The Linn Valley City Council held its bi-monthly meeting at 7 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 24, 2022, with Mayor Cindy Smith presiding and all council members present.
Codes Enforcement Officer Don Hastings reported that 63 building permits were issued in September, including four for new residences. To date the city has issued a total of 427 building permits in 2022, including 26 for new home construction. The city currently has 337 approved open building permits going back as far as January 2021. Considering this situation and the city’s limited resources, Mayor Smith proposed a 6-month moratorium on the issuance of Building Permit Applications in the city of Linn Valley. Smith cited the following justification for the moratorium:
Existing overcapacity of the city’s wastewater system
Lack of resources to process the workload, including the backlog of required inspections
The need to prioritize zoning issues and streamline the building codes process
The pending rezoning of certain areas by the City’s Planning and Zoning Commission
Completion of updated planning and zoning regulations. The City has contracted with the Institute for Building Technology and Safety for consulting services to update and streamline its building code and zoning process.
The council approved the 6-month moratorium by a unanimous vote; however, Smith stated that the moratorium could possibly be lifted prior to April 2023, depending upon progress made in eliminating the current backlog. She also noted that building permit applications for special conditions will be accepted during the moratorium. This includes construction required for compliance of the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act), or for other health and safety reasons.
Public Safety Director Corey Murrison reported on Police Department activity in the city during the past month, including one report of a Hit and Run Accident, two ATV Accident reports, one Unattended Death report, two arrests for Possession of Narcotics, 14 traffic citations, 17 traffic warnings, two Dog at Large reports and three Suspicious Activity reports. Murrison also reported that the radios in all four patrol cars had to be replaced with new mobile radios as a result of the Linn County Sheriff’s Department’s switch to a digital repeater system. The old radios were analog-based and could not communicate with the county’s new system. The council voted to approve the $3,100 expenditure for the radios which were installed by Director Murrison and Officer Brett Jenkins.
The Fire Department responded to eight medical calls, three grass fires and one structure fire in Linn Valley; as well as, eight medical calls, one injury accident and one grass fire in Miami County.
City Clerk Karen Siffring presented the September 2022 Financial Report which included General Fund income of $15,817 and expenses totaling $55,078. The council voted to approve expense vouchers totaling $176,825 for the month of September.
As previously reported, the council has scheduled a Town Hall Meeting to update the public on the water and sewer projects this Saturday, Oct.29 at 10 a.m. NOTE: The meeting will be held at City Hall, not at the Clubhouse as originally reported in this column.
Smith noted that the public is invited to attend the city’s annual Veterans Day Ceremony which will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 12 at the Linn Valley Memorial Park.
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
Souza resigns county clerk post

Linn County’s county clerk is resigning. At the weekly Linn County Commission meeting Tuesday morning, delayed a day because of Monday’s governmental Columbus Day holiday, Danielle Souza spoke during the public comment agenda section of her intention to resign the... [More]
Farmers State Bank under new ownership

Time moves on and things change – and the banking world is not exempt from those changes. When Farmers State Bank owner Dale Sprague passed away in August of 2024, his wife Janice and family made those changes when they sold the three banks this fall to Citizen Bank owner’s... [More]
Linn Valley council updated on water, lagoon projects

Linn Valley city council held its first meeting of the month on Oct. 13 at 6 p.m. at City Hall. Mayor Lewis Donelson began the meeting by asking city employees present at the meeting to stand up front and introduce themselves and state their job title. The mayor continued by... [More]
More News
- Suit filed in Sunshine Meadows building permit case
- Pleasanton demos asphalt zipper for street repair
- La Cygne awards lift station bid
- Appraiser’s office announces completion of review
- SPECIAL: KBI conducts statewide marijuana enforcement operation
- Pleasanton council vetoed on fire volunteer appointments
- Kansas Policy Institute talks property taxes with legislature
- Pleasanton city candidate forum Oct. 6
SPORTS
Schneider makes State for Hawks in girls’ golf

Celeste Schneider made the 3-1A State golf tournament again this year for the Lady Hawks and will be looking to earn another State medal. To see the full article, check out this week's edition of the Linn County News or check out the online version here.
Wade and Britz advance to State for the Buffalos

The Prairie View girls’ golf team is doing well. The girls won the Pioneer League championship at Deer Trace on Oct. 7 and then followed that up by placing fourth at 3-1A Sub-State tournament at Crestwood in Pittsburg on Oct. 13. The Lady Buffs won the league tournament... [More]
Blu-Jays convert takeaways into Homecoming win

Pleasanton converted two second-quarter fumble recoveries and a third-quarter interception into passing touchdowns to break a three-game losing skid and claim a 41-6 Homecoming win over Southeast-Cherokee Friday at Blu-Jay Nation Stadium. The victory moves the ‘Jays’... [More]
More Sports
- Lady Jays host league triangular and competes at Uniontown
- Jayhawk volleyball has a busy successful week
- Jayhawk football wins thriller over Pleasanton on Homecoming
- Prairie View football dominates Burlington on Homecoming
- Pleasanton volleyball travels to Arma and Prairie View
- Jayhawk volleyball goes 4-0 on the week
- Pleasanton volleyball competes at Yates Center and Humboldt
- Prairie View football picks up a big win against Wellsville