In addition to a monetary savings plan on the settling pond project, a report located elsewhere in this issue, La Cygne city leaders adopted Administrative Policy No. 33 at its regular meeting last Wednesday, Jan. 4.
On a 4-0 vote, with Danny Curtis not present, the council approved the policy that puts employee pay scale wage steps into effect and establishes a performance evaluation process.
The adoption follows a Jan. 2 special meeting where city leaders reviewed cost of living adjustments, pay scale, and employee performance evaluation. The result of that meeting was to direct Jodi Wade, city clerk, to incorporate the meeting’s recommendations into the administrative policy to be considered two nights later.
The Jan. 2 special meeting lasted 3 hours, 17 minutes, required a vote to extend beyond a 3-hour limit, and included two executive sessions totaling 10 minutes for non-elected personnel individual performance and one for five minutes to review job applications and resumes.
At the regular mid-week meeting, another four executive sessions totaling 60 minutes were called for non-elected personnel annual performance evaluations, with the end public action the adoption retroactive to Jan. 2 of all pay raises as presented.
Also relating to the just-completed 2022 city budget, the council rescinded a Dec. 21 general action to authorize transfer of year-end excess general funds and replaced it with a specific authorization for year-end excess general funds of 80 percent to capital improvement reserve and 20 percent to equipment reserve as recommended by Wade. Those transfers will occur following the spring audit of the 2022 budget year.
In other business in chronological order:
--The council adopted Resolutions No. 446, authority to pay payroll and certain bills early, and No. 447, waiver from certain accounting procedures. Both are standard annual actions.
--The council approved the Linn County News as the city’s official newspaper for this year.
--Dan Nasalroad, fire chief, said that topography maps at the site of the proposed new fire station have been submitted. He anticipates bid letting to begin in early February.
--Wade reported on “some feedback” of city Facebook polling questions regarding La Cygne’s stormwater master plan and said she “will push for more” input. Wade is planning to schedule a town hall meeting on the topic for next month.
--An eight-minute executive session for privileged attorney/client consultation on a proposed Evergy fiber optic cable installation along Market Street produced no public action.
--Mayor Debra Wilson reported on the local cemetery association sending a thank you letter to the city praising Curtis and David Brenneman, the council’s cemetery committee, “for making the new directory there happen.”
--Under the park committee report, Nasalroad as public works superintendent said that the extremely cold weather leading into the Christmas weekend had caused the swimming pool to lose “a couple of pipes.” According to the ProActive Agriculture weather station at 119 N. Broadway, low temperatures for three consecutive nights averaged a minus 1.7 degrees, minus 5.1 early Dec. 23 being the lowest.
MEETINGS
LINN COUNTY COMMISSIONERS - Monday, October 23, 2023

The Linn County Commissioners met in regular session on Monday, Oct. 23, and began their weekly meeting with the approval of the minutes of the last meeting followed by the approval of claims in the amount of $272,818.97. Linn County Rural Fire Chief Randy Hegwald presented... [More]
LA CYGNE CITY COUNCIL - Wednesday, October 18, 2023

Among actions at the regular La Cygne council meeting last Wednesday, Oct. 18, was a split vote in which the city accepts a draft agreement for title search and warranty deed preparation of seven lots at 402 S. Broadway in exchange for absorbing a $16,400 house demolition bill.... [More]
LINN VALLEY CITY COUNCIL - Monday, October 23, 2023

The Linn Valley City Council held its bi-monthly meeting at 7:00 PM on Monday, October 23, 2023, with Mayor Cindy Smith presiding and all council members present. Following approval of the October 9th and October 14th meeting minutes, Mayor Smith opened the floor... [More]
More Meetings
- USD 362 SCHOOL BOARD - Tuesday, October 17, 2023
- LINN COUNTY COMMISSIONERS - Monday, October 2, 2023
- PLEASANTON CITY COUNCIL - Monday, October 2, 2023
- BLUE MOUND CITY COUNCIL - Monday, October 2, 2023
- LINN COUNTY COMMISSIONERS - Monday, August 28, 2023
- LINN VALLEY CITY COUNCIL - Monday, August 28, 2023
- USD 344 SCHOOL BOARD - Monday, August 14, 2023
- USD 346 SCHOOL BOARD - Monday, August 14, 2023
NEWS
SPECIAL: Benefits question an issue for county employees

A poll sent to Linn County employees mid-week asking which benefit they would prefer to lose has created a spark of animosity among those who received it. One person anonymously shared it to a Mound City-oriented Facebook page as a screen shot along with their comments highlighting... [More]
Commissioners discuss various budgets

SEKMHC in mix At the end of a meeting attended by two of the three commissioners, a discussion was held regarding several of the proposed budgets for next year. Commissioners Alison Hamilton and Jim Johnson first discussed the proposed budget for Southeast Kansas Mental Health.... [More]
City learns of fire gear condition

Pleasanton Fire Department ISO inspection July 16 Following the appointment of new Fire Chief Jimmy Watts as Pleasanton Fire Chief, the Pleasanton Council heard of the condition of bunker gear Monday night at their bi-weekly meeting. Watts reported the truck ran with the... [More]
More News
- La Cygne leaders discuss food truck follow-up
- special: SCOTUS agrees to hear Women's Sports Case
- SPECIA;: Schmidt Votes to Cancel Massive Tax Hike, Secure Border, and Lower Federal Spending
- NOTICE:
- Pleasanton awarded $617,000 KDOT street grant
- Commissioners discuss development zoning appeals
- Questions on employee emails leads to lengthy discussion
- NOTICE:
SPORTS
Nobodys wins Blue Mound co-ed softball tournament

The team called Nobodys wins the Blue Mound 4th of July co-ed softball tournament on July 5. This year the tournament consisted of eight teams. The Nobodys is Keith Morrell’s team and has been a part of the softball tournament since it started three years ago.
Pleasanton 12-14 baseball wins championship

The Pleasanton 12-14 baseball team wins their league tournament on June 30 to July 1. Pleasanton hosted the tournament and won in the championship against La Cygne 11-7.
More Sports
- Summer Ball Tournaments
- Summer Ball Tournaments
- Pleasanton/Jayhawk trapshooting team places seventh at State, Wallace earns State championship
- Joey Ewalt impacting youth wrestling here and abroad
- Prairie View trapshooting competes at State
- Pleasanton and Jayhawk baseball on the 2025 All TRL team
- Jayhawk Linn softball has three All TRL unanimous selections
- Trenton Broyles leads Hawks at State track