Commission approves change order, COLA

A change order for the now completed downtown alley project and a resolution authorizing a cost of living adjustment in the amount of 3.2 percent for all eligible classified and non-classified city employees were among the action items approved by the Concordia city commission during its regular meeting Wednesday night at City Hall.
The commission approved the fourth change order, in the amount of $57,397.54 for the downtown alley project construction contract with Orr Wyatt Streetscapes, to cover the cost of additional work that was necessary in the west block of the alleys between Sixth and Seventh streets.
According to a report from Don Dean, project engineer for Campbell & Johnson Engineers PA, the items covered in the change order were extra work due to existing unknown factors discovered during the construction of the project. It included the replacement of a sanitary sewer system that was over 110 years old, with a street pavement system over 85 years of age, and numerous pavement and utility repairs that were not visible prior to the project.
City manager Amy Lange informed the commissioners that the city has requested that the Community Development Block Grant fund its fair portion of the change order.
“What we are also pleased to report is that, because of the favorable bid to this project, even with change order four, we are still $80,000 under the original budget amount. So we are very pleased to hear that,” Lange said.
Total allocation for the project, including the $571,600 from the Community Development Block Grant, was $1,032,686.
The total project expense, to date, is $950,659.04.
The project included the replacement of six-inch sanitary sewer line, the replacement of the 18-inch storm sewer line and the regrading of the pavement in the alleys from Lincoln Street to State Street.
Lange said that she does expect a construction inspection fee increase with Campbell & Johnson as a result of the delays in the project.
“They really did a great job in making sure the work that was being done was very quality work,” Lange said of Campbell & Johnson.
With an original completion date of September 1 for project, the contract with Orr Wyatt Streetscapes was extended by 106 calendar days because of rain delays, extra work due to substandard soil conditions and delays caused by private utility contractors.
“When I look back at it now, I don’t know how you could have anticipated anything. Everything that was discovered was buried,” Ken Johnson, Campbell & Johnson, said.
COLA Increase
Also during the meeting the commission approved the resolution authorizing the cost of living adjustment (COLA) increase.
During the fiscal year 2022 budget study session, a 1.2 percent COLA was recommended for eligible city employees based on the year-end 2020 12-month average consumer price index (CPI) for all cities.
Lange informed the commission that by May 2021, inflationary pressure pushed the 2021 CPI above five percent, and it has continued to increase since.
The commission approved a resolution in November 2021 authorizing a 1.2 percent COLA for fiscal year 2022.
As city staff continued to monitor and experience increased inflationary pressure for basic living necessities, it was determined that an additional COLA for fiscal year 2022 may provide some interim relief for city staff and may aid in retention efforts. It may also provide stability by avoiding a sharp spike for fiscal year 2023, where a 4.7 percent CPI increase from 2020 is expected.
It was reported to the commission that an additional COLA in the amount of two percent can be absorbed by the general fund without a budget amendment, but will require use of reserves for fiscal year 2022.
Heritage Trail Signage
In other action taken during the meeting, the commission approved the purchase of signage for Heritage Trail from Wildside Creative in the amount of $13,578.31, with $10,000 funded by private donors and grant funds and the remainder funded by the city’s capital improvement projects fund.
Following a public contest, Heritage Trail was selected by the commission in May 2018 for the name of the walking trail around the South Development.
The commission discussed how trail signage could be used to promote the rich heritage of Concordia, especially those national events or movements with a direct connection to the city.
Since the time of that discussion, the Pros of Con, a young professionals group and subcommittee of the Concordia Chamber of Commerce, decided to raise funds for the signage project, and $10,000 was raised.
The city had allocated $3,000 for the signage project.
City staff engaged with Wildside Creative to design durable and attractive signage for the trail, that coordinated with the existing benches and light poles.
The final design by Wildside Creative includes black steel posts set at angles with green steel arches. A welcome sign located at the trailhead will include a green canopy providing shade and information about the history of the trail and a view of the trail map.
A three-sided wayfinding sign will be located at the intersection of the one-mile loop and the trail leg leading to Broadway Street. There will be two-sided wayfinding signs located at the other two trail entrances, at 20th and Broadway and 21st and Lincoln. Four smaller two-sided distance-tracking signs will be located along the loop so trail users can walk clockwise or counterclockwise along the trail. Each sign will include a historical snippet about Concordia.
Installation of the signage will be done by the city’s public works staff.
The goal is to complete installation of the signage by the spring of 2022.
Accepting Property Deed
The commission approved accepting the deed to the property located at 330 West Sixth St. from the Concordia Land Bank.
The city acquired the property in 2015, and in 2016 it was placed in the land bank.
In August 2020, the city commission approved the use of Tax Increment Financing funds to demolish the dilapidated houses at 326 and 330 West Sixth St. and the subsequent construction of a public parking lot, at an estimated cost of $265,000.
The city is currently in the process of acquiring the property at 326 West Sixth St. through the eminent domain process.
“We are just about complete on that. Just waiting on the judge’s order and then we will have possession of that property,” Lange said.
Appointment
Appointing Troy Hardacre to the Planning Commission and the Board of Zoning Appeals was approved by the commission.
Murdock Honored
City employee Megan Murdock was honored during the meeting for receiving her Certified Municipal Clerk (CMC) designation, that is awarded by the International Institute of Municipal Clerks (IIMC), an organization of over 14,000 clerks from around the world.
Murdock attended the four-year IIMC-sponsored institute, held annually at Wichita State University, and graduated in 2018.
To obtain CMC status, one must attain at least 60 education points and 50 experience points.
There are only 138 certified clerks in Kansas.
Executive Sessions
The commission met in executive session for the purpose of discussing confidential business data with Lange, city attorney Justin Ferrell, Cloud County Health Center administrator David Garnas and Cloud County Health Center board of trustees president Phil Gilliland.
The commission then met in executive session with Lange and Ferrell for the attorney-client privilege.