AG Derek Schmidt reaches settlement with Kanopolis City Council over KOMA violations

Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt today executed a settlement with the Kanopolis City Council to resolve a violation of the Kansas Open Meetings Act (KOMA).

In September, the attorney general’s office received a complaint alleging that the Kanopolis City Council violated the KOMA by improperly taking binding action in an executive session. Upon investigation, the attorney general’s office determined that the council violated the KOMA by recessing into executive session to discuss nonelected personnel, and taking binding action to terminate the city clerk without holding a public vote. The council at a later meeting took a public vote to ratify the clerk’s termination.

At the conclusion of the investigation, the mayor and members of the Kanopolis City Council signed a consent order admitting that they violated the KOMA. The council members have agreed to obtain training and provide written confirmation that each member has obtained the required training and agrees to not engage in any future violations of the KOMA.