May 4, 2009 7:00 p.m.
Present: Mayor Jerry Robinson. President of the council: Pat Joyce. Council members: Shelia Bolder, Jack
Lucke, Doug Morris, and Lydia Morris.
Employees: Lori Ulrich, City Treasurer. Traci Kuhn, City Clerk.
Fire Chief: Ed Splechter. Assistant Fire Chief: Clay Yarnell.
Citizens present: Byron and Marty VanFossen, Diane Hansen, Dee McIntosh, Boris Bolder, and Rick Haney.
Mayor Robinson called the regular council meeting for the month of May to order at 7:00 p.m.
Mayor Robinson called for a motion to accept the minutes from the April 6, 2009 regular council meeting. P.O.
C. Pat Joyce moved to accept the minutes as read. C.M. Shelia Bolder seconded motion. Motion carried 5-0.
Installation of Mayor and New City Council
Mayor Robinson read the oath of office and was sworn into office as Mayor for the City of Buffalo.
Mayor Robinson swore re-elected council members Pat Joyce and Jack Lucke and newly elected city council
members Kenny Koenig, Rick Haney, and Marjorie (Marty) VanFossen into office as city council members.
C.M. Jack Lucke moved to elect Pat Joyce as President of the Council. C.M. Marty VanFossen seconded
motion. Motion carried 4-0-1 abstained.
Reappointments
Mayor Robinson appointed Traci Kuhn as city clerk. C.M. Jack Lucke moved to accept the appointment. P.O.C.
Pat Joyce seconded motion. Motion carried 5-0. Mayor Robinson swore Traci Kuhn in as city clerk.
Mayor Robinson appointed Lori Ulrich as city treasurer. C.M. Jack Lucke moved to accept the appointment. P.
O.C. Pat Joyce seconded motion. Motion carried 5-0. Mayor Robinson swore Lori Ulrich in as city treasurer.
Mayor Robinson appointed Ed Splechter as Fire Chief. C.M Jack Lucke moved to accept the appointment. P.O.
C. Pat Joyce seconded motion. Motion carried 5-0. Mayor Robinson swore Ed Splechter in as fire chief.
Mayor Robinson appointed Dennis Depew as the attorney for the City of Buffalo. C.M. Jack Lucke moved to
accept the appointment. C.M. Marty VanFossen seconded motion. Motion carried 5-0.
Mayor Robinson appointed Wilson County Citizen as the official city newspaper. C.M. Jack Lucke moved to
accept the appointment. P.O.C. Pat Joyce seconded motion. Motion carried 5-0.
Mayor Robinson appointed Community National Bank as the city bank. C.M. Jack Lucke moved to accept the
appointment. P.O.C. Pat Joyce seconded motion. Motion carried 5-0.
Public comments: There were no public comments.
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May 4, 2009
New Business
The city council reviewed the contract between the city and the senior citizens. C.M. Jack Lucke moved to
accept the contract. C.M. Marty VanFossen seconded motion. Motion carried 5-0.
Lori Ulrich-Treasurers Report
City council reviewed the treasurers’ report for the month of April. P.O.C. Pat Joyce moved to accept the
treasurers’ report. C.M. Jack Lucke seconded motion. Motion carried 5-0.
Fire Department Report
Fire Chief Ed Splechter reported that the fire department has a couple of fundraisers coming up. A poker run
will be held May 30th in conjunction with the Wilson County Sheriff Reserves. Following the poker run at 5:30
that same evening a free will donation barbeque will be held at the community building. Ed reported that the
fire department was planning a raffle along with other fundraisers for Buffalo Homecoming. Ed updated the
council on recent fires.
Mayor Robinson reminded the fire department that fundraisers need to be cleared through the city council
before the event. Mayor Robinson advised that the fire siren is ready to be installed. He will get with Ed to work
on the details. There was some discussion concerning the fire alarm not being set off and calls not coming
through the fire phones.
Eric Eagle – Water Report
Mayor Robinson reported that Eric Eagle was not in attendance due to illness. City council reviewed Eric Eagle’
s written report for April. Plant generated water loss was 12.89%. a couple of leaks have been spotted and are
scheduled to be fixed. Mayor Robinson reported that he and Pat Joyce had delivered water samples to Topeka
on Friday and that the boil order was lifted. C.M. Jack Lucke moved to accept Eric’s report. C.M. Rick Haney
seconded motion. Motion carried 5-0.
Traci Kuhn – City Clerk Report
Traci reported that the computer generated water loss for April was 12.74%.
Traci reported that Ranson Financial would be at city hall May 13th to put their rate checkup program on the city
computer and train her on it. They will be with the Mayor and herself to review possible cuts to the water fund
and see where rates will need to be. Mayor Robinson encouraged any council members that were available to
attend. Traci reported that Ranson Financial had reveiewed the bonds but there is not enough savings in
interest rates to constitute refinancing.
Traci advised that she had sent out letters to property owners as requested last month for cleanup. She has
not heard anything back from them. C.M. Marty VanFossen moved to accept Traci’s report. C.M. Jack Lucke
seconded motion. Motion carried 5-0.
Public Wholesale #23
Mayor Robinson reported that Public wholesale representatives were in and visited with him. They are moving
along on getting lines connected and are ready to put our meter in. We will not yet be connected but are just
getting ready. After much discussion, C.M. Jack Lucke moved that Mayor
Page 3-Council Meeting
May 4, 2009
Robinson, Rick Haney and Eric Eagle meet and negotiate the needed arrangements concerning the meter
placements and other issues for the best interest of the city. This will eliminate some of the running back and
forth. P.O.C. Pat Joyce seconded motion. Motion carried 5-0.
P.O.C. Pat Joyce nominated Marty VanFossen as the Public Wholesale #23 alternate representative. Motion
died due to lack of second. C.M. Marty VanFossen nominated Rick Haney as alternate representative. P.O.C.
Pat Joyce seconded motion. Motion carried 5-0.
Mayor Robinson Issues:
Mayor Robinson advised the council that they had a copy of the invoice sent to the property owner of 306 N.
Main for demolition and cleanup. Mayor reviewed the invoice with the council.
Mayor Robinson reminded the council of the meeting with Ranson Financial on May 13th at 1:30 p.m. and
encouraged them to attend. Necessary projected water rates will be looked at.
C.M. Jack Lucke reminded the mayor and council of the whistle that still needs put in at Pacific and Rhodes
Streets. Mayor Robinson and Jack Lucke will get together and go look at it again.
Monthly Bills
Council reviewed the monthly bills for April. P.O.C. Pat Joyce moved to pay the bills. C.M. Marty VanFossen
seconded motion. Motion carried 5-0.
Executive Session
At 8:26 p.m. P.O.C. Pat Joyce moved to go into executive session for 15 minutes for the purpose of discussing
personnel matters. C.M. Marty VanFossen seconded motion. Motion carried 5-0.
Meeting reconvened at 8:38 p.m. No decision was made.
With no further business, C.M. Lydia Morris moved to adjourn the meeting at 8:40 p.m. C.M. Marty VanFossen
seconded motion. Motion carried 5-0.
Traci Kuhn
City Clerk