In addition to approving spending items, a report located elsewhere in this edition, Parker city leaders sold their surplus police car at a special council meeting April 25.
Of three sealed bids submitted for the 2008 Ford Crown Victoria, the council accepted the highest $1,300 bid from Taylor Chapman, Parker. The other two bids were for $1,000 and $1,067.
Craig Haley, police chief, indicated that those proceeds might be used to provide his department with an evidence storage room.
“We need to have an evidence room, or it’s a liability,” Haley explained.
Tasked with compiling a building budget, Haley anticipates he can accomplish the project, with assistance from Cody Kiser, part-time police officer, and Dever Scott, maintenance.
Among the meeting’s 4-0 votes with Jody Bloodgood not present, the council agreed to enter into a $5,000 sidewalk grant partnership with Linn County Economic Development, which entails a maximum $2,500 match with the county, city administering, and cost sharing by private property owners.
Observed Councilman Gary Earley, “We won’t get many sidewalks at that amount.”
On another item involving possible county partnership, the city will reach out to Shaun West, Linn County public works field administrator, to get estimates about repairs to roads at City Lake prior to the city approaching Linn County commissioners.
Mayor Ashley Balthazor said that the “road at the lake is getting pretty bad.” Jason Webber, council president, said the site’s walking trail also needs attention.
About the roads, Webber noted potholes on the west side and “like rock that’s been dumped” on the east side.
“We need the appropriate equipment--that we don’t have--to take care of it.” Webber said.
Learning that the state of Kansas had paid for the roads originally, city leaders concurred to check with Don George, fisheries biologist for the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism, about any available grants for assistance.
Equipment needs also surfaced concerning a replacement tractor after the council agreed to list both an old city tractor and backhoe as surplus equipment and seek sealed bids for their sales.
The city will seek purchase bids for the tractor upgrade, but Webber cautioned that “it’s not going to be cheap,” noting pricing in the $36,000 range.
“If we’re going to maintain our properties (mowing at lake and sewer lagoon listed), we’ll need it,” Webber said.
On another agenda item, no public action followed a 20-minute executive session for legal attorney/client privilege, with Burton Harding, city attorney, contacted via phone.
The special meeting’s items had been on the council’s April 13 monthly agenda, but that regular meeting was cancelled when only councilmen Jerry Summers and Webber attended, one short of Parker’s required quorum.
At that April 13 meeting date, however, was information compiled by Kathy Harrison, city treasurer, showing March general fund revenue of $6,543.35 and expenses of $23,056.71, water fund revenue of $5,368.82 and expenses of $9,577.83, sewer fund revenue of $2,636.13 and expenses of $6,577.32, and street fund revenue of $7,798.90 and expenses of $275.
Neither the capital outlay fund nor the park/lake fund showed any March activity.
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
special: SCOTUS agrees to hear Women's Sports Case

Case paves the way for states to continue to protect women and girl's athletic opportunities Topeka, Kan. July 3, 2025 - Today, the Supreme Court of the United States granted certiorari in Hecox v. Little and West Va., v. BPJ. Rep.... [More]
SPECIA;: Schmidt Votes to Cancel Massive Tax Hike, Secure Border, and Lower Federal Spending

WASHINGTON, DC: Congressman Derek Schmidt (KS-02) issued the following statement regarding passage of the budget reconciliation bill by the U.S. House of Representatives, also called the “One Big Beautiful Bill”: “Last November,... [More]
NOTICE:

The Linn County News and Linn County Printing offices will be closed on Friday, July 4, in honor of the holiday.
More News
- Pleasanton awarded $617,000 KDOT street grant
- Commissioners discuss development zoning appeals
- Questions on employee emails leads to lengthy discussion
- NOTICE:
- Tanglewood Lakes files suit against Board of County Commissioners
- Case filed alleging exploitation of minors, breach of privacy
- La Cygne executes pool bond defeasance
- CANCELED: Statewide Purple Alert issued for missing Yates Center woman
SPORTS
Gratton at Nationals

Pleasanton’s Ashton Gratton qualifies for the Adidas Nationals in Greensboro, North Carolina after winning the 100 and 200 meter dashes in the KSHSAA 2A State tournament in Wichita on May 31. The Adidas Nationals took place from June 20-22 and Gratton did well in both the... [More]
Summer Ball Tournaments

The Parker 8-11 baseball team 1 places first in their league tournament at La Cygne on June 28. See more photos on page B1 of this week's edition.
More Sports
- Pleasanton/Jayhawk trapshooting team places seventh at State, Wallace earns State championship
- Joey Ewalt impacting youth wrestling here and abroad
- Prairie View trapshooting competes at State
- Pleasanton and Jayhawk baseball on the 2025 All TRL team
- Jayhawk Linn softball has three All TRL unanimous selections
- Trenton Broyles leads Hawks at State track
- Prairie View track earns six medals at State
- Pleasanton’s Gratton wins two golds, sets meet record