Pittsburg City Commission Meeting Recap – Nov. 22

PITTSBURG, KS – The following actions were taken at the Pittsburg City Commission meeting held on Tuesday, November 22, 2022:

Public Input:

• Mark Chambers shared a prayer of invocation.

The following items were approved under the consent agenda:

• Approval of the November 8, 2022, City Commission Meeting minutes.
• The applications submitted by The City of Pittsburg (Four Oaks Golf Course and Lincoln Park), Pitt Stop, LLC dba Pitt Stop (902 South Joplin), Rhodes Grocery, Inc. dba Ron’s Supermarket (310 East Centennial), Bo’s 1 Stop (1116 West 4th Street), DG Retail, LLC dba Dollar General Store #3785 (2810 North Broadway), DG Retail, LLC dba Dollar General Store #18856 (820 West 4th Street), DG Retail, LLC dba Dollar General Store #13065 (2004 South Rouse), Walmart Inc. dba Walmart #72 (2710 North Broadway), Walmart Inc. dba Walmart #5791 (1011 East Centennial), Walmart Inc. dba Walmart #5791 Fuel Station (1015 East Centennial), EK Enterprise, LLC dba Pitt Express (302 West 4th Street), Casey’s Retail Company dba Casey’s #2893 (2912 North Broadway), Casey’s Retail Company dba Casey’s #2961 (612 South Broadway), and Casey’s Retail Company dba Casey’s #3924 (2520 South Broadway) to sell Cereal Malt Beverages for the year 2023.
• Accepting an Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) from the Kansas Housing Resources Corporation (KHRC) in the amount of $107,837 to support homeless services within our community.
• An Agricultural Land Lease between Campbell Farms, LLC, and the City of Pittsburg, in which Campbell Farms, LLC, will lease 90 acres of tillable land and grass land located at 4303 North Free King Highway, in the total amount of $5,250.
• An Agricultural Land Lease between Kenneth Biancarelli and the City of Pittsburg, in which Mr. Biancarelli will lease 148.14 acres of tillable land and grass land located at the Atkinson Municipal Airport, in the amount of $8,147.70.
• The Appropriation Ordinance for the period ending November 22, 2022, subject to the release of HUD expenditures when funds are received.

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

• Commissioners approved staff recommendation to re-sign the short-form plat for Panda Express due to staffing changes and loss of the original document by the landowner.
• Commissioners voted 3-2 to approve Ordinance No. G-1343, providing for the change of zoning at 211 West 11th Street from R-1C, Single-Family Residential, to IP-3, Planned Heavy Industrial. Commissioners Munsell and Seglie opposed.

PUBLIC HEARING:

• The commission held a public hearing to receive public comment on the establishment of a Community Improvement District (CID) and the city’s intent to levy a Community Improvement District Sales Tax for improvements to the Pittsburg Town Center district. No one spoke under the public hearing. Commissioners voted unanimously to approve the CID.

The following items were considered under the main agenda:

• ORDINANCE NO. S-1091 – Commissioners approved Ordinance No. S-1091, establishing the Pittsburg Town Center Community Improvement District.
• ORDINANCE NO. G-1341 – Commissioners approved Ordinance No. G-1341, amending Section 82-111 of the Pittsburg City Code fixing rates and minimum charges for water service, effective January 1, 2023. Finance Director Larissa Bowman clarified that the adjustments to the city’s water, stormwater and sewer rates will pay for increased operating costs and provide funds for the new wastewater treatment plant.
• ORDINANCE NO. G-1342 – Commissioners approved Ordinance No. G-1342, amending Section 82-141 of the Pittsburg City Code fixing rates and minimum charges for sewer service, effective January 1, 2023. Mayor Brooks mentioned that utility customers should notify the city of any leaks during the months of November, December and January, so that customer service can adjust their bill.
• RESOLUTION NO. 1259 – Commissioners approved Resolution No. 1259, amending Resolution No. 1248 establishing the equivalent residential unit, ERU rate and undeveloped property rate; effective January 1, 2023.
• RESOLUTION NO. 1260 – Commissioners approved Resolution No. 1260, adopting and approving the proposed Capital Improvements Program (CIP) for the years 2023-2027. Each year, the city establishes this long-range plan to identify future capital improvement and infrastructure needs. This plan is used to develop the city’s annual operating budget.
• THE FINISHING TOUCH – Commissioners approved a recommendation of the Economic Development Advisory Committee (EDAC) to allocate $25,000 to assist The Finishing Touch with infrastructure improvements at 808 East Jefferson Street. The company expects to invest $250,000 in the project.
• CITY COMMISSION MEETING SCHEDULE – Commissioners cancelled the second commission meeting scheduled for Tuesday, December 27.

Non-agenda reports & requests:

• City Manager Daron Hall announced that Finance Director Larissa Bowman has submitted her resignation, and he thanked her for her service to the city.
• Mayor Cheryl Brooks mentioned that the city is seeking volunteers for several advisory boards and encouraged community members to apply. The deadline to submit an application to the City Clerk is Wednesday, November 30.
• Ron Seglie wished everyone a Happy Thanksgiving and advised safe traveling for the holidays.

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.