The Sabetha City Commission met at 6 p.m. Monday, April 25, at Sabetha City Hall. Present for the meeting were Mayor Cody Bletscher, Commissioners Norm Schmitt, Nick Aberle, Maridel Wittmer and Julie Burenheide, City Administrator Doug Allen, Assistant City Administrator Bill Shroyer, City Clerk Steve Compo, Sabetha Police Chief Robert Wahwasuck, and City Attorney Martin Mishler. Marvin Kohlmeier and Jason Enneking were the only guests present.

Police Report

Wahwasuck presented his written report to the commissioners.

Dogs 

There have been three dog calls since March 27.

One call was for a dog at large. City personnel responded and the dog was caught and returned home.

One call was for a dog at large. An officer noticed the dog running around and knew where it belonged and that the owners had been talked to before. Officer made contact with the owner and a citation was issued. The dog could not be caught to be impounded.

The last call was for a dog at large. City personnel responded as the reporting party stated they were holding the dog. Personnel arrived on scene, the reporting party was gone and the dog was nowhere to be found.

Codes

1322 Roosevelt: Junk vehicle was abated. Unfit structure. Maintenance and repair. Ready for abatement. A meeting was held and it was decided to move the case into court.

523 N. 14th: Unfit structure, ready for abatement. They had requested more time to get the property in their name, this was completed. The Sabetha Police Department (SPD) will revisit where they are at in the process of abatement and ask for a firm timeline for completion. 

216 S. 13th: Blight premise. Junk vehicle, ready for resolution and abatement. Owner has told me that he will continue to make strides. 

319 N. Ninth: Blight premise, health and welfare, maintenance and repair. The property has a new owner and the process of notification has begun to make them aware of the alleged code violations.

314 S. Ninth: Weeds and household trash, abated by the City.

317 S. Washington: Weeds and household trash were briefly taken care of and new material was put in place of the old materials, and the SPD has begun the abatement process once again.

Department

The SPD continues to assist with the school crossing duty in front of the elementary, when possible, in the mornings. The afternoons continue to be a bit of an adventure and citizens are still adjusting. The SPD appreciates their understanding if they have to ask them to move their vehicle out of the path of the bus exit.

The SPD continues to try and be a daily positive presence in the schools.

The new officer is doing well and settling into their new position.

The SPD assisted with breathalyzers for prom and after prom. Wahwasuck said everything with prom went fine.

Weather has been hindering lake traffic a little, but the SPD is prepared to step-up our lake patrols knowing that the camping season is here and the number of campers is soon to increase.

The SPD asks citizens to go ahead and report any suspicious activity that they witness going on around our lakes and become good witnesses. Information conveyed to the dispatcher is very important, so details of what prompted someone to call are important, the ability to describe what is making someone or something suspicious is pretty vital as to giving us the information needed to possibly detain a reported suspicious person or stop a reported suspicious vehicle.

Officers are unfortunately keeping busy investigating reported crimes and doing case work.

The SPD has not seen any reported cases yet, but our night staff has been extra vigilant in keeping an eye out for gas thieves. We suspect with the price of fuel that someone will need it and attempt to steal it.

Scams of all sorts remain prevalent and new scams seem to be popping up every week. Citizens need to know that no legitimate business is going to do business by asking you to purchase money cards, gift cards or prepaid credit cards. If that is being asked of you, you are most likely being scammed. Citizens may call the police department at any time they feel they might be being scammed.

Also at the meeting:

The commissioners approved the minutes from the Monday, April 11, meeting.

The commissioners approved a drinking establishment license for El Canelo.

Kohlmeier was present to ask the city for support in the Oregon Street sidewalk grant. Kohlmeier said the Greater Sabetha Community Foundation is wanting to make the Oregon Street sidewalk a historical project. The commissioners approved Resolution No. 2022-09 for the Oregon Street Sidewalk Grant. Allen said with the approval, the city has to put up 20 percent, which is approximately $100,000. The city will join Prairie Hills USD No. 113 and the Greater Sabetha Community Foundation in writing a letter of support.

The commissioners met in executive session for 15 minutes until 6:25 p.m. for a discussion under attorney-client privilege. Present for the executive session were the mayor, the commissioners, Mishler, Allen and Shroyer. No action was taken following the executive session.

The next meeting will be held at 6 p.m. Monday, May 9, at Sabetha City Hall.