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 for citizen participation, however, there were no citizens seeking to make comments or to share information with the Council.
City Clerk Karen Siffring presented the Council with the final draft of Ordinance No. 252 which amends Section 12 of the Zoning Ordinance of the City of Linn Valley, Kan. Key elements of the ordinance are two sections with proposed language dealing with the parking or storage of recreational vehicles and camping trailers at permanent residences within city limits.
The Ordinance had been adopted at the previous meeting contingent upon the correction of the wording as follows:
Item No. 4 in Section 6.1 of the city’s Zoning Ordinance which deals with R-1 Lots now reads as follows:
“No recreational vehicle or camping trailer may be stored or parked on a lot such that it can be seen from any point off site at ground level, but a recreational vehicle or camping trailer may be parked outside of an enclosed structure on that lot between May 1 and September 30.”
Likewise, Item No. 6 in Section 7.1 of the city’s Zoning Ordinance dealing with R-2 Lots now reads as follows:
“If a permanent residence is on a lot, no recreational vehicle or camping trailer may be stored or parked on that lot such that it can be seen from any point off site at ground level. Lots that do not have an existing primary family residence may host a maximum of (1) recreational vehicle used as a permanent or temporary dwelling, on the lot with no time limit.”
There were other changes to the zoning regulations including the addition of definitions, clarification on the maximum size of accessory structures, regulations on child daycare and short-term rentals. The ordinance was approved by the Council with these and other changes.
Siffring noted that the city’s mowing contract is up for renewal. Based on her recommendation, the council approved a motion by Council Member Robert Suppenbach to renew the current contract with Mike Van Vlack at the current cost of $150 per mowing.
Council President Lew Donelson passionately addressed the council about disagreements between council members. He stressed that council members and/or the mayor may not agree on every issue, but they must endeavor to work together for the benefit of the community. Donelson also commented about the ongoing chatter on social media which seems to cause much of the ongoing turmoil within the community, noting that the gossip and backbiting needs to stop so that the residents can come together as a community.
Donelson also raised the issue of past employees who left employment with the city, but whose resignations were never formerly accepted by the council. He specifically mentioned Dan Donham, former Director of Planning and Development, who played a key role in earlier stages of the water and wastewater projects, but left employment with the city in July 2022 for reasons still unknown to Donelson.
Based on Donelson’s request, the council voted to subsequently accept the resignations of the following four city employees:
Carol Powers, Municipal Court Clerk
Don Hastings, Building Inspector
Dustin Stuteville, Police Officer
Dan Donham, Director of Planning & Development
Smith announced that the city’s 25th Anniversary Jubilee will be celebrated from 4:00 – 6 p.m. at City Hall on Monday, Nov.13th. Past council members and mayors will be in attendance and will be recognized, and the burial of a time capsule has been planned as part of the event.
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]
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
Commissioners learn of grant for planning phase on courthouse repairs

During the March 24 meeting, the Linn County Commissioners heard from Linn County Public Works Administrator Shaun West on a grant possibility for repair work to the courthouse. SEKRPC (SEK Regional Planning Commission) is willing to assist with the HPF (Historic Preservation... [More]
La Cygne accepts deed conveyance on split vote

Meeting also features new legal hire following Harding resignation On a 2-1 vote, La Cygne’s council has empowered its mayor to sign a letter seeking completion of a deed transfer on condemned property. At last Wednesday’s regular meeting, Jerome Mitzner’s... [More]
Commissioners hear from resident on subdivision meeting

Warn of coming KORA requests to stay abreast of permit applications The Linn County Commissioners heard from Jan Longnecker during public comment Monday morning regarding the approval of the plat he had previously brought to commissioners. Longnecker stated he... [More]
More News
- SPECIAL: K-52 resurfacing project will begin soon
- Linn Valley imposes moratorium on new water and sewer construction
- Wind and fire damage dots county
- County hears from Tanglewood residents during public comment
- Commissioners discuss new option for Devlin Road
- Board votes to extend Meik contract
- Resident questions legal opinion on approved minor plat
- Pleasanton Council moves forward with street grant process
SPORTS
2025 Boys’ Basketball All County team

The 2024-2025 high school boys’ basketball has concluded and it is time once again for the annual All County team. As usual choosing the team was tough as there were many good players this season and plenty more that showed steady progress through the season. As... [More]
2025 Girls’ Basketball All County team

High school girls’ basketball has concluded for the 2024-25 season and it’s time for the annual All County team. Like the boys’ team, and like most years, choosing players was tough. Plenty of girls from all three schools, Prairie View, Jayhawk Linn and Pleasanton,... [More]
More Sports
- A season in review: Jayhawk Linn wrestling
- A season in review: Prairie View wrestling
- Pleasanton boys’ basketball earns Sub-State runner-up
- Prairie View girls’ basketball ends season against Neodesha
- Case leads Prairie View girls’ wrestling with a second-place finish
- McCarty leads Lady Hawks with a fourth-place finish at State
- Blu-Jays win sub-state shootout
- Jayhawk boys’ wrestling sends five to State