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: 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