You can stream the full City Council meeting at the link below! If you don't have time to watch, here's my quick recap. 

One major item tonight was the unanimous ratification of the contract for Shawnee’s new city manager, Paul Kramer. There was no discussion on this item, but Kramer made a few remarks. He will start with the city of Shawnee in about a month. Mayor Sandifer also announced the hiring of the city’s new HR Director, Kelly Grisnik after the previous HR Director retired earlier this year.

The governing body also discussed accepting a $40,000 National Fitness Campaign Grant to build a Fitness Court at Garrett Park. The city would also contribute $120,000 from the Parks & Rec budget for the rest of the facility. This would be an outdoor fitness circuit that includes 7 intuitive body-weight exercises and would be free to the public. Deanne Gold-Lancaster of the local Shawnee arts community and the Parks & Rec advisory board spoke in support of this project both for its addition to the city’s Parks & Rec offerings and for its potential to be used as a site for public art. The resolution passed unanimously.

Additionally, the Council considered the following:

• Passed consent agenda (unanimous)

• Approved a matching contribution of $220,000 to conduct the Friends of Shawnee Town fundraising campaign (7-1, Gillette in dissent)

• Amended the 2021 Community Development Block Grant to move unused funds to the King Street Improvement Project (unanimous)

• Approved contract for the Monrovia Street Improvement Project (unanimous)

• Approved contract for the 65th and Lackman CMP Replacement Project (unanimous)

• Approved final plans and authorized bid for the Johnson Drive and Maurer Road CMP Replacement Project (unanimous)

• Approved final plans and authorized bid for the 51st Terrace and Millridge Street CMP Replacement Project (unanimous)

• Approved final plans and authorized bid for the 61st Terrace and Rosehill CMP Replacement Project (unanimous)

• Approved final plans and authorized bid for the 80th Street Improvement Construction Project (unanimous)

• Approved final plans and authorized bid for the Garrett Park Improvement Project (unanimous)

• Acquired easement to complete the 50th & Rene CMP Replacement Project (unanimous)

• Approved contract for the Shawnee Station Retaining Wall Repair Project (unanimous)

• Ratified semimonthly claims (unanimous)

At Council Committee, the committee heard an informational presentation on the city’s benefit plan renewals for next year. 

City Council Meeting: 

https://cityofshawnee.civicweb.net/document/296867/?splitscreen=true&media=true 

Council Committee Meeting: 

https://cityofshawnee.civicweb.net/document/296870/?splitscreen=true&media=true 

Recap by: Alex Welch Blattner