Tiny town’s residents not ready to give up

? With the filing of its 2008 budget, this Rice County hamlet, the second-smallest incorporated city in the state, has secured its status for another year.

“We want to keep the town, absolutely,” city treasurer Helen Gregory said.

A 2006 Kansas Secretary of State census report lists Freeport, in Harper County, with a population of seven, as the smallest incorporated city. Frederick, with 11, came in second.

Since that tally, the passing of Mayor Frank Bezemek’s wife, Laura, dropped the town’s count to 10.

Bezemek, 84, settled in Frederick almost 50 years ago. Gregory moved to town in 1958. Her late husband, Sheldon Gregory, served as the mayor for 39 years.

As city treasurer, it’s Gregory’s job to pay the bills. Frederick’s annual budget amounts to $22,000.

The town depends on franchise fees from the gas and electric companies, along with a tax check from Topeka, for its income.

“It’s enough to keep us going,” Gregory said.

Expenses include a $50 monthly electric bill for the town’s seven streetlights. In the summer, the town pays for the gasoline Mayor Bezemek and Councilman Robert Root use to keep the weeds around town mowed.

“We’re trying to keep it looking good,” Bezemek said.

Other expenses include an occasional load of sand for the streets and a culvert pipe every once in a while, city clerk Donna Hamilton said.

Living in Frederick is kind of like living in the country, but the residents keep in touch and watch out for each other, Gregory said.