HAYSVILLE – Mayor Russ Kessler on Monday presented a Mayor’s Certificate of Recognition to a Haysville youth who went into action to save a friend in a recent boating accident. This was the first order of business at the monthly city council meeting.

Kessler honored Ally Drake for her lifesaving effort to help a friend. Drake dived in to rescue her friend after the accident, which Kessler called an “exceptional act of heroism.”

Drake helped with rescue efforts in a boating accident where siblings Rielynn and Rhemie Martin needed rescuing. As reported in last week’s newspaper, Rielynn suffered signficant injuries.

Haysville police officer Le Von Crotts also was honored at Monday’s meeting by Derby/Haysville American Legion Post 408 as the Kansas Law Enforcement Officer of the Year. Crotts competed for that honor after being named the local post’s officer of the year. He now will represent Kansas to compete for American Legion National Law Enforcement Officer of the Year. He received a plaque from the local Legion Post for his state honor.

Chief administrative officer Will Black gave the council a preview of this year’s budget approval process. He said the city’s new assessed value is $84,569,077, an increase of $8 million over last year’s valuation. Black said the city will plan to exceed the revenue neutral rate again this year to capture at least the portion of the increased value that is from new construction. Black said he will present the 2024 budget at the July meeting, with required public hearings and budget approval scheduled for the September meeting.

Black also reported on the May 22 planning meeting for organized trash collection. The focus of the meeting was to review a draft Request for Proposals. Black said feedback from the meeting, which included three trash haulers, was that the length of a trash agreement should be at least five years. Trash haulers estimate it will take that period to recover startup costs. Council members agreed that five years is a good starting period.

Black said the consensus of those at the planning meeting is to offer curbside recycling as an additional service at an additional cost, as opposed to mandating it for all residents. The RFP will require a price for recycling to be provided.

Council member Dan Benner said the direction at the meeting was to let the trash company do the billing.

“I wonder if it wouldn’t be wise for us to at least consider it,” he said, noting that some cities do this.

Council member Pat Ewert said she would prefer that the trash company handle the billing.

The next trash planning meeting will be at 5:30 p.m. on June 19 to finalize the RFP. The meeting will be held at city hall in the council room. The public is welcome to attend.

The city received its 2022 audit report at Monday’s meeting. Michael Gerber with Forvis, which performed the audit, thanked the city for its help in providing the required information. He reported there were no adjustments needed and no material issues found. Overall cash balances have increased, he noted.

Mayor Russ Kessler signed a proclamation naming June as Business Appreciation Month in Haysville. City offices will be closed on June 19 for Juneteenth and July 4 for Independence Day.

The council approved appointments to several committees as follows: Historic Committee – Patty Waters, Kyle Boe, and Teresa Wilson, each for two-year terms; Park Board – Jonas Harris and Maryan Daley, each for two-year terms; Planning Commission/Board of Zoning Appeals – Tim Aziere, Nicole Franken, Jeff Blood, and Dan Rinke, each to two-year terms; Senior Center Planning Committee – Kim Cooley, Ruth Miller, Mary Helen Jordan, Sue Griffin, Barbara Mesnier and Shirley Campbell, each to oneyear terms.

In other business, the council:

• Approved a resolution authorizing the sale of $3.582 million in general obligation temporary notes to fund infrastructure improvements in Phase 1 of the Wheatland Village Addition. The sale will be on July 10, with the purchaser approved at that evening’s city council meeting.

• Approved a construction and maintenance agreement with Union Pacific Railroad, which is required in order for the city to cross the railroad on 63rd Street with the city’s multi-use path now under construction. This path starts on Main Street/ Seneca north of the M.S.

Mitch Mitchell Floodway, heads north to 63rd Street, then turns east toward Mabel Street. In the agreement, the railroad grants the city the right to build and maintain the roadway at a cost of $10,913. Three years after this agreement is approved, the railroad will bill the city $2,416 annually for it to maintain the surface between track ties ends within the crossing.

• Approved the purchase of 12 Taser X7 CEW weapons through the Taser 7 certification plan. The plan includes a five-year warranty on the equipment, training, training and field-use supplies, holsters, and licensing. The cost will be paid in five annual installments totaling $63,260.75. A portion of the cost will come from the Federal Law Enforcement Trust. The current tasers have reached the end of their production life.

• Approved the purchase of a 2032R John Deere mower to maintain stormwater ditches and other areas. The low bid of $34,554.39 was submitted by PrairieLand Partners, LLC Wichita.

• Approved the purchase of a Sand Pro Toro for use by the recreation department to drag and prepare baseball fields. This will give the city two threewheeled Toros, which will help in field preparation. The cost of $28,481.12 will be paid from sustainability grant funds. Professional Turf Products LP is the area Toro dealer.

• Approved the final plat for the River Forest 3rd Addition development.

• Approved a pair of farm leases with David Dejmal.

• Received and filed the May expenditures.