Andover City Council approves annexation, special use permit, vendor agreements and renews employee benefits; keeps existing fireworks dates

The Andover City Council voted unanimously during its April meeting to approve a set of routine and development actions, including annexation of a one‑acre parcel in the Southern Hills development, authorization of plan‑review and inspection services with the Metropolitan Area Building and Construction Department (MABCD), approval of a special use permit for pet grooming and pet boarding at 301 West Central Avenue (ZSU25‑0001) and renewal of the city’s employee insurance lines and plan changes for the 2025–26 plan year.

The council also approved an application for a cereal malt beverage (CMB) license for a new Casey’s General Store at 300 South Andover Road, engineering and utility agreements for small plats (Post East Patch engineering agreement for a design/construction phase not to exceed $8,900 and a Vista Ridge improvements extension agreement with Parkview Reserve LLC), mayoral library board appointments, and a resolution that maintains the city’s existing fireworks sale and discharge dates for the July holiday rather than matching an expanded state sales season.

Several items included brief staff presentations and limited council discussion. Julie Boyd, interim planning and zoning administrator, told the council the special use for 301 West Central covers doggy day care initially and includes boarding in the approval so the applicant would not need to return to the council later for boarding; the council adopted the planning commission’s findings and approved the special use (case ZSU25‑0001).

Human resources director Chastity Page and consultant Jayla Miller presented the city’s benefits renewal. City staff reported the medical plan is performing well in the second year of being self‑funded and the renewal results in an overall decrease of about 1.1 percent (approximately $20,935). The council approved a plan design change that shifts contribution splits closer to pre‑self‑funding levels, introduces a qualified high‑deductible health plan (HDHP) with an HSA option and a one‑year city HSA contribution for first‑year enrollees ($500 for employee‑only coverage, $1,000 for other tiers). Staff projected medical plan costs at roughly $1.1 million for the renewal year and recommended renewing existing vendors (UMR as TPA; SmithRx as PBM) to avoid member disruption.

The agreement with MABCD formalizes plan review and building inspection services, replaces the city’s on‑call arrangement and sets a fee split (MABCD 75 percent / city 25 percent) for those services. City staff said the agreement will go to Sedgwick County for approval and will be followed by updates to the city’s building codes; staff expects the new software solution to take up to a year to select and implement but said interim access arrangements are possible.

The council approved each item by recorded voice vote or unanimous show of hands; all formal motions on the record passed 5–0.

Votes at a glance

- Accept agenda: Motion to accept the agenda as presented; mover: Council President Homer; second: Paul Wimmer; outcome: approved 5–0.

- Consent agenda (items 9.1–9.7): Motion to approve consent agenda; mover: Council President Homer; second: Paul Wimmer; outcome: approved 5–0.

- Cereal malt beverage license (Casey’s General Store, 300 S. Andover Road): Motion to approve a 2025 CMB license for the new Casey’s location; mover: Council President Homer; second: Jody O'Kady; outcome: approved 5–0. Staff noted the location planned to open the next day.

- Annexation ordinance (13086 Southwest Butler Road; case Z-SU250001): Motion to approve ordinance authorizing annexation of the parcel; mover: Council President Homer; second: Bill Hamilton; outcome: approved 5–0. Staff said the parcel completes the Southern Hills First addition and is within Butler Rural Electric Cooperative service area.

- Resolution notifying electric provider (Butler Rural Electric Cooperative Assn.) and setting selection date: Motion to adopt the resolution setting the selection and consideration date as June 10, 2025; mover: Council President Homer; second: Jody O'Kady; outcome: approved 5–0.

- Special use (ZSU25‑0001) — 301 West Central Avenue (pet grooming, pet boarding/doggy day care): Motion to adopt the planning commission’s findings and approve the special use to allow pet grooming and pet boarding on the property; mover: Council President Homer; second: Jody O'Kady; outcome: approved 5–0. Staff clarified the approval includes boarding so the applicant will not need to return to council later for the boarding component.

- Post East Patch engineering agreement (Meersthorn Surveying) — design/construction phase: Motion to approve engineering agreement for the public improvements for Post East Patch not to exceed $8,900; mover: Council President Homer; second: (recorded second); outcome: approved 5–0.

- Vista Ridge / Parkview Reserve LLC improvements extension agreement: Motion to approve the improvements extension agreement with Parkview Reserve LLC to accommodate utility extensions for Vista Ridge First Addition; mover: Council President Homer; second: Paul Wimmer; outcome: approved 5–0. Staff said the agreement is cost neutral overall because the subdivisions traded some storm‑sewer work.

- Employee benefits renewal and plan design changes (2025–26 plan year): Motion to approve insurance renewals and plan changes for the 2025–26 plan year with existing vendors and the introduction of an HDHP/HSA option and one‑year city HSA seed contributions ($500 employee only; $1,000 other tiers); mover: Council President Homer; second: Paul Wimmer; outcome: approved 5–0. Staff reported an estimated medical renewal cost of roughly $1.1 million and an overall plan cost decrease of about 1.1 percent (~$20,935). Other items: dental +6.4% ($7,097), vision +9% ($1,725), FSA +2.2% ($85), EAP +4.9% (~$151 annually). The city will continue with UMR (TPA), SmithRx (PBM), Sun Life/ Pareto stop‑loss.

- Fireworks (sale and discharge dates for July holiday): Motion to adopt a resolution maintaining the city’s current dates and times for the sale and discharge of fireworks (staff recommended retaining the established local schedule rather than aligning with the expanded state sales season created by SB 199); mover: Council President Homer; second: Jody O'Kady; outcome: approved 5–0. Staff noted there are currently no permanent fireworks retailers in Andover and that the state fire marshal is drafting permanent‑retailer requirements.

- MABCD plan review and inspection agreement: Motion to approve an agreement with the Metropolitan Area Building and Construction Department for plan review and inspection services (fee split per Exhibit A; city to accept MABCD contractor licensing and require the city be named additional insured on permits); mover: Council President Homer; second: Jody O'Kady; outcome: approved 5–0. Staff noted the agreement will proceed to Sedgwick County for approval and that city code updates will follow; staff estimated ~$39,000 spent so far on on‑call services this year.

- Andover Public Library board mayoral appointments: Motion to approve mayoral appointments to the Andover Public Library board as presented (includes one reappointment and two new appointments); mover: Council member (recorded); second: (recorded); outcome: approved 5–0.

Staff and council notes

- Julie Boyd (interim planning and zoning administrator) explained the special use decision and that the applicant had already received a fence permit for an outdoor run area; she said the zoning inclusion for boarding was added so the applicant would not need to return to council.

- On MABCD: staff said the new arrangement reduces redundant contractor licensing, should lower city administrative time, and adds cooperative damage assessment after disasters. City staff noted the MABCD software currently uses Sedgwick County GIS and that an RFP to select a new permitting/inspection software will take roughly a year; the city hopes to get interim software access so Andover does not wait the full year.

- On benefits: staff emphasized limiting employee disruption from PBM changes and recommended retaining SmithRx to avoid formulary disruptions. The HDHP/HSA is being offered with a first‑year city contribution only, to be revisited later.

All motions recorded on the transcript passed by unanimous vote (5–0).