The Lyons City Council Monday night discussed an updated Comprehensive Plan for the city. Assistant City Administrator Elizabeth Fuller said this plan was developed by a group of students from Kansas State University during the tenure of her predecessor, Tanner Faust. It hasn’t progressed beyond that. Fuller asked the council how it wanted to proceed.
The 163 page document includes an extensive community profile, and eight specific strategies. These cover land use, housing, downtown development, facilities and recreation, transportation and mobility, utilities and infrastructure, economic development, and implementation
Fuller recommended the Council review this document, and take a look at it annually to determine of any revisions need to be made in it. Mayor Alicia Hommon suggested the Council look at the plan one section at a time. The Planning Commission has previously seen the plan, and also wants more time to discuss it. The process of Council review will be considered at their May 18th meeting.
There was also a discussed the status of finalizing the contract for newly appointed City Administrator Bailey Saylor. Saylor said she had provided a draft contract which included some items she wanted to negotiate. On April 10th she received a draft contract that included a salary of $80,000, but did not include any of the things she wanted to negotiate
Saylor said she’s been following up on this regularly, most recently May 1st, and has heard nothing back In the past, she said the City Attorney has been directly involved in contract development. Council president Rick Miller, who along with Mayor Alicia Hommon was designated to review the contract, hasn’t seen a draft contract up to this point.
Later in the meeting the Council spent nearly an hour in three separate executive session, two with City Attorney Remington Dalke and a third that also included Saylor, for discussion of non-elected personnel. Following the final session, no action was taken.
The Council approved the $7,995 purchase of a submersible wastewater sewage pump. Public Works Director Jared Jones said this is to replace one used to move activated sludge through the system and eventually into the sludge pit from which it is hauled off
The existing pump, which Jones said was installed prior to his employment with the city, is in extremely poor condition, with the impellers “trash” and other problems. While the pump is operating, it is at less than capacity. The pump, which exists in a less than desirable environment, will be installed by city crews.
The Council also tabled action on a revised memorandum of understanding with the Rice County Sheriff’s Office. The revised MOU had been received by the city earlier in the day, and Council members want time to look it over. The revisions suggested would clarify roles and responsibilities, with the thought to minimize situations where a police officer would have to be called back for routine matters.
