LYONS, Kan. — The City of Lyons is experiencing major issues with its current financial software system, which has caused multiple issues for staff. An update on this was provided as the Council at their Feb. 20 meeting. City Treasurer Rebecca Schechter told the Council these issues developed after an update to the G Works system was done in January.
Among other issues, they are not able at this time to accept credit card payments in excess of $500, they have not been able to make transfers within the system, and, as she put it, it has messed up cash reports and the treasurer’s report. Other issues being dealt with is inability to close out a number of funds that were combined into a single line item involving various utility funds of the city. Issues are now starting to be seen in payroll.
Schechter added G Works is talking about moving systems to the cloud in June, which she said will be an absolute nightmare. The city is planning to switch to a different accounting system in 2027 that will provide more reporting capabilities for the city.
Toby Kuhn, project manager for the Kansas Department of Health and Environment’s Illegal Dump Cleanup Program, gave a presentation to the Council on the program, which provides financial assistance to help clean up illegal dump sites. While the program can not deal with such things as demolition or inoperable vehicles, it can address outside debris issues.
Through the program KDHE provides up to $10,000 on a 75/25% matching basis for a cleanup project, the local match can be on an in-kind basis. Kuhn said they try to work with property owners to obtain voluntary compliance on these issues, which can involve providing help with such things as bringing in a roll-off dumpster.
If they aren’t able to get voluntary compliance, Kuhn said an administrative order can be obtained which would give KDHE the legal authority to come onto a property to remove solid waste from the property. With the funding he has available, it would be possible to do a couple of such projects in a community.
Kuhn told the Council KDHE has received a complaint about one property in the city, which led to discussions with city staff, during which he shared information about this program.
The Council approved purchase of tarp systems for the two dump trucks it recently acquired. Public Works Director Jared Jones said said three bids were obtained for the tarps, which they need because of a need to cover items they haul, such as demolition debris, rock and sand,and that sort of thing., to prevent those items from being blown out and possibly damaging someone’s windshield or causing a wreck.
Jones also reported a pressure washer the city recently purchased is expected to be installed this week.
An expenditure of up to $4,000 was approved for purchase of a new valve for the north water tower in Augmon Park. Jones said this one valve would replace three existing valves feeding the west leg of the water system, simplifying the process when they drain, clean and inspect this tower. The east leg from this tower already has a single valve.
The Council approved annual requests connected with BoomFest, including a $5,000 allocation from the city’s Transient Guest Tax Fund. Along with the 4th of July Fireworks Display, a brief discharge of fireworks was approved for the start of a fundraiser golf tournament on June 20 at the Lyons Public Golf Course. Also approved was a pool party on July 3 and use of the Little League ball fields for events July 4th. The approval also covers assistance from city employees during the event.
A show cause hearing was set for April 6, 2026 regarding a house at 116 East Lyon that was damaged in a recent fire. Although there have been indications by the owner of the property that they would take care of demolition, very little work has taken place. If demolition is ordered, it’s likely the city would hire a private contractor to perform this work to get this done as soon as possible, as it was indicated the earliest city crews could do it would be late July.
Interim City Administrator/City Clerk Bailey Sayler in her report the Kansas Department of Transportation has advised her the CCLIP resurfacing project on South Grand, which was initially going to start in October, will now start in July. Due to cost increases connected with the project, KDOT is going to increase the amount of funds it will provide for the project. An updated agreement for this project will be coming to the council at a future meeting.
On the animal shelter project, Assistant City Administrator Elizabeth Ramsey recently met with Sterling City Commissioners, and with the overall cost of the project increasing they would like to revise the interlocal agreement for the project so they can increase Sterling’s contribution to it.
Sayler also reported the city has applied for a 2026 Transportation Alternatives Grant for new lighting at three locations, two of which are near schools. She said there have been six applications so far for the building inspector position, and there are discussions with Sterling regarding possible sharing of this position.
The Council approved the contract with Remington Dalke to serve as City Attorney to succeed Patrick Hoffman, who earlier this month assumed duties as a full time City Attorney in Salina. Dalke will be paid $2,000 a month, covering routine matters. Non-routine matters will be billed at a rate of $250 per hour. It also approved the reappointment of Bill Whitehead to the Lyons Housing Authority Board.
