Mayor Marilyn Pearse called the April 18, 2016 City Council meeting to order promptly at 7 P.M. After approving the consent agenda, it was time for open comments, to hear public comments of items or concerns not on the agenda. Several people were in attendance and approached the microphone to air their concerns that the city was trying to get rid of their chickens.
Apparently, the source of the concern was from a Facebook posting earlier in the day, in which the poster said,
During the discussion, one council member suggested that farmers are farm animals, creating laughter throughout the council and those in attendance. Mayor Pearse, said it was not and never was the councils intent to ban chickens.
After the lengthy discussion, Finance Director Brad Smith updated the council on getting tablets as the council moves towards going paperless. The tablets he has been looking at, have a storage capacity of 32 gigabits, with a screen size of 9-10 inches.
The council also heard about the need of installing a new transformer, ahead of the construction of the Habitat For Humanity house. The closest transformer wouldn't be able to handle the new connection.
Discussion ensued for the a few minutes to wave the $1,500 for this in addition to the $3,000 in connection fees that have already been waved. Councilman Tony Brown said the Utility Committee did not have strong feelings one way of the other. The council unanimously supported the donation, to pay for the transformer, with the caveat that they were not setting a precedent, that this is specifically because it was Habitat For Humanity.
In other business:
Heard the first reading of ordinance 1430 regarding rate reduction for large businesses consuming large amounts of energy. The council unanimously moved the ordinance to a second reading.
Learned that, with the exception of Topeka, Baldwin City is the only city in the state of Kansas that has a second reading on an ordinance. Some council members felt it was a good thing as it gave citizens a chance to become aware of ordinances of concern and to speak about those if so desired.
City Administrator, Glenn Rodden reported that they had hired Ed Courton of Iowa, as the new Community Development Director and that he would be in Baldwin City in May.
Apparently, the source of the concern was from a Facebook posting earlier in the day, in which the poster said,
Attention some of our ordinances have changed including chickens/livestock within city limits. No longer can you have chickens period. You will be issued citations after a while.Police Chief Greg Neis, said that the police department or city will not be going after "chicken people." The city will not be seeking out chickens or chicken houses or measuring to see if they are meeting the 300 foot distance from homes. However, if the police department receives a complaint, as recently occurred, then they will address it on a case by case basis.
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| Councilman Tony Brown Photographer Kevin Surbaugh |
After the lengthy discussion, Finance Director Brad Smith updated the council on getting tablets as the council moves towards going paperless. The tablets he has been looking at, have a storage capacity of 32 gigabits, with a screen size of 9-10 inches.
The council also heard about the need of installing a new transformer, ahead of the construction of the Habitat For Humanity house. The closest transformer wouldn't be able to handle the new connection.
Discussion ensued for the a few minutes to wave the $1,500 for this in addition to the $3,000 in connection fees that have already been waved. Councilman Tony Brown said the Utility Committee did not have strong feelings one way of the other. The council unanimously supported the donation, to pay for the transformer, with the caveat that they were not setting a precedent, that this is specifically because it was Habitat For Humanity.
In other business:
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