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Council hears department reports; staff to review water tower lights and prepare proposed utility rate changes
Summary
Department heads reported grant-funded lighting installed at the pool, city staff encouraged email security training, and staff previewed a likely March proposal to raise water and sewer rates; council directed staff to review purchase records for persistent water tower lighting control problems.
Department heads updated the council on multiple operational items. Staff reported accepting Smoky Hills Community Foundation grant funding for new pool lighting and exhaust work and confirmed lighting has been installed. The clerk and administrators encouraged elected officials to complete the new city email security training implemented after a previous computer incident.
Council discussed long-standing problems with the water tower lighting controls and directed staff to review the purchase order and vendor support options; staff said replacement control boards were sent but did not function and the vendor has changed hands several times, complicating warranty support. "If it's something that the company won't back up, is there some way? Let me look at the PO and everything else," a councilmember said.
Separately, staff previewed a sewer and water rate adjustment proposal expected in March to address revenue shortfalls and build cash reserves. Staff emphasized the city had frozen rates for multiple years and would seek to avoid a rate shock while restoring necessary reserves.
