Washington council approves Ninnescah Flats solar agreement with KMEA

The Washington City Council on Nov. 4 approved Resolution 2024-07 authorizing execution of the Ninnescah Flats Solar Project Agreement between the City of Washington and the Kansas Municipal Energy Agency (KMEA).

Councilmember Carolyn Pinnick moved to approve the resolution and Councilmember Terry Morse seconded. The measure passed 4–1; Councilmember Mary Ann Crome cast the lone dissenting vote.

Council members met in executive session earlier in the meeting to discuss contract negotiations and confidential third-party information before returning to chambers and voting on the resolution. The resolution authorizes execution of the project agreement and “certain other documents and actions in connection therewith,” according to the motion on the floor.

Mayor Garett Edgar and city staff were included in the executive-session discussions along with the city attorney and council members, per the meeting record. No additional detail on contract terms, financial commitments or implementation milestones was disclosed during open session.

The vote follows the council’s stated intent—announced earlier in the meeting—to work on renewing service and contract relationships that affect city utilities and energy supply. The city clerk recorded the roll call on the resolution as: Ayes: Amy Anderson, Jerry Fuhrken, Terry Morse, Carolyn Pinnick; Nay: Mary Ann Crome.

Next steps will be the administrative execution of the signed agreement and any required follow-up actions by staff; the record shows the council authorized the resolution and related signatures but did not provide a timeline for implementation during open session.