New city commissioners sworn in, governing body reorganizes

The Hays city commission met Monday, as required by state law, to install new commissioners.

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

The Hays city commission was not the only governing body in Kansas to meet in an unusual Monday session.

When the Kansas legislature voted to move local elections from April to November last year, there was an additional component to the law, explained City Manager Toby Dougherty.

“I think it was an unintended consequence of that,” Dougherty said. “The intent of the legislation was to move the elections to November, but when they wrote the legislation, they specifically called out the date that the new commissioners took seats, which is today, so we had to have a special Jan. 8 meeting to make it happen.” Some bodies, Dougherty noted, may normally meet Mondays, and therefore would not have had to make a change in their schedule.

Shaun Musil, Sandy Jacobs and Chris Dinkel take the oath of office from City Clerk Brenda Kitchen.

In Hays, newly elected commissioner Chris Dinkel was sworn in by City Clerk Brenda Kitchen, alongside incumbents Shaun Musil and Sandy Jacobs.

James Meier was selected as mayor and Henry Schwaller IV was selected vice-mayor.

Outgoing commissioner Lance Jones (r) thanks longtime Commissioner Henry Schwaller (l) for his mentorship.

Outgoing commissioner Lance Jones and former mayor Musil were thanked for their service.

According to Dougherty, cities were the only local governing bodies in the state required to install their new officials January 8.

The Hays city commission will not convene Thu., Jan. 11, its regular meeting night.