November 5, 2025
The Jetmore City Council met in regular session on November 5th, 2025. Mayor Bill Goebel called the meeting to order and led the group in the Pledge of Allegiance. Roll wall was answered by Councilmen Jeff Channell, Charles Leet, John Neeley & Mike Thornburg. Cole Buffo arrived at 7:03 p.m. Also attending were City Administrator Michael Ort, City Clerk Casey Dansel, Sheriff Jared Walker, Russell Durler, Randy Washburn, Rikene Sanchez, Kenton Ubelaker & students from the high school government class.
Councilman Channell made a motion to approve the consent agenda containing the October minutes & Appropriation Ordinance #2025-10. Councilman Neeley seconded the motion; vote unanimous.
SHERIFF’S REPORT:
Sheriff Walker provided his monthly report to the council. Council inquired about the status of a dog involved in a recent court case. Sheriff Walker reported the case was settled and owner had to pay fines.
CITY CLERK REPORT:
Casey presented the council with a letter received from the After Prom Committee asking for a donation. Council decided to table this item.
Casey informed the council of the new procedure for CMB licenses in Kansas. Applications go to the state first and then come to the city for approval. Hopefully we will have them all to approve at the December meeting.
BUSINESS ITEMS:
Russell Durler discussed the possibility of a land purchase he may be making and inquired about getting water & electric to the lot up by the golf course and requested a variance by the city. Randy Washburn was present and explained that in order to get water to the lot, the line would have to run through his easement and he was granting the Durlers permission to do so. Councilman Buffo made a motion to grant Durlers the variance. Councilman Channell seconded the motion; vote unanimous.
Randy Washburn discussed with the council the new shed he is building in the lot next to his property. He requested a variance be granted for the overhang on the shed, which will not be 6 feet from the adjoining property line. Councilman Buffo made a motion to grant the variance for Washburn’s. Councilman Buffo seconded the motion; vote unanimous.
Rikene Sanchez discussed with the council a recent water leak she had. Once she discovered she had a leak, the city staff helper her identify her water softener as the source of the leak. She then had the leak repaired and asked the council if they would grant a variance and write off the excess water usage on her bills. Councilman Channell made a motion to charge Rikene her normal water use of $25 and give her credit on the payment she had already made the first month. Councilman Neeley seconded the motion; vote unanimous.
CITY ADMINISTRATOR REPORT:
*Mr. Ort presented his travel and training schedule and the staff anniversaries and birthdays for the month.
*K-156 Project-Waterline Project: The waterline project was completed the weeks of September 29-October 20. Electric Poles: In a phone conversation Oct. 13 Marty Mandl of RMA told Mr. Ort that we were waiting for more of the supplies needed for the project (cutout, crossarms, and the like) and that he was working with suppliers to put a rush on the
outstanding items, and that he is keeping in touch with KDOT personnel who have stated that they are not in a super rush, but would like it done as soon as possible. Bringing in another contractor to finish the work, if KMEA staff are unable to complete the projects alone, was also discussed.
*Sewer Lines/Mayer Specialty-Administrator Ort shared with the mayor and council that on October 10, at Brian’s request, Mayer Specialty came to Jetmore to camera survey the sewer segment from the NE corner of Carousel and Wildcat Avenues to about halfway west on Carousel. The reason was to find a tap for new construction being completed now for Mr. Randy Washburn. In that camera survey they found a few taps that were collapsed into the main. At two of
them the main has been collapsed in. This was forwarded to Doug Goetz with Wilson and Co (our engineer for the water project, but who also engineers sewer projects). In his reply he noted that “I am thinking that there was an installation issue…” and that “unfortunately, the only good way to fix the isolated issues is to replace segments with open-cut methods honestly.”
*Main St. Project-Mr. Ort informed the council that he next step toward the Main St. project will be a Field Check Meeting to be held on 11/20 from 10am to Noon at the city office.
*Property and Casualty Insurance-Mr. Ort told the council that he submitted current policies to an agent with Fee Insurance in Dodge City on October 1st. The mayor and council will be informed when we hear more.
*Red Tag Pole Project-An email was received on 10/23 letting us know that we have been approved by the Department of Energy for our red tag pole replacement project. That was the last approval needed for the project to move forward. This was a grant that City Administrator Ort applied for through the KCC which is money originating at the federal Dept. of Energy. The program was meant to help local utilities complete projects meant to harden their systems and/or increase safety and reliability. As with all federal grant programs, this program required a substantial local match, in excess of $170,000. The Build Kansas Fund, though, was established to cover a substantial part of the local match requirement That funding was awarded the city on May 28, in the amount of $169,268.44, which will leave the city with a total cost of $8,900.56 for a project that was bid at $611,820 by KMEA-Mid-States.
*Wednesday Noon Sirens-Mr. Ort let the mayor and council know that, per the council vote last month a letter was sent to Ford County Communications letting them know the council’s wishes that the Wednesday noon tornado siren 3-minute test be changed from weekly to monthly. As the council had not designated a specific Wednesday in the discussions or the vote, Michael took the liberty of recommending to Ford County that they sound the monthly test on
the 1st Wednesday of each month. On October 15 Michael received a call from Ford County Communications personnel
confirming receipt of the letter and committing to running the test once per month, in accordance with the council’s wishes.
Councilman Channell made a motion to adjourn. Councilman Neeley seconded the motion; vote unanimous. Meeting adjourned at 7:58 p.m.