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Sedan council approves 5% pay increase for city employees, discusses shelter funding and staff issues
Summary
At its Jan. 7, 2025 meeting, the Sedan City Council approved a 5% pay increase for all city employees except the mayor and judge, approved $95,183.52 in bills, heard staff reports on sewer and accounting software problems, and discussed the animal shelter's preference for a service agreement.
The Sedan City Council voted on Jan. 7, 2025 at Sedan City Hall to grant a 5% pay increase to all city employees, excluding the mayor and the judge. Council member Adam Clark moved for the raise; Angela Evans seconded and the motion carried.
The action followed a series of procedural approvals at the start of the meeting. The council approved the meeting agenda, amended the Dec. 17, 2024 minutes to correct the spelling of "trail," and voted to pay the city’s bills totaling $95,183.52.
Staff provided several operational updates before the pay decision. Employee Jim Miller reported a sewer pump failure that he expected to restore soon. City Clerk Lana Robinson said she had updated account numbers for the budget but that the year‑end closing remained incomplete because of problems with the accounting software. Raven Darnall presented information about a sewer‑bill reduction request for account number 7210; the council did not approve the reduction but indicated it would accept payment arrangements.
Council member Adam Clark raised several concerns during council comments. He questioned a bill that included two sets of chains for a sand spreader and said the supplier would reimburse the city for the unneeded set. Clark also updated the council on the local animal shelter, saying the shelter prefers a service agreement rather than an operations agreement because of exposure to the Kansas Open Records Act; he emphasized the city should know how taxpayer funds would be spent before providing money. Clark noted that the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office charges $55.00 per day to house inmates and described what that fee covers.
The council also considered but declined to close city offices on Jan. 9 in observance of the death of former President Jimmy Carter, after the inquiry was raised by an employee. During the meeting the council entered multiple executive sessions under K.S.A. 75‑4319(b)(1) to discuss terms and conditions of employment for non‑elected personnel; the sessions were followed by public resumption of the meeting with no decisions recorded until the pay increase motion.
Votes at a glance • Approve agenda — motion carried (mover: Janice Fine; seconder: Sharon Payne) • Amend and approve minutes (Dec. 17, 2024) — motion carried (mover: Adam Clark; seconder: Kathy Miller) • Approve payment of bills, $95,183.52 — motion carried (mover: Sharon Payne; seconder: Angela Evans) • 5% pay increase for city employees (excludes mayor and judge) — motion carried (mover: Adam Clark; seconder: Angela Evans)
The meeting convened at 5:30 PM and adjourned at 6:38 PM. The clerk’s written minutes are signed by Lana Robinson, City Clerk, and Mayor Bryan Blankinship.
