An official acceptance of the City's 2025 financial audit, the purchase of a new mower for the Parks Department, and three public hearings for unsafe and dangerous properties were among the items on the agenda at the regular city commission meeting on Wednesday, May 6.
Commissioner Marsha Went attended the meeting via Zoom.
The meeting began with a presentation by Neil Phillips of the firm Jarred, Gilmore & Phillips regarding the City's 2025 audit.
The City had contracted with the company on November 19, 2025, to provide audit services for the 2025 fiscal year at a fee not to exceed $14,000, and in the event of Federal expenditures exceeding $1,000,000, there would be a single audit not to exceed $2,900.
A single audit over Federal expenditures was not needed. The audit was paid in full, and the total cost was $12,000, which was lower than the agreement.
Phillips reported to commissioners that there were no issues with the 2025 audit.
Commissioners voted to accept the audit and authorized Mayor Ashley Hutchinson, City Manager Amy Lange, and Finance Director Amber Farm to sign the management representation letter.
Next on the agenda, commissioners voted to approve the purchase of a Grasshopper 725DT with Powervac from Krier Mower and Electric for the price of $23,080.00, to be paid out of the City's Equipment Reserve Fund.
The City's Parks and Recreation Director, Chris Atkins, reported that his department had requested a quote from Krier Mower and Electric for a new Grasshopper front-mounted riding mower to replace an existing mower that had continuous mechanical problems.
The new mower is the same uniform model as 5 of the 6 mowers used by the Parks Department, but will have a Powervac attachment on the back. The Powervac attachment is removable, but will benefit several areas where additional cleanup is necessary, such as the City Park when leaves have piled next to the fence, the ballfields, the Broadway Plaza to keep clippings out of the splash pad, and other areas that may leave heavy patches of cut grass.
Atkins stated that front-mounted mowers have become a vital part of the City's equipment and are in constant use. The front-mount allows City staff to maneuver in and out of headstones at the cemetery and reach further into trees and bushy areas, cutting down the amount of time needed to go back and weed-eat areas.
The mowers also give staff the ability to safely raise the blade deck to do maintenance or change blades without having to jack or use a winch to raise the deck.
Commissioners then approved the purchase of an AutoPulse NXT from Zoll Medical Corporation
in the amount of $23,508.70, for the Concordia Fire Department/EMS. The device will be paid for with assistance from the Kansas Revolving and Assistance Fund (KRAF) Grant Program. The Grant will reimburse $16,532.85 of the $23,608.70.
Concordia Fire Chief John Christensen stated that the mechanical CPR device will replace a 2015 AutoPulse from Zoll Medical that had a seven-year life span.
The AutoPulse is stored in a soft case that is then deployed as a soft stretcher for carrying the patient. This setup prevents a pause in compressions while moving the patient to a secondary device for carrying.
Christensen further stated that the equipment is important for CFD/EMS to give cardiac arrest patients the highest survival rate. Studies show that high-quality CPR by uninterrupted continuous chest compressions is a vital part of gaining the best survival rate.
Commissioners next approved Resolution 2026-2229 that set the date of June 17, 2026, for a public hearing regarding the establishment of a Rural Housing Incentive District (RHID).
On May 15, 2025, commissioners executed a development agreement with TransEquity for the 1100 block of East 11th Street. This housing development will require the construction of new infrastructure (street, storm sewer, water, sanitary sewer, and sidewalks) to support the construction of 11 new single-family attached homes (22 housing units) by TransEquity. TransEquity intends to build the infrastructure to public standards, but will maintain it privately
On April 1, 2026, the commission approved Resolution No. 2026-2228 that declared its intent to establish an RHID, which establishes a funding stream to pay for improvements to serve new homes. The Kansas Department of Commerce approved these findings on April 6, 2026.
The next step in the process is to hold a public hearing. During this public hearing, the commission will review the details of the feasibility study and redevelopment plan, and is expected to take action on the redevelopment plan.
The hearing is an opportunity for the public to share their questions, comments,
support and concerns with the City Commission about the use of the RHID to construct improvements to serve the new homes constructed within the geographic boundary of the RHID
In their final action item of the evening, commissioners approved Resolution #2026-2230, Resolution #2026-2231, and Resolution #2026-2232 that set the public hearing date of
Wednesday, July 1st, 2026, for the condemnation of the properties at 311 W. 2nd St., 321 E. 12th St., and 424 E. 1st St.
The condemnation process allows the City to force action on a blighted and dilapidated building or property.
The City's Public Works Director Shane Kisby reported to commissioners that the recent citywide cleanup project resulted in city crews disposing of 51 truckloads of tree limbs, 45 loads of furniture, seven loads of mattresses and cushions, one load of metal, and 440 tires, all weighing 8.57 tons.
Commissioners then entered into a 22-minute executive session to discuss non-elected personnel with Cloud County Attorney Justin Ferrell. No action was taken.
With no further items on the agenda, the meeting adjourned at 6:47 p.m.
