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County counselor says NRP hearing can proceed even if some cities attend by representative
Summary
Atchison County’s counsel told commissioners the March 16 hearing on the revised Neighborhood Revitalization Plan may proceed to present the plan to the public even if some participating municipalities are represented by designees rather than a full quorum; the counsel offered procedural steps to protect each governing body’s authority to adopt the plan later.
County Counselor Van Paris told the Atchison County Commission on March 10 that the upcoming neighborhood revitalization plan (NRP) hearing can go forward to present the plan to the public even if some participating cities attend by representative, rather than with a full governing‑body quorum.
"The overarching purpose of the hearing is this is to present the NRP plan to the public," Van Paris said, arguing the county — as the plan administrator — can provide public notice and information while allowing any municipality that lacks a quorum to continue its portion of the adoption at a later date. He recommended publicly announcing, at the March 16 meeting, the time and date when the hearing would be reopened for any governing body that requires a separate vote.
Why it matters: the NRP is intended to be a cooperative, countywide program administered by the county that encourages cities and other governing bodies to adopt coordinated incentives and procedures. Van Paris said the interlocal agreement he reviewed contains no substantive changes to the plan’s substance but includes language to streamline Attorney General review and speed processing.
Van Paris framed a practical process: present the plan at the joint hearing to satisfy the notice requirement and allow individual parties that lack a quorum to hold a brief follow‑up meeting (their next regular meeting) to conclude that party’s formal adoption vote. "If any party is not represented by a quorum, their portion of the adoption of the plan be continued to their next regular meeting," he said.
The counselor said the approach preserves public notice, advances the legislative intent of a joint NRP covering the county, and avoids the logistical problem of coordinating seven full governing bodies at a single hearing.
Next steps: Van Paris said he would share minor, non‑substantive edits to the interlocal agreement with the city attorney to expedite Attorney General review and asked the commission for permission to coordinate with the city attorney in advance of the March 16 hearing. Commissioners agreed the county should proceed and announce procedures for reopening the hearing for any party that requires it.
No formal adoption of the interlocal agreement or the plan was recorded at the meeting; the matter remains scheduled for the March 16 hearing and subsequent approvals by participating jurisdictions.
