City commissioners have received a stone sculpture donated by Emporia Main Street in honor of the city’s sesquicentennial. The presentation was made during the commission’s study session Wednesday morning.
The sculpture, done by Alan Tollakson of Emporia, features the words “We the People” and a handprint on each side of the bottom of the sculpture. Another stone behind depicts various aspects of the community.
“It kind of goes from agricultural to education,” said Main Street Director Mary Helmer. “The two handprints are of an unidentified veteran.”
The sculpture had been intended to sit in front of the city building, but more likely will be installed at the Lyon County Historical Society across Sixth Avenue. It will be set in place before a dedication ceremony on Feb. 20 in conjunction with the sesquicentennial kick-off.
During the study session, commissioners heard information from Rick Frevert, emergency management director, and Steve Samuelson, Lyon County appraiser, who have been working on a hazard-mitigation plan for the county. (See story on Page 3.)
Commissioners also heard from building inspector Martin Peres, who asked that they consider changing the city ordinance governing certification of journeyman and master electricians, plumbers and mechanical workers. Peres told the commission that the changes would bring the city ordinances in line with state statute and that being consistent with the state would be helpful to those workers.
However, a Kansas Senate bill and a Kansas House bill Peres provided to show the changes apparently do not contain the final version agreed upon by the Legislature’s conference committee.
City Counselor Blaise Plummer will research the final bill and provide that information to the commission to discuss at a regular commission meeting.
“My concern is, are we being user-friendly to the people who walk into our city ... or are we being unnecessarily protectionist to the existing employers in the trades?” Tom Myers asked. “Do they make it easier for that person to do his job or are we throwing obstacles in the way and, if so, why?”
Myers said that he had received many complaints about the difficulties some tradesmen have encountered trying to work in Emporia.
Commissioner Bob Agler said that he, too, had heard similar rumors, but had never been able to track them to a source.
“Word of mouth doesn’t mean squat if they don’t come down and prove it,” Agler said.
Mayor Jim Kessler said he had heard both positive and negative stories about city building regulations.
“The next time somebody has a complaint, I think we should investigate more,” Kessler said, asking that the topic be put on the agenda for next week’s meeting.
The commission discussed the possibility of adding a fine for owners of vicious animals. City counselor Blaise Plummer told commissioners that the ordinance wording could be narrowly defined to ensure that violators actually paid fines instead of being allowed to pay only court costs and fees. He also said that fines could be structured to increase incrementally for subsequent offenses.