CHANUTE, Kan. — Matters involving Wastewater Treatment Plant improvements were before the Chanute City Commission Monday night, including how to handle the financing.
Scott Crist with UMB Bank’s Capital Markets Division reviewed three options for the city, including use of the Kansas State Revolving Loan Fund and use of general obligation bonds. The option selected would issue bonds over three years, with a projected true interest cost of 4.4 percent. By issuing bonds over three years, which Chanute did for the Water Plant project, would allow these bonds to be designated as bank qualified.
Daniel Coltrain of Midwest Engineering also gave an update on the project itself, on which plans were submitted last week to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment There were some questions on the plans, but no changes were made in the project itself. The next step is to put the project out to bid, which the Commission and City Manager Todd Newman were of the opinion of using a traditional bid process rather than the construction manager at risk concept it used for the water plant project.
Newman in his report said there remains about ten hookups to be made before Pon 13 of the city’s fiber network is complete, with construction of the final two pons expected to begin in August. Newman said a final walk-through of the Water Plant project is scheduled for March 17, and the ribbon cutting for Evergy’s solar farm has been delayed to May 13 in order to allow additional Evergy officials to be present.
He also reported the city’s clean-up week will take place April 27 through May 3, and city-wide garage sales will be held April 25.
The Commission authorized an additional $1,862 for purchase of a new digital sign along South Santa Fe. The Tourism and Convention Committee requested the additional funding from transient guest tax funds to reflect a higher cost bid on the sign to provide a higher resolution sign. Exact location of the sign is yet to be determined and will require a special use permit before proceeding.
The Commission also approved the appointment of Cora Finley to a two-year term on the tourism board, filling the expired term of Shanna Guiot, and approved alcohol consumption during the Chanute USD 413 All Class Reunion Sept. 25.
