Council hires Shawn DeJarnett as Wellington city prosecutor
Shawn DeJarnett
by James Jordan, Sumner Newscow — The Wellington City Council voted to hire Shawn DeJarnett as the city prosecutor at the regular meeting Tuesday. Following staff recommendation, the council voted 4-2 to make the change from Kerwin Spencer, who had held the position for 18 years.
There was little discussion Tuesday, but they had discussed it at length at a work session early this month. Joe Soria an Jim Valentine voted against making the change.
City Manager Shane Shields said a committee had studied the issue, and interviewed the candidates, which included Spencer and DeJarnett and one other person.
They chose DeJarnett because of his experience as a city judge for Caldwell and Harper.
DeJarnett was also recently hired to be the city attorney. Shields explained several cities – like Arkansas City and Winfield – have the same person in both roles.
DeJarnett will receive $2,500 per month for the rest of this year, and will get $2,700 per month the following year. After that the council can decide what the compensation will be.
Shields said they expected to pay more than they had been because the contract had not been renewed, and the pay had not been increased, in several years from about $2,000 per month.
Kerwin Spencer
Spencer had proposed $2,500 per month with a $100 raise each year. DeJarnett had proposed $3,000 per month, but said he was negotiable. The third candidate, Matthew Mullen of Mulvane, had proposed $2,800 per month.
The committee that made the recommendation included Wellington Police Chief Tracy Heath, Carol Mericle, public works director Jeremy Jones, and Shields.
At the work session the council agreed the staff should negotiate a contract with DeJarnett and bring it to the council for a vote.
Spencer attended the meeting but didn’t speak. He was also at the work session, and there he said he thought he had done a good job for the people. Spencer remains the county prosecutor.
DeJarnett makes $4,500 per month as the city attorney.
Refinancing bonds:
The council approved refinancing bond issues that were made to help pay expenses with the hospital. Bond adviser John Haas told the council this was being done because of the recent changes with who owns the hospital. He said if there had not been a change the bonds would not have to be refinanced.
It will end up costing the city a little more for refinancing. Haas added that was an estimate and it is possible it could end up costing less.
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Official appointments:
The council made the following appointments to boards.
Jim Bales to the Library Board;
Terry Deschaine to the Health Care Authority;
Michael Holman to the Planning Commission;
Alois Hutchison to the Housing Board;
John Boyd to the Board of Zoning Appeals;
Brian Marks to the Airport Advisory Board;
Tracy McCue to the Planning Commission;
Jack Reimer to the Planning Commission and Zoning Commission.
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No go on grant:
The council decided to not grant a franchise to Sumner-Cowley Electric. The city annexed land at the northwest corner of U.S. 160 and Boundary road. After annexing, the city has to either be the electric supplier, or grant a franchise to the company that currently serves the area, which is Sumner-Cowley Electric.
There are no customers being served on this property, and only one that could be in the future.
Worden Park road:
The council briefly discussed the road leading to Worden Park where there are softball fields.
Guest tax money:
The council approved the distribution of $10,000 in guest tax money to non-profit groups. This is money collected on hotel rooms in the city.
Babe Ruth Baseball, Chisholm Trail Museum, Historical Socity and the Recreation Center will each get $2,000.
