Pittsburg City Commission Meeting Recap – Sept. 13

PITTSBURG, KS – The following actions were taken at the Pittsburg City Commission meeting held on Tuesday, September 13, 2022:

Public Input:

• Father Jerome Spexarth shared a prayer of invocation.

National Constitution Day Proclamation:

• Mayor Cheryl Brooks shared a proclamation to the Daughters of the American Revolution declaring September 17 – 23 of 2022 as Constitution Week in Pittsburg.

The following items were approved under the consent agenda:

• August 23, 2022, City Commission Meeting minutes.
• Final payment in the amount of $303,000.00 to Utility Service Co. Inc., of Perry, Georgia, for the North Water Tower Blasting and Painting Project.
• Appointment of Cheryl Brooks, Stu Hite, Chuck Munsell, and Ron Seglie as voting delegates, and Daron Hall, Jay Byers and Tammy Nagel as alternate voting delegates to represent the City of Pittsburg at the League of Kansas Municipalities Annual Meeting scheduled for October 8th through 10th, 2022.
• The Appropriation Ordinance for the period ending September 13, 2022, subject to the release of HUD expenditures when funds are received. Commissioners approved the Appropriation Ordinance with Mayor Brooks abstaining from the vote due to conflict.

PUBLIC HEARINGS:

• PROPOSED 2023 REVENUE NEUTRAL RATE – Commissioners opened the Public Hearing for the purpose of hearing and answering questions relating to exceeding the revenue neutral rate for the 2023 Budget. No one spoke under the public hearing. Commissioners voted in favor of exceeding the revenue neutral rate for the 2023 Budget and adopted Resolution No. 1253.

• PROPOSED 2023 BUDGET – Commissioners opened a public hearing for the proposed 2023 Budget. No one spoke under the public hearing. Commissioner Munsell made a motion to lower the current mill levy from 51.636 to 49.961, capturing some of the property tax growth from assessed valuations, but not all. Mayor Brooks seconded that motion. Commissioner Hite and McNay shared concerns that lowering the mill levy would affect the city’s proposed budget and employee wage increases for 2023. The 2023 proposed budget was based on the existing mill levy, so lowering it would require the city to cut expenses. Commissioner Munsell’s motion did not pass by a vote of two in favor and three opposed. Commissioner McNay made a motion to adopt the 2023 budget as presented. Commissioner Seglie seconded the motion. Commissioners voted 3-2 to adopt the 2023 budget, with Brooks and Munsell opposed.

SPECIAL PRESENTATION:

• Director of the Pittsburg State University Business and Economic Research Center Dr. Michael Davidsson shared an update on the regional economy. In his report, Dr. Davidsson said the local economy is resilient, and growing in population and number of jobs. Sales tax collections are up and the city’s retail trade pull factor has increased to 1.9, showing that Pittsburg continues to be a regional draw. According to Davidsson, housing and labor shortages are the current challenges facing the local economy. However, from 2015 – 2021, the region’s GDP growth surpassed the state and national level, and the Pittsburg community experienced significant growth in the middle class. Download full presentation.

The following items were considered under the main agenda:

• 919 JDJME, LLC, PROJECT – Commissioners voted to approve the recommendation of the Economic Development Advisory Committee (EDAC) to support the 919 JDJME, LLC, project by allocating an amount equal to 10% of the total project value to renovate the dilapidated property located at 919 North Broadway, with the City’s portion not to exceed $35,000 in non-repayable funds, to be used specifically for infrastructure improvements. Owners Michael and Ellie Wilbur updated commissioners on the renovation project, which will include commercial and residential space.
• RELEASE OF MORTGAGE AND WAIVER OF RIGHT OF REPURCHASE – P & L DEVELOPMENT – SILVERBACK HOUSING DEVELOPMENT – Commissioners voted to approve a Release of Mortgage and Waiver of Right of Repurchase for P & L Development in relation to Lots Number 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 114, 115, 116, 117 and 118 in Silverback Landing.
• AIRPORT AVGAS REFUELER PURCHASE – Commissioners approved a request to waive the formal bid process and award the contract for the purchase of a 1,000-gallon Avgas refueler, for use at the Atkinson Municipal Airport, to Garsite Aviation Refueling Equipment, in the amount of $137,500.
• ALLTEL CORPORATION d/b/a VERIZON WIRELESS – MEMORANDUM OF THIRD AMENDMENT TO TOWER LEASE AGREEMENT AND THIRD AMENDMENT TO TOWER LEASE AGREEMENT – Commissioners approved an agreement between the City of Pittsburg and Alltel Corporation d/b/a Verizon Wireless to extend the lease agreement for the tower located at 101 North Locust for six years, with one additional extension term of four years, commencing on October 1, 2022, with an annual rental amount of $40,829.
• LAND WATER CONSERVATION FUND GRANT APPLICATION – PARKS AND RECREATION – Commissioners voted to approve the application for a Land Water Conservation Fund Grant to support the construction of a new miniature golf course, club house/concession stand and additional parking at the Four Oaks Golf Course Complex.

Non-agenda reports & requests:

• City Manager Daron Hall and commissioners congratulated Blake Benson for his recent appointment to the Kansas Board of Regents.
• Mayor Cheryl Brooks made a motion for the governing body, City Manager Daron Hall and City Attorney Henry Menghini to go into executive session. Chuck Munsell seconded the motion. Commissioners voted 3-2 to go into executive session, with Hite and McNay voting against due to a lack of notice given to city leadership staff. The executive session lasted 45 minutes and no actions were made and no votes were taken.

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.