MINUTES BUSHNELL CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING 117 EAST JOE P. STRICKLAND, JR. AVENUE JUNE 2, :00 P.M.

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1 MINUTES BUSHNELL CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING 117 EAST JOE P. STRICKLAND, JR. AVENUE JUNE 2, :00 P.M. The meeting was called to order by Mayor Spaude followed by invocation and the pledge of allegiance. Mayor Spaude welcomed everyone present and explained the manner in which to be heard during the meeting. ROLL CALL PRESENT: Mayor Bil Spaude Vice-Mayor Warren Maddox Councilman Dale Swain Councilman Bill Durham Councilwoman Cookie Norman-Tadlock ALSO PRESENT: ABSENT: Bruce Hickle, City Manager Felix Adams, City Attorney Kelly Marcoux, Director of H R Shelley Barnes, Customer Service Manager Jody Young, Accountant I Denise Lee, Director of Zoning Mike Eastburn, Director of Public Works Ronda Cason, UT Program Coordinator Pat Breeden, Sumter County Sheriff s Dept CONSENT AGENDA 1. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FOR THE REGULAR MEETING HELD MAY 5, APPROVAL OF THE FINANCIAL REPORTS. Motion made by Councilman Swain and seconded by Vice-Mayor Maddox to approve the consent agenda. Councilwoman Norman-Tadlock thanked Jody Young for assisting her in Ms. Coleman s absence. Motion Carried. CITIZEN S FORUM Mr. Hal Lyons advised that there is a light out at City Hall on the Northeast side of the building and would like to see this fixed. Ms. Shelley Barnes will take care of getting the information to the right department to have this taken care of. Mr. Hal Lyons also stated that he has a concern with the front doors here at City Hall and how hard they are to open and would like to see them open easier for the citizens. Per Mayor Spaude, this will be looked into. JUNE 2, 2014 REGULAR MEETING Page 1

2 Mr. Lyons also stated that he has a list of musicians that would be willing to perform and Mr. Lyons would be willing to pay their fee, however, they are not interested in getting a permit or providing event insurance. Everyone was advised that Mrs. Kelly Marcoux would be speaking about this topic tonight. NEW BUSINESS 1. SECOND AND FINAL READING OF ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE 84-4, CHAPTER NINE OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES PERMITTING THE USE OF CORPUS FUNDS FOR THE BUSHNELL EVERGREEN CEMETERY. Motion made by Councilwoman Norman-Tadlock and seconded by Councilman Durham to read Ordinance by title only. Motion carried. Mayor Spaude read Ordinance by title only. Motion made by Councilwoman Norman -Tadlock seconded by Councilman Durham to approve Ordinance on the second and final reading. Roll call vote, Councilman Swain, aye, Councilman Durham aye, Councilwoman Norman-Tadlock, aye, Vice- Mayor Maddox, aye, Mayor Spaude, aye, 5/0 Motion carried. 2. FIRST READING OF ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 27, BUSHNELL CITY CODE, GRANTING AN ELECTRICAL FRANCHISE EXTENSION AND EXTENDING THE ELECTRICAL TERRITORIAL AGREEMENT TO SUMTER ELECTRIC COORPERATIVE, INC. Motion made by Councilwoman Norman-Tadlock and seconded by Vice-Mayor Maddox to read Ordinance by title only. Motion carried. Mayor Spaude read Ordinance by title only. Mr. Barry Bowman, Director of Communications for Sumter Electric Cooperative addressed the council. He stated that Sumter Electric Cooperative was surprised to see the agenda since they have not received a response to a letter that was sent in September SECO S boards of Trustees have not seen the documents that are being presented to the City Council tonight, and he wanted to be sure that everyone understood that they have not consented to the agreements. City Manager, Mr. Bruce Hickle advised that Mr. Bowman was correct and that SECO has not agreed to the terms in the documents before council. Mr. Hickle also advised that we had not responded to the letter. If council approves the agreement tonight, the documents would then be sent to SECO to provide their approval or denial. Mayor Spaude said he would like to see what it would take to buy out SECO since we cannot expand and at least entertain the idea of finding out what JUNE 2, 2014 REGULAR MEETING Page 2

3 it would cost, and possibly buy it. Mr. Hickle advised council of the options that they have at this time; one being accept SECO s terms and conditions as proposed, that would be the end of the expansion for the City of Bushnell s Electric Department. Another option is to approve a shorter extension period with the buyout clause in the Franchise Agreement, then come back at the end of ten years and reevaluate. This could preserve an option for territorial expansion in the future. The third option the City Council could direct Mr. Hickle to evaluate a buyout option. This could take a few years with legal fees and at the end we would exercise the buyout. Attorney Felix Adams stated that in order to sell the system that the Charter would require a referendum for the selling of the distribution system. He stated that passing this ordinance is not binding on SECO. Even if council signs the ordinance, it is not effective until it is approved by SECO and the Public Service Commission. Roll call vote, Councilman Swain, nay, Councilman Durham, nay, Councilwoman Norman-Tadlock, nay, Vice-Mayor Maddox, nay, Mayor Spaude, nay, Vote failed 0/5 Motion made by Mayor Spaude and seconded by Vice-Mayor Maddox, to look into the amount to purchase and exercise the buyout clause and start the negotiations with SECO. Motion carried. 3. APPROVAL OF LETTER OF REPLY TO STATE AUDITOR GENERAL ADDRESSING AUDIT FINDINGS. Motion made by Vice-Mayor Maddox and seconded by Councilman Swain to approve letter. Motion carried 4. APPROVAL FOR THE CONTRACT LISTING WITH BARNES REALTY FOR THE SALE OF THE OLD CITY HALL. Motion made by Vice-Mayor Maddox and seconded by Councilman Durham to approve the contract with Barnes Realty. Councilwoman Norman-Tadlock amended the first motion by changing the contract length from 1 year to 6 months and changing the word calculation to cancelation; seconded by Councilman Durham. Motion carried. 5. APPROVAL OF THE CR-3 SETTLEMENT, RELEASE AND ACQUISITION AGREEMENT WITH DUKE ENERGY. City Manager, Mr. Bruce Hickle gave a brief summary and explained this agreement for the council. Councilman Swain asked the chairman for a 5 minute recess to read and review the document that was being handed out. Meeting called back to order at 7:15pm. Motion made by Vice-Mayor Maddox and seconded by Councilman Swain to approve the agreement with Duke Energy. Roll call vote, Councilman Swain, aye, Councilman JUNE 2, 2014 REGULAR MEETING Page 3

4 Durham aye, Councilwoman Norman-Tadlock, aye, Vice-Mayor Maddox, aye, Mayor Spaude, aye. 5/0 Motion carried. 6. APPROVAL OF THE PIGGY BACK BID FOR TREE TRIMMING SERVICES. Motion made by Councilman Swain, seconded by Vice-Mayor Maddox to approve the bids. Motion carried. 7. TABLED ITEM - AMENDMENT TO THE PERSONNEL POLICY ADOPTING A COMPENSATION PROCEDURE FOR ANNUAL SALARY ADJUSTMENTS. Motion made by Councilwoman Norman- Tadlock and seconded by Vice-Mayor Maddox to remove from the table. Motion carried. Councilwoman Norman Tadlock advised that we will need to adjust the lettering if letter B is removed. Councilman Durham addressed item D. he would like to see a flat rate for the merit raise not a percentage, example flat rate of.50,.75, 1.00 per hour, based on evaluations. He stated that the flat rate for CPI and merit is what he would like to see. Motion made by Councilman Durham to change the merit increase to a flat rate from a percentage. Seconded by Mayor Spaude. Motion carried. INFORMATION ITEMS 1. ACTUARIAL REPORT AND UPDATE FOR THE REGULAR EMPLOYEE S PENSION PLAN (REPP). City Manager, Bruce Hickle explained that the pension board elected to lower the actuarial assumption rate from 8% to 7.75%. He further explained that the present contribution rate is at 17.8%, and next fiscal year it will be at 17.6%. That equates to approximately $180, that the City of Bushnell will contribute into the pension plan in He explained that the accrued actuarial liability total is $1,881,709.00; this puts us at 13% underfunded in our pension plan and this is considered a very healthy plan. CITY MANAGER S REPORT AND REQUEST 1. INFORMATION ON SABAL TRAIL TRANSMISSION PROJECT. City Manager, Bruce Hickle explained that Sabal Trail is the new gas line that is being built through Florida. There are two color coded pipes on the map. The red one goes right through the city s wastewater plant in Lake Panasoffkee and the yellow one is well to the south. The route for the yellow line is what they are looking at using for this project; this is referred to as the Gum Slough route. JUNE 2, 2014 REGULAR MEETING Page 4

5 2. UPDATE ON COUNCIL GOALS. Councilwoman Tadlock asked how many people attended the kickoff meeting that was held to solicit ideas from merchants/citizens. Total attended was 5. DEPARTMENT HEAD S REPORT AND REQUEST ASSISTANT CITY CLERK - KELLY MARCOUX 1. QUALIFICATION FOR SEATS 1, 3 and 5 IS JUNE 16 th JUNE 20 th, INFORMATION ON CITIZEN S CONCERN REGARDING INSURANCE FOR EVENTS IN THE PARK. Mrs. Kelly Marcoux spoke on this and stated that the city could pay for the insurance for the events in the park for the first year if council would like. Motion made by Mayor Spaude and seconded by Vice-Mayor Maddox to pay the $ fee for events. Mr. Hickle will bring back some guidelines. Motion carried. PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR - MIKE EASTBURN 1. UPDATE ON THE CEMETERY OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE. Mr. Mike Eastburn explained that he spoke to Marsha Perkins of SCARC and renegotiated the maintenance fee, saving $ per year on maintenance. DIRECTOR OF INFORMATION SYSTEMS - SUSAN NOELL 1. INFORMATION REGARDING THE CITY COUNCIL BUSINESS CARDS. Mayor Spaude asked for his address to be changed to his personal . He advised he will let us know if there are any other changes needed. Everyone else was fine. UTILITIES DEPARTMENT - RONDA CASON 1. UPDATE ON REPAIR TO THE ELEVATED STORAGE TANK. Repairs have been completed, and back in service. CITY COUNCIL COMMENTS AND INFORMATION JUNE 2, 2014 REGULAR MEETING Page 5

6 CORRESPONDENCE 1. THANK YOU LETTER FROM NJROTC. 2. BRIGHTHOUSE COMMUNICATIONS. ADJOURN: Motion made by Mayor Spaude and seconded by Vice-Mayor Maddox to adjourn. JUNE 2, 2014 REGULAR MEETING Page 6