Sorry, you need to enable JavaScript to visit this website.
Article Image Alt Text

City commission leaves mask mandate in place

By taking no action following a scheduled review, the Concordia city commission left in place, for at least two more weeks, an ordinance designed to help slow the spread of COVID-19.
The ordinance, approved by the commission on November 18, mandates the wearing of masks and face coverings in public and the enforcement of quarantine and isolation orders.
The commission will review the ordinance during each regular meeting, and it will remain in place until there is a vote to rescind it.
City manager Amy Lange reported to the commission during the review of the ordinance that the COVID-19 positivity rate in Cloud County was going down late in December but was starting to climb back up.
There were 259 new cases of COVID-19 reported in Cloud County during December, after a monthly high of 416 cases were recorded in November.
Cloud County Health Center administrator David Garnas said that they are seeing a decrease in the number of virus cases and a decrease in cases among the hospital staff.
“Our capacity here locally is probably as good as it has probably been since October,” Garnas said.
Garnas also said that being able to transfer patients to larger facilities remains a challenge.
“We have been fortunate lately that we have had a couple of patients we have been able to get into Salina (Regional Health Center). We got lucky and we are happy about that, but I do know my colleague in Lindsborg, as an example, which is 20 miles south of Salina, they have had to transfer people as far as Kearny, Nebraska,” Garnas said. “So those issues continue to be the same. I would be remiss in not saying that I think we in the healthcare field, statewide and nationwide, are all very concerned about the next two weeks because of the holidays, New Year’s and Christmas. We are anticipating to see those numbers climb back up and we will probably see another spike like we did after Thanksgiving.”
Garnas asked the commissioners to extend the ordinance for at least another two weeks.
There was no action taken on the ordinance by the commission. It will be reviewed again during the regular meeting on January 20.
In action taken during the meeting, the commission approved a resolution requesting determination for annexation of 1436 Trail Road into the city of Concordia.
An application, as submitted to the city by Cary Stupka and Diane Stupka, is to have non-contiguous land in the county annexed into the city.
The current and proposed use of the property, located north of Concordia, is residential.
Information provided to the commissioners stated that Cary Stupka met with the city development review team and it was agreed that egress easements will be provided for city emergency services access to the existing home. Stupka will pay $800 for a one-inch-sized water tap, $160 for the sanitary sewer saddle and $10 for the sewer tap fee.
The city Utilities Department will provide the labor to install the water tap and meter pit and install the saddle for the sewer tap.
Stupka will install the private lines to the existing house.
Campbell & Johnson Engineers, PA have been working with Stupka on surveys and design for future development.
If the County makes the requested determination, a resolution will be presented to the city commission at the next regular meeting to annex the land.
The commission also approved an ordinance renewing the franchise agreement with Kansas Gas Service for 20 years with a re-opener provision allowing review every five years.
The previous agreement with Kansas Gas Service was for 10 years.
The city will maintain the franchise fee rate at five percent for sales and transport customers.
Since 2011, the city has collected a total of $1,143,850.32 in franchise fees from Kansas Gas Service, with annual collections ranging from $104,471.68 in 2011 to $157,716.21 in 2014.
Kansas Gas Service collects the franchise fee during customer bill payment and passes it directly on to the city. The amount collected for the fee is based on gas usage and/or gas delivery to the customer.
The purchase of a rooftop HVAC unit for City Hall from Hood Heating Air Plumbing Electric, at a cost of $5,976, was approved by the commission.
The rooftop unit will replace one that was installed in 1995 and serves the training room.

 

Concordia Blade-Empire

510 Washington St.
Concordia, KS 66901