Pittsburg City Commission Meeting Recap – Feb. 25, 2020

PITTSBURG, KS – The following actions were taken at the Pittsburg City Commission meeting held on February 25, 2020:

Public Input:

• Father Jerome Spexarth gave an invocation.
• Bill Strenth shared concerns about the inspections conducted on Silverback Way.

Commissioners approved the following items under the consent agenda:

• The February 11, 2020, City Commission Meeting minutes.
• The Farm Lease between the City of Pittsburg and Mr. Kenneth Biancarelli for the lease of all the tillable and grass land in Tracts 3, 4, 5, 5A and 7 located at the Atkinson Municipal Airport for a term of one year beginning March 1, 2020, and ending February 28, 2021, in the amount of $10,835.
• The request of Drs. Tyler and Kayla Riggs to change the name of the recipient of the Economic Development Advisory Committee (EDAC) funding approved by the Pittsburg City Commission on November 26, 2019, for the rehabilitation of the property at 4th Street and the Highway 69 Bypass from Riggs Chiropractic to TKR Management, LLC.

Items pulled from the consent agenda:

• Airport Advisory Committee Appointments: Commissioners voted to appoint Joshua Luken, an airport user, and Darrell Pulliam, a non-airport user, to serve on the Airport Advisory Committee.
• Appropriation Ordinance for the period ending February 25, 2020: Commissioners voted to approve the Appropriation Ordinance subject to the release of HUD expenditures when funds are received.

Public Hearing:

• PUBLIC HEARING – PROPERTY TAX ABATEMENT – RALLISON, LP – A public hearing was held to consider the request submitted by Rallison, LP, for a six-year tax exemption. The tax exemption was part of an incentive package for the expansion of Apex Stages at 3530 N. Lone Star Rd. The company’s $1.7 million investment qualified them for a six-year exemption. No one came to speak under the public hearing and commissioners voted to approve the property tax abatement.

The following actions were taken under the Commission Agenda:

• ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY BOARD APPOINTMENTS – Commissioners voted to appoint Reno Cecora and Erin Fletcher to serve on the Active Transportation Advisory Board (ATAB). Cecora will represent the northeast quadrant of Pittsburg and Fletcher will represent the disability community.
• CHANGE ORDER AND FINAL PAYMENT – 716 NORTH BROADWAY DEMOLITION – Commissioners approved a change order reflecting an increase of $1,500 and final payment of the new contract amount of $40,000 to JRB Industries, Inc. of Parsons, Kansas, for the demolition of the structure located at 716 N. Broadway (the former Mike’s New and Used location).
• CHANGE ORDER AND FINAL PAYMENT – CENTENNIAL AND ROUSE TRAFFIC SIGNAL MODIFICATION PROJECT – Commissioners approved Change order No. 1 reflecting a deduct of $908.20, making a new contract construction amount of $81,777.50, and final payment in the amount of $14,032.24 to CDL Electric Company, Inc., for the Centennial/ Rouse Traffic Signal Modification Project.
• ORDINANCE NO. G-1310 – Commissioners voted to approve Ordinance No. G-1310, amending Section 82-32 of the Pittsburg City Code to delete the current subsection (f) which exempts the imposition of an administrative charge and fee for an industry or institution whose normal procedure for payment exceeds the time limit for original due date; and create a new subsection (f) to provide that accounts with unpaid balances shall be forwarded to the State of Kansas for collection in accordance with K.S.A. 75-6201, et seq.
• LAND USE PLAN – Commissioners voted to approve staff recommendation to adopt the City’s Land Use Plan.
• NETWORK AND SWITCHING UPDATE – Commissioners voted to approve staff request to purchase network and switching upgrades from ConvergeOne to include hardware, software licensing, and installation of new public safety systems.
• NETWORK AND SWITCHING FINANCING – Commissioners voted to approve staff request to enter into a lease/purchase agreement for financing to be used for the purchase of information technology network equipment, software licensing and installation services, pending negotiation of an acceptable lease/purchase agreement. Financing for the system will be spread over four years and will be paid using public safety sales tax dollars.

The following topics were discussed under Non-Agenda:

• Public Utilities Director Matt Bacon provided commissioners with an update on the condition of roads in the city. A deeper discussion on road conditions will happen at a study session scheduled for March 24 at 4:30 pm.
• City Manager Daron Hall mentioned that the Four State Farm Show would be held on the Pittsburg State University campus this year.
• Lt. Chris Moore with the Pittsburg Police Department shared with commissioners that the PPD raised over $35,000 for Special Olympics Kansas at this year’s Polar Plunge, the second highest amount raised in the state of Kansas this year.
• Public Information Manger Sarah Runyon announced that the Imagine Pittsburg 2030 Committee is hosting a Community Conversation on Thursday, February 27, from 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm, at Butler’s Quarters, 513 N. Broadway. The public is invited to attend.
• In response to concerns brought up under public input by Bill Strenth, City Manager Daron Hall suggested having the topic added to the next commission meeting agenda, and inviting the City’s inspector and engineering firm Olsson & Associates to help answer questions and address concerns.
• Mayor McNay discussed having a study session on electricity. A date for the study session has not yet been set.
• Commissioner Brooks asked for a 30-minute executive session to discuss non-elected personnel. Commissioner Munsell seconded the motion, before City Attorney Henry Menghini notified commissioners that the “motion would not suffice for purposes of the Kansas Open Meetings Act.” Menghini offered to work with Commissioner Brooks to put the executive session on the next meeting agenda.

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 channels (Cox channel 6 and Craw-Kan channel 406) 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.