By JACKIE TAYLOR | November 16, 2022

By JACKIE TAYLOR

Linn County News

jackielcn@ckt.net

Following an hour-long training session given by Kansas Attorney General council Philip Michael on the Kansas Open Meetings Act for the Pleasanton City Council, due to violations in how executive sessions were handled, four of five council persons continued with regular business beginning with discussion of the Angel Tree Christmas project. See separate story in this edition.

The council heard from City Administrator Teresa Whitaker that a conditional use permit hearing dealing with residential living in a commercial building was scheduled for the next council meeting Nov. 28.

Light Up Pleasanton is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 10 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. with details coming.

Light Up Pleasanton’s committee was approved to close Main Street Saturday, Dec. 10 for the festivities and parade.

Whitaker said she was going to talk to the Pleasanton Chamber of Commerce concerning the city’s Christmas lighting contest to see if more people could be involved.

She continued that City Attorney Burton Harding had drawn up a no-trespassing policy regarding unruly people; the policy is designed to stop people from coming into and being disruptive at city hall.

Councilman Jake Mattingley said he had no problem protecting city employees and proceeding with the policy.

Councilman Joe Whitaker gave notice that his last day on the Pleasanton City Council would be Monday, Nov. 28. He said he and wife, Teresa, were forced to move out of city limits after plans to live in the RV park east of city hall fell through.

Teresa Whitaker said costs to build the new RV were exorbitant and they were forced to move to an apartment in Prescott until January when they would look for an RV and proceed with living at the park in Pleasanton.

The city approved sending two letters to Mike Higgins concerning the property at 301 E. 12th Street and money the city gave Higgins to work on the dog park. See separate story in this edition.

Mattingley asked if the council was still interested in giving a free water bill to a deserving family for Christmas. Whitaker asked for their list so she could work on it.

Police Chief Tristan Snyder mentioned a U.S. Hwy. 69 shooting incident his department was involved in, see separate story in this edition. He also reported several drug cases they’ve worked and that new officer Mason Roberts is scheduled to graduate Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center (KLETC) in December.

Officer Ivan Squire will attend KLETC Jan. 23 to April 9.

Codes Officer Charles Stokes said he will be performing a ride-along with La Cygne Code’s Officer Allison Fox learning how she does her job. He said he is clearing several things off of the Code’s violation list.

Public Works Adminstrator Joey Morrisey reported on a dock grant that was available, see separate story in this edition. 

He also reported that the state of Kansas has changed how they handle copper and lead water lines and sampling from city mains into houses and that change could cost the city a large amount money. He has been working with Kansas officials who suggested he wait and let larger municipalities, like Johnson County, figure out how to proceed.

If enacted, the new KDHE policy could mean that the city would be responsible for replacing any lead or copper lines from meters to homes.

The short-term rental agreement for Airbnb, personal rentals, etc. was tabled until the next Nov. 28 meeting.

Dollar General was approved for a cereal malt beverage license renewal.