Minutes

The following minutes are from the July 14, 2026 business meeting. As of this upload the minutes have not been approved by council. Upon approval the approved minutes will be posted below.

MINUTES

AMERICUS CITY COUNCIL

BUSINESS MEETING

TUESDAY, JULY 14, 2026- 7:00 PM

 CALL TO ORDER / ROLL CALL: The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by WRIGHT. Council members present were NUESSEN, BURTON, HARMON, GERLEMAN and HINRICHS. Also, present City Attorney Steve Atherton, City Clerk Dodie Doudna, Code Enforcement Justin Arb.

 VISITORS/PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD: Duane Billinger, Diane Wemer, Candice Fields, Ashley Darbro, Jasmine Gerleman, Amanda Mendoza, Pauleen Hancock, Kathy Lamb, Arly Osario, Jay Vehige, Connie Vantuyl, Don Sherman, Victoria Giese, Anna DeLong, Leah Green, Cindy Miller, William Miller, Eugene Marple, Isabelle Rawley, Ivye Montgomery, Chuck Samples, Dillon Horton, Nick Heiman 

APPROVAL OF MINUTES: June 9, 2026, Business Meeting. Moved by HARMON to approve June 9, 2026, Business Meeting minutes. Motion seconded by GERLEMAN. 5-0 Vote. 

BILLS TO PAY: HARMON  asked to remove Moundridge Manufacturing from bills making new total to $27,950.12 Moved by BURTON to approve July 2026 bills in the amount of $27,950.12 excluding Moundridge Manufacturing. Motion seconded by HINRICHS.  5-0 Vote.

REPORTS OF STANDING COMMITTEES: 

PROJECT PLAYSCAPE: Nothing to report

MAINTENANCE: Chip and seal going on but slowly, maintenance issues remain on equipment. Gone through 5-6 starters since the start, O’Reily is looking at it. Tractor needs radiator but not pressing right now. Hightide will be installed tomorrow.

CLERK: Nothing to report

CODE ENFORCEMENT: 67 violations have been issued with only 14 weed abatements completed. Good compliance on the mowing orders that have been issued.

 

ADOPT THE AGENDA: Moved by NUESSEN to adopt the agenda. Motion seconded by HINRICHS. 5-0 Vote.   

  1. 2027 BUDGET: We have received the assessed valuation from the county clerk and were able to stay under the RNR (Revenue Neutral Rate). The clerk will publish the public hearing notice in The Gazette, and we will hold the regular budget hearing on August 11th, 2026.
  2. ANNEXATION OF PROPERTY : Moved by HARMON to approve that the city annexes property located at Tract in the Southwest Quarter of Section 2, Township 18 South, Range 10 East of the 6thM., Lyon County, KS. Motion seconded by BURTON. 5-0 Vote.
  1. BALLPARK: Work needs to be done to allow high school to use ball fields. Ruts in the outfield, need to be turned over. Mound for the baseball field for high school boys to pitch off. Fences would need to be moved, lights don’t need to be moved, trees will need to removed. ARO fundraising for a mound. Fields need to fit the needs of high school. Would not add to sprinkler system. Reach out to school to work out plans for future use by them.
  2. ARO: ARO has complaints that not enough funds to do the things that the city expects to be done. Ashley stated that they made requests that were never completed, many work items went undone. City did not level the fields and they were told the city would do that. No one on council knew of these issues. Work to develop a plan to ensure maintenance done on fields and complex. Communication has been an issue. Mayor WRIGHT would like to add ARO to standing committee report list and have a member attend council meetings in the future allowing them to discuss their needs.
  3. EMPORIA NEIGHBORS UNITED: Discussion of impact of high impact data centers. After public had chance to speak, Mayor WRIGHT stated we will not vote on anything tonight. Council will review information given. Not making any rash decisions.
  4. REZONING PROPERTY: Legal advised that neighbors need to be notified of change. Clerk will send notice with draft ordinance. Tabled until neighbors contacted and have chance to respond to variance request.
  5. RV/CAMPER ORDINANCE: Planning and Zoning will readdress parking to ensure that code enforcement can enforce the ordinance. BURTON would also like them to address verbiage in the ordinance. Tabled until those items are completed.
  6. MOWER ATTACHMENT: HARMON discussed purchasing an attachment to save time on weed eating. Commercial grade- $1670, comes with spare battery. Bolts to the deck, eliminate a lot of time spent. Moved by BURTON to purchase z trimmer pro not to exceed $1700. Motion seconded by HINRICHS. 5-0 Vote.
  7. TREE TRIM BIDS: Tabled until other bids are received.
  8. COMMUNITY CENTER: Handicap parking location and parking blocks HARMON stated that 14 parking stalls fit in the lot, 12 regular spots plus handicap parking. Need to purchase 13 blocks, paint and signs. Moved by HINRICHS to approve finishing parking stalls not to exceed $2000 for blocks, paint and signs. Motion seconded by BURTON. 5-0 Vote.
  9. ABATEMENT/CONDEMNATION LIST: Conversations about if the city can remove poison ivy from properties. Legal advised that spraying could become a liability on the city.
  10. EXECUTIVE SESSION: Non-elected personnel matter. Moved by NUESSEN to go into executive session for 15 minutes starting at 8:29 PM with council, legal, mayor and clerk for non-elected personnel matters. Motion seconded by HINRICHS. 5-0 Vote. No action taken.

Motion to adjourn at 8:44 by NUESSEN.  Motion seconded by BURTON.  5-0 Vote.

Related Documents