Kearney aldermen approve K‑9 training agreement and equipment lease; finance director reports early-year timing variances

Kearney, Mo. — The Kearney Board of Aldermen unanimously approved two ordinances May 20: a cooperative agreement with Boone County for K‑9 training and an equipment lease-purchase the city will finance through Pony Express Bank.

Mayor introduced Bill No. 21 20 24 authorizing a cooperative agreement with Boone County (presented by the mayor, SEG 673). The police chief said the city will acquire a second K‑9 and send the officer-handler for pretraining and then to Boone County for basic K‑9 training; Officer Jeff Parton was named as a handler in the discussion (SEG 684). The board read the ordinance by title and approved it unanimously on second reading (roll call Aye: Alderman King, Barker, Holt, Raymond; ordinance passed SEG 716–724).

The board then considered Bill No. 22 20 24, an ordinance authorizing an equipment lease‑purchase agreement. Finance Director Stephanie Harris summarized lender proposals and said the city selected "Pony Express Bank fixed 5.5%" as the preferred option because it met budget criteria and allowed refinancing with no prepayment after three years (SEG 765–771). City counsel firm Gilmore Bell prepared the ordinance documents (SEG 774). The ordinance was approved unanimously on second reading (roll call Aye: Barker, Holt, Lehman, King; board passed SEG 797–815).

Harris also presented the April monthly financial report. She described the month as the first of the fiscal year and cautioned that several variances reflect timing: interest and fines are over budget (timing issues), solid waste expenditures appear 21% over budget because two months of household waste invoices were paid in April, and a missed principal payment in March was paid in April (SEG 835–870, SEG 891–903). Harris said the city has scheduled debt-service payments to prevent recurrence and that none of the variances are at "panic levels."

What happens next: The city will finalize lease documents and proceed with equipment acquisition per the approved agreement. The police department will work with Boone County for the K‑9 pretraining and facility pickups; the mayor asked city staff to send a photo and name once the dog is selected.

Sources: Statements and direct quotes from the Kearney Board of Aldermen meeting transcript, May 20, 2024.