Buffalo Wyoming City Council Meeting Minutes 05 /04/2010
Aug 11, 2010
Recorder:

CITY OF BUFFALO
REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
May 4, 2010
The Buffalo City Council met in Regular Session in the Council Chambers of City Hall. Present were Councilwoman Reid, Councilman Dyess, Mayor Hancock, Councilman Humphrey and Councilman Hepp. Mayor Hancock called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m. and led the Pledge of Allegiance. Councilman Humphrey made a motion to approve the April 20, 2010 Regular Council Meeting minutes. Councilwoman Reid seconded. Motion carried.
A lease agreement renewal for the Buffalo Children’s Center was presented for Council approval. Councilman Dyess made a motion to approve the renewal with a second from Councilwoman Reid. Motion carried.
Mayor Hancock presented the following board appointments for Council approval:
Craig Cope, Planning and Zoning Board – 3 year term
Coog Myers, Buffalo Tree Board – 2 year term
Councilman Dyess made a motion to approve the appointments with a second from Councilman Humphrey. Motion carried.
The Health Insurance Renewal was presented for Council approval. Councilman Hepp made a motion to renew the health insurance plan with no changes or deletions. Councilman Dyess seconded. Motion carried.
A letter request from Taylor Ballek for a donation of 50 Buffalo pins to distribute at the Scripps National Spelling Bee was presented for Council approval. Councilman Hepp made a motion to give 50 Buffalo pins to Ballek as she represented Buffalo at the Scripps National Spelling Bee. Councilman Humphrey seconded. Motion carried.
Resolution #1293 – A Resolution authorizing submission of a federal mineral royalty capital construction account grant application to the State Loan and Investment Board on behalf of the governing body for the Town of the City of Buffalo for the purpose of purchase of an emergency vehicle for the City of Buffalo Fire Department, being a seventy-five (75) foot Quint fire truck was presented for Council approval. City Planner, Brian Grubb, explained the funding source and questioned Council about possible matching funds. Councilman Hepp made a motion to approve Resolution #1293. Councilman Dyess seconded. Motion carried.
Brook Stromer, States West Water Resources, updated Council on the Waste Water Treatment Plant project. Stromer advised the project was 67% complete and presented Council with the option to consider reducing retainage on the project or stop withholding further retainage. Councilman Hepp made a motion to continue holding past retainage but to stop collecting retainage on further pay requests. Councilman Dyess seconded. Motion carried.
Travis Lawrence and Angela Jarvis, Buffalo Chamber of Commerce, presented a request to Council to assist in funding a new position for a Buffalo Economic Manager. A brief discussion followed with Council agreeing to consider the request at the May 13th budget meeting.
Barry Crago, Assistant County Attorney, addressed Council with several items to finalize regarding the operating agreement for the new Justice Center. Crago listed the ownership of the underlying property at the site, the percentage of operating costs for the Justice Center as well as the future relocation of the Recycling Center as items that needed Council discussion. A lengthy discussion followed regarding the history of the project as well as the role of the Criminal Justice Center Joint Powers Board. Additional comments were heard from all Council members as well as County Commissioners Gerald Fink, Delbert Eitel and Smokey Wildeman. Councilman Dyess made a motion for the City to pay 18% of the operating costs for the new Justice Center and eliminate the proposed cap of ,000. Councilwoman Reid seconded. Motion carried.
Council clarified the County would only be responsible for costs to relocate the recycling center when the current location is needed for a new courthouse. Further clarification was defined with Councilman Hepp making a motion that Johnson County not have the responsibility to find and purchase land to relocate the recycling center. Councilman Dyess seconded. Motion carried.
Councilman Dyess made a motion to transfer title to the land held in the City of Buffalo’s name at the Justice Center site to Johnson County after an updated Criminal Justice Center Joint Powers Board agreement is in place. Councilman Hepp seconded. Assistant County Attorney Crago questioned whether the motion served the City’s needs. Councilman Hepp voted aye with Mayor Hancock and Council members Reid, Dyess, Humphrey and Hancock voting nay. Marilyn Connolly expressed disappointment in the Council and encouraged them to make a motion to get past this issue. Councilwoman Reid stated the Council had many projects to fund and cited low revenues as the reason for proceeding cautiously on the issue. Councilwoman Reid then made a motion to transfer title to the land in question to Johnson County. Councilman Dyess seconded. Council members Reid and Dyess as well as Mayor Hancock voted aye. Councilmen Humphrey and Hepp voted nay.
A letter request from Darcy Goni, Town and Country Garden Club, to block off parking in front of 312 N Main for the annual spring plant sale was presented for Council approval. Councilwoman Reid made a motion to grant the request with a second from Councilman Dyess. Motion carried.
City Attorney Kirven requested direction from Council regarding the sidewalk ramps at DeSmet and Conrad. Councilman Dyess made a motion to advertise Request for Proposals on this project. Councilwoman Reid seconded. Motion carried.
Michael Chapman, Police Chief, thanked Council for their efforts at moving forward on the Justice Center project and answered Council questions.
Les Hook, Public Works Director, discussed with Council the engineering design and contract requirements for the DeSmet and Conrad sidewalk ramps. Hook also advised Council of the need for additional power service on the Gateway project. In closing, Hook requested Council approval to sign the Lobban and Tisdale sewer line contract with Hot Iron, Inc and issue Notice to Proceed. Councilman Hepp made a motion to approve the contract with a second from Councilman Humphrey. Motion carried.
City Planner, Brian Grubb, addressed Council regarding construction documents for Crazy Woman Square and proposed costs to the City. Grubb then presented a grant funding relinquishment letter for Council approval with an explanation of why certain grant funds could be relinquished on the Waste Water Treatment Plant Expansion project. Councilman Hepp made a motion to approve the grant funding relinquishment in the amount of ,022,163 with a second from Councilman Dyess. Motion carried. In closing, Grubb presented bid opening results for placement of Clear Creek Trail System kiosks. Grubb stated there was not a funding source for this project. Councilman Hepp suggested the funds be drawn from the Park budget for Greenbelt maintenance and Park Trees. Councilwoman Reid made a motion to award the bid to Myers Construction in the amount of ,750 with the project to be completed by June 30, 2010. Councilman Dyess seconded. Motion carried.
Mayor Hancock announced the upcoming budget workshop on May 13 @ 5 p.m. at City Hall. Hancock also announced the Arbor Day Celebration and Pelloux Bridge Dedication May 12 @ 11 a.m. in Washington Park. The Mayor announced the WYDOT project update meeting @ City Hall on May 18th at 2:30 p.m. and the Department Head Meeting May 27th - 9 a.m. @ City Hall. In closing, Mayor Hancock announced the 2010 Election filing dates of May 13 to May 28.
The following bills were audited and approved for payment: Aflac, agreement – 1,523.44; Linda Betz, service – 398.50; Blue Cross/Blue Shield, insurance – 42,446.29; Buffalo Chamber of Commerce, agreement – 27,500.00; Buffalo Senior Center, agreement – 2,536.84; Tim Sullivan, supply – 7,085.00; CNA Surety, supply – 100.00; Luke Constantine, supply – 110.00; Brian Grubb, reimbursement – 38.16; Nancy Hall, service – 220.00; Johnson County Healthcare, supply – 56.00; Jo. Co. Solid Waste District, supply – 82,352.00; Joint Powers Fuel Facility, supply – 3,342.85; Nebraska Child Support, agreement – 145.00; Neve’s Uniforms & Equipment, supply – 9,987.45; Zach Nicholson, supply – 150.00; North Wyoming Insurance, insurance – 1,085.00; Office of State Lands & Investment, loan payment – 149,905.30; Rocky Mountain Power, supply – 4,710.87; St. Francis Animal Shelter, agreement – 1,300.00; State Fire Marshall’s Office, supply – 1,739.56; Swede’s Fire Ext. Service, supply – 648.45; Andy Tkach, petty cash – 253.14; Visa, supply – 3,012.10; WWC Engineering, supply – 364.70; WY Assn Municipalities, supply – 415.00; WY Child Support Enforcement, agreement – 300.00; WY Dept of Agriculture, supply – 100.00; WY Educators’ Benefit Trust, supply – 385.88; WY Retirement System, retirement – 24,778.33; WY Secretary of State, supply – 60.00; Hillary Zimmerschied, service – 260.00.
There being no further business the meeting adjourned at 6:45 p.m.

Mayor
ATTEST:

City Clerk