City Council - Regular Meeting

Welcome to the June 8th, 2026 council meeting. Roll call, please.

Brewster. Here. Walters. Here. Brown. Ewer. Here. Clothier. Here. Hardin. Here. Myers. Here. Thompson. Here.

Tonight's invocation will be given by Andrew Beers from Resurrection Lutheran Church, Baltimore.

Thank you for having me. Let us pray. Gracious and almighty God, We come before you tonight to ask your blessing and your guidance over this council meeting and over the community that we love. You have taught us that our faith is lived out in love and service to you and to our neighbors. And we thank you for calling these leaders to the holy and vital vocation of public service. Grant that our mayor and city council members may have discerning hearts and the wisdom to make decisions that promote the well-being and the peace of all in our community. Empower this council and all who serve to be a voice for the vulnerable stewards of our shared resources and builders of a community where all residents can thrive. May the decisions tonight be filled with grace, the debates with mutual respect, and our actions with integrity. Bless the residents, the workers, and the families of our city. Keep us united in a spirit of cooperation and hope as we work together for the common good. In your holy name we pray. Amen.

So we have a special order of business. We have a couple of proclamations I'll be reading. So the first one is the proclamation for the 75th anniversary of the city of Hayesville being incorporated. In recognition of the 75th anniversary of the incorporation of the city of Hayesville, whereas in 1891, Hayesville was established by William Wallace Hayes for the land he owned for the purpose of building a town. and whereas the City of Hayesville, Kansas was officially incorporated on July 3, 1951, marking a major milestone in the history of the community. And whereas Hayesville has endured through the dedication and hard work of its residents, earning its reputation as the Peach Capital of Kansas, and whereas the citizens of Hayesville have demonstrated remarkable resilience and significant spirit, most notably in the dauntless rebuilding of the community, Solidarity, following the historic tornado of May 3, 1999. And whereas today, Hayesville exemplifies Kansas' values, offering a high quality of life, award-winning schools, and a welcoming sense of community that has a small-town feel while embracing future growth. And whereas the 75th anniversary of incorporation serves as an opportunity for residents and visitors alike to celebrate the history, progress, and future of this great Kansas community. Now therefore, I, Russ Kessler, Mayor of the City of Hayesville, Kansas, proclaim July 3rd, 2026 as the 75th anniversary of the City of Hayesville on behalf of the Council, staff, and residents. Proclaim today, the 8th day of June, 2026. So the second proclamation is Business Appreciation Month. RAS June has been designated as Business Appreciation Month for the last two decades by the Kansas Department of Commerce. to recognize businesses across the state for the important contributions they made to our communities. As well, Hazel businesses provide essential employment opportunities to a diverse workforce, embrace innovative technologies, provide local tax revenues, and make other significant contributions to our community that promote opportunities for the economic well-being of our citizens. And whereas the City of Hayesville is pleased to recognize the accomplishments of the businesses and industries that reside in Hayesville. And whereas Business Appreciation Month offers the citizens of the City of Hayesville an opportunity to recognize Hayesville businesses for the essential role they play in increasing the quality of life of our citizens. Now, therefore, I, Russ Kessler, Mayor of the City of Hazel, Kansas, on behalf of the Council, staff, and residents, hereby proclaim June as Business Appreciation Month. Dated today, the 8th day of June, 2026. We definitely enjoy our businesses, and they do play a great part in our community. All right, next we have presentation and approval of minutes. A, minutes of May 11th, 2026. Councilperson Parton?

I make a motion we approve the minutes as presented.

Second. We have a motion and a second to approve the minutes of May 11th as presented. Any discussion? Question, please.

Brewster? Yes. Walters? Yes. Ewer? Yes. Hoser? Yes. Hart? Yes. Myers? Yes. Thompson? Yes.

All right, next we have item one, public comment. If there's any members of the public that would like to speak on anything on the agenda or off the agenda. Seeing no one, I will move on to item two, approval of licenses and bonds. We have none tonight. 3. Introduction of Ordinances and Resolutions A. A resolution of the City of Hayesville, Kansas authorizing a conditional use permit for the construction and operation of a self-service storage warehouse at 7474 South Broadway Avenue.

Good evening, Mayor and Council. So this conditional use was presented to Planning Commission on May 14th, and they did recommend approval subject to staff's recommended conditions. Those conditions are that one, to achieve a harmonious and organized appearance, although carved containers must be painted the same color or grouped in rows or sections by color, And two, the cargo containers may be exempt from the screening requirements prescribed in Appendix E-5063. You have the staff report that was presented at the Planning Commission, the maintenance, and the site plan. And then I've also passed out some photos from the applicant. He is here tonight, and I can also stand for some questions.

That's the first part.

Looking this over, I'm just not really happy with the idea of having cargo containers cargo containers as a building. We have enough complaints about Broadway being trashy and wanting us to clean it up. I don't feel like that's gonna make a good impression. And as far as exempting the fencing, we can't start that now. We start that now, then the next people will come in and say, well, you exempted it for them, exempt it for me. So I don't feel like we should exempt that. I noticed he's got the entrance off of Broadway. When the trucking company wanted to come in here and do that, they couldn't get an entrance off of Broadway. Have they checked that with Broadway? Are they going to be able to do that?

The flat that's been submitted does have access control. I would need to contact KDOT to confirm that they are okay with the opening.

Yeah, because I know when the trucking company wanted to go in there, They weren't allowed to put it off of Broadway.

There's already an established driveway. I do know that.

But they were still not allowed to put it off of Broadway. They were going to have to come off of Blossom. But that's my thoughts. I'm not real thrilled with the cargo containers because I think it's going to make it look cheap. And the fencing, we can't exempt the fencing because you get that started at past practices, it's going to come back to bite us.

Councilman Butters?

Yeah, I'll agree that at first glance, you know, thinking about shipping containers, that they can definitely be an eyesore. You know, in the military, we do a lot of this. This is a lot of our storage yards are like that. And they're not exactly beautiful looking, but I mean, especially if they're in rows and the same color, I think that it's somewhat acceptable. I do have concerns as well. Rodents and animal infestation underneath them, you know, they have pockets underneath. and foxes, you name it, can live underneath them. So I think that should be considered. I don't know if we can put anything in there saying that they have to do anything in regards to that, but I think that it should be considered by the landowner or the business owner that they could potentially get infestations of rodents, of all kinds of things underneath the buildings, or not buildings, but the shipping containers, um additionally is there did they require a drainage plan for this or no yes a drainage plan is required with the plot that they're submitting okay and then it's going to be all other surface like the applicant has proposed to do gravel underneath all of the cargo containers on all the lot okay and then uh vehicle storage is vehicle storage going to be allowed on the front end

Vehicle storage would have required a additional conditional use if they wanted to do like RVs. Is that what you're suggesting? That would be a vehicle storage yard and they are not approved.

So they're not approved for storage. Okay. Cause I'm, I'm worried about, you know, clutter. And I guess on that note, how much additional, if there is no screening, is there additional outdoor storage that's gonna potentially occur, especially in the frontage between the shipping containers and the fence? Are they gonna start putting other things in there is my question, I guess. Or is there anything that would, is there anything in subdivision regulations that would stop them from doing that? there might be something in the zoning regulations i don't have it memorized but we do regulate outdoor storage in the industrial okay and then um and on the the screening or not i think a very valid there's a couple valid points of having no screening would be um their shipping containers and the orientation of them orients the sides towards the street so that it gives opportunities for signage on the shipping containers themselves and i don't know if that's the intent But on that note, would it be allowed for them to do signage and art? Because as written it says one color. So I don't know if we want to add a little thing saying one color with allowance for signage and, you know, murals or whatever on the frontage. Because that could potentially make it look better even if they do murals, say.

don't want to corner them to where it's only white you know so that would be something we'd have to explicitly allow um one because i've put that they all have to be the same color but also in our sign code or in appendix 506 i'm not sure which one we don't require sign or we don't allow signs on the side of cargo containers oh so it would it would have to be white

And then that would bring up the conversation of, do we want to amend that code to allow it? Do we want to allow, because like, look at the Wave downtown. Does everybody know what the Wave is or no? So the Wave is a concert venue downtown and it's shipping containers, but they have like, like, graphics and stuff like that on it. And it looks decent. I mean, it looks industrial. That's the idea of it. So, I mean, this is another side conversation of would we want to change that to allow them to do artwork or whatever or dress it up so it's not just plain old containers. But on the other note on screening would be that by blocking it from the street it gives them an unfair disadvantage in that they can't or not they but people can't necessarily see what it is and this is a publicly allowed thing that we should all be able to store in right so it kind of makes it more open to the public and more visibility for the public to know to use it i guess and then additional a concern was theft that screening it would um allow for potential theft or not allow for potential theft but screen for the thieves too right um i did talk to the vfw uh commander across like catty corner across the street he requested there be screening um he is working on kind of dressing up his building So it's kind of like if he's working on making his building better, why is the guy across the street not? But also note that they're doing trees, right? So they have to plant trees. And I think that that would have a bigger impact overall than screening, especially when the trees mature. So those are just some talking points. I think, yeah, you answered my question about the drainage. That's all I have for that.

Councilman Brewster?

Yeah, so City Ordinance 5062-B, not to be used as a base platform or a location for business identification signs or temporary signs. So that's what you were talking about. How many, and I already know the answer, but how many stores I think it was 12 at the Planning Commission. I might have missed it on the staff report.

It said 12 in my staff report. That's how many we have business licenses for.

I'm struggling with this just because I think we can do something better with this property. We already have 12 storage facilities in our community. That's all I have, Mayor. Thank you.

I'm hearing some of the comments and I'm agreeing with them. The issue about screening I think is rather important to the community. I'm also thinking the rodents might be an issue. I've got rabbits underneath my deck, you know, I don't want them. But the third thing, I haven't heard anything about surveillance. I would propose that we send it back and have a look at those three issues specifically if we wanted to continue this. I'd make a motion to send it back to have them look at screening rodents and surveillance.

To the Planning Commission?

To the Planning Commission, yes.

Second.

So we have a motion and a second to send it back to the Planning Commission to review it for screening rodents and what was it? Surveillance. Surveillance? Yeah, put surveillance up to see what's going on. All right. Dirty discussion. Councilman Myers.

Just on Councilman Brewster's comment that like I agree that, you know, it's probably not I don't think anybody in the city is excited about more storage units, you know. But, you know, it's not for us to dictate what land owners are doing with their land when they're in compliance with subdivision code, you know. I mean, we didn't have any incentives on this. I don't think they're getting any incentives for this. Do we know? No? Yeah. So it's not like we're encouraging this like we are other businesses. But I don't want to, I mean, kind of sadly, you know, we can't say you can't. Ultimately, we need to see, are they in compliance with subdivision code? If they are, allow it pretty much. And then here they're asking for an exemption. And also, yeah, using shipping containers for actual buildings I think is a concern too. And I mean that as in like, the entirety of the business is kind of a concern to me, because then that opens up the door for more businesses just thinking that they can just plop shipping containers on a plot and say that they're a whatever, a mechanics shop, a woodworking shop, or whatever. And we really want that. So that's the other thing. I would even amend yours to, and I don't know if that's, is there anything that's saying that you can't do shipping containers for business? Or you said it was... you can't put signs on them but like to have just a shipping container and no actual structures because they're like temporary structures right technically how does that work out for this specific project our building inspector is requiring um stamped engineering footings for the cargo containers okay um and i assume that's how he would go forward with any other type of business that wanted to do something similar don't they need secondary egress or no like i guess there's nobody living in it is what the is the difference yeah right that would be a building code building inspector question yeah because i know that like with building homes and shipping containers you need to have a door in the back so that if the fire breaks out in the front you can get out the value i'm sure you're aware um so that would and i'm just thinking of other issues with just using shipping containers and concern is it becoming a trend, really. And I don't want it to be a trend, personally. I don't have a problem with companies using storage containers, one, two, three, four, however many, but a whole lot of them, and then if we get a pattern of this across the city, because if we allow one, we're going to have to allow a bunch of them. At the same time, I don't want to, obviously this gentleman has spent a lot of time preparing this and this is his dreams of doing this, so I don't want to squash his idea. And I realize that building a building out of actual steel frame building is significantly probably more expensive, so I get it. He's trying to be cost effective. But yeah, that's it.

You said you wanted to amend the proposal.

Yeah, and I don't know if it would even be called for of adding like of using the shipping and I guess as long as it's on the on footings, it falls within engineering code and whatnot. So I don't think we would have to but it just I don't know, I guess I'd have to dig more into the exact code around shipping containers. But it was my understanding that, you know, you can't necessarily build buildings out of them without I guess, yeah, you get the engineering plans. And that's what it is. So he's doing that. So I think we're fine on that. So yeah.

All right, so we have a motion and a second. Is there any further discussion?

Mayor? Yes. Can we have clarification on what they want on screening? Because what was your motion? You said you want for screening.

Yeah, I sent it back to planning to look at the screening, not for the exemption, but what kind of screening, but significant screening that... You don't necessarily see it from Broadway.

Okay, so you want a, just to clarify for Planning Commission, so their statement going back to them, you want what screening would be going up?

Right, I think that's what I want to know. I'm hearing the council is indicating that without screening it's probably not going to go at all.

I just want to clarify for Planning Commission what you're sending back to them.

I would say that obviously not everybody has spoken, but I think it's kind of a split on whether or not screenings would be required. I'm fine with no screenings. You know, so I don't know if we want to do a separate vote after this to figure out if we want to allow the screening. Because that's what he ultimately, he's asking for the approval of the project and the screening thing. So maybe we can do your vote and then do another vote specifically on whether or not we will allow screening. And then we can figure out if zoning can figure that out after what screening. We can only have the one vote. No, I'm saying after that vote.

No, because it's going back to planning. It's going back. You can't have more than one. We're not voting to do it. They need to look at the screenings.

Like I said, the exemption to the, we're not gonna start that.

The exemption to the fencing screening on Broadway with everybody griping about what Broadway looks like.

I think my argument on that would be that if you go there and look, or even on Google Maps and look at the rest of it, nobody has screening.

Because we didn't have that until five years ago.

But it's only for shipping containers, right? The screening isn't required for light industrial, correct?

It's required for outdoor storage in the Light Industrial District.

Outdoor storage, okay. But these are buildings.

These are buildings.

So they're not doing outdoor storage.

For this specific project, he's required to screen because he's using cargo containers.

And that's where it comes in for the screening. But the neighboring units do not have screening. Like the whole stretch, there's no screening, or very little screening, I should say, because I'm sure there might be one or two. But like Hayesville Rental Center, no screening. both adjoining lots, no screening. So it almost will just be like one blacked out lot, you know, when everyone else can see what they're doing back there. So.

Mr. Block, you have a call.

Yeah, I would just say a lot of what we do in the zoning code is to try to gain conformance over the years. So we put something in, and at the time we put it in, nobody has it, or wouldn't have put it in, or only a few people have it. So we put it in there, and when something comes up where there's development or platy, and they come up with the plan, we want to make sure that they're following the current zoning codes we get right in compliance over the years we're not forcing it doesn't have it once we put the code and we don't make somebody go back and do it but if they're coming to us with a new project and it's in the code then we want to get it going that's how the zoning code where they could require screening i mean yeah caitlin stated the one response to outdoor storage and light industrial does require screening there may be other uses that require screening as well so that's going to have to look at it so for example like hazel rena center should have screen because they have they're in outdoor storage or no

I'd have to look at this. Okay.

They were grandfathered in.

I just don't want them to be the only one that's being required screening on this whole stretch, you know, and then be kind of a sore thumb. I mean, they're going to be a sore thumb either way, being what they are. But with having the screening and then additionally, it almost makes it look like it's not accessible. You know, having the screening up makes it look like it's not publicly accessible. It makes it look more private because you can't even see what it is back there. So I don't know.

Yeah. You can't see what Park Avenue's storage is. And they got the big cement fence around it. Yeah. But people, I mean, it looks like it's full all the time. Yeah, yeah.

That's perceived.

Well, down on South Seneca, there is a storage unit. And it's pretty good size. They have a black wrought iron fence. And they put up trees in front of the fence. And that looks nice. Yeah. I wouldn't be ejected to that.

With no screening. It's offensive.

No screening. Once the trees are matured, you can't see it anymore. But then getting the trees matured, maybe they should buy matured trees.

I agree with you on that. No screening but trees would be sufficient.

But anyway, that's my two cents.

All right, so we have a motion on the second, so that I can read back the motion.

Georgie, did you get enough clarification on what we're going to ask Planning Commission? Because I still don't know.

Do you?

From my understanding, we're looking for a compromise between screening and security at Planning Commission.

And the rodents too. I think what I was trying to also support was the exemption be eliminated, essentially. That's where I was going. So to go back and talk about how do we take care of that. And I think through screening that would take care of that exemption. There may be another way, but that was my issue on that.

With screening, surveillance, and rodents?

Rodents, yes.

Where are rodents being underneath the storage units?

So the motion that I have is a motion by Walters to send it back to the Planning Commission to look at recommendations for screening, rodent control, and surveillance.

Does staff understand as far as what needs to be taken back to planning? Do you understand what needs to be taken back to planning? I do.

Can we as the council, like, make them do surveillance? Is that even on our, I mean...

It was a suggestion to look at that?

No, I know, but I'm just saying, like, I don't want to be out of line with what authority we have over... Businesses like in making them have to do surveillance, and I'm sure he will right If you're doing the screening Discussion

uh josh are you okay with that motion i think the motion is clear after it's been uh repeated so okay all right any further discussion before we call for a vote all right angie brewster yes walters yes you were yes mayor yes yes yes yes yes yes All right, next item four, notices and communications. A governing body announcements. Does the governing body have any announcements? That's what Brewster had.

Hayesville Community Library, they have a lot of things going on this month. 1030 on June 9th, 1030, parents' teachers, summer story time, the same day, 3 p.m., They have a summer matinee, The Ice Age. June 10th, 10 a.m., a special performance by Alan Cunningham. June 11th, 3 to 6 p.m., summer activities, Salt with Play-Doh. June 13th, 9 to noon, Vintage Days Dinosaur Cookie Decorating. June 16th, 10.30, Parents as Teachers. June 16th also, another summertime matinee, The Croods 2, June 17th, 10 to 11, and 1 to 2, a special event at Astra Planetarium. June 17th, from 4 to 6 p.m., is the Lego Club. June 18th, 3 to 6, is a summer activity, Origami. June 23rd, Parents as Teachers, summer story time. June 23rd, another summer matinee, the Land Before Time. June 24th, a special performance. We'll be Digiroo down under the 25th from 10 to noon, summer activity, rock planning, 7 p.m., library board meeting, June 30th. Parents as Teachers, Summertime Storytime, and then June 30th, 3 p.m., Summer Matinee, The Good Dinosaur. So thank you for reading all that. I know that our library is very busy June, July, and August because of all the summer activities for our kids, and I greatly appreciate that. So thank you.

Thank you. Any other council members have any other announcements? Council members?

Yeah, OxyChem Community Involvement Group is having a meeting tomorrow, June 9th, 615 at the Learning Center. They're giving a presentation on PPE and industrial hygiene. And this is the chemical plant that's behind the Garvey Green Elevator. The next meeting after that is September 15th, and that one is their corrective actions and remediation efforts. If you're going to make it to any of their meetings, make it to that one on the 15th of September. That's the one where they go over. the EPA Superfund spills that they've done and all the remediation that they've had to do and what their plans are moving forward to try to mediate the plume, which is my primary concern because where I live, I'm actually the closest to it. And it probably will never hit me, but, I mean, eventually it's just going to spread and spread, and they're trying to mediate it right now, remediate it. So that's all I have.

Is that at the Learning Center?

That's at the Hayesville Learning Center, yes. Both of them are? Okay, thank you. Both of them at 615.

All right, any other announcements? I have a couple. First one is for the senior center updates. Movie and dining outing, June 10th. Game night on June 11th. Commodities, June 17th. Wine tasting outing, June 18th. The senior center and the hustle will be closed for the holiday on June 19th. Pink Party, June 22nd, Water Bucket Ball, June 25th, and Luau on June 26th. Some ongoing programs, coffee and conversation, card games, crafts, bingo, exercise classes, all hybrid support group, and live dancing. I have a couple more. First one is the 75th anniversary of Hayesville, July 3rd. So everyone is invited to attend or to join us on July 3rd at 11 a.m. at the community library for our quick ceremony. We're also having a cake and hot dogs. We'll also be opening up the time capsule. It should be exciting. We're also taking submissions for a new time capsule through June 18th. So that's through next Thursday, I think that is. You can find the forms at City Hall or on the website. They're under Quick Links, Forms, Time Capsule Submission Form. So there you can go there and fill out the form if you would like to put a submission in for something to be entered into the time capsules. The next item is business appreciation. So we have an appreciation event next Monday, June 15th, from 2.30 to 4.30. It's at the community library. Businesses make a significant contribution to our city. This is just another way that we can show our support to our Hayesville businesses. There's also a gift basket giveaway, so you don't have to be present to win, but we invite all the businesses to come and community just to show our support to businesses in Hayesville. That's all I have. And on that, we have a lot of things going out. We have had a lot of things going on lately. A lot of great things happening in Hazel. So our website and our Facebook page has a lot of this stuff. And you can also sign up for weekly notifications to receive information as far as what's going on in the city. So that's a good avenue to have. All right, next is item B, memo regarding new business licenses. We have three businesses included on this memo. Item C, the Sedgwick County Fire Department Station 34 monthly report. Item 5, old business. A, memo regarding burden on staff. Councilman Myers.

All right. So I've spoken to many Hayesville residents, and the majority are opposed to the current situation. The overwhelming public opinion is this conflict should be fixed. The issue is that the city engineer does have a significant interest with their employer, PEC, and they should refrain from reviewing and handling anything as the city engineer involving projects that involve PEC. None of the surrounding cities use PEC as an engineer, and a vast majority of the surrounding cities have an engineer on staff. When it comes to reviewing or approval, we should ensure our city's decisions are not made by people with conflict of interest. Allowing conflicts like this will continue to hurt the trust of the people. I think trying to find a solution myself might have been a misstep. I propose instead that the city staff find a solution to stopping this conflict of interest from continuing rather than my proposed amendment, but ultimately house rules. And if the majority of the council does not have an issue with allowing this conflict of interest to continue, we can move on from this topic. So with that, I make a motion to vote if this conflict is an, oh, I'm sorry. The motion is to vote if this conflict of interest is an issue, the conflict of interest with PEC engineering. So, you want me to second? I'll second it.

All right.

I'll second it.

So we have a motion and a second. Could you repeat your motion?

The motion is to vote if the conflict of interest with the PEC engineer is an issue or not. And this is just to get the consensus of the council of where you stand. And if it fails, then we move on with life and we don't talk about this again. So if it passes, then we direct the staff to figure out a solution to fix this.

So it's if a conflict of interest is a... I'm sorry?

What was the motion again? To vote of whether or not this is a conflict, if the council members feel that this is a conflict of interest, that is an issue or not? That is an issue with them?

That's an issue with PEC.

That is an issue with the council members? I'm trying to get a feel of the council. So if you're voting yes, then you think it is an issue. And if you vote no, then you think it's not an issue and it can be allowed to continue. Does that make sense? Does everybody understand? It's not a motion for action. This is just a motion for a vote to see where everyone stands with this.

You're not going to get mad if we vote no.

No, I'm not going to get mad if you vote no, but I mean. Well, that was for having the attorney review it, right? That's different. That was just to try to help me figure this out. Does that make sense? Yeah.

So. Angie, could you read back that question?

Okay.

Motion by Myers to vote if the conflict of interest with the PEC engineer is an issue with council members.

Yes. Okay, there was a second as well, right?

Yes, Thompson seconded, and Brewster seconded.

Discussion, Cussman-Wolters. It was kind of an answer, but I was going to ask to rephrase that as a yes or a no vote, rather than is it this or is it that. So, to vote.

Cussperson, pardon?

Well, we got the letter from PEC detailing how they do things separately, and we also know that the Planning Commissioner refrains from voting on anything that has PEC on it.

Councilman Myers?

Yeah, so the Councilman, or not the Councilman, Planning commissioner, the chair of the planning board, he abstains because he's an employee. So should the engineer. The engineer has a conflict of interest. It is a conflict of interest. The difference is we do not allow it in our code. It is a conflict of interest without debate. The difference is that our code, as written, allows it. And then if you're okay with it, then whatever. We move on with life. But if you're not okay with it, as I'm not okay with it, then we can work on trying to figure out a solution to fix it rather than my proposed solution that I came up with last time.

So I don't believe this is a conflict of interest. And also, one of our neighboring communities is in an $8 million lawsuit that's been going on for, I believe, five years, because all the engineering firms are pointing fingers at each other. I think this is one avenue where we have everybody, the subject matter experts, looking at what they're doing. And they know all of our plans. They know how we do everything. So I don't want to see us end up in an $8 million lawsuit. And I think hiring another firm is just going to cost taxpayer money, more money for oversight that we don't need. And that's what I've been from day one, because I think this is a waste of everybody's time. But I'll entertain the vote.

Any other discussion?

Question, please. Real quick, sorry. Can you read the motion again to make sure?

To vote if this conflict of interest with PEC in the hearing is an issue with council members. So my understanding is if the vote is yes, then you see it as a conflict of interest.

Yes. Thank you. Question, please.

Brewster? No. Walters? No. Ebert? No. Cloutier? No. Hardin? No. Myers? Yes.

We will move on to item six, other business. Considerations of bids for Sandy and A Street Water Line replacement.

Good evening, Mayor and Council. The bid letting for the construction of the Sandy Avenue and A Street Water Line was held on May 27th. As a reminder, the engineer's estimate was just over $286,000. Staff is recommending approval of the best bid from Nowak Construction Company Incorporated in the amount of $276,509.15. This is a budgeted item and will be paid out of water contractual funds. I stand by.

That's the person important.

I make a motion we accept the bid from NOAC Construction in the amount of $276,509.15. I second.

We have a motion and a second to approve the consideration of bid as presented. Any discussion? Question, please.

Brewster? Yes. Walters? Yes. Hewlett? Yes. Clover? Yes. Hart? Yes. Myers? Yes. Thompson? Yes.

Thank you. Next, we have item B, consideration of agreement with Christopher Davis regarding court probation services. So there is a memo in your packet. Anybody have any questions on that? If not, someone would like to make a motion. Councilman Wolters?

Yeah, I have some questions. What changed? Why are we looking at paying him now versus... What happened? Mr. I'll let Josh answer.

The Press I don't know specifically why he's requesting this. is that Chris acts as a contractual employee, in essence, for a bunch of municipalities around, and then he's requesting the same situation, a written agreement, and $75 for him to show up to court. In essence, what happens is when someone has probation, they have to pay Chris, and then he handles all the background, the drug screening, all that stuff, go write a report for the judge when it comes to pre-sentencing and things of that nature. So previously, you know, the seat does not pay him to provide those services. So this is just conjecture, but I think sometimes he'll show up to court and he won't have any work to do, in essence, and he has to drive and be here for that afternoon. But that being said, if you have specific questions you'd like me to direct to him, I'd be more than happy to do that and then, you know, report back.

Yes, my specific question would be why doesn't he charge the people that he's dealing with versus the taxpayers? I know it's not a lot, but still, why are we adding burden to the taxpayers? For troublemakers, right?

Well, I mean, it looks like he is charging them, the individuals, but like Josh said, I think it's got to do with the fact that if he shows up, And nothing happens or he has no work, then he showed up for nothing for a whole afternoon. Exactly. For a probation officer, $75 for four or five hours, however long they're here, that's not a whole lot. And it just makes it worth his time to drive down here.

Okay, I guess I don't understand where he's going or why they, as a probation officer coming to court, why he wouldn't know what is on the docket.

Well, you know what's on the docket, but you don't know what the judge is going to do or what. what they're going to come up with.

If I may, so he comes every month on the same date. Now, there are times when he'll get a case that day and he'll sign someone up at that time. There could be other times at that docket where we don't generate a case that he necessarily has to deal with. so just to give you an example so you know obviously if he has someone that's going to be on the docket obviously he knows that ahead of time but I couldn't tell you how many times that he necessarily has someone that's coming back as opposed to him just being there

new case it doesn't seem right to me to charge though the taxpayers I mean if he needs to increase his fees or whatever how he does that to those he's dealing with maybe that would be a better solution than asking greater tax burden on our on our wards if you guys would like to table it I'd be more than happy to you know communicate those questions to him and get you guys responses next meeting In that case, I would like to table these answers for the next meeting. Is there any other questions that need to be asked of him? I'll second that.

Do we have a motion and a second to table this agreement with Christopher Davis? Josh, do you have what needs to be asked?

or yeah just um i think more information about why he's changing the situation and if he can't charge that to his the folks that he deals with yeah yeah i can see his point to

But yet, I don't want to take one.

Right. Well, let me inquire to him and then see if he either wants to attend the next meeting or he can provide a written statement or something like that.

Yeah, we'll see if he'd come. Sounds good. We got a second on that, right?

Yes. Any further discussion? That's really quiet. Question, please. Brewster? Yes. Walters? Yes.

Ewer? Yes. Cloutier? Yes. Harden? Yes. Myers? Yes. Thompson? Yes.

All right. Item 7, Department Reports. A, Administrative Services.

Good evening, Mayor and Council. As Mayor stated, our 75th anniversary celebration is coming up. We have t-shirts available to purchase here at City Hall. Also, Hometown Market is this Saturday from 8 to noon. It is our Vintage Day celebration, so there will be a cowboy shootout, music, car show, and lots of activities going on. That's all I have.

Thank you. Next, we have item B, city clerk. Good evening.

Just want to make you aware of a couple of upcoming days off. City offices will be closed Friday, June 19th for Juneteenth and Friday, July 3rd for the close of July holiday. Call 529-5912 if you have any water or sewer emergencies. Thank you.

Thank you. Next, we have the police.

Chief. Good evening, Mayor and Council. Our visiting officer this evening is Officer Noah Childers. He's currently assigned to our first shift patrol section. Council, say hi to him as you go by out there. Also, as we mentioned, the 4th of July is coming up, so it'll be here before our next council meeting. So just wanted to remind everybody that as they go out and celebrate, just remember the detonation times that we have, 8 a.m. to 10.30 from the 27th of this month through the 2nd of July. On the 3rd and 4th, it's 8 a.m. to midnight, which luckily this year is a Friday and Saturday, so hopefully not everybody will have to be up. Some people still work weekends, but the 3rd and 4th are 8 a.m. to midnight. And then 8 a.m. to 10.30 on the 5th, which is a change for this year. So just keep that in mind. Also, 911 will operate their non-emergency line again this year. And we'll put more information out. We'll put the flyer out on social media and everything when we get a little bit closer to the third since we're still a few weeks out. Everybody will forget it between now and then if I just tell you. But we will put the flyer out here when it gets a little bit closer. But just for the information, they've kind of put that out in blocks this year. So it's just going to be June 27th through July 5th from 6 p.m. to 3 a.m. so during those times if there's loud parties firework complaints things like that call that numbers that we're not clogging up the 911 line or if you do call 9-1-1 they're going to probably transfer you over there so but the more we can keep that line clear and use that alternative number the better off we are for getting the fire calls ems calls and police calls out there without plugging in the system so that's all i've got i believe thank you customer brister

We had two interactions with the officers this last week, and they were both positive interactions, and I appreciate all that our officers do for us, so thank you.

We've got a very good group of officers here, and we're very proud of them. All right, thank you. Thank you. All right, next we have public works.

Tony. The recycling center will be open on Saturday, June 27th from 10 a.m. to noon. And then this past Saturday, we held our annual citywide cleanup at Public Works. We had 94 residents utilize this recycling center this weekend. In comparison, in 2025, we had 64. And in 2024, we had 103.

Thanks, Tony. Next, we have Recreation. Jenny, good to see you today.

evening mayor and council quick updates we will have a Metro Ballet Peter Pan will perform this Friday in Riggs Park at 7 p.m. next Tuesday we will have another swim meet so the swimming pool will close at 4 p.m. we've talked a little bit about the fourth of July we have a lot of activities probably most of you know about it we have the parade at 8 that will go from the middle school down to the United Methodist Church We have a fishing derby, we have a corn hole tournament, we got frog races, we'll do free hot dogs and stuff, and then the pool's open. We'll close early at five. We'll have food trucks and stuff later, and then the concert in the park there. The new thing that we have this year that we're doing, July is Parks and Rec Month, but we are also celebrating our 25th year for Recreation Department kind of that month. So we are doing various activities on most of the Tuesdays. So in conjunction with the celebration that you guys have at the library that morning, we will be doing a family swim free from 8.15 to 9.45 to kick off our Parks and Recs month. And then the 7th, we're going to do a celebration, just a little activities for the kids and stuff at Pear Tree Park. Then we're going to do the splash pad on the 14th. We'll go to Dorner Park a Saturday morning for about 9 to 12. And we'll have fishing, pickleball, we'll have some food trucks there. And then the 21st we'll be over at Orchard Acre Park for some games and stuff. And then we'll end the month at Plaguen's Carpenter to do laser tag, disc golf. all of those will have like drinks and then some are doing like snow cones or popsicles balloon or bubble machines just kind of various different things we're just trying to get people out in the park since July is Parks and Rec month so that is new for us this year and then we are doing one another adult pizza puzzles and pints July 11th Justin has been in that, and it is really fun. Rob has thrown in a new option. Instead of just the 500-piece puzzle, he's offering a thousand-piece puzzle now. Anytime, free time, get signed up as a team. It sounds like they always have a blast. So, all right. Thank you.

The kids' park day Saturday was pretty good. Kirby Park was like a six-day old llama that was there. Oh, wow. Very cute.

They had the success. Frank said they had like 75 people or more.

It's always great to go to. All right, next we have item eight, appointments. We have two people I'd like to reappoint for two years, Ken Bell and Terry Gray. Council person, pardon?

Make a motion we appoint Ken Bell and Terry Gray for two-year appointments to the fire board. Second.

I have a motion and a second to reappoint Ken Bell and Terry Gray for two-year appointments. Any discussion? Question, please. Brewster? Yes. Walters? Yes.

Ewart? Yes. Clother? Yes. Parker? Yes. Myers? Yes. Thompson?

Yes. Next, we have Item B, Historic Committee Re-Appointments. We have Brooke Ager. I'd like to re-appoint her for a two-year appointment. That was the first department.

Make a motion. Appoint Brooke Azier to the historic district for two years.

Second. Motion on second to reappoint Brooke Azier for two years to the historic committee. Any discussion? Question please.

Brewster? Yes. Walters? Yes. Hewer? Yes. Clothier? Yes. Hartman? Yes. Myers? Yes. Thompson?

Yes.

All right, next we have item nine, executive session. We have that scheduled. Item 10, review of expenditures. A, summary of May expenditures. Awesome. Person?

I move that we receive and file the May expenditures.

Second. We have motion and a second to receive and file the May expenditures. Any discussion? Question, please.

Ewert? Yes. Clover? Yes. Pardon? Yes. Myers? Yes. Thompson?

Yes. All right, next we have item 11, the consent agenda. We have three items, a couple of special events, and a no fishing at Riggs Park prior to 4th of July fishing derby. Councilman Walters? Make a motion to approve the consent agenda.

Second.

A motion and a second to approve the consent agenda. Councilperson Clover? No. Any discussion? Question, please.

Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes.

Next item 12, council items. A, council concerns. Any council members have any concerns? Councilman Myers.

Not a concern, but starting a discussion. So I was talking with Will about the transient guest tax. We have approximately $330,000 in the transient guest tax fund. This year we're going to make about $92,000 and we have about 80,000 this year already budgeted for that. So there's a bit of a surplus there. The purpose of the transient guest tax funds, this is not from our taxpayers, this is actually from people who stay at hotels, is to impact and promote economic development so uh i i this is actually where the facade grant came from that's where the funding came from so i would like to open up some conversations about um some something we can do with it just ideas that we can do with it i would like to see another round of facade grants i think that's a very effective uh way of spending this money and that uh you know these businesses could use some help you know we can all look at them and a lot of them are not a lot of them but some of them are pretty worn down And struggling. It's not easy to operate in a small city like this. So I think that that's a really good one. So I think first on the table would be, do we want to have the city refire that again? And then additionally from there would be, what are some other programs that we can think of or put out feelers for? One thing that I was playing around with is starting some kind of arts program or arts board maybe.