During Monday’s Chanute City Commission meeting, several members of the community showed up to express their concerns over the upcoming electric utility rate increase.
This increase was approved at the Aug. 11 meeting and will go into effect the first billing cycle after Oct. 1, according to the ordinance.
The $.0095 increase per kilowatt hour is estimated to amount to a 6.5% on the average monthly electric bill, according to City Manager Todd Newman.
The increase in utilities was explained to be due to inflation, lack of generation, and the need for revenue into the city’s general fund.
In the agenda item notes for the ordinance under financial consideration, it is stated: “The increase is also needed to cover rising costs to the General Fund, such as radios for Police and Fire.”
In a post that has since been removed from the city’s Facebook Page, Newman said, “The radios are part of the Capital Improvement Project list for 2026 and estimated at $2.2 million.”
Following these announcements, many citizens had questions concerning the increase, if there were other funding methods for the project, and the details behind the radio project, which they shared via social media and with the commission.
Citizens showed up to voice those concerns during the public commentary section of Monday’s meeting.
Paula Roberts spoke first, saying that the rate at which the citizens of Chanute are being taxed through city and county taxes is comparable to that of Johnson County.
“Yet our community does not reflect that same level of investment on return,” Roberts said.
She also highlighted having an already high utility bill of over $800. She noted that she was a first responder and said she understood the importance of reliable communication infrastructure. She proposed the commissioners examine other funding sources for the communication project and suggested they increase the sales tax instead.
“This allows people to adjust their spending habits rather than being trapped by skyrocketing utility bills they can not afford or avoid,” Roberts said. “Between rising property taxes, stagnant wages, and now the utility rate hike, many residents like myself are questioning whether remaining in this county or even in this state is sustainable.”
Ashley Shreve also spoke during public comment. Prior to the meeting, Shreve requested records from the city. Kansas Open Records Act requests can be filed to obtain various records from governing bodies or other public entities. Shreve requested any and all records pertaining to the 2023 property tax decrease, the 2023 utility increase, the $140,000 funding awarded to the Chanute Police Department for radio upgrades, and a breakdown of the $2.2 million project proposed.
Shreve also spearheaded a petition, which was signed by 724 citizens of Chanute who were against this utility rate increase.
“ I kind of wanted to start with an apology for not getting involved sooner,” Shreve said. “ Like many of you, I trusted that things were being handled fairly. But with this recent 6.5% utility increase, it made me realize that we need to speak up.”
Shreve said she supports Chanute’s local first responders.
“This isn’t about denying them the tools that they need; it’s about how we fund it,” Shreve said. Shreve also noted that grant funding for this type of project is available, but said that the costs were being put on the citizens.
“We are asking you to reconsider this hike, and seek outside funding first, and commit to transparency and long-term solutions,” Shreve said. “We’re not here to fight, we’re here to work with you guys, but we believe the people of Chanute deserve relief and accountability,” Shreve said.
Resident Cindy Morrison also spoke during the meeting.
“It seems like every time people disagree with or question a decision you’ve made, we hear about how we could have gone to work sessions, watched the budget sessions, videos, et cetera — indicating that if I didn’t spend countless unpaid hours following your every move, the onus is on me,” Morrison said. “The thing is, when I voted for the commissioners, I voted for people I trusted to represent all citizens. I voted for people who didn’t lie to me; who showed that they had the empathy to govern us all,” Morrison said.
She said she believed many voters did the same.
“The reactions you’ve seen in the last couple of weeks are not because we’re clueless, but that we feel that our trust in you has been breached,” Morrison said. “We are seeing negative results from your decisions — past and present — and the people who will be paying for it are those who are least able to do so.”
Morrison also asked what would happen if the proposed sales tax does not pass to support the Chanute Regional Development Authority.
Next to speak was Emma Hole. She noted that according to Census data, the population in Chanute has declined from 8,722 people in 2020, and the census estimated population for 2025 is 8,284 residents.
“Approximately 22% of those residents are disabled, and give or take 20% of those are mixed with the elderly,” Hole said.
She also said that Chanute has a poverty rate of 20% according to the 2025 World Population Review.
“So that means about 2,200 people in our area are on social security, are on retirement benefits,” Hole said.
Hole said in Kansas, the average retirement benefit received was $2,000 per month, and Social Security benefits for those who are disabled averaged $1,439 per month. The average Social Security income benefits amount to $600 per month, according to Hole.
“I don’t know about you, but I couldn’t live on $600 a month, or $2,000 a month,” Hole said.
She noted that while she was not against the fire or police departments having upgraded communication equipment, she was concerned about putting the responsibility on utility payers to fund the project.
“I own four properties. I’d be happy to pay the property tax on those properties just so that other people who do not have the money to pay the increase in utilities can afford to do so.”
Hole asked commissioners what would happen to the increase in utility rate once the communication project is complete, and asked if that electric rate would then be decreased.
Nicholas Adams then addressed the commission. He said the average household income for Chanute is $48,000 annually.
Adams said he is a disabled veteran who performs jobs such as mowing lawns, which he said he often does for free for those who can’t afford to pay him.
“That’s enough for me because I know how to budget myself,” Adams said.
He also cares for his elderly mother, and said they were lucky that she owned the home. However, Adams also said they couldn’t afford to pay homeowner’s insurance.
“I’m 70% disabled. I make $1,700 a month. That’s it,” Adams said.
He said that his utility bill this month was over $400.
“If it wasn’t for me, my mother would starve because of the cost of living here,” Adams said.
Adams also highlighted infrastructure issues that he has observed in the city, and asked the commissioners to look into those issues.
Next to speak was Sara Chambless, who said she reached out to Kansas Municipal Utilities to inquire about the use of the rate increase.
“And the reason why I reached out to them was because I did research, because I am not clueless, I don’t appreciate that. I’m going to say that right off the bat,” Chambliss said. “And I don’t appreciate being accused of being AI-generated.”
Chambless referred to emails shared by Shreve, which were obtained from her KORA request. These emails contain Chambless’s inquiry, KMU’s response to Chambless, KMU’s communication with the City of Chanute to inform them of Chambless’s inquiry, and communication between the mayor and the city manager.
Greg DuMars of KMU responded to her inquiry and told her the City of Chanute did not fall under the Kansas Corporation Commission’s jurisdiction. DuMars also directed her to bring her concerns to the commission, as the commission’s authority is set by state statute.
As the Tribune previously reported, the statute states: “The KCC generally does not have authority to regulate municipal utilities or electric cooperatives.” It also states, “Municipal electric utilities are operated and managed by the governing body of the municipality.”
DuMars forwarded Chambless’s inquiry to the commission to inform them of the communication KMU had with Chambless.
In an email from Mayor Jacob LaRue, he said, “Her writings look AI-generated,” and that she was “grasping at straws.” LaRue also said that there were at least four public meetings and work sessions open to the public, and videos of the meetings are online for people to gain information from.
Newman said, “Agree, these people are so clueless!” He also claimed he had had several positive conversations with constituents about the city’s leadership.
While Chambless said she gained clarification from her correspondence with DuMars, she said there should have been clarification that came from the city to the citizens as well.
“Because we’re not clueless, we’re really not. That’s why we are here. That is why we are asking for clarification. We’re asking for understanding,” Chambless said. “So for us to ask for education, and being called clueless — Mr. Newman — is very uncalled for and incredibly unprofessional. I believe that the City of Chanute is owed an apology by the commissioners for this latest issue, and not to mention everything else.”
Last to speak was Christina Volch, a disabled veteran, who said that she has noticed that over the past three years, Chanute has lost over 200 people per year.
“You keep on billing them like this, you will keep on losing people, and you won’t be able to bill them any more,” Bolch said.
Commissioners did not respond to any comments or questions posed during the public commentary period, which is standard practice.
This is part one of a two-part story, the Tuesday, Sept. 2 edition of the Tribune will include information about the new communication system, how the $140,000 funds awarded to Chanute Police Department was used, how Chanute’s utility rates compare to area investor-owned utilities, other municipal utility rates, the commission’s response to the public input at this meeting, and other business addressed during this meeting.
