Valley Center council approves $744,927 inspection supplement for water plant, OKs Taser purchase and a 401(a) retirement plan

VALLEY CENTER — The Valley Center City Council on its December meeting approved a series of items including a supplemental construction-inspection agreement for the city’s water treatment plant, a department equipment purchase and an employee-retirement resolution.

City staff introduced a supplemental agreement with PEC to add construction inspection and materials testing services during the water treatment plant construction. Sarah Unruh of PEC said PEC is serving as owner’s representative and the supplemental “would add the PEC performing and construction inspection of materials testing services, for the duration of construction.” City staff said the supplemental, valued at $744,927.71, lies outside the current State Revolving Fund (SRF) loan but staff will request an SRF amendment to include the amount; if that request is unsuccessful, reserves in the city’s water fund are available to cover the cost. The council approved the supplemental and authorized the mayor or city administrator to sign.

The council also approved a request from the police department to reallocate existing budget funds to purchase 18 replacement Tasers from Axon Enterprise Inc. for $82,745.20. The presenting officer said the newest models were released last year and “they’re safer” and “certainly are more effective, especially the longer distance, which equates to officer safety.” Council members asked whether devices are assigned to individual officers and about disposal/credit for old units; the department said old units are returned to the vendor and the city will receive a credit once the replacements are in service and training is complete.

On personnel benefits, the council voted to approve Resolution 771-24 to establish a 401(a) defined-contribution plan with CAPERS (as referenced during KPERS training) for certain positions. A council member explained that employer contributions for the city administrator and the fire chief “should not be going into a 457,” and the 401(a) will allow correct classification of employer contributions; the resolution will be submitted to CAPERS for final approval.

Council members also heard first reading of Ordinance 1413-24, which would repeal and replace Valley Center’s 1969 investment policy. The proposed ordinance updates multiple provisions: it replaces references to the city clerk with the finance director, expands authorized officials who may make transfers to include the finance director, treasurer, mayor and council president, aligns allowable investments with Kansas statute 12-1677(a)–(b) (increasing permissible investment types), and clarifies that temporary and general obligation bond proceeds may be invested in addition to idle funds. The ordinance retains language directing investment earnings to be used, where possible, to relieve ad valorem tax levies. The council approved the ordinance for first reading.

Other actions and reports: the council approved an appointment of Amy Bradley to the Planning/Zoning Commission (term expires April 2026), approved the consent agenda, and received staff reports on flood-insurance outreach (Valley Center participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and is at Community Rating System level 7, providing roughly a 15% premium discount), progress on the Meridian corridor tree-planting project and construction scheduling, and a police staffing update describing the department as short four officers and coordinating with neighboring agencies to cover duties.

The meeting closed with reminders about community events, including the downtown Christmas tree lighting scheduled Saturday at 7 p.m., and the council adjourned.