On Tuesday, July 29th, 2025 the Liberal City Commission addressed the following items during their regularly scheduled meeting:
Consent Agenda items (airport leases, code enforcement statistics, and Liberal Metropolitan Area Planning Commission meeting minutes) were approved by the Commission.
Treatment Court Judge, Jason Maxwell, was joined by program participants to speak about the Treatment Court program’s positive impact on residents and the community. The program, which is funded through federal grants and local gifts and donations, helps participants overcome addiction through medical treatment, counseling, and education aimed to assist them in finding jobs, homes, education, health care, and more.
The Commission next received a presentation from John T. Smith from the Mid-America Air Museum Foundation expressing new community interest in restoring the steel hangar located north of the Mid-America Air Museum building. The Commission noted a project of this type could be discussed in further detail during upcoming budget work sessions.
Commissioners voted to approve Resolution No. 2435 to abate a fire-damaged property at the Airport Industrial Park.
The Commission voted to approve the purchase of four handheld radios and chargers for use by the Liberal Fire Department.
Commissioners voted to approve the new Community Event Resource Guide and online application process for hosting public events in city-owned spaces. The guide presents information about a variety of details event planners need to know, including permit procedures, key contacts, and links to various resources and documents. The guide and application form are available online at cityofliberal.org/eventplanning.
The Commission reviewed and approved a new logo graphic for the City of Liberal which will be introduced in phases as regular supply inventories are depleted, fleet vehicles are rotated, and physical signage is due for replacement. The new logo was created internally at no additional cost to taxpayers and will assist with branding and placemaking efforts to visually enhance the City’s image.
Commissioners also voted to approve the surveying of vacant city-owned lots within the Airport Industrial Park to attract buyers to available properties and expedite future land sales.
The Commission discussed a new incentive term sheet request presented by the DQ LBK, LLC development group. The incentives requested in the proposal included a prepaid Community Improvement District (CID) loan in the amount of $350,000, Neighborhood Revitalization Program incentives, Industrial Revenue Bond (IRB) support, façade improvement grant funds, reduction or waiver of City building permit fees and site plan review fees, and assistance towards the cost of water utility infrastructure for the project. Following discussion, the Commission voted 3-2 to give consensus to work further with the developer on an incentive package, which will be brought back to the Commission for final approval.
The next regularly scheduled Liberal City Commission meeting will take place August 12th, 2025 at 5:30 p.m.