MORAN The City of Moran now has a home for a museum.
Exactly how the museum will be used remains up in the air.
Discussion Monday revolved around the donation of the old Back 40 antiques store from long-time residents E.J. and Barb Siefker. The transfer became official Monday, City Council members were told.
The first step is to insure the building, and to determine whether the city or those who loan artifacts are responsible for insuring the buildings contents.
The city also must figure out a process for those wishing to donate or loan items pertaining to Morans history, City Clerk Lori Evans noted.
Mayor Phil Merkel also noted the city will need to determine what hours the museum will be open and who will staff it, as well as other items, such as obtaining display cases and a security system.
The Siefkers already have a display set up in honor of Dr. Russell Nevitt, who ran a practice in town for decades, up through the 1970s.
COUNCIL members continued to discuss from whom the city will purchase electricity, either Westar or the Kansas Municipal Energy Association.
The citys agreement with Westar expires in 2020. Westar and KMEA both have offered a new deal for the city at a substantially lower cost than what Moran had paid in the past.
KMEAs offer remains the lower of two, although Council members still have questions.
Councilman Bill Bigelow noted KMEAs offer roughly 5.4 cents per kilowatt hour remained lower than Westars, even though the consortium may purchase part of the electricty from the utility giant in order to provide it to the city.
Id like to have somebody explain to us why we shouldnt go with KMEA, Bigelow said.
Its spooky to change after all these years, but then again, obviously Westar has quite a pad to sell to them and we still get it cheaper, Merkel agreed.
I dont think anybody in the community cares where it comes from, as long as its cheap, and as long as the switch comes on, Councilman Kris Smith added.
Morans existing 10-year pact with Westar runs through May 2020, so no decision must be made immediately, Evans noted, although Westars proposal allowed the city to tear up the contract now if it remained with the utility provider for the next seven years.
THE air-conditioning and heating systems at 54 Fitness are in need of repair.
