May 7, 2026
The Jetmore City Council met in regular session on May 7th, 2026. Mayor Bill Goebel called the meeting to order and led the group in the Pledge of Allegiance. Roll call was answered by Councilmen Jeff Channell, Cole Buffo, John Neeley, Kenton Ubelaker & Ron White. Also attending were City Administrator Michael Ort, City Clerk Casey Dansel, City Attorney Samantha Sweley, Sheriff Jared Walker, ED Director Shyanne Dickey, Tasha Dickey, Jasmine Wagner, Cole Wilson, Lou Ann Abbott, Meagan Huish, Susan Nuss, Mike Thornburg, & representatives from United Wireless.
Councilman Channell made a motion to amend the current agenda to move the executive session from the end of the agenda to the beginning. Councilman Neeley seconded the motion; vote unanimous.
Councilman Channell made a motion to recess into executive session for consultation with the attorney for the public body or agency, which would be deemed privileged in the attorney-client relationship, K.S.A. 75-4319(b)(2). The open meeting will resume in the city council chamber at 7:30.Councilman White seconded the motion; vote unanimous.
Councilman Channell made a motion to come out of executive session and return to open meeting of the city council. Councilman Buffo seconded the motion; vote unanimous.
Councilman Channell made a motion to pay all of the current month’s bills except for the payment to Hodgeman County Economic Development. Councilman Neeley seconded the motion; vote unanimous.
Councilman Channell made a motion to approve the consent agenda containing the April minutes & Appropriation Ordinance #2026-04. Councilman Buffo seconded the motion; vote unanimous.
SHERIFF’S REPORT:
Sheriff Walker presented his monthly report for the council to review. He discussed the ongoing issues within the county and city with the current highway project. He also noted that there has been a decline in traffic citations due to the highway closure.
CITY ATTORNEY REPORT:
Samantha reported things were going well and nothing new to report.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT:
Director Shyanne Dickey presented her monthly report to the council. Reported that she met with Tracy Mann, provided updates on grants, she met with Senior Center regarding a grant for them as well as one for the fire department. Carson Schroeder attended YEC state competition and did well. She presented an impact for change survey to the junior high and high school students.
HCED Board president Samantha Parish questioned the council as to why the HCED bill was voted to be left unpaid. City Council advised that they would like to call a special meeting, at a later date, with the HCED board and director Shyanne to discuss this as well as other concerns. Samantha asked to know the nature of the concerns the council and mayor wished to discuss, so that she could be prepared to address the concerns. She was told that those concerns would be discussed at the special meeting. Samantha asked if she could present the financial gain report to the council and the council agreed to have her present it. Council informed Samantha and Shyanne that once a date was set for the future special meeting they would contact them.
UNITED WIRELESS REPRESTATIVE PRESENTATION:
Nathan Slattery, John Droste & Scott Bradford discussed with the council the United Wireless Fiber project that is beginning in Jetmore. There is currently preliminary work starting in town now and the project will begin construction in July. Current United customers will automatically be converted to the fiber and new customers will be able to sign up if they choose.
BUSINESS ITEMS:
Mayor Goebel proclaimed May 25th Poppy Day in Jetmore. Lou Ann Abbott, with the American Legion Auxiliary, was on hand to receive the proclamation.
Mayor Bill Goebel made the following annual appointments:
City Clerk- Casey Dansel
City Attorney- Clayton Kerbs
City Treasurer- Brenda Ringle
City Judge- Kenton Gleason
Councilman Channell made a motion to approve these appointments. Councilman Buffo seconded the motion; vote unanimous.
Councilman Buffo made a motion to designate Farmers State Bank as the official depository for the City of Jetmore. Councilman Channell seconded the motion; vote unanimous.
Mr. Ort informed the council that he would recommend hiring Trent Bright for the summer help position. Councilman Channell made a motion to hire Trent Bright at $18/hr for the summer position. Councilman Buffo seconded the motion; vote unanimous.
Councilman White mentioned to the council that Derek Weber may be interested in helping out part time on his days off, especially with us being short handed on outside staff. Councilman Channell made a motion to allow Derek Weber to work part time. Councilman Neeley seconded the motion; vote unanimous.
Councilman Channell made a motion to have Mr. Ort begin advertising a full time public works position at starting pay of $20/hr. Councilman White seconded the motion; vote unanimous.
Councilman Channell made a motion to approve Resolution 2026-03, allowing the City of Jetmore to enter into a state & municipal lease/purchase agreement with Farmers State Bank for the purchase of the new city fire truck. Councilman Buffo seconded the motion; vote unanimous.
Councilman Buffo made a motion to recess into a meeting of the Land Bank. Councilman Channell seconded the motion; vote unanimous. Mr. Ort discussed a property in Cheyenne Development that could be of interest to the land bank. It’s currently a vacant lot where a modular home used to sit. The council would like Mr. Ort to find out more information on the property regarding ownership and owed taxes. Mr. Ort informed the council there is another property going up for sheriff’s auction in June. Council discussed that it will probably bring more than the land bank could pay so they were not interested.
Councilman Channell made a motion to return back to regular meeting of the city council. Councilman Ubelaker seconded the motion; vote unanimous.
CITY ADMINISTRATOR REPORT:
*Mr. Ort presented his travel and training schedule for the month.
*Airport Lighting Project Selection-Michael shared with the council that he had received an email on 4/23 notifying us that our lighting project application has been approved by KDOT-Aviation. This is a fiscal year 2027 project, so this project can begin to take place anytime after July 1 of 2026, when FY 2027 for the state begins. Because of this, our engineers are in the process of planning for this project in addition to the pavement project.
*Well 12/15 Project Report-Mr. Ort told the council that Ned Marks was here on Monday drawing samples from Well 13 and he will return for more sampling next Monday. This testing will be paid for out of the project funds already approved for the city. Staff will report back to the mayor and council when the results are received and when a path forward is determined. Michael also said that Rose Mary Saunders sent me an email on 4/27 regarding the application process that she is helping us with regarding the water project. When she submitted the paperwork for the project to the Kansas Water Office, the KWO response included a requirement to update the Water Conservation Plan and a recommendation to speak with a Kasidy Koehn with Play & Water Conservation Outreach of Tomorrow’s Water. She will work with Rose Mary and Mr. Ort to craft the plan in a way that is more in line with present understanding of the future of the aquifer in Kansas.
*The June Meeting-Mr. Ort shared a reminder with the mayor and council that he would not be at the June meeting as he will be in Europe with the foreign trip being hosted by Erika Craghead and his wife. As noted in the travel and training schedule above, that trip will begin the afternoon of May 26, traveling that afternoon to Denver for the May 27 flight to Montreal, which is the first leg of the trip. The trip will conclude on June 10 with a return flight from Munich to Denver scheduled to arrive at 6:50pm.
*King Center Heating and A/C-The heating and A/C units for the center of the King Center (the hallway and
bathrooms) were replaced by Stewart on April 21st and 22nd. Of the three bids received, Stewart’s was the lowest at $10,216.57. Because of that, Michael signed their bid on 4/13. We will want to perhaps have the other units inspected in the next few months and make a plan to replace them over the next few years as all of the units are well seasoned, and all the A/C units are using freon that is now two generations old.
*Chipseal Project Estimate-Administrator Ort informed the council that we received the estimate for the chipseal project for 2026 on 4/27 of $49,395. The project planned for this year will be W. Best, Wash, and Tucker streets, which will give us a project of an estimated 26,700 square yards. The project will require a purchase of about 300 tons of chat, which will add approximately $18,000 to the cost.
GOVERNING BODY COMMENTS:
Susan Nuss discussed her concerns regarding the fire damaged building as well as her issue with getting sewer to her building.
Council discussed the need for several properties in town to be cleaned up.
Council discussed a date for the special meeting with HCED. It was agreed the meeting will be scheduled for Thursday, May 14th at 7pm. Mr. Ort will notify HCED.
Bill informed the council of the water usage issue at his new property he purchased. There was an incredible amount of water usage, however there doesn’t appear to be a leak and no work has been done there yet. Casey informed the council that they all agree it doesn’t seem to be right, but they can’t seem to determine why the meter is showing the usage. It was agreed to see what the reading is after this next month.
Councilman Channell made a motion to adjourn. Councilman Neeley seconded the motion; vote unanimous. Meeting adjourned at 8:51 p.m.
May 14, 2026
The Jetmore City Council met in special session on May 14th, 2026. Mayor Bill Goebel called the meeting to order and led the group in the Pledge of Allegiance. Roll call was answered by Councilmen Jeff Channell, Cole Buffo, John Neeley, Kenton Ubelaker & Ron White. Also attending were City Administrator Michael Ort, City Clerk Casey Dansel, City Attorney Samantha Sweley, ED Director Shyanne Dickey, HCED Board members Samantha Parish, John Ewy, Marsha Ewy, Allison Guthrie & Kalli Favela, Tasha Dickey, Jasmine Wagner, Meagan Huish & Mike Thornburg.
Samantha Parrish of HCED requested to record the meeting on her personal cell phone device. Counsel for the City Council stated there are no objections to recording, thereafter multiple citizens at the meeting stated aloud they were recording the meeting on personal phone devices.
Mayor Goebel opened the meeting expressing concerns regarding the main street fire and language that had been used between HCED director and Administrator Ort.
Councilman Channell made a motion to recess into executive session for consultation with an attorney for the public body or agency, which would be deemed privileged in the attorney-client relationship, K.S.A. 75-4319(b)(2). The open meeting will resume in the city council chamber at 7:20. Councilman White seconded the motion; vote unanimous.
City Attorney advised council that it would be best to let everyone have a chance to speak after the executive session concludes.
Councilman Channell made a motion to come out of executive session and resume open meeting. Councilman Ubelaker seconded the motion; vote unanimous.
HCED board members all expressed their desire to keep the working relationship between the city and HCED. Marsha Ewy pointed out that the city council does have a voting seat on the HCED board. She also advised that she has spoken with the county and if there was ever a memorandum of understanding or any agreement set up between the city, county & HCED no one can seem to locate one. Several other patrons also spoke on their feelings about the HCED.
City Council members were all given a chance to express their concerns to the HCED board.
Councilman White made a motion to discontinue our monthly payments to the HCED. Councilman Neeley seconded. The vote was 3 in favor and 2 opposed.
Councilman Channell made a motion to adjourn. Councilman Neeley seconded the motion; vote unanimous. Meeting adjourned at 8:51 p.m.