[17:57] is it going to cost you? If you've
looked at the bond ordinance and
[18:01] resolution, you realize those are pretty
technical documents and they always are.
[18:05] Um, but with utility revenue bonds,
they're even more technical and and big
[18:12] picture and I don't want to get into too
much detail.
[18:15] you're pledging only electric utility
system revenues towards the payment of
[18:21] these bonds. And so bond holders
>> [snorts]
[18:25] » uh in this case the bond insurer now uh
they care greatly about how you operate
[18:31] your utility. Um so you have some
financial covenants that you would not
[18:34] have if it was a general obligation bond
where you just promise to raise taxes
[18:39] and do whatever you have to do to pay
them. So, a lot of what's in the
[18:44] documents relates to that. The ordinance
is pretty short. It's the formal
[18:48] document that authorizes the issuance of
the bond, but we leave a lot of the
[18:52] detail to the resolution. Uh, and but I
did think I would hit high points and uh
[18:59] things you haven't been subject to on
your electric utility operation for a
[19:04] few years, you'll now be subject to. Uh,
rate covenants as an example. You are
[19:10] promising
these bond holders that you will set
[19:15] your rates in a manner uh two different
tests here that when you factor in your
[19:20] fund balances
carrying over plus whatever you generate
[19:25] that year, you're going to cover your
debt service 1.35 times. So
[19:33] uh the way this works is you have
revenue and the first thing you promise
[19:37] to pay are your operation maintenance
expenses but then after that you're
[19:42] telling bond holders you have first
claim on this revenue after we've taken
[19:46] care of our expenses. So if you think in
terms of fund balances and let's say you
[19:50] start the year with a million dollar
then you generate $3 million and you pay
[19:56] your O and M expenses whatever is left
has to cover your debt service 1.25
[20:02] times. If you don't take into account
your fund balances
[20:07] then it's 1.0
time one time. Um, and you're probably
[20:12] going to carry some fund balances. And
that's the reason we we drafted this in
[20:17] this way that [snorts] a lot of times
you'll see 1.25 times debt service
[20:21] coverage just period. Meaning every year
you're generating a 25% excess.
[20:28] And that that's maybe a healthy way to
operate, but if you start the year with
[20:32] a healthy fund balance, you don't want
to be forced to raise rates just because
[20:36] in that particular year you were going
to generate 1.2 two times instead of
[20:41] 1.25 times. So again, you're going to
need to comply with those things. Those
[20:47] are pretty standard, but I think because
of the fund balances, you'll have maybe
[20:51] a little more flexibility
um than you otherwise would. So if, as I
[20:56] say, if you're in a place where you
don't have a great year, if you have
[21:01] fund balances that you can count towards
that calculation, you're not going to be
[21:06] forced to raise rates at a time when you
don't want to raise rates just because
[21:10] you have one off year. just as
>> and just because it's been a hot month
[21:15] and tempers are high and people have
even come into the office today and been
[21:20] really unkind to our front upfront staff
about their [snorts] electric bills. We
[21:26] haven't raised the electric rates in two
years. So there was no raising of rates
[21:32] this month. It just is a really hot
month. It's I mean I don't Jimmy
[21:38] » No, that's it. So it's all weather
related. Yeah. And of course, yeah. So,
[21:44] » so anyway, I just went since we're
talking about rates and and and we're
[21:47] issuing bonds. We're issuing bonds
[snorts]
[21:50] um without raising electric rates. And
the reason that we are able to pay for
[21:56] the the bonds, we were able to make the
principal payments and the debt service
[21:59] payments is because we had a a
>> a purchase power agreement which was not
[22:04] advantageous. Um and it was 25 years
long. It was a GRDA that expired this
[22:11] year. [clears throat] And so we're
taking the money that we are saving from
[22:14] not having that disadvantageous
purchase power agreement and we're
[22:18] applying it to the new generators. And
the new generators are desperately
[22:21] needed because they are replacing the
1964
[22:25] antiquated steam unit.
>> Right.
[22:27] » Sorry.
>> Yeah, that's that's a really good point.
[22:30] This is different than, hey, we have to
go spend a large amount of money and
[22:36] it's going to lead to something that's
not status quo. We do have to raise
[22:39] rates because everything's going to be
more expensive. This is kind of a status
[22:43] quo situation. We lost a power source.
We're adding a power source through
[22:49] this. And the goal is to keep those
rates the same. He, you know, I can't
[22:54] promise you you're not going to have to
raise rates at some point, but as Gina
[22:58] said, this isn't going to be that reason
in two or three years. I mean, operation
[23:03] and maintenance will go up and all of
those things. So, as you go along,
[23:06] you'll have to meet these covenants. You
just have your audit report. If you
[23:11] didn't meet one of those covenants, your
auditor will will catch that and report
[23:16] it. um not a lot of teeth to to failing
to meet the coverage requirement at the
[23:23] outset. It'll get noted in your audit
and you have to get a consultance report
[23:27] and make a determination about do we
need to do something different. Um but
[23:32] it's not as if failing to meet the
coverage test is going to immediately
[23:35] throw you into a bond default. It just
leads to uh we need to consider maybe
[23:40] raising rates at that point. And it has
nothing to do with the bonds per se.
[23:45] It's just overall revenue generation
relative to your entire system.
[23:51] » While we're talking about coverage, um
the other place this sort of test shows
[23:56] up is if you want to issue additional
debt against your electric utility
[24:00] system revenue stream in the future,
there are similar tests. So, think about
[24:06] bond holders right now purchasing these
bonds. They're the only bonds payable
[24:11] from your electric utility system
revenues. they're first in line. If five
[24:15] years from now, you need to issue bonds
again, that's different than things were
[24:21] when they invested in these bonds. And
so, they need some protection and they
[24:25] push for that protection. And so, we
have those tests. And again, it's you
[24:29] need to be meeting those coverage tests
that I just mentioned both on your
[24:34] existing bonds, these bonds, plus any
additional debt that you would issue in
[24:39] the future. And that way you leave bond
holders in the same place they would
[24:42] have been otherwise. So again, you'll
have the flexibility to issue bonds in
[24:46] the future, but you'll have to meet some
financial covenants.
[24:51] Uh again, if you look through this, we
create some funds and accounts. Project
[24:57] fund, that's where most of the bond
proceeds will go, out of which you'll
[25:02] pay for all of the project costs.
There's a debt service account. There's
[25:05] a reserve account that instead of
depositing cash in it, which would I
[25:12] don't want to say typical, but maybe
more frequently, you just put a sum of
[25:16] cash in there, it just sits as a reserve
for a rainy day. If you have a bad year,
[25:20] you hit that reserve. Um, Steel
investigated, determined that it would
[25:26] be cheaper to buy a shity bond. Um so
like bond insurance you have this is
[25:34] something similar but it's in the
reserve. So that would get hit first.
[25:39] You would draw on a shy bond if you had
a shortfall in your debt service and you
[25:44] needed to hit the bond reserve. Um so
just another layer and instead of
[25:50] [clears throat] depositing I mean in
this case it would probably be something
[25:54] close to $2 million as a reserve. uh
it's going to cost you in the tens of
[26:00] thousands in premium and you don't have
and that money just sits there. You
[26:05] can't put it to use. Hopefully
investment rates are such that you can
[26:08] earn a nice return on it. But pretty
efficient way right now to handle that.
[26:13] Um so again another really technical
thing and the the bond insurer who's
[26:18] providing both of those also really
cares about all the these financial
[26:22] covenants. So they'll want to get your
audit report. They're going to monitor
[26:26] those things. Bond holders are always
going to get paid now either by you or
[26:31] the bond insurer. And if it's the bond
insurer, then uh the term is subregated.
[26:37] You then owe them money. They become the
bond holder because they've paid your
[26:40] bond holder. So that's that's how that
works. That will never happen. You've
[26:45] got a healthy utility system. The
coverage is fantastic. And so um so
[26:50] that's all all good news. And
the only other thing uh I always like to
[26:57] touch on is federal tax implications. As
long as you use these facilities for
[27:02] your governmental purposes, that results
in tax exempt bonds. That's why you can
[27:07] get the good interest rate. If anything
ever changed, if you entered into a
[27:11] contract in the future where you were
going to sell all of the output from
[27:15] these six generators to some new
business that's coming to the data
[27:18] center, I'm kidding. It's just an
example. [laughter]
[27:23] I know uh for attempted to but I've been
a big user.
[27:29] » You don't know our social media pages.
>> Well, I [laughter]
[27:33] see you and every other city in the
country right now. Uh but again, a big
[27:38] user that said we will pay you a premium
if we can just take all of the output
[27:43] from those six generators and leave them
on all of the time. then that becomes
[27:48] something that looks less governmental
and more private and we'd want to talk
[27:52] about that and see if it changes the tax
exempt status of your bond. But other
[27:56] than that, on a going forward basis, you
don't have to worry about much. Just
[28:00] make sure you don't have those output
contracts. Make sure you're meeting your
[28:04] financial covenants with which your
finance officer, your auditor will help
[28:09] with that. And again, it's been a long
time since you had any debt on this
[28:13] utility system and it's pretty healthy
and this all looks affordable. And so I
[28:18] will stop there. Uh again, I if you
browse through these documents, it's
[28:25] it's pretty technical stuff and I
understand that. But uh but again, it's
[28:30] a more complicated issue than bond
insurance and a limited revenue stream.
[28:37] So Jamie, I'm just going to want to make
sure you're comfortable. We're going to
[28:41] save money by getting out of a GRDA
contract and that'll be enough money to
[28:48] pretty much offset this bond payment and
we won't raise rates.
[28:54] » Absolutely.
>> That's what I thought.
[28:56] » Yeah. Actually, last week u I know
everybody in town complained about the
[29:02] bill.
>> Well, we also get a bill that we
[29:06] purchased off of the grid. And when it
came in last week, I about flipped out
[29:11] because I had never seen it that high.
So instantly I was on the phone with
[29:16] tear and blah blah blah. And they said,
"Hey, listen. If you had your GRD over
[29:20] right now, you'd be paying twice that
much." So I said, "Oh." They said, "You
[29:25] guys are buying a lot of power, but
you're also selling a lot of power right
[29:30] now." So it goes hand in hand. Um Evan
was actually today was going to send
[29:36] them some information from our past year
with GRDA and Tier was going to kind of
[29:43] lay it out for me so they could see,
hey, here here's where your savings is
[29:46] this last year since since we dropped it
in April. So it really hadn't even been
[29:50] a full year ahead. So
>> I think what I'm seeing between the
[29:54] lines is we're we're in a good position
>> absolutely to do this at this time. So
[29:59] when GRDA was uh brought on board 25
years ago at that time the city thought
[30:06] that was the best thing for for us. Um
they expected uh electric races to
[30:13] skyrocket more than they had and
actually it went the other direction. So
[30:17] that was why getting out from 100 was a
blessing. So we can do these
[30:21] improvements with the savings separate.
Revenues will still go on the same
[30:25] direction. We just um we're not spending
as much. That makes sense.
[30:32] » And remember also that the steam unit
requires a much larger workforce than
[30:38] the cat generators do. So already Jamie
has uh reduced the number of employees
[30:43] at the power plant by five in the last
couple of years.
[30:46] » Yeah, we five down.
last per year
[30:53] » and the intention going forward is
through attrition not through layoffs or
[30:58] anything but through attrition um
reducing that further by two more. So
[31:02] the
there's enough and the technical
[31:08] um knowledge to run the steam unit is
much higher and the people who know how
[31:13] to run that Brian Evans is one of them.
He's here. He's one of the few and far
[31:17] between that that really still know how
to run it and Brian doesn't work in
[31:20] power anymore. So um so anyway the the
knowledge is going away. Um, and the
[31:26] work will be reduced. [clears throat]
>> And that also, if I'm correct, Jamie,
[31:30] won't that help us now once we get the
cats in, we won't have a person at the
[31:33] power plant at night or do we?
>> We're working on that, too. We got a lot
[31:36] of things going on and hopefully our
automation will be done, I hope, this
[31:42] fall in the next several months, but
when that does happen, we'll only have a
[31:47] crew during the day, so we won't have a
night shift, which is a whole other
[31:51] thing.
>> Yeah.
[31:52] » Yeah. Well, the behind the scenes work
by Stiffel is unbelievable. If you try
[31:58] to read all this, so thank you [snorts]
for doing all that.
[32:02] » And Gilmore Bill
>> and Gilmore Bill I don't want to take
[32:06] credit.
the the long documents if you don't uh
[32:10] don't like reading those long documents.
So I think uh yeah and and again just to
[32:15] add to the discussion it this is the
third I think in the last year um
[32:22] generation project I've worked on with
Kansas cities and I think a lot of you
[32:27] probably entered into the power purchase
contracts at about the same time and are
[32:31] realizing coming out of that period of
time maybe we can do this more
[32:35] efficiently on our own and so
[clears throat] we'll add some
[32:38] generation. It had been a long time
since I'd worked on a bond issue to add
[32:44] electric generation and now it's like
three in one year. So, uh that should
[32:50] give some credence to yes, we're we are
swapping out and and kind of keeping up
[32:56] with the times and more efficiencies and
paying for things that way.
[33:02] » Okay.
Any other questions for Kevin? Okay. All
[33:08] right. Um, with that being said, I guess
uh just kind of
[33:13] » uh you'll do a vote, a roll call vote
for each one, correct? The ordinance and
[33:17] the resolution.
>> Ordinance definitely. Uh
[33:20] » resolution.
>> I mean, you get in on the resolution as
[33:22] well. I'm not going to
>> Might as well.
[33:24] » Okay. Well, let's just um I'll make a
motion, of course. Um I'd like to make a
[33:28] motion that we approve of the utility
bond ordinance 2611.
[33:34] uh provide for the issuance of principal
amount electric utility system revenue
[33:37] bond series 2026 of the city of Pra
Kansas making certain covenants and
[33:42] agreements provide for the payment and
security thereof and the authorizing
[33:46] certain other documents and actions in
connection therewith
[33:51] it's been moved and seconded that we
approve of the utility bond ordinance
[33:54] 2611
uh any other discussions okay
[33:59] » roll call
>> roll call do I do it or you
[34:02] » you do Okay. Commissioner Oeller,
>> yes.
[34:05] » Commissioner Myers,
>> yes.
[34:06] » Commissioner Seammens,
>> yes.
[34:07] » Commissioner Blankship,
>> yes.
[34:08] » And I'm a yes. Five to zero.
Okay. I'll then uh make the motion that
[34:16] we approve of resolution 081726-
C, a resolution prescribing the form and
[34:23] details of the authorizing and directing
the sale and delivery of the electric
[34:27] utility system revenue bond series 2026
to the city of PR, Kansas. previously
[34:31] authorized by ordinance number 2611 of
the issuer making certain covenants and
[34:36] agreements to provide for the payment
security thereof and authorizing certain
[34:40] other documents and actions connected
therewith.
[34:43] » Second been moved and seconded that we
approve resolution 081726c
[34:48] as presented. Uh, Commissioner uh,
Postetler.
[34:51] » Yes. [snorts]
>> Commissioner Myers,
[34:53] » yes.
>> Commissioner Stevens,
[34:54] » yes.
>> Commissioner Blank, yes.
[34:55] » And I'm a yes. 5 Z.
>> Okay.
[34:59] » Perfect.
>> Thank you.
[35:01] » Thank you. Thank you.
>> All righty. Now moving on to 6.4,
[35:06] consideration of resolution 081726-
October Fest at Lemon Park. Mr. Dakota
[35:12] Green.
>> Good afternoon. um here to formally
[35:16] request um permission from the city to
host our 2026 event um September 26 from
[35:23] 5 to 10:00 p.m. in Lemon Park. Uh and
[snorts] also uh we we did provide a
[35:28] resolution uh seeking permission to be
able to um have alcohol at that event
[35:34] this year. Very grateful. Uh we started
this event in 2016. We had to take a
[35:40] break uh co year. So this will be our
ninth year. Um our average attendance uh
[35:45] has has typically been on a on a good
weather year been north of 400 um of
[35:51] individuals that that many from outside
of our community that attend. Um
[35:56] conservative estimate every year we have
about 30 to 35 business sponsors uh that
[36:02] help make this event possible. We're
incredibly grateful to the business
[36:06] community in Pratt um and and all of our
sponsors. Um but o over the years uh at
[36:12] the end of every year uh we make
donations back to lots of organizations
[36:17] in Pratt. So um in in the past nine
years conservatively we've given back
[36:22] about 90,000 back to the Pratt
community. Most of that has gone to
[36:26] Pratt Rotary Club which we have a
matching grant program. Um so we give uh
[36:32] 45,000 to Rotary every year. They match
it dollar for dollar and the Rotary Club
[36:36] has a grant program um that's been used
on things like some of the in
[36:40] partnership with other organizations
like some of the playground equipment
[36:43] and things you'll see in the in the
parks. Um we we donate to the prep food
[36:48] bank hope center. Um you know uh we
every year we're grateful to London
[36:52] Park. So we we call it the London Park
tree planting initiative. We try to buy
[36:56] two or three trees a year. Um and many
many other organizations. Um, so this is
[37:01] a community uh event. It is an adult 21
and o 21 and older. So it's an adult
[37:07] only event. Um, but it really the
concept is um just to get out, be
[37:12] neighborly, meet and talk with people in
our community and build relationships
[37:16] and um if you have any questions, I'd be
grateful to try to answer those.
[37:23] » You know, Dakota, you know, I think you
guys do a great job every single year. I
[37:26] think it's great that it's in Lemons
Park, especially with all the trees and
[37:29] the shade, you know. So, but um I always
think you guys do a great job with it
[37:34] every single year.
>> Thank you.
[37:36] » It's a good event.
>> What was the date on that?
[37:39] » September 26th.
>> Okay. And what time do you want the park
[37:42] closed?
[37:45] » 4 means the vents from 5 to 10 p.m. So,
maybe 4:30. Okay. Be great. Um I will
[37:55] note one other thing that's unique to
this year. So um um kind of the theme of
[38:01] Pratt Sports Tourism um we are now the
Proud Otoberfest is an official US
[38:06] Steinholding Association state
tournament. So if you win that
[38:10] tournament um you get to you get to go
on to the state finals and then
[38:15] eventually to the the national
championship in Cleveland, Ohio. So, uh,
[38:19] last year we did have a couple people
from Texas and other areas that actually
[38:23] drove here to specifically participate
in that event.
[38:27] » Cool.
>> Everybody's radar.
[38:30] » Yeah. Uh, so, Dakota, what time do you
guys plan on setting up again? Around
[38:34] noon or earlier?
>> We always set up [laughter] the day
[38:37] before.
>> Okay. So, we'll set up on Friday um
[38:41] evening uh into Saturday morning and
then tear down. The PCC wrestling team
[38:48] helps us with set up and tear down.
We'll tear down and have it all cleaned
[38:51] up um by early afternoon on Sunday.
>> Perfect. Okay. Uh Regina, any any
[38:58] concerns with the resolution at all?
>> Okay. And then Chief, any concerns at
[39:02] all?
>> Okay. All right.
[39:08] Make a motion.
>> I I'll move that we uh approve the
[39:13] resolution 081726
for October Fest
[39:19] on September 26.
Second.
[39:23] » It's been moved and seconded that we
approve resolution 081726-
[39:27] for October Fest at Lemon Park for
Saturday, September the 26th of 2026.
[39:32] Any other discussions? All those in
favor, please say I. I. All right.
[39:37] » Thank you.
>> Thanks, Dakota.
[39:38] » Thank you, Dakota. All right. Moving on
to now 6.5, consideration of resolution
[39:43] 081726-B
allowing alcohol at the municipal
[39:47] building for a private event. Miss Sarah
Scaggs, I would like the clerk to note
[39:52] that I will be abstaining from this vote
due to my personal relationship with
[39:56] Miss Scaggs.
[39:59] Hello, I'm Sarah Skaggs and uh I am
getting married on October 10th and my
[40:07] reception is at the municipal building
and I would like to serve alcohol there.
[40:13] I'll sell it. Um we hired a company
called the bars open out of Witchah to
[40:19] serve the alcohol and also ID people. Um
they have a liquor license and also a
[40:25] liability insurance. Um,
[40:31] and I also plan to have an offduty
police officer there attending as well.
[40:40] So, I would like your permission to have
alcohol at my wedding. So, if I could
[40:46] just
remind the commission that we've
[40:51] discussed the municipal building before,
um that because of how permanent it is,
[40:57] it's not a street or a park, you
actually don't have to approve every
[41:03] single event that has alcohol at the
municipal building. However, in the
[41:07] past, you've said that se and the
commission make up changes, but at the
[41:13] time the commission said that they still
wanted the ability to vote on every
[41:18] event that has alcohol at the municipal
building. So, I think that tonight you
[41:22] may have more than one resolution before
you. Uh so, just just so that you keep
[41:28] that in mind. At any point you can say
when it comes to the municipal building,
[41:32] we have already exempted that from the
state law that that prohibits alcohol
[41:36] being used on government property. If if
you ever come to a point where you just
[41:40] want staff to make that determination,
you know, you can let us know that. But
[41:45] in the meantime, because we are doing
what you've asked us to do, um Sarah's
[41:50] here to to bring that request to you.
>> Chief Fry, do you have any concerns at
[41:55] all?
No, I don't know. Have you contacted our
[42:00] department on the offduty officer yet or
are you using somebody else?
[42:03] » Off duty officer is um Austin Sats who's
actually my cousin.
[42:07] » Okay.
>> Um who I hope has taken off work to be
[42:11] there. [laughter]
[42:14] » I hope so, too.
>> I'll find somebody else.
[42:18] » Justin, any concerns?
>> Uh I don't have any concerns as long as
[42:22] they're all tied up on the legal end
with the the city side. I'm good with
[42:26] it.
>> No problems.
[42:32] » Also, just putting it out there, we have
had some events at some other city
[42:37] facilities um that
have not been accepted the community
[42:43] center. Uh we've had some events there
and people brought alcohol and left a
[42:47] huge mess. And so we may discuss um
a deposit when we do alcohol related
[42:56] events. Um that's just something that
that Jess and I have not got together
[43:00] and talked about yet.
>> And this is all inside the building.
[43:06] » Yes. All inside. It's outside. It's not
something I know about.
[43:15] [clears throat]
>> Yeah. Okay. laugh.
[43:19] I'll make a motion that we approve
uh resolution 081726B
[43:27] allowing alcohol at the municipal
building for a private event. Second,
[43:32] » it's been moved and seconded that we
approve resolution 081726-B
[43:37] allowing alcohol at the municipal
building for a private event. Any other
[43:40] discussions? All those in favor, please
say I.
[43:43] » I.
>> And I abstain.
[43:46] Okay. passes four to zero.
>> Thank you.
[43:50] » You're welcome. Who's, by the way, who's
marrying you all?
[43:54] » Wyatt Cole,
[laughter]
[44:00] » who's who's the honor of marrying you
and Wyatt?
[44:04] » My brother-in-law, Kyle Farmer.
>> Oh, boy. [laughter]
[44:08] » I know, right?
>> I just wanted the record to
[44:15] » No, I'm ordained.
Yeah, they couldn't find anyone else.
[44:20] So, they
>> Jamie Huber's available.
[44:25] » All right. Now, moving on to 6.6,
consideration of ordinance allowing
[44:29] alcohol at third street from the
municipal, Mr. Greg Hansen.
[44:35] » Good evening. Thanks for for hearing us.
I'm Greg Hansom here on behalf of the
[44:39] the board of the Pratt Public School
Foundation and we're asking for an
[44:44] exemption to allow for consumption of
alcohol in front of the municipal
[44:47] building. Basically, um as written in
the uh the draft here, we've said uh
[44:52] between Jackson Street and Main Street
just to keep things simple. Uh the Pratt
[44:57] Public School Foundation uh we exist to
support educators and students in USD
[45:02] 382. We do that by awarding uh small
grants to to teachers for things
[45:07] educational purposes that are kind of
outside what the district might provide.
[45:11] And so the bike race, the the open range
travel race is one of our primary ways
[45:16] to raise money. We support that race at
the end of April and then uh in turn we
[45:21] get a nice donation back from them. So
we're part of of the race. We're we're
[45:26] trying to to do some enhancements to it
as well to make it more of a community
[45:30] event. So, we've got the uh we've
invited the Yum 56 ice cream truck in uh
[45:35] for next year. We've got a a barbecue
food truck there. Uh the organizer has a
[45:40] van as well. And so, we just think it
would be nice. We're there all day
[45:43] supporting the race anyway. We thought,
well, why not try to sell some beer and
[45:46] and make some money from the
participants as they come back in from
[45:49] the race. So, uh, knowing that the
inside of the municipal building, um, is
[45:53] already exempt, uh, but the race happens
outside, the finish line is right there,
[45:57] the band is outside, the food truck is
outside, it would be nice if we could,
[46:02] uh, make some money from the
participants and any towns people to
[46:05] come and then they could go outside with
their adult beverage and and watch the
[46:09] actual finish of the race. So, that's
kind of it in a nutshell. uh and then we
[46:14] we'd uh drill down to the details when
we come back to the resolution uh before
[46:18] the race happens in the fall. So, this
is just kind of the the first step to
[46:22] see if it's possible that that we could
allow that to happen outside. I think it
[46:26] would also benefit uh just going forward
um any other u groups or have something
[46:32] going on. Um that's a good section of
the street that if somebody else wanted
[46:36] to do something then this would be in
good shape for them. Okay. So, looking
[46:41] at the map here, Greg, it's going to
kind of be where I'm assuming BTI is at
[46:45] in the nail salon. Or am I looking at
>> that's the wrong
[46:48] » Oh, I'm looking at Okay, I'm looking at
the other one.
[46:51] » No, we're looking just Third Street.
Okay, there there is the limitation for
[46:55] the setback from Liberty Middle School
was
[46:57] » 200.
>> Yeah. Um, so by saying the east side of
[47:01] Jackson, that gets us far enough away
from the school that that that's not an
[47:05] issue. And of course when we do the
resolution and actually quartering off
[47:08] [clears throat] where it's going to be,
we'd make sure that that we're the
[47:11] proper distance away.
>> Okay.
[47:16] » So where um like the wedding, they'll
have the alcohol concession in the
[47:22] municipal building. How are you going to
keep it within the the designed area?
[47:27] » Yeah. How?
>> Yeah. And and that's I think uh when we
[47:30] get to the resolution part of it, um we
we nail that down a little bit better.
[47:34] But I would envision, you know,
barricades or or a tape taped off area,
[47:38] something like that. Okay. Yeah. Yeah.
We definitely want to make sure that
[47:42] we've got it got it enclosed. We monitor
for that.
[47:45] » Are volunteers going to monitor making
sure people don't leave that barrier?
[47:49] » Yeah. Yeah. And we do, you know,
wristbands to to verify the the age.
[47:56] » Okay.
>> So, and we're just trying to, you know,
[47:59] kind of grow the event, make it a little
bit more of a communitywide thing, maybe
[48:02] get more people downtown to enjoy it.
Um, we've got, you know, over 300 people
[48:06] sign up for it every year. So, that's a
lot of outtowners coming in. If we can
[48:10] entice them to to stick around town a
little bit more, maybe have dinner or
[48:13] spend the night, then it's a good thing.
So, it would benefit us. We'd raise a
[48:18] little bit of money off of it and
[clears throat] town, too.
[48:23] So, this is the exact same the ordinance
that I put at each of your desks and
[48:30] there's extra copies for any audience
members that want um any the
[48:36] all I did was I added um
obviously in the heading that we were
[48:42] exempting West Third Street between the
east boundary of South Jackson Street
[48:45] and west boundary of South Main Street.
And then at that last whereas before the
[48:51] actual ordinance um language and then in
the ordinance language
[48:57] paragraph 4 we just separated we had the
east fourth street which was already
[49:04] exempted as subsection A and then we
added subsection B which is west third
[49:10] street. And now east, did you say east
or west fourth?
[49:14] » East fourth street between the east
boundary of South Main Street and the
[49:18] west boundary of South Dennis Gust
Street. We did that for the Pratt Jim
[49:21] several years ago.
>> That's was about to ask.
[49:24] » Uh Chief Wright, concerns or opinion?
>> No, just it was brought up about the
[49:30] containment of it.
>> Okay. Do you feel comfortable with the
[49:34] containment? And yeah,
>> they'll also have to provide boundaries
[49:40] and a map to um get a liquor license
anyway if they're doing sales. So, the
[49:45] state of Kansas will um audit that.
>> Okay.
[49:49] » Prior to issuing a license.
[49:57] » Any
other questions?
[50:01] Okay.
[50:04] I'll I'll make a motion to approve the
consideration of ordinance 2612
[50:11] allowing alcohol at third street in
front of the municipal building.
[50:17] It's been moved and second that we
approve ordinance 2612 allowing alcohol
[50:22] at third street in front of the
municipal building. Any other
[50:24] discussions? All those in favor, please
say I. I.
[50:29] » Okay. Masses. All right. Thank you very
much. Thank you.
[50:32] » I got to tell you that's quite the
description on where this all is going
[50:37] to be.
>> Well, that that so I think you're
[50:40] looking at the the legal description of
Lemon Park. That's all [laughter]
[50:47] complex. So yeah, the Green Complex is
complicated. Lemon Park is even more
[50:52] voluminous,
[50:57] » but this is old.
All right, we're going to move to 6.7
[51:02] now. Consideration of road closure Jack
Street between fourth and fifth and
[51:06] resolutions uh 081726-D
for the Philly Fest on Thursday,
[51:11] September the 3rd. Miss Hans
[51:18] alcohol related family here
talk a little bit about the Philly Fest.
[51:24] the Philly Fest. We're in our third year
and it is simply I guess an awareness
[51:29] raiser and a friend raiser and hopefully
a community gatherer event for the
[51:34] Philly Fest, the Phil Vernon Philly Art
Museum. We do not charge entry. It is
[51:40] open to everyone. Um this year we are
having a secured little area where we
[51:46] have food vendors. will have two food
vendors, a beverage cart, and um an area
[51:52] that's quadranted off to say 21 and
older in here. No alcohol beyond this
[51:58] point. That is for the food service
around lunchtime. The Philly Festival
[52:04] will actually start at 5:00 p.m. It will
host a music truck,
[52:11] five community interest booths, and 17
individual artists that are displaying
[52:16] their wares. There's no charge for any
of the people to come and set up at the
[52:21] festival. We do not make any money off
of this. It is strictly a a familiarity
[52:26] and a community raiser. We would like to
have permission, however, if you would
[52:31] take it under consideration for whenever
the actual event happens. We will close
[52:37] off the road between Fourth and Fifth
Street. This year, we've pulled it back.
[52:42] In the past, we've had it going into
Merchants Park and there was a lot of
[52:46] back and forth. There's a lot of school
traffic that needs to come through
[52:49] there. So, this year, our committee
decided that we would only close off the
[52:54] um portion of the street on Jackson
between fourth and fifth. The library
[52:58] has graciously considered to work with
us. They're going to allow the tornado
[53:02] sun or tornado snow uh mobile to come
there. We have a cotton candy vendor and
[53:07] we will have face painting in that area.
We've talked to Dylan Omar who owns the
[53:12] uh car repair shop. They're open until 6
now. And so we worked with him to
[53:17] develop a map for egress of all of the
vehicles that are in there for service.
[53:23] But at 5:00 p.m. there would be a um
southwest truck pulled across uh Jackson
[53:29] Street at the fifth street entrance so
that that will provide secure entry
[53:33] there. We would like permission to
barricade off the alleyways on each end.
[53:40] Although our event doesn't go into that
alleyway yet because it is kind of a
[53:44] smaller event. We would like to close
those off to vehicular traffic and allow
[53:48] only emergency traffic. We've also
talked with CL Meg's company, BTI, all
[53:54] of the surrounding businesses and close
off the entry at Main Street into the
[53:59] parking area that's behind uh in that
block. That way it creates kind of a
[54:04] secure environment for people walking
around. We do have a designated kids
[54:07] zone and you know lots of vendors. We'd
like to make it just as secure as we
[54:12] could for people walking around. We have
an emergency plan and the library has
[54:18] graciously offered that if we have any
bad weather or we have to, you know,
[54:22] move inside for any reason, the library
will host it. We have two entry points
[54:27] on Jackson Street, one at the library
and one at the Philly Museum where
[54:32] people have to come and come into the
area. So, what I'm here tonight asking
[54:37] is if we can close that off and have
permission to do so and the use of
[54:42] barricades. Um, also if we could, we
would like to have consideration that if
[54:48] this area is closed and is secured, if
we could have permission to take adult
[54:53] beverages and walk around in the vendor
area. And that goes back to the
[54:59] resolution that we just did.
>> Well, the the problem, Cara, is that we
[55:06] we don't have South Jackson Street as an
exempt an exemption on the ordinance.
[55:12] So, do do you know what I mean? So, so
we have certain areas that are exempted.
[55:16] So, is the ask that we amend the
ordinance to include those streets?
[55:22] » I did not know that. I just did a
resolution to see if we could walk
[55:26] around in the area. Um, but we also have
a backup plan for keeping it secure
[55:32] knowing that, you know, this might
require something else. I know the
[55:36] vendor would apply for a Kansas uh
permit, which would include Yeah. doing
[55:42] the map of everything else and we do
have the maps available.
[55:44] » Sure. So the alcohol on public property
has two steps. Um the ordinance tells
[55:50] you tells uh people and organizations
where there's been an exemption from
[55:56] state law. So where you can have the
alcohol, which is why Greg and John are
[56:00] working to get that section of Third
Street exempted. And then the resolution
[56:04] is for the specific event that will have
the alcohol. Um,
[56:10] and this is our last meeting before
>> Yeah, we won't have another one till
[56:14] after Labor Day.
>> Okay.
[56:18] » So, I don't know what to do because
Jackson Street I I don't have an opinion
[56:23] on whether or not we should exempt I
mean I always want to support the
[56:27] Philly. Um, it's just not running into
the ordinance right now.
[56:31] So you're talking about pulling a big
truck there and Jack sitting for how
[56:35] will emergency vehicles get in and out
>> um for the actual street?
[56:41] » Yeah.
>> We would have to come in from the from
[56:44] the north for that or one of the other
areas that we would have barricaded off
[56:49] but could still have vehicular traffic.
We just felt like that would secure that
[56:53] end a little bit better where the food
trucks are. We could leave it open and
[56:58] just have barricades as well.
So, Gina, with the ordinance, do we have
[57:03] to go back and make a motion to amend it
to add uh Jackson Street or whatever we
[57:10] need to add?
>> And you would need to give me the exact
[57:12] language that you want.
>> We can't do like a specific event one
[57:17] time or I'm assuming if it's
>> you want to do it again and again. So
[57:22] yeah,
>> if it's just on the private property and
[57:24] barricaded there with the alcohol, does
that
[57:29] » allow for the resolution and not an
ordinance?
[57:32] » If it's on the private property,
>> it's uh muffler shop has graciously
[57:39] donated that for the entire day, the
whole space.
[57:46] » It's not allowed on public sidewalks.
[57:52] would actually be on the sidewalk. It
would be inside of the area.
[57:56] » Okay.
>> But but the alcohol's on private
[57:58] property.
>> But the alcohol is on private property.
[58:01] And I think that's fine.
>> Okay.
[58:03] » It's public. The the prohibition is
public streets, alleyways, parks,
[58:08] sidewalks,
>> but private property.
[58:11] » Where's the private property?
>> The maps that are in your packet.
[58:17] Oh,
>> so when looking at it, so you said it's
[58:20] going to be on the feet.
>> It's going to be on the muffler
[58:23] » property or
>> they can't use it
[58:27] » south of the 200. They have to go all
the way
[58:30] » bever.
>> Okay.
[58:34] [clears throat]
>> N.
[58:36] » So the so the tipsy turtle is the out.
>> Yes. Nick and Tiffany Parker here.
[58:42] » Okay.
The municipal building is outside of
[58:45] that 200 feet. So I this facility should
be outside of that 200 feet from the
[58:51] school,
>> but the pedigo building is sits closer
[58:54] than Liberty does and that's part of the
USD.
[58:57] We pulled a tape and just unofficially
not officially but um it was 250 ft to
[59:07] uh the sidewalk in front of Nicholas
Beverlin.
[59:12] » Mhm.
>> Stolen
[59:15] » all and all the way to Pedigo or
>> from Pedigo.
[59:18] » Okay.
>> But they can't basically the front yard
[59:23] of the Philly. That's too close.
>> But they're talking about the monthly
[59:26] shop. Okay.
>> So, the muffler shop is
[59:29] » it's the green area, correct?
>> Right.
[59:32] » That's the muffler.
>> No, the muffler shop script says
[59:38] » tornadoes.
>> Tornadoes.
[59:39] » So, ours isn't colorcoded or
>> Oh, I'm sorry. Well, the tornado snow is
[59:43] over by the library, but the muffler
shop is on the other end of the map and
[59:49] it sets back in.
>> Yeah, I got it.
[59:52] That That's actually where they got the
tornado.
[59:56] » That That's what's throwing me off is so
the tornado suns is near the muffler and
[1:00:01] the tipsy turtles in the alleyway behind
like BTI and all that.
[1:00:05] » I apologize. You have a different map.
We can find it in that area knowing that
[1:00:10] this might be
>> Okay. So, tornado and suns is like near
[1:00:14] the library, right? It'll be in front of
>> Okay. But the tipsy turtle will be right
[1:00:17] there on private property in the
>> Yes. And then the two trucks. So all of
[1:00:21] the uh services will um open into the
area that is enclosed by the trailers
[1:00:28] and the muffler shop. So there won't be
anybody coming up on the outside. They
[1:00:32] will have to come into an area to get
food and beverages.
[1:00:36] » The alley would be public property
though.
[1:00:38] » And the alley is
>> that's a city rideway.
[1:00:43] » So yeah.
[1:00:47] » Thank you.
Our
[1:00:52] printer will get worried.
>> Um, okay. So, this is Jackson Street and
[1:01:02] it would be more
[1:01:07] » It's on page 153.
>> But it sounds like the map might be
[1:01:12] outdated.
>> Yeah, ours is out of date.
[1:01:17] You just can't have it.
>> There's There's two maps. There's
[1:01:19] another map on 154, but it looks the
same to me
[1:01:24] » as far as the boundaries.
[1:01:40] » I didn't realize that you were a part of
the family.
[1:01:44] » We
just tal.
[1:01:48] Yeah, we can [laughter]
[1:02:08] » Okay,
[1:02:18] No, that makes more sense.
[1:02:27] [cough]
[1:02:31] » [clears throat]
[1:02:37] » because
[1:02:48] » just not
all of our
[1:02:54] people.
[1:02:58] Yeah,
>> we'll come back.
[1:03:01] » Okay.
>> Okay. Um, so Gina, what would be the
[1:03:06] best or
[1:03:10] » what do we do?
>> Yeah. What do we do here?
[1:03:13] » Good question.
>> Well, so we just need to close the
[1:03:15] street.
>> The alcohol is going to be confined to
[1:03:18] private property. So the alcohol is not
an issue this year,
[1:03:21] » right? Right.
>> So, you are going to have to take out
[1:03:24] that second to last paragraph on that
resolution.
[1:03:28] » Okay.
>> Which one?
[1:03:30] » Which one?
>> Oh, on the prep page of the resolution.
[1:03:34] » So, resolution. So, it's it's be it
further resolved, the Philly Museum will
[1:03:39] be allowed to offer for the sale and
consumption of alcoholic liquor at the
[1:03:43] Philly Fest 2026 on Thursday, September
3rd, 2026 between the hours of 5 and 7
[1:03:48] p.m. because you're not given permission
for that. It's not on a public property.
[1:03:54] You're just agreeing to close the
streets.
[1:03:58] » So, so do we need to delete the whereas
up above it talking about
[1:04:03] » There it is. Okay.
Okay. So, take out B for the result.
[1:04:09] » What about the where up there?
>> I see that.
[1:04:13] » Whereas,
>> the last whereas
[1:04:14] » Well, there's four,
[1:04:18] » third and fourth both discuss alcohol
consumption
[1:04:23] on public property.
>> Third and fourth.
[1:04:34] Got to make sure we do this by the book.
>> I appreciate that.
[1:04:53] [cough]
[1:04:56] » I think Jean, are we ready for a motion?
>> Yeah. So you're just uh just be clear
[1:05:02] that
you modified the resolution you know to
[1:05:05] to delete the third and fourth whereas
to delete
[1:05:10] » be the first before be in further
resolve
[1:05:15] » correct
>> and the title
[1:05:18] » and the title
>> you know what I'll tell you what you
[1:05:22] really need to do I would do a
resolution I would just make a motion to
[1:05:26] close the street for the best on the day
time
[1:05:31] » and not worry about a resolution.
>> You You always close the street like
[1:05:35] that.
>> Lawyers,
[1:05:38] » Sean.
>> Yes. Okay.
[1:05:40] » All right. We'll make this easier.
I would make a motion that we approve
[1:05:47] closing Jackson Street between
>> fourth and 5th on September 3rd for the
[1:05:55] Philly uh activity.
It's been moved and seconded that we
[1:06:02] approve the closure of Jackson Street
between 4th and Fit for uh September the
[1:06:07] 3rd of 2026 for the Philly Festival. Any
other discussions? It's 5 to 7:30 p.m.
[1:06:13] » from 5 to 7:30 p.m. Thank you. Any other
discussions? All those in favor, please
[1:06:18] say I.
>> I.
[1:06:19] » Thank you.
>> Yep. There you go. Yeah.
[1:06:21] » We'll have somebody new come next year.
[laughter]
[1:06:25] » Okay. Uh moving on, we are going to kind
put in our addition now 6.8 discussion
[1:06:32] of our golf ordinance. Uh Mr. Terry
Williams.
[1:06:36] And by the way, congratulations Terry on
your victory from the primary. Thank
[1:06:40] you.
>> Thank you, mayor and commissioners for
[1:06:44] allowing me to speak today. I want to
here to talk about the golf carts here
[1:06:48] in the city limits of Pratt. Um I'm here
to ask the city commission reconsider
[1:06:54] the city's restriction on operating
properly equipped golf carts after
[1:06:58] sunset and before sunrise. I want to
make one thing very clear that I'm not
[1:07:02] asking the city to eliminate any safety
regulations. I'm only asking the city to
[1:07:08] use reasonable safety regulations
instead of absolute prohibit
[1:07:12] prohibitation. Kansas law already
addresses this issue under KSA8-15108.
[1:07:18] Golf carts may be operated within city
streets when authorized by the city and
[1:07:23] Kansas statute specifically provides for
operations between sunset and sunrise
[1:07:28] when the golf carts are equipped with
required lighting and properly mounted
[1:07:32] slowly moving vehicle implements. So the
state has already recognized this as um
[1:07:37] properly equipped um golf cart. It can
be operated safely at night. The
[1:07:41] question before the commission is
whether Pratt wants to uh allow the uh
[1:07:45] operation for reasonable um local
regulations. My golf cart is registered.
[1:07:52] It is um insured equipped with
headlights, tail lights, turn signals,
[1:07:56] mirrors, horns, and other safety
equipment including seat belts and that
[1:08:00] sort of thing. Um, I'm not asking to
drive an unregulated vehicle around town
[1:08:05] in the dark. I'm asking to operate a
vehicle that's already been properly
[1:08:10] equipped and registered under the rules
established by the city. Um, I also
[1:08:14] believe that we need to look at um this
issue consistently. We have electric
[1:08:19] bikes running around town, electric
scooters operating throughout the
[1:08:22] community, including after dark without
headlights, without registration,
[1:08:26] without all of that safety stuff. Um,
many of these vehicles are subject to
[1:08:32] the same registration and inspection
requirements that the golf carts are.
[1:08:36] I'm not saying we should prohibit these
vehicles. I'm saying that the safety
[1:08:40] should be the standard. We should apply
these safety standards consistently. If
[1:08:45] the city's concern is visibility,
require headlights, tail lights, brake
[1:08:48] lights, those sort of things that we
already do. Um, and then going further
[1:08:55] here,
um, [clears throat] I I do understand
[1:08:59] the the chief of police, um, his
concerns. I I know he's does not agree
[1:09:05] with any of this stuff. I do respect
that and the chief's job is to identify
[1:09:09] potential safety problems and and I I
don't take these concerns lightly. Um,
[1:09:15] but I do believe the commission's job is
to balance these concerns with the
[1:09:18] rights of the needs of the citizens of
Pratt. This blanket prohibit
[1:09:22] prohibitation is the easiest rule to
enforce, but it doesn't necessarily make
[1:09:28] it the best rule. I would ask the
commission to consider the pilot program
[1:09:31] to amend the ordinance allowing properly
registrated insured golf carts to
[1:09:36] operate after sunset and before sunrise
when that they meet specific equipment
[1:09:41] and safety requirements. Um, if the city
wants to have additional regards, um,
[1:09:48] safeguards, I'm willing to discuss them.
Um, it's just simple. Don't regulate the
[1:09:54] the vehicle based solely on what it's
called. Regulated based on how safely it
[1:09:57] is equipped and operated. Um, Kansas has
already established framework and
[1:10:03] nighttime golf cart operation. Pratt has
the authority to obviously decide
[1:10:07] whether to authorize it. Um, I I do
believe that PRA can protect public
[1:10:11] safety without unnecessarily restricting
responsible citizens who are willing to
[1:10:15] register, ensure equip and operate your
golf carts responsib responsibility. Um,
[1:10:21] as many of you know, I I live on Dennis
Gall. That's where my business is. I
[1:10:26] have a laundromat. I get calls all hours
of the night. Um, sometimes somebody's
[1:10:31] laundry stuck in there or my machine ate
their money. It's easier for me just to
[1:10:35] hop on the golf cart, run down there and
and you know get their laundry out or
[1:10:40] whatever. Sometimes people have a crash
in the middle of the night. They need a
[1:10:43] rental car. I have rental cars. I just
buzz right up. Also, my my wife um she's
[1:10:49] on the Master Gardener, which takes care
of all the planters on Main Street. The
[1:10:53] best time to work with the planters,
especially when it's 108, is after the
[1:10:58] sun goes down. So, we drive down,
you know, Main Street and we pull the
[1:11:03] flags. We put up um you know, what
whatever [clears throat] the whatever
[1:11:08] she's doing with with the planners. Um I
I feel like this is a reasonable
[1:11:13] request. I've already talked um to
Regina about this. I talked to our
[1:11:18] previous intern police chief and we
didn't really see much of a problem. I
[1:11:23] know um our current police chief is not
really for this. However, I feel like
[1:11:31] when properly equipped, they have the
same things that a motor vehicle does,
[1:11:36] including a van, a tag. You know, why
why are we requiring headlights to get
[1:11:41] it before it's registered when we can't
even drive it after dark?
[1:11:45] So, I'm asking the city commission to
adopt uh the state statute.
[1:11:50] » So,
I I appreciate Terry coming and
[1:11:55] exercising his, you know, his
citizen duty to or or his rights to
[1:12:01] discuss this with you.
I I will I do want to to make sure that
[1:12:06] I am supporting our chief of police
though. And I think when when when Terry
[1:12:09] and I first talked about it, I said,
well, the last chief of police, the
[1:12:13] chief of police who was in place at the
time the ordinance was written was very
[1:12:16] clear. He didn't want any any of these
on the street at all. And so then as a
[1:12:22] compromise, we did it. We wrote the
ordinance so that they wouldn't be on
[1:12:26] the street after sundown. And so I do
feel like
[1:12:31] my job is to listen to our department
heads and I don't I I would like you to
[1:12:36] hear from Ken as well. But so a previous
chief of police did not agree with
[1:12:41] having a master guard and Ken doesn't
agree with having a master guard.
[1:12:44] Austin. Uh Parker, who has visited
several times as a as a visiting city
[1:12:50] attorney, has said that he has a number
he has a number of of cities that he is
[1:12:55] the city attorney for. They and he said
most of them don't allow the golf carts
[1:12:59] on the street after dark. Sean, what is
your experience?
[1:13:03] » Yeah, and I did some research before we
got in here. Um [clears throat] city of
[1:13:08] Witchah, same thing. um after dark
they'll they they they don't allow them.
[1:13:14] And then I did some small, you know,
some smaller jurisdictions, too, and
[1:13:17] they're all seem to be kind of along all
the same lines after dark and before
[1:13:22] sunrise.
They're not alone.
[1:13:25] » Thank you. Can Can you express to the
commissioners why you're opposed to
[1:13:28] that?
>> Certainly. Um quite honestly, I'm
[1:13:32] opposed period, as the previous chief
was, to them being on the roadways day
[1:13:36] or night. And part of that reasoning is
they're not built to take impacts. If a
[1:13:42] if a car hits a golf cart, you got a
little aluminum frame or whatever,
[1:13:47] there's no airbags. Um there's no the
impact they're not impact resistant
[1:13:52] frames.
The standard golf carts that a lot of
[1:13:56] people have, you know, the older ones,
they do sit lower, so their lighting is
[1:14:00] lower. So at night, that's going to make
that a little more difficult to see when
[1:14:04] that lighting is this high off the
ground as opposed to a motor vehicle
[1:14:07] when their lighting's 18 to 24 in off
the ground. So there's more of a chance
[1:14:14] of not being seen and an incident
happening after dark because it's not
[1:14:19] with lit as well or sitting up as high.
And again, traveling at night, a pickup
[1:14:26] or an SUV or even a car versus a golf
cart, I understand it can happen at both
[1:14:30] times, daylight or night. But I just I
just see it as a hazard and just my
[1:14:39] opinion on it.
>> So, where do we stand on electric bikes
[1:14:42] going at night and going up and down the
sidewalk like on main
[1:14:47] » electric bikes? We don't have an
ordinance designed to look at that. I
[1:14:52] have been paying attention to other
communities. Um,
[1:14:56] some comparable [snorts] size, some a
little smaller. Some of those have gone
[1:15:00] to the electric bikes that you need to
have a driver's license and be at least
[1:15:03] 8 16 years old.
>> Is the most recent STTO, does that
[1:15:08] address the standard traffic
coordinates? Does it address the
[1:15:13] electric bikes
electric scooters?
[1:15:16] » Yeah. And yeah, they're it's just as
bad. I mean, cuz those kids go flying
[1:15:19] down the street. That's I think
something we need to look at in the near
[1:15:22] future. There was somebody hit yesterday
in Leewood or today in Leewood, 13 years
[1:15:27] old, you know, hit on a scooter and they
just and the kids as adults, we learned
[1:15:34] we've got to look when we're coming to
an intersection. But I watch these kids,
[1:15:38] they come to a street and they're on the
sidewalk and they don't even pay
[1:15:41] attention. They just shoot straight
across. So, we do need to start looking
[1:15:44] at an ordinance on those as well.
Yeah, we I I'm definitely in agreement
[1:15:50] with you, Terry, that that we need to
the electric bikes and the electric
[1:15:55] scooters, they have become very popular
in the last year or two. And so now that
[1:15:58] we see that there's an issue, we
definitely need to address it.
[1:16:01] » And unfortunately, the state level
hasn't recognized it yet. And
[1:16:04] unfortunately, it's going to take
tragedies like happened yesterday. And I
[1:16:08] know there was one last week or the week
before. There was another one up
[1:16:12] Levvenworth, I believe, somewhere up
there. And it's unfortunately going to
[1:16:15] take a few incidents before the state
steps on. So I think we need to get an
[1:16:18] ordinance in place.
[1:16:23] » So concerning Terry's, I have no doubt
Terry would author would drive it
[1:16:28] responsibly at night.
>> Oh, you're looking at his whole I get
[1:16:32] it.
>> Yeah.
[1:16:32] » Others
question. Yeah. you know, and and so
[1:16:37] » yeah, and you know, the safety I Okay,
motorcycles are even more exposed than
[1:16:43] golf carts, and they do drive.
>> Sure.
[1:16:45] » Um
my tendency is to defer to the new chief
[1:16:50] just out of respect for
>> him taking office.
[1:16:55] I can be swayed. Yeah,
>> if you guys have a strong opinion.
[1:16:59] » No, I I agree. You know, Terry, I
appreciate I I get it. you know, you
[1:17:03] would be a responsible person, but the
unfortunate side is we can't not
[1:17:06] everyone's responsible and everything
like that. You know, I was I was reading
[1:17:10] an article, speaking of golf carts, a
drunk driver hit a a golf cart and
[1:17:14] killed a bride in there. And again, I'm
not saying that could happen. I hope
[1:17:18] that never happens here in Pratt, but
>> you know, I defer to our department
[1:17:22] heads that, you know, I have to trust
them and I, you know, and support them.
[1:17:27] » So, my question is then why if the
scooters don't have to have tags and
[1:17:32] insurance. Why do the golf carts? Why
why why is the city getting our $25 and
[1:17:38] and all that? Now, I'm going to insure
mine because I I have things that I can
[1:17:42] lose. And so, my question is is why do
they have to be tagged then?
[1:17:47] » Well, the state statute requires that
they have insurance and that you have to
[1:17:51] have a driver's license. I I don't think
the statute requires them to be tagged.
[1:17:56] I don't know.
>> I I don't see anything. I I didn't fully
[1:17:59] read the KSA, but I don't believe that
it has.
[1:18:03] » I think that it's more for our local law
enforcement to be able to keep track of
[1:18:08] which it's also inspection. You know,
you inspect the golf cart when you get
[1:18:14] the tag.
>> Yes.
[1:18:15] » But why does it need headlights?
>> The statute requires headlights.
[1:18:20] » Headlights even though you can't drive
it at night.
[1:18:22] » Am I incorrect on the STL?
>> I'd have to look at it. Headlights are
[1:18:27] even required on vehicles. If if it's
rolling it, you have to turn the wind
[1:18:33] heads on.
[1:18:37] » As required by law. Yeah,
>> I think it's a work in progress and I I
[1:18:42] agree with Monty out of respect for the
new chief and I appreciate the homework
[1:18:47] you did, Sean, for other communities
that have done it. It It seems silly.
[1:18:53] You can't hop in your golf cart and let
fix the problem and go back home. But
[1:18:58] » yeah, and there there actually are other
communities. I I have done some
[1:19:01] research. Uh Kingman and Chimi both
allow it after dark.
[1:19:04] » Okay.
>> Um the communities that are our size. Um
[1:19:07] which I can see. I mean why would you
>> Yeah.
[1:19:10] » Why would you even allow them in the
daytime, which I mean it's it's a you
[1:19:14] know it's a populous place. So I I I
feel like
[1:19:19] you know I see I see both sides. Um, I I
just
[1:19:24] I use it as a tool and and you know, I
don't want to fire my big diesel pickup
[1:19:28] up just to go get someone's laundry out
of the out of the washer and and so
[1:19:35] » see if we if we pass this, you you would
be the one that goes by the rules. Then
[1:19:41] there's everyone else that doesn't.
>> Exactly.
[1:19:44] » Right.
>> That's the problem. M that's
[1:19:46] [clears throat] part of my concern as
well is the ones that'll drive them to a
[1:19:50] drinking establishment
and
[1:19:53] » now that's the same rules as the motor
vehicle though it is if they drink it I
[1:19:57] mean
>> they can take their motorcycle to
[1:19:59] » Yeah I agree 100%. But and I don't know
why it is, but I have seen so many
[1:20:05] people
>> on a golf cart with a beer, you know,
[1:20:08] like with an open container. I for some
reason the the population has not
[1:20:13] grassed, but no, you can get a DUI for
that. And
[1:20:15] » and that rifle is
saying get DUI in a lawn mower in your
[1:20:19] front yard if you got a beer on it.
>> My front
[1:20:24] [laughter] technically you can. It's a
motorized vehicle.
[1:20:28] Well, you know, Terry, I do agree. The
electrical scooters and bikes, that's
[1:20:31] definitely I do agree with Chief and
Regina. We have to start doing something
[1:20:35] about that because like I said, I don't
want a tragedy like happened in Leewood.
[1:20:38] You said, Chief.
>> Yeah. And actually, we've had a traffic
[1:20:41] accident here in town last week where a
citizen was hit by that was on one of
[1:20:48] those that was hit by a car.
>> So, so [clears throat] when you start
[1:20:50] regulating those, are you going to
regulate them all together or just at
[1:20:53] night time? The scooters? I can't answer
that till we draft an ordinance.
[1:20:58] » Yeah. Because because if you
[clears throat]
[1:21:00] if you put a regulation on them, then
you have kids that can't get to the
[1:21:04] pool, can't get to the library, cuz
that's their that's how they get to
[1:21:08] those kind of places. School.
>> Yeah.
[1:21:11] » And and by there is a statute ordinance
that states on bicycles after dark,
[1:21:17] they're required to have headlights and
tail lights,
[1:21:20] » but there are many that don't. And I see
them pass by policemen all the time that
[1:21:25] just
they don't nothing's happened. They go
[1:21:30] by my house all the time.
[1:21:36] So I I feel like if we're going to crack
down, they it needs to be done
[1:21:41] just let it pass by.
That's my opinion.
[1:21:44] » Well, we'll have discussions about it.
We'll keep talking about it. Trust me,
[1:21:48] the allowing our citizens to be free
while also giving them reasonable
[1:21:54] regulations is is our goal. You know,
we're not trying to single out anybody.
[1:21:58] We want everybody to have as much
freedom as possible, but also to be safe
[1:22:03] and we have a collective obligation as a
community to provide safety for each
[1:22:08] other as well.
[1:22:11] » Thank you.
>> Thanks, T. Thank you.
[1:22:13] » All right, moving on to 6.9.
consideration of closing an old credit
[1:22:17] card account. Alita, he says,
>> "Yes, you see me over there."
[1:22:22] » Yes, you're good.
[1:22:25] » Okay. When our original credit cards
were opened through People's Bank, um
[1:22:32] somehow they got opened as a nonprofit
and it has come to our attention that we
[1:22:38] are not a nonprofit, of course, we're
municipality. So, we need to close that
[1:22:44] account. I have opened a new account as
a municipal mun municipality
[1:22:51] » and you voted on that, right?
>> Yes. And so in order to close the old
[1:22:57] account, the credit card company needs
the minutes from commission meeting
[1:23:03] saying that they approve for me to close
that account.
[1:23:07] » So that's the issue.
>> Is this your company money that you work
[1:23:12] for?
actually is TC [laughter]
[1:23:17] » affiliated.
>> I'm embarrassed that they require this.
[1:23:23] » So,
>> okay.
[1:23:25] » So, that's all I need is just you
>> approval to close the old credit card
[1:23:30] account.
>> Okay.
[1:23:32] » Do do you have an account number that
needs to be referenced?
[1:23:35] » Um, let's see. Account ending in 8649.
>> Okay.
[1:23:40] » And it's TCM.
>> TCM.
[1:23:42] » Yes. That's not the full account. See,
[1:23:46] » do you want the whole account number?
No,
[1:23:47] » I don't think we want.
>> I got it up here.
[1:23:50] » And account number. What was it?
>> 86
[1:23:54] » 8649.
>> 8649.
[1:23:55] » Account ending at 864.
>> Account ending 8649.
[1:24:03] » I'll I'll make a motion that we close an
old credit card account from TCM bank
[1:24:08] account ending 8649.
>> Second. It's been moved and second that
[1:24:12] we close down uh an old credit card
account from [cough] KTM bank account
[1:24:16] ending 8649. Any other discussions?
>> I'm abstained.
[1:24:20] » Okay. All right. Anything else? All
right. All those in favor, please say I.
[1:24:25] » I.
Extension passes 4 to zero.
[1:24:29] » Thank you.
>> Thank you. All right. Moving on to 6.10.
[1:24:33] Consideration of curb and gutter funding
requests for Cleveland Thompson Street.
[1:24:37] Mr. Shan.
>> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Uh, yes. This is a
[1:24:41] request for replacement and installation
of new uh carbon gutter uh at Cleveland
[1:24:46] Street between Pine and Thompson. This
is adjacent to the area that is uh been
[1:24:51] prone to flooding and extreme weather.
Uh I had uh EBH engineer uh Joel
[1:24:57] Crochell and Jerry Starky go out with me
and we did a site survey on that and
[1:25:02] they came up with a oversized curb with
a high back and large pan that will
[1:25:08] carry in their estimation at about three
times the normal amount of volume for
[1:25:12] that area. And [clears throat]
[1:25:16] we believe that'll solve a lot of the
problem with that flooding into that uh
[1:25:20] low area. um you saw a lot but not all.
>> Well, we haven't had the rain after the
[1:25:26] fact yet. So, we're still analyzing
that. Um and as soon as we get large
[1:25:30] rains, I've been every time it rains I
go by go by there, we haven't had a rain
[1:25:34] heavy enough,
>> right? Correct. To see what that is.
[1:25:38] » And we're looking at other options, too.
>> Yes. Uh we're also discussing putting in
[1:25:42] some burm area around that, but that's
separate from this bid. Um, we did go
[1:25:47] out for several bids from local
contractors receiving only one bid back
[1:25:51] from a Rosco and Sun uh in the amount of
$20,000 uh even and that is for 260
[1:25:58] linear feet of curbon gutter and the
alley approach on the south side of
[1:26:03] Cleveland Street to increase the pitch
angle of that so that the flood waters
[1:26:07] don't crest over that as reported from
the residents there. Uh
[1:26:13] so that is what I'm requesting at this
time is for 260 linear feet of curbon
[1:26:18] gutter and the uh alley approach repour
by Rosco and Sun Concrete in the amount
[1:26:24] of $20,000 and that will come out of
special street fund 452407
[1:26:30] » and could you just explain what is the
special street fund out of
[1:26:34] » that is the uh tax revenue fund that
goes to the general fund that is
[1:26:41] specific specifically allocated to
street curb and gutter and sidewalk
[1:26:45] repair.
>> Perfect. Thank you.
[1:26:47] » Y
>> and in your opinion 20,000 is a
[1:26:50] reasonable dollar amount for this work
>> based on uh previous work and the amount
[1:26:54] of square or linear footage and extra
volume of pan. Yes, this is very
[1:26:59] reasonable. I was hoping to get more
bids but
[1:27:01] » so are they doing the catch basin too
and the curbon gutter or this is just
[1:27:07] the curb? They are doing the curb gutter
and the alley approach.
[1:27:10] » And the alley approach.
>> Yes. [snorts]
[1:27:16] » I'd make a motion that we approve the
funding request uh for the $20,000 curb
[1:27:24] gutter replacement on Cleveland Street
from Arasco and Sun Concrete.
[1:27:29] Second. It's been moved and second that
we approve the purchase or the approve
[1:27:34] the purchasing of redoing the curb and
gutter funding request for Cleveland
[1:27:38] Thompson Street for a total of $20,000
from Arasco and Sun Concrete. Any other
[1:27:43] discussions? All those in favor, please
say I. I. Okay, perfect. All right, last
[1:27:48] thing is consideration of funding
request for servers. Mr. Sean Cole, our
[1:27:53] new IT director.
>> Look at that. He's [clears throat] been
[1:27:56] with us a couple of weeks and he's
asking for money on it.
[1:27:59] » Yeah. How about that?
>> But Jeremy Nelson is also here because
[1:28:03] he's going to um
>> he'll be [clears throat] heavily he's
[1:28:06] been involved in the discussions, you
know, previous uh and he's really good
[1:28:10] at the dispatch stuff.
>> Okay. So, uh requesting final approval
[1:28:15] for the purchase of hardware for the
city's proxmox uh virtualization cluster
[1:28:20] project. This project initially would
had was started under previous IT
[1:28:26] directors uh with [snorts] along with uh
Jeremy Nelson and Echo IIT ops to um uh
[1:28:34] evaluate alternatives for our current
VMware virtualization server. Um, and
[1:28:41] this was already uh evaluated and uh
reviewed by the uh emergency board and
[1:28:49] so we're just coming for approval. uh
the uh the main reason that we're doing
[1:28:54] this is that our current VMware software
is uh has some we have in substantial
[1:29:01] increase in licensing costs
um that is is ongoing and so we needed a
[1:29:08] virtualization pro platform that would
continue to provide reliability
[1:29:14] um and functionality without tying us to
these increasing costs. Um, Proxmox was
[1:29:22] selected because this is an enterprise
level platform for this. It supports
[1:29:28] clustering so that if one piece of
hardware goes down uh that it could
[1:29:34] these servers could be transferred to
other computers so that they would
[1:29:38] continue to stay operating. Um and uh
this is uh to provide uh redundancy.
[1:29:48] Um
and this was a many of these servers are
[1:29:55] for uh 911
services and dispatch services. Uh so
[1:30:02] that would help to keep our uptime uh up
so that we didn't have just a single
[1:30:07] point of failure. Um but the timing of
this is also significant. Our VMware
[1:30:14] licensing is going to expire on August
the 31st.
[1:30:19] Um and so uh this was this approval
would help us to go ahead and pro to
[1:30:26] purchase hardware uh to pro to uh have
Proxmox installed as the VMware as the
[1:30:36] VM solution. uh the virtual machine
solution. So uh one of the advantages of
[1:30:43] Proxmox is that it it doesn't have the
ongoing licensing costs. Uh this request
[1:30:50] is only for hardware. Uh Prox also does
uh offer support costs if if you would
[1:31:00] if we wanted to go that route, but it is
substantially uh less expensive than
[1:31:07] VMware.
Um this uh
[1:31:12] and so the approval just will allow us
to go ahead with that hardware purchase
[1:31:16] to keep that implementation on schedule.
Um, since I've joined the city, I've
[1:31:22] kind of reviewed [cough] this proposal
and and that that even though that this
[1:31:26] was something that a previous director
had, IT director had put together, I I
[1:31:32] support it. Uh, support moving forward
with it. I've got prior hands-on
[1:31:36] experience with using Proxmox and so I'm
familiar and comfortable with with using
[1:31:41] it. Um, also we have we have Jeremy
Nelson here this evening with us.
[1:31:47] » [clears throat]
>> uh he was involved with the initial uh
[1:31:50] evaluation of it and hardware design and
and if you have any additional questions
[1:31:55] he he also provided
>> well information
[1:32:00] » the system you're you're uh that we
discussed at the emergency management
[1:32:03] meeting Jeremy that you were at. I mean,
it was it the the system was an it's an
[1:32:08] interesting system because it it it's
it's built-in redundancy, right? If you
[1:32:14] have a failure of I can't I'm
[clears throat] not it like you guys, so
[1:32:18] I don't know all of the words, but if
you had a failure in one system, there
[1:32:21] were two redundant systems and so one
would pick up if one failed, it would go
[1:32:26] to the redundant system and then you
could replace the one that failed
[1:32:29] without any any disruption, any
emergency management calls. the idea.
[1:32:34] So,
do I need to be up there? Can you hear
[1:32:37] me?
>> We should be able to hear.
[1:32:38] » Yeah, we should be able to hear.
>> Wonderful. So, it's a cluster. So, it's
[1:32:43] a small cluster. We're putting three
three different physical servers
[1:32:47] together where they're going to work
together and cooperate. Um, there's been
[1:32:53] historically, recent history, there's
been some lightning strikes uh at the PD
[1:32:57] that have taken down servers.
um and
[1:33:03] I don't want to say disabled but put the
911 in a in a behind the a uh so
[1:33:10] » significantly
>> the idea is put the three servers in if
[1:33:13] we were to lose
have some type of catastrophic event
[1:33:18] lightning hardware failure on its own we
would still have two machines that would
[1:33:24] would carry the weight and we our impact
or our downtime would be negligible if
[1:33:30] if any um
try not to get real technical here. So
[1:33:36] these are physical devices. The server
that the operating system that 911 would
[1:33:42] interact with is called a virtual
machine. And these this virtual machine
[1:33:47] or machines would
would migrate or we would migrate them
[1:33:53] in the case of a hardware failure with
like with the minimal down time. that
[1:33:58] that's the idea behind it. And so if we
did have a catastrophic failure on one,
[1:34:07] I don't know if I I have to look at the
design, but potentially even two
[1:34:11] machines. We would still have services
available for 911 and and the community.
[1:34:17] » Unfortunately, since the last lightning
strike, 911 has had several glitches.
[1:34:22] they can't hear each other or uh
several instances where Christine said
[1:34:29] this is truly a safety issue. It's an
officer safety issue that they need to
[1:34:33] get um the new hardware in. As far as
the the VMware, it's my understanding
[1:34:41] that that what is currently being used
was purchased by Motorola and Motorola's
[1:34:47] costs are much higher and that even
though this cost for this hardware is an
[1:34:53] expensive cost. [clears throat] Um part
of it will be covered by 911 funds. Uh
[1:34:59] the two lightning strikes that we had
two years in a row have depleted any
[1:35:03] reserves and 911 funds. our 911 funds
are um tight. The county uh is going to
[1:35:11] share some of the cost as well. So
>> once we move over, correct? Or are they
[1:35:16] sharing some of the cost now?
>> I believe that they're going to share
[1:35:19] some of the cost for the hardware moving
to the crux system. And [snorts]
[1:35:24] anyway, so it's it really is it's a
sheriff's department safety issue. is a
[1:35:29] prep PD safety issue and it's a 911
functionability issue. Also, if we don't
[1:35:35] move to this Proxmox, what that means
necessarily is that we continue with the
[1:35:40] VM that we have and then we pay higher
uh licensing fees.
[1:35:47] » Correct?
>> Did Did I say that correctly you guys?
[1:35:49] » Absolutely correct. The current So
VMware VMware was recently bought out by
[1:35:55] a third party company. The
The costs for the city were negligible,
[1:36:03] very small. Current cost for renewing
the VM software piece is about $15,000
[1:36:10] a year
at ongoing and whatever we're going to
[1:36:15] be subject to for future price
increases. Proxmox is an operating
[1:36:20] system that drives the the virtual
machines, the pieces that 911 would
[1:36:25] dispatch or 911 dispatch would use. And
that is current that is an open- source
[1:36:31] free software that is enterprise grade.
[clears throat]
[1:36:37] So we're trying to eliminate that that
ongoing $15,000 a year plus.
[1:36:44] » Well, it sounds like this is something
we definitely need to do. So,
[1:36:48] Bonnie, do you want to or Brad or
>> Yeah, I I'll make a motion that we
[1:36:53] approve the funding request for the
servers as directed by Sean.
[1:36:58] » Second. It's been moved and seconded
that we approve the funding request for
[1:37:02] the servers from the Echo IT LLC and
Jeremy Nelson for the total of
[1:37:06] $25,57.50.
[1:37:09] Uh, any other discussions? All in favor,
please say I. I.
[1:37:14] » All right. You guys go. Okay.
All right. Moving on now to open public
[1:37:19] comment. City matters only. Three minute
time limit. Public is allowed to speak
[1:37:23] on issues or items not scheduled for
discussion on the agenda. Comments
[1:37:28] should be limited to issues and observe
the business and governing body. Protect
[1:37:31] the privacy interest of individual
employees and to avoid discussion of
[1:37:34] marriage not appropriate for open
session. Comments regarding hiring,
[1:37:38] discipline, performance, conduct,
investigation, resignation, termination,
[1:37:41] and other employment statuses of any
specific non-electric city employee will
[1:37:45] not be permitted during open comment.
Speakers may address general city
[1:37:48] policies, practice, department
operations, or service concerns, but not
[1:37:52] individual personnel matters. The
commission will not discuss or debate
[1:37:55] these items, nor will the commission
make decisions on items presented during
[1:37:59] this time. Members of the public are
limited to three minutes or comments.
[1:38:03] Anyone from the a Oh, Tammy.
[1:38:09] » Tammy Coleman. I'm representing the
impact group tonight. Um, that's the,
[1:38:15] uh,
>> it's on that list.
[1:38:17] » I'm their meaningful projects
coordinator. And what we are planning,
[1:38:22] uh, September the 11th is a national day
of service. And so on September the
[1:38:28] 12th, we are going to have a cleanup
event.
[1:38:32] Um we are going to be staged at the
corner of um Finchum and Sixth Street at
[1:38:38] the dental office there. And then we
have volunteers who will be cleaning
[1:38:45] [clears throat] Finchum Street, you
know, gathering garbage and Sixth Street
[1:38:49] uh down to Country Club Road. And I just
wanted to make you aware that this event
[1:38:53] is happening and invite anybody who
wants to participate uh to come out and
[1:38:58] help us for the day of service. And
we're going to start at 7:30 in the
[1:39:02] morning
on September the 12th.
[1:39:09] » Staged along there for pickup.
>> That would be nice.
[1:39:14] » I don't know how many we're going to
require. Huh?
[1:39:16] » You tell me the day of the week.
>> That's a Saturday.
[1:39:19] » Saturday
>> because September 11th is on a Friday
[1:39:22] and we just moved it to that Saturday.
>> I'll arrange for sanitation to get
[1:39:26] upstaged along there.
>> Okay. Thank you very much.
[1:39:31] All right. Anyone else from the audience
like to speak?
[1:39:35] Okay. That being said, we'll now move
into reports. The manager, Miss G.
[1:39:41] So, I was um out of the office last week
visiting my child who moved to the West
[1:39:50] Coast recently in a military move. So,
um I don't have a lengthy report. Uh but
[1:39:56] what I did the prior week was um Jamie
and I had meetings with S&P and with
[1:40:03] Steel regarding the bond um issuance and
Jamie really enjoyed that process and
[1:40:10] he'd like to do it again. I'm kidding.
It was a very it was it was incredibly
[1:40:15] tedious. Uh the other thing I also I'm
on the Kansas Municipal Utilities Board
[1:40:21] of Directors and um they had a meeting
last Wednesday in McFerson that I
[1:40:26] attended and there's just so much good
networking and information um you know
[1:40:32] sharing uh I I do find Pratt's
involvement in that to be incredibly
[1:40:37] beneficial. Um I also met with a
representative from the Union Pacific
[1:40:42] Railroad. uh he came and he just shared
with me uh you know their hopes that
[1:40:49] their merger is is still in the um the
feds have
[1:40:54] » the merger was denied the first go
round, wasn't it?
[1:40:56] » I believe it was. Yeah. Um but he said
that if the merger is approved this
[1:41:01] time, then they would be the first rail
country rail company in history that
[1:41:07] operates rails from coast to coast. that
that right now you've got a different
[1:41:12] rail company doing the east coast, a
different rail company doing the west
[1:41:15] coast. Also, he said that um if it goes
through they have a a a plan to increase
[1:41:21] the the the shoulder of the rail here in
Pratt, which should help alleviate some
[1:41:28] of the train traffic that the the the
trains crossing, you know, blocking.
[1:41:35] » You know what I'm saying?
>> 281. Yeah. where where our emergency
[1:41:40] services have had our technician back
and forth. So, I I thought that that was
[1:41:43] an interesting meeting. [snorts]
>> Okay. Well, I will say I thought Jamie,
[1:41:47] you were did a great job while you
[clears throat] were gone. There was
[1:41:49] Nope.
>> Always do. [laughter]
[1:41:51] » All right. We gone more often, I guess,
is what we're doing.
[1:41:56] » No, pizza parties, then we're not I'm
teasing.
[1:42:00] » So, all right. Any other questions for
Regina? All right. Thank you, Regina.
[1:42:04] All right. Public works, Mr. Champl.
>> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um, Coven and the
[1:42:08] water crew have completed the
installation of the water lines out at
[1:42:11] the point. That ditch is all back filled
and they're currently doing pressure
[1:42:15] test and chlorine uh disinfection on
that line. So, they are wrapping that up
[1:42:20] very quickly. Uh, wastewater has
transitioned into the southeast corner
[1:42:25] of town with maintenance and are quickly
getting through all of that. They are
[1:42:30] going to go back around and hit what we
call the trouble spots after they have
[1:42:34] completed the whole town's maintenance
just to double down on areas that we
[1:42:39] have had concern with. Uh we had a sewer
back up on the 100 block of Stout
[1:42:43] Street. Reported no damage at that. Uh
blockage was cleared very quickly and
[1:42:50] the resident said they only had a small
splashing of water in their basement.
[1:42:56] [clears throat]
Quick clean up, no problem. Um, street
[1:43:00] department has been out all last week
with their asphalt recycler patching um,
[1:43:05] uh, holes all over town and through
Lemon Park. Uh, currently they have a
[1:43:11] large array [clears throat] of thermal
crackings over [cough]
[1:43:15] uh, that I believe they're getting ready
to mill out and start patching those in.
[1:43:20] Parks department removed three trees at
Lemon Park by the West Gazebo. Uh and
[1:43:27] then next week they are going or this
week they're going in May Dennis to
[1:43:31] remove I believe Danny said 13 trees
[clears throat]
[1:43:36] uh on the east side of the drainage
ditch. So uh sanitation and cemetery
[1:43:43] nothing to report. Everybody's just uh
keeping busy and beating the heat. We
[1:43:48] did receive the trash truck perfect
Wednesday of last week. So far
[1:43:55] everything appears to be fine on it.
Nothing no issues. Uh I've got with Dean
[1:44:01] Simon we have the uh lease agreement on
my desk. It just needs to be looked over
[1:44:05] and signed and then we'll finish that
process. Okay.
[1:44:10] » Um
public works uh the 400 block of South
[1:44:16] Main Alley is complete. That'll have to
the end of this week for um the concrete
[1:44:22] to cure. then we can open that back up.
Uh storm box repair at Oak and 6th was
[1:44:27] completed by Rosco. Uh and I'm currently
working on the cost share grant for the
[1:44:34] Sixth Street extension again for the
fall application.
[1:44:38] » Did somebody run over that storm lot?
>> Yes. Okay.
[1:44:41] » There was another drain hit recently too
that has cones up. Is it by the
[1:44:46] municipal building?
>> That one's been repaired by street
[1:44:49] department.
>> Yes. uh the one that's at Oak and six
[1:44:53] that was poured back extra thick with
reinforcing steel. So that one shouldn't
[1:44:59] be a problem ever again. That's all I
got.
[1:45:02] » Any word on well six or anything like
the movement wise?
[1:45:06] » Yes. Uh survey is going to be complete
by the end of this week. We have uh West
[1:45:12] off Plumbing going in there to trace out
two of the laterals on High Street so we
[1:45:17] know where those residential laterals go
in case we have to move those uh per the
[1:45:23] state we can't have anything in that 100
foot radius including residential
[1:45:27] laterals but after we get that survey
completed then we can see if we can move
[1:45:33] forward with moving well
>> and then when's the Maple Street Bridge
[1:45:37] closed?
We have uh pre-construction meeting the
[1:45:43] 18th tomorrow.
>> Yes, tomorrow. Uh and then that will
[1:45:49] determine when that project kicks off. I
believe it's supposed to be end of
[1:45:53] month.
>> Okay, perfect. Awesome. Any other
[1:45:56] questions for Jeff? Okay. Building
inspector, Mr. Walker or Mr. Shantline?
[1:46:04] » Mr. Shanine.
>> Okay. Um, since the last council
[1:46:07] meeting, we've uh I've been training
with Robert and uh we've completed one
[1:46:12] roof inspection, two electrical
inspections, seven concrete inspections,
[1:46:17] um zero sewer this time, issued seven
mowing letters, two tree letters, true
[1:46:23] removal or maintenance letters. um
designated three nuisance properties
[1:46:29] that'll be ongoing and uh
got a lot of the work done to prepare um
[1:46:36] for two dangerous structures which will
then progress through the process to get
[1:46:41] those removed most likely next year.
>> Okay,
[1:46:44] » perfect.
>> Thank you.
[1:46:45] » Yes.
>> So, what is your name?
[1:46:47] » John Shanline.
>> Okay. Are you
[1:46:50] » any relation?
>> Yeah. His oldest brother.
[1:46:53] » Okay.
transfer over from power plant.
[1:46:57] » He's been working with Robert the last
um
[1:46:59] » week,
>> just last week.
[1:47:02] » And you'll you're and you're taking over
as building inspector.
[1:47:07] » I'm designated interum. I think there
needs to be an interview process to go.
[1:47:12] [snorts]
>> All right. Any other questions for John?
[1:47:15] [clears throat]
>> Okay. Thank you, sir. All right.
[1:47:17] Electrical department, Mr. Huber.
>> Let me start with the bond. If you've
[1:47:21] never experienced going through a bond
process and or a federal grant, then
[1:47:26] you're missing out. Those are two things
in my career that I wish I would have
[1:47:30] never been a part of. [laughter] There
was a lot.
[1:47:34] Um, no, actually I I'm really happy the
way it all turned out.
[1:47:39] We're still uh Chris Negley is the
engineer on our project, which is also
[1:47:44] the substation project, power plant, and
our automation.
[1:47:49] So, a lot of things are going off.
You've driven by 10th Street where the
[1:47:52] power plants are going. There's the line
department still putting pipe in the
[1:47:56] ground and they may be for several more
weeks. There's a lot to it. So, um we've
[1:48:01] got the area where the cat will sit.
That area is done. We're just waiting on
[1:48:06] concrete crews now to come in and get
that started. We're almost done with
[1:48:11] where the control house will be when
that does and they can pour concrete
[1:48:14] over that and then we'll start building
a building over it. Um, but then they're
[1:48:18] going to have to trench from that up to
the substations and that'll just it
[1:48:22] won't it'll take a while but it won't be
look like what it does now. So really
[1:48:27] that's all uh production just kind of
normal maintenance stuff right now. We
[1:48:32] got through all our testing for the
year. So, perfect.
[1:48:35] » Yeah. So, we've kind of neglected um
some of the maintenance outside and so
[1:48:42] they were on that a lot last week. Um
and really uh just the high energy uses
[1:48:51] right now going on. So, we've been and
that's it's normal, but we haven't
[1:48:55] really seen that many consecutive days
in the hundreds. So, right,
[1:48:59] » it's going to people are going to pay
for it. They don't they think they're
[1:49:02] not using anymore. But in reality,
everybody's just
[1:49:07] » I agree. I mean, but this is just the
worst time of the year. This is when the
[1:49:10] heat comes.
>> It happens every year. Every year at
[1:49:13] this time, you start getting complaints.
Yeah.
[1:49:15] » I've never had this bill as high. Well,
we look back last year and you know, oh,
[1:49:19] there it was. You were actually higher
last year than you were this year. So,
[1:49:23] » um, it is what it is. And like I said, I
kind of freaked out last week when we
[1:49:26] got our bill. So I like I said I made a
bunch of phone calls and [cough] put it
[1:49:31] to ease on that. So no
the cost of of energy was the same. It's
[1:49:37] just you guys bought more. So
>> well and you know Jamie I appreciate too
[1:49:42] you guys keeping you know not having any
brown outs or blackouts or anything. I
[1:49:46] know there's some parts of the state
that are they're dealing with some of
[1:49:49] that. So you guys are
>> and you know and we've never really uh
[1:49:53] experienced that like other parts of the
country. And part of putting these
[1:49:57] generators in is for that reason. Yeah.
>> If that would come if somehow or another
[1:50:02] the grid start shut it down. I mean
we're not going to put our customer in
[1:50:07] the dark. No.
>> So no way.
[1:50:10] » Um there was a power outage I think over
the weekend. Was that just because of a
[1:50:14] storm?
>> I think there was one today actually.
[1:50:16] » There was one today. It should have been
resolved.
[1:50:19] » Yeah.
>> And it it transformed.
[1:50:22] » Okay. They're starting to overheat.
They're just not getting enough time to
[1:50:25] cool down. So, we had loves trip off
here while last I don't kind of messed
[1:50:31] up. Maybe it's a week ago or so. And
we'll kind of find out. Electricians
[1:50:37] that were working in there that weren't
there were there working on it. So, they
[1:50:42] won't fess up to why and how it tripped,
but we kind of pointed finger there. So,
[1:50:47] » got it.
>> But it's it's up and I think that
[1:50:50] project for Lowe's is about done. So
hopefully other than that um I really
[1:50:57] don't have anything else for you. Just
>> perfect. Awesome. Any other questions
[1:51:01] for Jamie? All right. Thank you for
keeping the city running when Gina was
[1:51:06] gone.
>> I tried my best. I didn't know.
[1:51:09] [laughter]
>> All right.
[1:51:11] » Really? It's not that difficult. ANYHOW,
[1:51:16] » that's [laughter] why you got yourself
off that board of directors.
[1:51:22] » Experience things.
>> Yeah, we're not doing that one no more.
[1:51:25] So, [laughter]
>> all right, practice the crowd.
[1:51:29] » Thank you, mayor. Fall sports signups
are live. We got flag football,
[1:51:33] volleyball, and soccer in the fall and
then co-ed and women's volleyball for
[1:51:37] adult stuff. Uh the point drawings got
pushed back a little bit a couple days.
[1:51:42] So we expect those next week um for all
the construction documents and hope to
[1:51:47] go out to bid uh here the first part of
September. Uh we're still doing the
[1:51:52] improvements at Lemon Park ball fields
and good and Dickerson press boxes
[1:51:56] batting cages dugouts. We're getting
those projects wrapped up as quick as we
[1:52:02] can because PCC softball starts uh next
Monday their fall season.
[1:52:08] So pool season's going well. As you
aware, we transition to weekend hours
[1:52:15] plus adult swim. Um, and then we have
pool parties almost every night from now
[1:52:22] until the end of the season. I think
we're at like 14 of the next 18 nights,
[1:52:27] something like that. Pool parties.
>> Nice.
[1:52:29] » So, [cough] getting good [clears throat]
use out of it. Uh just a little tidbit
[1:52:34] for Tiffany. The concert is this Friday.
Right now it's currently a green sports
[1:52:39] complex. It's full house. Starts at uh 8
8:00. Gates open I think it's 7. So if
[1:52:47] you're looking something for due Friday
night, come out to the concert at Green
[1:52:51] Sports Complex.
That's all I got.
[1:52:54] » Perfect.
>> Any questions for Justin? All right.
[1:52:56] Thanks, sir. All right. Uh IT
department, Mr. Sean told any anything
[1:53:02] else?
>> Um, nothing really to nothing really to
[1:53:07] report. Uh, just getting a handle on
things and and keeping things running.
[1:53:12] » All right. Well, we appreciate you
coming board. So, all right. Okay. Uh,
[1:53:17] anything for [clears throat] Sean on it?
Okay. All right. Uh, Robert, I would
[1:53:22] just like to say personally, uh,
>> no announcements have been made.
[1:53:26] » Okay. Never mind. Sorry. I'll shut up
now. All right. Alita, anything for
[1:53:30] finance department?
Okay. Anything for Alita? Okay. I
[1:53:36] apologize. Okay.
Police department chief, right?
[1:53:42] » Well, do the harassment I received at
the beginning of this meeting. Maybe I
[1:53:45] should stand for mine. [laughter]
[1:53:48] » Uh, no. Just in the last two weeks, the
department's taken 451 calls for
[1:53:54] service. They conducted 96 traffic
stops. worked two traffic accidents. I
[1:53:59] don't think that was correct. Um had six
misdemeanor charges, four felonies with
[1:54:05] one arrest, assisted EMS fire seven
times, and conducted 32 bin inspections.
[1:54:12] Also, in that time, um the incar cameras
that I was told would not ship until the
[1:54:17] end of September, beginning of October,
arrived
[1:54:21] 4 days after I placed the order.
>> Wow.
[1:54:23] » Wow.
>> So, take that. Um, we did conduct an
[1:54:28] interview. We got one that cancelled. We
have sent out a offer to that applicant
[1:54:34] at this time for one of the positions we
have open. Hopefully hear back from them
[1:54:38] by the 28th.
We did have two officers that attended a
[1:54:43] train the trainer for instructors for
deescalation techniques so they can
[1:54:48] train our in-house people.
Let's see.
[1:54:53] We did conduct a couple of uh drug
search warrants as well in the last
[1:54:57] couple weeks. We did have some car
burglaries again. Yeah,
[1:55:02] » we did have a stolen vehicle.
We think it's just those three. The
[1:55:06] stolen vehicle was recovered within
about two blocks of where the burglaries
[1:55:11] occurred. So, kind of guessing same
person. We've been canvasing with um
[1:55:16] checking Ring doorbells and the new bus
barns camera system is quite nice. So,
[1:55:22] we've been checking it as well.
>> Is that Do you think is the same
[1:55:24] burglars that uh robbed that lady that
had her car on 54 or do you think that's
[1:55:30] somebody different
>> or I saw her car battery got stolen or
[1:55:34] something out of her car?
>> I guess I didn't see that.
[1:55:37] » Okay.
[1:55:41] » I think that's a county.
>> Okay, that was the county. Okay, my
[1:55:45] » um but the vehicle was recovered over in
the fifth in Washington area. Let's see.
[1:55:52] Uh first day of school Southwest, we had
five officers out there just kind of
[1:55:56] meet and greeting the kids, handing out
some stickers and pencils and
[1:55:59] high-fiving, welcome them back, getting
the officer's faces out there again. So
[1:56:04] that went over well. Um
I received a report from the Humane
[1:56:10] Society.
>> I have no idea what you guys want on
[1:56:13] that report, so I'm going to fake it
till you tell me otherwise. Uh they had
[1:56:17] 11 animals in, they had 12 go out.
They gave out 54 bags of food to the
[1:56:23] community between cat and dog food and
they had 15 surrender attempts and it
[1:56:30] looks like there's about four pages of
injections that were given to animals.
[1:56:34] » Okay.
>> I don't know what all that stuff means.
[1:56:37] So if you guys want something else out
of there, tell me and I'll make it
[1:56:39] happen. But
>> n that's good.
[1:56:41] » This was from July 11th to August 11th.
>> Perfect. All right. Anything else for
[1:56:46] Chief Right?
>> Okay. Keep up the good work, sir. Thank
[1:56:49] you. All right, fire department chief.
>> Thank you, honor. Uh, didn't have
[1:56:53] anything major uh past few weeks. Had a
few CO calls and uh dropped cell phones
[1:56:58] which were got called in as vehicle
accidents. Of course, once they drop a
[1:57:02] phone, it automatically sends a signal
to dispatch that there's possibility for
[1:57:06] a wreck. So, been out investigating
those, find out they're just drop
[1:57:09] phones. But, um, other than that, like
say CO calls, uh, had a few of those.
[1:57:15] And then vehicle accidents, just stop
and checking on those. Um, August 27th,
[1:57:21] we'll be out of PCC, uh, doing that with
the presenting PRA. We'll have a booth
[1:57:26] set up out there to kind of welcome some
of the other kids back into into the
[1:57:29] college out there. And then on September
the 13th, I've got five or six of us
[1:57:34] that'll be doing the stair climb over in
Witchaw for 911. So, participating in
[1:57:39] that. So, other than that, it's about
all I've got.
[1:57:41] » How's the door coming along in the
garage?
[1:57:43] » They're still waiting for the door to
show up when when I hear from Cheney
[1:57:47] door. Uh then we'll get the other two
together and once they make that cut,
[1:57:51] they won't make the cut unless the
mason's there to to grab the brick work
[1:57:55] and get that that brick work started. So
>> Okay.
[1:57:57] » Should be coming up towards the end of
this month.
[1:57:59] » Perfect. Awesome. Any questions for
Chief Hoffman?
[1:58:03] » Okay. Perfect. City prosecutor,
>> how we doing tonight?
[1:58:06] » Doing good.
>> All right. Um city uh uh the
[1:58:10] prosecution, it's going well. We got the
new J-Hawk software that's we're going
[1:58:15] through. We're getting it all coded
right. So it sinks over. Been talking
[1:58:19] with Gina about some back due fines and
seeing if we can get a system set up,
[1:58:24] get a collection agency in on that so we
can start collecting some stuff that has
[1:58:28] been paid in a while. And we're really
clearing out some stuff that's just been
[1:58:32] sitting around for a while. Not no
movement on it. So working forward on
[1:58:36] that.
>> Perfect. Awesome. Any other questions
[1:58:39] for Sean? All right. Thank you, sir. All
right. Tara, anything from your end on
[1:58:45] finances or anything? Um, no. Um, we
will be doing the budget hearing
[1:58:49] September 7th, 8th, whatever that Monday
is. Yeah.
[1:58:53] » Uh, that Monday or Yeah, that meeting is
Tuesday. No, it's Tuesday. It's a
[1:58:58] Tuesday.
>> Probably should move on my calendar. Um,
[1:59:02] so that's the main thing coming up is
just getting the budget budget hearing
[1:59:05] done and approved for the next year. So,
>> and I do want to point out I'm very
[1:59:09] proud that we did not we are revenue
neutral. So again, I know people got
[1:59:13] their tax statements over the last
couple weeks and again, the city did not
[1:59:17] raise their billies at all for 2027. So
again, appreciate all your guys' hard
[1:59:23] work on that. So all righty, anything
else for Tara? Okay, perfect. All right,
[1:59:29] city clerk, Miss Garden.
>> Um, as Jamie stated, we're and you've
[1:59:35] seen on social media, um, we had a very
busy day with, um, customers. I think
[1:59:41] the Facebook stuff kind of stirred up
concerns from those who may not have had
[1:59:47] those inklings, but um in most
situations, we're able to explain and
[1:59:53] come to an understanding um that the
city didn't raise their electric bill.
[1:59:58] But if I continue to get complaints, I'm
going to send all the phone calls to
[2:00:01] Jamie. [laughter]
[2:00:04] But um in all seriousness, it's uh
everybody's bills went up slightly for
[2:00:09] electricity and it's quite frankly the
weather.
[2:00:13] » Yeah.
>> Um I have a smart AC unit that shows me
[2:00:18] my usage and my usage this July was
significantly higher than last July and
[2:00:24] my usage was um 200 hours higher than uh
June. So, it's um unfortunately that
[2:00:32] we're experiencing this right now, but
we're going to get through it together.
[2:00:36] » Yeah, we don't want to leave out water,
though.
[2:00:39] » Water, yes. Um [laughter]
[2:00:44] » yeah, that has been a challenge. I'll
send some calls to Kelvin. That'll go
[2:00:47] well. Um [laughter]
>> well, and tomorrow is not going to look
[2:00:51] great. It's going to be 105 tomorrow.
So,
[2:00:54] » yeah. Um,
>> and so the weather is hot and people's
[2:00:57] temper temp their tempers are flaring,
>> but the public discourse and the
[2:01:02] nastiness towards our employees is
really disheartening. The ladies up
[2:01:06] front work very very hard and when
customers come in yelling and screaming
[2:01:10] and cussing
>> and they're riled up on Facebook without
[2:01:15] asking the questions, what was my usage?
Brianna could pull it up. any of the the
[2:01:21] front office staff can pull up what
would what were the how much electricity
[2:01:26] was used last year, how much electricity
was used this year. Also, did the rates
[2:01:30] change because they haven't. And so
instead of people being so ugly to our
[2:01:36] employees, these are human beings and
they are working hard and they are
[2:01:39] serving the public. And we have had
people leave city employment this year
[2:01:45] because of the Facebook nonsense. And so
I I would really implore the public to
[2:01:52] have conversations with uh city staff in
a cordial way and we will share all the
[2:01:59] information that we have with you, but
please don't come into the front office
[2:02:02] and yell at the employees in the front.
>> I completely agree with you. I mean you
[2:02:06] guys are doing the best you can for the
city and I mean we cannot control the
[2:02:10] weather. We can't control certain things
and unfortunately people think we can
[2:02:15] but we can't.
We have some we've discussed talking
[2:02:19] points um you know meter um inspections
and things like that. Uh we discuss
[2:02:26] histories with people. Um we try to
identify you know somebody will come in
[2:02:31] and say this is the highest bill I've
ever had and we look at the history and
[2:02:34] that is not accurate. Um 90% of the
Facebook comments that were on there I
[2:02:38] checked all of their bills and n out of
10 of them were inaccurate statements.
[2:02:44] Uh they would say my bill went up $100,
you know, over last month. Inaccurate.
[2:02:50] Which actually mine did. Mine personally
did. It went up $100 because my kids
[2:02:54] have been home this whole summer for the
first time ever. So my bill is um you
[2:03:00] know anyway um if if people would just
have a conversation with us and ask us
[2:03:05] questions instead of coming to
assumptions we can walk them through
[2:03:08] what is going on and possibly help them
attempt to reduce their consumption
[2:03:13] because we do have a lot of um
suggestions. We've even been mailing out
[2:03:18] little flyers to some of the people that
have had higher consumption than usual.
[2:03:23] And we also go out of our way, we have
uh Crystal audits as many bills as she
[2:03:28] can. You know, we have 4,000 bills. She
audits those to try to identify anyone
[2:03:33] that might have a possible leak. And
we've even gotten yelled at from a
[2:03:37] customer for sending them a possible
leak tag because we are trying to do our
[2:03:41] best to help you identify issues. And um
so just a general statement that we are
[2:03:47] working very hard to try to facilitate,
you know, good services and we're doing
[2:03:53] the best we can and we're trying to be
nice about it.
[2:03:56] » How many of our customers, Bri, have you
taken up the opportunity to do the
[2:04:00] average monthly bill, you know, after
they live? Um well there's some
[2:04:05] challenges with that because the
previous city clerk's policy was that
[2:04:08] they had to be enrolled in autodraft and
um to be quite frank that would truly
[2:04:15] benefit from the average monthly payment
or lower income status um households and
[2:04:22] they can't usually sign up for an
autodraft that has a payment coming out
[2:04:27] at a specified date. They would prefer
to control when that payment comes out.
[2:04:31] So we I have been discussing the
possibility of changing those policies
[2:04:36] to open it up a little bit further. But
the challenges with that is that if you
[2:04:41] sign up for average monthly payment
today and so your average is 300 but
[2:04:45] your actual bill for this month was
$550, then you're already starting in a
[2:04:50] deficit in this program. If you go off
services in two months, then you likely
[2:04:54] are going to have an additional $300
bill added to your final bill for that
[2:04:59] month that you didn't actually pay your
bill. So, there's a lot of factors that
[2:05:04] weigh into this and I'm trying to find a
solution that benefits the people that
[2:05:09] truly need it while also, you know, not
jeopardizing our financial situation and
[2:05:16] bad debt and things like that. So,
there's a lot going on.
[2:05:20] » No, but that shows your dedication on
helping our lower income people. I think
[2:05:26] it's a good point that Brianna looked at
all of those comments and looked at the
[2:05:30] bills and the statements made on public
on on social media were inaccurate and
[2:05:36] » there's there was very few that were
actual um concrete statements where yes,
[2:05:41] the bill did go up this amount or
whatever that most of them. So, I think
[2:05:47] I'm sorry I'm on a tangent here, but um
I think what people sometimes I've
[2:05:52] recently lived in another city and so is
some of my family and people
[2:05:57] automatically assume that our bills are
higher. You can have an argument about
[2:06:01] property taxes where I may agree with
some of it because of our lower
[2:06:04] population in this county than others,
but I have done analysis after analysis.
[2:06:09] anytime we have this type of uproar, we
have lower water than all the
[2:06:14] surrounding cities in this area. I have
uh I went to every single one of their
[2:06:20] accounts and pulled their rates and
created a um formulated Excel sheet that
[2:06:26] will tell you exactly what you would pay
if you lived in Medicine Lodge, Goddard,
[2:06:30] Kingman, wherever. City of Pratt has
lower rates than any of those
[2:06:34] communities around us. Goddard is the
next one closest to us. Everybody else
[2:06:39] is higher. The problem is in Pratt, all
of our bills are put into one umbrella
[2:06:45] with the city of Pratt. And so it's
automatically a, you know, I saw a
[2:06:49] Medicine Lodge person commented and
said, "I'm only paying $200 for my
[2:06:52] electric." Well, if you break down
someone's $500 bill, it may be 250
[2:06:57] electric, 100 water, and $20 trash. And
so, we're not comparing apples to apples
[2:07:03] when we're making these statements. So
that's why I'm very happy to go into
[2:07:08] detail with anyone who would like to
bring their bills in and have a
[2:07:11] conversation and look at their
historical data because I can set the
[2:07:15] record straight and like I said find
opportunities to potentially help them.
[2:07:19] There's even some state programs where
um you can uh better insulate your home
[2:07:25] with government funding, you know, with
some grants if you qualify for
[2:07:29] especially for lower income people. But
um that's not usually what Facebook is
[2:07:34] for. Facebook is for validations for
your emotional concerns and nobody
[2:07:39] actually calls us to find a solution.
They want someone on their bandwagon
[2:07:44] with them. I would love for them to call
me.
[2:07:48] » You're allowed one tangent every 3
months.
[2:07:50] » Okay. [laughter]
I'm sorry. I'm very passionate about it
[2:07:53] because I'm I'm also paying a higher
bill, but I after working here
[2:07:58] understand why I'm paying a higher bill.
And that's because my kids were home
[2:08:02] more this summer than they've ever been
because of their ages.
[2:08:08] » Good job.
>> All right.
[2:08:10] » Sorry.
>> No. Anything else?
[2:08:13] » No, you don't need to apologize.
>> You're fine. Hey,
[2:08:16] » Jamie's mad at me.
>> No, but I'll add to that that you know
[2:08:20] there's rumors that city employees get
discounts on electric and water on this.
[2:08:25] That's not true. We paid just like
>> I missed out on it for 16 years.
[2:08:31] » Absolutely.
>> Sorry, Brad.
[2:08:34] » My electric alone was $415
electric by itself.
[2:08:39] » There's some users that have no idea how
much water actually used. When they when
[2:08:45] you tell them by the unit and tell them
how many gallons that actually is, it
[2:08:49] blows them away. Yeah.
>> Well,
[2:08:52] » watering two or three times a day.
>> And I've had to have those conversations
[2:08:57] recently.
The average household uses 10 units of
[2:09:02] water a month. If you are using over
that, you are using excessive water in
[2:09:08] your household. If you go anywhere else
across the country, you are likely going
[2:09:12] to pay a fortune for those excessive use
units. Here in Pratt, it's $2.95 per
[2:09:20] unit
>> after 20.
[2:09:22] » After 20. So, it's we still have a
reasonable priced water system
[2:09:28] currently.
>> Okay. Well, as I said,
[2:09:32] » sorry.
>> Nope, you're fine. Uh the only thing I
[2:09:36] have is two things is one, we do have an
executive session for attorney client
[2:09:39] privilege after this. But the big thing
is for my report is um if you guys
[2:09:45] commissioners I'm assuming you guys are
fine with it, but I I want to bring this
[2:09:49] up. So last Friday the back to school
bash had to be cancelled due to a storm
[2:09:54] and everything. So the school planned on
doing the back to school bash this
[2:09:58] Friday. Um I told David Swank, I don't
think you need to show up, but I assume
[2:10:03] that you guys we already approved of it.
Are you guys okay that Okay.
[2:10:08] » Okay. I'll just tell them that we're
okay with it. That we can still close
[2:10:11] off Third Street for Friday from 7:00 to
8:30. So, perfect. Other than that
[2:10:15] though, I have nothing else.
Commissioner Oeller,
[2:10:18] » Commissioner Myers, Commissioner Semons,
Commissioner Blankship. Okay. With that,
[2:10:22] we'll go into executive session for
attorney client privilege. Regina, how
[2:10:26] long do you think I would at least like
a little bit of a relief break really
[2:10:31] quick and then we'll Yeah. Regina.