By Roger McKinney

rmckinney@joplinglobe.com

BAXTER SPRINGS, Kan. — The Baxter Springs Personnel Committee on Monday decided to recommend to the City Council to remove a policy prohibiting city employees from running for elected office, said Mayor Huey York.

York said the committee also will recommend that the council reinstate the policy Jan. 1, 2009.

City Court Clerk Rodney Edmondson is running for Cherokee County clerk. He already is a Cherokee County commissioner. Police patrol officer David Groves is running for county sheriff.

The policy currently requires any city employee running for office to resign or take a leave of absence during his campaign. The City Council last week voted against a motion to enforce the policy and referred it to the committee.

York said the committee will recommend removing the policy for now, because it hasn’t been enforced in the past. He said the committee will recommend that the policy be reinstated as of Jan. 1, 2009.

The council adopted the policy in 1996.

Asked the reason for recommending reinstatement of the policy, York said it is recommended by the League of Kansas Municipalities, of which Baxter Spring is a member.

But Sandy Jacquot, general counsel for the League of Kansas Municipalities, said the league doesn’t recommend policies to member cities. She said the policy is lawful, but one could argue both for and against such a policy. She said it would be up to each city to determine whether such a policy is necessary.

York said the City Council will have the final word on the issue. The council next meets on July 22.

Political activities

The Baxter Springs City Council has a policy in place that prohibits employees from participating in political activities if it interferes with work.