City Council Meeting Summary — September 8, 2025
From Lister Potter, candidate for Mayor of Linn Valley
Published • Meeting held
This is a neutral, plain-language recap of the September 8 council meeting. After this summary, you’ll find a short call for feedback so I can hear your priorities.
Budget Hearing (FY 2026)
- The City expects to be revenue neutral for 2026.
- Assessed valuation has risen over three years (about $19.9M → $23.7M → $28.8M), which lowered the mill levy (40.174 → 38.103 → 30.410).
- A Water Enterprise Fund placeholder was added to allow for potential water operations related to the POA (authority only; depends on negotiations).
- Capital needs (e.g., vehicles) were incorporated.
- 2026 budget approved.
Routine Business & Fees
- Vouchers approved: $46,641.76.
- Cereal Malt Beverage (CMB) licensing: Per state changes, applicants now pay $25 to Kansas ABC directly; the City collects $75. Resolution 141 updated the fee schedule; Ordinance 275 updated licensing (beer ≤ 6% ABV) and repealed Ord. 267.
- 911 address signs: Fee set to $30 to cover costs (added to the fee schedule via Resolution 141 amendment). Discussion included using locking nuts so signs stay put.
Mayor’s Remarks
- Thanks to police, fire, city staff, and POA staff for recent weekend assistance with water/sewer during a church event.
- Reminder about election-year decorum and avoiding creating a quorum on social media.
Facilities Discussion
The City currently leases space for about $26,000/year through March 2027. The Mayor asked the council to consider a new resolution to explore building/ownership options before the lease decision returns in 2026–2027.
Departments & Projects
Codes/Building
Proposed field software OneProCode to speed up lookups and in-field work. The council approved up to $1,000 before December (effectively a ~$199/mo trial), contingent on legal and month-to-month terms.
Police
New patrol vehicle is in service and will be marked soon.
Fire
Chief traveling to inspect a new apparatus. Department is preparing to improve the ISO insurance rating once hydrants are active (training, new truck, and water supply all count).
Water Project
- Pump house block walls near completion; electrical work underway.
- Transmission main from the tower is progressing; anticipated completion around September 15, then filling/pressure testing.
- Awaiting a few parts (booster station flow meter, a valve/fitting).
- Requisitions approved: #2 — $313,334; #3 (B&G services) — $57,110.20.
Lagoon Expansion
Final bid package being finished by B&G; target is to bid by October. Invoice #28 for $1,085 (bidding setup) approved.
Annual Ordinances
- Ordinance 273: Adopted the Standard Traffic Ordinance (repeals 264).
- Ordinance 274: Adopted the Uniform Public Offense Code (repeals 265).
City–POA Coordination
Meetings continue to align roles and responsibilities. Legal noted that revisiting previously settled topics consumes bandwidth needed for infrastructure priorities (water, lagoons, roads/dam). A suggestion surfaced for new-member packets (City and POA) to clarify authorities and reduce repeated requests.
Water Meter Cost Clarification
Within the current project, each meter + installation is costing the City about $1,750 per unit. Future, post-project meter costs are unknown (smaller buying power). An ordinance will specify components to maintain system compatibility.
Transient Guest Tax
Tabled for now: State requirements point to a formal tourism account, which may not fit Linn Valley’s situation.
New Business
Backyard chickens: No action now; could be considered after the water plant is decommissioned and only if the council directs staff to research and draft an ordinance (noting other cities’ ordinances can be lengthy and resource-intensive).
What do you think?
I welcome your thoughts on any topic, including these two items in particular:
- Should Linn Valley invest in a city-owned building instead of renewing the lease?
- Should backyard chickens be allowed once the water project is complete?
📧 Email: lister@lister-potter.com
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Disclaimer: This summary was generated with the assistance of AI using the public YouTube broadcast audio transcript of the September 8, 2025 City Council meeting. While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, please refer to official city records for authoritative information.