KANOPOLIS – Delinquent water payments will result in a 24-hour waiting period before reconnecting water. The Kanopolis City Council unanimously approved the recommendation during its Dec. 13 meeting.
“If somebody knows, and they know they won’t have water for 24 hours, maybe they will pay,” Maintenance Supervisor Mike Bunch told the council.
“I had to shut off four people last month. One of them, before meter readings were brought to me, went online and paid,” City Clerk Deb Kralik said.  
The city’s notices will be updated to reflect the new policy.
“You have to have some teeth behind the policy,” Mayor Anthony Hopkins said.
Other items included:
• Discussion of the water project. Plans were resubmitted to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. The council unanimously approved a quote from Yost Electric for $8,111 to modify the pump control system to allow variable pump speed.
• Approved an abatement of 420 S. Iowa. The property is ready to be demolished.
I hope we can get the ball rolling,” council member Rebekah Tripp said. “I feel like the more he keeps doing the more it costs him, and I feel really bad for him, but it’s a problem and it needs to stop.”
Later, during council member comment time, Tripp circled back to property improvements.
“I’d like to set a parameter for what improvement means,” she said. “Moving piles from place-to-place does not mean improvement. While it improves one section, piles have moved from place-to-place, in my mind, it is a change, not an improvement.”
Hopkins said the city tends to process fewer abatements during the winter months.  
“The ones who haven’t done anything all year, maybe now is the time to begin the abatement process so come spring they can get things done,” Hopkins said.
• Discussion of the emergency water supply plan. Kralik added well No. 8 to the plan.
• Approved health insurance renewal with Blue Cross Blue Shield for city employees. The city’s renewal rate is $3,048.30 per month.
“It’s one of our biggest expenses, but it’s one of our best benefits as well,” Hopkins said.
• Approved the 2023 holiday observance schedule.
• Approved a Christmas bonus for employees.
• Approved 2023 cereal malt beverage licenses for the Koyote Den, Fort Harker Saloon II and the Kanopolis Corner Store.
• Discussed the city lagoon. Bunch said Lagoon Pumping submitted a bid for $192,308.
“I’d like to get that done next year for sure,” Hopkins said. “Let’s move forward with getting grants lined up, figure out what our share is going to be.”
The council took no action on the item and Kralik will work on grants to help pay for the project.
• Discussed water tower inspections. Kralik told the council the towers should have washouts every three years with regular inspections.
• Approved $400 for the recreation department for the Afternoon with Santa event.
• Kralik reported Susan Hulse is the newest member of the library board.
• Kralik received permission to attend a grant-writing workshop in Ellsworth Jan. 5.