Lancaster council awards rock bid, okays demo project and donates fire hydrant to cancer benefit

The Lancaster City Council met May 12, 2025, and took several administrative and operational actions, including awarding a rock bid, accepting a start date for a DEMO grant project and approving a donation of an old fire hydrant to a local cancer benefit.

Mayor Donald Derickson called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Councilmen Kevin Buckallew, Cole Tippett and Paul Reynolds and City Clerk Candy Tallman were present along with water and sewer staff George Reindel and Jimmy McNary and guests, including Gary Mulvany and James Berry.

Council business began with unanimous procedural approvals. A motion by Councilman Kevin Buckallew, seconded by Councilman Cole Tippett, approved the meeting agenda (vote 3-0). The council then approved the April 14, 2025 minutes with a correction to the name of a lake and approved the monthly bills and financial reports as presented by City Clerk Candy Tallman (all motions carried 3-0).

The council awarded the single received rock bid to Starrett Rock after a motion by Councilman Cole Tippett and a second from Councilman Kevin Buckallew; the motion carried 3-0. City Clerk Candy Tallman reported the city received a Notice to Proceed from Batina Dodge for the DEMO grant project; work is scheduled to start May 14, 2025, with a completion date of July 13, 2025.

On a separate motion, Councilman Kevin Buckallew moved to donate an old, unusable fire hydrant to a Cancer Relief benefit; Councilman Cole Tippett seconded. The motion passed 2-1, with Councilman Paul Reynolds casting the lone Nay vote. Jimmy McNary was tasked with locating and painting a hydrant for the benefit.

During public comment, guest Gary Mulvany raised a concern about a tube on his property. Councilman Kevin Buckallew said he would inspect the site and prepare cost figures and follow up with Mulvany. Police officer James Berry briefed the council on dog-related issues in town; the council voted to have City Clerk Candy Tallman obtain pricing for dog tags/licenses and asked Officer Berry to research prices for catch poles and traps (motion carried 3-0).

Other departmental updates included a report from George Reindel that DNR paperwork must be redone and properly signed, and a fire department update noting its participation at the Big Wheels school event May 7. Council members reported routine items: mowing and public works updates from Jimmy McNary; event planning follow-up on Fish Day from Councilman Paul Reynolds; grant research work by Councilman Cole Tippett; and street work underway led by Councilman Kevin Buckallew.

Several procurement and equipment items were tabled for additional information, including billing software options (Candy Tallman presented three quotes: SUBS at $400 startup and $400 annual support requiring manual data entry; Jayhawk at $6,339 startup and $964 annual support including data conversion; RVS current support $944) and Diamond Maps. Councilman Kevin Buckallew agreed to research loan rates and models for a backhoe while City Clerk Tallman reviews last year’s backhoe expenses; that item was tabled to the next meeting.

Councilman Kevin Buckallew moved to tear down the old ambulance building next to the firehouse and move its contents to the old gym; the minutes record the motion but do not specify a recorded second or vote. The council set its next regular meeting for June 9, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. at City Hall, 209 Washington St., Lancaster, Mo. Councilman Cole Tippett moved to adjourn, seconded by Councilman Kevin Buckallew; Mayor Derickson adjourned the meeting at 8:57 p.m.

Minutes were taken by City Clerk Candy Tallman and include a signature block for Mayor Derickson; the minutes were approved on June 9, 2025.