IOLA, Kan. — The Iola City Council spent much of Monday’s meeting discussing a suggestion Council member Kim Peterson brought up several weeks ago to look at reducing the size of the council from eight to five members. This topic came up in the wake of no filings being made for one of the seats up for election this year.
In that roundtable discussion a number of ideas came up, including proposals to change the way the current set up is elected, one idea being advanced by member Jon Wells, who felt the Council tends to represent the city as a whole rather than just their wards.
His idea would be to reduce the number of wards from the present four to two, split on a north-south basis. An east-west split was also discussed, both having four members from each ward. From that, the Council and members of the public voiced a concern about diversity of council membership, especially as it relates to the south part of Iola.
Support for keeping the council at eight plus an elected mayor was expressed by several including member Nick Lohman who said reducing it to five members would give less experience and fewer viewpoints to look at a problem. This was echoed by member Joelle Shallah.
Assistant City Administrator Corey Schinstock said what may be a greater need is to encourage more people to be involved. He suggested a need for some sort of leadership development program for the community, that would instill a desire to be more involved in the community, whether it be in holding elective office, involvement in a non-profit organization, or being involved in a project the community doesn’t have.
Council members were generally in agreement about the need for community input on whatever changes are made.
During the meeting the Council received its 2024 audit report, which Sean Gordon from Gordon CPA said had an unmodified, or clean opinion based on the regulatory basis of accounting used by virtually local governmental entity in Kansas. Gordon said this reflects very well on the financial and internal control management of city staff for the year ended Dec. 31, 2024.
Approval was given for the annual requests made in connection with Farm City Days, including allowing use of unlicensed or unregistered golf carts and recreational vehicles on city streets Saturday, Oct. 18 to assist in parade management and providing rides for elderly or handicapped individuals. It also includes assistance from city staff as in past years.
Approval was given to a request by Rookies Sports Bar to extend the 10 PM noise ordinance to 1 AM the night of Oct. 18 in connection with a DJ and karaoke in the outdoor fenced area at 105 East Jackson adjacent to the business.
The Council approved a request from the LaHarpe VFW for a boot block at Madison and Washington Saturday, Nov. 8 from 9 until noon at Madison and Washington, allowing the SEK Lady Cyclones 10U travel softball team to charge admission and cell concessions for a fundraiser tournament Oct. 18, and a request from the Iola Booster Club and Iola High School for a tailgate party Oct. 10 outside the football stadium including vendors. Council approval was required on the last two items due to city policy related to sale of goods or food on city property.
