Kiowa City Council extends the Stay-at-Home Order to coincide with Kansas Governor
April 22, 2020
At a special meeting Sunday evening Kiowa's City Council voted to extend the Stay-at-Home order until May 11, the date of the next regular council meeting. City Administrator Rusty Varnado said if Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly rescinds her order before that, then so will the city. The governor's order is set to end May 3.
With frustration expressed to Varnado by this reporter and others, he reminds that the city did not create the Stay-at-Home policies. "We just adopt the policies our Health and State officials put in place," he said.
In other action at that special meeting, Varnado told the council he expects this year's audit to cost between $20,500 and $23,000. That's because of the extensive work the firm had to do to reconstruct the city's finances after the computer crash last year. In January the council approved $15,500 for the audit but now the cost has increased. The city's auditor is Busby, Ford and Reimer, LLC.
At the council's regular meeting April 13, all members were present as Mayor Bill Watson called the meeting to order with the Pledge of Allegiance followed with a prayer by Councilman R.L. Simpson. Other councilmen attending were: B.J. Duvall, Brian Hill, Jason Thayer and Tom Wells. Attorney Brandon Ritcha joined the meeting by Zoom. Varnado was present and also City Clerk Trish Brewer.
Varnado explained the city's health and dental insurance was going to rise from $220,000 to $270,000 when the policy renews June 1. The council voted 5-0 to increase the deductible from $1,000 to $1,500 for a better rate. He said the city's commercial insurance package is rising two to three percent over last year. The council voted 5-0 to approve it.
The City of Hazelton accepted the City of Kiowa's offer for the road grader. The amount is $43,000. Varnado recommended the city pay cash since they have the cash-on-hand in the equipment reserve fund. If they did a lease/purchase the city would pay 3 percent interest. The council voted 5-0 to pay the $43,000 from the equipment fund.
After discussing Hazelton's request for a one-time rate adjustment on their water bill the last several months, the council voted 5-0 to grant the adjustment.
The City Burn Period was approved for April 14-25. The Spring Clean Up dates are April 27-May 8.
The council adopted the 2017 National Electric Safety Code. "This brings us up to date,"Varnado said.
Fire Chief Bill Duvall said they hired a freight company to haul the new firetruck home from Maryland. The cost of $2,700 was cheaper than someone from the fire department traveling to get it, he said.
The administrator also said the city hall renovation project is finished. He spent $269,000 of the allotted $270,000. He said this leaves approximately $122,000 bond money to use for matching grant money. The city office is trying new office hours for a few weeks: 8a.m.–5 p.m., Monday–Thursday. Staff members are each taking just a 30-minute lunch break so they can close early at 3 p.m. on Fridays.
Varnado reported that Attica will not allow any of their city workers to come down to Kiowa with COVID-19. So the electrical pole replacement is on hold.
Regarding the "Kiowa Bucks" that were sent out ($15 to each residential utility customer who resides in Kiowa) as a stimulus for the local economy, Varnado said they mailed out 430.
There will be no exchange between the City of Kiowa and the township regarding the cemetery and tree and grass dump until the new year.
Police Chief Travis Peterson said his new police officer "is working out really well." He is Officer Andrew Paasch who works part-time for to the Kiowa Police Department. Officer Paasch is an Army veteran and works full time at the Barber County Sheriff's Office.
Reader Comments(0)