is it going to cost you? If you've looked at the bond ordinance and
resolution, you realize those are pretty technical documents and they always are.
Um, but with utility revenue bonds, they're even more technical and and big
picture and I don't want to get into too much detail.
you're pledging only electric utility system revenues towards the payment of
these bonds. And so bond holders >> [snorts]
» uh in this case the bond insurer now uh they care greatly about how you operate
your utility. Um so you have some financial covenants that you would not
have if it was a general obligation bond where you just promise to raise taxes
and do whatever you have to do to pay them. So, a lot of what's in the
documents relates to that. The ordinance is pretty short. It's the formal
document that authorizes the issuance of the bond, but we leave a lot of the
detail to the resolution. Uh, and but I did think I would hit high points and uh
things you haven't been subject to on your electric utility operation for a
few years, you'll now be subject to. Uh, rate covenants as an example. You are
promising these bond holders that you will set
your rates in a manner uh two different tests here that when you factor in your
fund balances carrying over plus whatever you generate
that year, you're going to cover your debt service 1.35 times. So
uh the way this works is you have revenue and the first thing you promise
to pay are your operation maintenance expenses but then after that you're
telling bond holders you have first claim on this revenue after we've taken
care of our expenses. So if you think in terms of fund balances and let's say you
start the year with a million dollar then you generate $3 million and you pay
your O and M expenses whatever is left has to cover your debt service 1.25
times. If you don't take into account your fund balances
then it's 1.0 time one time. Um, and you're probably
going to carry some fund balances. And that's the reason we we drafted this in
this way that [snorts] a lot of times you'll see 1.25 times debt service
coverage just period. Meaning every year you're generating a 25% excess.
And that that's maybe a healthy way to operate, but if you start the year with
a healthy fund balance, you don't want to be forced to raise rates just because
in that particular year you were going to generate 1.2 two times instead of
1.25 times. So again, you're going to need to comply with those things. Those
are pretty standard, but I think because of the fund balances, you'll have maybe
a little more flexibility um than you otherwise would. So if, as I
say, if you're in a place where you don't have a great year, if you have
fund balances that you can count towards that calculation, you're not going to be
forced to raise rates at a time when you don't want to raise rates just because
you have one off year. just as >> and just because it's been a hot month
and tempers are high and people have even come into the office today and been
really unkind to our front upfront staff about their [snorts] electric bills. We
haven't raised the electric rates in two years. So there was no raising of rates
this month. It just is a really hot month. It's I mean I don't Jimmy
» No, that's it. So it's all weather related. Yeah. And of course, yeah. So,
» so anyway, I just went since we're talking about rates and and and we're
issuing bonds. We're issuing bonds [snorts]
um without raising electric rates. And the reason that we are able to pay for
the the bonds, we were able to make the principal payments and the debt service
payments is because we had a a >> a purchase power agreement which was not
advantageous. Um and it was 25 years long. It was a GRDA that expired this
year. [clears throat] And so we're taking the money that we are saving from
not having that disadvantageous purchase power agreement and we're
applying it to the new generators. And the new generators are desperately
needed because they are replacing the 1964
antiquated steam unit. >> Right.
» Sorry. >> Yeah, that's that's a really good point.
This is different than, hey, we have to go spend a large amount of money and
it's going to lead to something that's not status quo. We do have to raise
rates because everything's going to be more expensive. This is kind of a status
quo situation. We lost a power source. We're adding a power source through
this. And the goal is to keep those rates the same. He, you know, I can't
promise you you're not going to have to raise rates at some point, but as Gina
said, this isn't going to be that reason in two or three years. I mean, operation
and maintenance will go up and all of those things. So, as you go along,
you'll have to meet these covenants. You just have your audit report. If you
didn't meet one of those covenants, your auditor will will catch that and report
it. um not a lot of teeth to to failing to meet the coverage requirement at the
outset. It'll get noted in your audit and you have to get a consultance report
and make a determination about do we need to do something different. Um but
it's not as if failing to meet the coverage test is going to immediately
throw you into a bond default. It just leads to uh we need to consider maybe
raising rates at that point. And it has nothing to do with the bonds per se.
It's just overall revenue generation relative to your entire system.
» While we're talking about coverage, um the other place this sort of test shows
up is if you want to issue additional debt against your electric utility
system revenue stream in the future, there are similar tests. So, think about
bond holders right now purchasing these bonds. They're the only bonds payable
from your electric utility system revenues. they're first in line. If five
years from now, you need to issue bonds again, that's different than things were
when they invested in these bonds. And so, they need some protection and they
push for that protection. And so, we have those tests. And again, it's you
need to be meeting those coverage tests that I just mentioned both on your
existing bonds, these bonds, plus any additional debt that you would issue in
the future. And that way you leave bond holders in the same place they would
have been otherwise. So again, you'll have the flexibility to issue bonds in
the future, but you'll have to meet some financial covenants.
Uh again, if you look through this, we create some funds and accounts. Project
fund, that's where most of the bond proceeds will go, out of which you'll
pay for all of the project costs. There's a debt service account. There's
a reserve account that instead of depositing cash in it, which would I
don't want to say typical, but maybe more frequently, you just put a sum of
cash in there, it just sits as a reserve for a rainy day. If you have a bad year,
you hit that reserve. Um, Steel investigated, determined that it would
be cheaper to buy a shity bond. Um so like bond insurance you have this is
something similar but it's in the reserve. So that would get hit first.
You would draw on a shy bond if you had a shortfall in your debt service and you
needed to hit the bond reserve. Um so just another layer and instead of
[clears throat] depositing I mean in this case it would probably be something
close to $2 million as a reserve. uh it's going to cost you in the tens of
thousands in premium and you don't have and that money just sits there. You
can't put it to use. Hopefully investment rates are such that you can
earn a nice return on it. But pretty efficient way right now to handle that.
Um so again another really technical thing and the the bond insurer who's
providing both of those also really cares about all the these financial
covenants. So they'll want to get your audit report. They're going to monitor
those things. Bond holders are always going to get paid now either by you or
the bond insurer. And if it's the bond insurer, then uh the term is subregated.
You then owe them money. They become the bond holder because they've paid your
bond holder. So that's that's how that works. That will never happen. You've
got a healthy utility system. The coverage is fantastic. And so um so
that's all all good news. And the only other thing uh I always like to
touch on is federal tax implications. As long as you use these facilities for
your governmental purposes, that results in tax exempt bonds. That's why you can
get the good interest rate. If anything ever changed, if you entered into a
contract in the future where you were going to sell all of the output from
these six generators to some new business that's coming to the data
center, I'm kidding. It's just an example. [laughter]
I know uh for attempted to but I've been a big user.
» You don't know our social media pages. >> Well, I [laughter]
see you and every other city in the country right now. Uh but again, a big
user that said we will pay you a premium if we can just take all of the output
from those six generators and leave them on all of the time. then that becomes
something that looks less governmental and more private and we'd want to talk
about that and see if it changes the tax exempt status of your bond. But other
than that, on a going forward basis, you don't have to worry about much. Just
make sure you don't have those output contracts. Make sure you're meeting your
financial covenants with which your finance officer, your auditor will help
with that. And again, it's been a long time since you had any debt on this
utility system and it's pretty healthy and this all looks affordable. And so I
will stop there. Uh again, I if you browse through these documents, it's
it's pretty technical stuff and I understand that. But uh but again, it's
a more complicated issue than bond insurance and a limited revenue stream.
So Jamie, I'm just going to want to make sure you're comfortable. We're going to
save money by getting out of a GRDA contract and that'll be enough money to
pretty much offset this bond payment and we won't raise rates.
» Absolutely. >> That's what I thought.
» Yeah. Actually, last week u I know everybody in town complained about the
bill. >> Well, we also get a bill that we
purchased off of the grid. And when it came in last week, I about flipped out
because I had never seen it that high. So instantly I was on the phone with
tear and blah blah blah. And they said, "Hey, listen. If you had your GRD over
right now, you'd be paying twice that much." So I said, "Oh." They said, "You
guys are buying a lot of power, but you're also selling a lot of power right
now." So it goes hand in hand. Um Evan was actually today was going to send
them some information from our past year with GRDA and Tier was going to kind of
lay it out for me so they could see, hey, here here's where your savings is
this last year since since we dropped it in April. So it really hadn't even been
a full year ahead. So >> I think what I'm seeing between the
lines is we're we're in a good position >> absolutely to do this at this time. So
when GRDA was uh brought on board 25 years ago at that time the city thought
that was the best thing for for us. Um they expected uh electric races to
skyrocket more than they had and actually it went the other direction. So
that was why getting out from 100 was a blessing. So we can do these
improvements with the savings separate. Revenues will still go on the same
direction. We just um we're not spending as much. That makes sense.
» And remember also that the steam unit requires a much larger workforce than
the cat generators do. So already Jamie has uh reduced the number of employees
at the power plant by five in the last couple of years.
» Yeah, we five down. last per year
» and the intention going forward is through attrition not through layoffs or
anything but through attrition um reducing that further by two more. So
the there's enough and the technical
um knowledge to run the steam unit is much higher and the people who know how
to run that Brian Evans is one of them. He's here. He's one of the few and far
between that that really still know how to run it and Brian doesn't work in
power anymore. So um so anyway the the knowledge is going away. Um, and the
work will be reduced. [clears throat] >> And that also, if I'm correct, Jamie,
won't that help us now once we get the cats in, we won't have a person at the
power plant at night or do we? >> We're working on that, too. We got a lot
of things going on and hopefully our automation will be done, I hope, this
fall in the next several months, but when that does happen, we'll only have a
crew during the day, so we won't have a night shift, which is a whole other
thing. >> Yeah.
» Yeah. Well, the behind the scenes work by Stiffel is unbelievable. If you try
to read all this, so thank you [snorts] for doing all that.
» And Gilmore Bill >> and Gilmore Bill I don't want to take
credit. the the long documents if you don't uh
don't like reading those long documents. So I think uh yeah and and again just to
add to the discussion it this is the third I think in the last year um
generation project I've worked on with Kansas cities and I think a lot of you
probably entered into the power purchase contracts at about the same time and are
realizing coming out of that period of time maybe we can do this more
efficiently on our own and so [clears throat] we'll add some
generation. It had been a long time since I'd worked on a bond issue to add
electric generation and now it's like three in one year. So, uh that should
give some credence to yes, we're we are swapping out and and kind of keeping up
with the times and more efficiencies and paying for things that way.
» Okay. Any other questions for Kevin? Okay. All
right. Um, with that being said, I guess uh just kind of
» uh you'll do a vote, a roll call vote for each one, correct? The ordinance and
the resolution. >> Ordinance definitely. Uh
» resolution. >> I mean, you get in on the resolution as
well. I'm not going to >> Might as well.
» Okay. Well, let's just um I'll make a motion, of course. Um I'd like to make a
motion that we approve of the utility bond ordinance 2611.
uh provide for the issuance of principal amount electric utility system revenue
bond series 2026 of the city of Pra Kansas making certain covenants and
agreements provide for the payment and security thereof and the authorizing
certain other documents and actions in connection therewith
it's been moved and seconded that we approve of the utility bond ordinance
2611 uh any other discussions okay
» roll call >> roll call do I do it or you
» you do Okay. Commissioner Oeller, >> yes.
» Commissioner Myers, >> yes.
» Commissioner Seammens, >> yes.
» Commissioner Blankship, >> yes.
» And I'm a yes. Five to zero. Okay. I'll then uh make the motion that
we approve of resolution 081726- C, a resolution prescribing the form and
details of the authorizing and directing the sale and delivery of the electric
utility system revenue bond series 2026 to the city of PR, Kansas. previously
authorized by ordinance number 2611 of the issuer making certain covenants and
agreements to provide for the payment security thereof and authorizing certain
other documents and actions connected therewith.
» Second been moved and seconded that we approve resolution 081726c
as presented. Uh, Commissioner uh, Postetler.
» Yes. [snorts] >> Commissioner Myers,
» yes. >> Commissioner Stevens,
» yes. >> Commissioner Blank, yes.
» And I'm a yes. 5 Z. >> Okay.
» Perfect. >> Thank you.
» Thank you. Thank you. >> All righty. Now moving on to 6.4,
consideration of resolution 081726- October Fest at Lemon Park. Mr. Dakota
Green. >> Good afternoon. um here to formally
request um permission from the city to host our 2026 event um September 26 from
5 to 10:00 p.m. in Lemon Park. Uh and [snorts] also uh we we did provide a
resolution uh seeking permission to be able to um have alcohol at that event
this year. Very grateful. Uh we started this event in 2016. We had to take a
break uh co year. So this will be our ninth year. Um our average attendance uh
has has typically been on a on a good weather year been north of 400 um of
individuals that that many from outside of our community that attend. Um
conservative estimate every year we have about 30 to 35 business sponsors uh that
help make this event possible. We're incredibly grateful to the business
community in Pratt um and and all of our sponsors. Um but o over the years uh at
the end of every year uh we make donations back to lots of organizations
in Pratt. So um in in the past nine years conservatively we've given back
about 90,000 back to the Pratt community. Most of that has gone to
Pratt Rotary Club which we have a matching grant program. Um so we give uh
45,000 to Rotary every year. They match it dollar for dollar and the Rotary Club
has a grant program um that's been used on things like some of the in
partnership with other organizations like some of the playground equipment
and things you'll see in the in the parks. Um we we donate to the prep food
bank hope center. Um you know uh we every year we're grateful to London
Park. So we we call it the London Park tree planting initiative. We try to buy
two or three trees a year. Um and many many other organizations. Um, so this is
a community uh event. It is an adult 21 and o 21 and older. So it's an adult
only event. Um, but it really the concept is um just to get out, be
neighborly, meet and talk with people in our community and build relationships
and um if you have any questions, I'd be grateful to try to answer those.
» You know, Dakota, you know, I think you guys do a great job every single year. I
think it's great that it's in Lemons Park, especially with all the trees and
the shade, you know. So, but um I always think you guys do a great job with it
every single year. >> Thank you.
» It's a good event. >> What was the date on that?
» September 26th. >> Okay. And what time do you want the park
closed?
» 4 means the vents from 5 to 10 p.m. So, maybe 4:30. Okay. Be great. Um I will
note one other thing that's unique to this year. So um um kind of the theme of
Pratt Sports Tourism um we are now the Proud Otoberfest is an official US
Steinholding Association state tournament. So if you win that
tournament um you get to you get to go on to the state finals and then
eventually to the the national championship in Cleveland, Ohio. So, uh,
last year we did have a couple people from Texas and other areas that actually
drove here to specifically participate in that event.
» Cool. >> Everybody's radar.
» Yeah. Uh, so, Dakota, what time do you guys plan on setting up again? Around
noon or earlier? >> We always set up [laughter] the day
before. >> Okay. So, we'll set up on Friday um
evening uh into Saturday morning and then tear down. The PCC wrestling team
helps us with set up and tear down. We'll tear down and have it all cleaned
up um by early afternoon on Sunday. >> Perfect. Okay. Uh Regina, any any
concerns with the resolution at all? >> Okay. And then Chief, any concerns at
all? >> Okay. All right.
Make a motion. >> I I'll move that we uh approve the
resolution 081726 for October Fest
on September 26. Second.
» It's been moved and seconded that we approve resolution 081726-
for October Fest at Lemon Park for Saturday, September the 26th of 2026.
Any other discussions? All those in favor, please say I. I. All right.
» Thank you. >> Thanks, Dakota.
» Thank you, Dakota. All right. Moving on to now 6.5, consideration of resolution
081726-B allowing alcohol at the municipal
building for a private event. Miss Sarah Scaggs, I would like the clerk to note
that I will be abstaining from this vote due to my personal relationship with
Miss Scaggs.
Hello, I'm Sarah Skaggs and uh I am getting married on October 10th and my
reception is at the municipal building and I would like to serve alcohol there.
I'll sell it. Um we hired a company called the bars open out of Witchah to
serve the alcohol and also ID people. Um they have a liquor license and also a
liability insurance. Um,
and I also plan to have an offduty police officer there attending as well.
So, I would like your permission to have alcohol at my wedding. So, if I could
just remind the commission that we've
discussed the municipal building before, um that because of how permanent it is,
it's not a street or a park, you actually don't have to approve every
single event that has alcohol at the municipal building. However, in the
past, you've said that se and the commission make up changes, but at the
time the commission said that they still wanted the ability to vote on every
event that has alcohol at the municipal building. So, I think that tonight you
may have more than one resolution before you. Uh so, just just so that you keep
that in mind. At any point you can say when it comes to the municipal building,
we have already exempted that from the state law that that prohibits alcohol
being used on government property. If if you ever come to a point where you just
want staff to make that determination, you know, you can let us know that. But
in the meantime, because we are doing what you've asked us to do, um Sarah's
here to to bring that request to you. >> Chief Fry, do you have any concerns at
all? No, I don't know. Have you contacted our
department on the offduty officer yet or are you using somebody else?
» Off duty officer is um Austin Sats who's actually my cousin.
» Okay. >> Um who I hope has taken off work to be
there. [laughter]
» I hope so, too. >> I'll find somebody else.
» Justin, any concerns? >> Uh I don't have any concerns as long as
they're all tied up on the legal end with the the city side. I'm good with
it. >> No problems.
» Also, just putting it out there, we have had some events at some other city
facilities um that have not been accepted the community
center. Uh we've had some events there and people brought alcohol and left a
huge mess. And so we may discuss um a deposit when we do alcohol related
events. Um that's just something that that Jess and I have not got together
and talked about yet. >> And this is all inside the building.
» Yes. All inside. It's outside. It's not something I know about.
[clears throat] >> Yeah. Okay. laugh.
I'll make a motion that we approve uh resolution 081726B
allowing alcohol at the municipal building for a private event. Second,
» it's been moved and seconded that we approve resolution 081726-B
allowing alcohol at the municipal building for a private event. Any other
discussions? All those in favor, please say I.
» I. >> And I abstain.
Okay. passes four to zero. >> Thank you.
» You're welcome. Who's, by the way, who's marrying you all?
» Wyatt Cole, [laughter]
» who's who's the honor of marrying you and Wyatt?
» My brother-in-law, Kyle Farmer. >> Oh, boy. [laughter]
» I know, right? >> I just wanted the record to
» No, I'm ordained. Yeah, they couldn't find anyone else.
So, they >> Jamie Huber's available.
» All right. Now, moving on to 6.6, consideration of ordinance allowing
alcohol at third street from the municipal, Mr. Greg Hansen.
» Good evening. Thanks for for hearing us. I'm Greg Hansom here on behalf of the
the board of the Pratt Public School Foundation and we're asking for an
exemption to allow for consumption of alcohol in front of the municipal
building. Basically, um as written in the uh the draft here, we've said uh
between Jackson Street and Main Street just to keep things simple. Uh the Pratt
Public School Foundation uh we exist to support educators and students in USD
382. We do that by awarding uh small grants to to teachers for things
educational purposes that are kind of outside what the district might provide.
And so the bike race, the the open range travel race is one of our primary ways
to raise money. We support that race at the end of April and then uh in turn we
get a nice donation back from them. So we're part of of the race. We're we're
trying to to do some enhancements to it as well to make it more of a community
event. So, we've got the uh we've invited the Yum 56 ice cream truck in uh
for next year. We've got a a barbecue food truck there. Uh the organizer has a
van as well. And so, we just think it would be nice. We're there all day
supporting the race anyway. We thought, well, why not try to sell some beer and
and make some money from the participants as they come back in from
the race. So, uh, knowing that the inside of the municipal building, um, is
already exempt, uh, but the race happens outside, the finish line is right there,
the band is outside, the food truck is outside, it would be nice if we could,
uh, make some money from the participants and any towns people to
come and then they could go outside with their adult beverage and and watch the
actual finish of the race. So, that's kind of it in a nutshell. uh and then we
we'd uh drill down to the details when we come back to the resolution uh before
the race happens in the fall. So, this is just kind of the the first step to
see if it's possible that that we could allow that to happen outside. I think it
would also benefit uh just going forward um any other u groups or have something
going on. Um that's a good section of the street that if somebody else wanted
to do something then this would be in good shape for them. Okay. So, looking
at the map here, Greg, it's going to kind of be where I'm assuming BTI is at
in the nail salon. Or am I looking at >> that's the wrong
» Oh, I'm looking at Okay, I'm looking at the other one.
» No, we're looking just Third Street. Okay, there there is the limitation for
the setback from Liberty Middle School was
» 200. >> Yeah. Um, so by saying the east side of
Jackson, that gets us far enough away from the school that that that's not an
issue. And of course when we do the resolution and actually quartering off
[clears throat] where it's going to be, we'd make sure that that we're the
proper distance away. >> Okay.
» So where um like the wedding, they'll have the alcohol concession in the
municipal building. How are you going to keep it within the the designed area?
» Yeah. How? >> Yeah. And and that's I think uh when we
get to the resolution part of it, um we we nail that down a little bit better.
But I would envision, you know, barricades or or a tape taped off area,
something like that. Okay. Yeah. Yeah. We definitely want to make sure that
we've got it got it enclosed. We monitor for that.
» Are volunteers going to monitor making sure people don't leave that barrier?
» Yeah. Yeah. And we do, you know, wristbands to to verify the the age.
» Okay. >> So, and we're just trying to, you know,
kind of grow the event, make it a little bit more of a communitywide thing, maybe
get more people downtown to enjoy it. Um, we've got, you know, over 300 people
sign up for it every year. So, that's a lot of outtowners coming in. If we can
entice them to to stick around town a little bit more, maybe have dinner or
spend the night, then it's a good thing. So, it would benefit us. We'd raise a
little bit of money off of it and [clears throat] town, too.
So, this is the exact same the ordinance that I put at each of your desks and
there's extra copies for any audience members that want um any the
all I did was I added um obviously in the heading that we were
exempting West Third Street between the east boundary of South Jackson Street
and west boundary of South Main Street. And then at that last whereas before the
actual ordinance um language and then in the ordinance language
paragraph 4 we just separated we had the east fourth street which was already
exempted as subsection A and then we added subsection B which is west third
street. And now east, did you say east or west fourth?
» East fourth street between the east boundary of South Main Street and the
west boundary of South Dennis Gust Street. We did that for the Pratt Jim
several years ago. >> That's was about to ask.
» Uh Chief Wright, concerns or opinion? >> No, just it was brought up about the
containment of it. >> Okay. Do you feel comfortable with the
containment? And yeah, >> they'll also have to provide boundaries
and a map to um get a liquor license anyway if they're doing sales. So, the
state of Kansas will um audit that. >> Okay.
» Prior to issuing a license.
» Any other questions?
Okay.
I'll I'll make a motion to approve the consideration of ordinance 2612
allowing alcohol at third street in front of the municipal building.
It's been moved and second that we approve ordinance 2612 allowing alcohol
at third street in front of the municipal building. Any other
discussions? All those in favor, please say I. I.
» Okay. Masses. All right. Thank you very much. Thank you.
» I got to tell you that's quite the description on where this all is going
to be. >> Well, that that so I think you're
looking at the the legal description of Lemon Park. That's all [laughter]
complex. So yeah, the Green Complex is complicated. Lemon Park is even more
voluminous,
» but this is old. All right, we're going to move to 6.7
now. Consideration of road closure Jack Street between fourth and fifth and
resolutions uh 081726-D for the Philly Fest on Thursday,
September the 3rd. Miss Hans
alcohol related family here talk a little bit about the Philly Fest.
the Philly Fest. We're in our third year and it is simply I guess an awareness
raiser and a friend raiser and hopefully a community gatherer event for the
Philly Fest, the Phil Vernon Philly Art Museum. We do not charge entry. It is
open to everyone. Um this year we are having a secured little area where we
have food vendors. will have two food vendors, a beverage cart, and um an area
that's quadranted off to say 21 and older in here. No alcohol beyond this
point. That is for the food service around lunchtime. The Philly Festival
will actually start at 5:00 p.m. It will host a music truck,
five community interest booths, and 17 individual artists that are displaying
their wares. There's no charge for any of the people to come and set up at the
festival. We do not make any money off of this. It is strictly a a familiarity
and a community raiser. We would like to have permission, however, if you would
take it under consideration for whenever the actual event happens. We will close
off the road between Fourth and Fifth Street. This year, we've pulled it back.
In the past, we've had it going into Merchants Park and there was a lot of
back and forth. There's a lot of school traffic that needs to come through
there. So, this year, our committee decided that we would only close off the
um portion of the street on Jackson between fourth and fifth. The library
has graciously considered to work with us. They're going to allow the tornado
sun or tornado snow uh mobile to come there. We have a cotton candy vendor and
we will have face painting in that area. We've talked to Dylan Omar who owns the
uh car repair shop. They're open until 6 now. And so we worked with him to
develop a map for egress of all of the vehicles that are in there for service.
But at 5:00 p.m. there would be a um southwest truck pulled across uh Jackson
Street at the fifth street entrance so that that will provide secure entry
there. We would like permission to barricade off the alleyways on each end.
Although our event doesn't go into that alleyway yet because it is kind of a
smaller event. We would like to close those off to vehicular traffic and allow
only emergency traffic. We've also talked with CL Meg's company, BTI, all
of the surrounding businesses and close off the entry at Main Street into the
parking area that's behind uh in that block. That way it creates kind of a
secure environment for people walking around. We do have a designated kids
zone and you know lots of vendors. We'd like to make it just as secure as we
could for people walking around. We have an emergency plan and the library has
graciously offered that if we have any bad weather or we have to, you know,
move inside for any reason, the library will host it. We have two entry points
on Jackson Street, one at the library and one at the Philly Museum where
people have to come and come into the area. So, what I'm here tonight asking
is if we can close that off and have permission to do so and the use of
barricades. Um, also if we could, we would like to have consideration that if
this area is closed and is secured, if we could have permission to take adult
beverages and walk around in the vendor area. And that goes back to the
resolution that we just did. >> Well, the the problem, Cara, is that we
we don't have South Jackson Street as an exempt an exemption on the ordinance.
So, do do you know what I mean? So, so we have certain areas that are exempted.
So, is the ask that we amend the ordinance to include those streets?
» I did not know that. I just did a resolution to see if we could walk
around in the area. Um, but we also have a backup plan for keeping it secure
knowing that, you know, this might require something else. I know the
vendor would apply for a Kansas uh permit, which would include Yeah. doing
the map of everything else and we do have the maps available.
» Sure. So the alcohol on public property has two steps. Um the ordinance tells
you tells uh people and organizations where there's been an exemption from
state law. So where you can have the alcohol, which is why Greg and John are
working to get that section of Third Street exempted. And then the resolution
is for the specific event that will have the alcohol. Um,
and this is our last meeting before >> Yeah, we won't have another one till
after Labor Day. >> Okay.
» So, I don't know what to do because Jackson Street I I don't have an opinion
on whether or not we should exempt I mean I always want to support the
Philly. Um, it's just not running into the ordinance right now.
So you're talking about pulling a big truck there and Jack sitting for how
will emergency vehicles get in and out >> um for the actual street?
» Yeah. >> We would have to come in from the from
the north for that or one of the other areas that we would have barricaded off
but could still have vehicular traffic. We just felt like that would secure that
end a little bit better where the food trucks are. We could leave it open and
just have barricades as well. So, Gina, with the ordinance, do we have
to go back and make a motion to amend it to add uh Jackson Street or whatever we
need to add? >> And you would need to give me the exact
language that you want. >> We can't do like a specific event one
time or I'm assuming if it's >> you want to do it again and again. So
yeah, >> if it's just on the private property and
barricaded there with the alcohol, does that
» allow for the resolution and not an ordinance?
» If it's on the private property, >> it's uh muffler shop has graciously
donated that for the entire day, the whole space.
» It's not allowed on public sidewalks.
would actually be on the sidewalk. It would be inside of the area.
» Okay. >> But but the alcohol's on private
property. >> But the alcohol is on private property.
And I think that's fine. >> Okay.
» It's public. The the prohibition is public streets, alleyways, parks,
sidewalks, >> but private property.
» Where's the private property? >> The maps that are in your packet.
Oh, >> so when looking at it, so you said it's
going to be on the feet. >> It's going to be on the muffler
» property or >> they can't use it
» south of the 200. They have to go all the way
» bever. >> Okay.
[clears throat] >> N.
» So the so the tipsy turtle is the out. >> Yes. Nick and Tiffany Parker here.
» Okay. The municipal building is outside of
that 200 feet. So I this facility should be outside of that 200 feet from the
school, >> but the pedigo building is sits closer
than Liberty does and that's part of the USD.
We pulled a tape and just unofficially not officially but um it was 250 ft to
uh the sidewalk in front of Nicholas Beverlin.
» Mhm. >> Stolen
» all and all the way to Pedigo or >> from Pedigo.
» Okay. >> But they can't basically the front yard
of the Philly. That's too close. >> But they're talking about the monthly
shop. Okay. >> So, the muffler shop is
» it's the green area, correct? >> Right.
» That's the muffler. >> No, the muffler shop script says
» tornadoes. >> Tornadoes.
» So, ours isn't colorcoded or >> Oh, I'm sorry. Well, the tornado snow is
over by the library, but the muffler shop is on the other end of the map and
it sets back in. >> Yeah, I got it.
That That's actually where they got the tornado.
» That That's what's throwing me off is so the tornado suns is near the muffler and
the tipsy turtles in the alleyway behind like BTI and all that.
» I apologize. You have a different map. We can find it in that area knowing that
this might be >> Okay. So, tornado and suns is like near
the library, right? It'll be in front of >> Okay. But the tipsy turtle will be right
there on private property in the >> Yes. And then the two trucks. So all of
the uh services will um open into the area that is enclosed by the trailers
and the muffler shop. So there won't be anybody coming up on the outside. They
will have to come into an area to get food and beverages.
» The alley would be public property though.
» And the alley is >> that's a city rideway.
» So yeah.
» Thank you. Our
printer will get worried. >> Um, okay. So, this is Jackson Street and
it would be more
» It's on page 153. >> But it sounds like the map might be
outdated. >> Yeah, ours is out of date.
You just can't have it. >> There's There's two maps. There's
another map on 154, but it looks the same to me
» as far as the boundaries.
» I didn't realize that you were a part of the family.
» We just tal.
Yeah, we can [laughter]
» Okay,
No, that makes more sense.
[cough]
» [clears throat]
» because
» just not all of our
people.
Yeah, >> we'll come back.
» Okay. >> Okay. Um, so Gina, what would be the
best or
» what do we do? >> Yeah. What do we do here?
» Good question. >> Well, so we just need to close the
street. >> The alcohol is going to be confined to
private property. So the alcohol is not an issue this year,
» right? Right. >> So, you are going to have to take out
that second to last paragraph on that resolution.
» Okay. >> Which one?
» Which one? >> Oh, on the prep page of the resolution.
» So, resolution. So, it's it's be it further resolved, the Philly Museum will
be allowed to offer for the sale and consumption of alcoholic liquor at the
Philly Fest 2026 on Thursday, September 3rd, 2026 between the hours of 5 and 7
p.m. because you're not given permission for that. It's not on a public property.
You're just agreeing to close the streets.
» So, so do we need to delete the whereas up above it talking about
» There it is. Okay. Okay. So, take out B for the result.
» What about the where up there? >> I see that.
» Whereas, >> the last whereas
» Well, there's four,
» third and fourth both discuss alcohol consumption
on public property. >> Third and fourth.
Got to make sure we do this by the book. >> I appreciate that.
[cough]
» I think Jean, are we ready for a motion? >> Yeah. So you're just uh just be clear
that you modified the resolution you know to
to delete the third and fourth whereas to delete
» be the first before be in further resolve
» correct >> and the title
» and the title >> you know what I'll tell you what you
really need to do I would do a resolution I would just make a motion to
close the street for the best on the day time
» and not worry about a resolution. >> You You always close the street like
that. >> Lawyers,
» Sean. >> Yes. Okay.
» All right. We'll make this easier. I would make a motion that we approve
closing Jackson Street between >> fourth and 5th on September 3rd for the
Philly uh activity. It's been moved and seconded that we
approve the closure of Jackson Street between 4th and Fit for uh September the
3rd of 2026 for the Philly Festival. Any other discussions? It's 5 to 7:30 p.m.
» from 5 to 7:30 p.m. Thank you. Any other discussions? All those in favor, please
say I. >> I.
» Thank you. >> Yep. There you go. Yeah.
» We'll have somebody new come next year. [laughter]
» Okay. Uh moving on, we are going to kind put in our addition now 6.8 discussion
of our golf ordinance. Uh Mr. Terry Williams.
And by the way, congratulations Terry on your victory from the primary. Thank
you. >> Thank you, mayor and commissioners for
allowing me to speak today. I want to here to talk about the golf carts here
in the city limits of Pratt. Um I'm here to ask the city commission reconsider
the city's restriction on operating properly equipped golf carts after
sunset and before sunrise. I want to make one thing very clear that I'm not
asking the city to eliminate any safety regulations. I'm only asking the city to
use reasonable safety regulations instead of absolute prohibit
prohibitation. Kansas law already addresses this issue under KSA8-15108.
Golf carts may be operated within city streets when authorized by the city and
Kansas statute specifically provides for operations between sunset and sunrise
when the golf carts are equipped with required lighting and properly mounted
slowly moving vehicle implements. So the state has already recognized this as um
properly equipped um golf cart. It can be operated safely at night. The
question before the commission is whether Pratt wants to uh allow the uh
operation for reasonable um local regulations. My golf cart is registered.
It is um insured equipped with headlights, tail lights, turn signals,
mirrors, horns, and other safety equipment including seat belts and that
sort of thing. Um, I'm not asking to drive an unregulated vehicle around town
in the dark. I'm asking to operate a vehicle that's already been properly
equipped and registered under the rules established by the city. Um, I also
believe that we need to look at um this issue consistently. We have electric
bikes running around town, electric scooters operating throughout the
community, including after dark without headlights, without registration,
without all of that safety stuff. Um, many of these vehicles are subject to
the same registration and inspection requirements that the golf carts are.
I'm not saying we should prohibit these vehicles. I'm saying that the safety
should be the standard. We should apply these safety standards consistently. If
the city's concern is visibility, require headlights, tail lights, brake
lights, those sort of things that we already do. Um, and then going further
here, um, [clears throat] I I do understand
the the chief of police, um, his concerns. I I know he's does not agree
with any of this stuff. I do respect that and the chief's job is to identify
potential safety problems and and I I don't take these concerns lightly. Um,
but I do believe the commission's job is to balance these concerns with the
rights of the needs of the citizens of Pratt. This blanket prohibit
prohibitation is the easiest rule to enforce, but it doesn't necessarily make
it the best rule. I would ask the commission to consider the pilot program
to amend the ordinance allowing properly registrated insured golf carts to
operate after sunset and before sunrise when that they meet specific equipment
and safety requirements. Um, if the city wants to have additional regards, um,
safeguards, I'm willing to discuss them. Um, it's just simple. Don't regulate the
the vehicle based solely on what it's called. Regulated based on how safely it
is equipped and operated. Um, Kansas has already established framework and
nighttime golf cart operation. Pratt has the authority to obviously decide
whether to authorize it. Um, I I do believe that PRA can protect public
safety without unnecessarily restricting responsible citizens who are willing to
register, ensure equip and operate your golf carts responsib responsibility. Um,
as many of you know, I I live on Dennis Gall. That's where my business is. I
have a laundromat. I get calls all hours of the night. Um, sometimes somebody's
laundry stuck in there or my machine ate their money. It's easier for me just to
hop on the golf cart, run down there and and you know get their laundry out or
whatever. Sometimes people have a crash in the middle of the night. They need a
rental car. I have rental cars. I just buzz right up. Also, my my wife um she's
on the Master Gardener, which takes care of all the planters on Main Street. The
best time to work with the planters, especially when it's 108, is after the
sun goes down. So, we drive down, you know, Main Street and we pull the
flags. We put up um you know, what whatever [clears throat] the whatever
she's doing with with the planners. Um I I feel like this is a reasonable
request. I've already talked um to Regina about this. I talked to our
previous intern police chief and we didn't really see much of a problem. I
know um our current police chief is not really for this. However, I feel like
when properly equipped, they have the same things that a motor vehicle does,
including a van, a tag. You know, why why are we requiring headlights to get
it before it's registered when we can't even drive it after dark?
So, I'm asking the city commission to adopt uh the state statute.
» So, I I appreciate Terry coming and
exercising his, you know, his citizen duty to or or his rights to
discuss this with you. I I will I do want to to make sure that
I am supporting our chief of police though. And I think when when when Terry
and I first talked about it, I said, well, the last chief of police, the
chief of police who was in place at the time the ordinance was written was very
clear. He didn't want any any of these on the street at all. And so then as a
compromise, we did it. We wrote the ordinance so that they wouldn't be on
the street after sundown. And so I do feel like
my job is to listen to our department heads and I don't I I would like you to
hear from Ken as well. But so a previous chief of police did not agree with
having a master guard and Ken doesn't agree with having a master guard.
Austin. Uh Parker, who has visited several times as a as a visiting city
attorney, has said that he has a number he has a number of of cities that he is
the city attorney for. They and he said most of them don't allow the golf carts
on the street after dark. Sean, what is your experience?
» Yeah, and I did some research before we got in here. Um [clears throat] city of
Witchah, same thing. um after dark they'll they they they don't allow them.
And then I did some small, you know, some smaller jurisdictions, too, and
they're all seem to be kind of along all the same lines after dark and before
sunrise. They're not alone.
» Thank you. Can Can you express to the commissioners why you're opposed to
that? >> Certainly. Um quite honestly, I'm
opposed period, as the previous chief was, to them being on the roadways day
or night. And part of that reasoning is they're not built to take impacts. If a
if a car hits a golf cart, you got a little aluminum frame or whatever,
there's no airbags. Um there's no the impact they're not impact resistant
frames. The standard golf carts that a lot of
people have, you know, the older ones, they do sit lower, so their lighting is
lower. So at night, that's going to make that a little more difficult to see when
that lighting is this high off the ground as opposed to a motor vehicle
when their lighting's 18 to 24 in off the ground. So there's more of a chance
of not being seen and an incident happening after dark because it's not
with lit as well or sitting up as high. And again, traveling at night, a pickup
or an SUV or even a car versus a golf cart, I understand it can happen at both
times, daylight or night. But I just I just see it as a hazard and just my
opinion on it. >> So, where do we stand on electric bikes
going at night and going up and down the sidewalk like on main
» electric bikes? We don't have an ordinance designed to look at that. I
have been paying attention to other communities. Um,
some comparable [snorts] size, some a little smaller. Some of those have gone
to the electric bikes that you need to have a driver's license and be at least
8 16 years old. >> Is the most recent STTO, does that
address the standard traffic coordinates? Does it address the
electric bikes electric scooters?
» Yeah. And yeah, they're it's just as bad. I mean, cuz those kids go flying
down the street. That's I think something we need to look at in the near
future. There was somebody hit yesterday in Leewood or today in Leewood, 13 years
old, you know, hit on a scooter and they just and the kids as adults, we learned
we've got to look when we're coming to an intersection. But I watch these kids,
they come to a street and they're on the sidewalk and they don't even pay
attention. They just shoot straight across. So, we do need to start looking
at an ordinance on those as well. Yeah, we I I'm definitely in agreement
with you, Terry, that that we need to the electric bikes and the electric
scooters, they have become very popular in the last year or two. And so now that
we see that there's an issue, we definitely need to address it.
» And unfortunately, the state level hasn't recognized it yet. And
unfortunately, it's going to take tragedies like happened yesterday. And I
know there was one last week or the week before. There was another one up
Levvenworth, I believe, somewhere up there. And it's unfortunately going to
take a few incidents before the state steps on. So I think we need to get an
ordinance in place.
» So concerning Terry's, I have no doubt Terry would author would drive it
responsibly at night. >> Oh, you're looking at his whole I get
it. >> Yeah.
» Others question. Yeah. you know, and and so
» yeah, and you know, the safety I Okay, motorcycles are even more exposed than
golf carts, and they do drive. >> Sure.
» Um my tendency is to defer to the new chief
just out of respect for >> him taking office.
I can be swayed. Yeah, >> if you guys have a strong opinion.
» No, I I agree. You know, Terry, I appreciate I I get it. you know, you
would be a responsible person, but the unfortunate side is we can't not
everyone's responsible and everything like that. You know, I was I was reading
an article, speaking of golf carts, a drunk driver hit a a golf cart and
killed a bride in there. And again, I'm not saying that could happen. I hope
that never happens here in Pratt, but >> you know, I defer to our department
heads that, you know, I have to trust them and I, you know, and support them.
» So, my question is then why if the scooters don't have to have tags and
insurance. Why do the golf carts? Why why why is the city getting our $25 and
and all that? Now, I'm going to insure mine because I I have things that I can
lose. And so, my question is is why do they have to be tagged then?
» Well, the state statute requires that they have insurance and that you have to
have a driver's license. I I don't think the statute requires them to be tagged.
I don't know. >> I I don't see anything. I I didn't fully
read the KSA, but I don't believe that it has.
» I think that it's more for our local law enforcement to be able to keep track of
which it's also inspection. You know, you inspect the golf cart when you get
the tag. >> Yes.
» But why does it need headlights? >> The statute requires headlights.
» Headlights even though you can't drive it at night.
» Am I incorrect on the STL? >> I'd have to look at it. Headlights are
even required on vehicles. If if it's rolling it, you have to turn the wind
heads on.
» As required by law. Yeah, >> I think it's a work in progress and I I
agree with Monty out of respect for the new chief and I appreciate the homework
you did, Sean, for other communities that have done it. It It seems silly.
You can't hop in your golf cart and let fix the problem and go back home. But
» yeah, and there there actually are other communities. I I have done some
research. Uh Kingman and Chimi both allow it after dark.
» Okay. >> Um the communities that are our size. Um
which I can see. I mean why would you >> Yeah.
» Why would you even allow them in the daytime, which I mean it's it's a you
know it's a populous place. So I I I feel like
you know I see I see both sides. Um, I I just
I use it as a tool and and you know, I don't want to fire my big diesel pickup
up just to go get someone's laundry out of the out of the washer and and so
» see if we if we pass this, you you would be the one that goes by the rules. Then
there's everyone else that doesn't. >> Exactly.
» Right. >> That's the problem. M that's
[clears throat] part of my concern as well is the ones that'll drive them to a
drinking establishment and
» now that's the same rules as the motor vehicle though it is if they drink it I
mean >> they can take their motorcycle to
» Yeah I agree 100%. But and I don't know why it is, but I have seen so many
people >> on a golf cart with a beer, you know,
like with an open container. I for some reason the the population has not
grassed, but no, you can get a DUI for that. And
» and that rifle is saying get DUI in a lawn mower in your
front yard if you got a beer on it. >> My front
[laughter] technically you can. It's a motorized vehicle.
Well, you know, Terry, I do agree. The electrical scooters and bikes, that's
definitely I do agree with Chief and Regina. We have to start doing something
about that because like I said, I don't want a tragedy like happened in Leewood.
You said, Chief. >> Yeah. And actually, we've had a traffic
accident here in town last week where a citizen was hit by that was on one of
those that was hit by a car. >> So, so [clears throat] when you start
regulating those, are you going to regulate them all together or just at
night time? The scooters? I can't answer that till we draft an ordinance.
» Yeah. Because because if you [clears throat]
if you put a regulation on them, then you have kids that can't get to the
pool, can't get to the library, cuz that's their that's how they get to
those kind of places. School. >> Yeah.
» And and by there is a statute ordinance that states on bicycles after dark,
they're required to have headlights and tail lights,
» but there are many that don't. And I see them pass by policemen all the time that
just they don't nothing's happened. They go
by my house all the time.
So I I feel like if we're going to crack down, they it needs to be done
just let it pass by. That's my opinion.
» Well, we'll have discussions about it. We'll keep talking about it. Trust me,
the allowing our citizens to be free while also giving them reasonable
regulations is is our goal. You know, we're not trying to single out anybody.
We want everybody to have as much freedom as possible, but also to be safe
and we have a collective obligation as a community to provide safety for each
other as well.
» Thank you. >> Thanks, T. Thank you.
» All right, moving on to 6.9. consideration of closing an old credit
card account. Alita, he says, >> "Yes, you see me over there."
» Yes, you're good.
» Okay. When our original credit cards were opened through People's Bank, um
somehow they got opened as a nonprofit and it has come to our attention that we
are not a nonprofit, of course, we're municipality. So, we need to close that
account. I have opened a new account as a municipal mun municipality
» and you voted on that, right? >> Yes. And so in order to close the old
account, the credit card company needs the minutes from commission meeting
saying that they approve for me to close that account.
» So that's the issue. >> Is this your company money that you work
for? actually is TC [laughter]
» affiliated. >> I'm embarrassed that they require this.
» So, >> okay.
» So, that's all I need is just you >> approval to close the old credit card
account. >> Okay.
» Do do you have an account number that needs to be referenced?
» Um, let's see. Account ending in 8649. >> Okay.
» And it's TCM. >> TCM.
» Yes. That's not the full account. See,
» do you want the whole account number? No,
» I don't think we want. >> I got it up here.
» And account number. What was it? >> 86
» 8649. >> 8649.
» Account ending at 864. >> Account ending 8649.
» I'll I'll make a motion that we close an old credit card account from TCM bank
account ending 8649. >> Second. It's been moved and second that
we close down uh an old credit card account from [cough] KTM bank account
ending 8649. Any other discussions? >> I'm abstained.
» Okay. All right. Anything else? All right. All those in favor, please say I.
» I. Extension passes 4 to zero.
» Thank you. >> Thank you. All right. Moving on to 6.10.
Consideration of curb and gutter funding requests for Cleveland Thompson Street.
Mr. Shan. >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Uh, yes. This is a
request for replacement and installation of new uh carbon gutter uh at Cleveland
Street between Pine and Thompson. This is adjacent to the area that is uh been
prone to flooding and extreme weather. Uh I had uh EBH engineer uh Joel
Crochell and Jerry Starky go out with me and we did a site survey on that and
they came up with a oversized curb with a high back and large pan that will
carry in their estimation at about three times the normal amount of volume for
that area. And [clears throat]
we believe that'll solve a lot of the problem with that flooding into that uh
low area. um you saw a lot but not all. >> Well, we haven't had the rain after the
fact yet. So, we're still analyzing that. Um and as soon as we get large
rains, I've been every time it rains I go by go by there, we haven't had a rain
heavy enough, >> right? Correct. To see what that is.
» And we're looking at other options, too. >> Yes. Uh we're also discussing putting in
some burm area around that, but that's separate from this bid. Um, we did go
out for several bids from local contractors receiving only one bid back
from a Rosco and Sun uh in the amount of $20,000 uh even and that is for 260
linear feet of curbon gutter and the alley approach on the south side of
Cleveland Street to increase the pitch angle of that so that the flood waters
don't crest over that as reported from the residents there. Uh
so that is what I'm requesting at this time is for 260 linear feet of curbon
gutter and the uh alley approach repour by Rosco and Sun Concrete in the amount
of $20,000 and that will come out of special street fund 452407
» and could you just explain what is the special street fund out of
» that is the uh tax revenue fund that goes to the general fund that is
specific specifically allocated to street curb and gutter and sidewalk
repair. >> Perfect. Thank you.
» Y >> and in your opinion 20,000 is a
reasonable dollar amount for this work >> based on uh previous work and the amount
of square or linear footage and extra volume of pan. Yes, this is very
reasonable. I was hoping to get more bids but
» so are they doing the catch basin too and the curbon gutter or this is just
the curb? They are doing the curb gutter and the alley approach.
» And the alley approach. >> Yes. [snorts]
» I'd make a motion that we approve the funding request uh for the $20,000 curb
gutter replacement on Cleveland Street from Arasco and Sun Concrete.
Second. It's been moved and second that we approve the purchase or the approve
the purchasing of redoing the curb and gutter funding request for Cleveland
Thompson Street for a total of $20,000 from Arasco and Sun Concrete. Any other
discussions? All those in favor, please say I. I. Okay, perfect. All right, last
thing is consideration of funding request for servers. Mr. Sean Cole, our
new IT director. >> Look at that. He's [clears throat] been
with us a couple of weeks and he's asking for money on it.
» Yeah. How about that? >> But Jeremy Nelson is also here because
he's going to um >> he'll be [clears throat] heavily he's
been involved in the discussions, you know, previous uh and he's really good
at the dispatch stuff. >> Okay. So, uh requesting final approval
for the purchase of hardware for the city's proxmox uh virtualization cluster
project. This project initially would had was started under previous IT
directors uh with [snorts] along with uh Jeremy Nelson and Echo IIT ops to um uh
evaluate alternatives for our current VMware virtualization server. Um, and
this was already uh evaluated and uh reviewed by the uh emergency board and
so we're just coming for approval. uh the uh the main reason that we're doing
this is that our current VMware software is uh has some we have in substantial
increase in licensing costs um that is is ongoing and so we needed a
virtualization pro platform that would continue to provide reliability
um and functionality without tying us to these increasing costs. Um, Proxmox was
selected because this is an enterprise level platform for this. It supports
clustering so that if one piece of hardware goes down uh that it could
these servers could be transferred to other computers so that they would
continue to stay operating. Um and uh this is uh to provide uh redundancy.
Um and this was a many of these servers are
for uh 911 services and dispatch services. Uh so
that would help to keep our uptime uh up so that we didn't have just a single
point of failure. Um but the timing of this is also significant. Our VMware
licensing is going to expire on August the 31st.
Um and so uh this was this approval would help us to go ahead and pro to
purchase hardware uh to pro to uh have Proxmox installed as the VMware as the
VM solution. uh the virtual machine solution. So uh one of the advantages of
Proxmox is that it it doesn't have the ongoing licensing costs. Uh this request
is only for hardware. Uh Prox also does uh offer support costs if if you would
if we wanted to go that route, but it is substantially uh less expensive than
VMware. Um this uh
and so the approval just will allow us to go ahead with that hardware purchase
to keep that implementation on schedule. Um, since I've joined the city, I've
kind of reviewed [cough] this proposal and and that that even though that this
was something that a previous director had, IT director had put together, I I
support it. Uh, support moving forward with it. I've got prior hands-on
experience with using Proxmox and so I'm familiar and comfortable with with using
it. Um, also we have we have Jeremy Nelson here this evening with us.
» [clears throat] >> uh he was involved with the initial uh
evaluation of it and hardware design and and if you have any additional questions
he he also provided >> well information
» the system you're you're uh that we discussed at the emergency management
meeting Jeremy that you were at. I mean, it was it the the system was an it's an
interesting system because it it it's it's built-in redundancy, right? If you
have a failure of I can't I'm [clears throat] not it like you guys, so
I don't know all of the words, but if you had a failure in one system, there
were two redundant systems and so one would pick up if one failed, it would go
to the redundant system and then you could replace the one that failed
without any any disruption, any emergency management calls. the idea.
So, do I need to be up there? Can you hear
me? >> We should be able to hear.
» Yeah, we should be able to hear. >> Wonderful. So, it's a cluster. So, it's
a small cluster. We're putting three three different physical servers
together where they're going to work together and cooperate. Um, there's been
historically, recent history, there's been some lightning strikes uh at the PD
that have taken down servers. um and
I don't want to say disabled but put the 911 in a in a behind the a uh so
» significantly >> the idea is put the three servers in if
we were to lose have some type of catastrophic event
lightning hardware failure on its own we would still have two machines that would
would carry the weight and we our impact or our downtime would be negligible if
if any um try not to get real technical here. So
these are physical devices. The server that the operating system that 911 would
interact with is called a virtual machine. And these this virtual machine
or machines would would migrate or we would migrate them
in the case of a hardware failure with like with the minimal down time. that
that's the idea behind it. And so if we did have a catastrophic failure on one,
I don't know if I I have to look at the design, but potentially even two
machines. We would still have services available for 911 and and the community.
» Unfortunately, since the last lightning strike, 911 has had several glitches.
they can't hear each other or uh several instances where Christine said
this is truly a safety issue. It's an officer safety issue that they need to
get um the new hardware in. As far as the the VMware, it's my understanding
that that what is currently being used was purchased by Motorola and Motorola's
costs are much higher and that even though this cost for this hardware is an
expensive cost. [clears throat] Um part of it will be covered by 911 funds. Uh
the two lightning strikes that we had two years in a row have depleted any
reserves and 911 funds. our 911 funds are um tight. The county uh is going to
share some of the cost as well. So >> once we move over, correct? Or are they
sharing some of the cost now? >> I believe that they're going to share
some of the cost for the hardware moving to the crux system. And [snorts]
anyway, so it's it really is it's a sheriff's department safety issue. is a
prep PD safety issue and it's a 911 functionability issue. Also, if we don't
move to this Proxmox, what that means necessarily is that we continue with the
VM that we have and then we pay higher uh licensing fees.
» Correct? >> Did Did I say that correctly you guys?
» Absolutely correct. The current So VMware VMware was recently bought out by
a third party company. The The costs for the city were negligible,
very small. Current cost for renewing the VM software piece is about $15,000
a year at ongoing and whatever we're going to
be subject to for future price increases. Proxmox is an operating
system that drives the the virtual machines, the pieces that 911 would
dispatch or 911 dispatch would use. And that is current that is an open- source
free software that is enterprise grade. [clears throat]
So we're trying to eliminate that that ongoing $15,000 a year plus.
» Well, it sounds like this is something we definitely need to do. So,
Bonnie, do you want to or Brad or >> Yeah, I I'll make a motion that we
approve the funding request for the servers as directed by Sean.
» Second. It's been moved and seconded that we approve the funding request for
the servers from the Echo IT LLC and Jeremy Nelson for the total of
$25,57.50.
Uh, any other discussions? All in favor, please say I. I.
» All right. You guys go. Okay. All right. Moving on now to open public
comment. City matters only. Three minute time limit. Public is allowed to speak
on issues or items not scheduled for discussion on the agenda. Comments
should be limited to issues and observe the business and governing body. Protect
the privacy interest of individual employees and to avoid discussion of
marriage not appropriate for open session. Comments regarding hiring,
discipline, performance, conduct, investigation, resignation, termination,
and other employment statuses of any specific non-electric city employee will
not be permitted during open comment. Speakers may address general city
policies, practice, department operations, or service concerns, but not
individual personnel matters. The commission will not discuss or debate
these items, nor will the commission make decisions on items presented during
this time. Members of the public are limited to three minutes or comments.
Anyone from the a Oh, Tammy.
» Tammy Coleman. I'm representing the impact group tonight. Um, that's the,
uh, >> it's on that list.
» I'm their meaningful projects coordinator. And what we are planning,
uh, September the 11th is a national day of service. And so on September the
12th, we are going to have a cleanup event.
Um we are going to be staged at the corner of um Finchum and Sixth Street at
the dental office there. And then we have volunteers who will be cleaning
[clears throat] Finchum Street, you know, gathering garbage and Sixth Street
uh down to Country Club Road. And I just wanted to make you aware that this event
is happening and invite anybody who wants to participate uh to come out and
help us for the day of service. And we're going to start at 7:30 in the
morning on September the 12th.
» Staged along there for pickup. >> That would be nice.
» I don't know how many we're going to require. Huh?
» You tell me the day of the week. >> That's a Saturday.
» Saturday >> because September 11th is on a Friday
and we just moved it to that Saturday. >> I'll arrange for sanitation to get
upstaged along there. >> Okay. Thank you very much.
All right. Anyone else from the audience like to speak?
Okay. That being said, we'll now move into reports. The manager, Miss G.
So, I was um out of the office last week visiting my child who moved to the West
Coast recently in a military move. So, um I don't have a lengthy report. Uh but
what I did the prior week was um Jamie and I had meetings with S&P and with
Steel regarding the bond um issuance and Jamie really enjoyed that process and
he'd like to do it again. I'm kidding. It was a very it was it was incredibly
tedious. Uh the other thing I also I'm on the Kansas Municipal Utilities Board
of Directors and um they had a meeting last Wednesday in McFerson that I
attended and there's just so much good networking and information um you know
sharing uh I I do find Pratt's involvement in that to be incredibly
beneficial. Um I also met with a representative from the Union Pacific
Railroad. uh he came and he just shared with me uh you know their hopes that
their merger is is still in the um the feds have
» the merger was denied the first go round, wasn't it?
» I believe it was. Yeah. Um but he said that if the merger is approved this
time, then they would be the first rail country rail company in history that
operates rails from coast to coast. that that right now you've got a different
rail company doing the east coast, a different rail company doing the west
coast. Also, he said that um if it goes through they have a a a plan to increase
the the the shoulder of the rail here in Pratt, which should help alleviate some
of the train traffic that the the the trains crossing, you know, blocking.
» You know what I'm saying? >> 281. Yeah. where where our emergency
services have had our technician back and forth. So, I I thought that that was
an interesting meeting. [snorts] >> Okay. Well, I will say I thought Jamie,
you were did a great job while you [clears throat] were gone. There was
Nope. >> Always do. [laughter]
» All right. We gone more often, I guess, is what we're doing.
» No, pizza parties, then we're not I'm teasing.
» So, all right. Any other questions for Regina? All right. Thank you, Regina.
All right. Public works, Mr. Champl. >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um, Coven and the
water crew have completed the installation of the water lines out at
the point. That ditch is all back filled and they're currently doing pressure
test and chlorine uh disinfection on that line. So, they are wrapping that up
very quickly. Uh, wastewater has transitioned into the southeast corner
of town with maintenance and are quickly getting through all of that. They are
going to go back around and hit what we call the trouble spots after they have
completed the whole town's maintenance just to double down on areas that we
have had concern with. Uh we had a sewer back up on the 100 block of Stout
Street. Reported no damage at that. Uh blockage was cleared very quickly and
the resident said they only had a small splashing of water in their basement.
[clears throat] Quick clean up, no problem. Um, street
department has been out all last week with their asphalt recycler patching um,
uh, holes all over town and through Lemon Park. Uh, currently they have a
large array [clears throat] of thermal crackings over [cough]
uh, that I believe they're getting ready to mill out and start patching those in.
Parks department removed three trees at Lemon Park by the West Gazebo. Uh and
then next week they are going or this week they're going in May Dennis to
remove I believe Danny said 13 trees [clears throat]
uh on the east side of the drainage ditch. So uh sanitation and cemetery
nothing to report. Everybody's just uh keeping busy and beating the heat. We
did receive the trash truck perfect Wednesday of last week. So far
everything appears to be fine on it. Nothing no issues. Uh I've got with Dean
Simon we have the uh lease agreement on my desk. It just needs to be looked over
and signed and then we'll finish that process. Okay.
» Um public works uh the 400 block of South
Main Alley is complete. That'll have to the end of this week for um the concrete
to cure. then we can open that back up. Uh storm box repair at Oak and 6th was
completed by Rosco. Uh and I'm currently working on the cost share grant for the
Sixth Street extension again for the fall application.
» Did somebody run over that storm lot? >> Yes. Okay.
» There was another drain hit recently too that has cones up. Is it by the
municipal building? >> That one's been repaired by street
department. >> Yes. uh the one that's at Oak and six
that was poured back extra thick with reinforcing steel. So that one shouldn't
be a problem ever again. That's all I got.
» Any word on well six or anything like the movement wise?
» Yes. Uh survey is going to be complete by the end of this week. We have uh West
off Plumbing going in there to trace out two of the laterals on High Street so we
know where those residential laterals go in case we have to move those uh per the
state we can't have anything in that 100 foot radius including residential
laterals but after we get that survey completed then we can see if we can move
forward with moving well >> and then when's the Maple Street Bridge
closed? We have uh pre-construction meeting the
18th tomorrow. >> Yes, tomorrow. Uh and then that will
determine when that project kicks off. I believe it's supposed to be end of
month. >> Okay, perfect. Awesome. Any other
questions for Jeff? Okay. Building inspector, Mr. Walker or Mr. Shantline?
» Mr. Shanine. >> Okay. Um, since the last council
meeting, we've uh I've been training with Robert and uh we've completed one
roof inspection, two electrical inspections, seven concrete inspections,
um zero sewer this time, issued seven mowing letters, two tree letters, true
removal or maintenance letters. um designated three nuisance properties
that'll be ongoing and uh got a lot of the work done to prepare um
for two dangerous structures which will then progress through the process to get
those removed most likely next year. >> Okay,
» perfect. >> Thank you.
» Yes. >> So, what is your name?
» John Shanline. >> Okay. Are you
» any relation? >> Yeah. His oldest brother.
» Okay. transfer over from power plant.
» He's been working with Robert the last um
» week, >> just last week.
» And you'll you're and you're taking over as building inspector.
» I'm designated interum. I think there needs to be an interview process to go.
[snorts] >> All right. Any other questions for John?
[clears throat] >> Okay. Thank you, sir. All right.
Electrical department, Mr. Huber. >> Let me start with the bond. If you've
never experienced going through a bond process and or a federal grant, then
you're missing out. Those are two things in my career that I wish I would have
never been a part of. [laughter] There was a lot.
Um, no, actually I I'm really happy the way it all turned out.
We're still uh Chris Negley is the engineer on our project, which is also
the substation project, power plant, and our automation.
So, a lot of things are going off. You've driven by 10th Street where the
power plants are going. There's the line department still putting pipe in the
ground and they may be for several more weeks. There's a lot to it. So, um we've
got the area where the cat will sit. That area is done. We're just waiting on
concrete crews now to come in and get that started. We're almost done with
where the control house will be when that does and they can pour concrete
over that and then we'll start building a building over it. Um, but then they're
going to have to trench from that up to the substations and that'll just it
won't it'll take a while but it won't be look like what it does now. So really
that's all uh production just kind of normal maintenance stuff right now. We
got through all our testing for the year. So, perfect.
» Yeah. So, we've kind of neglected um some of the maintenance outside and so
they were on that a lot last week. Um and really uh just the high energy uses
right now going on. So, we've been and that's it's normal, but we haven't
really seen that many consecutive days in the hundreds. So, right,
» it's going to people are going to pay for it. They don't they think they're
not using anymore. But in reality, everybody's just
» I agree. I mean, but this is just the worst time of the year. This is when the
heat comes. >> It happens every year. Every year at
this time, you start getting complaints. Yeah.
» I've never had this bill as high. Well, we look back last year and you know, oh,
there it was. You were actually higher last year than you were this year. So,
» um, it is what it is. And like I said, I kind of freaked out last week when we
got our bill. So I like I said I made a bunch of phone calls and [cough] put it
to ease on that. So no the cost of of energy was the same. It's
just you guys bought more. So >> well and you know Jamie I appreciate too
you guys keeping you know not having any brown outs or blackouts or anything. I
know there's some parts of the state that are they're dealing with some of
that. So you guys are >> and you know and we've never really uh
experienced that like other parts of the country. And part of putting these
generators in is for that reason. Yeah. >> If that would come if somehow or another
the grid start shut it down. I mean we're not going to put our customer in
the dark. No. >> So no way.
» Um there was a power outage I think over the weekend. Was that just because of a
storm? >> I think there was one today actually.
» There was one today. It should have been resolved.
» Yeah. >> And it it transformed.
» Okay. They're starting to overheat. They're just not getting enough time to
cool down. So, we had loves trip off here while last I don't kind of messed
up. Maybe it's a week ago or so. And we'll kind of find out. Electricians
that were working in there that weren't there were there working on it. So, they
won't fess up to why and how it tripped, but we kind of pointed finger there. So,
» got it. >> But it's it's up and I think that
project for Lowe's is about done. So hopefully other than that um I really
don't have anything else for you. Just >> perfect. Awesome. Any other questions
for Jamie? All right. Thank you for keeping the city running when Gina was
gone. >> I tried my best. I didn't know.
[laughter] >> All right.
» Really? It's not that difficult. ANYHOW,
» that's [laughter] why you got yourself off that board of directors.
» Experience things. >> Yeah, we're not doing that one no more.
So, [laughter] >> all right, practice the crowd.
» Thank you, mayor. Fall sports signups are live. We got flag football,
volleyball, and soccer in the fall and then co-ed and women's volleyball for
adult stuff. Uh the point drawings got pushed back a little bit a couple days.
So we expect those next week um for all the construction documents and hope to
go out to bid uh here the first part of September. Uh we're still doing the
improvements at Lemon Park ball fields and good and Dickerson press boxes
batting cages dugouts. We're getting those projects wrapped up as quick as we
can because PCC softball starts uh next Monday their fall season.
So pool season's going well. As you aware, we transition to weekend hours
plus adult swim. Um, and then we have pool parties almost every night from now
until the end of the season. I think we're at like 14 of the next 18 nights,
something like that. Pool parties. >> Nice.
» So, [cough] getting good [clears throat] use out of it. Uh just a little tidbit
for Tiffany. The concert is this Friday. Right now it's currently a green sports
complex. It's full house. Starts at uh 8 8:00. Gates open I think it's 7. So if
you're looking something for due Friday night, come out to the concert at Green
Sports Complex. That's all I got.
» Perfect. >> Any questions for Justin? All right.
Thanks, sir. All right. Uh IT department, Mr. Sean told any anything
else? >> Um, nothing really to nothing really to
report. Uh, just getting a handle on things and and keeping things running.
» All right. Well, we appreciate you coming board. So, all right. Okay. Uh,
anything for [clears throat] Sean on it? Okay. All right. Uh, Robert, I would
just like to say personally, uh, >> no announcements have been made.
» Okay. Never mind. Sorry. I'll shut up now. All right. Alita, anything for
finance department? Okay. Anything for Alita? Okay. I
apologize. Okay. Police department chief, right?
» Well, do the harassment I received at the beginning of this meeting. Maybe I
should stand for mine. [laughter]
» Uh, no. Just in the last two weeks, the department's taken 451 calls for
service. They conducted 96 traffic stops. worked two traffic accidents. I
don't think that was correct. Um had six misdemeanor charges, four felonies with
one arrest, assisted EMS fire seven times, and conducted 32 bin inspections.
Also, in that time, um the incar cameras that I was told would not ship until the
end of September, beginning of October, arrived
4 days after I placed the order. >> Wow.
» Wow. >> So, take that. Um, we did conduct an
interview. We got one that cancelled. We have sent out a offer to that applicant
at this time for one of the positions we have open. Hopefully hear back from them
by the 28th. We did have two officers that attended a
train the trainer for instructors for deescalation techniques so they can
train our in-house people. Let's see.
We did conduct a couple of uh drug search warrants as well in the last
couple weeks. We did have some car burglaries again. Yeah,
» we did have a stolen vehicle. We think it's just those three. The
stolen vehicle was recovered within about two blocks of where the burglaries
occurred. So, kind of guessing same person. We've been canvasing with um
checking Ring doorbells and the new bus barns camera system is quite nice. So,
we've been checking it as well. >> Is that Do you think is the same
burglars that uh robbed that lady that had her car on 54 or do you think that's
somebody different >> or I saw her car battery got stolen or
something out of her car? >> I guess I didn't see that.
» Okay.
» I think that's a county. >> Okay, that was the county. Okay, my
» um but the vehicle was recovered over in the fifth in Washington area. Let's see.
Uh first day of school Southwest, we had five officers out there just kind of
meet and greeting the kids, handing out some stickers and pencils and
high-fiving, welcome them back, getting the officer's faces out there again. So
that went over well. Um I received a report from the Humane
Society. >> I have no idea what you guys want on
that report, so I'm going to fake it till you tell me otherwise. Uh they had
11 animals in, they had 12 go out. They gave out 54 bags of food to the
community between cat and dog food and they had 15 surrender attempts and it
looks like there's about four pages of injections that were given to animals.
» Okay. >> I don't know what all that stuff means.
So if you guys want something else out of there, tell me and I'll make it
happen. But >> n that's good.
» This was from July 11th to August 11th. >> Perfect. All right. Anything else for
Chief Right? >> Okay. Keep up the good work, sir. Thank
you. All right, fire department chief. >> Thank you, honor. Uh, didn't have
anything major uh past few weeks. Had a few CO calls and uh dropped cell phones
which were got called in as vehicle accidents. Of course, once they drop a
phone, it automatically sends a signal to dispatch that there's possibility for
a wreck. So, been out investigating those, find out they're just drop
phones. But, um, other than that, like say CO calls, uh, had a few of those.
And then vehicle accidents, just stop and checking on those. Um, August 27th,
we'll be out of PCC, uh, doing that with the presenting PRA. We'll have a booth
set up out there to kind of welcome some of the other kids back into into the
college out there. And then on September the 13th, I've got five or six of us
that'll be doing the stair climb over in Witchaw for 911. So, participating in
that. So, other than that, it's about all I've got.
» How's the door coming along in the garage?
» They're still waiting for the door to show up when when I hear from Cheney
door. Uh then we'll get the other two together and once they make that cut,
they won't make the cut unless the mason's there to to grab the brick work
and get that that brick work started. So >> Okay.
» Should be coming up towards the end of this month.
» Perfect. Awesome. Any questions for Chief Hoffman?
» Okay. Perfect. City prosecutor, >> how we doing tonight?
» Doing good. >> All right. Um city uh uh the
prosecution, it's going well. We got the new J-Hawk software that's we're going
through. We're getting it all coded right. So it sinks over. Been talking
with Gina about some back due fines and seeing if we can get a system set up,
get a collection agency in on that so we can start collecting some stuff that has
been paid in a while. And we're really clearing out some stuff that's just been
sitting around for a while. Not no movement on it. So working forward on
that. >> Perfect. Awesome. Any other questions
for Sean? All right. Thank you, sir. All right. Tara, anything from your end on
finances or anything? Um, no. Um, we will be doing the budget hearing
September 7th, 8th, whatever that Monday is. Yeah.
» Uh, that Monday or Yeah, that meeting is Tuesday. No, it's Tuesday. It's a
Tuesday. >> Probably should move on my calendar. Um,
so that's the main thing coming up is just getting the budget budget hearing
done and approved for the next year. So, >> and I do want to point out I'm very
proud that we did not we are revenue neutral. So again, I know people got
their tax statements over the last couple weeks and again, the city did not
raise their billies at all for 2027. So again, appreciate all your guys' hard
work on that. So all righty, anything else for Tara? Okay, perfect. All right,
city clerk, Miss Garden. >> Um, as Jamie stated, we're and you've
seen on social media, um, we had a very busy day with, um, customers. I think
the Facebook stuff kind of stirred up concerns from those who may not have had
those inklings, but um in most situations, we're able to explain and
come to an understanding um that the city didn't raise their electric bill.
But if I continue to get complaints, I'm going to send all the phone calls to
Jamie. [laughter]
But um in all seriousness, it's uh everybody's bills went up slightly for
electricity and it's quite frankly the weather.
» Yeah. >> Um I have a smart AC unit that shows me
my usage and my usage this July was significantly higher than last July and
my usage was um 200 hours higher than uh June. So, it's um unfortunately that
we're experiencing this right now, but we're going to get through it together.
» Yeah, we don't want to leave out water, though.
» Water, yes. Um [laughter]
» yeah, that has been a challenge. I'll send some calls to Kelvin. That'll go
well. Um [laughter] >> well, and tomorrow is not going to look
great. It's going to be 105 tomorrow. So,
» yeah. Um, >> and so the weather is hot and people's
temper temp their tempers are flaring, >> but the public discourse and the
nastiness towards our employees is really disheartening. The ladies up
front work very very hard and when customers come in yelling and screaming
and cussing >> and they're riled up on Facebook without
asking the questions, what was my usage? Brianna could pull it up. any of the the
front office staff can pull up what would what were the how much electricity
was used last year, how much electricity was used this year. Also, did the rates
change because they haven't. And so instead of people being so ugly to our
employees, these are human beings and they are working hard and they are
serving the public. And we have had people leave city employment this year
because of the Facebook nonsense. And so I I would really implore the public to
have conversations with uh city staff in a cordial way and we will share all the
information that we have with you, but please don't come into the front office
and yell at the employees in the front. >> I completely agree with you. I mean you
guys are doing the best you can for the city and I mean we cannot control the
weather. We can't control certain things and unfortunately people think we can
but we can't. We have some we've discussed talking
points um you know meter um inspections and things like that. Uh we discuss
histories with people. Um we try to identify you know somebody will come in
and say this is the highest bill I've ever had and we look at the history and
that is not accurate. Um 90% of the Facebook comments that were on there I
checked all of their bills and n out of 10 of them were inaccurate statements.
Uh they would say my bill went up $100, you know, over last month. Inaccurate.
Which actually mine did. Mine personally did. It went up $100 because my kids
have been home this whole summer for the first time ever. So my bill is um you
know anyway um if if people would just have a conversation with us and ask us
questions instead of coming to assumptions we can walk them through
what is going on and possibly help them attempt to reduce their consumption
because we do have a lot of um suggestions. We've even been mailing out
little flyers to some of the people that have had higher consumption than usual.
And we also go out of our way, we have uh Crystal audits as many bills as she
can. You know, we have 4,000 bills. She audits those to try to identify anyone
that might have a possible leak. And we've even gotten yelled at from a
customer for sending them a possible leak tag because we are trying to do our
best to help you identify issues. And um so just a general statement that we are
working very hard to try to facilitate, you know, good services and we're doing
the best we can and we're trying to be nice about it.
» How many of our customers, Bri, have you taken up the opportunity to do the
average monthly bill, you know, after they live? Um well there's some
challenges with that because the previous city clerk's policy was that
they had to be enrolled in autodraft and um to be quite frank that would truly
benefit from the average monthly payment or lower income status um households and
they can't usually sign up for an autodraft that has a payment coming out
at a specified date. They would prefer to control when that payment comes out.
So we I have been discussing the possibility of changing those policies
to open it up a little bit further. But the challenges with that is that if you
sign up for average monthly payment today and so your average is 300 but
your actual bill for this month was $550, then you're already starting in a
deficit in this program. If you go off services in two months, then you likely
are going to have an additional $300 bill added to your final bill for that
month that you didn't actually pay your bill. So, there's a lot of factors that
weigh into this and I'm trying to find a solution that benefits the people that
truly need it while also, you know, not jeopardizing our financial situation and
bad debt and things like that. So, there's a lot going on.
» No, but that shows your dedication on helping our lower income people. I think
it's a good point that Brianna looked at all of those comments and looked at the
bills and the statements made on public on on social media were inaccurate and
» there's there was very few that were actual um concrete statements where yes,
the bill did go up this amount or whatever that most of them. So, I think
I'm sorry I'm on a tangent here, but um I think what people sometimes I've
recently lived in another city and so is some of my family and people
automatically assume that our bills are higher. You can have an argument about
property taxes where I may agree with some of it because of our lower
population in this county than others, but I have done analysis after analysis.
anytime we have this type of uproar, we have lower water than all the
surrounding cities in this area. I have uh I went to every single one of their
accounts and pulled their rates and created a um formulated Excel sheet that
will tell you exactly what you would pay if you lived in Medicine Lodge, Goddard,
Kingman, wherever. City of Pratt has lower rates than any of those
communities around us. Goddard is the next one closest to us. Everybody else
is higher. The problem is in Pratt, all of our bills are put into one umbrella
with the city of Pratt. And so it's automatically a, you know, I saw a
Medicine Lodge person commented and said, "I'm only paying $200 for my
electric." Well, if you break down someone's $500 bill, it may be 250
electric, 100 water, and $20 trash. And so, we're not comparing apples to apples
when we're making these statements. So that's why I'm very happy to go into
detail with anyone who would like to bring their bills in and have a
conversation and look at their historical data because I can set the
record straight and like I said find opportunities to potentially help them.
There's even some state programs where um you can uh better insulate your home
with government funding, you know, with some grants if you qualify for
especially for lower income people. But um that's not usually what Facebook is
for. Facebook is for validations for your emotional concerns and nobody
actually calls us to find a solution. They want someone on their bandwagon
with them. I would love for them to call me.
» You're allowed one tangent every 3 months.
» Okay. [laughter] I'm sorry. I'm very passionate about it
because I'm I'm also paying a higher bill, but I after working here
understand why I'm paying a higher bill. And that's because my kids were home
more this summer than they've ever been because of their ages.
» Good job. >> All right.
» Sorry. >> No. Anything else?
» No, you don't need to apologize. >> You're fine. Hey,
» Jamie's mad at me. >> No, but I'll add to that that you know
there's rumors that city employees get discounts on electric and water on this.
That's not true. We paid just like >> I missed out on it for 16 years.
» Absolutely. >> Sorry, Brad.
» My electric alone was $415 electric by itself.
» There's some users that have no idea how much water actually used. When they when
you tell them by the unit and tell them how many gallons that actually is, it
blows them away. Yeah. >> Well,
» watering two or three times a day. >> And I've had to have those conversations
recently. The average household uses 10 units of
water a month. If you are using over that, you are using excessive water in
your household. If you go anywhere else across the country, you are likely going
to pay a fortune for those excessive use units. Here in Pratt, it's $2.95 per
unit >> after 20.
» After 20. So, it's we still have a reasonable priced water system
currently. >> Okay. Well, as I said,
» sorry. >> Nope, you're fine. Uh the only thing I
have is two things is one, we do have an executive session for attorney client
privilege after this. But the big thing is for my report is um if you guys
commissioners I'm assuming you guys are fine with it, but I I want to bring this
up. So last Friday the back to school bash had to be cancelled due to a storm
and everything. So the school planned on doing the back to school bash this
Friday. Um I told David Swank, I don't think you need to show up, but I assume
that you guys we already approved of it. Are you guys okay that Okay.
» Okay. I'll just tell them that we're okay with it. That we can still close
off Third Street for Friday from 7:00 to 8:30. So, perfect. Other than that
though, I have nothing else. Commissioner Oeller,
» Commissioner Myers, Commissioner Semons, Commissioner Blankship. Okay. With that,
we'll go into executive session for attorney client privilege. Regina, how
long do you think I would at least like a little bit of a relief break really
quick and then we'll Yeah. Regina.