The Sabetha City Commission met at 6 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 11, 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, and Police Chief Robert Wahwasuck. Guests present were Jason Enneking and Megan Bunck.

Police Report

Chief Wahwasuck presented his written report to the commissioners. Below is his report.

Dogs

There have been six dog calls since Aug. 9.

One call was for a dog at large where city personnel or an officer responded. The dog was put back into the house.

One call was for a dog at large where city personnel or an officer responded. No dog could be located in the reported area.

One call was for a dog at large where city personnel or an officer responded. The dog was picked up and placed into the pound.

One call was for a dog at large where city personnel, or an officer responded. The owner was contacted and picked up their dog. They were also warned about keeping their dog on a leash.

One call was for a dog at large, which was brought into the police department by a citizen. The dog was chipped. The owner was contacted and picked up their dog.

One call was for a barking dog. An officer responded, but could not locate the source. The officer stayed in the area, and waited for it to happen again, but it did not.

Codes

1322 Roosevelt St.: Unfit structure, maintenance and repair. The hearing was held and the abatement is in process. Awaiting a date and time from the contractor.

523 N 14th St.: Unfit structure, ready for abatement. The person responsible informed me the contractor is scheduled to begin work on the structure in three weeks.

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

502 N Ninth St.: Junk motor vehicle (2), nuisance property, junk vehicles. Ready for resolution and abatement. Owner advised that a lot of the materials are ready to be hauled away and that he is working on it. It does appear something is being done, many of the materials are being moved around, we will continue to monitor the abatement of the violations.

317 S Fifth St.: Junk motor vehicle, blight premise, 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. Ready for resolution and abatement. Owner of the property said that he has been in contact with a contractor who is going to put a tin roof on the structure.

605 Oregon St.: Junk motor vehicle (3). Owner abated the condition.

914 Virginia St.: Weeds. Owner initially abated the condition, but weeds have grown back up again. The owner contacted to resolve the issue or the city would have to. 

Department

Our audit went great! We were found to be in compliance with everything. The credit goes to our communications tech officer for maintaining our policies and validations. They are real assets. Also, to our entire staff who are aware that when it comes to criminal justice information, it is all governed by protocol, checks and balances. Very few things in this line of work are black and white, but dealing with criminal justice information it is. Everyone in our department handles that information with care.

We continue to make contacts within the school and be a presence as much as possible within the school and at sporting events.

An officer attended leadership training and reported that it was good. The speaker was really engaging and seemed to love what they did.

New vehicle: the department plans to place a new vehicle order as soon as possible, with our two older vehicles starting to need a lot of maintenance. Removing them from availability while they sit in the shop getting problems repaired. There are only certain times of the year that government fleet orders can be made, and Aberle Ford is going to let us know as soon as that window opens.

Also at the meeting:

The commissioners approved the minutes from the Aug. 28 City Commission meeting.

The commissioners approved Wage Resolution No. 2023-22 for part-time paramedic for Lucas Linden.

The commissioners approved additional lots to the Rebant Acres Plat, which lies just North of Kansas Road and west of Cross Creek Road and Timberlane Drive.

The commissioners also approved the fall burn dates for Sept. 29 through Dec. 1.

The next meeting will be held at 6 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 25, at Sabetha City Hall.