Commission ads new policy to City Code
Adding a de-annexation policy to the City code, leasing farmland near the airport, and the condemnation of two structures were some of the items discussed and acted upon during the regular meeting of the Concordia city commission on Wednesday evening, May 4.
Mayor Ashley Hutchinson signed a proclamation naming May 2022 as World Hunger Awareness Month in Concordia. It is estimated that 15% of Cloud County residents live in food insecure conditions.
Mayor Hutchinson also signed a proclamation making May 28, 2022, National Poppy Day in Concordia. The Friday before Memorial Day is chosen every year nationally, and citizens wear a red poppy to honor the fallen and support the living who have worn our nation's uniform.
City finance director Amber Farha reported that the sales tax for the first quarter of this year was $530,779.50, which is an increase of $74,031.29 from the first quarter of 2021. The City budget for sales tax for the 2022 year is $1,773,000.
City manager Amy Lange briefed commissioners on plans to build a public parking lot on the site where the houses at 326 and 330 W. 6th Street once stood, located immediately west of the existing Brown Grand Theatre parking lot. This new parking lot will address blight and improve public infrastructure to support economic development within the established boundaries of the Concordia Redevelopment District 2000, commonly known as the “TIF District.”
The project will provide additional off-street parking for local nearby businesses, the adjacent entertainment venue, and two nearby churches as well as for large public events held downtown.
The new parking lot will be paved with concrete, and the sidewalk and drive approaches along W. 6th Street adjacent to this site will be replaced. Six new light fixtures will illuminate the 30 new parking spaces. The light fixtures will coordinate with the time period at which the Brown Grand Theatre was constructed, and will feature brick bases with a capstone. Additionally, conduit to serve a future electric vehicle charging station will be installed. No parking blocks will be installed to facilitate more efficient snow removal. A curb and gutter on the west edge of the lot is being considered to minimize stormwater runoff from the adjacent gravel lot.
Bids will be solicited in May with construction to begin after June 1. The goal is to have this parking lot ready to receive traffic by late September, in time for Fall Fest.
A pubic hearing was held as part of the condemnation process for two structures located at 717 Olive Street and 429 West 8th Street. After the hearing, the city commission voted to adopt Resolutions ordering both structures to be repaired or removed, with repairs or removal to commence within 30 days from the date of the Resolutions, and with the premises to be made safe and secure within a reasonable time.
In other action, the city commission voted to adopt an Exclusion of Property (De-Annexation) Resolution for the City. This establishes a basic policy position regarding de-annexation and establishes criteria by which de-annexation requests can be evaluated on a uniform basis, consistent with sound planning principles and the orderly development of the city. This policy will also describe the procedures for evaluating requests for de-annexation.
Section 4 of the new policy describes the De-Annexation Fee Structure. The petitioner shall be liable for all costs of proceedings, which shall be the greater of the amounts of the following items:
Non-Refundable Filing Fee with City Clerk (Petition) $1,000 or $100/acre.
Non-Refundable Publication Fee (Notice of Hearing, Ordinance) $300 or Cost +10%.
Filing Fee with County Register of Deeds $150 or Cost +10%.
City Limit Boundary Update (Legal Description & Map) $500 or Cost +10%.
“The reason why the de-annexation policy has been implemented is that we actually don't have any policy on the books,” said city attorney Justin Ferrell. “It's a very rare procedure, but it's something we need to have.”
The city commission also voted to enter into farm leasing agreements with Keaton Lambert and Swenson Jeardoe, LLC for land adjacent to the airport.
Both leases are for a period of three years, beginning March 1, 2022, and ending February 28, 2025. After that, the leases will automatically renew for one-year periods beginning on March 1 of each year and ending on February 28 of the following year, unless, at least thirty days before March 1 of any year, either party gives written notice to the other that this lease is terminated.
If the City desires to use any part of the leasehold for airport purposes, the City may acquire any such acreage at any time by notifying the tenant. In that event, the tenant shall be paid the fair market value of any crops growing on the acreage taken for airport purposes. The crops and any income from the crops shall be the sole property of the tenant.
Concordia Police Chief Ric Fredrickson reported that almost 60 pounds of unused or unwanted drugs were turned in by local residents during National Drug Take-Back Day on April 30th.