City officials to address unions

Shawnee city commissioners will have several items before them Monday night as they discuss negotiations with the police union and fire union, the search for city manager and recreational opportunities for Shawnee youth.
City commissioners will meet 6:30 p.m. in commission chambers at city hall for their regular meeting.
The meeting will begin with the commission going into executive session to discuss pending litigation and bargaining agreements for the police union and fire union.
The city of Shawnee and police union have agreed on a provisional agreement, but city commissioners will decide whether to finalize it or negotiate further.
The bargaining agreements are to be finalized by July 1 of each fiscal year, but neither party could come to terms on the specifics by that date.
Commissioners will discuss the next step in the search for a city manager by reviewing the applications and considering retaining consulting services.
In a previous commission meeting, a review committee was established to review the 34 applications for city manager. Commissioners Pam Stephens, Carl Holt and Linda Peterson, along with commissioner-elect James Harrod were on the committee.
Following the report by the committee, commissioners will hear a presentation by Gary Holland of The Mercer Group, which is a search firm.
The commissioners heard the presentation by Chell Consulting in early September, and commissioners will consider Monday using one of the firms in a search for a city manager.
It is estimated to cost $16,500 for The Mercer Group with additional expenses for advertising and travel, and Chell proposed to perform the search free of charge with the exception of reimbursements for travel, advertising, printing, etc.
 Commissioners also will discuss recreational opportunities, including a proposal for Shawnee Youth Athletic Association and a presentation on the Shawnee Regional Sports Complex.
In May, the city began looking at property north of the Shawnee Mall as the future home for a sports complex. Most of the land sits in flood plain area, not allowing structures to be built. The city has more than $888,000 in the budget to be used for a sports complex.
In other business, commissioners will discuss the Wes Watkins Reservoir agreement between the Pottawatomie County Development Authority, city of Tecumseh and city of Shawnee. The three entities have discussed updating the 1990 contract for more than a year with the intentions of providing Tecumseh the access to its 15 percent share of the water. According to the contract, Shawnee’s access is 85 percent and Tecumseh’s is 15 percent. Tecumseh doesn’t have access to the raw water.
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Amanda Gire may be reached at 214-3934.