BY TONY FURSE | August 10, 2022

The council approved Ordinances Nos. 1502 and 1503, standard actions that adopt respectively the state's revised Uniform Public Offense Code and its Standard Traffic ordinances.

Like all council votes last week that were unanimous, the council awarded sole bidder Double Eagle Excavating the contract to remove individual trees at 1002 Market Street and 714 N. Fourth St. at $4,500, split evenly between the two fells. The payment will come from the city's street fund budget.

Dan Nasalroad, public works superintendent, expects those trees to be removed this week. Councilman Jerome Mitzner did want to verify that Double Eagle is bonded and insured.

The council also approved three payments associated with special projects.

Sewer system rehabilitation project general contractor Nowak Construction Co., Inc., Goddard, was granted $174,763.14 through Pay Application No. 2 for work during a 30-day period that ended July 19. Zingre & Associates, Fort Scott architect firm, will be paid $4,520 through Invoice No. 3961 for July design work on the proposed new fire station. 

Cook, Flatt & Strobel Engineers, P.A. the Topeka-based firm inspecting the Kansas Highway 152 widening project at Industrial Boulevard, will be paid a pre-agreed voucher request of $24,029.11 for a 35-day period ending July 1. Those funds derive from the city’s pre-paid $379,000 deposit a year ago with the Kansas Department of Transportation.

Following a 15-minute executive session for an individual employees' performance, the council granted Jesse Merrill, public works operator, a $1 hourly increase as a result of successful testing to earn his sewer operator certification.

A water shut-off for LaHarper Heights was discussed, see story in this week’s edition. On another non-action item, Burton Harding, city attorney, hopes to locate Jackie Pribble, owner of a duplex at 109 N. Second St. that partially sits above a city sewer easement, for her signature prior to the regular 7 p.m. council meeting next Wednesday, Aug. 17, in order to begin the demolition process.

Mitzner recommended that two city representatives be present if a remote signing is required. Nasalroad said that Nowak had begun point-repair work in that vicinity Aug. 2.

In other council business:

--After a 10-minute executive session to review non-elected personnel applications and resumes, the council agreed to continue official city-newspaper advertising until up to two full-time police officer positions are filled.

--Follow-up to a 10-minute closed session for applications/resumes was to empower Mayor Debra Wilson the authority for making a hiring decision on a permanent part-time City Hall position.

--The council endorsed Wilson's recommendation that Paul Kana be reappointed to a new term on the La Cygne Planning and Zoning Commission.

--The council also approved Wilson's recommendations first to remove Fenoughty officially as the city's zoning administrator and secondly to appoint Allison Fox to that position. The action followed a July 27 special meeting in which Fox resigned as a half-time police officer to assume the administrative role.

--The council approved official publication of hearings both to exceed the revenue neutral rate and for the 2023 city budget that will occur at 7 p.m. Aug. 24 at the Community Building.

--Wilson read that the Linn County Commission on July 25 had approved debris dumping assistance to aid in the demolition of condemned structures at 602 N. Fifth St.

--Wilson reported that the city had received a dividend of $7,731.75 from Truly Insurance.

--Brenneman asked that he be replaced as the council’s park liaison by next week’s meeting.

--Tina Fenoughty, police chief, issued a public thank-you to Corey Murrison, Linn Valley police chief, for a weekend-officer incident assistance.

--An employee relations and training council committee (Curtis and Mitzner) workshop is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. this Wednesday, Aug. 10, to review a proposed city personnel discipline policy and guidelines.