A CHARTER ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF SEDGWICK, KANSAS, EXEMPTING THE CITY FROM K.S.A. 15-204, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE APPOINTEMNT OF CITY OFFICERS, AND PROVIDING SUBSITUTE AND ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS ON THE SAME SUBJECT.

BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SEDGWICK, KANSAS:

SECTION 1: The City of Sedgwick, by the power vested in it by Article 12, Section 5, of the Constitution of the State of Kansas, hereby elects to exempt itself from the provisions of K.S.A. 15-204, as amended, which enactment applies to this city but does not apply uniformly to all cities, presently providing for the timing of appointments, the manner of appointment, and term of office for the City of Sedgwick Kansas officers appointed as a municipal judge of the municipal court, a clerk, a treasurer, a marshal-chief of police, law enforcement officers, and such other officers as deemed necessary.

SECTION 2: The following is hereby substituted for that portion of K.S.A. 15-204 which provides for the appointment, duties, and removal of city officers and the Code of the City of Sedgwick Section 1-301, 1-302, and 1-303 are hereby amended as follows regarding the same:

1-301. Appointment.

The Mayor, by and with the consent of the council, shall appoint a city attorney and judge of the municipal court. Such officers shall hold their respective offices for an indefinite term. All such appointments shall be entered on the journal of proceedings of the council. The duties and salaries of all appointed officers shall be fixed by ordinance.

1-302. Department heads and employees; appointment and removal.

The city administrator shall:

(a) Appoint all city department heads, including the city clerk, the chief of police, the public works director, the fire chief and other such department heads as deemed necessary. The department head positions appointed by the city administrator are “Employees at Will.” Department heads may be terminated at any time by the City Administrator provided that the City Administrator must first inform and obtain advice from the Governing Body regarding the intent to terminate such department head prior to their termination.

(b) The city administrator shall have the authority to hire and terminate all other employees.

1-303. Removal.

(a) A majority of all members of the governing body may remove any officer appointed pursuant to Section 1-301.

(b) For good cause, the mayor may suspend any officer appointed pursuant to Section 1-301, and such officer may be removed with the consent of council.

(08-06-2025)