Chanute City Commission members proposed increasing the amount of time individuals can speak during the public commentary portion of the regular commission meetings.
The idea was brought forth by Vice Mayor Tim Fairchild during commissioner commentary.
During the public comment portion of the meeting, Bernard Neyer came forward to respond to comments made by commissioners and citizens during the previous commission meeting and described historical events of Chanute’s government.
“Your job as elected officials is to listen to all the voices — whether you like them or not, whether you’re friends or not, whether you agree with what they’re saying or not — and to honestly consider what they are saying,” Neyer said.
He also said the commission’s job was to challenge the spending of the city manager.
He also noted that as a constituent, one does have to keep an eye on their local government.
“That’s how a constitutional republic works,” Neyer said.
When his time was over, Neyer said he was “ticked off” by not being able to finish his comments, and said that commissioners should let people talk.
At the end of the meeting, during commissioner comments, Fairchild said he was interested in hearing the rest of what Neyer had to say.
Through discussion amongst the commissioners, they agreed that someone could speak for six minutes, and commissioners could then also give a three-minute extension.
Within the consent agenda, commissioners approved street closure requests for a 9/11 Memorial Ceremony hosted by the American Legion Post 170, impacting Walnut Street between Highland and Evergreen between 5:30 and 7 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 11.
On Oct. 9, the Neosho County Health Department requested the closure of Central Avenue from Highway 39 going south to Main Street, as well as the north lane of East Main Street from Malcolm Avenue to Central Avenue. This closure would be from 6 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. for a drive-thru flu shot clinic.
Permission to hold the annual Veterans’ Day Parade on Nov. 11, 11 a.m., was granted and will require road closures along the parade route. The parade route will begin at Katy Park, heading west on Main Street and ending at the corner of Main and Lafayette.
In other business, permission to use the municipal airport’s north hangar, and serve alcohol during the annual Safari Museum gala on Oct. 3 was granted.
A purchase for sun shades to be custom-built and installed at the Main Street Pavilion was approved. Five proposals were received, and commissioners voted to approve the city staff’s recommended estimate from Elite Shade of $15,490.
A hearing was set for 6:30 p.m., Oct. 13, to discuss a proposed loan from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment to finance a new wastewater treatment plant.
The loan is not to exceed $30 million and will be paid from revenue from the wastewater utility, according to the agenda document.
It is estimated that construction will take two years to complete, and the existing wastewater treatment plant will remain fully operational until the new plant is finished.
The next Chanute City Commission meeting will be Sept. 22, 6:30 p.m. at the Memorial Building. Meetings are also livestreamed from the city’s Facebook page. Video and documents are viewable at www. chanute.org/192/Agendas-Videos-
