KANOPOLIS — Once again, the Kanopolis City Council discussed, but reached no answers about, the proposed water tower project.

Thaniel Monaco of BG Consultants discussed the ongoing struggle with USDA Rural Development.

“We finally found the glitch. It raised the loan value,” he said. “I still have interest from the contractor as of a week ago that they want to do the project.”

Monaco said the contact at the USDA is working with supervisors to see if the previously approved funding would still be available for the water project. In October, the low bid for the project was about $1.2 million.

“He said, ‘Give me two weeks.’ He’s going to take it to the state director who can go directly to the national director,” Monaco said. “He is of the opinion that you should get grants. He just can’t find somebody that has the authority to give him a wavier against the new policy.

“I think we let it try to play out.

We don’t have any cards to play in this game. We don’t have anything in writing.”

Mayor Anthony Hopkins said allowing the USDA two weeks to see if forward momentum can happen is probably the best option.

In other action, the council:

• Discussed the emergency water supply plan. Hopkins has to sign paperwork.

• Approved a construction bid from Ponton Construction, Salina, to replace the bathrooms in the park for $27,760.

“Insurance accepted Ponton’s bid, which is good news,” Hopkins said.

Previously, the insurance company estimated a lower cost to replace the facility. All bids were more than the insurance estimate, so the city submitted the bids to the insurance company.

• Discussed the sewer ponds, which will be pumped soon.

• City Clerk Deb Kralik informed the council the new price for Quickbooks online is about $1,000 more than the council is currently paying.

“They don’t want to do it on our desktop. They want everything online,” she said.

• Discussed the city cemetery. Someone inquired about being buried without being embalmed. Kansas has state statutes about the topic, but the current Kanopolis city ordinance does not address the issue. Kralik will bring language to the next meeting to update the current ordinance.

Additionally, Kralik said the cemetery was reviewed and the paperwork to plat the cemetery will soon be complete.

• Council Member Brian Pruitt asked to review the streets following recent winter weather. He wants to review the areas that need to be chip sealed.

• Hopkins asked if the council would permit the Smoky Hills Charitable Foundation to utilize the meeting room at the library for the foundation’s monthly meetings. The council gave consent.

• Pruitt said the Kanopolis Fire Department is currently considering April 27 as the date for the Fireman Appreciation Dinner.

• The next Kanopolis City Council meeting is at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 12 at city hall.