News Flash

On Tuesday, February 27th the Liberal City Commission addressed the following items during their regularly scheduled meeting:

Consent Agenda items (airport leases) were approved by the Commission.

Commissioners reviewed a contract proposal from Enterprise Fleet Management. The City currently owns 97 vehicles with model years ranging from 1995 to 2019. Fleet management services provide the opportunity to lease new vehicles to improve employee safety, reduce maintenance and fuel costs, and provide the best cost of ownership by analyzing resale values over time. The Commission voted to approve the contract, which will result in up to 56 vehicles from the current fleet being sold and replenished during the initial year of the contract.

City commissioners also reviewed a proposal for the installation of solar panels to reduce building operating costs at four city-owned properties: City Hall, the Liberal Police Department, the Liberal Recreation Center, and the Wastewater Treatment Plant. Following discussion, the Commission voted to approve the solar panel installation contract with Solar Grids Sunray, LLC. Operating cost projections show an estimated return on investment of 15 years, with an estimated $16M cash flow savings over the 40-year lifespan of the solar panels. City staff will return to the commission with recommendations for financing the project, which will cost $2.6M after IRS direct pay credits are applied.

Commissioners also approved the purchase of two department items: protective turncoats and pants for the Liberal Fire Department and a compact track loader for the Liberal Airport.

City commissioners voted to approve a supplemental service agreement with Professional Engineering Consultants for preparation of grant application elements for the Federal Railroad Administration’s Railroad Crossing Elimination grant. The City of Liberal will submit a grant application for these Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funds to conduct a planning study for railroad overpass options at the Western Avenue and Pershing Avenue crossing sites.

Finally, the Commission approved additional street crack seal funds to improve and preserve roadway conditions on Western Avenue from 15^th Street to U.S. Highway 54.

The next regularly scheduled Liberal City Commission meeting will take place March 12^th at 5:30 p.m.