LYONS, Kan. — The Lyons City Council last night discussed a proposal brought by City Administrator Troy Houtman to increase fees at the Lyons Municipal Cemetery, which he told the Council are necessary to keep it solvent. The proposal he advanced called for an increase in the cost of burial plots. Currently, a conventional plot is $200, and a cremation space is $100, which he recommended be increased to $350 and $200 respectively.
The proposal also calls for a $75 dollar increase in the current $200 charge for Saturday burials, along with increased fees for disinterment and opening and closing of graves. Houtman provided information on fees that are charged by other area cemeteries, and it was noted the proposed plot price would still be lower than current rates charged in other communities except for Sterling. Most cities, unlike Lyons, do not charge a lower fee for cremation plots.
The Council asked Houtman to provide them with additional information on cemetery expenses, which will be brought back at a future meeting.
Thaniel Monaco from BG Consultants provided an update on design and planning work for Wastewater Treatment Plant improvements. As part of that, there was also discussion on grant possibilities for improvements mandated by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.
Related to that potential, the Council approved a contract with the South Central Kansas Economic Development District for grant writing services connected with water and sewer grants the city may seek through the Kansas Department of Commerce. The contract carries a $2,500 charge, which is discounted as Rice County is a member county of SCKEDD.
The issue of trash being spread around dumpsters, particularly at convenience stores, was again discussed by the Council. The situation is primarily due to people getting into the dumpsters looking for food that has been thrown out which raises some other issues beyond that. While there was some thought about requiring them to be enclosed, Houtman and Police Chief Justin Holliday plan to meet with convenience store managers to discuss the potential for a locking mechanism on their dumpsters, which is where most of the problem stems from.
The Council approved the third section of the policy covering employment policies. This deals with such things as recruitment, applications, qualifications, and processes to be followed in hiring, training, promotion, data keeping, and separation. It also sets out residency requirements, which primarily apply to the City Administrator, Clerk and Chief of Police and to some extent for Public Works Personnel. It also sets out a nepotism policy for the city.
Human Resources Director Jennifer Wood presented a draft of revisions of the policy’s compensation section. During that discussion the Council expressed a desire to look at adjusting the cost of living salary increase policy, which is currently at one percent per year, with additional increases based on merit review which has been the city’s practice for many years. That section will be back before the council at their meeting May 19.
Houtman also provided an update on the dog pound issue, and discussions with the city of Sterling on it. Lyons Veterinary Clinic will discontinue providing dog pound services for both cities June 30, and a number of options have been looked at, with some past discussion also involving the City of Nickerson.
In other actions, the Council approved payments for inspections and construction on two properties through a 2022 CDBG housing rehabilitation grant and approved a resolution making changes in the people authorized to conduct banking business for the city. The changes reflect the recent hiring of new City Clerk Bailey Sayler and adding her to the designated signer list.
During the public comment portion of the meeting, a citizen discussed issues regarding the city’s inspection policies.
