MORAN — The city’s postal delivery system may cause an issue for Moran utility customers. DAMARIS KUNKLER of Thrive Allen County spoke briefly on results from a countywide community conversation in August. THE COUNCIL also:
City Clerk Lori Evans told City Council members Tuesday that the city sends out utility bills as soon as it receives its monthly statement from Westar. September’s bills were sent out Tuesday afternoon, for example.
However, the mail isn’t shipped from the Moran post office until 4:30 p.m. each weekday, not in time to reach the Kansas City, Kan., sorting station by that day’s deadline.
So it essentially sits in Kansas City for at least 24 hours.
Evans noted times in which some customers didn’t receive their bills until near — or in some cases after — those bills were due.
Mayor Phillip Merkel’s concerns focused on what would happen if the U.S. Postal Service further cuts the Moran post office’s hours.
He noted residents should be aware that even if they don’t receive a bill via the mail, they were still expected to pay their utility bills in a timely manner, and while it was a burden on the customer, a call to City Hall to check on the amount due may be necessary.
Among the top priorities of Moran residents were to reopen a health clinic in town, at least part time; painting telephone poles along Cedar Street and park furniture in Troxel Park (a volunteer did so shortly after the Aug. 10 and 11 meetings); building a community storm shelter; and finding the potential of building a walking trail.
Kunkler will work with communities to develop pilot projects over the next three years using Kansas Health Foundation grant funds. The projects will be vetted locally, Kunkler assured the Council members.
— Updated the city’s standard traffic ordinance and uniform public offense code ordinances, an annual task necessary to remain in accordance with updates in state law.
— Discussed briefly on what sort of paint is needed to repaint crosswalks near Marmaton Valley High School on Cedar Street. Because the street also is a federal highway (U.S. 59), the paint must meet standards set forth by the Kansas Department of Transportation.
— Said a notice would be sent to a property owner along Cedar Street mandating a pair of dead trees along Cedar Street be removed because of hazards with nearby power lines. If the trees are not removed by the Council’s September meeting, the city will pay for the removal, with the fees assessed to the landowner.
— Formally ended a water watch, which had been in effect since 2012. A water watch encouraged residents to limit water usage due to dry weather conditions across the state. Above-normal rainfall in 2015 has replenished the city’s water sources enough that area water districts feeding Moran had already ended their water watch declarations.
Utility bill issues discussed
