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The hiring of a new city administrator highlighted the Edwardsville City Council meeting Monday.

But also on the council's plate Nov. 27, was council members tabling the purchase of three flashing school zone signs for Edwardsville Elementary School.

The council had balked on the purchase of signs because of the $5,000 price tag. Police Chief John Ellison had approached School Superintendent Bob Van Maren, who said the school board would pay half the cost.

Ellison recommended the purchase of solar-powered signs with warning lights. However, the council wanted to review the request and see if there were more cost efficient alternatives.

The roadway in front of the school has become a safety hazard with the expansion of the elementary school, the construction of residential homes and a higher attendance of students.

Drivers have been exceeding speed limits near the school and not stopping for school buses, which has become a safety concern, Ellison said.

If the signs were in place, police officers would start issuing citations to driver's violating posted speed limits, Ellison said.

The council plans to take up the issue in January.

Council members did approve a request to purchase equipment for the Animal Control vehicle, which the Kansas City, Kan. Police Department is selling to the city for $1.

The council had approved $4,000 to purchase the vehicle, but after further review, KCK police decided to lower the price to a $1.

The decision will allow Edwardsville police to purchase new equipment that Kansas City police will help train them on.

Council members approved the promotion of firefighter John Mattox from the position of captain to assistant fire chief.

The council also accepted the resignation firefighter Michael Morse, who took a position with the Leawood Fire Department. However, council members gave the go ahead for Morse to remain with the Edwardsville Fire Department as a part-time volunteer.

The council gave the nod for the Police Department to fill the captain-assistant police chief position. The creation of the position was approved at the previous council meeting.

Councilman Jim Hess voted against the pay rate for the captain's position and Councilman George Mellott was the assenting vote on the request to begin filling the position.

The creation of the position eliminated the staff sergeant's position, and Hess thought the captain's position should receive the staff sergeant's salary instead of raising the pay scale.

A curious aspect to the approval of the police department's request was the council kept calling out to a Fraternal Order of Police representative in the gallery to ask him if the union approved of the requests.

City Attorney Quentin Brown brought to the council's attention that he and Police Chief John Ellison are working on amending the city's criminal use of weapons ordinance. Although the ordinance covers 13-different firearms and various violations, there is a loophole in the ordinance. Apparently, the ordinance doesn't make it illegal to trap or target shoot within the city limits.

The recommended changes will be brought before the council for approval.

In other action:

The council approved $124,512.32 in bill payments

The council tabled an engineering recommendation on the Old Town Sewer Project. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment has done a final inspection. However, the contractor was late in finishing the project, and there are still areas of concern. The engineer asked the council to consider not letting residents connect to the sewers until the spring. The council wants to review the situation before making any recommendations.

The council approved a donation of $1,000 to Vaughn-Trent Community Services for the annual Christmas Basket program and other needed services for families.

Council members approved the payment of $2,051.47 to the League of Kansas Municipalities for membership dues.

Council members approved a request authorizing them to form a committee to review grant administrator applicants of the CDBG economic development infrastructure for the 110th Street sewer improvements.

The council tabled a request to allow Bonner Springs High School girls softball team to use the city ball fields in 2001. Presently, the city has not charged the school for use of the park. The Recreation Department wants to meet with the softball coach to discuss possible help in maintaining the fields.

The council approved the request to start forming a special benefit district.

City Clerk Phyllis Freeman gave the council a preliminary report from the Planning Commission regarding regulations for the use of RV's and Campers within the city limits. Council members will review the report, make comments and suggestions and return it to the Planning Commission.

Currently there is city moratorium on allowing RV's and Campers to camp within the city limits.

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