Overbrook City Council
Voters to advise council on employment
of full-time policeman

Vickie Peek
Special to The Herald-Chronicle

Overbrook voters will be asked in a special advisory election set for Dec. 16 to answer the question, “Should the governing body of the City of Overbrook, Kansas employ a second full-time law enforcement officer in addition to the Police Chief?” Voting will take place during regular voting hours, 7 a.m.-7 p.m., at the Overbrook Public Library.

During last week’s meeting of the Overbrook City Council, councilman Bob Sisson asked if the vote would come back to the council after the public vote. He emphasized that voters need to be aware of the costs of a full-time officer.

Mayor Jack Young responded that the decision would be the council’s, but if voters want a full-time policeman and council honors that, taxes may go up.

“If the taxes don’t have to go up and we can pay for it, then it works out good,” Young said.

In other discussion at the Nov. 12 meeting, Overbrook City Clerk Jim Koger reported that a major portion of reseeding in phase one of the wastewater rehabilitation project has been completed. He said three sites and a portion of Fourth Street that has settled still require work.

During consideration of phase two of the wastewater rehabilitation project, council approved an ordinance authorizing a second amendment to the loan agreement with Kansas Department of Health and Environment.

The council also reviewed an engineering report regarding a building at 323 Maple that was previously deemed unsafe. Three options were presented, but the report did not include cost information.

Young said he thought the report would say which option is safer, and suggested pursuing “the least expensive way to get to where we want to go.”

City attorney Michael Coffman said the council could consider the “shortest path to a safe building.”

Councilwoman Dorthy Chikly emphasized the need to “get bids quickly.” A motion was passed to contact the engineer for cost estimates on the three options, with the council to rely on the engineer’s advice in soliciting bids.

In discussion of the children’s fishing pond, it was noted a Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks grant of up to $10,000 would pass through the city to pay the contractor. Overbrook PRIDE could pay any remaining balance directly to the contractor.

PRIDE representative Jon Brady said the project had not exceeded funds set aside for the fishing pond. The possible need of an easement for the children’s fishing pond was also discussed.

Brady also reported that PRIDE hopes to have the high school baseball field finished by next year. They will be seeding over the winter so there would likely be no grass to play on in the spring, he said. They plan to put sod on the infield. There will be a meeting with the high school officials about the plans.

In the soccer field project, Brady reported a $20,000 grant from Frito-Lay will be used to finish the project, with seeding expected by spring 2009. The restrooms are set and Westar is to provide a final bid on electrical work. Sewer and water hook-ups will also need to be finished.

“We should have enough to pay for everything,” Brady said.

In the recent election, voters chose to levy an annual tax not to exceed one mill for a recreation system and a mill has been budgeted in the 2009 budget. An ordinance is required to provide the procedure for creating a parks and recreation commission and appointing members. There was discussion about whether home rule (Overbrook residents only) or a three-mile-radius rule would apply when appointing members to the board. Young said the three-mile-radius rule should apply because of the value to residents outside Overbrook city limits who would also be using the facilities. The status of the present ball association in relation to the new parks and recreation commission was discussed.

In other business, the council:

• approved a zoning change from mobile home park to residential for property east of Ash Street and west of Maple Street for two duplexes, since the Overbrook Planning Commission considers it a development upgrade.

•  requested names be submitted during the next meeting for two open seats on the planning commission with three-year terms.

• increased working hours of a second maintenance employee from 20 hours a week up to 32 hours a week.

• agreed to open the dump for two hours on Friday afternoon to drop off branches and leaves. Start date and hours of operation will be determined at a later date.

•  reviewed revised flood insurance rate maps created by FEMA and presented to the council for comment by Kansas Department of Agriculture. The map indicates two areas within the city limits considered flood plains.

• approved the purchase of a replacement aerator for the city lake at a cost of $720, plus shipping.

• appointed Koger as a board member of the Overbrook Housing Authority.

• accepted a bid from Russell Smith Electric for repairs and addition of a phase protection monitor at Well #4.

• planned a work meeting on Dec. 3 to discuss a draft ordinance that will update utility billing policies.

• reviewed the 2008 budget in consideration of year end financial status. One suggestion came from Overbrook City Councilman Don Schultz, who said there was “no reason to carry over special highway money to the 2009 budget when we got streets to fix.”