Caney council approves legal counsel for supply-line easements, selects KMIT for workers' comp, accepts resignation and buys Public Works building

The Caney City Council on March 16, 2026 approved a series of routine and administrative actions, including a legal engagement for an infrastructure easement project, selection of a workers' compensation insurer, acceptance of a board resignation and several departmental updates.

Resignation from Planning & Zoning Council President Jeff Culver moved and Council Member Kenith Butts seconded a motion to accept the resignation of David Este from the Planning and Zoning Board; the minutes record the motion as carrying 3-0.

Easement counsel selected for Coffeyville supply line project City staff presented the RFQ packet, grading rubric and three responses for easement counsel related to the Coffeyville supply line project. The three respondents were Davis Business Law, Mitchell Legal and Emerret Chubb. City staff said the highest-scoring respondent was Davis Business Law, with Sarah Hewitt as the primary respondent. According to staff, the City Administrator, City Clerk and Public Works Director conducted scoring; the council voted to accept Sarah Hewitt as the easement attorney and to authorize necessary signatures; minutes record the motion as carrying 3-0.

Workers' compensation renewal City staff presented two quotes for the April 1, 2026 renewal: EMC quoted $36,104 and KMIT quoted $33,478. Staff recommended KMIT and the council voted to move forward with KMIT as the workers' compensation provider; minutes record the motion as carrying 3-0.

Executive session and municipal judge RFQ The council entered an executive session under K.S.A. 75-4319(1) to discuss confidential personnel matters; the session began at 6:42 p.m. and the council returned to open session at 6:51 p.m. After returning, the minutes indicate the council moved to release the RFQ for the municipal judge position (the motion text in the minutes is partially garbled but the intent to release the RFQ is recorded).

Purchase of Public Works building and department updates Mayor Josh Elliot reported the purchase of the Public Works building for $100,000 and said the city is working with Midwest Engineering to determine the sound produced by the booster pump station. Police Chief Ike Dye said new police cars are going to the upfitter and that the department met with neighboring cities about radio scramblers. City Administrator Andrea Sibley reported staff review of savings and additional revenue over the past year. City Clerk Adam Lanter said LMI surveys are being mailed and that demolition at 203 N State is proceeding.

Consent items and other approvals The council approved the consent agenda, which included minutes, listed expenses (including a $14,156.00 invoice to Alliance/DXP Enterprises) and payroll/personnel expenses; Main Street Auto invoices were also approved. The minutes record the routine motions as carrying 3-0.

Council comments and adjournment Council Member Elizabeth Burch and Council Member Kenith Butts both said the city's water bills could use improvement; Council President Jeff Culver asked the city crew to remove a dead deer near the Dollar General. The meeting adjourned at 7:00 p.m.

The minutes do not record individual roll-call votes for many motions and do not provide implementation dates for several items (for example, the ordinance effective date and timetable for easement work).