Nikole Babb
nbabb@cherryroad.com
The Andover City Council brought the Council’s compensation topic back to the City Council meeting on Tuesday night. The result was unexpected, ending in the 100% compensation remaining in place for now.
Council Member Jodi Ocadiz kicked off the conversation.
“I was the one that asked to take it back to workshop,” said Ocadiz. “The reason I did ask to take it back is I wanted us to be able to have a conversation on more than just what we had. I think it was very important.
The community came to voice their opinions during the August 12 City Council meeting. During this time, many residents said during public forum that they didn’t approve of the compensation and didn’t like the way the council went about voting it in. It was during this meeting that Ocadiz asked for it to be taken back to workshop even though it was already voted on and approved by the governing body.
“I still want to be able to get to the goal that was set by Councilman Hamilton but also taking into consideration where we are in the budget this year and where we are with the budget moving forward and what that looks like for the other departments,” said Ocadiz. “I suggest that we step it 25% over the next four years that would still give them (the governing body) the 100% but not all at one time.”
Council Member Michael “Homer” Henry stated that he wants to compensate the council for attendance so that if a member isn’t present at meetings, they aren’t compensated for that meeting.
Council Member Henry moved to rescind the motion that passed on July 29 which approved the original 100% compensation increase. Ocadiz quickly seconded the motion.
City Administrator Jennifer McCausland explained that the council cannot rescind a motion that was already approved, but they can make a motion to modify the approved motion with changes moving forward.
“I don’t know that you can rescind action you’ve taken,” said McCausland. “You voted. I don’t think you can pretend that it didn’t happen by voting tonight that it didn’t happen. I think you can make a motion to change the governing body compensation moving forward to whatever you want it to be with whatever condition.”
Both Henry and Ocadiz rescinded their current motions to remove the approved motion. Ocadiz then made a motion to modify the governing body’s compensation to a 25% increase over the next four years instead of the 100% increase taking effect on January 1, 2026.
McCausland informed the council that the council isn’t able to vote 25% for future years due to Kansas cash basis laws but can note that it is their preference to do so. This means the current governing body cannot commit the next governing body to the compensation raise without their consent and approval.
Council Member Henry stated that he would’ve liked to know that information at the workshop when they were discussing the 25% increase instead of during the vote.
“Just to be clear, cash basis law in Kansas, and the public probably want to know this too,” said McCausland. “You all don’t get to commit next year’s governing body to action for that year. Because probably you wouldn’t have liked the governing body before you to commit you to a decision this year. That is what cash basis law in Kansas says.”
McCausland also noted that two of the people on the city council will no longer be on the council as they’re not running for reelection. Those two people are Phil Hamilton and Mike Warrington. Michael “Homer” Henry is running for reelection.
Once the cash basis law was made clear, the motion to modify the 100% compensation raise to a 25% raise died as there was no council member willing to second the motion. This means that the 100% compensation raise will be implemented beginning January 1, 2026, since the motion to modify it wasn’t approved.
The City of Andover broadcasts every City Council meeting on Cox Cable Channel 7 and online at https://www.youtube.com/@AndoverKSCity. Council meetings are held on the second and last Tuesday of each month at 7pm at Andover City Hall located at 1609 E. Central, in Central Park. City Council Workshops are held on the Monday before the regular meetings starting at 6pm, hosted at The Lodge located at 1607 E Central Ave. All meetings are open to the public to attend, and each regular council meeting holds a public forum at the beginning for residents to voice their opinion or bring attention to other matters to the council.
