The Linn County Commissioners met on Monday, Aug. 28, and began their meeting with the approval of the minutes from last week’s meeting and followed that with the approval of claims in the amount of $458,519.35.

Commissioners moved to reset the meeting originally set for Sept. 4, Labor Day, to 9 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 5.

Linn County Fire Chief and Emergency Management Coordinator Randy Hegwald reported that Evergy is bringing the foam trailer down this Wednesday to the La Cygne Generating Station at 10 a.m. Following the ceremony the trailer will be housed at Station 950 in La Cygne. Hegwald reported that Linn County Fire had responded to 12 calls in the last week bringing their year-to-date total to 300. 

Linn County Sheriff Kevin Friend reported he has 64 inmates in custody with 42 of them being farm-ins with 17 new cases opened and 12 closed. He further reported that at this time the daily income at the jail is $3,224.50.

Commissioner Jim Johnson asked Friend about an email he received that the Sheriff’s Office gifting a vehicle to another department and asked if it was proper procedure. County Counselor Gary Thompson noted that the practice of transferring vehicles from one department to another is not unheard of and added that the Sheriff’s vehicles are under his control. He does not need commission approval to gift it to another department; however, the department that received the vehicle would need approval to accept it.

IT Director Chris Martin spoke to the commissioners about the demolition of the tower behind the former jail. Following a brief discussion the commissioners approved paying Hayden Tower $19,500 to tear it down, remove the antenna for the county to keep and haul the rest of it off.

Thompson presented an application for dump fee forgiveness for 204 Main Street in Centerville. Thompson noted the house at the address had burned down and it needs to be hauled off, Commissioners approved the request on a 3-0 vote.

Discussion then turned to the nuisance regulations for unincorporated cities and lake communities that Planning and Zoning Administrator Darin Wilson had brought in previously. Wilson asked if commissioners had given thought to the section he wrote to cover those areas. 

Johnson asked why the county needed to police the lake communities when the HOA (Home Owners Association) can make their own regulations or create even stricter ones. Following a discussion on the matter, Commissioner Danny McCullough moved to approve Resolution 2023-37 accepting the nuisance code for unincorporated cities and lake development communities as part of the county regulations. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Jason Hightower and carried on a 2-1 vote with Johnson voting against.

Wilson requested an executive session for legal matters with Thompson, Public Works Administrator Shaun West and County Clerk David Lamb also attending.

West reported on an issue last week with a tube on Botkin Road south of 1000 Road similar to the sloughing issue on 1077 that will also need to be rebuilt.

West told commissioners that in regards to the mowing contract he has asked department heads to let him know on a week-to-week basis if any mowing needs done. He added that mowing will not take place this week due to a lack of growth.

West requested a 10-minute executive session for legal matters and five for personnel along with another five minutes of personnel without Hightower.

Commissioners then entered into a 30-minute executive session with 20 set for legal with 10 for Wilson and 10 for West and an additional 10 minutes for personnel with five minutes of that 10 being without Hightower.

Upon resuming regular session, Commissioners spoke with Brandon McGinnis with Clinch Realty, the real estate agency contracted for the sale of the original Pleasanton senior meals site. McGinnis recommended reducing the listing to $60,000 and commissioners agreed with his recommendation. A motion followed and was approved to allow the reduction.

Discussions turned to current budget levels and the revenue neutral rate with Lamb noting the county is currently $72,000 over revenue neutral. He added that the fire budget is under revenue neutral, but for purposes of revenue neutral they cannot be combined. McCullough asked about requested budget amounts for Southeast Kansas Mental Health and TriKo and whether or not reductions on those two items would take the county below revenue neutral. No decision was made in regards to the reductions. (See related article in this edition.)

MEETINGS

LINN COUNTY COMMISSIONERS - Monday, October 23, 2023

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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

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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

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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]

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NEWS

Suit filed in Sunshine Meadows building permit case

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A court case has been filed in the 6th Judicial District in Linn County by Parker resident Jan Longenecker and 26 other plaintiffs against the Board of Zoning Appeals of Linn County to revoke building permits issued by the acting Zoning Administrator Ben Souza.  Souza... [More]

Pleasanton demos asphalt zipper for street repair

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The Pleasanton City Council and street crew had the opportunity to watch a live demonstration of an asphalt zipper last Wednesday on 8th Street between Cedar and Sycamore – a street with heavily damaged asphalt. Dave Fokken, Asphalt Zipper Government Sales rep, said many... [More]

La Cygne awards lift station bid

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Generator emphasis is the final step in the $6.261 million wastewater project   La Cygne leaders awarded a bid to replace every diesel-powered generator at the city’s three sewer lift stations to a Kansas City, Mo., firm. At last Wednesday’s regular meeting,... [More]

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SPORTS

Lady Jays host league triangular and competes at Uniontown

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The Pleasanton volleyball team had a busy week. First the team hosted a Three Rivers League triangular on Sept. 30 against Jayhawk Linn and Altoona Midway. Then on Oct. 4 the team traveled to Uniontown for the Uniontown Volleyball Invitational. To see the full article, check... [More]

Jayhawk volleyball has a busy successful week

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The Jayhawk volleyball team was busy this past week as they had games on Sept. 30, Oct. 2, and Oct. 4. They traveled to Pleasanton on Sept. 30 to play a TRL triangular against Pleasanton and Altoona Midway. Then on Oct. 2 they hosted TRL foes Chetopa and Oswego. Then on Oct.... [More]

Jayhawk football wins thriller over Pleasanton on Homecoming

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The Jayhawk Linn football team had a big game this past Friday on Oct. 3. Not only was it their Homecoming game but it was also a TRL/District game against their in-county rival the Pleasanton Blu-Jays. Both teams played hard and one could tell that both teams really wanted... [More]

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