The approval of four bids for the demolition of condemned properties in Concordia, and the purchase of bunker gear for the fire department were among the action items at the regular meeting of the city commission on Wednesday, April 2.
Commissioner Marsha Wentz attended the meeting via phone.
The meeting began with Mayor Amy Jackson signing a proclamation that designated April, 2025, as Sexual Assault Awareness Month in Concordia.
One of every two women and one of every three men will experience some form of contact sexual violence in their lifetime, revealing the widespread and far-reaching impact of sexual assault on individuals and communities. In the state of Kansas, one incident of rape is reported to law enforcement every seven hours, 51 minutes, and 23 seconds, underscoring the urgent need for continued awareness, education, and efforts to prevent sexual violence.
According to the Kansas Bureau of Investigations, a rape victim is most often female (94.6%), with 62.3% of victims under the age of 25. Offenders are typically male (88.7%), with 18.9% of them being between the ages of 15 and 20 years old.
Saturdays are the highest day of rape occurrence, accounting for 18.1% of all reported incidents. The majority of these incidents occur between midnight and 2:00 a.m., a critical time for prevention, intervention, and awareness.
The Domestic Violence Association of Central Kansas (DVAK) services a seven-county catchment area served by the Concordia satellite office. In this area, 11 incidents of rape were reported in 2023, yet only two arrests were made, representing just 18.2% of reported cases resulting in an arrest. This statistic highlights the need for stronger enforcement of justice, better support for survivors, and improved law enforcement response to sexual violence.
The survivors of sexual violence face many challenges, including fear of not being believed, societal stigma, lack of resources, and barriers in the legal system, which contribute to underreporting and impede justice for many. Communities must work together to address the issues surrounding sexual violence, support survivors in their recovery, and advocate for a justice system that holds offenders accountable while providing necessary services and protections for victims.
DVACK provides 24/7/365, free and confidential services to victims of sexual violence in Cloud County and Concordia. DVACK advocates are available 24/7 at (785)827-5862 or toll free at 1-800-874-1499.
Mayor Jackson then signed another proclamation designating April 2025, as Donate Life Month in Concordia. The proclamation honors those who have made the decision to donate life, focuses attention on the critical need for donation, and encourages all Kansas residents to register as organ, eye, and tissue donors.
Organ donation is a selfless gift that has saved 42,890 lives across the United States in
the past year. The Midwest Transplant Network serves all of Kansas and the western two-thirds of Missouri, where more than 2,500 people await lifesaving transplants.
The number of people on the organ transplant waiting list continues to far exceed the number of registered donors. Through Midwest Transplant, the total number of lifesaving organs transplanted in 2024 was 1,075.
Ninety-five percent of our country’s population supports organ donation but only sixty percent are registered as donors. The North Central Kansas Medical Center encourages individuals to become aware of the need for organ donation and to register as organ, eye, and tissue donors.
Commissioners then met in executive session for 17 minutes with City Manager Amy Lange, City Attorney Justin Ferrell, CloudCorp Executive Director Tim Beims, and Matthew James. No action was taken.
Commissioners then unanimously approved a development agreement with James to construct a new home at 808 Sunflower Circle in the St. Joseph Subdivision.
In the action item portion of the meeting, commissioners approved a Downtown Improvement Grant of $5,000 for the exterior storefront at 123 W. Sixth St.
The former site of Print 5 will now become the future home of Monique & Co. Salon and Spa, which is owned and operated by Mackenzie Hasenbank. The 123 W. Sixth St. property is now jointly owned by Tim Parker and Austin Hasenbank.
The total cost of improvement to the exterior of 123 W. Sixth Street is estimated to be $15,241.22. The applicants sought $5,000 in grant funding from the City, and $5,000 in loan funding from the Depository Bank (Citizens National Bank), as designated in Resolution 2008-1818). The applicants will pay the remaining $5,241.22 out of pocket.
Commissioners then approved a total bid bundle price of $53,645.00 from Dalton Dirt Works for the demolition of the structures and the removal of the blight on four properties: 202 Broadway, 325 East 12th Street, 421 West 14th Street, and 712 East 10th Street.
On February 5, 2025, commissioners approved Resolutions 2025-2186, 2025-2188, 2025-2191 and 2025-2194 that condemned the above noted properties. All four properties were deemed abandoned, blighted, uninhabitable, and structurally unsound.
In the final action of the evening, commissioners approved the PPE purchase of up to six sets of Turnout Gear from Weis Fire & Safety Equipment, LLC, of Salina, in the amount of $23,385.54. The purchase is to be paid from the Fire Uniform fund, pending SAFER grant.
Turnout Gear is a basic necessity of firefighters. The gear includes boots, pants, coat, hood, gloves, and helmet.
The Kansas State Fire Fighters Association has received a grant from SAFER that will reimburse up to $3,725 per firefighter for new structural firefighting gear. The grant is a reimbursement grant, meaning the equipment must be purchased, and then the grant would reimburse the price.
With no further items on the agenda, the meeting adjourned at 6:39 p.m.
