March 23, 2026

Summary

The City Council met with a partial (“skeleton crew”) quorum and covered a full agenda focused largely on the ongoing water project and related infrastructure. Members approved past minutes, monthly vouchers, several water project payments and a change order, and updated the building permit. Major discussions included water meter connection policy for campers, spare parts and operator needs for the new water system, a sewer line standard operating procedure, and personnel changes. The council also held an executive session (no action taken) and later voted to reduce the building/codes position to part-time.

Key items

• Minutes approved: February 23rd and March 9th meeting minutes were both approved.
• Open council seat: Applications are being accepted until Wednesday at noon; the mayor encouraged more residents to apply.
• Clerk’s report: February total income reported as $148,890.58; vouchers totaling $310,022.78 were approved.
• Building inspector’s report: Permit activity has picked up (five permits at inspector’s desk that day); the last open permit from 2022 was closed, leaving no open permits from the past two to three years.
• Building permit revisions: Council approved updating the permit language and fees, including separating single- and two-story footing requirements, updating the 911 address sign fee ($15 to $31), changing “building code officer” to “building inspector,” and removing the engineer stamp requirement for residential/accessory buildings.
• IRC code discussion: The city is currently on 2006 IRC codes. The inspector recommended moving to 2015 or 2018 codes (noting the current codes are behind and staff cannot certify on 2006), and suggested not adopting arc-fault interrupter requirements. This was discussion only, with no action requested.
• Nuisance/codes enforcement report: For February — five letters issued, one citation filed, two items resolved, one active court case, seven property visits. Officer plans to take the code certification test by the end of June.
• Fire department: Crews assisted on a large (roughly 80-acre) fire in Miami County. The chief was absent (family surgery).
• Water tower: Reported ~99% complete; KDHE issued a permit to distribute water. Council approved the final pay application to Caldwell of $77,595 (5% retainage), contingent on completing punch-list items (lock swap, gate repair, gravel cleanup).
• Water project progress: Overall project ~46% complete; transmission main and booster station operational; fill station near complete. Council approved Hedinger Excavating / BG Consultants pay app #9, corrected to a total of $685,878.31.
• Change order #2 approved: In the amount of $72,508.35, contingent on USDA approval, covering 143 new meter lids with reader holes ($108.45 each / $15,508.35) and 19 flush hydrants on dead-end lines.
• Fire hydrants discussion: Council raised concern that no new hydrants are being added on existing lines. Staff will investigate locations and line sizes and potentially bring back a change order #3.
• Old fill station: Discussed whether to keep/connect the existing (POA-owned) fill station; noted it must be decommissioned per prior agreement, would require engineering, permitting, and roughly $145,000-plus to replace/connect. No action taken.
• Water operator contract: Council approved authorizing the mayor and city clerk to enter a water operator contract with Paige (Enterprise).
• Sewer SOP: Operator presented a standard operating procedure for low-pressure sewer/service line breaks; discussion of needing more tools, valves, and maps, and possible indemnification language for locating older, untraceable service lines. No formal action required (treated as an evolving document).
• Meeting schedule ordinance: Ordinance 277 was approved, returning to two meetings per month and moving start time from 6:00 to 6:30.
• Water connection policy: Council gave direction (not a formal ordinance vote) to allow camper/RV owners to opt out of connecting, reallocating meters to permanent homes wanting them, and to set a 90-day connection/billing timeline once a meter is dropped, with possible council-approved extensions for good cause. Staff (Mindy/Lucy) to contact affected property owners and post the opt-out list.
• Spare parts: Operator to compile a spare parts list (estimated roughly $20,000–$30,000) for the water system; BG to check whether USDA/project funds can cover any of it.
• Dog kennel: Council approved up to $6,000 for the police chief and Brett to build a new dog kennel behind the fire station.
• Helipad relocation: Discussion of moving the helipad away from the trash compactor area; chief will contact AMR about authority/approval. No action.
• Executive session: Held on non-elected personnel; returned with no action taken.
• Building/codes position: After executive session, council voted to eliminate the full-time building and codes position and keep it part-time (one abstention noted).
• American Tower lease buyout: Council declined to act on the buyout offer, viewing the proposed amount as too low; the city attorney will pursue a better number if the company responds.
• Employee insurance: Council authorized the clerk to select insurance not to exceed the Blue Cross Blue Shield renewal (~$119,000, minus employee-paid portions) after reviewing KMIT rates.
• General liability insurance: Council voted to renew with Truly Insurance (increasing from ~$64,000 to ~$68,000).
• Quarry pre-blast inspection: Council favored requesting a pre-blasting inspection of city property before the new limestone quarry begins blasting (deadline to request is April 2nd).
• Surplus vehicle: A single sealed bid from Shawn Ward for $3,000 was opened and accepted for the 2017 Ford F-150 coach truck.

Follow-ups

• Staff to update the water connection ordinance for a vote at a future meeting (90-day timeline, camper opt-out).
• BG/Hedinger to evaluate adding fire hydrants on existing lines, potentially returning as change order #3.
• Cleanup and road-rock concerns to be raised with Hedinger at the next water project meeting.
• Flowpoint training to be scheduled once contracts are in place so the fill station can begin serving water.
• Operator to compile a spare parts list for council review; BG to check USDA fund eligibility.
• City attorney to work on indemnification language for the sewer operator; SOP to be reviewed jointly and updated over time.
• Clerk to obtain KMIT insurance rates before April 1st and finalize employee insurance.
• Chief to contact AMR/county regarding authority to relocate the helipad.
• Ordinance 277 to be published/sent to the paper.
• Meter opt-out list to be posted and affected owners contacted; sewer line location near the northeast corner to be marked before construction.