GAS — Mayor Darrell Catron and Gas council members were in no mood for change Tuesday evening.
The council scoffed at a water rate agreement with Iola and also cut short a presentation from Damaris Kunkler of Thrive Allen County for Gas to raise the legal age for buying tobacco products to 21.
IN 2001 Gas signed a water purchase agreement with Iola that limited costs increases to six times during the next 30 years. Iola has exercised the six raises. Iola Administrator Carl Slaugh asked that stipulation be removed from the contract, in light of discussion scheduled for Monday evening when Iola council members will consider a water rate increase of 3 percent.
Catron set the stage for rebuttal by asking Slaugh how much money was transferred from the water fund to the general fund each year. Slaugh said $200,000 was budgeted, although in 2015 financial circumstances limited the transfer to $50,000.
So, Catron charged, “you make transfers from utilities instead of raising your mill levy. When you raise rates (to accommodate transfers and costs of production) you affect more than just the citizens of Iola,” meaning those in Gas and others who have access through rural water districts. What is happening, he continued, “is we (in Gas) are subsidizing Iola’s benefits.
“It makes no sense to me to remove the six raises (clause) from the contract for your community,” which led to a unanimous vote to leave the contract as is.
Ross Albertini, Gas city attorney, interjected that the council likely would agree to a one-time rate increase if it were shown to be justified.
In framing the 3 percent increase as an effort to put the water fund back on an even keel, Slaugh said that should occur within eight years at that rate.
Steve Robb, Gas superintendent and former Iola employee, took exception to figures Slaugh provided that showed the Water Department operated at a loss the past several years. Not, he said, if the $200,000 transfer were factored in. Slaugh’s reply was transfers paid for accommodations made in city offices for management of water accounts.
KUNKLER noted Iola had joined the Tobacco 21 movement as part of Allen County’s Rural Health Initiative. It would limit purchases of tobacco in Gas to those 21 and older. Those 18 still would be permitted to use tobacco, per state law, if the purchase age were raised.
She tossed out statistics that indicated confirmed users started in their teens, with the supposition that waiting until later would curtail the habit being one of a lifetime.
“My feeling is at 18 you can vote for president, and you’re old enough to join the armed forces and put your life on the line,” Catron said. “I think you’re also old enough to decide whether to buy cigarettes.”
Henry concurred.
“If they’re going to smoke, they’re going to smoke,” Catron added, and with that the discussion ended.
IN OTHER NEWS:
— Councilmen tabled for the third time a decision of whether to permit KWIKOM, Iola, to place an antenna on the Gas water tower to provide wireless Internet service. They promised to decide the measure at their April 12 meeting. KWIKOM representatives made a cause for using the tower, including using clamps to fix equipment to it. Grisier said he was opposed; Henry gave little hope. Larry Robertson was absent and Baker said he would abstain from voting because of his employment with Cox Communications.
— They will develop a policy for whether to levy a $50 user fee for fundraisers at the community center. Catron said he would waive the fee for an event to benefit “a five-year-old child with cancer,” but wouldn’t for someone meaning to make money for himself or a commercial enterprise. “It’s a learning process,” said City Clerk Rhonda Hill, who deals with request for access to the center.
— Councilmen talked briefly with three residents — Harry Holloway, Jerald Folk and Debbie Sager — who have expressed interest in filling a vacant seat on the council, created by the resignation of Rick Schulenberg. A new council member will be selected April 12.
