A monthslong discussion about how Iola’s city council should change culminated Monday with charter ordinances to remove many of the mayor’s executive powers and institute four-year terms for councilmen.
The ordinance, which was endorsed by six of the seven members in attendance, also sets up staggered elections for the council members, based on results from the April 2013 elections. The top individual vote-getters from each of the city’s four voting wards will serve four-year terms. The second-place vote-getters will serve two years before those seats convert to four-year terms starting in 2015.
The ordinance also converts the city treasurer from an elected position to an appointed one.
The length of terms got the greatest amount of discussion.
Councilman Don Becker said while he favored the other items under consideration, he heard from enough constituents in his ward in favor of two-year terms to vote against the ordinances.
Likewise, Iolan Donna Houser spoke out in favor of two-year terms, and Becky Nilges asked why, if councilmen declined to consider changing the governing body’s size, they wanted to change other items, such as term lengths and the mayor’s powers.
“The council has an obligation to do what we think is best,” Councilmen Ken Rowe said. The consensus was for four-year terms.
Rowe reminded those in the audience — particularly those in favor of a five-man council — that any charter ordinance is subject to a petition protest. A successful petition drive could force another citywide vote.
The vote officially counts as passing 7-2, exceeding the two-thirds majority necessary to approve the charter ordinance. Becker was opposed, while Councilman Joel Wicoff was absent. Mayor Bill Shirley abstained from voting, since one ordinance directly affects his powers. An abstention is counted with the majority.
RESIDENTS who live between Iola and Gas are opposed to any thoughts of being annexed into Iola, one of the residents told council members.
Richard Burris presented the council a petition containing signatures of “80 percent” of the residents who live in Burris Addition, along U.S. 54.
“The only reason there wasn’t more was that I couldn’t reach some of the residents,” Burris said.
“These people chose to live in the county for a reason,” Burris said, adding he doubted the city would be able to provide the same services the county does.
Council members announced in May they would consider annexing three neighborhoods just outside Iola: The city will look at three areas — Country Estates, a neighborhood immediately north of the old Haldex Brake plant containing about 60 houses or properties; Burris and Country Club areas along a stretch of land bordering U.S. 54 between Iola and Gas with 21 properties; and Country Club Heights, land surrounding the Allen County Country Club. Only Country Estates is on land adjoining existing city limits.
Council directed City Administrator Carl Slaugh to spearhead a cost analysis of annexing each of the three plots of land.
COUNCIL members approved an ordinance instituting a stormwater utility fund. The city collects monthly fees for stormwater system maintenance, but those funds had formerly been deposited directly into the general fund, Slaugh said.
