KANOPOLIS — The city’s water project will include a new water tower that’s slightly bigger than the one Kanopolis has now.

The news came at the council’s April 9 meeting at Kanopolis City Hall, as part of a presentation on the city’s $2.1 million water project.

Thaniel Monaco, Manhattan, of BG Consultants took officials through the funding process, which will includes a $600,000 Community Development Block Grant, $1.5 million in U.S. Department of Agriculture money, $30,000 in PPG funds and $10,000 in city contributions.

As part of his report, Monaco asked for and received council approval to accept a base bid of $928,523 from APAC of Hutchinson, which is looking at a late May start date for waterline improvements.

The bid applies only to the waterlines. Other parts of the project, including the water tower, will be bid separately.

The project also includes another well south of town. Kanopolis currently has wells along Kansas Highway 111, at the city shop and near the Kanopolis Drive-In.

The water tower will demand a change order to pull the automatic meter readers from the bid process, Monaco said. The action will free up funds needed to pay for the tower. The original plan called for restoration of the town’s existing water tower.

Monaco said he has started looking for sites for the new tower because it can’t be placed where the current one stands. In response to a question from the council, he said the $640,000 the new tower is expected to cost includes removal of the current tower.

Mayor Anthony Hopkins suggested the council wait until the May meeting to make a decision on future water rates. That way, he said, new rates could go into effect in June, thus giving the city six months in 2019 under the new rates.

In addition, City clerk Debbie Kralik planned to attend a seminar April 11 on a rate checkups, which should help the council with its decision.

Another issue — one that caught council members off guard and sparked a few emotional minutes ended without a yes or no answer from officials.

About a half-dozen residents attended the meeting to lobby for an ordinance change to allow chickens within the city limits.

The issue, which has been on the agenda several times over the years, was strongly opposed by veteran council president Gerry Gebhardt.

“I can’t see when we want to improve the town that we want to bring chickens in,” he said.

Kanopolis resident Dave Stroede suggested the ordinance be rewritten to allow no more than 10 chickens per household. No roosters. In addition, the chickens must be penned and have the blessing of neighbors.

Mayor Anthony Hopkins, who does not have a vote, and other council members seemed more open to the change.

“We’ve lost a lot of things and it sure isn’t because I’ve had chickens,” said one resident who has had chickens for 50 years and is grandfathered in against the fowl ordinance.

Another supporter said she wanted chickens as a 4-H project and for the eggs.

Gebhardt said he would like to see the issue brought to a vote because every resident in Kanopolis could be affected.

Hopkins said he needed time to review the information presented at the council meeting. Even if the council decides to amend or replace the current ordinance, the city must follow a process, which includes working with the city’s attorney and that could take time, he said.

The council agreed to table the request until more research is done. Kralik was instructed to get copies of ordinances from Lindsborg, Wilson and Salina — all of which allow chickens, according to the residents who spoke at the city council meeting.

In other business:

• Kralik said the city has received no response to its advertisement in the Ellsworth County Independent-Reporter for someone to lease the town’s former city hall building.

• Kanopolis will have its citywide garage sale the same day as Ellsworth, which will be Saturday, June 1. The Ellsworth sale is organized by the Ellsworth County Independent-Reporter.

• The city received a grant of $4,446 with no restrictions for the annual cleanup. Date to be announced.

• Following a 10-minute executive session, council members approved 50-cents-perhour pay increases, effective April 30, for Peggy Kempke, Mike Bunch and Aaron Burwell.