money would come from for that expense. Treasurer Linda George stated it would be out of the Dangerous Buildings line item. Council decided to table the issue.
Attorney Todd Bittle stated an Ordinance had been passed to sell the Eclipse Banners for a minimum of $100.00 each. Mayor McPeek opened a bid from Roxanna Nicholes in the amount of $125.00. Commissioner Harper moved to accept that bid. Commissioner Montfort seconded. By roll call vote, all voted yes. Motion carried.
Mayor McPeek stated the other four banners would remain available for bids.
Attorney Bittle stated there was a Liberty/Ledford water purchase contract in Council’s packet. Commissioner Harper moved to accept the contract. Commissioner Montfort stated she had some questions, one of which was why is the contract was for 20 years and then renewed for another 20 years. Mayor McPeek stated that was an option. Commissioner Montfort questioned why the rate was being dropped from $4.38 to $3.51 and wondered if the other water districts would expect the same things. Mayor McPeek stated he was going to meet with them. Commissioner Montfort asked about the people of Harrisburg. Mayor McPeek stated the City did not raise their rate this last time. He stated that Saline Valley was trying to take the City’s customer and this contract would mean they would remain the City’s customers. Commissioner Montfort stated they cannot take the customer. Commissioner Montfort stated she understood Saline Valley would have to install a pump station that would cost Liberty/Ledford 1⁄2 million dollars. She continued that the City would be losing $1,800.00 a month. Mayor McPeek stated that, if Saline Valley took liberty/Ledford as a direct customer, the City would be losing $9,000.00 a month. Commissioner Montfort stated that, if she were Muddy, she would be upset if you were lowering Liberty/Ledford’s rate and not theirs. Attorney Bittle stated that Muddy signed a 40 year contract. Commissioner Montfort stated it did not seem fair to keep dropping rates. Attorney Bittle stated the proposed contract the City received from Saline Valley asked the City to give up Liberty/Ledford completely so he believed a lower percentage of profit was better that a zero percent of profit plus Saline Valley asked for a free right of way through the center of town. Commissioner Montfort stated the City has not negotiated that contract. Attorney Bittle stated they won’t negotiate and the City could lose big in that but this contract was guaranteeing the City a customer.
Commissioner Montfort stated she did not feel like she had enough information or time to really look at the contract since she just received it last night. Commissioner Weirauch wanted to clarify that if Liberty/Ledford bought directly from Saline Valley, they would have to build a pump station. Superintendent Hefner stated he assumed they would. Superintendent Hefner stated that Saline Valley is giving the City a 22¢ as a pass through rate but Liberty/Ledford is offering 59¢. He stated the City’s longtime partner is undercutting and negotiated with one of the City’s customers which is in violation of the contract. Superintendent Hefner stated that Liberty/Ledford did the right thing for their customers by setting up competition. Commissioner Weirauch asked Superintendent Hefner if Liberty/Ledford had enough customers or would be able to raise their rates enough to pay for a 1⁄2 million dollar pump station. Superintendent Hefner stated he did not know their business but apparently Saline Valley thinks they do or Saline Valley would not be suing the City to take its customer.
Commissioner Harper restated his motion to accept the Liberty/Ledford Water Contract. Mayor McPeek seconded. By roll call vote, Commissioners Miller, Harper and Mayor McPeek voted yes. Commissioners Montfort and Weirauch voted no. Motion carried.
Attorney Bittle presented the Ordinance to complete the sale of several pieces of property that Council accepted bids on at the last meeting. Commissioner Harper moved to pass Ordinance 1739 an Ordinance Authorizing the Sale of Certain Surplus Real Estate Owned by the City of Harrisburg. Commissioner Miller seconded. By roll call vote, all voted yes. Motion carried.
Mayor McPeek stated the Liberty Utilities contract was for 20,000 CCF of free natural gas and for a term of 20 years. Commissioner Harper moved to pass Ordinance 1740 subject to the following change to Article II Paragraph C: “Grantee shall provide free natural gas to the buildings housing City Hall and public safety, i.e. these buildings will not receive a bill for natural gas. (He noted those buildings currently do not receive a bill for natural gas.). The facility charge and any other volumetric charges are waived by Grantor during the term of this franchise.” Commissioner Harper stated the City previously had free gas with no caps for City Hall which included the Fire Department when it was located downstairs and then when it moved to its current location, so all he was asking for was the same thing. Commissioner Montfort asked if this had been negotiated. Commissioner Harper responded that it had been negotiated and they put in that there was a cap of 20,000 CCF and his language removes their cap. Commissioner Miller seconded. By roll call vote, all voted yes. Motion carried.
Commissioner Miller state the Leaf and Limb pickup will begin October 16.
Commissioner Miller stated the Fall Clean Up will be October 7 thru October 14, not Sunday, from 7:30 am to 2:30 pm. She read the restrictions and contact numbers.
Commissioner Montfort announced that Trick or Treat will be Tuesday, October 31 from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm.
Commissioner Montfort announced the video gaming numbers for August.
Commissioner Montfort stated there were two Police Officers in training.
Commissioner Montfort asked Fire Chief Gunning to clarify the ticket issuing procedure and how the unpaid tickets were to be processed. Chief Gunning stated his recommendation was that any unpaid tickets that were in the Clerk’s office after the 30 day time limit be turned over to Attorney Bittle for prosecution. Mayor McPeek stated that it was time to set an example because people thought the tickets were funny and not paying them. Mayor McPeek stated that when a ticket was issued the receiver should be told there will be legal action taken if they don’t pay it.
Chief Gunning asked Council to authorize the City Clerk to endorse the insurance check for demolition at 116 West McHaney pending completion of the demolition. Commissioner Montfort moved that authorization be given. Commissioner Weirauch seconded. By roll call vote, all voted yes. Motion carried.
Chief Gunning asked Council to authorize Attorney Bittle to proceed with a Petition for Demolition at 322 West Elm because he was not getting cooperation from the owner. Commissioner Montfort moved to authorize Attorney Bittle to proceed with a Petition for Demolition at 322 West Elm. Commissioner Weirauch seconded. By roll call vote, all voted yes. Motion carried.
Mayor McPeek thanked Chief Gunning for the work he is doing to get some of the dangerous buildings torn down.
Commissioner Weirauch stated the Lake easement in the packets was for a waterline across City property at the Lake to private property. He stated this had been done previously for another individual. Commissioner Weirauch moved to allow Gene Gibbons an easement across the described City property for a waterline.
Commissioner Harper seconded. By roll call vote, all voted yes. Motion carried.
Commissioner Weirauch stated that Public Property had an old truck and the City of Elizabethtown was in dire need of a truck. He moved that Council approve donating the truck to Elizabethtown. Commissioner Harper seconded. By roll call vote, all voted yes. Motion carried.
Mayor McPeek stated the water deposit box had been moved to the side of the building for easier access. He thanked Richard Isom and Raymond Gunning for their work building and lettering the box.
He also thanked Raymond Gunning for the lettering on the new doors at City Hall.
Citizen Jonathan Gericke asked what was happening with the idea of getting water from Harrisburg Lake. Mayor McPeek stated that was still in the works.
Commissioner Harper moved to adjourn to Executive Session to discuss Property Acquisition and Pending Litigation. Mayor McPeek seconded. By roll call vote, all voted yes. Motion carried.
Adjourned: 6:23 pm.
Reconvened: 6:39 pm.
Mayor John McPeek presided over the reconvened meeting with Commissioners Natalie Miller, Beth Montfort, Richard Harper and Mike Weirauch answering roll call.
Mayor McPeek stated there was no action on Pending Litigation.
Mayor McPeek moved to purchase four dangerous and dilapidated properties from the Saline County Trustee for $600.00 each. Commissioner Harper seconded. By roll call vote, all voted yes. Motion carried.
Commissioner Harper moved to adjourn. Commissioner Weirauch seconded. By roll call vote, all voted yes.
Adjourned 6:40 pm.
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