by James Jordan, Sumner Newscow — Audience participation resulted in a lengthy discussion concerning procedure of meetings during the Wellington City Council Tuesday night.

Rick Sparman told the council he thought they should use Robert’s Rules of Order (on sale at Amazon’s here) for running meetings.

He said taxpayers don’t have a voice and are not able to speak their opinions at meetings.

“You are making a mockery of parliamentary procedures,” he said. “Now if I want to voice an opinion on any item, I can’t and no one else can.”

He noted a previous meeting when changes to the trash collection system was discussed, and people were not allowed to speak.

He said people are required to sign up to speak several days ahead of time, and people may not know what issues are going to be talked about in time to sign up.

Sparman said the system is broken.

He told the council it is their duty to listen to citizens when they want to be heard, as opposed to telling them when they can speak.

Councilman Kevin Dodds read the city procedure which says the presiding officer of the meeting can recognize anyone an let them speak at any time.

Mayor Shelley Hansel said if someone asks in a respectful, she could give them a chance to speak.

She added that when emotions are high, like they were at the last meeting, it is better to let things cool down.

People are asked to sign up to speak, and to give their topic, so the staff can research the matter and perhaps have answers at the meeting.

Council member Kelley Hawley said council members are always available to listen to people.

“I have never refused a call or not returned an email. I have never refused to talk to anyone,” she said.

She added that the meeting is the time for council members to do city business, and it is better to talk to council members at other times.

Hawley added that all the council members phone numbers and email addresses are available.

City Manager Shane Shields said the Kansas League of Municipalities recommends against adopting Robert’s Rules of Order because it is too parliamentary in nature and too technical.

The city has a written procedure for meetings that it adopted several years ago. It was updated last year with some minor changes.

Current policy asks people to sign up by the end of the day on Thursday before a Tuesday meeting. Hansel and other council members said they have in the past let people speak anyway at times, even if they have not signed up.

Councilman Kip Etter said he has been contacted by several people on different issues.

“The reason we do this is to conduct business in an efficient manner,” he said.

Hansel said she is here to serve the people.

“I am here because I believe in Wellington and that it is a great place. I want to do the best job I can,” she said.

She added that she has not heard from most of the people that were at the meeting.

“If you have issues, You can come to us in a civil and professional manner,” she said.

Hansel said later she will be hosting a chamber coffee at 10 a.m. Thursday. She said he is doing this personally and not representing the city.

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In other matters:

•The council approved a contract with APAC Kansas for the paving project at Cowley College at a cost of $256,328. The funding for this was passed as part of a larger bond funding project that included other projects. This passed by a 5-1 vote with Jim Valentine voting no.

•By a 6-0 vote, the council continued to have the Chamber of Commerce and the Recreational Commission run the Memorial Auditorium. This is a renewal of an agreement that has been in place for two years. The chamber manages the facility and takes care of scheduling rentals. The recreation commission does leaning and minor maintenance.

•The council also aproved the purchase of furnaces from Waldorf Riley Heating and Cooling for $16,400. These furnaces are compatible with air conditioning, and that is something the city hopes to do at some point.

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Jan Grace with Cowley College gave an update on the project to put a campus in Wellington. She said tours are available. The trade building is making good progress. The walls are being sheet-rocked and room are starting to take shape. The short education center has been started. Concrete has been poured in half of the basement, and they are hoping to pour the other half soon.

Grace said they are still planning on it all being open in the fall of 2019, but the first classes will be held starting in August of this year. They are in the process of starting a marketing program and in hiring people. They are currently in the process of hiring two full time teachers and a few other part time professor positions.

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