City Commission - Regular Meeting

We'll now call to order the April 13th, 2026 City of Abene, Kansas City Commission meeting. Shayla, may we please have a roll call. Mayor Rin, here. Commissioner Taylor, here. Commissioner Kolhoff. Commissioner Lidle, yes. Commissioner Meisenberg, here. Roll call's complete.

Thank you. If we could please stand for the pledge. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Our next item is approval of today's agenda. and actually have a addition to the agenda. So I would make a motion to approve the agenda with the addition of 10B which is a request for executive session regarding non-elected personnel. We already have one as 10A for attorney client privilege but due to the nature of the second one we need to um come back in and then go back into a different um executive session covered under state statute.

Second. Motion has been moved and seconded. Do we have any commission discussion? Uh just really quick here. I think 10B is already on the agenda. Do you want to that is C or remove the current B? Yeah. So I guess we could just make it um Mayor, if it's helpful, I don't think we'll need what is currently shown as 10B today. we could simply substitute what is currently 10B for the second executive session on the basis of non-elected personnel.

Okay. Then yeah, I guess that was my intent. 10B will just um substitute the existing 10B for the new 10B which is an executive session for non-elected personnel. I'll renew my second. We have any commission discussion? Seeing none with a roll call vote. Commissioner Taylor, yes. Commissioner Kolhoff, hi. Commissioner Lidle, yes. Commissioner Meisenberg, yes.

Myself, yes. Motion carries. Our next item is a consent agenda, which consists of the meeting minutes for the March 23rd, 2026 regular meeting. The meeting minutes for the April 8th, 2026 special meeting, appropriation ordinance, AP payment register, first quarter 2026 treasures report, and first quarter 2026 investment report. I make a motion to approve the consent agenda as written. I'll second.

Motion has been moved and seconded. Do we have any commission discussion? Just really quickly, I had sent an email to uh finance director Bond and she uh rapidly responded with answers on that, but um I will send you an additional email, but I'm curious if you could um not only I guess account for those wreck um tax funds, but I'm also curious about the property tax revenue from the RHID project at the Highlands. I I looked through your reports here and I didn't notice those broken out

and I might have just missed them there. The rural the RHID is listed on the treasures report. There was no activity in the first quarter. Um the uh county I'm sorry the county is providing us with RHID distributions once a year and we received that last year about October time frame. So I expect at the same time this year. And where are those funds being held? In the rural housing incentive district fund that the city has. It's like Yeah, it's fun 39. So okay, I might have just missed it here. I apologize if I didn't see it there. Yeah, no problem. That is on your treasures report.

That's correct. Okay, thank you. Do we have any further commission discussion? Seeing none, I'll move to a roll call vote. Commissioner Kolhoff, I. Commissioner Lidle, yes. Commissioner Meisenberg, yes. Vice Mayor Taylor, yes. Myself, yes. Motion carries. Our next item under heading six, public comments communications is 6A, a public forum. Is there anyone that would like to address the commission on an item not on our current agenda? Yep. Just please state your name, address, and there's a threeminute time limit.

I'm James Price, 41 Northeast 7th. And basically, I'm doing this for my wife. She runs Shivering Sheep up on 308 North Buckeye. And it's a little concerned about the sidewalk situation that you're talking about construction up there. So 3 minutes, huh? Uh this is to uh protest the proposed little summer project. It is uh imperative that you hear and understand and have to say as none of you have visited my shop or done your due diligent of visiting with your constituents. I will explain that I am the owner of the Shivering Sheep, a yarn shop on Buckeye Avenue. I am one of the five remaining traditional merchants left in the city. Four of us are located on Buckeye. Two of us have no rear entrances. I sat behind a microscope for more than 42 years uh finding cancer cells etc. And I'm pretty good at spotting cancer. What you are about to unleash with your project turning out perfectly good front entrances and sidewalks is like a malignant in a body. It will devastate us. We cannot close our doors while uh pleasant sight things for anyone, but especially shops gain a following and uh momentum through the billboards and etc. that she has on Interstate 70. Uh the people do come to town and then after they get here, they kind of wonder what they're doing here. Uh, are you so anxious to spend money that you will tear out perfectly good

sidewalks and drains resulting in more empty storefronts? Uh, can anyone tell us how we will access the post office, for example? Please reconsider your actions and save the money, save what is left of the city of Abalene. And thank you.

Thank you. And I know Brad you have discussed this previously that uh during those design conversations or I guess the biggest piece of it is to limit the disruption. I mean there will always be some disruption during any project but um you talked about adding doing I can't remember the ramps or what have you. Um while the concrete if if it's being replaced it's not going to be replaced in every location just if the sidewalks are failing. Um sure I assume you guys will contact those or once we have plans on the design.

Okay. Okay. Thank you. Do we have anyone else that would like to address the commission on an item not on our current agenda? Okay. you please state your name, address, and three minute time limit.

Bruce Johnson, 524 Ridge Road. Um, we're sitting in the actual building that I'm going to talk about. We've got the gable ends on the library that are I don't know if they're rotting underneath the the gable ends or not, but they certainly look bad and need to be replaced. And I'm not sure. Maybe that's already in the plan somewhere. I'm just not aware of it, but certainly that's We've got to take care of what we have before we start spending on new things, I would think. So, I'd think that would be an important item to take care of. Also, this sort of ties in with it, but in terms of just efficiencies of things and good use of money, I'm I'm not sure because I've seen it work and it's fantastic. It's the Vaxar truck that that I spoke with Mr. Anderson. fabulous, fabulous piece of equipment to save a lot of expense and digging and tearing up internet cables and paying a lot of money to do that. It's a half million dollar truck. I mean, it's half million bucks. And it would it would seem like if it's possible that we could either um help other cities out that don't have that kind of equipment. We could they could pay us to bring our truck out and help them do things that they have to pay somebody to do. Otherwise, they're going to tear up things, too. But it would seem like we could save some save some of our money, use it for other uses if we were able to use some of our equipment to do that.

Thank you. Thank you. Do we have anyone else that would like to address the commission on an item not on our current agenda? Okay. Seeing none, we will move to item 6B, recognition of Kevin Clark for receiving the Kansas Rural Water Association Wastewater Operations Specialist of the Year Award. Public Works Director Anderson.

Good afternoon, mayor and commissioners. Um, we're here today uh on behalf of the city and the public works to publicly recognize Kevin Clark um as the wastewater operator of the year for the state of Kansas. Um, it's a pretty big honor. He was recognized at the KRWA conference recently. Um, I know there the KRWA released something to the newspaper before I got a chance to to let it out. Um, but I thought it was right um to do this for him. And uh, you know, Kevin's been with us for um, 17 total years. He's been three years as the superintendent of the wastewater treatment plant. Um so this is just for all you to see and for us to congratulate him in this pretty big honor. Um you know candidates from across the whole state they go through a whole series of of uh questionnaires and uh just look at overall knowledge of the plant and it it just gives him credit for what he does for us here in our city. So

that's awesome. Congratulations, Kevin. Yeah, you guys want to come up? I don't have Come on, Brad. in the middle. There we go.

You're only around two outside. What you want me to round two? All right. And our next item is 6C, an Arbor Day proclamation. Whereas in 1872, J. Sterling Morton proposed to the Nebraska Board of Agriculture that a special day be set aside for the planting of trees. And whereas this holiday called Arbor Day was first observed with the planting of more than a million trees in Nebraska. And whereas Arbor Day is now observed throughout the nation and the world. And whereas trees can reduce the erosion of our precious top soil by wind and water, cut heating and cooling costs, moderate the temperature, clean the air, produce life-giving oxygen, and provide habitat for wildlife. And whereas trees are a renewable resource, giving us paper, wood for our homes, fuel for our fires, and countless other wood products. And whereas trees in our community increase property values, enhance the economic vitality of business areas, and be beautify our community. And whereas the National Arbor Day Foundation has recognized the city of Abene as a tree city USA for 34 consecutive years. Now therefore, I, Brandon Ryan, mayor of the city of Abene, Kansas, along with the city commission, do hereby proclaim April 24th, 2026, as Arbor Day in the city of Abalene, and urge all citizens to celebrate Arbor Day and to support efforts to protect our trees and woodlands. And further, I urge all citizens to plant trees to gladden the heart and promote the well-being of this and future generations. In testimony, I have here unto set my hand and cause a great seal of city of Abling, Kansas to be affixed on this 13th day of April, 2026.

Our next item under heading seven unfinished business is 7A. Consider approval of ordinance 26-3477, an ordinance establishing section 1-505 of city code pertaining to standards and specifications for public improvement and infrastructure within the city of Appalain. Inter city manager Quende.

Thank you. Uh this is an ordinance that was brought before the commission two weeks ago. Uh currently the city code references standards for public improvements but does not uh formally adopt or define them even though staff has been using them for a number of years. Uh this creates inconsistencies and limits enforcability. The ordinance as presented to the city commission establishes section 1505 which authorizes the city manager to adopt and maintain these technical standards. And it requires that the standards are on file and publicly accessible. And that's done by keeping them on file in the city clerk's office but public works and the city inspector community development also keep copies on file. Um the delegation of the technical updates to the city manager is a standard municipal practice. Uh the city commission retains their policy authority and the standards remain transparent and publicly available. This also avoids having to be back technical engineering updates uh for formal ordinance every time we want to uh make a change. The staff's recommendation is approval of ordinance 263477.

Have questions for staff on this item? Do you have a draft of those uh proposed ordinances? Uh the ordinance in your packet is uh the one we're asking you to adopt. The standards and specifications are available online. Thank you. Yes. standards and specifications. Yeah, there those are not those were not in our packet. However, I can't understand. Sorry, what was that? It was those were not in the packet.

Uh they are available online. They were in a previous packet. U this ordinance is not asking you to adopt those. This ordinance is uh asking you to give that authority to the city manager to adopt those and amend them as needed. Is there any um process by which those would come back to the city commission if say there was a someone developing something in the public right away and they needed a variance? I mean how how was how does the city commission retain authority over that process?

Uh you retain policy authority. If you think that the um those standards and specifications are improper or you want them changed, then you direct that they be changed. Well, but the way this is written, the city manager can just change them right back.

Correct. I don't see that happening practically. If uh a city manager was directed by the governing body to change a standard and specification contrary to what the uh city's engineer proposed, uh he or she would be a fool to go back the next day and change it after the boss said change. And if you didn't like what the city manager did, then you terminate them. That's your policy authority,

right? I just think that maybe we need a resolution that's slightly less severe and having it that way it leaves it kind of arbitrary as you've pointed out. we've had 10 different city managers in however many years. And so I think that correct and you've also had these standards for the same period of time uh with not being adopted relying on city staff and the city engineer to have those in place. This just makes so have the what was the process for changing those previously?

Don't know they've just been that way since people can remember who worked here. So they haven't changed in to your knowledge?

Not in the nine months I've been here. No, they've never been adopted by the governing body or any auh authority. That's what we're asking you for. Now, they're referenced in city code you must follow these standards and specification, but they're not defined or um authorized. So we take those standard and specification which are common. We don't just decide during a staff meeting want to change something. U we use accepted engineering standards. For example, if you look at um our driveway entrance uh standards, they'll pretty much almost verbatim mirror other cities like Salina. An example would be a sidewalk 4 in concrete for 6 in driveway for residential would be 6 in concrete with wire mesh and then uh if it was commercial industrial 8 in but if you look at salina they're 9 in uh commercial that 1 in isn't going to make a difference in our engineers mind. So it's not staff saying here's the standards these are engineering standards that uh are being adopted. I mean, I hear what you're saying, but you've also already pointed out just between Abene and Salena, there's differences in what those technical specifications are. Sai, I don't know if you you probably are more involved in this than anybody uh on the commission anyway. What What are your thoughts on that? My thoughts are it's good to have a set of standards posted online. That way everybody knows what they're working from. And it needs to be enforcable as in the whoever's inspecting needs to have something to go by to grade the whoever's doing the work in

the rideway. So as long as the standards are set up front and they know what rules they're working by and then we can enforce them. That's the way I see it. So, it's written online in the code and then this makes it enforcable by the city inspector. That's how I see it. So, as long as they know what set of rules they're working by up front, we should be good.

You said those are posted online, Mr. Quinde. Yes. Are those in Those are not in the code though, correct? No, they're referenced in code. So, where are those? Can you explain, I guess, to me where those are available online?

No, all I can tell you is they're on the city website. I couldn't tell you which page, but we'll be more than happy to send you the URL or the actual documents if you like. again by adopting uh this ordinance if that's the um the will of the majority of the governing body. The standards that we have in place now will then be officially adopted. I will just send out a uh a memo to staff. These are adopted and we currently have some revisions that are being sent to um our engineers to make sure that the visions that we want meet minimal standards.

So if we approve this um

Brandon, I'm not sure if your microphone's on. I can't hear you. It's Yeah. Can you hear me? very very faintly. Okay. It's very loud in here, so I'm trying to kind of stay back a little bit. Um, so if we do Oh, I think Okay, she's adjusting it a little bit. Is that better? Okay, great. Thank you. So, if we do approve this, we have a method of adjusting, amending, whatever word you want to use. What would be that process now if we didn't adopt this?

Oh, you they're not adopting it right now. They're referenced in code, but they've never been adopted by the governing body or the city manager. So, you can say we want to adopt them. So, every time you have a technical change, we will bring that to the governing body, explain that technical change, make sure that a majority of the five understand what that is. Uh some of those can be pretty technical. Um or the way we wrote it uh and recommended is that the uh city manager can adopt those based on the recommendation of the city engineer. If it's helpful, it becomes a delegation of authority issue. There are references within the city code that provide for certain public improvements such as sidewalks, for example, to be constructed in accordance with the standard plans and specifications. We know we have those already and uh I'm not aware of any reason that those are not uh where they should be, but there is nothing within the code that specifically delegates the authority to the city manager or the public works director or anyone to develop those. So, I think it's a cleanup item. We're not creating new substantive requirements to build public improvements where they do not already exist. It's simply when those public improvements are built, what are the specifications that must satisfy the city? And uh this will provide a clear link within the code. If anyone ever challenges them or refuses to comply with them, we'll be able to point to this new code provision that specifically authorizes the city manager or designate to prepare and promulgate those and change them from time to time. And your recourse would be to amend the code, revoke that authority if at any point that became untenable.

So I I see that of authority issue. I mean, I think we the city commission approves the fire code and uh building code and electrical code. I don't I mean, I think this should be an annual cleanup thing, and I think it's I think that the governing body should retain that authority. I'd be fine with putting this on a study session if we want to look at it further, but I just that's my feeling. If we can understand a building code, I think this uh this should be fine for us to oversee as well. I guess with the way it is now, what recourse do we have to oversee it as it currently sits?

None. I mean, if somebody doesn't build to the standard specifications in the code where it says you will build this following the city's standard specifications uh standard specifications and they don't there is no okay says you will but it doesn't say what those are. That's what this uh mechanism is and this isn't us just saying well you know let's cut out the uh governing body. This is standard municipal practice to do so. We're adding just a section to the code that allows for that administrative adoption. When you talk about the international building code or the plumbing code, property maintenance code, fire code, you're talking about books three or four inches thick with thousands of pages and you adopt those by ordinance. Uh but I wouldn't expect that uh the commissioners would understand all thousand pages. But if I mean if the commission wants to uh come in and adopt those annually as Commissioner Kohhoff suggests, then we have an engineer come in and explain those to you and debate whether or not it should be 4 in or 6 in or whatever Google says is the best at that time. So, John, those those codes and that specific information that John was referencing were in the online and under chapter 2 article 2 building codes um 2-201 all the way to 2011H and that's exactly what he's referencing is the national electrical code

um property maintenance code um fuel gas code. So basically all it is is all the general specific trade manuals and all the building best practices all laid out with a few carveouts based on best practices that Abalene um deems fit. Um I see what you're saying though as far as city manager discretion versus um city commission discretion. Would it be possible to anytime um to add anytime maybe one of these building codes is amended that an edit would come before the commission? Would that be something that we could work in if it's a non-technical aspect of

Are you talking about the standards and specifications? Correct. I'm not talking about No, the standard specifications are actually technical engineering doc. Correct. They're like drawings. Yes, I'm fully aware well aware of that. But anytime maybe we um deviate from how it is now any amendment that would change the technical manual is what I'm saying because if you look at the building code Yeah. Anytime the building code or any of those are uh we bring amendments or changes to those those have to be adopted by the governing body by ordinance. Right. Right. So, for example, the building code, I'm assuming that the process was that staff went through that and then said, "Hey, based on all the 4 inches of book, right,

these things don't apply here. We don't need this here." And so, the governing body adopted an ordinance that said, "We adopt this by reference except for right all these items." Yeah, I've I've read through that. So, that's already stated. that does basically those code books do govern how we enforce and inspect work as it is. Yes. For and and anytime any change is made an amendment is already needed to make that change for those. Yeah. But in the code it says that if you going to build a a sidewalk it has to be built within the standard and specification that are adopted by right

and that would be the you know 2 inch or 4 inch thick and and what those so as I understand this these are essentially these standards and speci specifications wouldn't fall into any of those other building codes or anything else and so we've already in my mind we kind of have the precedent that we as a governing body approve those it seems like Maybe that's a requirement. Um, it seems that we should just keep that consistent. I think as a commissioner, if somebody says, "Hey, I don't like this part of the code." We don't have any recourse. There's there's nothing that we can do as a governing body. And that's what we're elected to do. We're elected to represent our constituents, and I think we need to retain that power.

I think you're oversimplifying it. as uh the city attorney or maybe it was the mayor said, if you don't like how the code is or how it's being operated, you could come in here and uh repeal or get rid of that section and say, "No, you know what? We don't like the way you're you're managing this and the way you're adopting these codes." And uh so we're going to repeal that section. We're going to You can do it from the outset if you want. This is to save you a whole bunch of technical review and and stuff like that. Um, but just saying that uh the city commission has no authority and there's nothing they can do if we don't like it, that's mischaracterizing it completely. We don't manage those changes now. No,

the city manager does. Correct. So that would just be basically codifying what's happening how it is now. Yes, sir. Right. have any further commission discussion. Then I'd entertain a motion.

Well, I support it. Um, this is just giving the manager the authority to maintain those standards and the public improvements the way we've been doing it. Um, I don't think we need to micromanage the the minor minute details on um the specifications in the in the waterway. So, I'm going to make a motion to consider the approve to approve ordinance 26-3477 and an ordinance establishing section 505 of city code pertaining to standards and specifications for public improvements and infrastructure within the city of Abene.

I'll second. Motion has been moved and seconded. Do we have any further commission discussion? Seeing none of the roll call vote. Commissioner Lidle, yes. Commissioner Meisenberg, yes. Vice Mayor Taylor, yes. Commissioner Koloff, n.

Myself, yes. Motion carries. Our next item is 7B. Consider approval of ordinance 26-3478, an ordinance amending existing section 7-507 of the city code of the city of Abalene pertaining to sewer rates and repealing existing section 7-507. Interim city manager Quinday. Yes, this is a continuation of discussion that the uh after a presentation from Kansas Municipal Utilities which the city contracted with to complete a comprehensive sewer rate study which evaluated the financial condition, cost, reserves, and debt of the uh sewer utility. March 9th, that presentation uh was made to the commission. And then on March 23rd, Beth with KMU came back to a study session and answered uh the commission's questions and went over more of her methodology. The study identified risk with the current rates uh which the she shared showing operating shortfalls. Uh without a rate adjustment, the uh sewer utility will uh fall in the negative by the end of the year, probably within the next month or two. uh the declining fund balances over years because of a lack of addressing uh the rates with rising cost and inadequate debt coverage. Uh the ordinance as presented implements the recommended rate adjustments to ensure long-term sustain sustainability. Um staff recognizes just as the commission does that uh rate increases impact residents and uh businesses in town just like water rates do. However, not adjusting the rates now creates larger uh increases or issues later. If these rates would have been adjusted over a period of years in small increments, you wouldn't have the increase that were is in the ordinance now. Uh the study provides datadriven thirdparty analysis. Um, so we're asking you to approve ordinance 263478, which would adopt the rate structure

recommended by Kansas Municipal Utilities as presented. Questions for city staff or comments from the public? Have you received any feedback from the public as far as our announcements or the newspaper article?

No, sir. Proud of you, Jay. Have you? Any further questions for city staff or comments from the public? None. entertain a motion.

I'll make a motion to approve ordinance 26-3478, an ordinance amending existing section 7507 of city code of Abling, Kansas, prepare pertaining to sewer rates and repealing existing 7507.

I'll second. Motion has been moved and seconded. Do we have any further commission discussion? Okay. Sorry, I was trying to write down the motions and seconds just in case. We have no further commission discussion. Move to roll call vote. Uh, Commissioner Meisenberg, yes. Vice Mayor Taylor, yes. Commissioner Koloff, hi. Commissioner Lidle. Yes.

Myself, no. Motion carries. Our next excuse me. Our next item under heading 8, new business is 8A. Let me take a drink. My throat's getting weird. Consider approval of resolution 041326-1, a resolution establishing a riskmanagement reserve fund for the city of Abene, Kansas in accordance with KSA2-2615 interim city manager Quind Day.

Yeah, as we discussed uh last year when we were preparing the 2026 budget and then uh also discussed briefly with the smart insurance renewal um two meetings ago, I believe. Um this resolution establishes a riskmanagement reserve fund which is authorized by state statute. Um the fund is used for uh paying for uninsured losses, deductibles or claims and other legal expenses. Currently if we have those expenses they come out of the general fund from the department that incurs them. For example, if um the police department had a motor vehicle accident, they pay that cost whether it would be their uh deductible for insurance or the direct repair cost. Um so that impacts the general fund's um unpredictability when you have those. By establishing this, you take a certain amount of money to start it. We're recommending $5,000 uh from the general fund and enterprise funds total, not from each to get it started. And then every year you budget what you want to put into it. You get to a level where you want it. This also coincides with uh increasing the city's deductible from $1,000 for vehicle losses to $3,000. Uh so this will help soften that and it also can save the the city some premium increases in the future if you have a $3,000 loss or even a $2,000 loss rather than uh make a claim every time. We can pay for it out of here. Uh this fund is a little unique as um whether you spend $1 or you spend $30,000 out of it, it requires the city commission's approval for any type of expenditure at even just $1. So we're asking the commission to uh approve the resolution uh to implement this financial management tool.

I do have a question. Um I think previously uh when we were discussing this um we were realizing I think a $10,000 premium reduction due to that. Um I guess what was the thought process? I I was under the impression that we were going to going to initially deposit 10,000 into the fund instead of five. And we can the reason we uh recommend five is the uh we saw a $10,000 reduction in premium by increasing our deductibles. But the um $1,000 deductible premium exceeded what we had budgeted uh in 26 for insurance. So this $5,000 is actually what you're seeing saved from what we budgeted to what the premium is. Okay.

So there's no new spending. It's just taking that amount we saved. Sure. I just remembered it being 10,000 and then being five in the packet. So I just wanted to I guess clarify the change on that. Do you have any other questions for city staff? Seeing none, I'd entertain a motion.

You brought your glasses. I did. Okay. Okay. I'll make a motion um to approve resolution 041326-1, a resolution establishing a riskmanagement reserve fund for the city of Abene, Kansas in accordance with KSA 122615. Second. Motion has been moved and seconded. Do we have any further commission discussion? Seeing none, we'll move a roll call vote. Vice Mayor Taylor, yes. Commissioner Kolhoff. Hi. Commissioner Lidle, yes. Commissioner Meisenberg, yes. Myself, yes. Motion carries.

Our next item is 8B. Consider approval of ordinance 26-3479 establishing section 1-1409 of the Abene city code to establish an employee benefits contribution fund for the city of Abling, Kansas in accordance with KSA 12-16102. Interim city manager Quende.

Yes, thank you. This is u an item that we talked about during the development of the 2026 budget, but it uh the timing would not allow us to get it implemented in time uh to make it work into the 2026 budget. Currently, um all of our funds when you look at them, uh wages and benefits are in one line item. Makes it difficult for uh management of those funds, but also for the governing body to see what's wages and what are the benefits are, but also for the public. how much are you spending on wages and benefits? So, the state statute allows the uh commission to establish this fund. You're not creating new expenses or a new levy. What you're doing is you're taking uh these two things that are currently grouped together in the budget and you're separating. So, when you're working on the 2027 budget and you see a request for wages by department, that'll be wages. And then you'll see it separately for uh personnel benefits, which will have its own fund. So in practice the general fund uh would transfer its proportionate share into that fund. The enterprise funds or the utilities would do the same thing. Um so that allows the uh department directors, the city manager, the governing body and the public to see who's funding the personnel benefit funds, how much is it costing. It's easier to track and trend are those costs going up or they going down not only for the benefits but also for the it just adds clarity. um and allows for better financial planning, budget stability, and transparency for uh the public to see what we're spending in by not having them all lumped together. So, we're asking you to adopt this ordinance, which would establish that uh fund and then if you do so, then the 2027 budget would reflect those changes. So it would simply delineate the

expenses from wages and benefits. Yeah. It would just separate them so you can see them clearly. Yep. And on the uh budget uh workbook and even what we publish right now they see say general fund the grand total and they see water the grand total. This would actually break it out on what's published for general fund and then personnel benefits. So they'll see citywide what's being spent on that. just more clarity and transparency for the public to see where where their money's going. Have any questions for staff on that item? Yeah, it seems very straightforward to me.

Seeing none to entertain a motion. Make the motion to approve ordinance number 26-3479 establishing section 1-1409 of the Abene city code to establish an employee benefits contribution fund for the city of Abene, Kansas in accordance with KSA2-16102.

I'll second. Motion has been moved and seconded. Do we have any further commission discussion? Seeing none, we'll move a roll call vote. Commissioner Koloff.

We didn't hear you. Thank you. Sorry, Commissioner Lidle. Yes. Commissioner Meisenberg? Yes. Vice Mayor Taylor? Yeah. Myself? Yes. Motion carries.

Our next item is 8C. Consider approval of a memorandum of understanding with Abene USD 435 for shared facility use. Interim city manager Quinde. One of the things that we've been working on the last uh eight or nine months is to make sure that we put mechanisms in place. So, uh when there's a leadership change, whether that's at the city manager level or department director level, there's continuity and things just don't change every time somebody does. Um parks and wreck under the leadership of uh Kelly Timbrook and the school district have a great working relationship in sharing facilities. So, we met with the superintendent of schools and came up with the uh memorandum of understanding uh that we're presenting to you. And what that does is simply memorializes uh the current practices and relationships that are in place now. So that way uh down the road if uh when I leave or if Kelly were to leave or a change in anybody, this is memorialized how we'll work down the future. And if we want to change that, uh I can't do it or Kelly can't do it. it would require the governing body. So, we're asking you to um adopt this memorandum understanding with USD 435. They will take it up tonight at their meeting and Kelly will be there at 7:00 uh represent the city.

So, just clearly codifying what's already happening. Yes. Between the two organizations. Yes. Yeah. Yeah. She has a great working relationship. They they share well and all that. It just puts it in paper so it it never falls apart. Sure. Any questions for staff? No questions here. Yep. Okay. Then I'd entertain a motion.

I will move we approve a memorandum of understanding with Abling USD 435 for shared facility use. I'll second. Motion has been moved and seconded. Do we have any commission discussion? Hearing none. We roll call vote. Commissioner Lidle, yes. Commissioner Meisenberg, yes. Vice Mayor Taylor, yes. Commissioner Koloff, hi.

Myself, yes. Motion carries. Our next item is 8D. Consider approval of a bid from Schilling Construction Company, Inc. for a 2-in mill and overlay of Cedar Street from Northwest Fifth Street to Northwest 14th Street in the amount of $211,160. Public works director Anderson. Good afternoon, mayor and commissioners. Um the topic of the Cedar Street for the local street um project um project number 26-1-LSP, which means local street project. Um I was honestly pretty happy with where the bids came back. I had an estimated um based off of last year that the project was going to be somewhere in the vicinity of 230,000. Um both of those bids, one came in pretty dang close at 227 288 and then the low bid by shilling came in at 21160 and60. Um, something that uh I wanted to point out were the optional bid/ alternate bid items that I listed u for paint strike marking and concrete leveling around the manholes and water lids. Um, those were optional because um, we have the option um, if time allows as a city staff to either do those ourselves. Now, our our paint striping machine is very basic. It would it would be a job um, in my opinion. any of the um the one bid that did come back from APAC as an optional bid item. Um it came back with in my opinion what is the city manager's approval spending limit. I think I can also look into um another company that uh has spray options um the one that uh did 14th Street. So I think in all in all if we're going to look at doing it I have those options yet. So I'll come back uh I'll get bids on those two projects. I think most importantly right now, we're here um to to get

approval for the 2-in mill and overlay. Um the project would be um scheduled for sometime this summer. Honestly, I don't have an exact date. It is whenever it would fit into their scheduling and more than likely that they're in this area doing it. Um it'll be similar to Third Street last year. Um there will be a few interruptions on the street at the time they're doing whichever specific lane. So, when you're talking residences, um there may be interruption for a daytime period just like there was on Third Street. Um we'd give notice obviously door hangers would be put out. Um whether or not they decide to do one whole direction, which is what they did last year on Third and and there'd be some interruption. So, um residents would have to park on the side streets or depending on what side of the street a lot of the residences have alley access, specifically the west side. Um, so there will be a little interrupt interruption and we're just going to have to work with everybody. Um, but all in all, just like Third Street last year, I think everybody's going to be happy to get a new street put in place. Um, so do you have any questions about the bid process or anything there? Like I said, the option the uh the two optional items were great, but I think I can um get some price quotes on those and move forward on them on my home. So, on the optionals, did um Chilling put in a bit for the optionals?

They did not, but they did email me afterwards and say that they can still work some up. I honestly think it was a a time factor, but uh I I think it can be an option with them yet. Um but we'll just see where um where the pricing comes in for everything to be honest with you. Follow us.

Do you recall the last time that specific stretch was overlaid? I off the top of my head I do not and I I know that the condition it's in it's been a while and we've done several repairs up there on that street with water lines and that's why it's been patched and repaired so many times. Um I do have plans to kind of sit down with my uh utility superintendent um Joe Hawk and and if there's anything else we need to get wrapped up real quick before we go and lay a new street in so that we don't aren't ripping up a brand new road. though. Um, if I recall, I feel like I remember in high school maybe there was a chip and seal or something done there that Yeah. became quite a mess. It's possible. Yes.

And Schilling, did they do Were they the ones that did Third Street? Shilling did Third Street and I'll be honest, they were very very

They were really good to work with and and very professional. And so, um, I've got no no problem. As you seen in the list, I contacted Hall Brothers, another big company in North Central Kansas out of Mary'sville, but for this size of project, um they just decided to pass again. And then I, as you seen, I didn't get a re return bid from the Witchah company. They did bid last year, but um their price was pretty much uh consecut by by a lot. So, um then we opened it up to the public in the bidding process, and you're just not going to get very many asphalt companies. I think the two main players that I assumed right here in our area were the ones that put in the bids and that's what was expected to be honest.

Did I understand you that you would have city staff do the concrete leveling if possible?

Uh we if if possible. Yeah. And if it works out. Um I don't have the Oh, maybe I do. How many there were? Um, I wanted to say like pushing 20 total concrete structures in the road. Um, when you're talking manholes and um, water lids turn off. So, it'd be sub substantial work. Um, but yeah, we'll just see where it turns out and honestly our time with our staff. Once the overlay is done, how long of a stretch time do you have between the overlay getting finished up and needing to start on the concrete?

Um, honestly, we could go in around it if we have time to fit it in while they're doing as much as they can, but I doubt them companies want to come in and roll and get it laid and and get out of there. Um, so it would be us going in and and jackhammering around and removing the concrete and and pouring and just set, you know, putting back in place. It would be done one by one. They would go around the concrete.

Correct. Yeah. We've got a few that are in not too bad a shape to be honest with you and we'll and u they do a good job of milling right up to the edge of them and not getting into that concrete and disturbing it and breaking it. Um so they'll they'll do their best with what's existing and once they lay in the new grade of the new asphalt. Um if we don't have to do much to them, that's just a bonus for us to be honest. That answer your question, Mr. Koff? Yes. Thank you.

Have any further questions for staff? If not, I'd entertain a motion. I would say that one definitely needs it. So, I would uh make a motion to consider approving the bid from Shilling Construction Company, Inc. for a 2-in mill overlay of Cedar Street from Northwest Fifth Street to Northwest 14th Street in the amount of $21,000 160. I'll second.

Motion has been moved and seconded. Do we have any further commission discussion? Hearing none, we'll do a roll call vote. Commissioner Meisenberg, yes. Vice Mayor Taylor, yes. Commissioner Koloff, hi. Commissioner Lidle, yes. Myself, yes. Motion carries. Our next item is 8E. Consider approval of a contract with InvoiceCloud, Inc. for an electronic bill presentment and online payment system. Finance Director Bond.

Mayor and commissioners, today we are requesting consideration of approval of a contract with Invoice Cloud to process online payments for utilities and permitting. Currently, the city uses Tyler Tech for all utility payments and will continue to use them for in-house credit card processing. However, as we've been reviewing our operations, one of our priorities has been identifying opportunities to reduce costs and improve efficiencies where we can. With online payments continuing to grow, this is an area where we can make a meaningful impact. Invoice cloud allows us to lower our processing costs. It reduces credit card fees that we pay for utilities because we do absorb those from about 2% plus interchange down to approximately 1.23% plus interchange along with lower e check fees over time. That results in real savings for the city. In addition to the cost savings, it integrates with our existing systems and improves overall efficiency. It also provides more payment options for customers and tools like paperless billing, which could potentially save us around $4,800 annually in printing and postage, even with a conservative participation rate. So, while this does improve the customer experience, the primary driver behind this recommendation is reducing our short-term and long-term operational costs while making our processes more efficient. You have any questions? I So will the I guess citizens, customers, will they see any change on their end?

There will be a platform change. There will be um for those that are signed up currently um on our online billing, they will get notification that that's going to change. All of that is done through Invoice cloud. They have a marketing team that um presents that information and they discuss with us how we want to get it out. I also think it will be beneficial for us as a city to put it out as well. Um, but they will take care of that and at no additional cost. I did clarify that today too as well to make sure that there weren't additional fees for that service and there is not. Um, so they will have to create a new account, but we'll help them get there to do that.

And is that something that um that you talked about invoice cloud marketing? Is that something that they would be able to I guess help us push out to all residents? Uh because obviously online payments Yes. are much cheaper because we don't have to mail physical statements, all of that. Yes. And wanted to try to push that, but I didn't know if this would be, I guess, a bigger assistance in doing so.

Yes. And they have several different options for outbound campaigning when it comes to that. They already offer we are included three outbound campaigns. So, usually typically that's like your first bill notification, your delinquent notice, and then like your hey, you're going to get shut off. So, that would be our three. We could look at additionally paying for additional campaigns if we needed to. Um, but yes, they're they're going to put them out there. And they have different processing um to where you can like make your payment online. You can sign up for online payments, but you don't actually have to enroll in paperless billing if you didn't want to. But obviously, we want to try to encourage customers to do that. And we're trying to do that inhouse already. um every time we have a customer in front of us or um on the phone, we try to recommend signing up for um e bills just with uncertainty of the post office and bill timing and that sort of thing. So,

yeah. How does this interact with our info send contract? I'm sorry, what was that? How does this interact with our info send contract? So, it won't interact with our contract currently because we will still continue to use infosend. Um, I believe we still have one and a half years left on that contract. We will still send out bills to those customers that are not signed up for e billills. Um, so that won't change whatsoever. It'll just reduce our cost if we have less. Um, but we didn't sign.

That's what I'm that's kind of what I'm getting at. If we have say 500 fewer people because they're doing e billilling, how does that affect our infoend contract? Well, as far as I am aware, I don't have the contract in front of me, but we're not tied to a specific number in the info send. So whether we send it's per item sent. So whether we send 500 or we send 2,000, they charge us per what we send.

So we're not locked into having Yeah, I think that's great. I'm just I'm curious why the Tyler, you know, part of that's part of what we purchased, I think, when we went with Tyler Technologies is to have the technology to be able to send those um paperless. I guess I'm just a little upset to learn that the solution that we've already purchased isn't sufficient to do that.

So, it does still do that. I'm not Tyler Tech. I'm not saying Tyler Tech does not send your emails because those of you um I don't get a water bill. So, those of you have signed up for water bill, you get a um emailed bill that is coming from Tyler Tech. What we're looking at is the cost. What the paperless billing is an additional extra perk, if you will. The incentive to switching to Invoice Cloud is that cost savings that we are already budgeting and paying for at 2% with Tyler Tech. Now, we're dropping it to 1.23. It's about a $1,300 a month savings.

What? While simultaneously keeping Tyler contract correct going. Correct. And adopting this one. Correct. Yes. Additional 1300. Yes. because we will still we will still hold true to our contract with Tyler because we'll take their pay their credit card processing inhouse. This will strictly be for online payments. Okay. So, anyone who makes it online.

I had a question about the um biller portion. So, I was reading through the contract stuff and they had the biller portion that we needed to take care of to get the go live date. um how long is it going to take our staff to manage that transition and if we adopted this how long would it take to go live on Yep. We're already working on the biller um portion of that. So that's already in the works and it we're looking at 80 or sorry 90 to 180 days for implementation. Okay. So from the time you from now from approval. Gotcha. Whether whether that's now or later. Sure. Okay. City Attorney Martin, have you had a chance to review both of those contracts?

At some point, I likely would have. I did not look at them in the context of reviewing the invoice cloud agreement. I did work with Kelsey extensively on the one before you, but did not uh juxtapose them with those other contracts you've referenced. I guess before we approve that, I would like to know that we're not stepping on our toes with relationship to those other agreements. As as we sit here today, I'm not prepared to make any um opinion on that simply because I haven't looked at it from that perspective. So, I'm differential to Kelsey. Erin, would you be able to review that prior to the next meeting?

I could if that's the direction. Yes, I guess I would for staff clarify what stepping on toes means. So,

I'm I guess from my perspective, I just want to make sure we're not interfering with uh either of those other contracts. No, we would not be with the contract that's in front of you. This contract and what the work that Kelsey has done and then worked with Aaron to get the uh agreement the way we wanted it um would not interfere with the other contracts or operations, it's intended to save the city uh money. We reached out to Tyler to see if they can just if we can just pay them less rather than bolting on another solution. Yes.

Yes. Are you able to hear that? Sorry. Yeah. I think I got the echo through your mic. Okay. Does how does the level of service compared? I mean, we already understand that Tyler is um there may be a cost savings there if we go back to him and check, but service-wise for the customer end of it, is um invoice cloud better suited to serve abling water bill payers.

Yes. So, I'll make a note on that. I did reach out to Tyler to um verify if they would reduce their cost and they 2% is what they're sticking with with our contract. Um secondly, I also worked with um Junction City as well. They were um they use Tyler in code 10 which is the same thing that we use and they also just recently switched to invoice cloud and are also very happy with the level of service that Invoice clouds provides. Um, additionally, InvoiceCloud offers several other options that as we're moving into different times like they can pay with Venmo through InvoiceCloud, things like that where you know our newer forms of paying your utility bills, they offer those where Tyler Tech does not.

How does that um how does that uh technical side how does the customer interact um with the online portal? What do they have uh for website? Does it integrate with our website? How does that work?

Yes. So, it'll integrate with everything that we have currently, both Tyler and Munogic, which is essentially what we're trying to um what brought this up for permitting side of things. Um and it's just another So, currently the Tyler Tech portal is handled by municipal online payments and that's just a second party website that links from our website. This would be the same exact thing. Theirs does from my opinion is a little bit user friendly. Invoice clouds is um due to the demonstration but I also think municipal online payments is pretty easy to figure out too. So

Gotcha. Okay. Okay. Have any further questions for staff? Um, I guess I'd look to the commission as a whole. Um, do we want to have Aaron review it prior? Review the final contract prior?

Well, to be clear, I have reviewed the agreement before you, and it, uh, after extensive back and forth, uh, it is where we want it to be. Uh, as I understand it, the outstanding question is, uh, is there a desire to also look at the Tyler Technologies contract documents and the info send contract to confirm this does not run a foul of those contract documents, which I haven't done uh, and and wasn't asked to do, but I think that's the question before you. I apologize. I thought you had stated that you had not reviewed it. Oh, no. I I may have not been clear. I have reviewed the invoice cloud agreement. You were probably clear as mud and I just misheard you.

We'll have to look at the uh watch the YouTube pull the tapes.

That would be my preference. Uh City Attorney Martin, um I think anytime we're I mean we're potentially bringing liability on ourselves as a governing body. I would just like to have a signature on that that you signed off and there's no conflict. uh happy to do it. I'm I'm differential to Miss Brian and Mr. Quindai as to you know the confidence level there but uh if that's the direct direction then I'm sure we could do that by the next meeting but the city stat has looked at we don't have a legal opinion that it doesn't run a foul but it doesn't run a foul other municipalities are making that and this is not the only that Kelsey will to save money.

But like uh she mentioned Junction City transition to it and they also have in code 10 uh like we do. But if it's a legal opinion you want, then um any thoughts from the rest of you?

I I trust their opinion. I mean, but I trust errands, too. So, but I have faith in our employees. I think they've done due diligence. I know Aaron's looked at the contract several times and they've had several back and forths and if city staff is comfortable with um going into this new contract and not having any issues with Tyler, I fully respect that.

Tyler is aware because we've reached out to him trying to negotiate a lower price. So they know that uh that's our intent is to move there and they've not, you know, come back and said, "Wait, you can't do it." And we're still going to honor that contract throughout the end of the contract for the next year and a half. So I think we're in good standing with them and what they expect from us. I think the uh just so you're clear, uh Commissioner Taylor, the one and a half years is with Infosend, which actually does the the mailing of the paper bills. Tyler is our enterprise. So, I think we're in with them for the long haul. Gotcha. Yeah. My apologies if I'm misording.

And just for clarification, too, we will still keep um Tyler Tech and Municipal online payments for court payments. Um, InvoiceCloud does not have a court payment processing yet. So, we're still holding our contract there, both in-house for utilities and online for municipal court. Mr. Lle, do you have any input on that? I do not.

Are you looking for a motion? You'd like to? I'll make one. I'll uh make a motion to approve the contract with Invoice Cloud, Inc. for an electronic bill present presentment and online payment system. I'll second. Motion has been moved and seconded. Do we have any further commission discussion? I'll just kind of reiterate. I don't like I think we're looking at what you say 90 to 120 days to get this implemented. So, I don't think waiting two weeks is going to be uh the end of the world to have a contract review. That's certainly my preference and um I guess that's the reason I'll be voting against it.

We have any further commission discussion? Nope. Okay. Seeing none, we'll be a roll call vote. Vice Mayor Taylor, yes. Commissioner Khoff, may Commissioner Lidle, yes. Commissioner Meisenberg, yes. Myself, yes. Motion carries. Our next item is 8F, review and discussion of a memorandum of understanding with Dickinson County for emergency sheltering at Sterl Hall. Interim City Manager Quinday.

Yes, this is um not an action item, but just to have a discussion with the city commission, explain why we started this, where we're at, and where we'd like to see it go and get direction from you. Uh, as you're aware, I believe you had a snowstorm a couple of years ago that uh there's no sheltering in place uh for it. And it's my understanding that the city commission at the time appointed a committee to establish a um a shelter. I met with one of those uh those committee members and uh we had some discussions, but it it really didn't go that far just because of timing and and availability. But as the uh commission's aware, city staff has been working on an emergency operations plan specific to the city. Currently, we do not have one. Uh so the city commission has adopted the Dickinson County emergency operations plan by reference. Um which is not uncommon for um small cities, you know, 1,200 or or uh 1500 2,000. But under the uh Dickinson County plan um and it's common that the county is responsible for sheltering but within that plan it'll say that each city you know has to designate a spot. So by me saying that um the county's responsible for sheltering it's based on interpretation which they're redoing their plan now but they will ordinate when something should occur and then the city has to make the facilities available and man those. So, uh, staff has met with, uh, Dickinson County's, uh, administrator and emergency manager and finance director. I also think he's like the deputy county administrator, uh, Marcus to discuss this. Um, one clarify that uh, the definition of shelter, what the city's looked at before is either a warming shelter or a cooling shelter. So when I'm referring to shelter in this memorandum of

understanding, it is not a tornado shelter which is a whole different set of standards. We want to get away from uh any thought of using the community center as the shelter because it's frankly it's not built for it. Because when you do have a shelter, you have certain responsibilities and obligations such as monitoring who's in there, where they go, uh allowing for showering if it needs be and uh feeding them and and things like that. So when we met with um Dickinson County, the county offered us the use of sterile hall, which is perfect. Um it has a kitchen, it has everything we need. Um so we started talking about, you know, okay, what's our responsibility? What's your responsibility? So this memorandum of understanding um does that it establishes Sturl Hall as the designated emergency shelter location for the city. Um the intent is to have a designated shelter for the city which we don't have and to formalize coordination between the city and Dickinson County during emergency events that require temporary sheltering. Uh the key provisions of the agreement. Um the agreement outlies outlines that we can't have any more than 250 occupants in there. Uh the county will provide the facility to us. Um and we're responsible for sheltering operations and staffing. The thing we've talked about is that uh during sheltering operations, we don't have enough staff to have, you know, people there to to man it. We'll work with those uh NOS's or non-governmental organizations such as the one that Cindy Whittington uh belongs to

start getting civic groups trained up uh how to manage shelters. So we can have a staff person in there checking in on them, but once we open it uh they would actually manage it, sign people in, answer questions, get caught out for them, that type of stuff. Um but it wouldn't be just limited to whatever group she belongs to. our our plan moving forward is to try to get different civic groups on a rotation. Um so they're not having to do it year round. Um theou establishes coordination procedures during activation. Who has to call? Uh how long they have to open it? Who's responsible for uh what roles for setup management and demobilization? Expectations for communications between the city and the county. Um, like I said, there's not a formalized agreement in place defining how sheltering operations would occur at the city level. So, thisou that we're presenting uh would ensure that the roles are predefined before an emergency occurs. So, during an emergency, even if it's just an ice storm or a heat wave without with no power, um, our roles are predefined. Response efforts are coordinated and efficient. U, the city and county working together and having a plan ahead of time. Um and then there's no confusion during time-sensitive situation. So the city would be responsible for operations and staffing which is typical in uh emergency sheltering agreements especially when local personnel are best positioned to respond quickly. Uh this does not create a day-to-day obligation for the city. It only applies when the shelter is activated during emergency. What this does is it benefits the city by uh strengthening re regional uh coordination not only with the city and Dickson County but also with other cities uh that may not have a shelter and may want to send somebody over. Uh emergency preparedness and the city's

ability to respond to community needs during a disaster. Um bottom line is this agreement that we're still working on fine-tuning. I just sent back a uh proposed revisions to the county. Uh ensures that we're not figuring out our roles during emergency. We've got a plan ahead of time just like that emergency operations plan would. Um there is a conflict. Aaron has one uh reviewing it as far as the city's um city side perspective. So, we're having an outside council review it once we Janelle and I come to an agreement as far as the framework and who does what to make sure that it's written legally before we bring it to you uh and to the board of county commissioners for consideration. So, it's really it's an update on what we're working on. This is part of the development of emergency operations plan which I hope that staff continues uh after my departure. So, we're really we're asking for the commission. Do you want us to continue down this path? Uh, working with the county to formalize this, bring it back to you, uh, or just say no and just stop. Seems like a silly question, but sometimes I'll get questioned on, well, why did you do that? So,

I think it's a worthwhile effort. Okay. Yeah. Yeah.

Oh, one question. I don't want to put Aaron on the spot. So, uh, but one outstanding question I have is whether there should be anou or an interlocal agreement. So, it's just the way it's written and and the approval process, but it wouldn't affect us at all. But I think this would be a good thing in cooperation or to complement the emergency operations plan, the one that Dickinson County is redoing and then also uh the one that the city staff is working on at the city level. There is a sheltering class. I don't this Thursday I believe city staff plans on attending as long as uh local citizens which will be helpful and it's really opened up the communication between uh the city and Dickinson County Emergency Management.

Thank you. That decision between the interlocal agreement and theou is that something that you'll kind of give us a high level brief on which one you feel is best suited for this specific case or Yeah. And I think Aaron can not a conflict for you to tell me.

No. Yeah. Um just generally the interlocal cooperation act um is an act um within the Kansas statutes that allows as you might expect um municipal entities uh to contract with one another or with non-municipal entities to perform certain functions. And uh there if it's a true interlocal agreement which sometimes agreements between municipalities are called that. Um but if it if it fits the criteria of the interlocal cooperation act it must contain certain ingredients um including the duration the precise precise organization and composition of the entity that will um perform the proposed actions. Um, and it must ultimately get uh attorney general approval. That's the kicker. Um, there's an exception to the interlocal cooperation act that essentially says that if what you're agreeing to do together uh can be done already by one of the members to the agreement just pursuant to its own powers, then it doesn't need necessarily to comply with the formal requirements including attorney general approval under the interlocal cooperation act. Uh sometimes for various reasons there is a desire to formalize it nonetheless just to get the attorney general's approval and to be more formal. Uh ultimately as to whether this requires that or whether it can be subject to something less formal such as anou will be a question that we'll have to answer. But it would boil down to is this service is this endeavor uh within the proper scope of legal authority for both the county and the city. Okay. Do

you have any further questions on that item? I do and it's probably silly, but like you said, CS and bedding and food. Who provides that? Uh the I think his name is Chansy. The county emergency manager said he would have access to those and could provide those. One of the details we have to work out is are they going to be stored there because when a emergency or disaster happens that's the last thing somebody wants to do is have to go run somewhere and get a bunch of CS haul them and then set them up. Sure. Okay. Those will be the details we'll have to work out.

Okay. We'll move to 8G. review and discussion of existing fairgrounds agreement and proposed facility management agreement with CKFA inter city man or interim city manager Quinday.

Yeah, this is something we've been working on for several months. Um so what I'd like to do is just review uh just like the um uh previous item where we are, what we've done and uh look for guidance for the future. So over time, well, we have two agreements with um Central Kansas Free Fair Association. One is from 1991 and speaks specifically to certain tracks of land out of the that complex uh for lack of a better term. And then there's another one in 1996 uh that adds a couple of tracks and then uh also the stadium and then some responsibilities for the city. So over time though, since 1996 or ' 91, whichever one you want to use, the use of the fairgrounds and city staff's involvement has expanded beyond what was contemplated in what's included in that uh agreement. So tonight, I'd like to talk about whether we should uh continue working to develop and adopt a different type of agreement reflecting how the facilities uh being used today. uh and also looking at some uh ways to expand revenue not only for the uh fair board but also for the city just to cover our cost for our maintenance or do we just continue operating under that structure uh that we have from 91 and 96. I do want to preface this with the uh fair uh I believe so and and staff does. The fair board has done a tremendous job with the work they've done out there building buildings and the size of the fair. Uh Brad took me on a tour. Uh I think it was during the fair and just the amount of people. It's just crazy. It's it's huge. So that's a huge asset. Um so the original agreement uh from 1991 was centered around the

annual fair and a defined period and um the rodeo livestock parking area which is referred to as track 6 and the horse barn and parking area referred to as track 7 uh was allowed by the fair board to use um for a limited period of time during the fair two weeks prior and one week following. Then in 96, as I mentioned, they added the stadium. Um, and then they also changed it to state that the um stadium, track six and track 7, the two that I just mentioned, would be available to the fair association for the ro rodeo related uses during the fair and track six and seven would continue to be available two weeks before and one week after. Um the cities had some responsibilities included 1996 agreement and those include hauling straw daily from the horse barns um and assistance from the public safety department on traffic coordination and then access to uh city water. The current uh reality is the operations have expanded way beyond the original scope. City involvement now includes cleanup from animal events year round. It was a week or two ago. Um what they do is they will push the straw and the manure to the curb side and then call the city and we come pick that up and haul it off. Um clean up outside of the fair parking uh expansion, yearround mowing of the carnival grounds out there, that big field uh mowing of that. Uh and then year- round water use. So, not just during the fair, that two week period, two weeks before, during the fair, and the week after, uh year round, which last year was a little bit more than

500,000 gallons of water used. Um, at the same time, the stadium is has been and is still being used for events outside of that defined fair period, such as barrel racing and team roping events, which are there's some scheduled, I believe, on May 20th and 21st. So, um, so the use of the facilities and the support the city's provided is expanded, but the agreement's not been updated to reflect that. What we did is we asked to meet with the fair board. They sent a few representatives. Uh we discussed just what I presented to you and then we suggested that uh rather than just have this defined period kind of like a lease agreement, you get to use it for fair time and two weeks before and a week after, let's uh move towards a facilities management agreement. You can manage all of those facilities facilities out there year round. Um, and if you want to rent out the RV park portion, I'm not sure if that's really what it's called, but it's got the pedestals for it. Uh, you want to rent out the stadium and those types of things outside of that defined period, great. But um one outside of that period we want to make sure that if we're denying somebody that it's not a violation of anything we have to follow you know because of who they are or their their beliefs or anything like that. And then we asked that uh outside of the fine period which is the fair two weeks before and one week after revenue that you would generate for example during the barrel racing and the other one on May 20th and 21st that we revenue share part of that just enough for us to cover uh recover our cost because we maintain the stadium. We haul off you know um the hay and manure. We mow. we do all these things and we could give you an an approximate number. Uh

and then that would also allow them to increase their revenue by doing it year round. So they seem to be agreeable to that. Uh we reached out to them I think about a month month and a half later and they said they had sent the agreement to their attorney. Uh couple months later we got it back. It was about two weeks ago we got it back. uh and what their attorney has presented is complete shift on the opposite end of the spectrum. It basically says that you'll continue doing all of these things uh but we're not going to share anything. Um and they wanted a 99-year agreement for that which would effectively limit our ability to use any of that land out there. Um, so really what that agreement does, it created a misalignment between the use, responsibility or cost. So I guess to address those two divergent positions, um, this is not about whether or not the Central Kansas Free Fair Association has been a good partner. They have. They brought a lot of value to the community. they continue to do just with the the work that they do out there with their buildings and whatnot. Um, but this is more about aligning what's actually happening with uh an agreement because what we're doing today does not align with the 96 agreement. So, our question for the commission is, do we continue trying to work with the uh fair board to come up with an agreement we're both agreeable with that it would allow them to use that uh year round? So, they can because right now they're using it year round without permission. I mean, technically they're not supposed to, but it would allow them to uh to have those types of events, bring people to town who would spend money otherwise and then u ask for a a

recovery of the city's costs because otherwise the water utility is paying uh or take eating that and then the cost for public works to come mow and clean up uh hay and and manure comes from taxpayer dollars. Or the other option is just leave it as it is but only uh do those things that are required under the agreement. Now

so have you had any conversations with them after receipt of the I guess the revised contract or what was what was proposed by the attorney that they're using? Uh, no. I sent uh the fair board a letter um raising concerns about the u their proposal and that uh we'd like to continue working towards an agreement that u that's our our position is it benefits everybody. Let's get an agreement we can all live with. uh absent that that we would um just rely on the 1996 agreement and uh follow it until a new one is in place. Whether that new one just updates the 96 agreement and says yes, you're going to do this at no cost or it's a uh facilities management agreement like we proposed.

It it just it seems odd. I don't know why. No offense to Aaron. I don't know why an attorney is driving policy for the fair board. Yeah. Um, so I really I mean, yeah.

Yeah. Our intent is unless you uh the commission says, you know what, don't do that. Just stay with the 96 agreement and, uh, keep it going like it's been. Our intent is to still reach out with them, meet with them, uh, and talk with them. I I truly think one of their biggest concerns is is the revenue sharing. And it may the full board wasn't there. I don't know how it's relayed to them. Um maybe they think we're asking for a percentage of their revenue year round, but we're not during that their time. I mean, that's their thing and that's their their big uh revenue generator. Um we don't want to interfere with that, but the things that they're having outside of it. Uh we would like to recover our cost. Also, keeping in mind that we have to maintain the stadium. One of the things we're looking at having to do is replace all the seating and we don't have any money to do that now. This would be a way for us to start saving.

Yeah, I guess that's my feeling on it is continue working with the fair board. Um, I guess in my line of thinking, if we and the fair board can come to an agreement, I mean, the attorneys can check for the legality of anything within the agreement, but they shouldn't be driving policy, right? If the two boards agree on something, that's the Yeah, that's the direction.

Okay. Uh, we'll reach out to him uh tomorrow in person or by phone and say, "Hey, can we set up another meeting?" and this time with the full board go over our proposal again, our concerns face to face. Uh in the meantime, we'll just uh follow the 1996 agreement and then hopefully we can come up with something. Um but you said,

Mr. Corn, I'm sorry to interrupt you. I think you said that you have or you could come up with um some numbers for what it's actually costing the city. Uh yeah, I can I can tell you just for water based on 2025's usage, uh under our old rate cost, it was uh just under $4,000 in water. They use 511,000 gallons of water. Uh, and under our current rates, that would be uh just under $6,000, which doesn't seem like a lot. Uh, but when the water utilities in the position it is, you know, and like a lot of um boards like the fair board, the one where I live, $6,000 is a lot of money to them. A lot of money to anybody. So, I just wanted to I did some checking just to make sure, okay, we don't want to do anything to harm them, make them, you know, run out of money. So, I pulled their 990s, which are public record for 23 and 24. Um, and I don't they're over there somewhere, but I believe in uh 23 filing their um net assets was just under $800,000 and in 24 their net assets were um over $1.1 million, which I'm sure they're probably saving for more capital improvements. They're doing a ton of it. One of the things the 990 show is they've received a lot of grants and donations, more than half a million dollars, but it also shows that their revenue has increased by double digits every year from the fair. So, which good for them to great that they're growing. I just want to make sure that we're

trying to recover our cost at a minimum. What are the other expenses you mentioned like hay and manure removal? Are there anything is there anything else? Do you have an estimate on the cost to the city for providing those? Uh, not off the top of my head, but uh, we mow the carnival grounds every time it needs to be mowed. And then every time they have an event with animals, pig shows, uh, sheep shows, um, this barrel racing and I can't remember the name of the other one. Um, we go out and we haul off hay and manure. So, there is a cost. Do you think you can get us like even a good ballpark number to work with there? No, I wouldn't want to guess publicly and give you a number that can be uh

Yeah, I don't I don't want you to guess. I'm wondering if you can work with your team and public works and and come up with something that we could rely on. Yeah. Uh because uh you probably couldn't help it but or hear, but uh Kelly Timbrook, our parks and recreation director, also mentioned chemicals because of spraying and and stuff like that that we do maintain it. was. Yeah. And I I looked at kind of all the agreements and I'll tell you they've kind of gone to mush in my brain here. What is What does does the city not use that land for anything else? The You mentioned like the carnival grounds specifically. That's probably the biggest mowing burden, right? We don't use the carnival grounds for uh for anything, but not technically our land.

That's their property. We don't own it. So that's why in my mind we shouldn't be mowing it for free. Um, yeah,

but there is some there are issues with parking during events. For example, on May 20th and 21st, we just had an event where these events, which is great to have so many, but they conflict and without communication and us knowing what they're scheduling when they're not supposed to be scheduling anything uh at the stadium outside of those weeks causes problems. Yeah, just we had to cancel our softball tournament this weekend because of wet fields. Um, so it got rescheduled for it's actually May 30th and 31st. Um, but I got a phone call that they've got a big barrel racing and team roping that weekend. So, we're going to just have to figure out how parking is going to work. So, scheduling is an issue sometimes with different things going on. Uh well, we've had to do any of the tree removal or trimming that they've asked us to do. Um yeah, chemical spring, mowing

and these are all gentleman agreements from, you know, past managers that just have never been written down or absorbing the cost. And that's the idea behind it. We don't want to I guess we just want to recover from I guess from my perspective. But I'd be curious to hear from the rest of the commission, but I just kind of want to know what all of those items are from our perspective and also from the fair's perspective. So, we're kind of going in with everything out on the table.

Yeah. Yeah. I I definitely agree with the finding out a a ballpark number on the added expenses on the outside of the 3-week scope that the agreement is written towards. Um, just for the fact that their revenues went up considerably hosting outside events. um pitching in to uh you know for the added expenses that's occurred based on those events I think is fair that during the fair time and all that let's help them out that's a huge event helps community just outside is what we're looking for and I don't want to slow anything down just a little bit of kickback to cover what we are spending so the taxpayer doesn't have to

correct and we can put back for the like the stadium it's going to have Yes, absolutely.

Yeah, because if you look at page 136 of your uh packet, uh currently we're obligated to provide assistance during fair week uh to daily haul away straw from the horse barns and dispose of it. And public safety department shall provide or will provide assistance uh to designate parking areas in conjunction with fair activities. And then the city will furnish and retain the right to monitor city water water usage at these facilities during fair week uh and shall notify the fair association if the city intends to start charging the fair association for this water use. So um and when I was calculating those costs, it's not just during fair week. There's water being used year round during those events. So

yeah, I mean at the end of the day we each each entity supports the other. Correct. though is we can work together and and make each organization feel like we've got a fair shake. I think that's a win for agree both of us and the board to the board thing was a a call out as far as the city or the their attorney dictating policy. Yeah. So, we'll uh try to schedule a meeting with them. Uh yeah, go ahead.

Just want to clarify just so um this is known. This is probably the best relationship we've had with the fair board and rodeo committee. So, I want to say that. And then chemical spraying would be more public works and us around different areas. Um, rodeo committee did do their own spraying around the arena the last couple years. So, just wanted to clarify that. Sure. Appreciate it. And yeah, clarification too. Fair board is doing amazing work. Oh, yeah. They are tremendous value. From an outside outsider looking in, that fair is amazing. and the work that they've done over the years of building that place up is huge. It's amazing. They're doing great things. They should be very proud of it. Okay. Thank you.

Next item is 8H 2027 city commission budget goals. Finance director Bond and interim city manager Quinday.

Go ahead. Uh, as as outlined in the agenda request form, tonight's really meant to be a starting point for our 2027 budget process. Over the next couple of months, staff will be working through department requests and holding internal budget meetings. But before we get too far into that, we want to make sure we know your priorities. Um, so this conversation is intentionally meant to be high level. We're just looking for guidance that will help shape how we build the budget. Commission is asked to provide feedback on the following. What services are most important to maintain or improve? And if we do find ourselves needing to scale back, where would you be most comfortable seeing reductions and to what extent? Secondly, which projects or improvements should be prioritized? Also, we'd like to know how much in reserve should the city aim to maintain? As a reminder, our policy sets a target of maintaining at least 15% reserve in the general fund and a fund balance of not less than 10% of the anticipated go debt bond and interest payments for the upcoming budget year. Beyond those minimums, we also want to be mindful of maintaining healthy reserves across funds to support long-term improvements and to be prepared for unexpected expenses. So, any guidance you have on where you'd like to see those reserves levels land will be helpful. Along those same lines, we'd like your input input on transfers to capital improvement and equipment reserve. Specifically, how aggressive you'd like us to be in setting aside funds for future projects and equipment replacement. And then finally, we'd also like to get a sense of your comfort level with the levy heading into 2027. Whether your preference is to increase, decrease, or maintain the current rate, that direction really drives a large portion of what the budget can support. At the end of the day, this is about making sure the budget we bring back to you reflects your priorities. Oh, any feedback you have?

If you have any comments, Kelsey will gladly take them down now. Uh, if not, Kelsey will not be here in two weeks. So, either uh Carrie or myself will come back and ask you those same questions and document them to help us uh drive our budget preparation. So obvious on the services that are most important to maintain or improve. Um I mean I think it goes without saying the basics of essential services, police, fire, roads. Um obviously we want to make sure utilities are are on a strong footing that's a little little separate. Um you know in some of those additional services that the city provides. I've always been kind of interested um if there's any appetite for feebased services. Some people um I guess really like to use certain things. Does it make more sense to try to transition to some fee based services versus relying on um property tax revenue to cover those? Um it's kind of a you know I guess general budget question of um does the city as a whole cover all you know some of those more recreational services um or does it need to start being looked at on more of a fee basis? just kind of had conversations about that over the last few years and just kind of curious if there are any crazy ideas that that we can come up with to help offload some of that pretty tax cost.

Can you be more clear about which feebased services you're talking about? Just any of them that are not essential like the pool. Yeah, I mean pool anything that's not essential. fire, um, police, roads, if there's something that just a small, uh, I guess portion of the population uses, does it make sense to look at what that would look like? Kind of, I mean, it's kind of a broad thought in general. I'm not trying to dodge your question, I promise, but just kind of curious what that could look like from a city budgeting perspective. Um, I guess I'll just ask my question again. And I mean, if you have a list of those that I'd sure be willing to look at any of those.

Yeah, I don't have a list in front of me, but that's what I'm asking Kelsey to kind of any of those services if we could just see what it would look like. And tie on to that, you could also look at your fee schedule.

Mhm. Based on last year's valuation, about every $70,000 in uh replaced revenue reduces 1 mil. Your valuation was $70 million, which I'm assuming will go up. And you also have the uh unless the governor vetos it, you'll have a cap of revenue of whatever CPI is. Um, and if you adopt a budget that exceeds that, um, and the protest petition is successful, you'd be reduced back to whatever CPI is. You have any other spinball thoughts? That's all I was given. So

yeah, I I do plan on getting mine out, but I'll do it so in a little bit more detail organized fashion. Okay. I said we'll come back in two weeks and ask. Okay. Thank you. Okay. Thank you.

Then under 9a we have department report special alcohol and drug fund. I know that was included in the packet. I guess on top of the Kansas Fights Addiction Fund distribution, have any questions on those distributions or do you have anything you want to add? Uh, no, I just have a couple of comments outside of that. Whenever you're ready.

Um, just as a matter of practice, I was one of the maybe potential recipients recipients, I'm not exactly sure to be honest with you, uh, reached out to me about the process for distributing these funds. And to uh I guess the best of my knowledge and from my tenure on the commission, the commission hasn't had any input and there's from what I can tell and I think from what Mr. Quinde could tell, there's no policy on how those funds are distributed. Um so I think we probably need to put something in writing that dictates what we're doing with that money. Um whether it is the the commission who does it or or someone else or another board potentially. Um I don't think that the current policy that we have or the the policy of not having a policy is a responsible one

and the current practice is to take those applicants that meet the statutory requirements um or the dispersement if they meet those to divide the available funds by the number of qualified applicants so there's no winners and losers. There is a um an application form that was approved by the governing body that requires that one of those uh funds applications must be submitted by March 31st or March 1st. Uh and this particular entity uh did not submit it in time. Um so they weren't awarded and that's not a new policy. It's clearly on the application that you got to turn it in in time. Uh one of the things that uh is in our budget calendar whether it holds or not is uh we provide funds to outside entities like that or the um the band or the sister city um and is to ask them to come in and make their request to you as the governing body for funding for 2027 saying what they want what what they would use it for. That way there's uh public discourse on if you get questioned or staff gets questioned, why do we give X to these people or these people? So it's out there. You'll see that unless unless it's changed.

You had something else you wanted to

Yeah. Uh and I hope Well, he's still at work. My wife doesn't hear, but uh I was wrong. So if you ask her, I don't say that very often. The uh commerce agreement for the $2.5 million grant uh specifically states that grump f grant funds uh may be paid up to 100% upon execution of the agreement and receipt of documentation from the city demonstrating that the city has its $750,000 match uh which we did a few months ago. key word is may because I was here telling the commission that the agreement says once we show we have 750 we'll get the $2.5 million we'll invest it make a little bit uh commerce um says that they will disperse the uh the grant funds proportionate to our investment of matching funds so for example um Kelsey submitted that we have spent $74,000 on that project so commerce sent us a check for $24 $46,000. The one thing I want to point out is that um the project estimated cost came in at $2.4 million. Now, that can fluctuate when it goes out for bids, but just for uh illustration purposes, if that industrial part project comes in at $2.5 million, that's the cost to do it. Um the grant won't cover all of that. We still have our share. So, um, if the project cost $2.5 million, we still have to pay our 750,000 and commerce grant will cover 1.7. So, the full amount would not be used, which is I mean, we're still getting covered a great portion of that, though. I just wanted to clarify that because I was say it one more time was wrong when I told you that or at least they read it differently. And then uh the rural water district is meeting

tomorrow to uh discuss the proposal sent to them on adjusting their water rates, but we sent that to them at the end of February, but they had their annual meeting in March and also the rural water conference. So they uh haven't had time to look at it. So we hope to have some movement on that in the next uh week or two. And then uh I have to grab my computer. I know you have to maybe Kelsey locked me out. I did want to uh point out or if the commissioner will give me a few minutes to uh talk about the uh recreation center HVAC decision. um if that's okay with the mayor and the commission. But the the city commission's recent decision to replace the recreation c center's HVAC system and to use general obligation temporary note funds to do so uh has raised some understandable questions. A closer look at the public record helps clarify what occurred and why. Though some details shared on social media may initially confound those who are reading that and are unfamiliar with the funding process. Um, so I want to clarify for those that may have been uh confounded by what they read on social media. In 2025, the city issued approximately $10.3 million in general obligation temporary notes to fund major capital projects, including the sports complex improvements, uh, roadway preservation and development of the industrial park. As those projects progressed, uh, updated cost estimates and grant funding reduced the city's share significantly, and as a result, approximately 3.4 million of the borrowed funds remain unused. Under Kansas law and the original bond

authorization, cities are authorized to reallocate unused bond proceeds to other eligible capital projects known as substitute improvements with the governing body's approval. In this case, the city commission considered using a portion of those already issued funds to address several deferred infrastructure needs, including the recreation center HVAC system. In simple terms, the decision was about how to use money the city had already borrowed, not whether the city should take on new debt. The funds in questions were already subject to interest cost regardless of whether they were spent. Leaving those funds unused would not eliminate the cost incurred of borrowing and could increase long-term expense. Construction costs continue to rise, estimated at roughly 4% annually, meaning the delayed projects often become more expensive over time. The decision to replace the HVAC units rather than only two that failed has also drawn uh criticism and uh raised questions. While replacing only failed components may seem less costly in the short term, facility planning often takes a longer view. Aging systems tend to fail incrementally, leading to repeated repairs, service disruptions, and emergency replacements that can be more expensive than a planned comprehensive upgrade. For example, if you take the price of replacing all nine of those uh units at once, it's approximately $14,000 per unit. If you do them incrementally or one at a time, that cost increases to 22 to $28,000 depending on the size of the unit and the uh crane rental. So, you're saving yourself close to $100,000. Uh because of its scale and expected lifespan, the HVAC project was treated as a capital improvement rather than routine maintenance cost. Also, it should be noted that there is no money in uh the city budget for routine maintenance because of u drawing the

reserve down to zero or negative balances while trying to remain revenue neutral. Large system replacements are commonly funded through capital sources including general obligation temporary notes or bond proceeds rather than annual operating budgets. The process itself followed standard public procedures. This was discussed in several open city commission meetings and approved through the normal process. The proposed reallocation of bond funds was presented and discussed publicly supported by staff analysis analysis, city commissioner debate and subject to formal approval. The uh approval of the projects that were reallocated um will not move forward without a separate authorization from the city commission after additional discussions occur within the normal transparent channels of local government. Public officials, which includes staff and elected uh members, are responsible for balancing cost, risk, and long-term infrastructure needs. Reasonable people may disagree on the best approach in any given situation. However, the available documentation shows that this decision was made within legal authority through a public open process and with the intent of making efficient use of funds already committed. Constructive public discussion is an essential part of good governance. Ensuring that those discussions are grounded in complete and accurate information helps maintain public trust and supports decision-making for the community's future, not clouding the facts. That's all I have to add.

Thank you.

And then Reed, I saw you come in. Do you have anything you want to say real quick or it's up to you? I just saw you come in so I know you drove a long way so if you just want to introduce yourself and I'm Reed Petty. I'm the district director for US Senator Jerry Moran's office and I'm an abalene for something later tonight and thought I'd stop in just to say hi and let you all know we can assist in any way needed on federal issues. So any of the federal agencies feel free to reach out to us. So John, good to see you again too. So all right, thank you. Thanks for stopping by, R. I'll do that.

That Yeah, I'll just uh fill you in on a quick update. Um been in contact with UP Railroad after last week and and today made arrangements. Um we'll work uh in partner with them as you know to repair the crossing um scheduled for the 28th right now. Um that's the fastest that they could get a crew in here. So we'll work in partnership with them. They'll open up the tracks, remove panels, we'll do the tube repair and uh in coordination get it all put back together. And the last uh other couple things real quick. Um on the same date on the 30th, I think that's a Thursday, we have uh bid openings here at city hall for um both CClip um as the proposed project was scoped on the CCIP project and then the second local street project which will consist of microsurfacing um local streets here in town as the second part of the street sales tax fund money. Just giving you an update on timelines on those. Okay. Thank you.

Thank you. Erin, do you have an estimate on how much time you think you would need to explain any adjustments? Not more than five minutes. Okay. I'm I'm happy to report a quick one.

Okay. Well, I'm going to throw you I'm going to give six minutes just so we can make sure to get the uh Zoom or Teams meeting link set up so we can get Commissioner Koff in there as well. though. Um, with that, I would make a mo or I'd move to the city commission recess into executive session for 6 minutes to discuss with legal counsel the terms and conditions of a proposed city manager employment agreement based upon the need for consultation with an attorney for the public body which would be deemed privilege in the attorney client relationship pursuant to KSA75-4319B2. The open meeting will resume in this room at 60:05.

I need a second. I'll second. Motion has been moved and seconded. Do we have any commission discussion? Seeing none, we'll move a roll call vote. Commissioner Kolhoff. Hi. Commissioner Lidle. Yes. Commissioner Meisenberg? Yes. Vice Mayor Taylor? Yes. Myself? Yes. Motion carries. We're in executive session.

We'll now resume our regular meeting from executive session. No action was taken. I would now look for a motion on 10B. Don't know how that got moved over there, but I will make a motion to request an executive session to discuss non-elected personnel. And I move that we I move the city commission recess into executive session for how long are we thinking? Um ju just a moment. I had actually written out a motion for this uh exact He's got it. I started off on I had an extra coffee. Okay. Did you read it verbatim

so far? Yeah. Okay. Uh I would recommend um 10 to 15 minutes. Okay. We'll do we'll do 15. Okay.

And I will start over just to make sure I didn't read it verbatim. I move the city commission recess into executive session for 15 minutes to discuss the employment of the city manager position with the selected candidate, including final questions and discussion regarding the proposed employment agreement pursuant to KSA 75-4319 B1 based upon the need to discuss personnel matters of non-elected personnel. The open meeting will resume in this room at 6:23 if I'll second. Motion has been moved and seconded. Do we have any commission discussion? Seeing none, we'll move to roll call vote. Commissioner Lidle?

Yes. Commissioner Meisenberg? Yes. Vice Mayor Taylor? Yes. Commissioner Kolhoff? I. Myself? Yes. Motion carries. We're in executive session.

We will now resume our regular meeting from executive session. No action was taken. Um, next item is a motion to adjurnn. Motion we adjourn. I'll second. Motion has been moved and seconded. Do we have any commission discussion? Seeing none roll call vote. Commissioner Meisenberg. Yes. Vice Mayor Taylor. Yes. Commissioner Koloff. Hi, Commissioner Lidle. Yes. Myself. Yes. Motion carries. We are adjourned. Uh, well, I'm still live here. I was going to let you know I will not be in the study session here and I apologize.