BY TONY FURSE | March 1, 2023

La Cygne leaders handled various business items at their regular Feb. 15 council meeting.

A 4-0 vote, with Keith Stoker not present, approved Resolution No. 452, an annual solid waste fee increase this year of around 4 percent, which sets monthly rates for Waste Management residential curbside pickup at $17.57, one tote at $20.57, two totes at $23.57, and an additional $1 administrative fee.

On a 3-1 vote, with David Brenneman dissenting, the council approved Ordinance No. 1506 to indicate La Cygne’s yearly participation of 20,000 MMBtus (metric million British thermal units) of natural gas, about one-third of La Cygne’s annual average 58,000 MMBtu consumption, in a proposed 30-year Minnesota Municipal Gas Agency pre-paid gas supply discount incentive through the Kansas Municipal Gas Agency.

Other approved expenditures include a total $7,017 outlay, of which Lincoln Township contributes $2,500, to take advantage of off-season discounts to purchase additional Christmas decorations through Mosca Design, Raleigh, N.C.

In making the motion, Councilman Thomas Capp said he would like to see Christmas lighting continued to be built up at City Park, specifically a tree, and suggested a potential Santa Claus Day at the rock house there.

In answer to Councilman Jerome Mitzner’s inquiry about storage room for more holiday decorations, Dan Nasalroad, public works superintendent, confirmed ‘yes.’

The city’s $4,517 share will come from funds earmarked from the original Verizon communications tower contract.

The council also agreed to pay a $1,000 deductible to Midwest Collision, Paola, and file an insurance claim for the remaining $4,400 for repairs to a water department truck that Nasalroad reported had been involved in a snow-related “fender bender” at the north water tower recently.

Also acted on was council approval to reimburse Brenneman for charges of $130 associated with printed materials for the new cemetery information board on a 3-0 vote, with Brenneman abstaining. In a related cemetery council committee item, city leaders also learned that Chaz Epperson had completed the information board site’s concrete pad.

In other business before the council:

--Tina Fenoughty, police chief, reported five citations since the most recent Jan. 18 report: four for aggressive dog/running at large/tag and one for speeding.

--As fire chief, Nasalroad reported that a final review of plans for a proposed new fire station had no changes. “So, we’re good to go on bids,” he said.

--Mayor Debra Wilson announced that the Chamber of Commerce’s Easter egg hunt will be April 8 at City Park, with starting time yet to be determined.

--In answer to Brenneman’s question about a $2,400 payment to Spears Lawn Care LLC, Jodi Wade, city clerk, explained that Spears “put up and took down” the city’s Christmas lights.

--Wilson asked for an in-depth discussion at the 7 p.m. regular council meeting this Wednesday, March 1, “of what we want to do with the Community Building.”

--The council agreed to meet for a 6 p.m. workshop prior to this week’s regular meeting to discuss recreational vehicle storage and permit application considerations.

--The council met in executive sessions totaling 20 minutes for non-elected personnel for employees’ performance and five minutes for privileged attorney-client consultation, as well as for three closed sessions totaling 20 minutes for preliminary discussion relating to acquisition of real property. None produced any follow-up action. Neither did three sessions totaling 50 minutes for real property acquisition discussion during a Feb. 13 special meeting.