The Linn Valley City Council held its bi-monthly meeting at 7 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 9, 2023, with Mayor Cindy Smith presiding and all council members present.
Codes Enforcement Officer Don Hastings reported that the total number of permits issued in 2022 was 460, including 28 for new home construction. Last October, the council approved the 6-month moratorium on accepting new building permits, with the stipulation that the moratorium could possibly be lifted prior to April, 2024, if there was a significant reduction in the backlog of open building permits. Based on progress made to date, the council voted to approve Smith’s recommendation to lift the ban on building permits with the exception of permits related to water and wastewater hookups. Smith complimented Hastings and Codes Clerk Jenny Schooler for their efforts in reducing the permit backlog.
In a unanimous vote, the council adopted Resolution No. 119 updating the fees for permits and other services provided by the city. This resolution repeals Resolution 112 and will be posted on the city’s website.
Public Safety Director Corey Murrison reported on Police Department activity in the city during the past month, including one citation issued for Criminal Littering at the trash compactor. Murrison reported that two arrests were made for Possession of Narcotics; as well as, an out-of-county warrant arrest. On New Year’s weekend a routine vehicle stop led to the discovery of narcotics and a stolen handgun. The handgun was sent off for testing as it was believed to have been used in a shooting. In another incident, the report of a suspicious vehicle led to a stop of a truck from which the occupants had removed the gate at the golf course to gain entry. The vehicle was stopped while the occupants were attempting to leave Linn Valley, at which time the driver bailed out and ran. A female occupant remained in the vehicle and eventually identified the driver. When the registered owner of the truck was contacted it was discovered that the truck had been stolen from a business in La Cygne. The female subject was arrested for obstruction and an application for arrest warrant was issued for the runaway driver.
The Police Department had budgeted $8,700/year for new car and body video cameras. The system quoted required a subscription to an Amazon cloud storage account at an annual cost of $2,800, thus the five-year cost for the system was calculated at $57,500. Murrison was able to find a car and body camera system at a one-time cost of $12,036 which does not require cloud-based storage and simply downloads the video to the department’s server. The council voted to approve an additional $3,336 over the originally budgeted amount of $8,700 for the system.
Murrison reported that the Fire Department responded to 10 medical calls, one fire and two vehicle accidents in Linn Valley; as well as, seven medical calls and one vehicle accident in Miami County.
City Clerk Karen Siffring presented the December 2022 Financial Report which included General Fund income of $19,737 and expenses totaling $64,879. The total income received for 2022 was $782,333 with total expenses of $832,146. The Council voted to approve expense vouchers totaling $170,423 for the month of December.
In a unanimous vote, the council approved Resolution No. 120 exempting the city from compliance with the GAAP (“Generally Accepted Accounting Principles”) for the year ending December 31, 2023.
MEETINGS
LINN COUNTY COMMISSIONERS - Monday, October 23, 2023

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

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]
More Meetings
- USD 362 SCHOOL BOARD - Tuesday, October 17, 2023
- 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
NEWS
Commissioners discuss new option for Devlin Road

During the meeting of the Linn County Commissioners on March 10, Renee Slinkard of rural Parker, asked once again that the county look into the possibility of paving a three and half mile section of Devlin Road. Slinkard told the commissioners, as she had previously, that the... [More]
Board votes to extend Meik contract

Ray Scholarship discussed at USD 344 board meeting Meeting Monday night, again with a packed board room, the Board of USD 344 voted to extend Elementary Principal Nathan Meik’s contract through the 2026/2027 school year in a 4-3 vote; board members Cindy Inman,... [More]
Resident questions legal opinion on approved minor plat

On March 10, Jan Longnecker spoke to the Linn County Commissioners regarding a legal opinion given at the previous meeting on March 3 on the minor plat that was approved by a former Planning and Zoning Administrator for a property near Parker. Longnecker began by stating he wasn’t... [More]
More News
- Pleasanton Council moves forward with street grant process
- La Cygne leaders approve water plant maintenance
- Blue Mound hears updates on possible water tower project
- Linn Valley eyes potential economic development opportunity
- Pleasanton council discusses compactor contract
- Plane crashes in Linn County duck marsh, pilot calls 9-1-1
- Parker dissolves police department--for now
- STARS votes to separate from FSCC for upcoming school year
SPORTS
Pleasanton boys’ basketball earns Sub-State runner-up

The Pleasanton boys’ basketball team had quite the run to their Sub-State tournament bracket this year. The Jays were in the 2A Yates Center Sub-Sate Bracket 1 as a five seed. They won their first game against the 12 seed Eureka on Feb. 27 to advance to the semifinal... [More]
Prairie View girls’ basketball ends season against Neodesha

The Prairie View girls’ basketball team traveled to Neodesha on March 4 to compete in the 3A girls’ basketball Columbus Sub-State Bracket #2 semifinal. The girls reached this game by defeating Iola in the first round on Feb. 27 at Prairie View, 39-35. In this... [More]
More Sports
- McCarty leads Lady Hawks with a fourth-place finish at State
- Blu-Jays win sub-state shootout
- Jayhawk boys’ wrestling sends five to State
- Prairie View boys’ wrestling sends three to State
- Blu-Jays defeat two Missouri foes
- Jayhawk girls’ wrestling places third at East Regional as seven qualify for State
- Prairie View girls’ wrestling qualify six for State
- Pleasanton basketball faces TRL foes Southeast Cherokee and Northeast Arma