City commission proclaims April as Donate Life Month
CITY COMMISSION
A proclamation making April 2022 the Donate Life Month in Concordia, the letting of bids to shorten crosswind Runway 12/30 at Blosser Municipal Airport, and an amendment to the city code were among the action items discussed and approved by the city commission during its regular meeting on Wednesday evening, April 6.
The commission authorized Mayor Ashley Hutchinson to sign a proclamation naming the month of April 2022 as Donate Life Month in Concordia. The proclamation honors all those who have made the decision to donate life, focuses attention on the critical need for donation, and encourages all Kansas residents to register as organ, eye, and tissue donors.
In other action, the commission approved accepting bids for shortening crosswind Runway 12/30 at Blosser Municipal Airport. City manager Amy Lange reported that there is serious interest in developing Lots 1 and 2, Block A, College Drive Park, and that it would be in the City’s best interest to proceed with shortening of the crosswind Runway 12/30 now.
One barrier to development of Lots 1 and 2, Block A, College Drive Park is the overlay of the Runway Protection Zone (RPZ) of crosswind Runway 12/30 overlaid on these Lots. The presence of the RPZ on these lots prevents vertical construction, rendering these prime commercial sites non-developable. The solution to allow development on Lots 1 and 2 is to shorten crosswind Runway 12/30 by approximately 200 feet, which would move the RPZ east and off of these lots.
Design modeling has already been completed. This work is estimated at $30,000 if performed as a change order to the Runway 18/36 project, and payment is 100% the responsibility of the City. Lange said that proceeding now with the project would allow completion of the Airport Layouot Plan (ALP) reflecting the shortened crosswind Runway 12/30 as part of the grant closeout documents. A revised ALP must be submitted to the Federal Aviation Administration.
Lange also stated that two other barriers exist to development of these lots that must also be worked out with the developer. These include the need to extend a water main to provide service to these lots, and the need to perform a traffic study if widening and/or relocation of the existing curb cut is desired by the developer. Additionally, completion of the intended west leg of Heritage Trail must also be resolved.
In further action that night, the commission authorized an amendment to the city code that includes requiring an insurance company to pay the city a portion of the proceeds of a damaged property to hold until the property owner makes the structure safe or removes the structure. If the property owner does not make the property safe or remove the structure, the City will use the money held to remove the structure in the interest of the health and safety of the general public.
Section 2-503 of the Concordia City Code authorizes the City to utilize the procedures set forth in K.S.A. 40-3901 et seq. to ensure extensively damaged structures are removed or made safe in a timely manner.
The commission also approved a license agreement allowing Cloud County Health Center (CCHC) to proceed with the construction of a sloped retaining wall.
CCHC is constructing a new medical facility on Lots 5 and 6, Block A, College Drive Park, newly addressed as 155 W. College Drive. An access road is required around the perimeter of the site for deliveries and fire department access. The plans called for a vertical retaining wall along the northern/western edge of the property to ensure adequate structural support for this perimeter access road.
As construction progressed, value engineering options were presented, including an option for a sloped retaining wall in lieu of the vertical retaining wall. The sloped retaining wall option will require a portion of the wall to be constructed on adjacent City property in Lot 1, Block B, College Drive Park, which is within the flood control basin. CCHC requested the City’s permission to build this portion of the sloped retaining wall on City property.
The Kansas Division of Water Resources has reviewed this proposed structure and has determined that a permit is not required because the fill amount proposed is minimal compared to the basin capacity.
CCHC has agreed to maintain the slope of the surface of this sloped retaining wall so as not to cause a nuisance.
Fire Chief Eric Voss reported that his department's SCBA compressor threw a piston on March 11, 2022, after the fire at 534 West 6th Street. The air compressor was bought in 2000. The compressor was rebuilt once, and Voss stated that there is no fixing the compressor again because of the amount of damage it has.
The department received three quotes from vendors to replace the air compressor: eDarley of Itasca, Illinois - $7,716.95; Weis Fire & Safety Equipment, LLC - $18,520.43; and Municipal Emergency Services (MES) – $32,924.63.
The commission approved the purchase from eDarley in the amount of $7,716.95, to be paid
from the Equipment Reserve Fund.
In other action, the commission approved a contract extension for Western Sales Company for the demolition of structures. Due to very muddy conditions the week of March 21, the demolition activity was delayed a week. The new completion deadline has been extended to April 19, 2022.
The commission also approved a nine-day extension for Smith Construction Services for the demolition of structures as 326 West 6th Street and 330 West 6th Street. The extension was granted because of circumstances outside the scope of the project. The new completion deadline is April 13.
The commission also approved naming Darren Hill to a term on the Planning Commission and the Board of Zoning Appeals.