ELLY GRIMM
• Leader & Times
After reorganizing itself, the Liberal City Commission should expect a relatively easy meeting this evening starting at 5:30. This evening’s meeting will be in the commission chambers at the Liberal Recreation Center at 950 S. Grant Ave.
Up first for the commission will be discussion of the designation of official city newspaper.
“Annually, the City of Liberal must designate a newspaper for official publications. As in previous years, staff recommends The High Plains Daily Leader & Times (print and online editions) to be the newspaper of record for the City of Liberal,” the agenda information noted. “Staff requests city commission consideration to designate The High Plains Daily Leader & Times as the newspaper of record for the 2026 Fiscal Year.”
Up next for the commission will be discussion of the designation of official city depository.
“Annually, the City of Liberal must designate an official depository for public funds. The city continues to maintain a strong relationship with Sunflower Bank and is satisfied with the products, rates, and services that they offer as a financial institution,” the agenda information noted. “Staff wishes to retain Sunflower Bank as the official bank of record for the City of Liberal. Staff requests city commission consideration to approve Sunflower Bank as the official bank of record for all primary banking services for the 2026 Fiscal Year.”
Also up for discussion will be discussion of the Financial Policies & Procedures Manual.
“The City of Liberal Finance Department annually reviews the existing Financial Policies and Procedures Manual and has the following revisions for 2026: 1) An updated outline for grant-funded projects; 2) A new Debt issuance and Management index section, which includes an overview of definitions, guidelines, and management expectations covering debt level limitations and benchmarks, along with repayment amortization guidance; 3) A new Operating Reserves index section with target benchmarks in line with Government Finance Officers Association recommendations for unencumbered cash balances within both General and Enterprise operating funds. Financial Policies are central to a strategic, long-term approach to financial management. According to the Government Finance Officers Association, the adoption of formal, written Financial Policies helps governments to: Institutionalize good financial management practices; Clarify strategic intent for financial management; Define boundaries and limits on actions staff may take; Support good bond ratings and potentially reduce the cost of borrowing; 5) Promote long-term and strategic thinking; Manage risks to financial condition; and Comply with established public management best practices. In continuing to update, present, and approve this Financial Policy on an annual basis, we are helping to move the city forward in a more structured manner and assist with succession planning as new staff members are added and trained on the expectations of our entity. The two core updates being recommended to the policy are index Section 17 Debt Issuance and Management and index section 23 Operating Reserves. An update for grant administration is included under index 6 Bids And Contracts. No other significant changes are recommended within the policy since prior commission approval Jan. 14, 2025.”
Concluding the meeting’s new business will be discussion of the Employee Policy Manual.
“Three changes have been made to the policy manual, effective for the year 2026: 1) 6-4. Vacation Accruals (Page 54-55) – Added: Leave of Absence. Employees will not accrue additional vacation hours once their existing, accrued vacation hours have been exhausted. Vacation time accrual will resume immediately once the employee returns to work,” the agenda information noted. “2) 6-5. Sick Accruals (Page 55-56) – Added: Leave of Absence. Employees will not accrue additional sick hours once their existing, accrued sick hours have been exhausted. Sick time accrual will resume immediately once the employee returns to work. and 3) 6-15. Safety Reimbursement Program (Page 60) – The safety reimbursement amount has been changed from $200 to $150. Staff recommends approving the Policy Manual for the year 2026.”
