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Atchison City Commission approves rezones, utility rate changes and 2025 insurance renewal
Summary
The commission approved two rezoning ordinances allowing development and a kennel use, adopted new water, sewer and industrial sewer rates that raise an average residential bill about $5 per $100, and authorized a 2025 property/casualty contract with EMC Insurance (9% increase). All measures passed with unanimous votes from present commissioners.
The Atchison City Commission on an evening vote adopted a package of land-use and fiscal measures, approving two rezoning ordinances, new utility rates that city staff said will raise an average residential utility bill by about $5 on a $100 bill, and authorization to contract with EMC Insurance for 2025 property and casualty coverage.
Phil Burke presented two rezoning requests. The first covered parcels on Fourth Street and Unity Street and arrived at the commission with a 4-2 planning commission recommendation; city staff noted a qualifying petition required a four-vote majority. After brief commissioner discussion, the body adopted ordinance 67-13. Burke then presented a second request for 1714 South Sixth Street (part of the Dutwyther Estate subdivision) to allow a kennel and hound-training operation. Burke said the owner was present and that staff had heard "only positive" feedback from neighbors. Commissioners voted to adopt ordinance 67-14.
City Manager Westhoff summarized the city's insurance renewal and utility-rate proposals. "The quote we received from EMC is an increase of 9%," Westhoff said, noting that national rates are increasing more than 20% on average and the city had budgeted for a 15% increase. The commission authorized city staff to select and enter into a contract with EMC for 2025 property and casualty insurance.
On utility rates, Westhoff said the city relied on a 2020 water-rate study and has been incrementally raising industrial and commercial charges to protect fund balances and cover capital projects, including sewer separation work required under the city's consent agreement with the state. He told the commission that, on the proposed percentage changes, residents would see "about $5 on a $100 utility bill increase." The commission adopted ordinance 67-15 (water rates), ordinance 67-16 (sewer rates) and ordinance 67-17 (outside industrial sewer rates). Staff also revised the low-income elderly discount language so the discount references the rate table rather than a fixed percentage.
Commissioners asked staff to prepare educational material about the water treatment process and the reasons for rate changes; Westhoff said staff could produce a video and noted the city will place an auxiliary raw-water pump on the Missouri River on Dec. 10 as a contingency for winter river levels.
The commission also adopted Resolution 3401, which sets stormwater fees and the solid-waste utility schedule; staff said the new rates take effect Jan. 1, 2025.
Votes at a glance: consent agenda approved (voice vote); ordinance 67-13 (rezone Fourth/Unity) adopted by roll call with affirmative votes from Mary Young, Vice Mayor Wilcox, Commissioner Greenlee, Commissioner Murphy and Commissioner Slattery; ordinance 67-14 (rezone South Sixth allowing kennel) adopted by the same roll call majority; EMC insurance authorization approved (voice vote); ordinances 67-15, 67-16 and 67-17 (water/sewer/industrial sewer rates) adopted by roll call (all present voting Yes); Resolution 3401 (stormwater/solid waste fees) adopted by roll call (all present voting Yes). The meeting adjourned to a Land Bank session.
The city manager's updates included LFM Park grant contract restructuring into four bid packages to go out in February, downtown holiday decorations through January, public works winter preparations including a new brine tank and plow blade replacements, staffing changes combining part-time HR and finance roles into a full-time HR assistant, and a forthcoming draft UTV ordinance to return in January.
The commission did not receive public forum speakers during the meeting. The measures passed with no recorded dissent among commissioners present; several commissioners asked staff to study local traffic/parking issues and intersection configurations and thanked staff for budget planning and insurance negotiations.
What happens next: the new utility and fee schedules take effect Jan. 1, 2025. The LFM Park bid packages will be released in February; staff will return with the draft UTV ordinance in January.
