KANOPOLIS — Another meeting of the Kanopolis City Council passed with no new member.

Mayor Anthony Hopkins said he intends to name a new member at the April meeting.

The council continued to discuss the water project. BG Consultants resubmitted the water tower plans to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.

“It was verbiage and legalese they wanted changed,” Hopkins said. “It looks like we’re on the downhill side of that.”

Council member Jim Zvolanek asked if the city could keep the old water tower once the new one is operable. City clerk Debbie Kralik said it is an option.

“There’s a lot of expense to keep it up-todate,” she said. “The maintenance of it is probably $50,000$60,000 every five years.”

Hopkins said the extra tower could assist the city with its insurance rating, and Maintenance Supervisor Mike Bunch said the additional water pressure near the fire station could be beneficial.

Also, on the topic of water, Bunch asked the council about repairing one water hydrant in the park and adding a frostfree hydrant. The council discussed relocating the hydrant closer to where the bounce houses are located during Fort Harker Days to make water more easily accessible.

In other business:

• Hopkins requested a $3,000 donation on behalf of Fort Harker Days.

“We had a good surplus a couple years ago, but we spent it on fixing the wagons,” he said. “It would help us keep the event growing. I don’t anticipate coming back and asking for more every year.”

The request passed unanimously.

• Discussed a jet pump service to clean the city’s sewer lines.

“I think we would be better off by the hour than by the foot,” Bunch said. “I’ll get the map out and figure out what we’re looking at.”

• Approved a $400 request from the Kanopolis Recreation Department for the annual Easter egg hunt.

• Discussed the summer’s street projects.

“We need to figure out how many streets we’re going to try to do,” Hopkins said. “We need to get bids. Before you know, it will be summertime.”

Council member Tom Wilkinson said he is in favor of continuing the slurry seal method.

“The next time we go over, we keep preserving the compacting base we already have,” he said.

• The council considered a new bid for insurance.

Lucas Barta of Copeland Insurance Agency presented a quote of $29,963 for annual insurance. This would include increasing coverage on city hall and the community center.

The city’s current insurance provider, Alliance Insurance, submitted a quote for $46,822.

“In comparing, we would be $11,000 less than we’re paying last year, plus a better wind/ hail deductible across the board,” Hopkins said. “I didn’t know I would feel this way, but I think it’s a no-brainer. I don’t know that you can argue with that list of savings.”

City staff will submit driver’s licenses to Barta, and the council will hold a special meeting before the end of March to consider action on the new insurance proposal.

• Discussed the abatement process for 420 S. Iowa. Jim Zvolanek and council president Michelle Schwerdtfeger met with the property owner and created a list of items to be corrected by June 1.

“We said ‘June 1st is your timeline. If not, we will be here on June 2nd,’” Schwerdtfeger said.

• Unanimously approved a resolution to borrow money from the Fireman’s Relief Association. The loan will pay for the city’s new fire department building.

• Heard the final report on the 2022 audit from Adams Brown.

Danielle Hollingsworth made a few recommendations, including adjusting QuickBooks so it is consistent with the treasurer’s report, a separate column for accounts payable, as well as a policy to update passwords annually and running any bonuses through payroll so appropriate taxes are paid on them.

“The big thing is making sure the treasurer is reviewing,” Hollingsworth said. “As long as there is a second person looking at everything and signing off on everything, it’s the best you can do.”