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Also relating to the just-completed 2022 city budget, the council rescinded a Dec. 21 general action to authorize transfer of year-end excess general funds and replaced it with a specific authorization for year-end excess general funds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
Commissioners discuss new option for Devlin Road

During the meeting of the Linn County Commissioners on March 10, Renee Slinkard of rural Parker, asked once again that the county look into the possibility of paving a three and half mile section of Devlin Road. Slinkard told the commissioners, as she had previously, that the... [More]
Board votes to extend Meik contract

Ray Scholarship discussed at USD 344 board meeting Meeting Monday night, again with a packed board room, the Board of USD 344 voted to extend Elementary Principal Nathan Meik’s contract through the 2026/2027 school year in a 4-3 vote; board members Cindy Inman,... [More]
Resident questions legal opinion on approved minor plat

On March 10, Jan Longnecker spoke to the Linn County Commissioners regarding a legal opinion given at the previous meeting on March 3 on the minor plat that was approved by a former Planning and Zoning Administrator for a property near Parker. Longnecker began by stating he wasn’t... [More]
More News
- Pleasanton Council moves forward with street grant process
- La Cygne leaders approve water plant maintenance
- Blue Mound hears updates on possible water tower project
- Linn Valley eyes potential economic development opportunity
- Pleasanton council discusses compactor contract
- Plane crashes in Linn County duck marsh, pilot calls 9-1-1
- Parker dissolves police department--for now
- STARS votes to separate from FSCC for upcoming school year
SPORTS
Pleasanton boys’ basketball earns Sub-State runner-up

The Pleasanton boys’ basketball team had quite the run to their Sub-State tournament bracket this year. The Jays were in the 2A Yates Center Sub-Sate Bracket 1 as a five seed. They won their first game against the 12 seed Eureka on Feb. 27 to advance to the semifinal... [More]
Prairie View girls’ basketball ends season against Neodesha

The Prairie View girls’ basketball team traveled to Neodesha on March 4 to compete in the 3A girls’ basketball Columbus Sub-State Bracket #2 semifinal. The girls reached this game by defeating Iola in the first round on Feb. 27 at Prairie View, 39-35. In this... [More]
More Sports
- McCarty leads Lady Hawks with a fourth-place finish at State
- Blu-Jays win sub-state shootout
- Jayhawk boys’ wrestling sends five to State
- Prairie View boys’ wrestling sends three to State
- Blu-Jays defeat two Missouri foes
- Jayhawk girls’ wrestling places third at East Regional as seven qualify for State
- Prairie View girls’ wrestling qualify six for State
- Pleasanton basketball faces TRL foes Southeast Cherokee and Northeast Arma