Afamiliar face was appointed by Mayor Dan Finnegan Monday to fill the upcoming vacancy in the city attorney’s job.

Finnegan appointed attorney Patrick Hoffman to fill the seat being vacated by current city attorney Melissa Miller, whose last day in Ellsworth will be Feb. 29. She is returning to her hometown. Hoffman will assume the duties of city attorney on Feb. 1. His appointment was approved by the council.

In other business:

• The annual emergency water operation plan was approved as presented. According to City Administrator Dustin Stambaugh, the purpose of the plan is to safeguard residents and maintain essential services during unforeseen emergencies. The plan outlines the city’s water supply sources, infrastructure, disaster response hierarchy, mutual aid agreements and available emergency equipment. The biggest change this year was listing Stambaugh as the acting water/sewer superintendent.

• Approval was given to pay Municipal Pipe Services $52,500 for their valve installation as presented.

Stambaugh said in response to a longstanding issue of a leaking fire hydrant on Webb Street and East 4th Street, the water/sewer department has taken proactive measures to address the problem. He noted the initial request for hydrant replacement set in motion a series of events that revealed a broader infrastructure concern.

“Subsequent investigations uncovered that the valves within the city’s water/sewer system had not been routinely exercised, raising doubts about their functionality,” Stambaugh said.

This realization prompted a comprehensive evaluation of the entire valve network to ensure the proper functioning of the water/ sewer infrastructure.

“As a result of this assessment, the water/sewer department not only replaced the problematic fire hydrant, but also identified and replaced three valves. Additionally, two new valves were strategically added to enhance the efficiency and reliability of the system.

“This comprehensive approach to infrastructure maintenance reflects a commitment to addressing underlying issues and improving the overall functionality of the water/sewer network. Moving forward, Stambaugh said the department is actively engaged in burying the valves and advancing a broader agenda of maintenance and upgrades for various water/sewer equipment across the town.

Stambaugh said he has divided the city into four quadrants based on Eighth Street and Douglas Avenue, and has assigned a schedule with March 4 as Quadrant A, June 10 as Quadrant B, Sept. 9 as Quadrant C and Dec. 9 as Quadrant D.

“We’re going to be testing valves, troubleshooting them, taking pressure samples throughout the area and start replacing some of these valves,” he said.

Stambaugh said in the long term, it will help the city crew more easily isolate things in the network so they can be replaced.

“It’s also a proactive thing we, as a water department, should be doing anyway,” he said.

• Angie Smith of the Domestic Violence Association of Central Kansas presented proclamations to the council signifying January 2024 as National Human Trafficking Awareness and National Stalking Awareness Month in Ellsworth. The council approved Smith’s request.

• Approval was given to hire Michael Kinnard, the current K-9 handler with the Ellsworth County Sheriff ’s Office, to fill the open position on the Ellsworth Police Department, along with this K-9 partner, Riggs.

Ellsworth Police Chief Emil Halfhill said he spoke to Sheriff Murray Marston regarding Riggs, and both believe similar arrangements for the dog can be made as in the past.

Approval was also given to allow the Ellsworth Police Department to purchase and equip a 2022 Ford Explorer in an amount not to exceed $25,000, with the funds to be used from the equipment reserve. At the end of Riggs’ service, the council will review the K-9 program’s future with the EPD.

• Ellsworth Fire Chief Ralph Doubrava reported the department had 132 calls in 2023, which was down from the average of 180 in past years.

“Our goal is to make sure we are prepared,” Doubrava said.

Doubrava was recently re-elected fire chief, with Dale Houston, first assistant fire chief and Kirk Robson, second assistant fire chief.

• Finnegan said he plans to use the city credit card to purchase something special for Miller and Wayne Scritchfield, who went off the city council recently. Finnegan said the gifts he plans to purchase for Miller and Scritchfield are a token of appreciation for their public service.

The next meeting of the Ellsworth City Council will be at 5:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 12, at city hall.