By Lucky Kidd
LYONS, Kan. — The Lyons City Council at Monday’s meeting authorized the official notice to the Rice County Clerk of the city’s intent to exceed the Revenue Neutral Rate for the 2025 budget. As adopted the notice carries a maximum levy of 60 mills for the next year, but the actual levy will likely be less than that.
The Revenue Neutral Rate as provided by County Clerk Aurelia Garcia for Lyons, or the levy that would generate the same dollars from property taxes as was generated for the 2024 budget, was set at approximately 49.9 mills, based on an estimated valuation increase of $1.3 million. The 2024 budget when adopted had the levy set at 52 mills, but when tax bills were sent out the actual levy was slightly less.
City Administrator Eddy Truelove told the council staff is still working on the 2025 budget, which he said may very well come close to what the 2024 levy was. The suggestion for increasing the levy came from Council member Debbie Metzger, who expressed a desire to set the maximum levy at a level that would allow the city to address a number of issues. Council member Sheila Spielman said the suggested levy was “a fairly good place to start,” noting a need to assure adequate funding for city operations.
The Council authorized emergency repairs to a section of US 56, or West Main, in front of City Hall, approving a bid from APAC Kansas for an amount not to exceed 30 thousand dollars. This is the location of a major water line break from November 2021. It was one of eleven-line breaks that led to a shutdown of the city’s water system until they could be repaired, and the lines re-filled. The patch on the street put in at that time has seen significant cracking, and on the inside lane of West Main part of it has settled.
The acceptance of the APAC quote, which was $26,589.30, involves a deviation from the city’s usual procurement policy, which requires three bids to be solicited. Public Works director Jared Jones told the Council he had reached out to several other contractors, who declined to submit a quote. It was also noted the normal bid process would delay the repairs by at least 30 days. APAC indicated to Jones they would be able to start the project immediately.
Council members discussed an ordinance on peddlers, canvassers and solicitors it adopted earlier this year. Metzger asked for this discussion on a couple of issues, one of which involves people selling food and other items from their homes, and the other on how the policy impacts Fair on the Square.
Metzger said it’s likely some vendors who have come to Fair on the Square in past years now won’t due to the ordinance as now written, which includes background check requirements. Mayor Dustin Schultz said the Chamber of Commerce, which organizes the event, has in the information sent to potential vendors, includes information on licensing requirements.
The Council approved the content of an “advertising” video being produced by PBS Kansas, or KPTS Channel 8. There was a prior agreement related to production of a series of announcements to air on the public television station, which was provided to the Council. Members viewed the 30 second announcement which includes scenes from a number of local attractions.
The Council confirmed Mayor Dustin Schultz’ appointment of Frank Gonzales as a new volunteer fireman.
During council comments, Council member Angela Evans said it’s likely the city will need to replace a large number of the American flags that are put up around the square due to their conditions. A couple of flags are no longer usable, and many of the others
