Lyons Mayor Alicia Hommon provided an update to the City Council at Monday’s meeting on the search for a new Chief of Police, in which she stressed the process is not going to be rushed.
At the start of her comments, Hommon said there has been one preliminary interview conducted, with another scheduled to take place this week. This part of the process screens potential candidates to determine which ones will undergo further screening, including CDSA or polygraph examinations, along with psychological evaluations and background checks.
As the process began, she said it became very apparent the Police Department was not providing effective training for officers to do their jobs, and there was not the kind of thorough process needed when hiring new officers. Hommon told the Council such a process will be followed in selecting the new chief.
Staff has been instructed to not make any offers of employment for police officers until after a new chief is hired. In discussing this with Rice County Sheriff Nick Sowers, Hommon noted the current department staff is working extremely hard, but she also said at the end of her remarks that it will look worse before it gets better.
In conjunction with this, Hommon added when the new chief is hired, one of the first things they will be asked to do is to set up a clear advancement and promotion process within the department.
Another personnel matter was also discussed by the Council which agreed the city should proceed with filling the long vacant Community Development Director position. This position is still being budgeted for, and City Administrator Bailey Saylor said the city will realize additional savings with the elimination of the Human Resources Director position; those duties now assigned to Assistant City Administrator Elizabeth Fuller.
The Lyons City Council at Monday’s meeting approved an agreement with Stone Point Services for a Phase II “Cultural Survey” for the area of the city’s Wastewater Treatment Plant. Federal law requires this study to determine if there are any native or other artifacts in the vicinity before construction begins at the plant. The survey costs $12,500, and the actual work is expected to take about a month.
Purchase of new tasers for the Police Department was approved. Interim Police Chief Cory Ryan told the council they have a new contact with Axon, through which the tasers are purchased. He negotiated a deal where the city will make a $1,000 down payment and starting in 2027 annual payments of $8,015.68.
Ryan said the department as of now doesn’t have sufficient tasers for their authorized staff level, and this would remedy that with purchase of a taser for each officer, with one additional taser to be provided at no cost. all required accessories including 16 practice cartridges per officer per year for their certification process.
The Council approved a proposal from ESI EAP to provide an employee assistance program for city employees, which is provided for in the city’s personnel policies. The program provides three counseling sessions per year, per issue, covering topics such as alcohol and drug counseling, stress management, divorce, marital issues, grieving, anxiety, and similar matters. Cost of these services is $2,500 annually. Trauma responses are available at an additional charge.
A job description was approved for a full-time code enforcement officer, which would be under the Police Department. This person would enforce compliance regarding nuisances, property maintenance (including unsafe structures), and zoning/land use. At law enforcement’s suggestion, animal control duties will also be included in the job description. This position is in addition to the part-time building inspector.
The Council approved two items connected with cleanup of an illegal dump site at 417 East Avenue North. The first item was an agreement with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment under which KDHE’s Solid Waste Management Fund will reimburse the city 75% of allowable costs up to a maximum reimbursement of $10,000. The second item was a resolution through which the city will oversee the remediation.
A special event permit was approved for Rock the Runway to be held at Lyons-Rice County Airport May 15th from 6-10 PM. At Lyons-Rice County Airport. The event, organized through Rice County Economic Development, will include a live band, food trucks, a cash bar and yard games.
At the conclusion of the meeting the Council held an executive session for preliminary discussion of real estate, with no action taken.
