[0:22] meeting to order. Do you have an indication this evening?

[0:27] If not, we will move on to pledge of allegiance. I pledge algiance to the

[0:33] flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands one nation

[0:39] under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

[0:48] » Do we have any changes to the agenda? M

[0:54] » make a motion to approve the agenda. >> There's been a motion a second to

[0:57] approve the agenda. Is there any further discussion? Seeing none. All those in

[1:01] favor say I. I. >> All those opposed, same sign. Motion

[1:05] passes. We're now going to move into public comments. This is a time where

[1:09] citizens are encouraged to speak publicly. We request that you come to

[1:13] the podium and state your name and address, speak respectfully, and limit

[1:16] your comments to three minutes. I'll also add in here for public comments.

[1:19] There will be public hearings on two items tonight. So, you're welcome to

[1:22] speak at that point in time as well. But are there any public comments?

[1:30] Seeing none, we will move on to the public hearing. The public hearing is

[1:35] now open for the 2027 budget and exceeding revenue neutral rate. We'll

[1:41] open that up for explanation and then we will we'll allow for comments.

[1:48] So do the explanation. Um

[1:53] as presented we uh budgeted to maintain our current mill which is at 48.780.

[2:00] That is an increase of the revenue neutral rate but it is not an increase

[2:03] to the overall mill. Um one mill is approximately $41,31

[2:18] questions on that. Okay. The public hearing is open for

[2:24] um the 2027 budget and exceeding revenue neutral rate. Are there any public

[2:29] comments?

[2:33] Just please come to the podium and state your name and address.

[2:39] My name is Joe Striker and I live at 1312 Country Drive.

[2:44] U I think I understand this. uh

[2:52] tax increase from the county that we got.

[2:56] But from what I understand, it looks here like the city is going up change

[3:01] with evaluation and mill levy of 9.36%. Is that right?

[3:07] » The mill levy is not changing. Your assessed value increased. Um and that

[3:12] and so the the the value of the mill levy increased and so while we're not

[3:16] changing the mill levy, the amount is different. I understand. But it's still

[3:19] the 9 >> 9.36%.

[3:23] Man, that's small. >> But, uh, what the county done, they're

[3:27] they're staying even. They decreased their mill levy up. I mean, there's

[3:32] there's 3%. And the city is 9.36.

[3:38] Um, and just I mean last year my taxes on my

[3:44] house. I've lived there 30 years. Uh January

[3:49] 1st, January 7th, be 30 years. And I went to the courthouse and got a stack

[3:56] of all my the last 20 years of of tax records.

[4:03] And the last 20 years was $82,681.

[4:09] And the other 10 years is down in the basement in the files somewhere. And

[4:14] what I done, I took an average and come up with

[4:21] another 26,664.

[4:26] That lets me pay him 109,000 last year just in property tax since

[4:33] I've lived there and only paid 117 for the house.

[4:38] So this next year I'm going to be paying just almost as much for the houses

[4:45] or as much in tax pay for the house. U

[4:51] back to the 6.9%

[4:57] 9.36%. Uh

[5:02] inflation rate is 3.4 for 2026.

[5:07] U Federal Reserve target for inflation is

[5:11] 2.0. Social security went up three 3%.

[5:18] You got 30 seconds. Uh

[5:26] what are we going to do when 23.3% of third county population is on is over

[5:32] 65 and draw on social security and can't make their house payments, can't make

[5:37] their can't pay their taxes. Where are we going to put them? I know there's

[5:42] solutions for problems. There are no solutions for complaints. I said that 30

[5:46] years ago when I was on the mission. I still believe that. But I think there's

[5:50] there's always room for fluff and room to cut. So anyway, I appreciate the job

[5:57] you've done. We'll continue to do

[6:06] » there. Any further comments on the 2027 budget and exceeding revenue neutral

[6:10] rate?

[6:15] Are there any further comments? Seeing none, this public hearing is

[6:21] closed. We'll move on to the public hearing for 234 and 236 West 6th Street.

[6:27] Uh we'll start with an explanation. We have Tim here. Okay. Well, it's the the

[6:34] Yeah. For the 234 and 236. Are there any public comments?

[6:42] » Okay. >> Three minutes. I'll tell you what it's

[6:46] important. >> You get three minutes to begin with.

[6:49] Okay. >> My name is Brian Straight. I'm the

[6:52] property owner of the building downtown. Um wanted to give you a little bit of

[6:57] history on how we got to this point here. Um on May 17th, I believe I got a

[7:03] call from him Jess and he uh was telling me that he said I was in Salina and he

[7:11] says, "Brian, can you come down to your building?" I said, 'Not right now.' I

[7:15] said, 'I got a pretty full day right now.' I said, 'I'm in Salina and uh but

[7:19] I can reach you tomorrow. Why? What's going on? He says, 'Well, he says, 'I

[7:23] got some big concerns about your building. I said, oh. I said, what's

[7:27] your concern? He says, well, I think we might have to uh shut it down. And I

[7:32] said, Tim, I don't think this is a conversation you and I need to have. I

[7:37] think this is a conversation you need to have the city attorney call me and I'll

[7:41] forward you on to it. a uh attorney of my choice. He says, "Well," he says,

[7:47] "I'm I'm authorized on that." And I said, "Man, you've been on this job for

[7:53] three and a half months. Are you qualified to shut a building down and

[7:57] displace six people in a business?" "Well, I I think so. I just got some

[8:02] good concerns." And I said, "I think what we need to do is get an engineer on

[8:07] this and then determine what we need to what we need to do from there.

[8:13] And I said, "Why don't you have the city attorney give me a call and we'll go

[8:18] from there?" You know, uh, we do need a engineer. And

[8:23] he kind of himhod back and forth. And then finally he said,

[8:27] "Yeah, that's I I'll forward your your concerns on to the attorney there, our

[8:33] city attorney." And said, "Okay." So about 15 minutes pass and I head to uh I

[8:39] head to the hospital where my sister was on life support and I get a phone call

[8:46] from one of my renters and they said, "Brian, I got 24 hours to get out of my

[8:50] building or out of the this apartment." And I said, "You're kidding me." And he

[8:55] says, "No." He says, "Guy came by, knocked on the door, and gave us 24

[8:59] hours." And I said, "How in the world are you supposed to do that in 24

[9:03] hours?" and he says,"I I I don't know." So I tried calling Pin back and he

[9:08] didn't answer. I tried calling Amy Wang and she was conveniently gone as well.

[9:14] So then I'm scrambling and the next day, the next morning, I call 8:00 in the

[9:18] morning, I call for Tim, leave a voicemail. Another one

[9:22] » I call uh Amy Lang and leave a voicemail. And finally Tim calls me up

[9:28] and uh well I called him a couple times about 11:00 Tim [clears throat] calls me

[9:32] up and I said hey can we meet now and he says yeah we can let's meet down in the

[9:38] building. I said, "Okay, >> you got 10 seconds for anyway." He uh so

[9:45] we talked and and he said, "Yeah, we do need to get an engineer." Um

[9:50] » now your time is up.

[9:54] » Can we allow another three? >> It's probably going to be on three, but

[9:58] » Okay. Anyway, so I meet up with him and I I tell him I say, "Tim, run me

[10:04] actually before we met on the phone, I said,"Tim, run me through how you come

[10:09] about shutting this building down. Take me through the process." And he says,

[10:15] "Well, I walked down the alley and I looked up. I seen the condition of the

[10:19] building and that's when I made that decision." And I said, "So, let me I

[10:23] don't want to sound redundant, but let's reiterate. You walked down there. You

[10:28] didn't physically inspect it. You looked at it from the ground, looked up at it,

[10:32] and said, "Oh my, I'm going to do this." I said, "We didn't get it. We didn't get

[10:37] an engineer. You didn't physically inspect it, but off of your three and a

[10:42] half months on the job, you feel qualified enough to displace six people

[10:46] in a business." Uh,

[10:52] after a long pause. Yeah. And I said, "Cause because this is going to come

[10:55] back up." So I said, "We need to I I guess I need

[11:00] to get a engineer." And uh he says, "I got an idea on that."

[11:06] He says, "Meet me down here." So I met him down there and he told me about

[11:09] Scott Gails who is a former Concordia resident and he was someone that

[11:15] architect one that that they were going to get and and he was going to come look

[11:21] at it. And Tim told me he would be there in a week or so to look at it. I said,

[11:26] "Okay." So, I sent Scott a message and said, "Hey, I'm the owner of this

[11:30] property. Let me know what the deal is on this here." Week goes by, two weeks

[11:35] go by, I don't hear anything. I send Scott a message and he says, "Yeah, I've

[11:39] already been there. I've already talked about that with the city." And I said,

[11:43] "Don't you think I would have been privy to that? I mean, I am the property

[11:48] owner." So, I call up Amy Lang and leave her several messages. Finally, I have

[11:55] enough of message leaving. So, I come back down and I told Amy, I said, or she

[12:00] asked me, "Have you heard from anybody?" I said, "No, I haven't." And well,

[12:05] neither are we. Neither are we. And I said, "Amy, if we're going to get a

[12:09] resolution on this, we got to do two things. We got to we got to communicate,

[12:14] you know, enough of this lying to me that you haven't heard when you have

[12:19] heard. And when I call, I expect a return phone call.

[12:24] » [clears throat] >> Yeah, you're right. She says Tim uh Tim

[12:27] hasn't he's kind of dropped the ball on that. I said, "Yeah, this is what I get

[12:31] back to of him not being, you know, qualified to make this decision." So

[12:38] anyway, we uh so I end up meeting with uh getting a copy of Scott's report and

[12:44] then he came into town and we discussed that. We discussed his report and what

[12:48] he felt um needed done and then he gave me a sales pitch on on redoing the

[12:54] building. Um I told Amy what Scott had said. He had some concerns that the

[13:00] building the back of the building had taken on some water at some time and

[13:04] that's what may have caused part of that problem that there. Can I have another

[13:08] three minutes? I

[13:13] I understand that there's a lot of information that you're trying to convey

[13:16] and I appreciate uh what what you're trying to convey. I think if we're going

[13:21] to continue to extend it, we really need to get to the meat of the conversation

[13:24] which is building considered to be >> un occup like that's why the concern was

[13:32] voiced that it's not safe for occupancy. Right? So that's the the hearing. is

[13:38] that document according to the engineer's report.

[13:41] » Did you hire that? >> I did.

[13:43] » Okay. I haven't seen that report. And also, I'm just going to ask you now

[13:46] since we're six minutes into this. Stop insulting people. We usually stop.

[13:49] » I don't know if I can say. You insulted Tim. So, I'm going to ask you to stop.

[13:53] Okay. Okay. Thanks. >> Can I continue and discuss the report?

[13:59] » Please do. >> Yeah. We'll have three more minutes,

[14:00] Brian, and then we'll >> So, so anyway, I I contacted Call Valley

[14:05] Engineers. So I when I thought that the architect 1's

[14:12] report was sufficient because Tim had indicated that there uh that we could

[14:17] use them and then when I discussed that with Amy and told her he has some

[14:23] concerns about the issue of the alley that um the issue in the alley then it

[14:29] was well we need a structural engineer. So then I hired Call Valley Engineering

[14:33] out of uh Junction City. They were hired on July 30th and uh I tried getting a

[14:40] report. Uh finally about 5:00 yesterday, I did receive a copy of that report. Um

[14:48] that report does state that

[14:57] the report says call valley engineers opinion is that the structure is in

[15:01] condition where repair is a viable solution especially considering the

[15:06] overall good condition of the observed portions which represents the balance of

[15:10] the building. The condition of the walls on the south end of the building

[15:13] required timely remediation to prevent further deterioration and damage to the

[15:18] structure itself as well as surrounding entities. So their engineers report does

[15:23] indicate that um that a repair is a viable solution.

[15:29] » Okay. >> Um

[15:33] I'd be happy to give you a copy of this report here if uh need be. Brian, has

[15:38] that report been sent to our to Tim? >> No, I just like I said, I got this last

[15:43] night. >> Okay.

[15:44] » And uh was not in in uh he's at a conference or

[15:51] something more important. >> Thank you for your comments.

[15:55] » Okay. Did you want a copy of that? >> Uh we will the city will require will

[15:59] need a copy of that. Um and it was you. >> Okay.

[16:03] » Thank you. Are there any further public comments on

[16:07] this hearing? >> I just want to clarify something that

[16:11] Mr. Strait has repeatedly said that people weren't returning phone calls.

[16:15] Mr. Strait had an attorney called uh when an attorney calls and rep says that

[16:20] they're representing someone. They cannot no one can communicate with Mr.

[16:24] Strait. We have to communicate with that attorney. Mr. Strait continued to call.

[16:28] Um I don't know if his attorney did not tell him that. when I attempted to call

[16:32] your attorney on numerous occasions, he would not return my calls. Later then I

[16:35] found out that in fact maybe he wasn't representing me. You had just called

[16:38] him. So that's why people weren't returning your calls. You had an

[16:41] attorney contact us and we just can't do that. And that's what I instructed.

[16:45] » The attorney would not contacted until after the repeated uh non-turn.

[16:52] » Fair enough to to the point of the public comments. Um

[16:56] » I just >> I appreciate that

[16:58] » with what's being said, we need to clarify some things. Appreciate that.

[17:02] » Okay. Are there any further public comments on this hearing?

[17:07] » If not, we will close the public hearing and move on to our action agenda, the

[17:11] minutes of the August 19th, 2026 meeting.

[17:16] » I move to approve the minutes of August 19th, 2026.

[17:22] » Second. There's been a motion, a second. Is there any further discussion? I have

[17:26] um one thing for clarification. I I spoke with at Charity Brown and it has

[17:32] her listed as a being reappointed and I think that was how it was presented.

[17:36] She's never previously served on the library board. Um so I just want to I

[17:40] guess clarify that as well. >> Okay. [clears throat]

[17:48] There any further discussion? >> See none. All those in favor say I.

[17:54] » All those opposed say sign. Motion passes. Appropriation Ordinance number

[17:58] 16.

[18:02] » I move to approve appropriation ordinance number 16. Second.

[18:06] » There's been a motion in a second. Is there any further discussion?

[18:10] Seeing none, we'll move into a roll call vote for appropriation ordinance number

[18:14] 16. We'll start with Commissioner Jackson.

[18:25] for resolution >> for the appropriation ordinance. Is that

[18:30] correct? That we do a roll call vote the resolution for the resolution 2026.

[18:38] » We're appropriations. >> Oh, okay. So, it's for the levy.

[18:44] » No. Right. So we're so yeah it's been suggested recommended

[18:52] our inter city manager that with ordinances moving forward that we make a

[18:56] roll call vote. So we'll start with our roll call vote

[19:00] with uh Commissioner Jackson. Your name

[19:05] » for resolution 2026 note for the appropriation

[19:09] » appropriation or okay sorry

[19:15] » I and I'm an I.

[19:19] » Motion passes. Uh resolution 2026 2239 levy property tax rate for exceeding

[19:25] RNR. We've had our explanation of this. Is

[19:29] there any further questions or clarifications?

[19:33] » The only the only point of clarification that I would offer uh was to the the

[19:37] gentleman who who spoke in public comments. U I I do recognize that other

[19:42] baudies manage their u their budget in their own uh conversations. I I I

[19:51] think that our city staff really have worked pretty diligently to try to find

[19:55] and identify as much fluff as possible. As a whole, while we have maintain our

[20:01] mil levy mo rate over the last several years, I think we were one of the few

[20:06] governing bodies to have done so um and and do appreciate the staff's work to do

[20:10] that. We're always looking to find greater efficiencies. I don't think any

[20:14] of us enjoy paying more taxes than anyone else. we all are property owners

[20:18] as well. But I do want to commend the staff for doing whatever they can to try

[20:23] to limit to whatever degree possible uh any increase in the taxation.

[20:36] And also as the amount for like um example would be the the equipment

[20:42] reserve um is less going into this year as well as the amount for

[20:51] the the sentiment that I generally had is that uh at some point an organization

[20:55] can only become so lean before it starts becoming weak. Uh and I I worry uh with

[21:01] certainly that that this everyone's expenses have increased the cities have

[21:05] as well. We are already receiving a lot of concerns about our difficulty in

[21:09] being able to maintain aspects and infrastructure of our community and and

[21:14] so it's we're getting to a point where I don't know how much more lean we can be

[21:18] before we really start experiencing some fairly significant compromises to our

[21:22] overall

[21:29] » and further comments looking for a motion. I would make a motion to approve

[21:35] uh resolution 2026 2239. >> Second.

[21:40] » There's been a motion and a second. Is there any further discussion?

[21:44] Seeing none, all those in favor say I. >> All those opposed, same sign. Motion

[21:49] passes. 2027 budget.

[21:54] » I move to approve the 2027 budget. >> Second.

[21:57] » There's been a motion, a second to approve the 2027 budget. Is there any

[22:01] further discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor say I.

[22:05] » I. >> Those opposed, same sign. Motion passes.

[22:09] Moving on to resolution 2026 2240, the condemnation of 234 and 236 West 6th

[22:15] Street. >> One of those needed to be a roll call

[22:17] vote. >> Uh, which one needed to be a roll call

[22:19] vote? >> The resolution.

[22:21] » Okay. So, we're going to back up and go back to the resolution 2026 2239. We had

[22:26] a motion in a second. We need to go move forward with a roll call vote. We'll

[22:30] start with Commissioner Jackson. >> Hi,

[22:32] » Commissioner Wberts. >> Hi,

[22:34] » Commissioner Hash. >> Hi,

[22:35] » Commissioner W. >> Commissioner Hash. Yes.

[22:38] » I motion passes.

[22:42] Uh, back to resolution 2026 2240, the condemnation of 234 and 236 West 6. And

[22:49] for clarification, will this need a roll call vote?

[22:54] » Got it.

[23:00] Is there any further clarification from staff on the condemnation project?

[23:05] » Yeah, I'm not the code enforcement uh guy, Tim. Uh but he did leave me the

[23:10] file, a number of pictures, and he did leave me um

[23:15] information that was provided by the um engineering firm architect one on that.

[23:21] And from what um he's recommending here be given the um what you see from the

[23:27] outside um is that there are a couple of concern major concerns. One is there are

[23:32] bricks and parts of building that are literally falling off and that I think

[23:36] that's what got his attention originally and there are some structural issues

[23:40] there. Again, I can't speak as an engineer, but uh the concern there is

[23:45] that the building could uh collapse or whatever parts of it. Again, I don't

[23:50] know if we're in danger of that tomorrow. So, by passing this

[23:54] resolution, what what you're not doing is condemning the building so it's

[23:58] knocked down in a week or something. That's not what you're doing. So what it

[24:01] does is start a process uh the building owner would be notified that has the

[24:07] option to either um remedy the situation for repair in 30 days or uh knock down

[24:15] the building. So those are the two things. So it start it really starts the

[24:19] clock ticking at that point. So there's a 30-day window there. My understanding

[24:24] is this the building owner came back and wanted to ask more time saying I've got

[24:28] a plan. I've got an engine. I've got, you know, whatever it is, he come in and

[24:32] and ask for an extension or whatever there. I don't think there's a hard and

[24:36] fast, you know, 30 days. It all has to come at that point. So, you do have some

[24:41] flexibility in here and that's the discretion of the governing body to do

[24:44] that. But I think what uh the code enforcement office is doing is saying

[24:48] that um the situation is critical enough where there needs to have this

[24:53] resolution, the process needs to start moving forward. That's the conversation

[24:57] I've had with him. And I haven't seen an a different engineering report yet to to

[25:02] counter that or whatever. So, there is a possibility, I guess, that the building

[25:05] could be repaired. Um, and that's that'd be great if it was, but if it isn't, it

[25:11] gives the governing body the um discretion then to move forward with

[25:15] what they want to have done with the building. And

[25:18] » so, for clarification, there has to be a building permit submitted in the next 30

[25:22] days or proof that they're moving forward. Okay.

[25:24] » Correct. And then uh if there's an extension needed, an extension can be

[25:28] requested. >> That's correct.

[25:30] » Okay. >> So, this would be the beginning of a

[25:34] process. I mean, I know I know there's been a lot of steps that uh you've heard

[25:38] about already to get to this point. So, we're kind of I'm coming in the middle

[25:42] of the movie here, so to speak, but we're we're not at the end of a process

[25:45] either. So, we want you to keep that in mind. But, this forces the next step to

[25:50] happen. So yes, you'd have to apply for a building permit and move forward when

[25:55] whatever plan uh would be developed for this building.

[26:00] So that's where you're at right now.

[26:10] Other discussion commissioners on this >> just simplifying that a building permit

[26:15] has to be uh obtained within 30 days, >> correct? for repair or demolition.

[26:21] » Either one. >> Either one. And then as long as forward

[26:24] progress is being made on the building, then then the process continue.

[26:28] » That's correct. Yeah. So if if we're demolition, it it would actually be a

[26:31] demolition permit. So you would repair a building permit or a demolition permit.

[26:36] that and that's up to the property [clears throat] to

[26:47] so I [clears throat]

[26:50] given that the engineers report was just submitted to the property owner last

[26:55] evening understanding that it'll probably take

[26:58] some time to be able to secure a contractor that's able to do the

[27:02] necessary work uh to make the building full or or safe.

[27:11] I would recommend extending period of time for 60 days to submit a building or

[27:16] demolition permit. >> So from 30 to 60 days.

[27:18] » Yes. >> Okay.

[27:20] Is that a motion? >> I would move to approve resolution 2026

[27:24] 224 allowing 60 days to commence repair or removal.

[27:29] » Right. >> Uh clarification 2240. Resolution 2240.

[27:35] » Yes. I'm not sure. It's a 2240. >> Okay. There's a motion in a second to

[27:39] approve resolution 2026 2240 with the amended time from 30 to 60 days. Is

[27:45] there any further discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor say I.

[27:52] » All those opposed, same sign. Motion passes.

[27:56] Next we have Lean Construction LC bid and contract approval.

[28:02] He's

[28:12] watching the screen. Uh both commissioners staff's requesting

[28:17] approval to move forward with two concrete improvements. A valley gutter

[28:20] across 19th Street and the replacement of the sidewalk on the north side of

[28:23] city hall. The valley gutter is needed to provide proper drainage outlet

[28:28] [clears throat] for water that currently collects along with south gutter line

[28:32] 19th street. The improvement will establish a defined drainage path and

[28:37] help reduce standing water in that area. The city hall sidewalk will be removed

[28:44] and replaced as part of the same project. After receiving authorization

[28:48] from the commission to negotiate directly with qualified contractor or

[28:52] the qual qualified contractor that contacted three concrete contractors

[28:57] lame construction LLC submitted the only proposal received totaling $41,30

[29:03] proposal included 21,500 for the 19th Street Valley gutter

[29:09] and $19,530 for the city city hall sidewalk

[29:14] construction is currently working as the concrete subcontractors on the seventh

[29:18] street and Doster Street project and has demonstrated the experience and ability

[29:22] to perform municipal concrete work. Staff has also been satisfied with the

[29:27] contract performance on that project. Funding is available through the city's

[29:32] capital improvement fund CIP including funds previously designated for the city

[29:38] hall sidewalk project and available funds for the Concordia Middle School

[29:42] sidewalk project. Staff recommends approval of layman

[29:46] construction LLC proposal for $41,30 and authorization of the city manager to

[29:52] execute the necessarily necessary contract documents.

[30:03] Unfortunate that we didn't get any bids and had to solicit bids, but um

[30:07] fortunate that we're able to see the work that they're already doing here in

[30:11] town to to see the quality of the work that they have. And it appears um that

[30:18] the prices are in line with the square footage and linear footage of curb

[30:22] concrete works. I would then have a move to approve the

[30:27] bid for Clayand Construction LLC in the amount of $41,30 authorized for the city

[30:33] manager to execute the contract and any necessary documents for the 19th Street

[30:37] Valley gutter and North City Hall sidewalk improvements with payments to

[30:40] be made from available CIP funds. >> Second motion, a second. Is there any

[30:47] further discussion? >> Seeing none, all those in favor say I.

[30:52] All those opposed to sign motion passes. Now move into reports. We have a manager

[30:58] report. >> Don't have anything further to report.

[31:03] So >> we'll move on to staff reports.

[31:14] » Excited to announce that uh 24 trees were planted downtown. Um they were

[31:19] installed Monday and Tuesday of this week.

[31:22] Um that leaves us with two remaining trees left to plant of our 48 trees in

[31:27] the grant. Um the last two remaining trees will reside at the new house

[31:32] subdivision once outside construction is completed or further along. Um the

[31:37] street department has a day designated during the week to water all three that

[31:42] we have on our radar. Seventh Street and Doster curve is

[31:48] poured all the way to Cloud Street. Tomorrow the intersection of Cloud

[31:51] Street and Seventh Street will be closed and remain closed till next week as

[31:55] concrete crews work to frame it and pour the valley gutters. Doer Street between

[32:00] seventh and 8th is in the process of getting graded out, compacted to install

[32:05] fabric and face rock. So everything's moving very fast.

[32:09] » Where are the apartments? Where where do they have parking? They're parking on

[32:13] the side street of um 7th and on 8th. >> Okay.

[32:17] » Um so we uh they're walking back and forth to the construction zone, but um

[32:24] everybody's aware that that's their solution for parking. So it's all

[32:29] working out. Um yeah.

[32:34] » And while you're up there, are the trees we plant are you planning the ones you

[32:40] were going to plant? Because somebody told me, one of the guys plant them said

[32:46] they were cherry trees >> where

[32:50] » I don't know. >> Downtown. Yeah,

[32:52] » we didn't plant any cherry trees downtown.

[32:54] » We It was the idea to to plant maybe some Canada red cherry trees downtown,

[33:00] but um they get too big and even though they're a beautiful tree, they just

[33:06] » Yeah, >> it wouldn't work out down there. Not in

[33:08] that particular situation, but Well, they were concerned about that.

[33:14] » So, as long as they aren't there, >> no, there's no there's no canon red

[33:18] cherry trees down there. They're smaller varieties, the tighter. So, yep. Any

[33:24] other questions about anything?

[33:34] » Uh, just to update you a little bit on things going on at the fire station. Um

[33:38] so over the last two months we've been doing an online course. The last two

[33:42] days we had a two-day full day of uh inspector class. Um

[33:49] put it's putting a lot on the guys but um I thought it was very important that

[33:54] hopefully going forward we won't have situations with Michigan

[33:59] things will get caught much earlier when we do our annual inspections. So

[34:05] important to push through that class. Um even though the last two months have

[34:08] been our busiest two months um we've ever had u felt it very important to

[34:14] kind of push the guys through. U we also had a Farm Bureau safety day that we

[34:20] helped to um put on or not put on but uh teach some classes at and I was glad to

[34:26] see that we were able to hand out all of the I think we had 20 of our stop of

[34:30] week kits left from a grant they had received a couple years ago. So we were

[34:35] able to give all those out. Um also, uh University of Kansas Fire and Rescue

[34:41] Institute started a new program. It's called Pathways. And this uh program is

[34:47] a an online uh fire one course with regional hands-on sites that they do

[34:55] quarterly around the state. Um I am pushing hard to try and be one of their

[35:00] regional hands-on sites. Um, by doing this, uh, we're able to, uh, give that

[35:08] initial fire one course for all of our people online, uh, without having to

[35:12] have any of our manpower to teach the course. uh lessening some of the load on

[35:18] my guys for instructing uh putting it on KU uh with a excellent

[35:24] platform that they use online and then also those people coming around to teach

[35:28] the hands-on courses that uh my guys would be able to partake in not just the

[35:33] ones in the class but everybody uh to get our training hours. Um no facilities

[35:39] needed. All we have to do is provide a bumper truck and a lot or parking lot

[35:45] for them to set up on. So pushing hard for that. Hopefully we can become a

[35:50] regional site for that. All I got.

[35:59] » Sorry, I'm chief. So you guys get me tonight.

[36:03] » Um he's working at the family farm tonight. So I'm going to fill in for

[36:06] him. Uh kind of mirrored off what the fire chief says. We pulled some total

[36:10] calls off from our 911 center last month. Um for August, the 911 center

[36:15] received 2,199 calls for service. That's emergency and non-emergency.

[36:21] Um that's up 347 calls from last last year. Uh and the police department, our

[36:28] patrol officer responded to 698 calls for service, which is almost 50 more uh

[36:34] than it was last year. So, just kind of what John said, a growing trend on our

[36:38] calls for service is definitely increasing. Um, and a touch base at the

[36:42] end of September, Sergeant Robinson's going to be uh going to a pretty

[36:46] intensive firearms training to become a range master. So, the police department

[36:51] will then have their own instructor at the firearms training center.

[36:55] » So, there um could you talk about what the you know what the general calls are

[37:02] about? I mean, is there a a theme or recurring a couple themes?

[37:06] » A lot of our calls right now are more when you say informational people like

[37:10] I'm going on vacation. Can you It's not a lot of it's not emergency. Um I think

[37:16] uh our dispatcher says 30% of our 911 calls right now are 91 hang-ups. Um of

[37:23] pocket dials that they have to they're required to call back and if no one

[37:26] answers, we required us or the sheriff's department have to respond to make sure

[37:30] everything's okay. Uh and the other thing we're seeing a significant

[37:34] increase on people calling in welfare checks on people here in the community

[37:38] that we are required by law to respond to.

[37:42] » Thank you.

[37:46] Any other staff reports?

[37:51] » We'll move into mayor commissioner reports. We'll start. Oh gosh.

[37:59] » I did go out and uh took a look at the uh construction on

[38:05] uh east seventh street. Looks lovely. I'm really impressed. I was I'm very

[38:11] happy with the way that's looking around our school.

[38:15] » Worth the wait, I guess.

[38:21] uh just appreciate everyone's patience as we um I think honestly I feel very

[38:26] proud I think that the city usually has one of the most wellorganized and

[38:30] well-run meetings so it's always neat opportunity to continue to refine that

[38:34] process so I appreciate people

[38:44] okay I don't have any comments as well so at This time we'll move into

[38:48] executive session for non-elected personnel.

[38:52] » Yeah. I move the city commission recess into executive session to discuss

[38:56] employment personnel issues for the non-elected personnel matter exception

[38:59] KSA 7543191. Then our city manager and leaps

[39:04] representative John Deorf in attendance and reconvene in the city commission

[39:08] chamber at 6:30 p.m. >> A motion a second to go into executive

[39:15] session. All those in favor say I. I all those opposed same sign motion That's

[39:33] perfect.

[39:45] Ready?

[39:53] You ready to come out of retirement? >> Sure.

[39:56] » All right. >> You have to pay pretty good. I can pay

[40:00] for you. >> What everybody keeps telling these guys.

[40:04] They just don't listen.

[40:23] No action is taken. I would entertain a motion to adjurnn.

[40:28] » Second. >> There's a motion and second to adjurnn.

[40:30] Is there any further discussion? See none. All those in favor say I. I. All

[40:34] those opposed signs. We are adjourned. Run

[40:44] away. I need your

Concordia, KS, City Commission Meeting 9.02.2026

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