The Hugoton City Council met for their regular monthly meeting Monday, December 9, 2019 at the council meeting room. Attending the meeting were Mayor Jack E. Rowden and Councilmen DeanBanker, Frankie Thomas, Dan Corpening, Shannon Crawford and Jason Teeter. Also present at the meeting were City Clerk Carrie L. Baeza, City Inspector Josh Grubbs, Outside Utilities Supervisor Paul Nordyke, Electric and Park Systems Supervisor Gary Rowden, City Attorney Wayne R. Tate, Police Chief Courtney Leslie and Hugoton Hermes reporter Ruthie Winget. Guests attending were Jamie Gold, Gary Gold, Jan Leonard, Leslee Hoggett, Earl Dean Peterson, Debbie Nordling, Davonna Daharsh, Sue Smith, Miranda Williams, Effie Kolb and Rafael Guereque. Mayor Jack E. Rowden presided.

The council approved the minutes of November 12, 2019. They also approved the November municipal judge’s report. City Inspector Josh Grubbs reported KDI is running a foundation for another new building. The 3LG Holdings LLC restaurant is about to finish their remodel.

Economic Development Director Jan Leonard informed the council they had put together a board for the movie theater. Members of the board are Debbie Nordling, Leslee Hoggett, Davonna Daharsh, Sue Smith and Diane Crawford. They are working on some grants for the theater. Jan reported Stevens County Commissioners agreed to take the theater off the tax rolls. He was asking the city council to take the theater off the tax rolls also. They would then ask the school board to do the same.

He stated the commissioners agreed to allocate $7,500 to the theater for expenses. The city council voted to donate $7,500 also to the theater. The council voted to approve cereal malt beverage renewals for Stumpy’s and Sunrise Hospitality. The Planning Commission met November 19 to consider rezoning. According to their recommendation, the council voted to rezone Jamie Gold’s property from Heavy Industrial to Agricultural as he plans to put animals there. This is Ordinance 853 on page 7 of this issue of The Hugoton Hermes.

HP Oilfield Services (formerly Dillco) is planning to put in a small cement plant on their property for plugging wells.The Planning Commission recommended rezoning this property from Light Industrial to Heavy Industrial. The council voted to approve this rezoning. This is Ordinance 854, which is on page 4 of this issue of The Hugoton Hermes.

The council voted to pass Resolution 2019-2 which is a yearly waiver from Generally Accepted Accounting Practices.

After some discussion concerning Blue Cross-Blue Shield insurance rates, the council voted to stay on the grandfather status on the policy they now have.

The Convention & Tourism Board recommended giving a $1,000 grant to Annie, Get Your Gun. The council passed to motion to give the grant.

Police Chief Courtney Leslie informed the council that the price to purchase the new radios will be $7,498. The council approved the motion to pay for the radio project.

Police Chief Leslie reported that they will do the Shop with Cop. The Stevens County Fire Department and Stevens County EMS will help with the project. City Clerk Baeza suggested to create a Diversion Fund with the money to go to the Police Department for unexpected expenses. The council approved the motion.

The meeting adjourned. Their next meeting will be December 30, 2019.