By BARBARA PROFFITT | July 12, 2023

The Mound City Council met on Thursday, July 6, in a meeting moved from July 4 due to the holiday.

The council voted 4-0 to approve the minutes of the last meeting and then moved to approve the warrant checking in the amount of $91,522.97. Mayor Wade Doering then read the balances of various accounts into the record of the meeting.

City Clerk Shelby Murray stated her only report would be farther into the meeting on the preliminary budget for 2024.

Mayor Wade Doering noted Police Chief Paul McKee is out with an injury for the next six to 10 weeks and stated Officer Chip More would be giving that night’s report and would be filling in for McKee.

More stated his department had done 40 VIN inspections and opened five new cases since the last meeting. Doering asked about part-time help stepping up and More said he had spoken with them and Angela Mitchell was willing to take a weekend, but so far that was it. Doering asked More to reach out to the Sheriff’s Office for assistance, if needed.

Public Works Superintendent John Bruns reported he had met with the asphalt representative that day and is working on finishing meters. 

Doering then read a report from Codes Officer Jacob Bush into the record. The report noted Bush has initiated condemnation proceedings on one property and is currently working on other nuisances around the city. It further stated he is currently working on a brochure that will provide city residents with basic codes.

Council then discussed the Jayhawk Blast event and all felt it was well-received by the community and enjoyed by all who attended. Doering thanked everyone for their hard work in putting it together and making it happen.

Council then opened and reviewed two bids received for the HVAC repair at City Hall but opted to table the discussion until further research could be done.

Discussion then turned to the purchase of a laptop for the court software and Josh Baldwin noted the laptop that is currently being used is several years old. Council gave consensus for a new one and asked the city clerk to take care of it.

The city clerk then presented the council with copies of the preliminary 2024 budget and gave a presentation on the budget as currently set. No action was taken on the budget.

More then explained to the council that the Sheriff’s Office has requested the return of radios they had given them to use. He added that when the county went digital they had ordered new radios but the chips for them were held up in shipping from overseas and are now unable to be used or delivered. More noted the department needs two base units and two handhelds in digital format and Josh Baldwin stated he will look into it.

Council then gave permission for Blue Dog Wine Co. to set out tables and chairs on the sidewalk, but only in one specific area.