City Council begins process of hiring permanent city manager

The 2009 city council election is history and the council is now ready to begin the process of hiring a permanent city manager.

"We need to begin the process of looking for permanent city manager. We need to decide whether or not we should hire a consultant, or do it in house," Mike Huchens, mayor, said.

"I'd like to see us do it without consultants," Seth Barrett said.

To start the process the council requested that they be provided with information to include in a possible job description before their June 2 meeting.

"It's important enough to have a special meeting," council member Joyce Wilson, said.

However, because of schedule conflicts, the council will include the matter on the agenda of the June 2 meeting.

Jayne Novak, told the council that she would prefer that it either be done in a special meeting before the regular Tuesday night meetings, or during the regular meeting, because most of her evenings are full this time of year.

Novak said that she has already made the regular council meetings a priority.

Tim Wells, who will be on a leave of absence during the next 10 council meetings, will be provided with any information they will be considering, and will be able to provide input to the process, however he will not be able to vote. Wells will be at Tinker Air Force Base providing counseling services for military families and children.

Bill McCaffree told the council that state statues do not provide for council members to vote from a remote location by teleconference.

In other business the council:

Voted 5-0 to pass on first reading a special ordinance authorizing a lease-purchase agreement with Southwest Trust Company, N.A. for renovation and expansion of the City-County Community Center. Ed McLiney, McLiney and Company, told the city council that although they had been retained by the city in August, 2008 as financial consultants for financing the project, the delay in selling the Certificates of Participation to pay for the project, has been beneficial to the city. He said it allowed them to spend a lot of time educating the local financial institutions and it gave them time to decide if they wanted to participate. "A substantial portion has been sold locally and we'd like to sell more here," McLiney said. He told the council that the certificate of participation will earn an average of 3.59 percent interest. They will begin actively marketing the remainder of the certificate of participation today.

"It is attractive. It will sell. The town has a great name is known around the state," McLiney said.

Voted 5-0 to accept the bid from MFA Oil for unleaded, No. 2 diesel and off-road diesel for 3.5 cents per gallon less than the daily posted price. They will provide fuel management cards so the city will have 24-hour access to fuel.

Voted 5-0 to accept the bid from MFA Oil for bulk unleaded, No. 2 diesel and off-road diesel at 3.5 cents less than the daily posted price.

Voted 5-0 to approve a temporary liquor license for Elks Lodge #564 to hold a block party June 27 on the east end of their parking lot for members and guests. The area will be fenced and arm bands will be used for identification.

Voted 5-0 pass on first reading a special ordinance approving the low bid of $310,320 from Snyder Construction, Joplin, for the city 2009 street construction program. The contract is not to exceed $400,00 to cover any unanticipated extra work that may need to be done.

Voted 5-0 to pass on first reading a special ordinance approving transferring the ownership of a surplus city lot at 715 E. Ashland to Habitat for Humanity of Nevada to build a new house.

Voted 5-0 to pass on first reading a special ordinance amending the city's contract with Vernon County to provide VoIP services for the County. The amendment makes a few minor changes in verbage, but does not change the scope of the contract.

Voted 5-0 to adopt Resolution No. 1258 authorizing the city manager to send out requests for qualifications for companies to assist the city in updating the comprehensive master plan.

Voted 5-0 to adopt Resolution No. 1259 authorizing the city to apply for an Assistance to Firefighters Grant, which is a federally funded grant with a 5 percent local match to purchase a new pumper truck. City manager Harlan Moore said that the city's current pumper truck is need of replacement and that a new truck will cost about $300,000 making the city's match about $15,000. The city's current pumper is a 1982 model truck with about 100,000 miles on it and needs several thousand dollars in repairs.

Voted 5-0 to pass on second reading a general ordinance setting the wastewater contribution fee for commercial users.