2 The Kansas ChiefThursday, Feb. 28, 2019

Kansas ChiefConsolidated in 2003 with Wathena Times (est. 1884) Highland Vidette (est. 1892)

The Kansas Chief is published weekly on Thursdays, periodicals postage paid atWathena, Ks. 66090. USPS 290-040. Postmaster send address changes to P.O. Box369, Wathena, Ks. 66090. Phone 785-989-4415 kschief@carsoncomm.com

Deadline: Mondays at 12:00 noon.

Wathena teen-ager Alex Livingston went for a nose drive when he lostcontrol of his pickup Monday afternoon, Feb. 18. The accident occurred justsouth of the bridge on 190th Road in Blair when he lost control making thecorner to go south on Randolph Road. Livingston was not injured and a goodSamaritan farmer (Jeff Hartman) used a tractor to pull the pickup from theembankment. (Photo by Harley Hartman)

Unofficial minutesBy Clerk Joann KarnHighland City Council met Feb. 13

at 5:00 p.m. COUNCIL PRESENT:Terry Gibson, Rocky Ruhnke, MattPeterson and Dana Clary. ABSENT:Jesse Marriott

CITY EMPLOYEES PRESENT:City Attorney Ted Collins, City ClerkJoann Karn, City Maintenance AaronLeach and Treavor Saunders

GUESTS PRESENT: BrianKingsley and Jarrod Mann, BG Con-sultants; Tom Heath, Highland Insur-ance; Joyce Rush and Eric Tracy, Ru-ral Fire District No. 2; Leah Johnson,Doniphan Co. Economic Develop-ment; Cyndi Florence (Summer Rec),Dennis Lentz and Chuck Simmons

PRESIDING: Mayor CharlesBatchelder called the regular citycouncil meeting to order.

Matt Peterson moved and TerryGibson seconded a motion to approvethe minutes of the January 9, 2019,regular city council meeting. Motioncarried 4-0

Matt Peterson moved and TerryGibson seconded a motion to approvethe bills as presented. Motion car-ried 4-0

PRESENTATION:Following discussion with the

Rural Fire District members andHighland Insurance regarding insur-ance coverage on the community cen-ter/fire station, and confirmation thatthe discussed annual premiums in-sured both the City and RFD, TerryGibson moved and Matt Petersonseconded a motion to confirm list-ing the Rural Fire District No 2 asadditional insured on the policy andregarding improved communication,Charlie Batchelder, Terry Gibsonand/or Rocky Ruhnke will be liaisonsto attend a district meeting. The coun-cil indicated a willingness to work outa payment schedule for past premi-ums. Motion carried 4-0

Continuing review of the city’saging sewer lines and the recentblockages, Brian Kingsley and JarrodMann, BG Consultants, touched onsewer line replacement, sewer linerehab, available funding/grants, andother possibilities for the city’s sewermaintenance/upgrades. Both surveys(LMI & MHI) have be completed byGovernmental Assistance Service forpursuing a grant. Discussion was had

on sewer line maintenance, purchaseof a sewer line jetter for regular main-tenance and emergency situations,various cameras and how defects aremapped in the software, a single-phasevs a multi-phase project and projectedrate structure increases.

Cyndi Florence indicated the YouthSummer Rec signup forms went outon Monday with no participant pay-ing to play this year, thanks to the USD111, Smithton Lodge and the city.Orange and Navy shirts will be printedby Lori’s Embroidery, Hiawatha isproviding a free umpire clinic and asportsmanship policy should beadopted for our ballfield.

COMMUNICATIONSMayor Batchelder – Asked about

the city’s potholes – Terry Gibsonexplained chat swept from streets isbeing placed in the potholes untilfixed permanently this spring.

Attorney Collins – Later and ex-ecutive session

Clerk Karn – Certified the citywill have two (2) council positionsand a Mayor position for the upcom-ing election; currently held by MattPeterson, Dana Clary and CharlesBatchelder. Filing deadline for can-didates is June 3, 2019 at 12:00 P.M.in the office of Doniphan CountyClerk and filing fee is $20.00. Re-viewed a handout explaining the dif-ference between a restricted fund vsa non-restricted fund within the city’sfinancial structure.

Police Chief Whetstine – AbsentMaintenance Leach – Thanked the

council for their understanding dur-ing his family health issues, asked forboth Treavor and himself to attend theKRWA Conference in Wichita onMarch 26-28 and most of old city hallis cleaned out. In discussion of oldcity hall, a water main is under thebuilding and the emergency sirenneeds to be moved. MaintenanceLeach will be contacting GeraldNeibling and Blue Valley PublicSafety regarding the moving of theemergency siren. Terry Gibsonmoved and Rocky Ruhnke secondeda motion for Maintenance Leach andSaunders to attend the conference inWichita, March 26-28, 2019. Mo-tion carried 4-0

COMMITTEE UPDATES:Finance Committee – Jesse

Marriott – Absent

Law Enforcement Committee –Matt Peterson – Executive Session

Parks and Rec. Committee – DanaClary – 4th of July Meeting will be ina couple weeks

Street and Alley/Bldg & GroundsCommittee – Terry Gibson – Noth-ing at this time

Water and Sewer Committee –Rocky Ruhnke – Led discussion onsewer system presentation and feltthis project should cost considerablyless than estimated. Terry Gibson willresearch the needed equipment andRocky Ruhnke presented members acopy of an “Invitation to Bid” entitledSewer TV Inspection & Report forreview and approval. Various opinionswere expressed concerning the pro-posal and the proposed sewer project.No action was taken. Following morediscussion, Mr. Gibson will furtherresearch a sewer line jetter and bringa recommendation for considerationnext month, as the consensus was thatit would be an appropriate tool forsewer maintenance.

Planning & Zoning – MattPeterson – Nothing at this time

Personnel Committee – JesseMarriott – Absent

OLD BUSINESS:Dana Clary moved and Rocky

Ruhnke seconded a motion acceptingKeller Fire and Safety proposal of$2,721.40 to update the wet chemi-cal fire suppression system in thekitchen at the community building tostate codes. Motion carried 4-0

NEW BUSINESS:Matt Peterson moved and Dana

Clary seconded a motion supportingDoniphan West After Prom with a$100. monetary donation, same aslast year. Motion carried 4-0

The consensus of the council wasnot to advertise with Win Publishingon the Doniphan West Sports Poster,instead support the school directly inother ways.

Following discussion on the streetoil and chat this past summer and whatto expect for 2019, agreed to table areply until next month.

Referencing the desire to make anadditional GO Bond principal paymentwhich is within budget limits, MattPeterson moved and Dana Clary sec-onded a motion to make the addi-tional principal payment (03/28/2020) of $13,850 and transfer fromWater Fund to Debt Service Fund$32,068.58 (Prin. $13,513.00, Int$18,555.58) plus additional principalpayment for a total of $45,918.58.Motion carried 4-0

Following annual review, MattPeterson moved and Terry Gibsonseconded a motion to adopt the Emer-gency Water Supply Plan as presented.Motion carried 4-0

In preparing for the sale of old cityhall and the emergency siren has notbeen relocated, Matt Peterson movedand Dana Clary seconded a motion forthe siren to be moved by March 13th

with Aaron Leach contacting GeraldNeibling. Motion carried 4-0

Following Attorney Collins reviewof the three (3) proposed amend-ments of Zoning Regulations & Pro-cedures Manual for City of Highland,KS and correction of the 9/8/12 zon-ing map, Terry Gibson moved andRocky Ruhnke seconded a motionauthorizing the mayor to sign the“General Zoning Regulations Amend-ment Form” and send to the DoniphanCounty Planning Commission for aMarch hearing. Motion carried 4-0

EXECUTIVE SESSION:Dana Clary moved and Terry

Gibson seconded a motion to recess

into executive session at 8:10 p.m. for15 minutes for discussion of confi-dential data relating to financial af-fairs or trade secrets of second par-ties, such as corporations, partner-ships, trusts and individualproprietorships, to preserve the con-fidentiality of such data and entities,and the open meeting will resume inthe city council chamber at 8:25 p.m.Motion carried 4-0 Mayor asked thecity attorney, clerk and Do. Co. Eco-nomic Development Director to re-main

Dana Clary moved and TerryGibson seconded a motion to recessinto executive session at 8:25 p.m. for5 minutes for discussion of confiden-tial data relating to financial affairs ortrade secrets of second parties, suchas corporations, partnerships, trustsand individual proprietorships, to pre-serve the confidentiality of such dataand entities, and the open meeting willresume in the city council chamberat 8:30 p.m. Motion carried 4-0Mayor asked the city attorney, clerkand Do. Co. Economic DevelopmentDirector to remain

Dana Clary moved and TerryGibson seconded a motion to recessinto executive session at 8:30 p.m. for10 minutes for discussion of confi-dential data relating to financial af-fairs or trade secrets of second par-ties, such as corporations, partner-ships, trusts and individualproprietorships, to preserve the con-fidentiality of such data and entities,and the open meeting will resume inthe city council chamber at 8:40 p.m.Motion carried 4-0 Mayor asked thecity attorney, clerk and Do. Co. Eco-nomic Development Director to re-main

Dana Clary moved and TerryGibson seconded a motion to recessinto executive session at 8:40 p.m. for10 minutes for consultation with anattorney on legal matters that wouldbe deemed privileged in attorney-cli-ent relationship and the open meet-ing will resume in the city councilchamber at 8:50 p.m. Motion carried4-0 Mayor asked the city attorney andclerk to remain

Terry Gibson moved and DanaClary seconded a motion to adjournat 8:50 p.m. Motion carried 4-0

Highland City Council meeting

Pictured above: The teachers of Doniphan West Elementary School received a well-deservedTHANK YOU from Rainbow Communications for all that they contribute to the youth in theircommunities.

This past Valentine’s Day, Rainbow Communications showed their appreciation to the teachers ofDoniphan West Elementary by presenting them with coffee mugs, and hosting multiple $25 gift carddrawings which could be used towards supplies for their respective classrooms. The campaign’s slogan,“Lighting the Way for the Future” is especially fitting as Doniphan West boasts a fiber-fed broadbandconnection (delivered by light over a fiber optic cable) resulting in faster download and upload speeds,increased reliability, and unparalleled performance. Over the course of the 2018-2019 school year,Rainbow will continue to recognize the teachers and support staff who educate throughout their serviceareas in northeast Kansas. The campaign will encompass multiple communities and will spotlight 10school districts overall.

Rainbow Communications Recognizes Teachers “Lighting theWay” for Area Youth with Help from Rainbow Fiber

World Day of Prayer FridayWomen, men, and children in more than 170 countries and regions will

celebrate World Day of Prayer, Friday, March 1. This year, the women of theWDP Committee of Slovenia call us to worship considering the words “Come—Everything Is Ready.” With these words as backdrop, we are invited to learnabout Slovenia’s history and rich cultural diversity. The women of Sloveniashare their stories of intergenerational wisdom, traditions, and experiences ofGod’s profound love and acceptance. The focus is on Jesus’ parable of theGreat Dinner (in Lk. 14:15–24): “Welcoming God, in your love, you have pre-pared a table for all, and you inspire us to open our hearts and homes to offera place to the ones who are not yet at the table.”

This year’s service will be Friday, March 1, at 7:00 P.M. at the WathenaUnited Methodist Church. This service is open to the All churches in thecommunity for all Women, Men and Children.