The Winfield City Council voted on several personnel actions and authorized further work on a proposed Fire Station No. 2 near Exit 30 at its November meeting. Fire Chief Blake Farley asked the council to approve two hires and to allow staff to pursue grant funding and hire an architect to produce drawings needed to apply for grants.

Farley recommended hiring Trevor Lynch (uncertified) and Philip Pratt (a certified firefighter from Hillel). He told the council that Trevor "is gonna come tomorrow" to begin paperwork, and that payroll and onboarding would be completed immediately. The presiding official asked for and received a motion and second to authorize the hires.

On the station project, Farley said he has contacted state and federal representatives to assemble funding and that grant matches could require "10 to 20%" from the city. He requested council permission to continue pursuing funding and reported meetings scheduled with legislative offices. The council moved to allow him to continue pursuing grants for Fire Station No. 2.

Farley also presented a local architect's proposal to produce site plans, floor plans, four elevations, a building section, a general budget outline and a 3-D rendering for $9,000, payable in three $3,000 installments. He said those deliverables would be helpful for the grant process. Farley described the station as crucial to improving the community’s ISO rating and reducing response times near Exit 30, noting that businesses consider local fire protection when deciding where to locate.

Separately, Police Chief Brett recommended rehiring former officer Austin Flanagan, who previously served four years with the department and later worked in Hamilton. Brett said department staff voted unanimously to have Flanagan return and proposed rehiring him on a probationary basis. A council motion to approve Flanagan’s return was made by Council member Brad and seconded by Council member Miles; the presiding official called for the vote and the hire was approved.

The council also agreed to hold an executive session to work through a proposed employee pay evaluation and later returned and took a roll call vote on the evaluation proposal (the transcript records two "no" votes and the remainder in favor). The council approved routine payables before adjourning.

What happens next: staff will continue grant outreach and, if authorized by grantors, use the architect's drawings as part of grant submissions; new hires are to complete onboarding and probationary terms. Further details and contract paperwork were left to staff and future council action.