Russell meeting summaries, agendas, and minutes

Russell council adopts 2027 budget, declares Stage II water warning, approves $160,604 sanitation truck

The Russell City Council adopted the 2027 budget, declared a Stage II Water Warning, and approved a $160,604 sanitation truck purchase, according to official minutes summarized in the meeting records provided. Those summaries are dated Oct. 9, 2026. A separate Oct. 2, 2026 City Council entry is an agenda only; minutes for that meeting were not published in the records provided.

Budget and finance

The council adopted the 2027 budget (unanimous) and approved 10-year Reserve Fund Plans for calendar years 2026-2036 (unanimous). It approved the 2025 Financial Audit (unanimous) and a consent agenda that included July 2026 financial reports (unanimous). The council approved a resolution establishing an Employee Rate Schedule (unanimous) and a $200 temporary wage increase for Interim City Manager Ashley Mai (unanimous).

Water

The council declared a Stage II Water Warning (unanimous). Related water items included approval of PEC R9 Waterline Design Supplemental Agreement No. 1 (unanimous), PEC Work Order 26-06 for Main Street Alley Waterlines (unanimous), and authorization of a grant application for the Downtown Alley Waterline Replacement Project (5-0-1). The council also approved an FY 26 Community Grant CDS Funding R9 Project technical correction (unanimous). The Oct. 2 agenda listed public hearings on a KDHE water loan application for the R9 Ranch Water Pipeline and a Neighborhood Revitalization Program boundary amendment, along with a resolution authorizing completion of the KDHE Water Supply Loan Fund application.

Streets and public safety

The council adopted the 2026 Standard Traffic Ordinance (unanimous) and the 2026 Uniform Public Offense Code (unanimous). It made permanent 4-way stops at Wisconsin and Main, 7th and Main, and 8th and Main (unanimous). The council approved KDOT authority to award the contract and a $168,000 match for the North HWY 281 Reconstruction Project (unanimous). It also approved a Russell Post Office street closure and a $60 fee waiver (unanimous).

Development and business

The council adopted an ordinance creating a Community Improvement District and levying a sales tax (unanimous), and adopted the 2026 amended budget for the 24-7 Travel Store TIF Fund (unanimous). It adopted a resolution to issue taxable industrial revenue bonds for a Jump Start Stores, Inc. facility (unanimous) and a resolution determining the advisability of issuing industrial revenue bonds (unanimous). A public hearing on establishing a Redevelopment District was set for Oct. 20, 2026 (unanimous). The council approved a fourth amendment to the Holland Hotel Housing Grant Agreement extending the term to October 31, 2026 (unanimous) and a fourth amendment to the Holland Hotel Development Agreement (unanimous), plus a CDBG Perfect Print Restoration contract extension (unanimous). Airport items included Kansas Airport Improvement Program Agreement No. 561-26 (unanimous); the Oct. 2 agenda listed a proposed airport hangar development.

Equipment and personnel

Purchases and contracts approved included a $78,573.00 Gen 12 server (unanimous), a Nextech Service Agreement at $248.25 per month for 60 months (unanimous), and a bid for a 2027 Peterbilt sanitation truck totaling $160,604 with trade-in and extended warranty (unanimous). The council approved a City Manager Employment Extension Agreement (unanimous) and appointed Ashley Mai as Interim City Manager effective upon the City Manager's maternity leave (unanimous). A Nex-tech service agreement for play park security cameras was tabled.

Events and permits

The council approved the Bricks, Broncs, and BBQ & Flailand Car Show event and a $2,225 fee waiver (5-0-1), a Russell Celebrations fireworks permit for Sept 25, 2026 (unanimous), and a VFW Golf Tournament request for a $200 fee reduction (unanimous). It also approved a resolution exempting a certain tract from City Code regarding alcohol consumption on public property (unanimous).

Coming up

No upcoming meetings were listed in the data provided for the next 14 days. The records summarized here reference a public hearing on establishing a Redevelopment District set for Oct. 20, 2026, and a 2027 budget hearing set for Sept. 15, 2026, as written in the summaries.

Note: Some hearing dates recorded in the summaries fall before the Oct. 9, 2026 date on the summaries; they are reported here as written.

Russell council approves $191,000 water plan, electric rate change, and rezoning in unanimous votes

Council acts on budget, rates, and rezoning

The Russell City Council approved a series of items unanimously at its July 17, 2026 meeting, including an ordinance amending electric rates, a $191,000 water master plan work order, and a rezoning ordinance changing an R-1 residential parcel to an A-1 agricultural district.

The council also approved the consent agenda, a Kansas Department of Commerce CDBG contract extension, and the Western Area Power Authority Integrated Resource Plan, authorizing the mayor to sign. A $790 fee waiver for the Freedom Fest event, including a traffic closure, passed unanimously.

No action was taken on a resolution to hold a public hearing for a community improvement district.

Infrastructure spending approved

The council approved two infrastructure-related expenditures at a separate July 17 meeting. A lift-station replacement design work order was approved at $48,300, and the council approved the purchase of a backhoe for $114,208.22.

The council also approved a resolution ordering repair or removal of unsafe structures at 15 Amber Drive.

Fireworks permits and CDBG amendments

The council approved a resolution allowing fireworks discharges within city limits on July 3 and July 4, 2026, by a vote of 5-0-1. It also approved a permit for a public fireworks display by Russell Celebrations on July 4, with an alternate date of July 5.

Additional approvals at that meeting included a Kansas Department of Commerce CDBG contract extension request and Amendment #3 to the Owner-Contract Agreement for the CDBG project at 621 N. Main St. The consent agenda, including June 2, 2026 minutes and appropriation ordinance A-6-26, was also approved.

July 16 agenda items pending minutes

A July 16 City Council agenda listed several items for discussion and potential action, but official minutes have not yet been published. The agenda included discussion of 2027 budget enterprise funds, a Fourth Amendment to the Holland Hotel Housing Grant Agreement, a Holland Hotel Development Agreement Amendment, a Nex-tech multi-year service agreement for Play Park security cameras, and the Perfect Print Restoration CDBG Project No. 23-CR-006 final pay request. The agenda also listed review of water source and conservation outlooks for July through September 2026.

Because minutes are not yet available, outcomes for these items are not confirmed.

Coming up

No upcoming meetings are listed for the next 14 days.