MARC JACOBS
Hutch Post
Darrin Truan to Take Seat on Hutchinson City Council Next Week
A new face will join the Hutchinson City Council next week as Darrin Truan prepares to be sworn in as the city’s at-large council member.
Truan was elected in November and will officially take his seat during the council’s first meeting of the year, scheduled for Tuesday evening. The meeting begins at 5:30 p.m. at Hutchinson City Hall.
Truan brings 24 years of local law enforcement experience to the council, having retired from the Hutchinson Police Department in July 2024. He moved to Hutchinson in 2000 to join the department and raised his family in the community.
“I’ve lived and worked here for a long time,” Truan said during a recent interview on the BW Morning Show. “Hutchinson has been home, and I’m excited to give back in a new way.”
During his campaign, Truan emphasized what he called the “three P’s” as his top priorities: public safety, potholes, and plumbing. He said those issues represent the core responsibilities of city government.
“We have to take care of the necessities first,” Truan said. “Fire and police services, our streets, and our water and sewer infrastructure are critical to the city’s success.”
Truan said his years in law enforcement gave him firsthand experience with many of the challenges the city faces, particularly in public safety and infrastructure-related issues. He believes that background will help inform policy decisions at City Hall.
One of his stated goals is improving how the city works with residents and businesses, particularly when it comes to permits, zoning, and development.
“I’ve heard from a lot of people that the city can be quick to say no,” Truan said. “I think we can take more time to look at issues and see how we can help people move projects forward while still following the rules.”
Truan acknowledged he still has much to learn about city processes and plans to spend time working with city staff and the planning commission to better understand how decisions are made and where improvements may be possible.
Water and sewer infrastructure — and the rate increases tied to those improvements — have been a major topic at City Hall over the past several months. Truan said communication with the public will be key moving forward.
“I really encourage people to come to council meetings,” he said. “There’s public comment at the beginning of meetings and on agenda items. Attending meetings or watching them online helps people understand what it takes to run the city.”
Truan also said he plans to remain accessible to residents. He noted that council members’ contact information is available on the city’s website and that he is active on social media and will soon have an official city email address available.
As Hutchinson continues to see new housing developments and major projects such as the Evergy plant, Truan said cooperation between the City of Hutchinson, South Hutchinson, and Reno County will be important.
“No matter where development happens, it benefits the entire area,” he said. “We all need to work together.”
Truan said he is grateful for the support he received during the election and is eager to begin his term.
“I’m excited to get started,” he said. “I want people to be involved, stay informed, and reach out if they have questions or concerns.”
The Hutchinson City Council meets on the first and third Tuesday of each month at 5:30 p.m. Meetings are open to the public and are also streamed live and archived on the city’s YouTube channel.