The Sabetha City Commission met at 6 p.m. Monday, Aug. 14, at Sabetha City Hall. Present for the meeting were Mayor Cody Bletscher, Commissioners Norm Schmitt, Nick Aberle, Maridel Wittmer and Julie Burenheide, Assistant City Administrator Bill Shroyer, City Clerk Steve Compo, Police Chief Robert Wahwasuck, and City Attorney Martin Mishler. The only guest present was Jason Enneking.

Maintenance Building Award

The commissioners approved the bid from AHRS for the new city shop building to be located to the north of The Main Event. The approved bid was for $1,106,000. This bid includes the building, concrete and electrical for the new shop. According to Shroyer, the city will install the sewer and water for the building. After a short discussion regarding the logistics behind the project, the commissioners unanimously approved the bid from AHRS. Mayor Bletscher signed the bid as presented.

The commissioners also unanimously approved Mayor Bletscher’s signature on the contract book, which the city should receive soon.

Police Report

Wahwasuck presented his written report to the commissioners.

Dogs

There have been three dog calls since July 20.

One was for a dog at large, where city personnel or an officer responded. The dog was picked up and about to be impounded when the owner arrived to get the dog.

One was for a dog at large, which was a vicious dog. An officer responded and charges are pending. The officer was bitten and sought out treatment.

One was for a vicious dog. An officer responded and it was reported per hospital protocol, but it did not take place in the city.

Codes

1322 Roosevelt: Unfit structure, maintenance and repair. Ready for abatement. The hearing occurred at this meeting.

523 N. 14th St.: Unfit structure, ready for abatement. Owner informed me that a contractor is assessing the property on Aug. 11 and will be ordering materials to fix the structure.

401 Ohio St.: Blight premise. Ready for abatement.

502 N. Ninth St.: Two junk motor vehicles and nuisance property. Junk vehicles ready for resolution and removal. Ready for resolution and abatement.

317 S. Fifth St.: Junk motor vehicle, blight premise, and animal confines. Ready for resolution and abatement.

517 S. 11th St.: Junk motor vehicle, ready for resolution and abatement.

308 S. 13th St.: Junk vehicle, in process.

520 S. Seventh St.: Unfit structure, remains in process. Ready for resolution and abatement.

605 Oregon St.: Three junk motor vehicles. Two of the vehicles have been abated by the owner.

914 Virginia St.: Weeds (2), ready for resolution and abatement.

Department

School begins this week. We will continue to patrol the streets around the school, before and after. We will also be doing school walk-throughs.

We perform alcohol breath checks before school dances for those wanting to attend. The first dance of the year is soon and we will be assisting.

We also make it a point to walk through and/or attend home football games.

We are seeking a new part-time dispatcher and full-time officer. We have not received a lot of response yet. If we receive no good local candidates, we will have to expand our search.

One of our communications operators will be on extended leave at the end of the month, and thus the need for more help.

We also have begun to prepare for an audit done by the Kansas Highway Patrol, which takes place every three years. The audit is over our records and usage of the Kansas criminal data, as well as maintaining our employee compliance.

Code Violation Abatement Hearing

Mayor Bletscher opened the code violation abatement hearing for 1322 Roosevelt St. This abatement is for the garage located at this property. With no comment from the public, Mayor Bletscher closed the public hearing.

The commissioners asked Wahwasuck what the resolution does for the city.

According to Wahwasuck, passing the resolution allows the city to abate — or remove — the garage from the property.

The commissioners unanimously passed Resolution 2023-21.

Also at the meeting:

The commissioners approved Wage Resolution No. 2023-20, for Nate LaCruze following his 90-day orientation.

The commissioners approved minutes from the July 31 meeting.

The commissioners also discussed the city utility bills. Shroyer and Compo said the bills were lost in the mail, and residents can call the city office to find out the total of their bill. City utility bills are due on the 15th of each month.

The commissioners will meet again at 6 p.m. Monday, Aug. 28, at Sabetha City Hall.