By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
Chaos can follow in the absence of rules. Great Bend Mayor Alan Moeder moved from the city council to his new position on Jan. 5. At the following meeting on Jan. 19, Moeder made it clear: councilmember reports are not going to be a free-for-all. Whereas councilmembers could comment on any issue before Jan. 19, the reinstatement of the previous rule limited comments during councilmember reports to those serving on boards and commissions. During Monday’s meeting, Councilmember Davis Jimenez asked the mayor if those comments could be re-added to the agenda.
“For the next meeting, can you add for us to speak about adding councilmember comments to the agenda, I guess permanently?” Jimenez asked.
“No,” Moeder replied. “I told you the rules. If you want to comment about something, you bring me the information so everybody knows about it before the meeting. We’re not going to get blindsided by anybody.”
Jimenez asked Great Bend Fire Chief Brent Smith questions during Monday’s meeting. Moeder said questions are okay, but comments will not be allowed if all council members are not given information ahead of time. The council could override the Jan. 19 change with a 6-2 supermajority vote.
“I don’t think we’re trying to blindside anybody,” said Councilmember Gary Parr. “The people don’t have the information we have. They’re asking us to ask to get that information. If we can’t put that on the agenda, because they don’t have the answers. They don’t know what we know.”
Moeder suggested council members approach City Administrator Logan Burns with questions. That information can then be passed back to citizens without it being added to a meeting agenda.
“We don’t have to bring all that little petty s**t here,” Moeder said.
Moeder reiterated that agendas are made public the Wednesday before the upcoming meeting. Councilmembers must provide information for all council members by noon the previous day to get an item for discussion on the agenda. Jimenez said that can create timing issues about when councilmembers are contacted by citizens with questions.