GOODLAND CITY COMMISSION

Special Commission Meeting

July 20, 2018                                                                                                                                8:30 P.M.

Meeting was called to order by Mayor Brian Linin with Vice-Mayor Jay Dee Brumbaugh, Commissioner John Garcia, Commissioner Annette Fairbanks and Commissioner Jacque Schields responding to roll call.

Also present from the City were Dustin Bedore – Director of Electric Utilities, Joni Showalter – Police Chief, Sharmis Blake Deputy City Clerk, and Andrew Finzen – City Manager.

Mayor Linin led Pledge of Allegiance

DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS

1. FY 19 Budget – Mayor Linin stated, I have thought a lot about our last discussion with our share in cost to add an SRO being $16,000.  I have gone over options.  We know our budget is tight and the State budget is tight. The new officer will need to go to academy for fourteen weeks which takes most of a semester.  Biermann indicated they would fund a 75/25 cost share, but questionable on what amount may be in future.  If the State has budget issues, we may not get another grant.  I am for the SRO it would be a good thing.  Our decision would be short term not thinking down the road.  We need to think about a three or five-year plan. If you hire someone in a position for only one-year because you do not know what future will bring, who would want to apply?  Maybe we could commit a few hours a day towards the school. We would lose the grant but it is a step in the right direction.  Vice-Mayor Brumbaugh stated, I am also in favor of SRO but I do not feel good either way about doing something now.  Maybe we could start meeting with the school about it without making a hasty decision.  I feel that we should take time to go through all facts and do this right. It would be better for the community.  Commissioner Fairbanks stated, I have been Commissioner for twelve years, we have discussed the importance of this before.  I will just state that my feelings about this have not changed.  Commissioner Schields stated, we have been presented with the facts and I believe the police department is shorthanded.  Officers visit the school quite a bit, so if we had an SRO it would help them with time.  I stand by my decision that we need an SRO. Vice-Mayor Brumbaugh stated, I agree but it feels like an open checkbook. We need a contract to spell out the process for the budget.  Commissioner Garcia stated, I have had time to think about it and I appreciate Mr. Biermann’s offer of 75/25 cost share for SRO.  We all support the school district but I have looked at the budget and the numbers are not good.  I stand by my decision that we leave it where it is.  With the population declining money just is not there.  ON A MOTION by Commissioner Garcia to approve publishing the budget as presented at the start Special Commission meeting July 12, 2018 which included 2% for employee raises but not the SRO position since we have a program in place to visit schools seconded by Vice-Mayor Brumbaugh.  MOTION carried on a VOTE of 3-2 with Commissioner Schields and Commissioner Fairbanks casting the dissenting votes. 

ADJOURNMENT WAS HAD ON A MOTION Vice-Mayor Brumbaugh seconded by Commissioner Schields.  Motion carried by unanimous VOTE, meeting Adjourned at 9:30 p.m.  The next Regular Commission Meeting is August 6, 2018.

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ATTEST:                                                                               Brian Linin, Mayor

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Sharmis Blake, Deputy City Clerk