KANOPOLIS — At the Dec. 12 meeting of the Kanopolis City Council, unexpected news resulted in the water tower project being placed on hold.

Mayor Anthony Hopkins said Dave Barber, the representative for the United States Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, died Dec.

8, so the water tower project is now on hold.

Thaniel Monaco of BG Consultants will reach out to the bidders to see if they will extend the contract to the end of the year. USDA-RD will get the information to the city as soon as possible.

Hopkins said the council needs to plan to have a special meeting to accept the bid.

Council member Brian Pruitt asked about the votes for a new water tower. City Clerk Debbie Kralik told Pruitt there were 37 no votes and 23 yes votes. Hopkins said he would like to do another survey with more information.

In other business:

• Regarding the bathrooms in the Kanopolis City Park, the insurance company recommended the city get another estimate from Ponton Construction. Brandon Ponton gave an estimate of $27,760. Hopkins asked Kralik to send the bid to the insurance company.

Council member Tom Wilkinson said the Kanopolis Men’s Club offered to reconstruct the building. Hopkins said the construction company would be okay if the city or men’s club did the demo and painted.

Hopkins asked to table the bathroom remodel until the next meeting.

• Dustin Cumberland talked to the council about the single-sided LED sign Ellsworth County Medical Center would like to place in Kanopolis. Cumberland said ECMC will cover all costs associated with the sign and the city would be able to use the sign up to six times per month.

The city will be responsible for paying for electricity.

After discussing the sign, it was decided the marquee currently located at Kanopolis City Hall would be moved to the Kanopolis Community Center for use there. The new ECMC LED sign would be placed in the area of the previous marquee.

The council approved ECMC placing a 21-inch by 75-inch LED sign at Kanopolis City Hall.

• Maintenance Supervisor Mike Bunch said the sewer lagoon pumping and dredging will be complete before March 1.

In new business: • Approval was given to accept the KMIT worker’s compensation renewal at a cost of $2,677.

• Approval was given to renew Blue Cross/ Blue Shield at a cost of $3,574.89.

• The list of 2024 holidays was approved as written.

• Approval was given to an $11,551.10 bid from Water Works to install a 400,000 BTU heater at the Kanopolis Fire Department.

• Cereal malt beverage licenses were approved for the Koyote Den, Fort Harker Saloon II and the Kanopolis Corner Store.

• Approval was given to give full-time city employees Christmas bonuses of $225, with part-time city employees receiving bonuses of $125. Members of the city council will receive $25 gift certificates from Orozco’s Portales and the Kanopolis Korner Store.

• After some discussion, the council asked Kralik to revise the personnel handbook to allow city employees to sell back their vacation if they are over the limit.

• Bunch said Well No. 1 was down and the air stripper motor will need to be fixed soon. The air stripper belongs to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, so Bunch will call Marsha Fleming of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment to find out who is responsible for replacing it.

• Bunch said when the power went out a couple of weeks ago, there was a problem with the wells starting to pump once power was restored. He received a bid from Yost Electric for $5,644 for telemetry and controls upgrade. This will allow the wells to reset after a power outage. The bid is only good until the end of the year when the price will increase. The council approved the bid.

• Pruitt asked Bunch to clean up the overhanging branches on Iowa Avenue and 3rd Street and Colorado Street and Fourth Street.

• Kralik said Rick Kempke of City Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning suggested putting insulation in the ceiling of the community center once the new heaters are installed.

• A representative from South Central Sealing discussed sealing streets next summer. He said the sooner the city lets him know which streets need to be done, the better. Hopkins and Pruitt will drive through town to see which streets should be completed.

• Approval was given to transfer $12,000 from the water and sewer fund to employee benefits.

The next regular meeting of the Kanopolis City Council will be at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 9, at city hall.