On Tuesday, April 9th the Liberal City Commission addressed the following items during their regularly scheduled meeting:
Consent Agenda items (airport leases and a cereal malt beverage license) were approved by the Commission.
The Commission received an update on Resolution 2400, calling for the abatement of a property in the 800 block of North Pennsylvania. Upon verifying that exterior renovations were completed to eliminate public safety concerns, the Commission took no further action regarding Resolution 2400.
Commissioners voted to approve additional loan financing through the Kansas Department of Health and Environment as well as water reserve fund expenditures to complete the City’s water line replacement project. The Commission voted to award the project bid to Middlecreek Corporation to perform the $6.7 million-dollar project, which will upgrade the City’s water infrastructure. This work is expected to begin in May.
The Commission also reviewed a bid from Viking Painting, LLC for water tower maintenance services to maintain safety requirements specified by the Environmental Protection Agency and Kansas Department of Health and Environment. Commissioners voted to approve the contract with the addition of a non-appropriation clause. Services include interior and exterior maintenance and repair, tower cleanout, and painting the inside and outside of the water tower through 2031.
Finally, Commissioners approved Resolution 2414, which was added to the agenda. Resolution 2414 grants Petra Investment Partners, LLC the authority to apply on the City of Liberal’s behalf for the Kansas Moderate Income Housing Program and the Kansas Housing Investor Tax Credit Act to complete a housing project for 22 rental living units. Petra stated they would pursue the tax credit funding opportunity first, holding the Moderate Income Housing grant as a secondary option to pursue for project funds if necessary. The project would be owned and operated by the development group and involves the purchase and renovation of an existing motel to produce four 1-bedroom apartment units and 18 studio units for rental. Pending notification of a tax credit award and necessary changes to the City’s zoning ordinances, Petra estimated the renovation of the existing property to occur during a 6-month project timeframe.
The next regularly scheduled Liberal City Commission meeting will take place April 23rd at 5:30 p.m.