Commission approves demolition bid

Acting on a recommendation from the North Central Regional Planning Commission (NCRPC), the Concordia city commission unanimously voted to authorize Mayor Chuck Lambertz to sign a contract with Western Sales, Co. for the demolition of dangerous structures in the community.
Keegan Bailey, housing director for NCRPC, met with the commission during the meeting and recommended entering into the contract with Western Sales, Bunker Hill, at a cost of $69,700.
The bid by Western Sales was by far the lowest of those submitted for the demolition project.
NCRPC also recommended that the city award a contingent contractor in the case that Western Sales declines to accept the project.
The commission approved naming Smith Construction Services as the contingent contractor.
Smith Construction submitted the second lowest bid of $110,205.
The city received notice on February 15 that it had been awarded a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) from the Kansas 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 (HUD) through the CDBG ($48,975) and in part through the city's demolition program ($48,975).
Structures in a non-occupied and dilapidated/dangerous condition were targeted for the demolition program.
Property owners were invited to participate in the program on a voluntary basis prior to application, as properties had to be identified prior to the city applying for the grant funds.
The city had properties on a waiting list for the program.
HUD requires no development of the property for five years following the demolition of the structure.
There is no cost to the property owner to participate in the project.
NCRPC is serving as the grant administrator for the city.
Sealed bids for the demolition of the structures were opened on November 17 at City Hall. There were seven bids received.
Following two separate executive sessions for the purpose of discussing non-elected personnel, the commission approved awarding city manager Amy Lange a one percent merit raise.
It was announced that Lange, who has been the city manager since January 2018, had received a positive evaluation from the commission.
In other action taken during the meeting, the commission approved a lease agreement with Francis Energy, Tulsa, Okla., for the installation of two electric vehicle (EV) charging stations and the use of adjacent on-street parking stalls in the right-of-way along the east side of Broadway Street and south of the alley between Sixth Street and Seventh Street.
The lease agreement is a 15-year agreement with one option for a five-year renewal.
Francis Energy will maintain and operate the charging stations and appurtenant equipment during the timeframe of the lease, including any necessary upgrades.
In September, the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) announced a grant opportunity for EV charging station installation along the state's most traveled highways.
Concordia was listed as one of the 12 targeted locations along U.S. Highway 81, I-35 and I-70.
The city, CloudCorp, Cloud County Community College and Prairie Land Electric Cooperative had discussions about potential locations for charging stations.
The group decided to partner with Francis Energy to submit a grant proposal to KDOT.
Francis Energy is targeting expansion of its Level 3 EV charging station network throughout the Midwest. It has indicated a willingness to work with Cloud County Community College's renewable energy program to help students learn about charging station maintenance and to provide electrical demand and consumption data to Prairie Land Electric to assist in its efforts to maintain local and regional electric grid stability and resilience as EV usage increases.
Three parking stalls on Broadway Street will be used for the two charging stations to provide adequate space for charging, as well as for ADA access. The spaces will not be signed and enforced as ADA stalls. They will be signed for EV charging, but won't be enforced as such unless a local ordinance is passed that regulates the use of the stalls for EV charging only.
It is expected that motorists will voluntarily respect the use of the stalls for EV motorists.
The commission also approved Stacey Smith and Melissa Loeffler to the Concordia Housing Authority board.
Cereal malt beverage licenses for 2022 were approved for the following businesses:
Wood Oil #27, 203 East Sixth St.; Rod's Thriftway, 307 West Sixth St.; Short Stop #4 and #10, 1020 Lincoln St. and 1905 Lincoln St.; Walmart, 140 East College Dr.; Gambino's Pizza, 130 West Sixth St.; Pizza Hut, 2112 South Lincoln St.; Casey's General Store, 1315 Lincoln St.; Dollar General #6503, 1520 Lincoln St.; Country Honky Tonk, 418 Broadway St.; and 4 Kids Fuel & More, LLC, 2087 North 145th Rd.
Businesses selling cereal malt beverages must apply for a license each year. The applications are sent to the Kansas Bureau of Investigation for background checks to look for felonies or other reasons the business should not be selling.