Pittsburg City Commission Meeting Recap – Nov. 23

PITTSBURG, KS – The following actions were taken at the Pittsburg City Commission meeting held on Tuesday, Nov. 23, 2021:

Public input:

• Mark Chambers from the Pittsburg Ministerial Alliance shared a prayer of invocation.

City Manager Daron Hall shared that Kim Vogel was recently appointed as the city’s new human resources director and Toby Book was appointed director of parks and recreation.  

Commissioners approved the following items under the consent agenda:

• The November 9, 2021, City Commission Meeting minutes.
• Staff recommendation to award the bid for a full maintenance contract with monthly inspections of elevators and lifts at various City facilities for a 3-year period from January 1, 2022 through December 31, 2024, to the low bidder, TK Elevator, of Ozark, Missouri, based on their total annual cost of $13,440.00 (to be invoiced quarterly at a cost of $3,360.00).
• The applications submitted by The City of Pittsburg (Four Oaks Golf Course and Lincoln Park), Casey’s Retail Company dba Casey’s #3924 (2520 South Broadway), Casey’s Retail Company dba Casey’s #2893 (2912 North Broadway), Casey’s Retail Company dba Casey’s #2961 (612 South Broadway), 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), Walgreen Co. dba Walgreens #09049 (1911 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), DG Retail, LLC dba Dollar General Store #3785 (2810 North Broadway) and Rhodes Grocery, Inc. dba Ron’s Supermarket (310 East Centennial) to sell Cereal Malt Beverages for the year 2022.
• The Appropriation Ordinance for the period ending November 23, 2021, subject to the release of HUD expenditures when funds are received.

The City Commission removed the following item from the consent agenda for further discussion:

• Staff recommendation to award the bid for Exclusive Contract Towing Services to Bean’s Towing and Auto Body, of Weir, Kansas, for the period of January 1, 2022, through December 31, 2023, based on their bid of $125 per vehicle tow and $15.00 per day for vehicle storage. Following questions from Commissioner Larry Fields about the hours of operation for Bean’s Towing, commissioners voted to award the bid.

Public Hearing:

• 2021 BUDGET AMENDMENT – The City advertised for a Public Hearing to be held on Tuesday, November 23, 2021, at 5:30 pm to hear and answer objections of taxpayers relating to the proposed amended use of 2021 funds in the 2021 budget. Finance Director Larissa Bowman said an increase in sales tax revenues for this year allowed for additional funding to the Section 8 Housing program and the street maintenance program. No one spoke under the public hearing. After closing the public hearing, commissioners approved the budget amendment.

The City Commission took the following actions under the main agenda:

• SALE OF 3004 NORTH ROTARY TERRACE – Commissioners voted to sell the property located at 3004 North Rotary Terrace to Watco for a total purchase price of $900,000.
• ATKINSON MUNICIPAL AIRPORT APRON RECONSTRUCTION AND EXPANSION PROJECT – Commissioners voted to advertise bids for the Atkinson Municipal Airport Apron Reconstruction and Expansion Project, with the intent to apply for a federal grant.
• REQUEST TO CHANGE ZONING – Commissioners approved the recommendation of the Planning Commission/Board of Zoning Appeals to change the zoning of certain areas, located at 4th & Rouse Streets, from R-1C, Single Family Residential, to CP-2, Planned General Commercial.
• ORDINANCE NO. G-1332 – Commissioners approved the Ordinance No. G-1332, amending Section 82-111 of the Pittsburg City Code fixing rates and minimum charges for water service; and providing an effective date of January 1, 2022. The ordinance establishes a three percent increase in water and sewer rates, and a one percent increase in stormwater rates, which was approved in July during the city’s annual budgeting process. Finance Director Larissa Bowman stated that the city has not increased utility rates in a few years and this increase in the utility rates will address rising costs that the city incurs on an annual basis, and also set aside funding for a new wastewater treatment plant.
• ORDINANCE NO. G-1333 – Commissioners approved Ordinance No. G-1333, amending Section 82-141 of the Pittsburg City Code fixing rates and minimum charges for sewer service; and providing an effective date of January 1, 2022.
• RESOLUTION NO. 1248 – Commissioners approved Resolution No. 1248, amending Resolution No. 1214 establishing the equivalent residential unit, ERU rate and undeveloped property rate; and providing an effective date of January 1, 2022.
• RESOLUTION NO. 1249 – Commissioners approved Resolution No. 1249 adopting and approving the proposed Capital Improvements Program (CIP) for the years 2022-2026. This document is adopted annually by the city and identifies potential capital improvement projects, helping the city plan for future expenditures.
• 2022 PITTSBURG CCLIP PROJECT 019 U-2388-01 – CHANGE ORDER NO. 1 – Commissioners approved Change Order No. 1 to the contract with Heckert Construction Co., Inc. for the 2022 Pittsburg CCLIP Project on Broadway and 4th Street reflecting an increase of $69,445.00, making a new contract construction amount of $1,065,866.37.
• WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT DESIGN AGREEMENT – AMENDMENT #3 – Commissioners approved Amendment #3 to the Wastewater Treatment Plant Design Agreement with Earles Engineering and Inspection, Inc. for additional drilling work for the Geology requirements at the new treatment plant location, extra fees for insurance costs, extra work on Generator review, and extra expenses for the additional work involved. The amendment increased the contract by $14,522.84, making an adjusted agreement amount of $2,474,850.84.

Non-agenda Reports and Requests:

• Small Business Saturday – Housing & Community Development Director Quentin Holmes shared that on Saturday, November 27 from 10:00 am – 2:00 pm, the Pittsburg Area Chamber of Commerce and Downtown Advisory Board will be hosting a Small Business Saturday passport event. Shoppers can pick up their passports and look books at the Block22 courtyard and be entered to win prizes. Proceeds from the look books go to support Project Warmth.
• Christmas Parade – Human Resources Director Kim Vogel shared that the annual Christmas Parade would be held on Monday, November 29 at 6:30 pm in downtown Pittsburg.

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.