Parsons city commissioners and members of a public search committee reviewed 38 applications of persons for Parsons city manager.
Parsons City Manager Debbie Lamb is retiring later this month. Her last day officially is March 21.
Ross Albertini, who was named interim city manager on Feb. 27, said Tuesday that the commissioners and committee members met in closed session for 90 minutes on Monday to review the resumes of those interested in the city manager job. He said the committee and commissioneros want to reduce the number of resumes to less than 10 before conducting the first round of interviews. That has not been done so far, so the commission and committee will meet at 4:30 p.m. Monday, March 10, to continue the conversation.
“I am anticipating they will agree on who to interview for the first round on that day,” Albertini wrote in an email to the Sun.
An announcement of finalists could come at a later time.
City commissioners named Albertini interim city manager to fill in for Lamb’s time away from the office and during the period after she retires and until the new city manager begins.
Water Commissioners heard questions from Taylor Moreland and Sydney Lancaster from the local American Advocacy Initiative, a non-profit to promote civic engagement, community togetherness and advocate for those in need of resources.
Lancaster asked commissioners about a $92,000 grant the city recently received through the Kansas Water Offi ce. Derek Clevenger, utilities director, told commissioners that the grant will begin the process of finding a secondary water source for the city. The city now uses Lake Parsons. The Great Plains Industrial Park is working on a way to connect its water system to the city of Parsons’ to be used in the event of an emergency. The park gets its water from the Neosho River, which is where the city of Parsons formerly used as a secondary source until the river shifted away from the city’s intake.
Moreland said the initiative has also been receiving questions about the city assisting in activities, such as reopening the skating rink, which operated on South 10th Street. The rink is in the flood plain, which limits improvements, she heard, which means that the rink would have to open somewhere else.
Moreland also asked about Gilbert Baker, who created
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the gay pride flag in 1978. Baker was born in Chanute and graduated from Parsons High School. She thought the city should do something to recognize Baker, such as a museum exhibit, and was told the Parsons museum already has a Baker exhibit. An effort to obtain a flag from the Baker foundation to display in the city or in the school is in process as well.
Moreland announced the start of the initiative in February. She serves as its president and executive director.
“This is not a politically affiliated organization. We simply have a goal to educate and help people,” Moreland said in announcing the group. “This is not limited to Parsons… . The organization is making efforts and connections nationwide.”
Moreland and others met with Parsons Police Chief Robert Spinks and Deputy Chief Dennis Dodd in 2020 after George Floyd died while in the custody of the Minneapolis Police Department on wys to improve communication between citizens and the police department. At that time, the three, Moreland, Lancaster and Shay Kelly, decided to form the non-profit, which became certified in January.
Those wishing to get involved can visit the American Advocacy Initiative (AAI) Facebook page or call 620-333-8787.
In other matters Monday, commissioners: — Agreed to close portions of Heacock and Broadway avenues from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. on April 17 for the annual Farm Bureau Association Earth Day celebration.
— Agreed to close Broadway Avenue from 13th to Heacock from 4 to 11:30 p.m. on Sept. 27 for the annual Relay for Life event in Forest Park.
— Agreed to close 13th Street from Broadway to Corning and the west side of Heacock from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. on May 16 for the annual Labette Community College commencement in Forest Park at the Seaton Family Pavilion.
— Set 10 a.m. March 13 as the deadline to receive bids for mowing Oakwood and Pefley cemeteries.
