September 18, 2023 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, Steve Freeman and Owen were present at roll call. Council Member Stephanie Confer was absent. City Attorney Jeff Heiman, Superintendent Rance Roberts and City Clerk Lynley Sanford were also present. The following residents or township members present included: Susan Wood, Belinda Janes, USD 343 School Superintendent J.B. Elliott, Troy Clark, Elsie Middleton, Mark Sharon, Jack Oglesby, Paul Bahnmaier, Jamin Nally, Dick Wingfield, and Greg Howard.
Mary Jane Hoffer motioned to approve the meeting minutes from September 5th, 2023. Steve Freeman seconded the motion.
Motion passed 4 yeas, 0 nays.
Owen Mallonee motioned to approve the bills. Mary Jane Hoffer seconded the motion.
Motion passed 4 yeas, 0 nays.
J.B. Elliott went over the School Bond Ballot question. The current bond expires 2024, the new bond would keep the same mill levy. The school district has seen an increase in student enrollments every year for the last 4 years. The school district will provide a more detailed presentation at the Lecompton Community Empowerment building at 620 E. Woodson Ave. on September 25th, 2023
Susan Wood talked to the City regarding removal of some dead cedar trees in the street right of way. The cedars have a boring bug and are dying. It would be important to note that there are communication lines that are in the branches. The Council discussed since the trees are in the right of way, the City would take them down.
Mark Sharon was present to discuss the extension for this building permit. He needs until the middle of December.
Mary Jane Hoffer motioned to extend his building permit until December. Owen Mallonee seconded the motion.
Motion passed 4 yeas, 0 nays.
Paul Bahnmaier presented to the city council additional information. There were 2 Lecompton political parties in Washington that were against the City of Lecompton. The Lecompton Territorial Capital hosted a writer from New York. Mike McGuire, he is writing an article and looking to have it published. Jack Oglesby’s write up regarding the new historical discovery will be published in the K.C. Star.
Jeff Heiman
– No current updates at this time
Resident Dick Wingfield spoke up with concerns over properties in Lecompton. Concern over properties that have overgrown grasses, buildings that need repaired or don’t look safe. The council indicated that requests to address property concerns had been sent, and many of the concerns have been addressed.
Rance –
– Tree cleanup on 7th and Jones went very well with the assistance from the guys at the Lecompton Township. Rance would like to rent a drivable man lift to address cutting over hanging trees all over the streets and alleys of the town. The council reviewed the bid for a man lift for a month from United Rentals at this time the council would like to wait to do any tree cleanup.
– The Council mentioned getting a bid from a tree service company to take down trees around town.
– Need to get playground equipment installed before October. Needs to be completed by the beginning of October.
Lynley –
– No updates
New Business
– Council reviewed the sidewalk estimate of Construction Engineering hours from BG Consultants and reviewed additional information from KDOT.
Owen Mallonee motioned to approve the KDOT sidewalk Construction Engineering hours as proposed. Tim McNish seconded the motion. Motion passed 4 yeas, 0 nays.
Old Business
– Updates on handicap signs for downtown businesses. They have been delivered and the concrete post holders have been made. They should be installed soon.
7:56 PM – Mary Jane Hoffer motioned to adjourn. Steve Freeman seconded the motion.
Motion passed 4 yeas, 0 nays
Lynley Sanford, City Clerk
**** At the City Council Meeting on Monday October 2nd, 2023 council member Mary Jane Hoffer felt additional conversation had taken place and been left out of the meeting minutes from the September 18th, 2023 meeting.
The missing content claimed to be missing was nothing that the City took action on, but Mrs. Hoffer felt it should be included.
Further more, Mrs. Hoffer could not specifically state what the discussion was about. The city council discussed the highlight of conversation from that meeting. It was decided that the information Mrs. Hoffer felt was missing was in regards to email communications between the City Attorney and City Clerk.
Mrs. Hoffer also felt that there was additional conversational information missing from the meeting minutes to include an update from Douglas County to the city clerk. Douglas County had provided an update regarding a property recently de-annexed from the City limits. The property is at the corner of 600 and Diagonal road owned by Richard Nichols. The property update was that the property was determined to be condemned.
Council member Tim McNish stated that the council should not be talking about property that is no longer in the city limits.