At Monday’s meeting of the Ellsworth City Council, City Administrator Dustin Stambaugh recommended the city file an official notice of intent to exceed the revenue neutral rate with the Ellsworth County Clerk.

According to Stambaugh, the RNR is a tax rate that would generate the same property tax revenue as levied in the previous tax year using the current tax year’s total assessed valuation. He said exceeding the RNR allows the city to collect more property tax revenue than the previous year, which may be necessary to fund city services and projects adequately.

A motion was then approved giving formal notice to the Ellsworth County Clerk of the city’s intent to exceed the RNR with a proposed mill levy rate of 100.0, with the administration’s plan to reduce the rate to around 90.0 mills by the time of the public hearing scheduled to take place at 5 p.m. Monday, Sept. 9 at Ellsworth City Hall.

In other business:

• Mary Schmidt asked if the city could do anything about a large truck parked on Washington Street. She said the large truck has another vehicle parked in front of it and presents a hazard because the truck is seldom moved and blocks a clear line of sight for drivers on that street.

Schmidt suggested the truck instead park around the corner on Fifth Street.

“That street has the least traffic,” she said. “Nobody is ever parked on Fifth Street.”

Stambaugh said he is working on the matter with City Attorney Patrick Hoffman and Interim Police Chief Jeff Weigel.

• Approval was given to a request by Dr. Lindsey Voeltz for the exclusive use of Preisker Park from 5 a.m.-5 p.m. for her annual Kids Ninja Warrior event on Saturday, July 20.

The Splash Pad at Preisker Park will remain closed until after 5 p.m. that day.

• Stambaugh said he is withholding his signature on a document that would close out the airport project because the airport advisory board has told him two new sets of lights on the new runway have failed.

Stambaugh said he is confronting the manufacturers of the lights because they are telling the electrician they are not going to honor the warranty on the lights.

“I don’t think that is acceptable,” he said.

• Stambaugh was asked to make corrections as recommended by Council President Jessica Kootz President to the update of the city’s Article G, Employee Benefits and Workplace Standards. These updates enhance the safety and well-being of all employees, contractors and temporary staff.

• Approval was given to a request for an extension until Dec. 31 to finish demolition of the structure at 215 W. Third St.

• Council Member Don Panzer asked Weigel to start enforcing the truck route on the north and south ends of K-14 Highway. He asked for enforcement because of all the updates the city is doing in the downtown area and for the safety of people.

“I understand there are a lot of semis running the red lights and are just driving through town with no delivery in the city limits so they don’t have to go around on K-156,” Panzer said. “That defeats the purpose of the truck routes.”

• Council Member Tyler Renard asked if jake brakes being used on semi-tractor trailers are legal in Ellsworth. He was told they are not. Renard said that needs to be enforced.

• Mayor Dan Finnegan thanked the EPD and Stambaugh for setting up a speed trap for speeders during the Biking Across Kansas stop at Ellsworth’s Recreation Center. He also acknowledged the need to make the center more accessible to the handicapped and suggested the city copy what it did at the J.H. Robbins Memorial Library to improve handicapped access.

• No action was taken after a 15-minute executive session to discuss matters pertaining to attorney/client privilege. In addition, no action was taken after a 20-minute executive session to discuss non-elected personnel.

The next meeting of the Ellsworth City Council will be at 5:30 p.m. Monday, July 22, at city hall.