Minutes

The following minutes are from the September 8, 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

BUSINNESS MEETING

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2026 – 7 PM 

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

VISITORS/PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD: Robert Blair, Chris Rush, Devin Holloway, Jasmine Gerleman, Connie Vantuyl, Kim Meyers, Duane Billinger, Kayeloni Davidson, Stepen Davidson

APPROVAL OF MINUTES: August 11, 2026, Business Meeting, August 20, 2026, Special Meeting, August 24, 2026, Special Meeting, September 1, 2026, Special Meeting. Moved by NUESSEN to approve August 11, 2026, Budget Hearing/Business Meeting minutes. Motion seconded by BURTON. 4-0 Vote. Moved by NUESSEN to approve August 20, 2026, Special Meeting minutes. Motion seconded by BURTON. 4-0 Vote. Moved by NUESSEN to approve August 24, 2026, Special Meeting minutes. Motion seconded by HARMON. 3-0-1 vote. Moved by NUESSEN to approve September 1, 2026, Special Meeting minutes. Motion seconded by GERLEMAN. 4-0 Vote.

BILLS TO PAY:  Moved by BURTON to approve the September bills in the amount of 20,275.38. Motion seconded by NUESSEN. 4-0 Vote.

REPORTS OF STANDING COMMITTEES:

PROJECT PLAYSCAPE: None

MAINTENANCE: Dealing with the heat, mowing caught up. Mulch from county, put in parks.

CLERK: Clerk reported that the leather chairs in the community building are growing mold. Advised to quote new chairs for October                 meeting. Advised that clerk could be out part of next week for jury duty.

CODE ENFORCEMENT: none

ADOPT THE AGENDA: Moved by BURTON to adopt the agenda. Motion seconded by HARMON.  4-0 Vote.

  1. BOB BLAIR: Bond update. Robert Blair gave school bond proposal update. Successful bond issue would close Broadway street. Presented survey results with boards recommendations. 2 questions on the ballot, construction of high school, new athletic complex. Council will wait to act on road closure until after the November election. Will discuss possibility of annexation of property of sports complex if the bond passes.
  2. TRUNK or TREAT: Kim Meyers request for fund. Kim requested funds for the annual Trunk or Treat. Moved by HARMON to give $500 to the Trunk or Treat event. Motion seconded by GERLEMAN. 4-0 Vote.
  3. DUMPSTER PROS: Tree Trimming. Requesting trees be trimmed off of the street as currently causing problems for the trash truck. Will give Justin the list to send letters to the homeowners. 312 orange is causing issues with potholes. Advised clerk to put something in the newsletter regarding keeping trees trimmed off of the road.
  4. FALL CLEANUP: Set days for Fall Clean Up set date. Council set Fall Clean Up days to be September 28- October 5, 2026. Not to exceed $3000 in total fees.
  5. DEVIN HOLLOWAY: 1207 First St., sewer access. Devin discussed building a house on the North end of First St. Would like to put a 6 inch sewer line instead of 4 inch, if city would share cost. This would allow more homes to be built in that area and have sewer access. Devin will gather information on how many feet and approximate cost to council.
  6. LARRY EDMISTON: Mowing orders. Larry did not attend. Council discussed changing how mowing exemptions read currently. Clerk will place mowing exemptions on the January agenda to discuss in more detail.
  7. COMMUNITY CENTER: Carpet cleaning and plumbing issues. Council advised to collect bids to replace sewer lines. Council advised to collect bids for carpet cleaning.
  8. RESOLUTION 314: Amending Personnel Policies and Guidelines. Moved by BURTON to adopt Resolution 314. Motion seconded by NUESSEN. 4-0 Vote.
  9. RESOLUTION 315: Resolution designating the Americus Kansas Website as the official city newspaper . Moved by BURTON to adopt Resolution 315. Motion seconded by GERLEMAN. 4-0 Vote.
  10. TEMP CMB LICENSE: Harry & Lloyds- 620 Main Moved by NUESSEN to approve temporary CMB License to Harry & Lloyds on September 19, 2026 at 620 Main St. Motion seconded by GERLEMAN. 3-0-1 Vote.
  11. ARO UPDATE: Review meeting that Kayla had with ARO. Kayla has attended two meetings. Made a lot of progress. Article for ARO needs to be updated. Items that the city can help with are as follows: mail, record keeping, collecting registrations. Discussed adding a city employee to bank account to be able to pay bills. Discussed using Youth Betterment fund to help replace some equipment. Storage of equipment was discussed; old pool house for baseball/softball equipment, city building storage can be utilized, and football equipment is stored at the school. Current ARO members would like to increase from 5 members to a 7-member board. Ashley Darbro has resigned as Board President. Mayor WRIGHT appointed the following members to ARO Board: Jasmine Gerleman, Kyle Lococo, Connie Vantuyl, Dillon Horton, Candice Fields and new member Courtney Welch. Mayor WRIGHT appointed Denisha Seiter as Treasurer of ARO.
  12. CONDEMNATION LIST: 507 Elm and 410 Cherry, next steps. 507 Elm contractors- overgrowth was bad. Evergy contacted about trees in lines. 410 Cherry- 30-day notice will be given to remove inside cats from property.
  13. APPOINTMENTS: Animal Control Officer and Deputy Clerk/Treasurer. Mayor WRIGHT appointed Justin Arb as Animal Control Officer and Denisha Seiter as Deputy Clerk/Treasurer.
  14. EXECUTIVE SESSION: Non-elected personnel matters. Moved by BURTON to go into executive session at 7:53 for 20 minutes for non-elected personnel matters, inviting council, mayor, and legal. Motion seconded by NUESSEN. 4-0 Vote. Out of executive session as 8:09 PM, no action taken.

       Moved by BURTON to adjourn at 8:09 PM. Motion seconded by NUESSEN. 4-0 Vote.

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