As a result, the business owners, David and Laura Yates, said they most likely will include everything except the beauty shop. They said they needed both lots to adequately provide space for all parts of the business plus adequate turn-around space for supply trucks.

The couple already owns Mid-America Marble Products in the park.

David Yates said the plan is to build a 64-by-80-feet building that would be 48 feet deep to house all parts of the business. He said it was a better plan for the city to add Lot 4 as had been discussed to enable him to do attractive landscaping and parking area.

Without it, he said, the turn-arounds might not come out a minimal 10 feet wide.

Councilor Stacey Collett said, "I don't want to run off any business because I want to see the Park grow," but he wondered if the turnaround could be worked out by gravelling the alley and utility right-of-way.

The city will give incentives with the lot, such as culvert, grading and surrounding gravel. The Yates will provide their own building materials.

Councilor Gene Winkler wondered if it was in the city's interest to give away a lot where yet another business could be located.

Councilor Bill Holdeman moved to sell Lot 5 and give Lot 4 with Mayor Martin Tice seconding, but that measure failed.

Yates said Lot 4 would separate his business from the existing Trace of Copper business, so it wouldn't provide room for a very large business anyway.

Economic Development Director Jami Williams repeated reports to council members on surveys that have indicated a need for a community daycare facility. She asked which way they would like her to turn on possible development of a city owned daycare.

Williams said Fort Riley, in its push to find adequate housing space for the returning First Infantry Division, is looking at things such as daycare in determining which towns will receive housing aid.

Councilor Jerry Kline questioned whether there was adequate need for the city to invest in daycare, and especially on weekends.

Kline and Collett wondered about the effect on, and wishes of, private daycare businesses.

The council directed Williams to do further market study on daycare before they will make any decisions.

Holdeman questioned both the current council agenda and the minutes of the last meeting, especially whether the council last time had voted last on not allowing compensation time for salaried employees, or if it was only discussed.

He brought up the compensation-time issue again later in the meeting.

City Administrator David Mayfield said that by state law, he is the only city employee that could work without compensation time for extra hours under salary. He said other employees would have to be paid overtime if they didn't receive compensation time.

Mayfield said the amount of overtime the city might have to pay in an event like last winter's ice storm would be high, probably $20,000 in a week's time. He said current policy allows overtime, but most employees choose compensation time.

Williams reported that Chamber of Commerce Tourism has printed 3,000 new visitor guides, and added a rhino tour map of the city.

The town now has 57 decorated concrete rhinos now, she said. "We could be proclaimed the rhino capital of Kansas."

She said she has priced tourism banners for light poles at $7,600 for 35 banners.

Rodney Richmond, reporting for the Recreation Commission, said the third consecutive season of basketball was a success, as indicated by the number of communities that have signed up already for next year.

He said baseball is in full swing as is the swim team. He said Sheriff Lee Becker has added a class, "Pictures to Pixels," teaching using digital cameras downloading to computer.

Richmond asked the council that if it ever decide to cut funding for the rec program that they announce it a year in advance because of the tightness of money in planning.

The Recreation Commission does receive help from others such as the Booster Club, he said.

Building Inspector Marty Fredrickson said the owner of a garage at 501 N. Roosevelt has contracted to have the building torn down.

The council approved the April utility billing tie-out after questioning the effectiveness of methods to collect past-due accounts.

Holdeman suggested a resolution holding landlords not responsible for utility debts accrued by tenants.

Mayfield said the measure would be a moot point because such protection for landlords already is being enacted into state law.

The council discussed questions raised last month by Victor Buckner about whether bidding should be opened on city concrete projects.

Mayfield said the city is not required to seek bids. He added that it has saved money by allowing Ralph Kreutziger of Hett Construction to do engineering on large jobs given the company instead of the city being required to seek engineering for bid specifications itself.

Collett said he thought Buckner is mainly interested in the smaller jobs that don't need engineering anyway.

Kline suggested sending all bidders notice by letter when jobs are coming up.

Holdeman said at the next city meeting, he wants a complete report on what happened to a city police car that had to be towed in.

Winkler said he wanted it noted in the minutes that nobody was at the meeting who couldn't have come at 4 p.m. Richmond and Jim Davis said they could not have been there at 4 p.m.

The new council starting time of 5:30 p.m. every other week apparently isn't pleasing all of the council members.