By JACKIE TAYLOR | January 25, 2023

The Pleasanton City Council met Monday night and learned that the Biking Across Kansas event will end at Pleasanton June 17. Mayor Mike Frisbie encouraged the Pleasanton Chamber of Commerce to get involved and take advantage of the 400 to 800 people who will be riding or traveling with riders through Pleasanton.

Frisbie also mentioned he has not made a choice in who will replace Councilman Joe Whitaker after he resigned his position. City Attorney Burton Harding said Frisbie has 45 days to make the choice or the council will appoint someone in the 60-day period given to fill the seat.

City Administrator Teresa Whitaker asked for two executive sessions: the first for 15 minutes for non-elected personnel that included Public Works Director Joey Morrisey. No action was taken.

The second 15-minute executive session was for trade secrets to discuss data relating to a potential new business. No action was taken after this session.

During public speaker session, former Codes Officer Sandy Ward was recognized. She spoke again on what she viewed as council members getting preferential treatment on things said versus city employees who may be disciplined for things said.

City Attorney Burton Harding explained to Ward that appointed employees include himself and Whitaker, not elected individuals such as the council.

Becky Grant next spoke and questioned the council on the ability to receive a written agenda. Harding and Whitaker both said people need to sign up and they will receive an agenda prior to the meeting.

The vacant seat of the at-large position on the Pleasanton Planning and Zoning Commission was discussed. Councilman Jake Mattingley mentioned retiring school superintendent Travis Laver may be interested.

Whitaker reminded the council and audience that a meeting with FEMA concerning the new flood plain map is scheduled for Wednesday, Jan. 25, from 2 to 6 p.m. Anyone who received a letter from FEMA that states they are in a flood plain is encouraged to attend so they can have questions answered.

She continued that Soldiers for Jesus meetings are being held on a more regular basis now that the event is only a few months away.

Police Chief Tristan Snyder reported that Officer Ivan Squires is at the police academy. He was also approved to purchase $10,270 each in equipment for both police vehicles to outfit them for service. Snyder said inflation caused the price to skyrocket as the equipment used to cost approximately $4,000 for each car.

He said another municipality is interested in the old police car the city has and the council was interested in that sale versus selling the vehicle on Purplewave.

Councilman Jake Mattingley opened conversation on building codes and the need for a building inspector; see related story in this edition.

Public Works Administrator Joey Morrisey reported that he is training John Harrington on the water loss report required by KDHE so more than just Morrisey is available to do the report. 

He said that East Lake has risen eight inches with the last bit of moisture and is only a few inches below normal pool since the drought a few months ago.

He said his crew has burned the brush pile at Stegge Lake as it was getting too large.

The council approved the hiring of Madison Stanley and Michael Kershner at $16.75 per hour as labor and water plant employees.

Whitaker said she is meeting with an engineer to discuss a “large-scale street project” and to go over what it will take to get infrastructure and utilities to the land south of Casey’s.

Short-term rentals such as those associated with the Soldiers for Jesus weekend and Arts and Crafts weekend were discussed. Whitaker handed out a list of building requirements that another city uses and said she was concerned of liability if something happened and the city had no building inspector.

The council agreed and said they could lessen the inspection to include a clean, safe environment that they could oversee.

Grant said she uses Airbnb for D&B Cabins and said that firm handles all reservations and oversees the facility.

The council approved a $13,658 expenditure for a new server and backups. They also approved asking Advantage Computer to give them a quote so the city can handle their own website. Whitaker said that the current host takes several weeks to months to make small changes and the city would like to put items up on their own.