When it was time to call the Kiowa City Council regular meeting to order June 13, they did not have a quorum to hold an actual meeting. Councilmember Janet Robison had planned to be out-of-town and Councilmember Brian Hill was in the harvest field.

All other councilmembers were present, including B.J. Duvall, Jason Thayer, Tom Wells and Mayor Bill Watson. Also seated at council table was City Administrator Sam Demel, City Attorney Brandon Ritcha and City Clerk Sheila Smith. City Utility Clerk Lynette Callison also attended.

Although the council could not act on agenda items, they could discuss and listen. Greg Wright with Priority Power, a Texas-based company, had traveled from Kansas City to talk to the council about building a Priority Solar Farm in Kiowa. That's a project Demel and the council have been working toward.

Wright made a lengthy PowerPoint presentation with details for the solar farm. The bottom line is to bring the city clean energy with a locked-in cost for 30 years. The intent is to save the city money.

Demel and Wright explained the city would continue to purchase electricity from the Kansas Municipal Energy Agency (KMEA). The solar panels would provide another source of energy for the city. The purpose of adding the solar farm is to shave off the electricity usage during PEAK times. Obviously, solar panels do not function at night.

Priority Power would own the solar farm. The city would buy power from Priority. As a capital finance company, Priority can sell tax credits and solar credits, which helps reduce the city's costs. Kiowa's energy cost becomes less expensive.

After five years, the city has the option to purchase the solar farm from Priority. The men explained that the actual savings to customers are unknown at this time, but it is believed to provide some savings and lock in prices for thirty years. At the next meeting with Priority Power they will have more definitive numbers of the cost and rates.

"This will reduce the uncertainty of future higher prices," Demel said.

Priority recently completed a solar farm in Beloit. Demel said he plans to travel there to learn more.

Council is considering a location (about 10 acres needed) for the possible solar plant in Kiowa. Demel said possibly Ellis Field on the south end of town or the north of town where the old water wells are located. If the area north of town is used, more land will need to be purchased or leased.

Of course, the most significant consideration is the cost of the solar farm. Wright said there are many unknown variables with the cost at this time. The council requested Wright to bring current numbers with more cost details with a monthly expense evaluation from 2021 to analyze. The next time Wright meets with the council, he will bring those numbers. If the council moves forward, the next step would be to will bids for the project.

Helfrich Thanks Council and Request Plan for Drainage Problem

In early October, Kiowa resident Deb Helfrich addressed the council about the longtime drainage problem that had recently allowed swirling water to shatter her basement glass door. The basement which was a family room was flooded and everything was ruined. Insurance would not pay.

So a week ago Monday night, Helfrich again stood before the council. She thanked the council for recently starting the process to fix the drainage problem that affects many areas in the southeast part of Kiowa.

“Do you have a detailed plan yet?” Helfrich asked. “You've already dug on us twice and you didn't talk to us.” Wells said, “We are probably wingin' it.” Duvall told her his plan for the “north side,” and told her he wants it to “run smooth.”

Demel said they have a plan. He said the biggest impact to the problem is water that builds up just south of town on Ott and Farney property. The city administrator said they drew up a land easement on Farneys for them to review. They have a verbal agreement with Ott. The city will clean debris out of those ditches. The city is trimming trees down to 15 feet and will then knock them out in the south end of town.

Helfrich said, “I've been contacting our city managers for 15 years about this drainage problem.”

She hopes this time she'll see a solution.