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City Council Briefs

By Staff | Jul 25, 2007

Firm to negotiate water line easements

The City Council on Monday unanimously approved a bid for $20,500 for a contract with Evans Real Estate to negotiate easements along U.S. Highway 24-40 for a 10-mile water line.

Mike Yanez, city administrator, told the council at Monday night’s meeting the new water line, “will guarantee water for years to come.”

Evans will negotiate on the city’s behalf with owners of 41 parcels of land along the water line’s route.

This was the second time the city had placed the service out for bid. On July 9, council members revised the scope of the project to only include permanent and temporary easement acquisitions with no appraisals, consent forms or litigations.

The council also voted to approve no more than $200 per parcel for the city staff to perform title searches on the properties where easements are required.

Bereavement leave policy amended

The council approved a resolution that amends the current bereavement policy for city employees.

Under the old policy, employees would have to used accrued sick days or take an absence without pay for bereavement leave.

The new policy would allow up to three days of paid leave for the death of an immediate family member. The money for the leave would be included in the employee’s annual salary.

Trash service bids sought

A draft for a bid proposal for residential refuse services was approved.

The city’s current contract with Deffenbaugh will expire at the end of the year.

Tonganoxie Mayor Mike Vestal said he would like to have the different companies make a presentation to the council so the council can determine if the company will be able to handle the city’s needs at a good price.

“Cost is a factor, but I want to get a good, quality product,” Vestal said.

Vestal said once the bids go out, Tonganoxie residents will be able to come to the council and comment before any of the bids are accepted.

Rezoning OK’d for assisted living

The council accepted the Planning Commission’s recommendations to approve rezoning of an area at Eighth and West streets for the new Vintage Park Assisted Living Facility.

Construction of the facility will begin later this year and take approximately nine months to complete. The new 37-room facility will be based off of the design of another The Vintage Group assisted living building in Atchison.

Executive sessions

The council went into executive session for a 20-minute session, followed by a 10-minute session, to discuss non-elected personnel.

After the second executive session, the council directed the city administrator to contract the services of a structural engineer for an amount not to exceed $2,000.

Mike Kelly, city attorney, said the council wanted the city administrator to have the use of a structural engineer to inspect a building. Mayor Mike Vestal said he could not disclose the property to be inspected on the advice of Kelly.

Budget hearing set

The council approved publication of the proposed 2008 city budget. In doing so, it also approved conducting a public hearing on the budget to be held at 7 p.m. Aug. 13.