IOLA, Kan. — A recycling program for Iola and Allen County took a step forward Monday when the City Council on a 4-3 vote approved designating a city employee to assist with cardboard recycling, the first step towards county-wide recycling.
Council members engaged in an extensive discussion on the subject, which would initially start with businesses who would pay a fee for the service which they don’t now. During a roundtable discussion, it was noted Humboldt will continue to do their own cardboard pickup.
Council members Kim Peterson, Joelle Shallah and Jon Wells voted against the proposal. Funding of that position has not been determined right now, as it’s not funded in the 2026 budget approved last month.
Recycling came up briefly at Tuesday’s Allen County Commission meeting, where the possibility was brought up where the county could have more than one person involved in cardboard pickup to equal a full time position
The Council approved an ordinance setting out procedures for disinterment of persons buried at Iola or Highland Ceremony. The Council directed development of this ordinance in response to a request recently made. There will be fees charged for this which must be paid prior to it taking place. No disinterment wil be allowed on weekends, holidays or in the two weeks prior to Memorial Day. The Council approved an annual waiver of GAAP requirements for the city’s financial statements and reports. Nearly every governmental entity in Kansas prepares their financials based on the Kansas Municipal Audit and Accounting Guide on a regulatory basis of accounting in lieu of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, which includes things a regulatory audit does not, and a GAAP audit costs more.
It approved the 2025 editions of the Standard Traffic Ordinance and Uniform Public Offense Code. These are produced annually by the League of Kansas Municipalities incorporating matters than can be handed through municipal court. Modifications to the public offense code in Iola include provisions related to window peeping, loud and unnecessary noise and definition related to access points for smoking regulations. The traffic ordinance also has some local modifications.
The Council approved transfer of the Glock 22 service firearm and badge of Iola Police Lieutenant Thomas Roush on his retirement Sept. 28 after 37 years of service to the city. The Council has to approve this, which is now routinely, per their purchasing policy which also deals with disposal of city assets.
The Council agreed to a request from Hope Unlimited for waiver of rental fees for a pancake feed fundraiser Oct. 11. It also approved a resolution of support for a state housing investor tax credit for the Walnut River Apartments at 1336 North Walnut and a beer license for Jo’s Men’s grooming at 9 West Madison for the rest of 2025.
