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Phillipsburg council approves bills, appointments and personnel moves; removes public-comment provision
Summary
At its Feb. 2 meeting the Phillipsburg City Council approved minutes and payment of bills, voted to remain a Chamber & Main Street member and assist with veteran banners and Party in the Park, removed one public-comment guideline item, authorized a collateral-pool transition, made multiple board appointments, and approved two staff promotions.
The Phillipsburg City Council met Feb. 2 and approved routine business including the Jan. 19, 2026 minutes and Ordinance No. 1055-01-26B to pay the city's bills. Councilmember Brian Shrader moved both measures; Councilmember Kenneth Craig seconded both motions and each passed unanimously.
The council agreed to remain a member of Phillipsburg Chamber & Main Street at an annual cost of $895 and to provide assistance setting up and taking down veteran banners; Councilmember Don Roberts moved the motion and Councilmember Lauren Weinert seconded. Tami Sauer, representing the Chamber and Main Street, asked the council to allow the Chamber to host the Party in the Park event this year; the council approved that request unanimously.
The council also removed item No. 7 from its Public Comment Guidelines. Mayor Lance Munyon said the clause allowed written, non-anonymous submissions about non-elected personnel to be considered in executive session; the council voted to strike the item on a motion by Brian Shrader, seconded by Jerry Voorhees.
The city's CivicPlus renewal was amended to eliminate an automatic four-year redesign charge of about $3,184; CivicPlus agreed to credit prior payments toward a future redesign and apply the credit to purchase the CivicPlus Media module to enable ADA-compliant livestreaming (see separate story).
Appointments to boards and commissions were approved by unanimous vote: Mike Erhart, Terry Redinger and Caleb Breon to the Planning Commission; Doug Vahle to the Board of Zoning Appeals; Karen Patton and Chris Hugunin to the Housing Authority Board; and Jay Mulder and Bill Prochazka to the Airport Board.
City Clerk Brandi Spray explained the Kansas Collateral Pool Transition under 2025 HB 2152, which pools entities' bonds; the council authorized Mayor Lance Munyon to sign the transition paperwork on a motion by Brian Shrader, seconded by Kenneth Craig.
After a closed executive session to discuss a non-elected personnel matter under K.S.A. 75-4319(b)(1), the council voted unanimously to promote Jim Knowles to Assistant Foreman of the Public Works Department. Later, the council also voted to promote Deveony Coomes to Aquatic Center Manager. The meeting adjourned at 7:12 p.m.
Votes at a glance (motions recorded in meeting minutes): approve minutes (moved Shrader, seconded Craig; Aye: ALL); pay bills (Ord. #1055-01-26B) (moved Shrader, seconded Craig; Aye: ALL); provide banner help and allow Party in the Park (moved Roberts, seconded Weinert; Aye: ALL); remain Chamber member ($895) (moved Shrader, seconded Craig; Aye: ALL); remove public-comment item #7 (moved Shrader, seconded Voorhees; Aye: ALL); remove CivicPlus four-year redesign from renewal (moved Shrader, seconded Voorhees; Aye: ALL); appoint planning/BZA/housing/airport board members (various motions; Aye: ALL); approve Kansas Collateral Pool Transition and authorize mayor's signature (moved Shrader, seconded Craig; Aye: ALL); promote Jim Knowles (moved Shrader, seconded Voorhees; Aye: ALL); promote Deveony Coomes (moved Voorhees, seconded Shrader; Aye: ALL); adjourn (moved Shrader, seconded Voorhees; Aye: ALL).
