Pittsburg City Commission Meeting Recap – March 28

PITTSBURG, KS – The following actions were taken at the Pittsburg City Commission meeting held on Tuesday, March 28, 2023.

PUBLIC INPUT:

• Major Patricia Johnson with the Salvation Army gave a prayer of invocation.

Proclamation:

• Pittsburg Mayor Dr. Ron Seglie proclaimed April 3 – 7, 2023 the Week of the Young Child and presented a proclamation to representatives from Vie Medical Clinic, Pittsburg Police Department Family Response Advocates, and the Greenbush Parents as Teachers Program.

Commissioners approved the following items under the consent agenda:

• The March 14, 2023, City Commission Meeting minutes.
• Waiving the City’s bid process and purchase, for use by the Pittsburg Police Department, eleven new Safariland HyperX Barrier Vests directly from Baysingers Uniform & Equipment, of Wichita, Kansas, in the total amount of $36,749.68, and to make available the City’s older Protech brand vests as items of surplus equipment to be donated to other area law enforcement agencies.
• An easement between the City and Cox Communications, LLC, routing from the existing vault on the north side of West 15th Street to the cell tower lease located in the Four Oaks Golf Course.
• Awarding the bid for the provision of asphaltic concrete material for the 2023 City Sales Tax Street Program and Crawford County, Kansas, consisting of an estimated total of 17,500 tons of asphaltic concrete base and surface mix to Heckert Construction Co., Inc., of Pittsburg, Kansas.
• Awarding the bid for repairs to Well #8 at the Water Treatment Plant to Mr. Pump, LLC, of Seneca, Missouri, in the amount of $21,800.
• Agreement with Earles Engineering & Inspection, Inc, of Pittsburg, Kansas, in the amount of $61,800.00 for engineering services to include Preliminary Design, Final Design, and Bidding/Construction Administration for the East 27th Street Project from Broadway Street to Joplin Street.
• The Appropriation Ordinance for the period ending March 28, 2023, subject to the release of HUD expenditures when funds are received.

SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS:

• ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT QUARTERLY REPORT – Pittsburg Area Chamber of Commerce President and City of Pittsburg Director of Economic Development Blake Benson, along with Pittsburg State University Executive Director of Operations, Business Development & Economic Engagement Darrell Pulliam presented the quarterly Economic Development Report. The city’s economy remains strong with an unemployment rate of 3.3 percent and sales tax revenues up 15 percent in 2023. Crawford County median wage has increased 22.5 percent from 2021 – 2022, with inflation only accounting for approximately nine percent of that number. The city’s retail trade pull factor sits at 1.86, which means Pittsburg is keeping or attracting almost twice as many retail shoppers as we are losing to other communities. In 2022, the value of economic development projects in the city amounts to over $50 million – with city incentives contributing to less than three percent.

The following items were considered under the main agenda:

• PITTSBURG AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SERVICES AGREEMENT – Commissioners approved an Economic Development Services Agreement between The Pittsburg Area Chamber of Commerce and The City of Pittsburg in which the Chamber will perform the services related to the location and retention of industrial, manufacturing and retail businesses in the City, for the period beginning April 1, 2023, and concluding on March 31, 2024.
• PITTSBURG STATE UNIVERSITY BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AND INNOVATION SERVICES AGREEMENT – Commissioners approved a Business Development and Innovation Services Agreement between Pittsburg State University (PSU) and The City of Pittsburg in which PSU will provide support to the City to effectively help create and attract new businesses, industries and manufacturing concerns to the City, as well as more effectively promote the expansion and growth of existing businesses and industries already located in the City, for the period beginning April 1, 2023, and concluding on March 31, 2024.
• ADVANCED METERING INFRASTRUCTURE (AMI) – Commissioners approved purchasing hardware, software, and hosting services for Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) in the amount of $160,321.25 from Core & Main, of Olathe, Kansas. This purchase is part of the city’s five-year plan to upgrade the city’s metering system.

THE MAYOR’S MOMENT:

• Mayor Seglie mentioned that the second meeting for Spruce Up Pittsburg on March 23 at Memorial Auditorium was successful. City staff will be soon be meeting with the quadrants and start our cleanup of neighborhoods. The Mayor encouraged organizations and individuals to get involved.

EXECUTIVE SESSION:

Commissioners went into Executive Session to discuss personnel matters of nonelected personnel pursuant to K.S.A. 75-4319(b)(1), to discuss the City Manager’s 2023 goals. No actions were taken and no votes were cast during the executive session.

###

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.