(KMZA)--The Seneca City Council voted Wednesday evening to send a letter to the Kansas Municipal Energy Agency disputing their February electric bill and requesting an audit of how the total cost was determined. 

The city contracts with the KMEA to purchase electricity, which the city then distributes to its customers.

The city was billed nearly $837,000 for the electric power it received last month following the extreme cold snap, which the city is paying under protest. The highest previous February bill was about $140,000 in 2018 and January's bill was about $134,000.

The city learned last week that it has been approved for a low-interest loan from the state of Kansas for up to $695,000 to help finance the cost of electric power it received.

In other business, the Council voted to renew the city's insurance policy with SBS Insurance in the amount of about $151,000. That's less than the city paid this past year. The policy includes property, liability, auto, worker's comp and cyber security.

The Council approved a list of lifeguards and concession stand employees presented by city Parks and Recreation Director Erin Toby for the upcoming Aquatic Center season.

Also the Council held an executive session with Nikki Harrison with the League of Kansas Municipalities to review 15 applications received for the vacant city administrator position. No action was taken following the closed door session. The League is assisting the city in it's search process for a new administrator following the resignation of Matt Rehder last month.