CITY OF TIPTON – CITY COUNCIL MEETING – Thursday June 5, 2025
The regular meeting of the Tipton City Council was held at 7:30 p.m. Thursday June 5, 2025 at City Hall. This was posted as rescheduled due to baseball games that involved a majority of the council on Monday, June 2. Those present were Mayor Jarrod Shivers, City Clerk Brigit Gasper, City Superintendent Rod Barker and City Council members Michael Ohnsat, Sara Dilley, Mark Towner and Ben Avery. Council member Jessica Krier was absent.
Mayor Jarrod Shivers called the meeting to order. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
Minutes from the May 5, 2025 meeting were reviewed and approved.
Brigit reported that the Consumer Confidence Report for the year 2024 has been released and the report is required to be available to consumers of the City of Tipton water supply. It will be made available soon.
There were 9 late fees charged for utility bills; 1 letter sent.
The sales tax receipt for May was $5714.94, which was a substantial increase from the April receipt.
Total receipts received in May were $65,880.79. Total expenses were $71,038.07. This included the 6th invoice from TREB in the amount of $44,475.91 for the concession stand which is paid by the City and reimbursed from the Tipton Community Foundation. Brigit reported that she received a quote for the insurance on the Concession stand building which will be added to the City’s insurance policy.
The general ledger report was reviewed. The budget is being worked on and discussion was held on any future additions to the city budget that will be needed in 2026. There will be an increase in the cost of the purchased water from Mitchell County Rural Water #2 sometime this year. The council will also review the other utility charges this year to determine needed increases, including the late charge on utility bills. It will also be time within the next year to have sewer jetting completed. Street maintenance will be done and there will be an increase in cost of rock and oil, and Rod is looking for a reasonably priced rock distributer for the street maintenance. Sara Dilley moved to pay the bills; Ben Avery seconded the motion. Motion carried. Brigit will be working on getting the budget changes updated with City Aid, who is helping with the budget process to assure that funds are appropriated correctly.
Brigit received an email from David Dohe, Mitchell County Emergency Manager, that stated the Hazard Mitigation Plan needs to be updated and a new resolution approved. This keeps the City of Tipton in compliance with grant funding for disasters and other options should a disaster happen in Mitchell county, or in any of the other jurisdictions that are located in the city. Resolution #6052025 was presented. This is the Resolution to Adopt the 2025 Region F Hazard Mitigation Plan. Councilman Mark Towner voted to approve the resolution # 6052025; Sara Dilley seconded. Mayor Shivers signed the resolution and Brigit will forward on to David Dohe, Emergency Manager. He will keep a copy in his file and forward it on to the State of Kansas.
The city received the signed lease agreement for the Cordel ground. The agreement for the lease of the City ground from Clinton and Dalton Schmitt has not been received.
Matt from KMIT (Worker’s Compensation Insurance), met with Brigit and Rod regarding safety and compliance standards and audit. No issues were found and the city qualifies for the 5% discount on worker’s compensation insurance.
Heather Weston, County Clerk sent an email to confirm the Mitchell County elections for 2025. Mayor Jarrod Shivers filed for re-election for the position of Mayor in the City of Tipton. There were no filings for the 2 Tipton City Council Member positions that are up for election, so those will be filled by write-in votes. There will be no primary election. Voting will be in November 2025.
The tuck pointing work on the brick on the Tipton Community Building has been completed by Schwerdtfager Masonry. The remaining grant funds from Dane Hansen Foundation in the amount of $6229.65 were distributed to Schwerdtfager Masonry. The final details for completing the grant reporting were done and all funds have been distributed. This grant and the grant from the Solomon Valley Community Foundation enabled the project to get completed.
Brigit reported that Alec from Champlin Tire Recycling responded regarding the memorial bench that was being planned for an alumni of Tipton High School. She worked with Donice Koenigsman, wife of Kurtis Koenigsman, on the details of the bench. The THS class of 1987 donated funds for the bench. It will be delivered within a couple of weeks and will be placed somewhere around the concession stand building.
Brigit reported on an email she received from Julia Rabe of Solomon Valley Community Foundation on the Dream Big 2.0 details. There are additional details on the portal for Dream Big. Mark Towner reported that he has been working on a possible grant opportunity for exercise equipment for the new exercise room at the concession stand building. He explained some of the details and requirements and will keep the council updated.
Councilmember Mark Towner reported that he had spoken with the St. Boniface Parish council to inform them the City would need to increase the charge for digging graves for caskets and cremains. The charge for digging a grave for a casket would be $300.00 and the charge for digging for cremains would be $150.00. All funds received for this go into the Father Norbert Dlabal /City of Tipton Scholarship Fund.
Brigit is working with someone who has very strong interest in the clerk position. Rod brought up at the May meeting that he would like to have some summer help since the concession stand project is taking a lot of time. Vanessa Arnoldy and Logann Arnoldy applied for help with mowing.
Michael commented on the condition of some trees in the park. He and Rod discussed the insecticide that can be poured around the trees to keep them viable. Rod will check this.
Rod reported that he is working on finishing up the sprinkler system at the concession building area. Discussion was held on whether grass should be planted before the annual St. Boniface Church picnic, and it was decided to plant the grass as soon as possible.
Rod also reported that street repair and maintenance work will be done this summer.
Meeting was adjourned at 8:45 pm. Next meeting date is Monday July 7, 2025 at 7:30 pm.
Brigit Gasper, City Clerk