On Tuesday, February 13th the Liberal City Commission addressed the following items during their regularly scheduled meeting:
Consent Agenda items (Liberal Convention & Tourism Bureau Advisory Board minutes, code enforcement statistics, and airport leases) were approved by the Commission.
Hay-Rice & Associates presented an overview of the 2022 City of Liberal Audit report, as well as an audit contract for fiscal year 2023. The Commission approved both items as presented.
City Commissioners voted to adopt Ordinance No. 4614 which modifies sewer rate charges for new or transferring customers. New customers will be charged the City’s minimum sewer rate until they reach an evaluation period to determine their customer rate, while existing customers transferring service to a new address will keep their current sewer rate until they reach an evaluation period to determine a rate at their new service address.
The Commission also passed Resolution No. 2410, setting sewer rate fee changes beginning April 1, 2024. The minimum monthly sewer rate will be $23.94 for a customer’s first 3,000 gallons, with $8.46 charged per thousand gallons above the usage minimum for residential and small non-residential users. Charges for large residential users will be based on water metered during the current billing month. A Storm Sewer Flood Control Fee of $2.00 per month will apply for residential and non-residential customers. Rates in 2025 will increase to a minimum of $29.93 per month for the first 3,000 gallons, with $10.58 charged per extra thousand gallons. Beginning April 2026, sewer rates will increase by approximately three percent annually. New rates will ensure funding availability to pay debt services for Liberal’s wastewater treatment plant.
The Commission next approved the budgeted purchases of two replacement mowers for the Parks Department and a replacement mini-excavator for the Water Department. Commissioners also approved the replacement of two overhead garage doors for the Building and Traffic Maintenance Departments, which will be funded through ARPA funds.
City Commissioners voted to approve the sole bid received to B&H Paving in the amount of $214,887 to complete street crack seal maintenance for 2024. This maintenance targets streets from Second Street to Highway 83 from Kansas Avenue to Country Estates, in addition to East 8th Street. Repairs began February 14th with estimated completion in three weeks.
The public hearing for Ordinance No. 4613 was opened regarding the establishment of a Rural Housing Incentive District (RHID) for the Ortuno Addition in South Liberal. Following no public comments, Commissioners closed the hearing and voted to approve the ordinance to adopt plans for development. The housing district development will result in the proposed construction of 47 new residential properties.
Following a report from City code enforcement officers, the Commission voted to approve Resolution 2409 for the abatement of 211 Coolidge. The single-family home will be demolished due to hazardous building conditions.
Commissioners next voted to uphold the decision of the Liberal Area Planning and Zoning Board to deny a special use business permit for a home occupation psychologist’s office on Nevada Drive.
Commissioners reviewed a land sale deed of release from the FAA for airport lots for 11 parcels to seven interested tenants. The Commission voted to approve the deed of release and allow the City Attorney to proceed with land sale contracts for interested buyers.
The Commission voted to approve the appointment of seven applicants to the newly reformed Mid-America Air Museum Advisory Board. These new members include Connie Bowman, Austin Downs, Dr. Ryan Farrar, Matthew Fenn, Lidia Hook-Gray, Tracy King, and Mark Marcellus.
Commissioners next approved a contract addendum to the City Manager contract. In lieu of a proposed pay increase, the City Manager requested to accrue the maximum rate of hours for vacation days and receive vehicle mileage reimbursement for business travel outside Seward County.
An agenda item was added for the approval of an engine repair for a Sanitation Department truck, with Commissioners approving the bid estimate for parts and service to Armendariz Diesel Repair.
The next regularly scheduled Liberal City Commission meeting will take place February 27th at 5:30 p.m.