By Lucky Kidd
LYONS, Kan. — The current members of the Lyons City Council Monday adopted a resolution stating a desire to look at a restructuring the city’s form of Government.
The resolution states a belief city government should empower the city administrator and other staff to “effectively and efficiently” carry out the directions of the governing body using the policies of the city.
City Counselor Patrick Hoffman said there are a number of governing configurations used in Kansas, and because they are not uniform among all cities, it is possible for the city to, under its home rule powers, to adopt a new form of governments. To do would require a charter ordinance, which in this particular case would be submitted directly to voters for consideration.
Lyons’ current form of government has an eight-member City Council, with two members elected from each of four wards along with an elected mayor, which is the standard form of
government for Second Class cities in Kansas using a mayor-council form of government.
With three new Council members to take office in January along with a new mayor, it is anticipated discussion of a change in the governing structure will take place in the spring with any change it might decide on to be submitted to voters at the next general election in November 2025.
On a somewhat related matter, the Council briefly discussed the situation involving a newly elected Council member who is also a volunteer fireman. Hoffman said from the research he’s done there would not be a conflict under state law for someone to hold both positions. The Council may look at clarifying city codes in this regard.
The Council engaged in a lengthy discussion on natural gas prices in the wake of the most recent billing from the Kansas Municipal Energy Agency. Council member Doug Higgins asked this payment be considered separately from other expenditures which are usually part of a consent agenda where a number of items are voted on as a group.
During the public comment portion of the meeting. Lyons resident John Brundage told the council his gas bill for the most recent billing cycle was nearly double what it was a year ago, even though his gas usage was about the same. Brundage voiced concern about how this impacts particularly elderly residents.
In the Council’s discussion questions were raised about KMEA’s gas purchase practices. Currently, around 65 percent of anticipated winter gas needs are forward contracted during the summer, with additional gas purchases made on the spot market. In the past the Council has discussed the potential of increasing that and storing gas underground when prices are lower.
Ultimately, the Council approved payment of the $173,085 dollar gas invoice. KMEA representatives will be invited to meet with the Council at a future meeting.
The Council approved an agreement with Kansas State University connected with development of a new comprehensive plan for the city. The project will be done using gradate
students from K-State, who will come to Lyons Feb. 12 as it now stands for a public input meeting and tour to create an inventory and analysis of the existing infrastructure, community and neighboring conditions. A second trip is planned for late April during which they will present their collective body of work to Lyons stakeholders. As part of this the city will be conducting a community study during January, with results to be brought to the city Jan. 24. Total cost to the city for the survey will come to $4,297.
The Council approved a request to the Kansas Department of Commerce asking for an extension to June 30th on an Attraction Development Grant the city received to allow full expenditure of funds received for the “World’s Largest Salt Shaker” project at Commercial and East Avenue South.
A payment submission was also approved for a Community Development Block Grant housing rehabilitation project, which on completion will leave just over $76,000 from the original $300,000 grant. This reimbursement will cover rehabilitation work done at 118 West Avenue North along with various inspections on this project and a lien filing fee on an earlier project.
A bid from Venture Corporation was accepted for an upcoming CCLIP project. Venture’s $304,858 bid was the lowest of three bids received for the project which will include full-depth patching, milling, overlay and pavement marking on South Grand, or K-14, from American Road to Taylor Street.
A transfer of the remaining ARPA funds to the Gas Line fund was approved, that will cover remaining expenditures connected with gas line projects.
The Council approved an agreement with Curtis and Susan Tobias to allow the Fire Department to use a residence at 618 South Pioneer the owners are planning to demolish for fire
department training purposes.
