KANOPOLIS — Slowly, the new water tower project is moving forward.

“We have an actual agreement in front of us,” said Thaniel Monaco, BG Consultants, during the June 12 meeting. “Based on motion in April, we’re moving forward with the project.”

The paperwork required a signature from the city clerk and mayor.

Monaco said a pre-construction meeting is planned.

“We’ll have a meeting, go through particulars, then go to the site,” he said. “They want to get that moving. Foundation work, water main work (will be) this summer/fall.

“I know the contractor is looking forward to moving forward on this.”

In addition to paperwork for the contractors, the city clerk needs to file a tax exemption form for the project.

Monaco said the tower itself will go up in 2026.

The council did not meet as originally scheduled June 10 for lack of a quorum.

In other business:

• The council reviewed the street resurfacing project. The bid was slightly higher than budgeted.

“I think with the water tower, we’ll conserve this year (rather than spend from general fund),” Mayor Anthony Hopkins said.

The council agreed to cut some portions of the project.

• A cereal malt beverage license for the Fort Harker Committee was approved. The council also approved a $2,500 donation to the committee.

“Donations are down significantly,” Hopkins said, which is why the committee requested a higher donation from the city than in previous years.

• Approved a resolution to adopt the Kansas Homeland Security Region F Hazard Mitigation plan.

“If we had a natural disaster, FEMA wouldn’t give us money if we didn’t have it,” City Clerk Debbie Kralik said.

• Maintenance Supervisor Mike Bunch discussed code enforcement.

“In the code book, it says there has to be a written complaint,” he said. “Do we want to change the wording? Code enforcement has authority without complaint.”

Hopkins said he is open to a wording change in the code enforcement book.

“When someone would complain to me, I would tell them to call city hall and make a formal complaint,” he said. “At this point, to keep it simple, I would say approve whatever’s on your list.”

In terms of code enforcement, Bunch discussed the topic with the municipal judge, who said she wants court on the fourth Thursday of the month at 5:30 p.m.

Bunch sends a letter and a resident has 10 days to fix the issue, then, if the issue isn’t taken care of, the resident is scheduled for an appearance before the judge.

• Kralik said Maria Meier was hired as the new librarian.

The next meeting is at 5:30 p.m. July 8 at city hall.