By GEORGE NUNNEMACHER | January 25, 2023

The Linn Valley City Council held its bimonthly meeting at 7 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 23, with Mayor Cindy Smith presiding and all council members present.  

The meeting began with the installation of the newest appointed member of the Linn Valley Planning & Zoning Commission. Linn Valley resident Eric Groce was sworn in by City Clerk Karen Siffring as a member of the commission joining members Monte Chayer, Danny Davies, Greg Ahnemann and Commission Chairman Eric Victor.  

Smith presented to the council a list of city priorities for 2023 which included the following:

1. Continued oversight and focus on completion of the city’s water project.

2. Continued oversight and focus on completion of the city’s wastewater treatment project.

3. The review and updating of staffing requirements in both the short and long term.

4. The review and updating of the city’s employee handbook.

5. A comprehensive update of the city’s website, potentially by an outside firm.

Consideration of compensation for first responders in the volunteer fire department, including possible incentives for training.

Determination of the cost, availability and financing options for the purchase of a fire truck.

Achieving the goal of taking on no additional debt for the city.

A review and update of zoning ordinances by the Planning & Zoning Commission, as well as an update of the commission’s comprehensive plan.

Review and update of both short- and long-term rental of property by the city, including a long-term plan for City Hall. This will entail an evaluation of whether to continue renting the current building addition, purchasing it or building a new permanent structure.  

Smith noted that the above is a working list of priorities and is subject to change.

Council Member Robert Suppenbach spoke on behalf of the council in congratulating Public Safety Director Corey Murrison on the Police Department’s successful “sting” operation which resulted in the break-up of a local theft ring.   On Jan. 21, 2023, officers from the Linn Valley Police Department set up an operation to purchase stolen items from an individual on Facebook Marketplace. It was believed the items had been taken from a residence in Linn Valley.

From Murrison’s report: “Officers posed as potential buyers and set up a meeting with the suspects in Louisburg. With the assistance of the Louisburg Police Department, two suspects were arrested when the items were positively identified as stolen.

“The suspects were transported to the Linn Valley Police Department where they confessed to the theft of items in the initial burglary report. During further questioning, both suspects admitted to breaking into several trailers in the RV storage area west of City Hall. While investigating those crimes, which had not yet been reported, it was discovered that a camper had been stolen. The suspects admitted to stealing the camper and agreed to show the officers where it was. They located the camper in Kansas City, MO, and with the assistance of the Kansas City Missouri Police Department, it was eventually recovered.”

Murrison noted that his department is still working on contacting additional victims and working with the Kansas City Missouri Police Department to recover additional property. Both suspects apprehended were lodged in the Linn County Jail and are awaiting formal charges.