Pittsburg City Commission Meeting Recap – Aug. 24, 2021

PITTSBURG, KS – The following actions were taken at the Pittsburg City Commission meeting held on Tuesday, August 24, 2021:

Public input:

• Major Eric Johnson with the Salvation Army introduced himself and his wife Major Patricia Johnson and then led a prayer of invocation.

Commissioners approved the following items under the consent agenda:

• The August 10, 2021, City Commission Meeting minutes.
• The application submitted by Rochelle Greve, on behalf of JG Entertainment, LLC, for a 2021 Cereal Malt Beverage License for Pat’s Lounge.
• Payment to Central Power Systems & Services regarding work on the asphalt roller in the amount of $21,969.22.
• Change Order #1 to the contract with Heck and Wicker for the Georgia Street Channel / Culvert Project in the amount of $2,353.76, making the overall contract construction amount $446,842.68.
• The purchase of a used John Deere 6130M Tractor, from the local Heritage Tractor Dealership, in accordance with the City’s purchasing policy for sole source purchases due to the uniqueness of used equipment, in the amount of $116,00.00.
• The purchase of a new Ventrac 4500Z Mower with Boom Sickle Attachment from Professional Turf Products, L.P., allowed under the cooperative purchasing section of the City’s Purchasing Policy, utilizing Sourcewell contract pricing in the amount of $43,177.45.
• The purchase of a new Bobcat E42 Compact Excavator from Clark Equipment Co. dba Bobcat Company, allowed under the cooperative purchasing section of the City’s Purchasing Policy, utilizing Sourcewell contract pricing in the amount of $56,337.86.
• The purchase of a new John Deere M15 Flex Wing Rotary Cutter from the local Heritage Tractor Dealership, allowed under the cooperative purchasing section of the City’s Purchasing Policy, utilizing State contract pricing in the amount of $17,500.00.
• Authorizing CDL Electric to perform a repair of the Water Treatment Plant boiler system, in the amount of $24,808.00, and to waive the requirement in the City’s Purchasing Policy that three quotes be obtained.
• Accepting a small solid waste grant in an amount not to exceed $7,500.00 from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) Bureau of Waste Management for the purchase of a cardboard baler to use for recycling purposes.
• Staff recommendation to accept Airport Rescue Grant funding in the amount of $59,000.00 from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) to be used at the Atkinson Municipal Airport for costs related to the coronavirus pandemic response.
• Appropriation Ordinance for the period ending August 24, 2021, subject to the release of HUD expenditures when funds are received.

The following items were removed from the consent agenda for further discussion:

• Commissioner Fields spoke in favor of Matthew Lunde filling the open position on the Sustainability Advisory Board but stressed the importance of recruiting Pittsburg residents to help serve on city boards in the future. Commissioners voted to appoint Matthew Lunde to fill an unexpired term as a member of the Sustainability Advisory Committee.
• Public Utilities and Public Works Director Matt Bacon corrected the amount listed in the memo for the Change Order #2 to the contract with Heck and Wicker for the Georgia Street Channel/Culvert Project. Following discussion, the commission voted to approve Change Order #2 to the contract in the amount of $5,988.03.

Public Hearings:

• PROPOSED 2022 REVENUE NEUTRAL RATE – Pittsburg resident Zac Sachs spoke under the public hearing. Following the hearing, the city commission voted unanimously to approve exceeding the revenue neutral rate for the 2022 Budget.
• PROPOSED 2022 BUDGET – City staff answered several questions from Zac Sachs regarding the submitted budget. Following the Public Hearing, commissioners voted unanimously to approve the 2022 Budget.

Commissioners took the following actions under the main agenda:

• ANNEXATION REQUEST AND ORDINANCE NO. G-1327 – RUSSELL – Commissioners voted to approve the request submitted by Jim Russell and Linda Russell to have their property, located north of Atkinson and west of Free King Highway, annexed into the City of Pittsburg. 
• REAL ESTATE SALES CONTRACT – Commissioners approved the Real Estate Sales Contract in the amount of $1.2 million between the City of Pittsburg, Kansas, and James A. Russell and Linda E. Russell, to purchase approximately 192.00 acres of real estate located north of Atkinson and west of Free King Highway, a property immediately north of the city’s existing north industrial park. City Manager Daron Hall shared that the city has several interested businesses that require services like utilities and rail access, which this property provides. Funding for this land purchase comes from the city’s economic development fund and general fund. Hall thanked the Russell family for the opportunity to purchase their land. 
• APPOINTMENT TO PLANNING COMMISSION/BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS – Commissioners appointed Mike Hanika to fill an unexpired term as a member of the Planning Commission/Board of Zoning Appeals. 
• DISPOSITION OF BIDS – CCLIP (SP) RESURFACING PROJECT – BROADWAY STREET (US-69B) AND W 4TH STREET (K-126) – Commissioners voted to award the bid for the CCLIP (SP) Resurfacing Project on Broadway Street (US-69B) and W. 4th Street (K-126) to Heckert Construction Co., Inc., of Pittsburg, Kansas, with a low bid of $996,421.37. Public Utilities and Public Works Director Matt Bacon says the city’s goal is to begin work on September 15. 
• WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT DESIGN AGREEMENT – AMENDMENT #1 – Commissioners approved Amendment #1 to the Wastewater Treatment Plant Design Agreement for the design of an additional lift station along the eastern side of Hwy 69 towards the end of Kansas Street. This amendment will add an additional 60 days to the contract and will increase the contract by $88,000.00, making an adjusted agreement amount of $2,436,328.00. 
• WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT DESIGN AGREEMENT – AMENDMENT #2 – Staff Commissioners approved the Amendment #2 to the Wastewater Treatment Plant Design Agreement for the design of the replacement of the East 4th Street Lift Station. This amendment adds an additional 60 days to the contract and will increase the contract by $24,000.00, making an adjusted agreement amount of $2,460,328.00.
  

Non-agenda Reports and Requests:

• Pittsburg Fire Chief Dennis Reilly addressed questions from Mayor Munsell about surplus fire equipment. Reilly said he intends to reach out to area fire departments and find out if they have any need of the equipment before putting it up for auction.
• Pittsburg Chief of Police Brent Narges addressed questions from the mayor and commissioners regarding a Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) crime report, which was referenced in a recent Morning Sun article.

City Commission Meetings:

The Pittsburg City Commission meets on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month at 5:30 pm, inside the Beard-Shanks Law Enforcement Center courtroom. Members of the public are encouraged to attend.

To learn more about the Pittsburg city government, city commissioners, or to view meeting agendas and minutes visit pittks.org/city-government/city-commission.

City commission meetings are broadcast live every second and fourth Tuesday on the City’s local government access channel (Cox channel 6) and on YouTube. To subscribe to the City’s YouTube channel, go to www.pittks.org/youtube.

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The mission of the City of Pittsburg is to provide exceptional services, facilities and activities with integrity, professionalism, excellent customer service and a commitment to economic vitality.