Parker police department issue not on council's March agenda

Not one to shy away from local political issues, Dan Gaikowski, owner of Recycling Services scrap metal yard in Parker, recently posted this sign on the side of his semi-trailer parked along Center Street in Parker. Gaikowski has accused former Police Chief Craig Haley of stealing his protest signs along Baptist Drive several months ago, but Haley said he removed the signs because they were were illegally in the right of way. (Roger Sims / Linn County Journal)

By Charlene Sims, info@linncountyjournal.com

PARKER – The Parker City Council has yet to schedule a workshop on restructuring the city’s police department after its operation was suspended in February. And that issue was not on the council’s agenda during its meeting on Thursday, March 13.

The council voted 3 to 1 to “dissolve” the Parker Police Department at its meeting on Feb. 13. The vote was taken after two council members complained that the department was spending too much money.

At the February meeting, Councilmember Gary Earley voiced his support for leaving law enforcement up to the Linn County Sheriff’s Office like Blue Mound and Prescott. However, the council was told by Sheriff James Akes that while his deputies made patrol rounds through Parker, they would not enforce city codes or ordinances.

In a related matter at the March meeting, rural Parker resident Peggy Chambers about kids riding four wheelers around town, especially after dark. 

Chambers said, “We just wanted to know if anything was going to be done to keep the kids safe. I just want to make sure nobody gets hurt.”

The council could take up the question on how much of the budget could go to the police department if it is reorganized during a budget workshop set for Monday, March 24 at 6:30 p.m. at the Parker Senior Center. Former Police Chiefs Cody Kiser and Craig Haley had both asked the council for a budget for the department over the past year.

The council also will take up the question the city stormwater drainage during a workshop on Monday, March 31 at 6:30 p.m. at the senior center. In previous sessions the council has discussed hiring an engineering firm to develop stormwater drainage plan for the city.

During a discussion about replacing culverts, Earley said he was concerned about the cost for an engineering assessment. He suggested replacing culverts one city block at a time until they are finished. That is expected to be discussed at the workshop.

The council also discussed a new contract for the trash compactor before voting to approve it.

City Clerk Lisa Leach explained the changes from the previous contract they had accepted. Some of the additions and changes included: 

• The county will obtain the license from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment instead of the city;

• The city shall retain, pay, and supervise the compactor operator and ensure their compliance with the permit; 

• The county may suspend services to the compactor if the city is not in compliance;

• The city may ask for extra pick-ups if container is full;

• The county will pay for the electricity, portable toilets and maintain the personnel shelter at the compactor site;

• The county will pay the agreed amount to the city to supplement the salary of the compactor employee (in Parker’s case, that amount is $225 per month); 

• Added that it is a three-year agreement and will automatically extend for on year-to-year basis.

In a related matter, the council discussed purchasing a sign for the city’s burn site next to the compactor. In a later phone call, Leach said that city maintenance worker James Hazelet had found a sign for the burn site limiting the use to people who lived inside Parker limits.

Hazelet said that people were dumping boards and furniture at the site, and that the city could be fined $10,000. He said he had removed those items and disposed of them.

In response, the council approved shutting down the burn site gates until the city could get control on the people dumping there. Hazelet said that he could not burn the pile because of the recent high winds. He suggested that it only be open during the compactor hours.   

Leach told the council that a citywide cleanup was scheduled for April 26. Leach said that the county has told the city that no paint or hazardous waste materials were to be accepted at the clean up. The hazardous material must be accepted directly by the county at the transfer station near Prescott. 

Leach said that the city was in desperate need of volunteers to help with the cleanup. At present only Leach and Hazelet were committed to working on it. Leach said that without more volunteers she wasn’t sure the cleanup day could be held.

Leach suggested that the council might show their appreciation for cleanup volunteers if a lunch were provided to them. Mayor Jason Webber suggested putting the lunch on the flyer for the cleanup. No final decision was made on the lunch.

In other business, the council:

• Learned that three seats were up for election this year on the council. Council members who seats expire are for those currently held by Earley, Kari Brandt and Kandice Higgins. Leach said that she had the election packets at the city hall for anyone who was interested and that they were due into the county clerk’s office by June 2 at noon.

• Learned that so far no one had applied for the city attorney position after being advertised for two weeks. She will check with city attorneys in nearby cities to see if the would be interested. The council accepted the resignation of former City Attorney Geri Hartley at a brief special meeting on Feb. 26. According to Leach, Hartley said that changes in her schedule meant that she could no longer attend the evening council meetings.

• Learned that the Easter Egg Hunt is scheduled for April 12 at 1 p.m.

• Learned that the Parker annual pet clinic will be held at the city barn on May 3 by the Osawatomie Pet Clinic.

• Heard a report on water issues from Mike Page reporting for Parker Water/Sewer Contract Operator Chad Page. He said that, while there had been a major water leak on Public Wholesale Water District No. 13, the towers stayed healthy and the leak did not affect Parker’s water. 

• Approved giving $200 to the Prairie View After Prom Committee.

• Discussed the two $400 scholarships given by the city and Heritage Park board. The school counselor said the deadline for applying is April 5. Leach asked if, since the awards ceremony is May 14, if the council was interested in pushing back the deadline until May 1 so maybe more students could get their applications in. The decision on who will be offered the scholarships will be made at the May 8 council meeting.  Webber will present the awards. The council agreed with the dates.