City Council - Regular Meeting

City Council meeting will now come to order on June the 16th, 2026 at 6.30 p.m. Would you please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance and remain standing for the invocation by Reverend Kitty Shields, St. Jude's Episcopal Church. Excuse me, Kitty.

Let us pray. We're going to do something a little different tonight. I want you all to think of everything that's good about Wellington and what your jobs are. And we're going to pray in this prayer that our Lord taught us. Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen. Thank you. Appreciate it. Thank you. Thank you.

Hey, Heidi, can I get roll call, please?

Yes. Ms. Antonich? Here. Mr. Elmore? Here. Ms. Grace? Here. Mr. Hay?

Here.

Ms. Lucas? Yes.

Here.

Mr. Westmoreland? Here.

They're sorry I'm also here before before before we get started here we need a motion to add a street closing for July 4th so moved it so moved. All those in favor of need a second second thing. Do we need to say what it's or not.

Yeah, I'm a motion to amend the agenda to add a street closing request for the 4th of July party of the helping steam barbecue on under block itself the street.

So moved. You second it? Cindy seconded.

OK. All those in favor? Aye. All those opposed? All right. Audience participation, Cali College Sumner Campus update. Zach Cooper, director of Sumner Campus. Zach?

Well, thank you all for allowing me to come back today. We're during our summer semester right now, so classes have started. But while we're also doing that, we also have a couple of different training events and camps going on. At the end of May, we actually hosted our advanced airway training, where we saw about 40 different EMTs from different states, like Missouri, Arkansas, and Oklahoma, who came in to do the advanced difficult airway training, which I think is actually really important to know, because our small community is helping play a major factor in doing life-saving techniques that are going across the country. So it's kind of cool to see that impact. I mentioned we also have a camp this week. Camp Hype is going on our campus. So that's actually in partnership with Kansas Workforce and Summer County Economic Development. It's a high school camp where they are having kids come in and gain skills on communication skills, resume building, applying for a job, and they're actually working with businesses in the area. They're either going to the place where the business is at or the company is coming in and talking with the kids one-on-one. What I really like about this camp is it's actually treating them like they would be on a job. So every day they show up, they actually get a stipend. So it's kind of backwards from what your sports camps will be. When you normally show up for a sports camp, you do a lot of running. You show up, you're actually going to get paid. But it's getting them involved and giving them some of those communication skills that they'll need to be successful. Really glad to be able to host that on our campus. Our next thing that we have coming up is actually preparing for our wheat festival. Just a couple events you know happening in the community that week. We're going to be sponsoring a handful of them as well. So picnic in the park. We'd love to see you guys out there July 8th at 6 PM. We're going to be helping with some entertainment that's going to be up there. hot dog eating contest and one thing that's going to be new because we're celebrating America 250 I do know they're going to have 250 hot dogs and hamburgers that they're going to give away as well so we'd love to see you guys out there to kind of kick start off the entire festival week that we have and then I'd love to see some of you guys out for Friday July 10th at 1 p.m for perplexing puzzle if you have that competitive edge and like putting things together There are 16 teams. If you get a team, go ahead and contact the chamber, get registered. That will be in our short building. If you can't get a team together, I highly recommend you come watch people compete against puzzles. You wouldn't think it's very competitive, but I swear there's some elbows here and there that are thrown out there. It gets really competitive, especially in that last couple minutes. At the same time, we're also doing drone dash. So if you have any kids who are ages 10 to 18 who don't want to put a puzzle together, but they're watching mom and dad, That will be in the tech building where they will be able to fly a drone. You can bring your own or will provide one through an obstacle course and whoever has the fastest time of the day actually will win a prize. So it's another activity for we festival and in my personal favorite because the memories brings back with Grandpa is on Saturday, July 11th. We're going to sponsor in the Kitty tractor pool. It is a sanctioned event, so any kid between ages 4 and 12 who compete in place at this event actually will be qualified to go to the Kansas State Fair and compete in the state poll. So a really great opportunity to see those kids, and maybe you just have someone between the ages of 4 and 12 that needs to wear off some energy, bring them on down. We'll get them some of that energy spent. Yeah, yeah. And then fall enrollment is going on right now because fall classes will start on August 18th. They'll be here before we even know it.

Okay.

And the eatery will be open on August 18th.

Yep, the eatery is closed for the summer. We'll open back up once semester starts up on the 18th. So, yep, thank you for bringing it up.

Questions from council?

Well, thank you all again for everything you do. Appreciate it.

Thank you, Zach.

Appreciate it. All right, I mean the consent agenda approval of minutes approval appropriations received of Council correspondents move to approve. So all those in favor a second a second second part. Now you know in favor. I was both all right. Reports of mayor and Council think I'll start with Councilman Westmoreland.

I would like to thank the city employees, greatly thank them for what they did this past weekend when that storm come through. I know the electric department was out for a long time. Street crews were out. Jeremy, if you would thank your folks for me. And also a big thank you to the community that come together and help those that couldn't help themselves take that stuff out to compost. So thank you.

Councilwoman Lucas.

I don't have anything tonight. Thank you.

I got a whole list of things. Plum Street, I guess I haven't been following news the last couple years, but is that still on? Are we saving money for that or to repave that where we put the water lines in?

So as some of you may recall, we did bid it out last year, and the numbers came in around $800,000. We did not have that kind of money. We only had $300,000, I believe, kind of set aside. So, yeah, we're trying to save some money so we can get that done.

Okay. I asked you back in December about the safety committee. Do you have any?

Safety committee has met.

Have they? Yes. Well, fine. Good. Will the Northby houses coming up next meeting on a bid to clean them up? Or would that be the meeting after?

Probably after. I'd have to go look on when that published.

And I've seen another building come down on North A. I think that's Next Terra's. The old, never finished, never had a roof on it. That's North A starting to look a little bit better. Thank you to the Lions Club for what they did at this Veterans Memorial. And here, just a thought, but I know Jack Petusik's been working a long time to put one together down by the VFW with it. What are thoughts on asking him if he would have moved that to that site and have everything together and one site to maintain instead of two?

That would be up to Jack, wouldn't it? I can answer that.

FEMA is what's holding that back down at the VFW because it might flood every hundred years. But since the watershed went in, And Jack has, he came to a work session before you came on, and he's got the Vidocq, the great big heavy stones to put there. We were supposed to start it this year, but FEMA has pushed it back to 2030 now.

Well, maybe we should talk to him then.

Yeah, I was going to say, I would talk to Jack.

It's going to be another four or five years.

Yeah, Jack's the main person to talk to about that. So that might be a good thing.

I know Jack, so I can talk to him. Yeah, I talked to Jack.

You know, first, the city staff, I mean, is that workable? Before I go talk to him.

There's actually two memorials in that particular park. There's the Veterans Memorial, and then there's the... forgetting his name, gentleman that originally planted all the trees.

Is it Martin? Basil Martin? Yes. Basil? Thank you.

Basil Martin.

So we have two different memorials set in there. I think we'd have to make contact with any remaining family members regarding moving that if there's thoughts to do something in that area other than any types of memorials.

That would be his daughter, Zinda Carney, married to Frank Carney, who the Pizza Hut, he started Pizza Hut.

Well, I could approach Jack and see if there's any interest. I mean, he may not have any interest.

I just talked to him about three weeks ago in Dillon's, and he was telling me FEMA, FEMA, FEMA, FEMA. But since the watershed, we haven't had, I mean, you know, if a lot of tree limbs are down and debris and everything, the water may come up a little bit. So, I mean, Colin talking to Jack, it's not going to hurt. Whoever wants to talk to Jack, he'll lay it right out for you.

Well, I'm sure he will. FEMA.

FEMA.

Also, I want to thank all the city employees for the storm. Everybody did a great job. Always, not just this storm, but always in the past. Everybody's out there working hard. Last thing I have, I hear a lot of people talk to me about the convenience store there at the roundabout, but I did look today to see if they were up to date on their underground tanks since it's been vacant for so long.

And the state of Kansas says they are not in compliance.

So I don't know if that means they just haven't got their permits again for the year. I don't know what that means. So I don't know if we wanna, if we could follow up on that to see. I know it's a state of Kansas responsibility, but if there's a leak, then it becomes other people's problems.

Are you talking about the sea store that's vacant?

Yes.

Well, there wouldn't be anything in the gas in the tanks.

Well, that's what everybody thought before and a lot of other tanks around town that there was.

You still have underground tanks, I think is what Mr. Hayes is saying.

Yes. And whether there's residual left in them or nothing in them, you know, I don't.

We have actually been in contact with the ownership trying to get them to make some decisions on that property so we will be having those conversations.

I also would like to thank all city workers Jason. Thank you for waiting. to get the employees out. I know some people on Facebook were complaining you weren't out in 65 to 70 mile an hour winds with heavy lightning fixing electric. Thank you for having the safety of your department above and beyond everything. Yeah, well, but I'm glad that you were putting them first So and thank you and Jeremy. Thank you too because I know you guys are still busy Trying to get everything going and I received several personal emails phone calls and in person about how grateful they were for both departments and that you opened the compost area on Sunday as thank you for that and for continuing and again all the city employees and Cody and Jeremy Once again, I'm going to thank you very much for the pool. I love going to the pool and having people come up, not even knowing that I'm on city council and complimenting the pool. The staff, the lifeguards, it is spotless always. The lifeguards are friendly. Hannah and her crew are doing an awesome job. And hopefully we can continue with the happiness there and more and more people there. And more and more little kids are showing up. And same with the splash pads. I didn't see any today, but I only drove by once. So thank you to everybody.

Councilman.

I JUST WANT TO ECHO THE SENTIMENTS EVERYBODY ELSE HAD WITH THE CITY CREWS, JASON AND JEREMY. THANKS FOR YOU AND YOUR FOLKS GETTING OUT THERE. IT WAS QUITE A STORM. A LOT OF TREES DOWN. THANK ALL THE VOLUNTEERS IN THE CITY. THAT'S WHAT I LOVE ABOUT THE CITY IS EVERYBODY REALLY CAME TOGETHER AND PEOPLE WERE COMING IN FROM FROM THE COUNTY TO HELP OUT AS WELL. I SAW MR. MAYOR OUT THERE AT THE DUMP SITE AND HE WAS VOLUNTEERING TO HELP HULFER PEOPLE WHO WEREN'T ABLE TO AS WELL. AND JUST THANKS TO REVEREND SHIELD FOR THE INVOCATION. IT'S GREAT AS ALWAYS. THAT'S ALL I HAVE.

I'm so used to being first. I was going to thank all the employees, Joe. You sidelined me. Yes, ma'am. Well, Jason, being out, I mean at the wee hours of the morning, 2 o'clock, 3 o'clock, that in the dark, In the rain, in this, in the wind. Thank you. And for your crew and everybody that was out.

Yeah, we actually had staff showing up like 8.30 on Saturday to get started that worked all night long. We had four electric distribution staff that were there all night long helping to get power restored, so. Greatly appreciate that effort. And then we actually called in people from other departments to help out. So it was great. Jeremy's staff was out there also. They got to get the limbs out of the way before we can put the lines up. So it's a team effort.

Well, a little bird told me you rolled in about 3 AM.

Yeah, just about.

But thank you to all who helped. Everybody, greatly appreciated.

And that's all I have. OK. I also want to say the same thing to all the departments, to the citizens of Wellington, You really we really have a good thing going here. We have our own electric department. We have own water department We have our own sanitation department and when things like this happen and Park Department for our department EMS and when things like this happen They're out there so we have a lot to be thankful and I just thank you and thank you to all the citizens that were out there helping each other it was nice to see that so I believe that's all I have and we'll move on I'd like to just say to in the heat stay hydrated I re I repeat that and find some shade when you need it

That's it.

Okay. We're going to go to reports of the city officials. Jeff, do you want me to read them off all six or you want to just how do you want to do this? And we can vote on all six.

Yeah, you got about six street requests, most closing requests. Most of them are for 4th of July related events. You got several block parties and then you also have the request for the Canocla wheat run associated with wheat fest. You can vote on them in bank. The details and maps were included in the packet. And then there was one that we amended that came in after the cut off the packet. But because there's not another meeting for now on the 4th of July, we asked that You at least consider it.

Okay. I'll make a motion to approve all the street closings. Second.

Okay, we have a motion and a second. How do you need?

Just a voice vote. All those in favor.

All those in favor? Aye. All those opposed? All right. We have no public hearing. We have no ordinance. Our first resolution is a resolution naming the baseball softball complex at Worden Park in memory of Roy K. Brick and establishing a memorial trust for contributions to support the maintenance and improvement of the facilities dedicated in his honor. Jeremy or Jeff.

I'll kick it off. In the packet and part of the resolution, the Gabrick family and some friends have approached the city and they took it to the park board to consider naming the BASEBALL SOFTBALL FACILITIES AT WARDEN PARK AFTER MR. KABRICK, WHO WAS A LONGTIME EMPLOYEE AND DIRECTOR OF OUR PARK SUPERINTENDENT AND HAD TOUCHED A LOT OF OUR FACILITIES IN HIS CAREER WITH THE COMMUNITY. Park board thought it was a worthwhile proposition and recommended that it come before the Council for consideration. There's some history of us doing this in honor of you know people in our community, you know Hibbs Houghton field and you know, obviously Warden Park is named after some notable folks. So, you know, it's not without any kind of precedent that we've done these kind of things. So this would allow the renaming of the facility after Mr. Cabrick in recognition of his contributions. And then it would also establish a memorial fund so that we can accept donations and then target them towards improvements to any facilities that are dedicated to his honor.

Move to approve. Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait.

I got it.

Actually be appropriate to have a second if you want to have discussion discussion comes after the motion second.

I have something.

And then you can have your discussion.

So we're not going to address section 2 here. which to me seems like we are giving a blank check to, I mean, when you look at the verbiage of it, very disturbing to me that for fundraising for maintenance and upkeep on the softball and baseball park and any other facilities that would deem under the name of Roy Kabrick. That is wide open. for, can we name this after Roy? Now, don't get me wrong. I've known the KBRX forever. But the way it's worded is, I don't like the way it's worded. I think that should come out of there because five years from now, we're going to name this because the city council voted yes.

Section 2 only.

But what is any other facilities?

If the money is donated to the city in Roy Cabrera's memorial, then that would allow us to use those funds within the park system, but not renaming. That's only in section one. The memorial funds is section two. So if someone wanted to plant a tree in Woods Park in Roy's name, then we would be able to do that within the parameters of this resolution. Not renaming anything.

But the words facilities.

Yes.

A tree isn't a facility, Jeremy.

Well, I'm sorry. We're going to split hairs on that.

I know. We are. Did a family donate that land?

Warden Park? Yes.

Okay. Okay. know how i'd feel if my parents had donated that land and somebody wanted to take i thought it would be natural to like lynn burris drive the man put in enormous amounts of work at woods park didn't rename the park but gave him lynn burris drive well councilwoman not to be argumentative but i mean when hibbs hooten was named that's part of sellers park

So there is a history. I mean, in 94, the council took action to name the baseball fields at Sellers Park, which is a park named after someone after two different people.

It's still looking back on a no vote for it. And we got it anyway.

Is this about Warden Park in general or?

It's about the whole thing here, the ball tournaments, the amount of money, the lack of the activity out there. Isn't it just the girls softball team?

There's football, there's soccer. I mean, there is. There's all kinds of activities out there.

And tournaments, right?

Tournaments, leagues.

Okay. Do we get paid for those tournaments?

Some of those we get money back. Not all of them. Cody and I are working on new agreements in order to capture more revenue to help maintain those fields. But I don't see how that has to do with the memorial funds that will be donated in Roy's name.

I've been thinking about that. And since Warden Park was right in front of me all of a sudden.

We're going to tie it to this.

I thought more like a Roy Cabrick drive. Give him the road coming in.

What was presented to the park board was the softball baseball complex for Warden Park. If that is not the desire of the council, then we can send it back to the park board to reconsider.

Well, I'm.

So I guess I'm asking if it's just the ball fields. I know you're not okay with it, but you feel better with it.

I'd feel better with it if that.

And then it would still go back to any other naming, would have to go back to the park board, correct?

Yes.

That's exactly how it's written right now, though.

Yeah, that's what I thought. It's just the ball fields and then it will go back to you.

So for example, you have Hibs Houghton Field in Sellers Park. So this would be Roy Cabrick Fields in Warden Park. Something like that. You're not renaming Warden Park. It's identifying those fields.

I know that. We're not renaming Warden Park.

I guess I'm confused as to what issue you're having. Does everybody have their mics on? Yes, I do.

Sorry, I didn't. I'm just I'm just I'm really focusing on that one line with the word but again facilities it needs to go back to the park yeah that's not related to the physical naming of any parks that's related to the the monetary part the trust part I mean how familiar are you with Wellington fundraising i'm very familiar with wellington fundraising and just how quick it dries up so then what happens when the fundraising ends then what happens to the foundation the roy kabrick If that's funding maintenance and upkeep, and there's no more money coming in fundraising, then what happens?

It's assistance. It's going towards. So it would be an assistance thing. So if there are no funds currently in that, then maybe the city would cover a special project out there that couldn't. It's not replacing the city's contribution to supporting those fields. It's literally a... like a memorial type additional support, kind of like when you can donate to have a bench put in downtown or like it's additional support just to help even provide even more to those specific fields, that specific area. So I'm just, I'm not, I'm trying to understand what you're getting confused on or like what you're not understanding.

I'm not a bit confused.

It sounds like it.

I know what I read.

Other facilities. So you're worried that money might go not to those ball fields.

No, I'm not worried about that.

Okay, I'm confused.

I'm worried about that one sentence that says in section two, And any other facilities that can be named after Roy Cabrick, basically.

As Mr. Jones already addressed, Section 2 is related solely to the financial, not to the naming portion. You are misunderstanding what you're reading.

Then I shouldn't have to. That Burbage should have been plain and clear.

It is very clear.

No, it isn't. Not to me. Other facilities... That right there means 10 years from now. Oh, well, look at that. The city council approved that. Let's name this other facility.

That's not at all what that section says. You truly are not understanding the wording.

But it still goes back to, and we talked about this earlier, still goes back to that if someone wants to rename it or they want to add it, they have to go to the park board first. The park board has to approve it before it comes to city council. Then that should have been in that paragraph.

No, that's the procedure. Section one is about the naming rights. Section two is about the financial part. I'm done.

I'm done with this. To me, it's wrong. I'll never go for it. I'm only one vote. Are we ready to move forward with voting with it? Because as long as I'm alive, if anything comes up with another facility that does that, I'm going to land. I'm going to land hard.

That's fine. You can land on your no. You have that right. Are we ready to move forward?

I do have a motion and a second if you're ready for a roll call vote. Yes. Okay. Ms. Antonich? No. Mr. Elmore?

Yes.

Ms. Grace? Yes. Mr. Hay?

Yes.

Ms. Lucas? Yes. Mr. Westmoreland? Yes. So that is five yes votes and one no vote for resolution number 6454.

OK. Jeff, do we have any study items, future agenda items

Not presently. I'll be circulating some stuff about scheduling work sessions because we have some budget numbers and we have capitalists, so we're going to have to have fun discussions coming up.

Okay. All right. Anything from the council? You need to motion.

I move that we adjourn.

Second. All those in favor? Aye. All those opposed? We are adjourned.