Commision approves agreement for demolition grant

Authorizing Mayor Chuck Lambertz to sign a grant agreement between the city of Concordia and Kansas Department of Commerce was among the items approved by the Concordia city commission during its regular meeting on Wednesday.
The city of Concordia received notice on February 15 that it had been awarded a Community Development Block Grant in the amount of $48,975 from the Department of Commerce for the demolition of dangerous structures.
Funding for the grant is provided in part by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Structures in a non-occupied and dilapidated/dangerous condition were targeted for the program. Property owners were invited to participate on a voluntary basis prior to the grant application being submitted.
It was reported to the commissioners that the city has properties on a waiting list.
The Department of Housing and Urban Development requires no development of the properties for five years following the demolition of the structure.
There is no cost to the property owner to participate in the program.
City manager Amy Lange said that the city is targeting 12 projects for the program. All of the projects must be completed by February 28, 2023.
The North Central Regional Planning Commission is serving as the grant administrator for the city and is currently working through the environmental assessment.
Once a property is approved for the program, the owner will be notified and bids for demolition will be solicited.
Only bidders considered to be in good standing with the city will be considered.
Bruno Rehbein, city building inspector, and Stacey Smith, city clerk, attended the grantee workshop for public entities awarded funds to satisfy the city’s conditions letter for the grant.
In other action taken during the meeting, the commission approved a new supplemental agreement to the original contract with Professional Engineering Consultants for construction inspection and testing services for phase two of the improvements at the wastewater treatment plant.
“This supplemental number two is to solidify the estimate for the construction inspection and materials testing. This is on-site inspection daily that happens by a PEC professional that comes out and does that as soon as that work starts,” Lange said.
The estimated cost for construction inspection on the project is $271,137.91, and the estimated cost for materials testing is $23,305.50, for a total of $294,443.41.
A bid of $153,880 from Hall Brothers, Inc., Marysville, for an asphalt and overlay project on Ninth Street from Lincoln Street to Matthew Street, was approved by the commission.
The city received two bids for the project, and the bid from Hall Brothers was the low bid.
Don Dean reported to the commission that Campbell & Johnson Engineers, P.A. recommended approving the bid from Hall Brothers.
The engineer’s estimate for the project, which includes 10 percent for contingencies, was $169,312.
Hall Brothers plans to start work on the project by August 5.
The commission also approved the sale of a small tract of land located within the Country Club Drive right of way to Concordia Golf & Wellness, and a permanent utility easement for that property.
City Attorney Justin Ferrell reported to the board that Concordia Golf & Wellness was interested in purchasing the property, which butts up to the golf course, so a new tee box can be constructed that will allow one of the holes to be lengthened.
There is a storm drain on the land and in exchange for being able to acquire the property for the sum of $1, the Concordia Golf and Wellness owners will allow the permanent utility easement for any and all work that must be conducted by the city.
The purchase of a Grasshopper 725 DT 72-inch front-mount mower from Krier Mower and Electric, at a cost of $15,011.10, was approved the commission.
The mower will be used at the Concordia Sports Complex and will replace a 10-year-old mower that is currently inoperable.
Amber Farha, city finance director, presented the year-end 2020 financial statements to the commission.
The city general fund collected 151 percent of budgeted revenue. The large surplus is the result for the grants, that were not budgeted for, received during the year.
Removing those grants received, the general fund collected 102 percent of the budgeted revenue.
Sales tax collections to end the year exceeded the budgeted amount by $113,254, 6.7 percent. The total sales tax collections for 2020 were $39,037 more than in 2019.
The city was able to carry over a reserve in the general fund of $1,007,638. That is an increase from 2019 of $180,391.
Shaley George, the director of the National Orphan Train Complex, spoke to the commission about the Kansas Nebraska Heritage Area Partnership (KNHAP), a diverse, bi-state partnership of cultural, historical, economic development and tourism organizations and individuals.
George serves on the KNHAP board.
The KNHAP is working to establish a National Heritage Area within 49 counties located in north central Kansas and south central Nebraska. The mission is to connect communities and attractions, instill pride of place and promote immersive experiences for residents and visitors to enhance appreciation for the region’s unique landscape and nationally significant cultural history.
Information about the KNHAP states that with the new administration and new policies being introduced, some may have confused National Heritage Areas as being tied to the 30x30 initiative.
The news release from the KNHAP states that the two are not related in any way. Within 55 designated heritage areas over a span of 37 years, there is not a single case of any land rights being impacted.
National Heritage Areas are not national park service units. An NHA designation does not affect private property rights or impose land use controls, nor can it assume any ownership of land inside its defined boundary. All individuals, organizations and/or towns within the area have the choice to participate voluntarily.
“All participation is voluntary. We are not going to make someone give up their farmland or take away their barbed wire. It is all about tourism,” George said.