The Council Grove City Council approved a nonbinding resolution of no confidence in Mayor Ryan G. McDonald during Tuesday night’s regular meeting, following disagreement over the process for appointing a new city attorney.
The resolution did not have the support of the full council. Council members Jason Booker, Nathan Adams, Sharon Haun and Denise Hartman signed the document. Council members Taylor Adams and Stephen McKnight did not sign it.
The issue came up during approval of the agenda, when McDonald sought to add the appointment of a new city attorney under business. Current City Attorneys Brian Henderson and Molly Priest have submitted their resignations, effective at the end of June. McDonald said he intended to appoint Stuart Symmonds as the new city attorney, with council approval to follow.
The attempt to amend the agenda failed 4-2. Council members Taylor Adams and Stephen McKnight voted in favor of adding the item, while the remaining council members voted against the amended agenda.
Council members questioned whether the appointment should move forward that evening, saying they wanted more opportunity to review the candidate, the fee structure and the responsibilities of the position.
The no-confidence resolution stated concerns about McDonald’s handling of human resource matters, communication with council members and city administration, and comments made in the local newspaper regarding employee issues. The resolution stated that McDonald had inserted himself into human resource issues without following proper protocols and documentation, had rebuffed advice from the city administrator, council and city attorney, and had not been forthright about employee-related concerns allegedly brought to him.
The resolution also stated that Mc-Donald had written inappropriately in the local newspaper about human resource issues involving city employees, creating potential administrative issues and potentially violating employee privacy rights.
City Attorney Henderson advised that if the document was to be treat-ed as a resolution, it needed a motion, second and vote. The motion was made, seconded and approved. The resolution is nonbinding and does not remove the mayor from office.
Following the vote, council members continued to discuss communication, the mayor’s role, city administration and the pending city attorney transition. Councilor Denise Hartman raised concerns about a project on East Main Street. Henderson cautioned the council about separating matters involving Mc-Donald’s official role as mayor from matters involving private property or private enterprise.
The council then moved into regular business. The consent agenda was approved, including minutes from the previous meeting and appropriations totaling $107,300.52.
Council Grove Lake transfers were approved for HS-2 and G-5. HS-2, also known as 108 Waterside, was transferred to Elle T. Nelson of Council Grove from Dan W. Forker Trust #1. G-5, also known as 124 Cottonwood Cove, was transferred from William A Kemph and Lisa D. Kemph to David Carl Graves and Stacy Ann Graves, of Kansas City, Missouri.
The evening’s discussion returned later to the city attorney position. Henderson said the city’s current turmoil and communication problems were major factors in his and Priest’s decision to resign.
“The dysfunction amongst the city, the inability for the mayor and the city manager to effectively communicate, the inability for the mayor and the city council to effectively communicate makes it impossible for us to really move forward in a positive manner,” Henderson said.
Henderson said City Administrator Nick Jones had tried to persuade the attorneys to remain involved in some capacity. Henderson said one option discussed was Priest staying on briefly to finish a specific sewer- line-related project, while another was Henderson possibly continuing as municipal prosecutor on a contract basis.
McDonald said he intended to appoint Symmonds as city attorney. Symmonds attended the meeting and answered questions from the council. He said municipal court prosecution was not his preferred area, but that his firm had resources to assist. Council members indicated they wanted more information about fee structure, responsibilities and whether municipal court prosecution would be included before taking a final vote.
The council is expected to consider the appointment further at its next regular meeting.
The council also heard a Washunga Days update. The festival will be held June 19 and 20, with Community Night on North Neosho Street Friday, the Kaw Nation Intertribal Kaw Powwow, food vendors, children’s activities, the Rotary Beer Garden, and Saturday events including Touch-a-Truck, the DARE Pancake Feed, flea market, craft and vendor fair, fishing derby, free swim and evening concert at the Neosho Riverwalk Amphitheater. All activities are free except the Saturday night concert.
Fire Chief Tyson Stevenson and Assistant Fire Chief Steve Crichton reported on recent department activity, including ventilation and ladder training, forcible entry training, vehicle extrication training and calls that included an RV fire and a rescue at the city lake spillway. Stevenson said the department’s ladder truck is currently out of commission following inspection.
Jones reported that budget calculations had been received from the county clerk and that the city must decide by July 20 whether to exceed the revenue neutral rate. He also said the city audit has begun and is expected to be presented in July. Jones discussed a public meeting on the Streetscape project, with council members favoring a separate evening meeting to allow more public participation.
A proposed food truck and trailer ordinance, Ordinance No. 2282, was discussed but tabled to give council members more time to review the revised language.
The council also discussed an honorary Welch Jr. street designation. City Administrator Nick Jones said City Attorney Brian Henderson recommended that the honorary sign be placed on a separate, shorter pole, rather than attached to the existing street sign, to distinguish it from the official street name for emergency responders and others. A family member participating remotely said the family was willing to cover the cost of the sign and noted the family’s three generations of ties to Council Grove. Jones said he would prepare a cost estimate and proposed sign design for the family’s review.
The council approved appointing the Zoning and Planning Commission to serve as the city’s Board of Zoning Appeals when needed. Members also discussed the city lake committee process for boundary- line adjustments and variances, ultimately leaving the current process in place for pending requests while acknowledging that the ordinance may need future review.
The council approved hiring Cathy Prudence as full-time utility billing clerk/administrative assistant at $24 per hour, effective June 30, contingent on background check, drug screening and physical. Jones said Prudence brings 22 years of experience and human resources certification. The motion to hire Prudence passed 6-0.
The council also approved retention raises for two current City Hall employees. Megan Weaver’s pay was increased from $18.88 to $24 per hour, and Kamryn Smith’s pay increased from $18.50 to $21 per hour. The motions to raise wages on the two employees were approved by 5 of the councilors. Councilor Nathan Adams voted against both measures.
The council approved by a 5-0 vote a Planning and Zoning Commission recommendation involving a revised utility easement for lots 58, 59 and 60 in the Alspaw Addition Unit Two area, which is owned by Victoria L. Petry. Councilor Denise Hartman abstained.
Due to the length of the meeting, the council tabled the discussion of city committees.
In governing body comments, council members encouraged residents to attend Washunga Days activities and support local food vendors. They also thanked city crews for their work in preparing the city for guests.
Nathan Adams brought up the topic of storm sirens and whether there was a defective one on the east side of town. Council Grove City Lake resident Shelly Dunham said the city lake sirens may be malfunctioning as they did not go off. Jones said after discussion earlier in the week with EMS Director Brett Samuels, the lake sirens may not have been activated during the storm.
McDonald thanked Henderson and Priest for their service to Council Grove, wished them well and said he hoped the transition would be smooth.
The minutes were read by Secretary, Laramie Mayer, and they were approved as corrected. There were no communications.
The Treasurer’s Report was read and approved.
Leader, Dani Lautt, said Jameson Lautt had submitted the report to both papers.
Fair Board Representative, Laramie Mayer told the Council that the fair theme will be “Hometown Harvest”. She said the Fairboard got the entrance on the East side of the building repaired, sand was added to the beef barn, and screenings were added to the beef tie-outs. She reported that the Fairboard is going to have a garage sale fundraiser on April 24th and 25th, donations are accepted 22nd and 23rd from 4-8. Lastly, she said that the Fairboard is looking for a new building manager.
For committee reports, Laramie Mayer gave the report for the budget committee. She gave the options the committee came up with for the new photo backdrop and said they will need to adjust the snack shack prices this year to account for higher grocery prices. For the Club Days committee, Daylen Nielsen reported that the event went well and that it was well organized. He said there was good feedback about it being held at the high school, but we needed to spread out some of the rooms to reduce congestion.
For agent reports, FCS agent, Deb Andres, provided multiple updates. First, she said the turnout was great for club days and that the number of participants was up from past years. She then gave an update on the results of the FCS judging event held at club days, and gave the information on the state contest and practices that will be held for those wanting to participate. She said the Extension Office is reviewing Kansas 4-H invoices of state events and sending out invoices to families that participated. She then talked about the 4-H Council Handbook and By-Laws updates, and said the Extension Office is considering a gift card for those that fill out record books instead of a t-shirt. Lastly, she state the next meeting will be June 15th at 5:30pm with a food safety and snack shack training for all members prior to the council meeting. She reminded members that this counts as a county foods meeting for project members.
Program Assistant, Tara Thompsen then gave her report to council. She said the deadline for newsletter announcements would be April 24th. She then gave a reminder about weigh-in on April 22nd and 25th. She also mentioned the Extension Board is holding interviews for the new 4-H agent on May 11th. She reminded members that the add/drop deadline for projects is May 1st, and that all members need to update their t-shirt size and emails online.
A representative from each club then gave a report on current activities for their respective clubs.
Under old business, the council discussed the new plaque for the Big John award and made a motion to purchase a plaque identical to past ones.
For new business, the council made a motion to pay all outstanding invoices owed to Kansas 4-H. The council also discussed a soup supper fundraiser for the next 4-H year. Then the council fulfilled a request by the Fairboard to create a list of 4-H council responsibilities for the fair. Lasty the council discussed options and prices of photo backdrops for the fair.
For announcements, the council was reminded that the fair theme will be “Hometown Harvest”. The council then reviewed the recommended meeting dates for committees to get things prepared for fair. There was a final reminder about the foods meeting prior to the next council meeting at 5:30pm on June 15th at the fairgrounds.
Meeting was adjourned.