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 reports for the last two weeks for his departments’ activities.
Hegwald then asked commissioners to approve the hiring of Ivory Blue as a probationary firefighter for the Station 940 in Centerville. Commissioners approved that hire.
Linn County Public Works Administrator Shaun West asked commissioners to approve Resolution 2023-42 for cattle crossing signage at 500 Road between Kansas Highway 31 and Lee Road. West stated he had the sign department review the site and they found no issues with placement. Commissioners approved the resolution on a 3-0 vote.
West reported he had completed a walk-through at the new senior site in Pleasanton and is checking on the moving date and items will be removed from the old site this week and stored.
West requested approval of a burial permit 2023-07 for telecommunications on W. 1800 Road in Parker. The shop foreman has checked the location and signed off on it. Commissioners approved the permit on a 3-0 vote.
West then requested approval for a re-engineering on burial permit 2022-22 for Kwikom on the ARPA grant. Kwikom has run into an issue on Devlin Road in two locations where the side of the east ditch is angled to greatly to be able to trench. They have come up with a solution of moving 30-inches into the roadway at a 40-inch depth so roadwork would not impair. They will provide as-built maps showing line placement once it’s done. Following a brief discussion with West the commissioners approved the request with a notation that any future roadwork due to the line it will be at their expense.
West stated he had located a damaged culvert, 20 foot by 60 inches, at 2050 and Valley Roads. He added that they had half the material at the shop so he opted to purchase the remainder of the materials at a cost of $3,257.60.
Commissioners then opened the meeting for public comment and Stephanie Walker asked if commissioners had reached out to the attorney on the moratorium. Hightower noted that he spoke with her and she had stated the companies are already on notice that changes might be coming so it was not necessary.
Commissioners then recessed for 30 minutes.
After the recess commissioners moved to enter into executive session for 50 minutes for personnel matters to interview candidates for the road foreman position.
At 11 a.m. Commissioners heard from Wade Booth, pastor at the First Baptist Church in Pleasanton who spoke on the homelessness issue Linn County is facing in the future and plans to help create a shelter with a 2-year program modeled after Union Mission in Kansas City and Chicago. (See related article in this edition.)
Commissioners then authorized Commissioner Danny McCullough, as chair, to sign the closing papers on the sale of the former senior meals site in Pleasanton with the buyer taking possession this Friday.
Commissioners then entered into executive session again until 12 p.m. for personnel matters to interview road foreman candidates with the meeting adjourning immediately following that session.
MEETINGS
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]
USD 362 SCHOOL BOARD - Tuesday, October 17, 2023

In addition to voicing approval for a four-day week survey and preparing for open enrollment policy/daycare grant application decisions next month, two reports located elsewhere in this issue, the Prairie View Unified School District 362 board of education acted on personnel... [More]
More Meetings
- 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
- LINN VALLEY CITY COUNCIL - Monday, August 14, 2023
NEWS
SPECIAL: Mound City resident killed in Allen County crash

On Sept. 9, just after 5:30 p.m., emergency personnel were called to the scene of a two-car collision on U.S. Highway 169 just south of Humboldt, Kan., in Allen County. According to reports filed by the Kansas Highway Patrol, Morgan Wakefield of Mound City, was driving... [More]
Property taxes and how they work

In Kansas, there is a definitive process for determining what the property taxes are on any given piece of property. Did you know that according to SmartAsset.com Linn County has the second lowest property tax average in the entire state? According to information available... [More]
Pleasanton Fire Department personnel hiring questioned

What started out as a department update from Pleasanton Fire Chief Jeff Wisdom, turned into a showdown between councilmembers and the mayor in who was hired as volunteer firefighters in Pleasanton. Wisdom informed the council he was beginning training for new firefighters September... [More]
More News
- Commission ‘bares’ down to pass public nudity ban
- Paris Township voting location to move to Mound City
- USD 362 passes 2025-26 school budget
- Parker appoints police chief
- SPECIAL: Drainpipe replacement on K-31 in Linn County
- Linn County News website gets new update
- Commissioners vote 1-1 on motion to not exceed revenue neutral
- Linn Valley looks at option for fire truck purchase, new vehicles
SPORTS
Alvarez leads Pleasanton cross country

The Pleasanton cross country team traveled to Garnett for their first meet of the year on Sept. 4 at the Annual Jerry Howarter Invitational. The Jays had runners in both the junior high and high school races. Dominic Alvarez led the Hawks as he earned a medal and placed... [More]
Jayhawk football starts season with shutout over Central Heights

The Jayhawk Linn football team traveled to Fort Scott on Sept. 5 to host the Central Heights Vikings for their first game of the season. This was supposed to be a home game for the Hawks but had to be played at Fort Scott because the field was not ready. The game began with... [More]
Spradling era kicks off with oohhs and 'Oz'
Jason Spradling's head coaching era at Prairie View debuted with plenty of oohhs and 'Oz' Friday night. The oohhs came from an offensive running attack that amassed 612 rushing yards, all but 99 in the first half, and saw Buffalo four-year starters Parker Schwarz gain 287 yards... [More]
More Sports
- Frog gigging a new ‘old sport’
- Fishing Derby kicks off at Linn County Fair
- Linn County Farm Bureau hosts annual pedal pull
- From the Bleachers – 717
- Annual demo derby kicks off this year’s Linn County Fair and Rodeo
- From the Bleachers - 719
- Pleasanton trapshooting team shows grit at National Championship
- Blue Mound softball earns second place at Crest