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Scranton
City Council
Cellular company seeking tower position
Catherine Faimon
Publisher
SCRANTON—The city may soon begin receiving $500 per month
from Crossroads Wireless, a cellular company, if legal approval
is granted by Scranton City Attorney Todd Luckman.
Charlie Sherwood, vice president of site development for Crossroads,
spoke to a full council Sept. 16, asking to enter into a long-range
contract to allow a cellular antenna to be placed on the city’s
water tower. He said the company would probably not locate in Scranton
if they were required to build their own tower.
Sherwood said every five years the contract would be up for renewal,
and the amount paid to the city would increase a set percent. He
assured councilmen that installation would not hinder maintenance
of the tower, and his company would work closely with utility services
to get plans approved. Council members Ken Croucher, Jack Mayfield,
Larry Hulsopple, David Barnes and Eddie Lester approved entering
into a contract, pending legal approval. Also in attendance at the
meeting were Scranton Mayor Gary Burkdoll, city clerk Bobi Morris
and city attorney Todd Luckman.
At the council’s request, Luckman will also review the implications
of the city signing a contract with Kansas Power Pool, a municipal
cooperative the city is a member of. Wholesale energy is purchased
by the co-op, from an out-of-state energy distributor, Southwest
Power Pool, Inc.
Luckman was also asked to draw up a new resolution to address a
condemned dwelling located at 310 S. Brownie Blvd. A previous resolution
was approved, a hearing was held with the property owner, but the
dwelling was never demolished.
“You’d better follow rules or you’ll have court
problems,” Luckman told councilmen. “The process needs
to be started over. Draw up new resolution for him (the property
owner) to act on … use the inspection done previously.”
Luckman talked about safety and the city’s liability as it
relates to an open well located on a vacant lot at Third and Topeka
Avenue. The property is privately owned by Leona Britt, so the city
is not liable. Luckman said the city could cap the well on an emergency
basis due to the hazardous nature. Maintenance supervisor Scott
Lester will report to the council at the next meeting, to give prices
and options for capping the well.
City clerk Morris reported the insurance company paid $5,000 on
the claim for emergency sirens damaged by lightning. Consideration
was given to pricing new and used sirens, the cost of an interface
system and installation of the replacement sirens. Pricing for sirens
and installation from one or two electronics companies in Topeka
will be obtained and discussed at a future meeting.
Rhonda Franks approached the council with a request to discontinue
all utilities except electricity, at a building located at 101 W.
North Street, Lot 11. She operated a business at the location, but
no longer is, and now only needs electricity. At the Sept. 2 council
meeting, Franks requested to be exempt from trash service at the
location, which she was granted. Franks said she wants electricity
to the building so she can box up items for people to pick up.
Councilman Barnes asked if the city’s contract with Osage
Waste allows for this type of request.
“Is it an ordinance that if you have one utility, you have
to have them all?” he asked. “Is it policy or is it
code? If the code directly addresses this, we need to look at changing
it. If it’s not a code, then we can see if a policy addresses
it, and change it if needed.”
Again relying on Luckman, council members asked him to look into
the issue.
A 20-minute executive session, to discuss issues related to non-elected
personnel, was called, and included Luckman. Upon returning to open
session, a 10-minute break was called.
Following the break, a motion was made to appoint Scott Shea as
acting police chief, at $13 per hour.
Councilman Mayfield then requested a 10-minute executive session
to discuss issues related to non-elected personnel, to include Luckman
and Brenda Lester. Upon return to open session, Councilman Barnes
requested a three-minute executive session, to include Luckman.
Upon return, it was announced Brenda Lester’s resignation
was accepted and the treasurer’s position is now open.
There was some discussion among councilmen as to how and where to
advertise for the open position. Questions arose as to how many
hours the position would require, whether to combine the assistant
city clerk position with the city treasurer position, and what the
job description would include.
A motion to appoint Brenda Lester as part time treasurer, pending
bonding, was not followed by a second, and the motion died.
Burkdoll repeated the earlier motion to appoint Scott Shea as acting
police chief. Councilmen Barnes and Lester offered to second the
motion, which was followed by Mayfield asking, “Why are you
wanting to appoint someone with no police experience?”
After more discussion, Brent Cox, a part time police officer who
recently returned from military duty, was asked if he could handle
the duties of a temporary acting police chief. Cox said he would
be able to on a temporary basis.
Upon calling the question, Barnes voted in favor of appointing Cox
as temporary acting police chief. Croucher, Mayfield and Hulsopple
voted against the appointment, while Lester abstained.
In other business, the council:
• heard from a resident who requested a demolition permit
for an abandoned trailer. After discussion, it was decided that
the matter should be taken up between the property owner and the
demolition company hired to do the work.
• approved purchasing four tires from D&D Tire, in Scranton,
for a city vehicle.
• approved Ordinances 35 and 36 to allow payment of the city
debts and payroll in the amounts of $116,747.92 and $4,939.36. |
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