Kisby is new public works director
A quarterly report from CloudCorp, a rejected bid for the 20th Street Extension project, and a study session for 2023 staff recaps and 2024 commissioner priorities were part of the regular city commission meeting on Wednesday.
CloudCorp executive director Nicole Reed presented to commissioners a quarterly report for October-December, 2023. The report included the E-Community Loans for 2023: March - Ideal Market; May - Elk Creek Gardens; July - Altius Awards; August - The Dog Guy Grooming; September - Einstein Sewing Workshop; November - Dairy Queen; and in December - The Learning Tree, LLC.
The NetWork Kansas E-Community Partnership Loan total to date is CloudCorp loans, $258,000; and
CloudCorp grants, $77,400.
A community breakdown of loan/grants are: Concordia - three businesses for $135,000/$40,500; Clyde - two businesses for $60,000/$18,000; Miltonvale - one business for $18,000/$5,400; and Jamestown - one business for $45,000/$13,500.
Reed also stated that CloudCorp's focus for the first quarter of 2024 includes finalizing details for CloudCorp Housing, LLC; finalizing the homebuyer application and FAQ to post on the website; the CloudCorp Annual Luncheon and Third Annual Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge; the EDP certification course in February; the annual stockholder meeting; the CDBG-CVR steps to qualify businesses for the funding; and establishing workforce recruitment targets.
Deb Lange, the Broadway Plaza event coordinator and CloudCorp administrative assistant, reported to commissioners that there were 114 events at the plaza in 2023. In addition to scheduled events, there were private family reunions, and birthday, anniversary, and graduation parties. The Frank Carlson Library, Cloud County Community College, Concordia Unified School District 333, and local churches all used the plaza for activities and youth events.
Lange also reported that the Plaza still needs to hire a maintenance man. There were issues with the activation button at the Splash Pad, and it also has a leak that will need to be fixed in the spring.
The plaza received a $500 grant from Grain Belt Express and a $1,000 donation from Cloud County Tourism. The funds will be used for events for children at the plaza and repairs that will be needed for the splash pad.
On the recommendation of Campbell & Johnson Engineers, P.A., commissioners rejected a proposed bid by Vogts-Parga Construction, LLC of $149,938.60 for the 20th Street Extension project.
On February 1, 2024, bids were opened for the project. One bid was received from Vogts-Parga. The bid was three times the original engineer's estimate of $45,745, and approximately twice the current Engineer's Estimate.
Shane Kisby of Aurora was introduced to commissioners as the city's new public works director. Kisby is a graduate of Clifton-Clyde High School and holds a degree in Natural Resource Management from Kansas State University. He has spent the past nine years working for Republican Valley Landscape. Kisby and his wife, Amber, currently reside in Aurora with their family.
In his year-end report to commissioners, Police Chief Brent Gering stated that there was an increase in person crimes from 103 incidents in 2022 to 119 in 2023. There was a decrease in property crimes, from 291 incidents to 261. Road safety and traffic enforcement also saw notable changes. The number of accidents slightly decreased from 206 to 194, while traffic stops significantly increased from 1254 to 1622.
Gering reported that there was a decline in DUI and drug-related incidents. DUIs dropped from 21 incidents in 2022 to 14 in 2023, and drug-related incidents reduced from 33 to 15.
In 2022, the department's officers responded to 5,571 Calls for service in 2022, working a total of 732 cases. In 2023, there was an increase to 6,519 Calls for Service with officers working a total of 668 cases.
Gering also reported that in 2023 the police department reached full staffing levels with the addition of 4 new officers. As chief, Gering has placed a stronger emphasis on community engagement and has enhanced their use of social media platforms to disseminate information and interact with the citizens of Concordia.
Gering also stated that the communication division experienced a notable increase in the number of 911 calls, receiving 3,446 calls in 2023, compared to 3,114 in 2022. Significantly, the number of incidents handled by dispatchers increased from 9,674 in 2022 to 10,863 in 2023.
In 2023, the communication division hired two additional dispatchers, bringing the department to full staffing levels.
Regarding the Animal Control Division, Gering stated that there was a notable decrease in the total number of calls for service, from 385 in 2022 to 268 in 2023. In the specific category of at-large animals, there was a decline from 230 cases in 2022 to 172 in 2023.
There was also a decrease in vicious dog incidents, from 23 cases in 2022 to 9 in 2023. The number of animal bite incidents decreased from 19 reports in 2022 to 18 in 2023.
Bruno Rhebein, the city's building inspector, reported that expected development for 2024 includes the
1909 Lincoln Car Wash and EV charging station, the 1915 Broadway Travel Trailer Park, Wal Mart's $2.5 million remodel, the St. Joseph subdivision development, some residential single-family-dwelling infill in targeted areas, and ongoing condemnation and demolition of blighted, unsafe, and dangerous structures.
City manager Amy Lange listed the priorities the city commission has set for 2024. They include the support and development of new housing projects aligned with the 2022 housing study and market analysis; holding landlords accountable to provide safe housing to tenants; maintaining infrastructure; ensuring financial health of the city; focusing resources on recruitment and staff development; focusing resources on arterial and collector street corridors; supporting the health and vitality of the community; addressing blight; addressing nuisances fairly, effectively, and timely; continuing efforts to encourage demolition or repair of unsafe and dangerous structures; and child care.