July 5, 2022 LECOMPTON CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
7:00 P.M. Mayor Jimmy Wilkins brought the Lecompton City Council Meeting to order at 327 Elmore St. Lecompton, KS. Council Members Tim McNish, Mary Jane Hoffer, Stephanie Confer, Matt Roberts and Owen Mallonee were present at roll call. City Clerk Lynley Sanford and City Attorney Jeff Heiman were absent. Superintendent Rance Roberts arrived at 7:05pm. The following residents or township members were also present: Steve & Rita Fisher, Richard & Shelley Nichols, Dave Kellem, Susan Wood, and Casey Pollard.
Owen Mallonee motioned to approve the meeting minutes for June 20th, 2022. Stephanie Confer seconded the motion. Motion passed 5 yeas, 0 nays
Matt Roberts motioned to approve the bills before the council, Stephanie Confer seconded the motion.
Motion passed 5 yeas, 0 nays
Public Hearing:
1. Richard Nichols – Vacant property at E 600 & Diagonal Rd. – health nuisance violation.
There has been progress made in the cleanup of the downed barn.
• Owen Mallonee motioned for a continuance until August 1st, 2022. Matt Roberts seconded the motion. Motion passed 5 yays, 0 nay
2. Mike Coffman – 645 E. Second – Casey Pollard was here on behalf of Mike Coffman. Casey was has been working on the land. Some improvements have been made.
• Matt Roberts motioned for a continuance until August 1st, 2022. Stephanie Confer seconded the motion. Motion passed 5 yays, 0 nays
3. Steve Fischer – 409 Whitfield – They had previously had a roofer paid to get the roof done. They roofer left without doing the work. Working on saving money to take care of the roof issue.
• Owen Mallonee motioned for a continuance until August 1st, 2022. Mary Jane Hoffer seconded the motion. Motion passed 5 yays, 0 nays.
4. Patricia Edwards – 530 E. Third St. – Accessory structure violation – No one was present for the meeting. No progress has been made on the structure, it does not appear that anyone has started to cleanout the barn or anything. Council asked that the son be contacted to see what the plan is and when they will get started.
5. Jeff & Tammy Morris – 405 E. Woodson – Called and requested an extension to July 18th, 2022. They are out of town.
Rance –
– Will be gone 7/20-7/22 – Plan on switching over to rural water during that time so no one has to worry about issues with the water plant.
– Water plant had been acting funny, getting warning alarm with no wording. We did loose 93,000 gal. figured out the tower had overflowed. Worked with councilman Owen Mallonee to fix the issue.
Lynley –
– Discussed the 2023 budget and the Revenue Neutral Rate.
Mary Jane Hoffer motioned to approve that the City does plan on exceeding the Revenue Neutral Rate for the 2023 budget year. Stephanie Confer seconded the motion. Motion passed 5 yeas, 0 nays.
A bearing for the budget and Revenue Neutral Rate will be set in the near future.
– Pedestrian plan from previous meeting was just a review of the survey that was sent out by the Douglas County MPO. For the council’s review. No action is needed.
Old Business
– Curb inlet box – have contacted 2 companies for bids. Still working on getting someone out to look at the issue to see if this is the solution.
– De-annexation request and steps moving forward – a new request has been received, working with the planning commission to set a date, looking at dates in August.
– Employee advertising – the city council discussed the need to hire someone full time and what language should be included in the publication. F/T assistant City Utility operator – will be working with water and wastewater utilities, building and grounds maintenance. Prefer some experience with operating equipment, able to assist with snow removal and street repairs. Must get certifications for water/wastewater within 24 months of employment. Council asked that listing be put in LJ World, Capital Journal and the Vindicator.
New Business
– The office had received a complaint about the grass height at the empty lots at 300 Whitfield and 300 Isacks. Owen my Emery Clark. The office did reach out to him, and he did get the property mowed.
The property at 325 Isacks has grass and weed heights well over 12” tall. The office did reach out to Aaron Thacker about mowing there. He said he will get someone on it right away. Will reach back out if not taken care of by the end of the week.
– It was asked if the City Council would consider leaving 1 meter in the meter can down town so food trucks or other event trucks could use it as needed. The council discussed it.
Mary Jane Hoffer motioned to approve keeping one metered utility pole with plug in outlets down town for use from March – October (or as needed for events) and then pad-a-locked the other months. Owen Mallonee seconded the motion. Motion passed 5 yeas, 0 nays.
– Douglas County Climate Action Plan – the City of Lecompton was asked to participate. Jimmy is already on the team as a representative for Douglas County. How can the communities in Douglas County be “green” friendly? For example, Baldwin City has installed several solar panel fields and is working to have more installed. Eudora is working on ideas, how could Lecompton participate?
One thing Lynley will look into is Electric Vehicle Charging Station down town for public access. Maybe have them installed in front of City Hall.
City improvement project status updates:
Project considerations:
1. Digital corner marquee – Would still like to do this
2. Re-landscape park to include back fill eroded areas around pavilion and stairs and near ramp (South of the community building) – Jimmy brought design ideas. Susan Wood suggested contact K-State architect program. A student may want to take this on as a summer project.
3. Cedar fascia boards around pavilion roof needs replaced. Pavilion needs power washed and re-sealed.
8:22 PM – Mary Jane Hoffer motioned to adjourn. Stephanie Confer seconded the motion.
Motion passed 5 yeas, 0 nays
Lynley Sanford, City Clerk