BY TONY FURSE | October 12, 2022

In addition to a split vote repealing the charter ordinance that set up the Park Board 35 years ago, a report located elsewhere in this issue, La Cygne city leaders acted on other items in unanimous votes at its regular council meeting last Wednesday, Oct. 5.

One action grants permission and waives permit for the Oak Lawn Cemetery Association to add rock at the entrance sign. 

Carol Stainbrook, an association member, presented the request during discussion from the floor and said the group had secured the masonry services of Paul Graham and would be paying for both.

David Brenneman, along with Danny Curtis the council's cemetery committee, told Stainbrook he appreciated "all the work you do" at the cemetery.

Other approvals related to payments.

Pay application No. 4 of $432,419.53 was granted to Nowak Construction Co., Inc., Goddard, general contractor for the sewer system rehabilitation project, for a 31-day period ending Sept. 19. In answer to Councilman Thomas Capp, Dan Nasalroad, public works superintendent, expects a lining crew to resume work this week.

Also approved was an $11,214.64 payment voucher to Cook, Flatt & Strobel (CFS) Engineers, P.A., Topeka, inspectors for the completed Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) City Connecting Link Improvement Project. Those funds will be released from the city's pre-paid deposit of $379,000 with KDOT.

Jodi Wade, city clerk, said that any remaining funds earmarked to pay CFS would be reimbursed to the city after final KDOT paperwork signoff.

As well, the council okayed invoice No. 4005 to Zingre and Associates, P.A., Fort Scott architectural firm, for $1,640 in order to pay Agricultural Engineering Associates, Uniontown, for completion of a boundary survey at the lot where the proposed new fire station will be built. Also reported was the Uniontown firm's boundary survey of a city-owned parcel at 602 N. 5th St., location of recently razed condemned structures.

Not acted upon last week but expected to be before the council at their regular 7 p.m. meeting next Wednesday, Oct. 19, will be an ordinance that will set regular meetings throughout the year at 7 p.m. Since a November 2015 vote, regular council meetings during winter standard time had begun at 6 p.m.

In information items, Tina Fenoughty, police chief, reported the county's dispatch radio change from analog to digital and said her department's radios have been reprogrammed to communicate. As fire chief, Nasalroad said he did not know about the radio change until 10 a.m. earlier in the day.

After Fenoughty reported that the Linn County Sheriff's Department is resuming vehicle identification number (VIN) inspections but said the county department would require all vehicles come to Mound City, Curtis questioned why La Cygne is traveling out-of-town to do VIN inspections.

Fenoughty said the city receives $18 of the $20 charged for each, with Linn Valley and Tanglewood Lakes the farthest destinations. She noted that the Sheriff's Department will conduct VIN inspections on Mondays and Thursdays, La Cygne's department on Wednesdays and Thursdays.

Also during her report, Fenoughty noted eight citations since the most recent Sept. 21 meeting, all for aggressive dog/running at large/tag.

In other business before the council:

--During her mayor's comments, Debra Wilson announced the Ray of Hope's fish fry from 5-7 p.m. Saturday at the Community Building.

--Nasalroad announced that the fire department will sponsor their annual Halloween hot dog and chili offering, along with candy, beginning around 5:30 p.m. Oct. 31 at Thayer Park. Said Nasalroad, "Stop in. Eat. Be careful."

--As part of the consent agenda, a two-year drinking establishment license was approved for Rivers Lodge & Hunt Club LLC, 18013 E. 2300 Ln.

--The council verbally agreed to Stainbrook's request to allow painting of contrasting colored lines on the tennis court at City Park for pickle ball participation. Councilman Keith Stoker said the activity would create "another use for the park," and when Capp suggested Stainbrook get with public works, Nasalroad said they will "pickle ahead."

--Wilson noted a League of Kansas Municipalities' essay contest for seventh graders on "my hometown" and wondered if the city might be interested in offering "small prizes" for local Prairie View Middle School writers.

--No public action followed three executive sessions totaling 35 minutes for attorney/client privilege concerning contracts, with Burton Harding, city attorney, accessed via speaker phone.