Pittsburg City Commission Meeting Recap – August 27, 2019

PITTSBURG, KS – The following actions were taken at the Pittsburg City Commission held on Tuesday, August 27, 2019:

Public input

• Vivian Davidson from Christ’s Community Church in Pittsburg gave an invocation.

Commissioners approved the following items under the Consent Agenda:

• Approval of the August 13, 2019, City Commission Meeting minutes.
• The appointment of Patrick O’Bryan, Dawn McNay, Sarah Chenoweth, and Dan McNally as voting delegates, and Jay Byers, Michelle Ducre and Tammy Nagel as alternate voting delegates to represent the City of Pittsburg at the League of Kansas Municipalities Annual Business Meeting and Policy Session scheduled for October 14, 2019, in Overland Park, Kansas.
• Appropriation Ordinance for the period ending August 27, 2019, subject to the release of HUD expenditures when funds are received.

Special Presentations:

• SUMMER READING PROGRAM SUMMARY:
  • Pittsburg Public Library Director Bev Clarkson provided a summary of the summer reading program.
  • The library offered 111 programs.
  • Participants read over 21,000 books.
  • The summer program served 11,358 community members.
  • Clarkson reminded the audience that the annual Friends of the Library Book Sale is scheduled for Saturday, August 31, from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm.

• ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT QUARTERLY REPORT:
  • Director of Economic Development Blake Benson and Director of the Kansas Polymer Research Center Darrell Pulliam shared the quarterly Economic Development Report.
  • Since the beginning of 2019, the Small Business Development Center supported nine new start-up businesses, the Chamber worked on three current expansion projects, SBDC held 10 small business workshops, the team had 21 focused business retention and expansion meetings, and an economic impact analysis was conducted.
  • The City Commission was invited to the Block 22 Celebration Event scheduled for September 12, at 2:00 pm.

The following actions were taken under the agenda:

• REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT – LARRY FIELDS:
  • Commissioners approved the recommendation from the Economic Development Advisory Committee (EDAC) to grant a forgivable loan equal to 10 percent of the total value of Larry Fields’ redevelopment of the property located at 104 North Locust, with the City’s portion not to exceed $75,000, including the stipulation that should the business cease operations within a three-year period, Mr. Fields would repay the remaining unforgiven amount of the loan.
  • The redevelopment project aims to transform the former Pittcraft building (also known as the Pittsburg Foundry and Machine Building) built in 1882, into a family fun center. An economic cost-benefit analysis revealed the economic impact of the project will be more than $1 million.

• EMERGENCY REPAIRS TO WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT PRIMARY CLARIFIER #1:
  • Commissioners approved a staff request to initiate emergency repairs to the support column on Primary Clarifier #1 at the Wastewater Treatment Plant through Unique Metals Fabrications, Inc., of Pittsburg, based on time and material for an estimated cost of $100,000 to $125,000.

• ELECTRIC UTILITY EDUCATIONAL MATERIAL:
  • The City Commission approved the recommendation of Deputy City Manager Jay Byers to utilize up to $30,000 from previously identified funds for the creation and delivery of educational material in relation to the potential establishment of a City-owned electric utility.

The following topics were discussed under Non-Agenda:

• City Manager Daron Hall gave commissioners an update on the South Rouse Street Widening & Trail Project. According to KDOT, 26 working days still remain on the project – out of 178 total working days allotted. The project is under budget and work will be completed as weather allows.
• Commissioner McNay requested an update on the Besse Hotel Building. City Manager Daron Hall said a private individual purchased the property and is working on a plan to repurpose it.

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.

###

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.