Pittsburg City Commission Meeting Recap – Oct. 11

PITTSBURG, KS – The following actions were taken at the Pittsburg City Commission meeting held on Tuesday, October 11, 2022:

Public Input:

• Pete Mayo shared a prayer of invocation.

Joe Saia Bridge:

• After public input, commissioner Munsell updated commissioners on his meeting with Crawford County and City of Frontenac officials regarding the Joe Saia overpass.

Proclamation:

• Mayor Cheryl Brooks gave a proclamation naming Thursday, October 20, 2022, Project Warmth Day in Pittsburg. The Project Warmth committee shared that their event will take place Thursday, October 20, from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm, and from 4:30 pm to 5:30 pm at the Memorial Auditorium.

Executive Session:

• Commissioners voted 3-2, with commissioners Hite and McNay opposed, to go into an executive session for a period of 15 minutes. No action was taken and no votes were cast.

The following items were approved under the consent agenda:

• The September 27, 2022, City Commission Meeting minutes.
• Staff request to declare certain vehicles and/or equipment as surplus and authorize staff to dispose of the vehicles and/or equipment through the online auction service of Purple Wave, Inc.
• The Appropriation Ordinance for the period ending October 11, 2022, subject to the release of HUD expenditures when funds are received.

Public Hearing:

• PROPERTY TAX ABATEMENT – ATKINSON INDUSTRIES, INC. – A public hearing was held to consider the request for a tax abatement submitted by Atkinson Industries, Inc., also known as AZZ Enclosure Systems. Previously reviewed and approved by the Economic Development Advisory Committee (EDAC), the property tax exemption request is related to a $2 million expansion at AZZ’s Pittsburg facility. The abatement would freeze the company’s property tax at its current rate for seven years. The estimated economic impact of the expansion would result in $9.1 million in new personal incomes, $12.6 million in local retail sales generation, 35 new residents to the community, and add a total of 20 new positions within the first year. No members of the public spoke under the public hearing. Commissioners voted to approve the request.

The following items were considered under the main agenda:

• VILLAS AT CREEKSIDE – UPDATED DEBT AND MORTGAGE SUBORDINATION AGREEMENT – Commissioners approved the recommendation of the Economic Development Advisory Committee (EDAC) to approve an updated subordination agreement between Arvest Bank, The Villas at Creekside, LLC, and the City of Pittsburg, as the Villas at Creekside project loan with Arvest has increased. No changes were made to the city’s loan position.

• RESOLUTION NO. 1256 – Commissioners considered Resolution No. 1256, authorizing amendment to the Indenture of Trust relating to $8,640,000 Industrial Development Revenue Bonds, Series 2017A and 2017B (Kendall Packaging Corporation Project) issued on January 25, 2017; and authorizing execution of related documents. Finance Director Larissa Bowman clarified that the purpose of the amendment is to change the index rate to an SOFR index rate. Commissioners approved the amendment.

• ORDINANCE NO. S-1089 – Commissioners considered Ordinance No. S-1089, fixing the salary and compensation of the officers and employees of the City of Pittsburg, Kansas. Commissioners approved the ordinance by a vote of 3-2, with Brooks and Munsell opposed.

Non-agenda reports & requests:

• City Manager Daron Hall thanked commissioners who were present at the League of Kansas Municipalities conference in Overland Park.
• Commissioner McNay thanked Daron, Jay and Blake for their presentation at PSU President Dr. Shipp’s transitional advisory committee meeting.

Executive Session:

• Commissioners went into an executive session for a period of 45 minutes. No action was taken and no votes were cast.

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.