Eureka Council Approved Fee Changes,Advanced Major Water Infrastructure Plans and Received a Clean Audit,Amid Heated Discussion about Committee Assignments
Tension rose as the Eureka City Council discussed a series of fee and rate increases during its regular bi-monthly meeting on Monday, Aug. 10, while also taking steps toward a potential $17.4 million State Revolving Fund (SRF) loan for improvements to the city’s water system.
All council members were present for the meeting, which was called to order by Mayor Stephen Coulter.
The council also approved a number of infrastructure projects, a 2025 financial audit and other city business.
Budget Committee Debate
The meeting became tense during a discussion of committee assignments when Councilmember Miranda Colangelo questioned why she had not been appointed to the budget committee, citing eight years of accounting experience. Councilmember Dan Campbell responded, “You don’t act like you should be on the budget committee.” Colangelo replied, “No, because I know I should. That’s the difference, Dan.” Colangelo later said she believed she was being excluded because of her willingness to challenge the council, adding, “I’m an accountant. Eight years of experience. And you guys are just tossing me aside because you don’t like me.”
Mayor Stephen Coulter attempted to end the exchange, telling the council, “This is not productive.” Coulter noted that in the past, councilmembers weren’t placed on the budget committee during their first year of service. He also said Colangelo’s use of social media to criticize council actions had made it more difficult to appoint her to the budget committee. “If I wanted to put you on the budget committee now, you’ve made it really difficult for me,” Coulter said. Colangelo defended her social media posts as a way to raise concerns about what she viewed as a lack of transparency, saying, “I have to because you guys don’t do the transparency you say you are.”
Councilmember Cinda Beals then objected to what she felt was an implication that other council members lacked the experience necessary to handle budget matters. “I’m a little offended. I have a business background. You don’t know me at all,” Beals said. “I’ve worked on budgets. I have the experience. I have the expertise.” Colangelo responded that she had not said other council members did not know what they were doing, but maintained that she had specific experience in accounting and auditing. Beals said Colangelo had “sort of implied” that other members lacked the necessary knowledge. The exchange continued until the council moved on to discussion of the proposed fee increases.
Water and Sewer RatesTo Increase In 2027 The council approved Ordinance No. 4354, increasing water rates by 50 cents on each tier of water usage. The increase is not 50 cents per gallon; rather, 50 cents will be added to each existing usage tier.
City Clerk Renee Burk said the increase is expected to generate approximately $45,000 annually, with the additional revenue designated for water system improvements.
The council also approved Ordinance No. 4355 increasing sewer rates. The minimum sewer charge will not change, remaining at $22 for customers inside the city limits and $29.70 for customers outside the city limits. The other sewer usage tiers will increase by 50 cents per 1,000 gallons of metered water usage. The increase is expected to generate approximately $15,000, which will be used for necessary improvements.
The new water and sewer rates will take effect Jan. 1, 2027.
Building and Demolition Fees Under Ordinance No. 4352, the maximum building permit fee will increase from $2,000 to $3,000.
The fee for roofing permits will increase from $15 to $25. The minimum fee remained at $30 (for work costing over $100-$1,000, with $3 increments per thousand).
The ordinance passed with Councilmembers Jeff Marks and Colangelo voting against it.
House-moving Permit Fees Ordinance No. 4349 increases the fee for moving a house or other structure from $30 to $250.
This fee has not increased in over two decades. City officials said the higher fee is intended to help offset expenses incurred by the city during a move, including traffic control, involvement of the sheriff’s office and preparation related to utilities.
The council approved the increase.
Animal-related Fees
Two ordinances approved by the council increase fees related to animals.
Under Ordinance No. 4350, the animal impoundment fee increased from $25 to $30.
Ordinance No. 4351 changes animal licensing tax/tag fees. The license for a fixed animal increases from $4 to $5, while the license for an unfixed animal increased from $6 to $10.
Both ordinances were approved.
Cemetery Fees
The council also approved several changes to Greenwood Cemetery fees.
Under Ordinance No. 4353, cemetery monument permit fees will increase from $15 to $20 for a single monument, and from $25 to $30 for double monuments and ground ledgers.
Ordinance No. 4356 changes several cemetery opening, closing and burial fees.
For graves four feet or less in length, the weekday opening and closing charge will remain $250 per grave. The weekend, Saturday and Sunday, and holiday charge will increase from $400 to $450 per grave.
For graves longer than four feet, the weekday opening and closing charge will increase from $350 to $400. The weekend and holiday charge will remain $700 per grave.
The cost of purchasing a grave site in the designated baby row will remain unchanged at $50 per site.
When purchasing a space or plot, Greenwood Cemetery grave sites will cost $350 for burial of Greenwood County residents and $700 for the burial of nonresidents (an increase from $550).
The fee for opening and closing a crypt in the Greenwood Cemetery Mausoleum will remain $400 on weekdays and $700 on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays.
The charge for disinterment will increase from $700 to $800.
The council approved the ordinance.
Water and sewer rate changes will take effect Jan. 1, 2027, and all other ordinance fee changes will be effective immediately after their passage, approval, and publication in the newspaper.
Council Moved Ahead with $17.4 Million Water Project
A major portion of the meeting focused on a proposed SRF loan to finance improvements to Eureka’s water system.
JEO Consulting Group presented a services agreement and task order that will allow the company to begin preparing the city’s application and completing the required environmental review.
The proposed project would focus on the raw waterline from the reservoir to town.
The SRF program provides below-market financing for public water, wastewater and stormwater infrastructure projects. The proposal presented to the council would provide approximately $17.4 million in financing.
Two loan options were presented: a 20-year term at approximately 2.85% interest, representing 60% of the applicable market interest rate, or a 30-year term at approximately 3.35% interest, representing 70% of the market rate. Approximately $1.1 million of the projected cost would be available through grant funding or loan forgiven ess. The city must hold a public hearing, complete additional paperwork and environmental review, and submit its application by the Oct. 15 deadline. If the application is approved, loan options and final terms will be brought back to the council before the city decides whether to accept the financing. Mayor Coulter asked the JEO representative whether other potential funding sources were available for the project. The consultant said he was not aware of another funding source that would be better than the SRF program.
The council approved the agreement with JEO Consulting, allowing the application process to move forward.
Memorial Hall Window Project Sees 20% Increase The council also approved a budget amendment for the Memorial Hall Windows Project, which is being funded through a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Community Facilities Grant.
The project budget increased from $368,175 to $441,939, an increase of approximately 20%, after bids came in significantly higher than the original estimate. The increased project cost will require the city to provide a larger local match.
The city also received approval from the Kansas Department of Commerce to remove radon mitigation from the CDBG project. The city plans to address the radon work separately.
Water Plant Monitoring Project Approved The council approved a $49,450 Phase I SCADA project at the Eureka water treatment plant.
Public Works Director Chris Mitchell proposed moving the purchase of a one-ton truck that had been included in the 2026 budget to 2027 and using the previously allocated funds toward the SCADA project.
The SCADA upgrades will allow city personnel to monitor the water treatment plant remotely and identify major problems without being physically onsite.
The Phase I proposal from R.E. Pedrotti Company includes replacement of obsolete control equipment, an upgrade to the tower Remote Telemetry Unit (RTU), remote monitoring and security capabilities, installation, programming, startup, commissioning, and documentation. The city will also receive a spare SCADAPack controller for emergency use.
The council approved the request to move forward with Phase I and move the purchase of the one-ton truck to the 2027 budget.
2025 Audit Found City Finances In Good Standing Kyle Spielbusch of Jarred, Gilmore & Phillips PA presented Eureka’s 2025 audit to the council, reporting an unmodified or “clean,” opinion on the city’s financial statements prepared under Kansas’ regulatory basis of accounting. Spielbusch explained that because Eureka uses the state-required regulatory basis rather than Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), the audit report includes an adverse opinion on GAAP financial statements; however, the city received the best possible opinion under the accounting basis it uses. The audit found that all city funds ended the year with positive cash balances and that all funds were properly secured at year-end. The city also remained within its approved budget across all funds.
Spielbusch noted that the city’s water districts accounted for nearly 53% of water sales in 2025, underscoring their importance to the city’s water operations and the ongoing infrastructure projects. The audit identified no significant issues with management or the audit’s completion. The management letter identified two areas common to smaller municipalities: preparation of financial statements by the auditor and the limited segregation of accounting duties.
Spielbusch said Eureka’s financial operations appeared comparable to other municipalities he works with and specifically noted that the city tends to be more proactive about investing in major projects before infrastructure problems become more severe. The council unanimously voted to accept the 2025 audit. Other Business
The council unanimously approved a request from Tammi Burtin and Roy Wade to shoot fireworks at Phillips Cabin during a family reunion in September, weather permitting.
A transfer of Lake Lot 46 from Christina Elsen and Scott Reid to Carter D. Reid and Sydney Reid was also approved.
The council adopted Resolution No. 26-13 authorizing the city to abate wood, junk, metal and other refuse from private property at 1401 N. Oak. The property owner, Steven Vidrios, had previously been notified and given an opportunity to correct the violations or request a hearing but did not do so. The city must wait 10 days before taking action, with the cleanup costs to be assessed against the property.
The council held a 15-minute executive session for legal matters with City Clerk Burk, Mayor Coulter and City Attorney William Mc-Clendon joining via telephone. No action was taken.
The next Eureka City Council meeting is scheduled for Monday, Aug. 24, at 7 p.m. at the Eureka Public Library.
