CITY OF TIPTON – CITY COUNCIL MEETING – Monday January 6, 2025

The regular meeting of the Tipton City Council was held at 7:30 p.m. Monday January 6, 2025 at City Hall.   Those present were  Mayor Jarrod Shivers and City Clerk Brigit Gasper,  and City Council members –Mark Towner,  Ben Avery and Sara Dilley.  Council Members Michael Ohnsat and Jessica Krier and City Superintendent Rod Barker were absent.

Mayor Jarrod Shivers called the meeting to order.  The Pledge of Allegiance was recited. 

Minutes from the December 2, 2024 meeting were reviewed and approved.

There were 9 late fees charged for utility bills, 2 letters and one disconnect letter.

The sales tax receipt for December was $5151.88.  December receipts were $30,846.71; disbursements were $29,990.57.   Bills and income for the month were reviewed but there are still bills that will be coming in for 2025 so the total figures will change. 

There was a transfer of $1133.22 from the General Fund to the Park fund for the total of the alcohol tax distribution that was deposited to the General fund in 2024. The total amount that was received from the alcohol tax for 2024 was $2266.44.

Mark Towner made a motion to pay the bills; Ben Avery seconded.  Motion carried.

The City appointments and wages for 2025 were reviewed and discussed.  Sara Dilly moved to accept the wages and City appointments for 2025; Ben Avery seconded.  Motion carried.

Brigit reviewed bills that will be due in January for 2025.  The annual payment for the Utility Bill program will be due in January and the KMIT Workman’s Compensation premium is due Jan. 31, 2025; the amount is $1832.00 for 2025.  This is an increase of 4.2% from this year.  She will be completing the required Premium Audit Notice and send to the auditor prior to the due date in February and will be completing a required water report that is due in March.

Librarian Pat Allen has retired and the library items have been distributed to teachers and libraries in the area since the building in which the library was housed has been sold.  A gift certificate to Tipton Grocery was sent to Pat for her 36 years of service to the Tipton Library.  The council is appreciative of her time and work spent over many years in making a great library for Tipton over the years.   There are still shelves in the library that need to be removed soon or they will be discarded.

The building construction on the concession stand has begun.  Mayor Jarrod Shivers gave  bills to Clerk Brigit Gasper from Treb Construction.  These bills will be sent on to the Tipton Community Foundation for review by the committee of the Tipton Community Foundation and the generous donor, the Houghton Family Foundation.  After review and approval, when the funds are received the invoices will be paid.

The status of the lack of available housing in the City of Tipton was discussed. It was reported that neighboring towns have similar problems with this.

City Clerk Brigit Gasper received information on a Town Grant for Downtown Vibrancy and watched 2 webinars on this.  Due to a required match and other restrictions for the grant, this will not be pursued.  A SEED Grant was applied for Tipton Grocery  for the second time and was again denied.  A lot of time was spent on the application.  Questions will be addressed to the Kansas Commerce Department for explanation since neighboring county businesses have received funds in the past.

The City Council  judged light displays in town for the Christmas Lighting Contest. Winners are 1^st place – Brandon and Kristi Lindsay; 2^nd place – Steve and Leti Gasper; 3^rd place Richard and Linda Weisel. 

The next meeting will be Monday, February 3, 2025 at 7:30 pm.

Meeting was adjourned at 8:30 pm

Brigit Gasper, City Clerk