CHARTER ORDINANCE EXEMPTING THE CITY OF CANEY, KANSAS, FROM THE PROVISIONS OF K.S.A. 14-103, K.S.A. 14-201, AND K.S.A. 14-204, RELATING TO THE ELECTION OF OFFICERS, THEIR TERMS OF OFFICE, THE APPOINTMENT OF OFFICERS, AND NOMINATION PETITIONS; AND, PROVIDING SUBSTITUTE AND ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS ON THE SAME SUBJECT; AND REPEALING CHARTER ORDINANCE NO. 31.

BE IT ORDAINED BY THE GOVERNING BODY OF THE CITY OF CANEY, KANSAS:

Section 1. The City of Caney, Kansas, by the power vested in it by Article 12, Section 5 of the Kansas Constitution hereby elects to and does exempt itself and make inapplicable to it the provisions of K.S.A. 14-103, K.S.A. 14-201, and K.S.A. 14-204, that apply to this city, but are parts of enactments which do not apply uniformly to all cities.

Section 2. Effective January 12, 2026, and subject to the remaining provisions of this Ordinance, the governing body shall consist of a mayor and four (4) council members to be elected to terms as set forth herein. The mayor and council members shall be residents and qualified electors of the City of Caney, Kansas.

Section 3. There will be no election of council members at the November 2025 general election. Those council members with terms expiring in January 2026 shall expire on January 12, 2026. Those council members with terms expiring in January 2027 shall expire on January 11, 2027, when the city council members elected in the November 2026 general election take office. In the November 2026 general election, four (4) candidates shall be elected from the city at-large. Of the winning candidates elected at the November 2026 general election, the two (2) candidates receiving the largest number of votes shall be elected for two-year terms, and the two (2) candidates receiving the second largest number of votes shall be elected for one year terms. In subsequent elections, all council members shall serve two-year terms.

Section 4. The mayor shall be elected to a two-year term, commencing with the November 2025 general election.

Section 5. All city election cycles shall be subject to election laws and procedures governing filing deadlines and primary and general elections. An election of city officers will be held on the Tuesday succeeding the first Monday in November preceding the date any elective terms of office are scheduled to expire.

Section 6. The mayor shall appoint, by and with the consent of the council, a municipal judge of the municipal court, a chief of police, city clerk, city attorney, city treasurer, and any other officers deemed necessary. Any officers appointed and confirmed shall hold an initial term of office of not to exceed one year and until their successors are appointed and qualified. Any officers who are reappointed shall hold their offices for a term of one year and until their successors are appointed and qualified. The council shall by ordinance specify the duties and compensation of the office holders, and by ordinance may abolish any office created by the council whenever deemed expedient.

Section 7. Any person may become a candidate for city office elected at large by having had filed on their behalf, a nomination petition or a declaration of candidacy, accompanied by any fee required by law. The nomination petition must be signed by not less than five percent (5%) of the qualified electors of the City of Caney.

Section 8. Charter Ordinance No. 31, and any other ordinances, or parts thereof, that may be in conflict herewith, be and are hereby repealed.

(05-06-2025)