On Tuesday, November 26th the Liberal City Commission addressed the following items during their regularly scheduled meeting:
Consent Agenda items (airport leases, CMB license renewals) were approved by the Commission.
The meeting began with discussion about a recently approved rural housing incentive district (RHID) created to expand housing on Larry and Hickory Streets. The district was approved under a traditional RHID with project infrastructure paid by the developer. The Commission has since been approached about developing infrastructure using funds provided by the City, with City funds to be recouped first through the RHID program. No action was taken on the item, allowing the developer to provide an engineer’s estimate of potential expenses and staff to assemble financial cash projections for the streets, drainage, and capital improvements portion of the one-cent sales tax fund.
The Commission approved Ordinance No. 4623 to amend the City of Liberal Code book to formally establish the Mid-America Air Museum as a city department and to shift parade regulations to a new assigned article number in the code.
Staff presented proposed rate change amendments for solid waste collection fees due to increases in Seward County landfill charges. Commissioners reviewed and approved Resolution No. 2425 to amend the solid waste collection rates to take effect in January 2025.
Commissioners voted to approve the budgeted purchase of an emergency response protocol software to interface with the existing communications dispatch system for the Emergency Communications Center.
Change orders from O.C. Quality Custom Homes for changes to the Ortuno Housing Addition RHID project were presented. After reviewing the line items, Commissioners elected to take no action, allowing the developer and City staff time to work towards a resolution accepted by both parties. The change order request revisions are to be brought forward at a later date for approval by the Commission.
Commissioners reviewed and approved the purchase of 15 acres of land on North Highway 83 for $75,000. The strategic purchase opens opportunities for future development of commercial properties adjacent to the highway as growth continues in North Liberal.
The next regularly scheduled Liberal City Commission meeting will take place December 10th at 5:30 p.m.