By Lucky Kidd
LARNED, Kan. — The Larned City Council Monday approved an agreement to waive assessments made for sidewalk repairs to a building at 423 Broadway in 2018, which the Council had ordered after three people had fallen at that location. The $8,911.35 assessment has gone unpaid, and interest added to it.
The Property is in the process of being purchased by Landon Erway, who plans to initially replace the roof, which under the agreement he will have until April 2025 to complete Beyond that, Erway’s intent is to renovate the first floor of the building to accommodate a commercial space on the east side and two apartments on the rear.
At this point he does not have a commercial tenant in mind, but if one is found he would customize it to their liking. If not, that work will be done in the most general way. Timing for the rest of the project will depend on a number of factors including completion of a current project involving another building.
The Council approved a quote from Eakin Enterprises for reconstruction of sidewalks around the city-owned building at 502 Broadway housing the Larned Area Chamber of Commerce. The sidewalks here have ADA and trip hazard issues along with curbs that are too high and collapsing. Cost of the work comes to 33,116 dollars. As part of BASE grant funding streetscape improvements, building owners in the downtown area have the opportunity to also make improvements to sidewalks in front of and in some cases besides their building.
Fees related to parallel generation and interconnection policies adopted last month were approved by the Larned City Council Tuesday., As approved, the residential application fee was set at $250, and for commercial applications at $500, which will cover the costs incurred by the city in connection with these projects.
The Council accepted a $64,500 quote from Hydro Klean for manhole rehabilitation at the wastewater treatment plant along with installation of drop bowls that will address a problem with release of entrapped hydrogen sulfide gas as sewage enters the plant.
In a related development, City Manager Brad Elits reported the city has been authorized to access KDHE’s State Revolving Loan Fund, which would enable a pre-treatment plant to be constructed at Larned State Hospital, which would also deal with the H2S issue. More on this will be discussed at the January meeting.
The Council tabled action on a proposal to construct a storage building at the Wastewater plant, work to be done by Larned High School’s building trades class.
The city’s Tourism Committee presented plans for marketing and attracting visitors to Pawnee County. As part of their presentation, they are seeking an increase in the city’s Transient Guest Tax from the current four percent to six percent. This tax is applied to motel room rentals in the city limits.
At this higher rate they will still be below what is charged in most surrounding counties, whose TGT rates range from a low of two percent in Kinsley and Edwards County to a high of eight percent in Dodge City and Pratt. The additional funds will be used for additional advertising and marketing programs including producing a new brochure for distribution at several locations around Kansas
The Council approved a consulting agreement with Olsson, Inc. of Lincoln, Nebraska related to an FAA grant accepted last month for replacement of the main runway including lighting and other work at Larned-Pawnee County Airport. The agreement, which covers design, bidding, construction observation, and closeout, comes to $213,500, of which the city and county will split the five percent local cost share.
The council also heard a presentation from Josh Taylor with the Water Department on lead and copper line inventory, test wells, and a main break over the Thanksgiving holiday, approved a diesel fuel contract proposal from Pawnee County Cooperative Association that locks in fuel prices for the coming year, and reviewed the annual evaluation of City Manager Brad Elits.
