Colby council approves B-Hive resolution, discusses hiring incentives amid staffing challenges

The Colby City Council handled a relatively short agenda Monday, Sept. 15, before hearing department updates ranging from fire prevention efforts and electric generation projects to staffing and employee recruitment.

Council members Bruce Hansen and Michelle Morris were absent from the meeting, along with City Attorney John Gatz. The council approved its consent agenda and had no old business before moving into its lone new business item.

The council approved Resolution No. 1250, formally authorizing the B-Hive, located at 170 W. Fourth St., to serve alcoholic liquor in the alleyway behind the business from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 19.

The event had previously received council approval, but City Manager Ron Alexander explained that a formal resolution was required for the B-Hive’s state application. The resolution requires the business to obtain the necessary temporary permits from the Kansas Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control, define the premises with appropriate barricades and comply with applicable laws.

Much of Monday’s meeting centered on department reports.

Colby Fire Chief Scott Hilbrink said the department is preparing for Fire Prevention Month in October, when firefighters expect to reach approximately 650 children at area schools.

Hilbrink said Assistant Chief Luke Gribble will also spend two weeks in Hutchinson completing an 80-hour fire and arson investigation course. If completed successfully, the department will have three certified arson investigators.

The department has also filled a position that Hilbrink said had been vacant for about five years, hiring Shane Preston from Hays. Preston will serve as training officer and brings certification for fire inspections.

Hilbrink also announced that the department received a grant from the Thomas County Community Foundation for training equipment for its volunteers.

During discussion, Hilbrink said one of the benefits of the department’s school fire-prevention efforts is getting safety information back into homes. Children are encouraged to check with their families about working smoke detectors, and Hilbrink said parents have later told him their children prompted them to discover missing or nonworking detectors.

Electric Department Director Brad Davis reported crews have been dealing with several projects at the power plant, including damage caused by a lightning strike to a transformer serving a boiler.

The department is also working on extending a line west of town while operating short-staffed. Davis said he had received seven applications from around the country and had interviews scheduled as the city attempts to fill vacancies.

Kansas Municipal Energy Agency personnel are expected back in Colby later this month or in early October to begin work on the generator pad for the city’s next CAT engine. Davis said the engine could arrive sometime between late November and March, with the exact delivery date still uncertain.

City officials are also continuing discussions about potentially registering three engines for use with the Southwest Power Pool. Davis said the city could potentially provide about nine megawatts to the grid when called upon, with the city compensated for starting and operating the generators. No contract is currently in place.

Dispatch Director Andrea Davis reported the department is finally fully staffed following recent hires. Training remains underway, with employees also being moved into different roles as the department works toward full shift coverage.

Dispatch has been working with local schools on lockdown procedures and preparing for the transition from severe-weather season into winter, when interstate crashes and weather-related calls can increase the department’s workload.

Police Chief Jake Hess said his department has also been busy with training, including stop-stick pursuit training at the airport and Taser recertification conducted with the Thomas County Sheriff’s Office and hospital staff.

Officers were also busy during the recent Colby Community College rodeo and are preparing for another round of state-supported traffic enforcement programs. Hess said grant funding reimburses the city for overtime used during designated enforcement campaigns and can provide additional funding for traffic-related equipment.

The Police Department is also considering conducting safety and evacuation exercises with the hospital.

Alexander closed the department discussion by raising a broader staffing issue affecting several city departments.

The city currently offers up to $1,500 in relocation assistance for qualifying new employees, split between an initial payment and another after six months. Employees must document their moving expenses.

Alexander said department heads have discussed replacing that program with a hiring bonus that could also benefit applicants who already live in Colby. One concern with the current approach is that the city can spend time and money recruiting someone from outside the area only for the employee to determine that Colby is not a good fit and leave.

Under the concept discussed Monday, the city could potentially offer up to $2,500 depending on qualifications an applicant already possesses, such as professional certifications, a commercial driver’s license or law-enforcement certification.

Payments could be distributed at milestones during an employee’s first year rather than all at once, providing an incentive for retention.

Alexander emphasized that the proposal remains under discussion and asked council members to consider the idea before a potential policy change is brought back for formal action.

Council members also discussed improving exit interviews to better understand why employees leave city positions. Alexander said the process currently varies by department, but officials have discussed using a neutral party to conduct exit interviews across departments.

The council adjourned following reports and discussion.