[0:04] I know.

[0:13] You know what, Sasha? I was like I saw you post it the day I filed and all

[0:16] that. And I I love my friends like, "Where is it?"

[0:32] No, no worries. No worries.

[0:45] What?

[1:12] Very very positive.

[1:16] I'm good. How are you?

[1:20] Even better you didn't even see me today.

[1:26] Oh, okay. Well, All right. We don't do the

[1:31] Too much stress living with that guy.

[2:14] » Yeah, I'm ready whenever you guys want to open up.

[2:18] » Yes, all call on three cents meeting open again today.

[2:27] » I'd like to call the ordinance going to see county meeting for Monday, May the

[2:31] 4th, 2026. And I'd like to note that all commissioners are present. So

[2:37] All righty, so our first first discussion course is the

[2:42] neighborhood revitalization program. Ty, before Ty before I give you the

[2:47] floor here, I would just like to say for the record how excited I am how we got

[2:52] this accomplished. You know, we talked about this

[2:55] 5 months ago and you know, and I would say I'm very proud how the city and the

[3:00] county worked together to get this bill or fix the neighborhood revitalization

[3:05] with unanimous support in the house and the Senate. Again, signed by Governor

[3:09] Kelly. I mean, it would not have happened without Tyson and Cody going up

[3:13] to Topeka and going through both committees and us of course talked to

[3:17] certain our certain reps and senators. So I'd like to say this I'm very excited

[3:21] about this and this could not have happened without us working together on

[3:25] that. So >> Thanks, Ty. I want to say I'm

[3:28] appreciative of everybody's efforts involved.

[3:31] A lot of people to move the ball and very good.

[3:35] Um I don't know. You guys want to say anything?

[3:39] » I just I don't compare the law.

[3:43] The mayor said, you know, we listen to our constituents. Uh

[3:48] we told them what the problem was. We come up with the solution. And really

[3:52] for a county the size of Pratt County to get a bill through the Senate and the

[3:56] house with what? Four dissents? Yeah. And with all the chaos up there,

[4:01] again, you thank everybody, but the biggest one

[4:05] is Heather Morgan. She's our representative up there, not our

[4:08] representative, but our economic development kind of director,

[4:12] but she's into PICA every day and she worked her tail off on this.

[4:16] I think she deserves some kudos. >> Yes.

[4:19] » Yeah, thank you. I think we need to bring up Heather and I agree with you.

[4:22] » So, that that's all I want to say. >> Yeah.

[4:26] » That was good. >> So, maybe talk about getting this toward

[4:29] the finish line. >> Yes.

[4:31] » Yeah. >> So, I had sent out an email at the end

[4:33] of March and I followed up with another email probably mid-month last month

[4:39] where we had drafts of everything to the small group.

[4:43] And I don't know how you guys want to

[4:45] approach it, but to get close to that July 1, we need to start.

[4:51] » We're going to we're going to post

[4:54] the our drafts on the next city commission meeting with the city.

[4:59] » Okay. Um so, as far as

[5:03] it's probably just easy if we work through the plan itself, the appendix

[5:08] needs to A, which is the map. Everything that is not red or orange

[5:14] needs to be green. And Cody had been working on that and I

[5:18] don't know what is in your GIS in the city's GIS system, I think.

[5:23] So, that was that's what needs to happen with the map. The appendix D in there is

[5:28] the interlocal agreement. So, you guys have a draft of that. I don't think

[5:31] there's anything in there that's controversial.

[5:33] » There's a good point. >> The only

[5:36] uh potential issue with that is Heather had

[5:39] said that within last year the attorney general's office had

[5:44] rejected an agreement because it didn't have

[5:47] all their day. It was baffling to me, but if that's the

[5:52] the idea would be is we get everybody on the same page.

[5:59] Um The entities approve the resolution or

[6:02] permit through whatever and then I think if I have to to drive to each place to

[6:06] get signatures on one place, I'll I'll do that.

[6:10] Um and then the final appendix in the NRP is uh appendix E which is an

[6:15] application and a checklist and I went through my emails. I know I've

[6:19] seen this at some point because I thought, "Man, Cody did a good job on

[6:23] this." Um but I can't find it and so I know DJ needs to see it just to make

[6:30] sure he under he's aware of what is in the application. Uh I don't think

[6:35] he's concerned, but I don't have it. So, in my initial email to Cody, I didn't

[6:40] get a follow-up other than he would make sure that our our transition work,

[6:45] everything got passed on. I'm waiting on that.

[6:49] Um >> And what is the talking mark?

[6:51] » So, the actual application which you apply for.

[6:56] So, that that application is what is used internally at county level

[7:00] by the applicant that submit everything prior to prior to construction.

[7:05] Um in the past it's been pretty simple, but

[7:09] I think we were sitting in one of the small meetings and Cody had just said,

[7:13] "Hey, what do you think about this?" I looked at it and I was like, "Well, this

[7:16] is better than what we have. Let's use this." Uh

[7:19] and I don't know I don't think it got circulated via email. I've spent about

[7:23] an hour trying to find my emails. So,

[7:27] So, uh

[7:33] I don't know if you guys have talked about the interlocal agreement, but I

[7:36] guess if if you have any issues, I tried to make it as simple as I can make it.

[7:41] Uh if you have questions about that, happy

[7:44] to talk about it here or talk about it in a small group however you want to do

[7:48] it or Uh,

[7:50] there does need to be a notice published twice. That's

[7:54] statutory. Um, so that's giving public notice of

[7:58] the hearing. Each entity has to do that. Um, and then at

[8:02] at the hearing or after the hearing after public comment, you have the

[8:06] ability to adopt your ordinance resolution and then execute

[8:11] the plan itself.

[8:14] Um, I don't know. You guys got questions? We just need to to move in

[8:19] the sense that the response I've got in my email chain, some of the smaller

[8:25] entities have responded back, not reply all, just me, that they're saying, "Hey,

[8:29] we're willing we're willing to meet." I didn't know what to tell them because I

[8:32] don't know didn't know what you guys wanted to do. If we need a small group

[8:35] of five, if I need to send out a an email, I'll

[8:39] limit that. That's fine. Okay. I don't care. We just need to meet

[8:43] again. >> Yeah.

[8:44] » Uh, Chase, you're on the small group committee, correct? Do you think the

[8:48] small group committee needs to meet over this or

[8:52] » I don't know. We got to have a little lunch out. I mean, it's the matter.

[8:57] » I would agree. I thought the details of that with the only really

[9:01] area of concern. >> Yeah, the math and then we got the bill

[9:04] change, so I think we're good to go. >> I know like we were consensus on the

[9:09] rebates and percentage. >> That's just about all that is.

[9:10] » I was going to say that's the only the only big changes in the front line and

[9:15] they're not even big changes. There is the going from a 10-year to

[9:20] 7-year, which was agreed upon in the small group. Now, not all the smaller

[9:24] entities were in that small group. I can't imagine that they're going to

[9:27] give any pushback on it. And then there was the $750,000 cap on the residential.

[9:34] Not on the commercial, just residential. So, those are the the two bigger changes

[9:38] that we talked about for at least one of the meetings.

[9:42] And you guys are are still wanting that, I assume. We're on the same page.

[9:46] » Yes. I believe I believe we are. >> And so, it seems to just be process now.

[9:51] Like, we just need to move the process. Uh

[9:54] what do you guys want me to reach out to everyone else? What do you want me to

[9:58] do?

[10:01] » Reach out sounds good. >> Yeah.

[10:03] » Yeah. >> Yeah. Do we think we need a small group?

[10:06] » I don't think so. Chase and Rick, Brad, do you think? Yeah.

[10:10] » I think we need to get it on paper and send it out to the small groups and

[10:15] make them agree to the thing or not do their thing.

[10:17] » And Heather is working on picking up some of the even small smaller cities,

[10:21] townships to try to get as much uh participation as we can get. So, I'll

[10:27] get something out probably probably within the next 2 days, I imagine. And

[10:31] hopefully, everybody can start the process of doing it.

[10:36] process of doing what we need. >> You said

[10:41] to the the hearing that has to be held by each county and it has to be has to

[10:45] be noticed at twice. Is that a week apart?

[10:47] » Yeah, consecutive weeks. Yeah, and I don't have Well, I do have

[10:51] the statute. It's in the statutes. Um

[10:55] so, that gets us you know I don't know if we could even get in

[11:00] next week. And I don't know if we could even get in next week. I don't remember

[11:03] already. >> I guess it's all all the way to the end

[11:05] of this month. >> all of August or good.

[11:08] You know, they only meet once a month. >> Yeah.

[11:11] » And and so, it's going to be Who should

[11:14] » Who should do it? >> It's going to be hard.

[11:18] » I think they're >> We may have to call a special meeting or

[11:20] something. >> Yeah.

[11:21] » Maybe that's what we're talking about. I mean, how long are we wanting to spend

[11:26] trying to bring in everyone?

[11:29] Because

[11:33] I love the small groups with the understanding that everybody wanted

[11:36] something to try to get something in place by July 1, which is the date the

[11:40] statute becomes effective, the change in the statute. All right.

[11:44] I think

[11:47] if things went perfect, and they're not going to go perfect, I know that.

[11:51] We'd be fortunate to hit the file. So, I guess I would want direction. How

[11:57] much time do you want me to spend trying trying to get

[12:01] the smaller entities involved?

[12:07] » How How many of small entities are you talking about?

[12:10] » Anybody that levies in the county has the ability to enter. I mean, so we're

[12:14] talking about all the townships, all the small cities.

[12:17] » Cemetery boards, cemetery boards. >> All of us.

[12:20] » All those. >> Are they

[12:24] Who of all those, who is currently not participate or did, whatever?

[12:29] » Sewer district. >> Sewer district. I don't know what they

[12:32] » I think sewer and what was another one?

[12:37] » I can tell you who's in the current one, I can't name

[12:43] maybe.

[12:46] Most of Most of the townships are not participating currently.

[12:51] The smaller cities, most of them are with a couple of exceptions. All the

[12:55] schools are currently participating. Uh all the schools have responded back

[13:00] to my email chain just to me directly, not into the reply all. And so, they're

[13:05] just waiting to hear back. It's trying to get the townships if they want to

[13:09] participate, and just make sure that we're talking to all the cities and

[13:13] giving them the opportunity. What I don't want to happen is

[13:16] they say, "Hey, you didn't even tell us about this." That type of a deal.

[13:20] Um >> Do we think they're not participating

[13:23] because they're not aware? >> Um

[13:25] » Because I looked through >> No, I

[13:28] » No, I The boards might changed and they don't know what's

[13:32] And they denied they

[13:36] » As far as rebate amounts also, the the amounts are

[13:41] negligible for the small entities, but I mean, not my job to think about the

[13:47] politics of it all. They want to go back to their

[13:50] taxpayers and say, "Hey, we are participating to do that." They should

[13:53] have the opportunity to do that. I don't want to just completely ignore those.

[13:58] » Well, can we just send each of them a letter and give them a date that we need

[14:03] to know? >> I'm happy to do that. What's the date?

[14:07] » Are you Are you talking like 3 months, 4 months, or

[14:10] » I hope not. >> Okay.

[14:12] » End of the month. Yeah, I would say end of the month, yeah. But I mean, it does

[14:15] depend, like some of the You said some of these meet once a month. Have they

[14:19] are Are they meeting this week then or >> Well, some meet on the first Wednesday

[14:24] of the month. >> Yeah.

[14:25] » So, they've already met. >> I I Yeah.

[14:31] » What about You said school districts. I understand

[14:35] there's three here in Pratt County, but does

[14:38] that include like Cunningham, Fairfield? >> Okay.

[14:42] » I didn't Just the ones in the county. >> That's right.

[14:46] » Okay. So, they'll meet one more So, June 5th,

[14:50] maybe? Or I would make it quicker than that.

[14:55] » I want to know by May 20th. >> Yeah.

[14:57] » I mean, two weeks is not hard. Figure it out if you want to do this or

[15:00] not. >> What's that? Is Is PCC participating or

[15:05] Okay. >> Well, so

[15:07] » That there's been communication from PCC to me.

[15:12] » Yeah. >> They're committed or whatever they're

[15:14] communicating, but it communication seemed like they were

[15:17] working that direction. >> I would just say June the 1st. Just say

[15:22] June the 1st, let us know, and >> Well, so part of the issue is

[15:30] So part of the issue is that we have to have the interlocal agreement approved

[15:34] by the Attorney General's Office. And that's probably the largest lead time.

[15:37] » That's right. >> So do we have to have all of our

[15:40] hearings done before that interlocal agreement gets submitted to the Attorney

[15:44] General? >> Yeah, cuz I think in your hearings

[15:47] you're approv- approving approving both the NRP itself

[15:52] » That's when you >> and the interlocal agreement.

[15:56] And so after the hearing, you know, you would

[15:59] execute uh the interlocal agreement. We go

[16:03] around, get signatures all in one page, apparently.

[16:06] And then I would get I would send a letter to the Attorney General saying,

[16:10] "Here are our approval approval documents. Here are our

[16:17] » I think the the tricky part is figuring out what the the right date is

[16:22] considering that we have to have notice two consecutive weeks in a row in uh

[16:26] newspaper of general circulation in the county.

[16:29] » Yeah. >> So getting that time frame as well as uh

[16:34] 10 days hearing, and then getting it to the Attorney General with as many weeks

[16:38] as possible before July 1st. >> Yep. And that's the thing, which is the

[16:43] kind of why I started with you think it would benefit to have a small group

[16:48] in the sense that we invite everybody in the entities.

[16:52] Is it It might be the quickest.

[16:56] » And that's a different inquiry because as when we were thinking of the

[16:58] subcommittee, we were thinking like economic development, you know, we have

[17:01] » You're the the working group. Yeah, I think that.

[17:04] » If we had a small group where um a member from each of the taxing entities

[17:08] were invited, I think that's a better >> Okay, that is. This is the process. Get

[17:13] started on your process. >> What to do.

[17:16] Don't let us know and we'll we'll wait on you.

[17:19] » Yeah, I agree then. I say we do a small group

[17:22] of the taxing entities. You want to do it, you don't want to do it.

[17:26] » So, if we try to get a meeting set for next week sometime.

[17:30] And if they come, they come and if they're not, they're out.

[17:33] » Yeah, I concur. >> Because they can send any of their

[17:38] representatives. >> Yeah, okay.

[17:39] » It doesn't have to be you have to be notified, yes.

[17:41] » Okay. >> Which which I will happily do.

[17:44] » Okay. >> Yeah, I think that

[17:49] we'll see what we get then and if we got to go a different direction based off

[17:53] that meeting then we can't, but I want to give them the opportunity to

[17:56] participate. >> I

[17:59] I that was what the the committee got in the small group, too, was let's try to

[18:03] get this out to all the entities to participate, encourage them to

[18:07] participate. So. >> So, do you want to just while you've got

[18:10] people here, you want to set a a day and time that works next week?

[18:14] » Well, it's going to be me for us and if one of

[18:18] you guys want to >> Rick's available.

[18:20] » If you're bored then. >> Yeah, that's fine.

[18:23] » I would probably Brad since you've been on it.

[18:26] » Sure. >> Are you okay doing that?

[18:27] » Yeah. >> Are you guys okay sending Brad since

[18:29] he's been so representing the city? Okay.

[18:32] » Yeah, nothing next week. Once.

[18:37] » Well, until now. >> Yeah, until now.

[18:40] » So, if I maybe shoot toward the late part of

[18:44] the week, I guess I'll send an out say it to by tomorrow night.

[18:47] » Yeah, Thur- Thursday I got a track meet. >> Okay.

[18:51] What if we did Friday?

[18:55] Yeah, so the problem >> If somebody can't make it, somebody else

[18:59] can. >> Yeah, I mean yeah.

[19:00] » If they can't, then they'll just not >> Yeah, if you can't make it, I'll go.

[19:04] » Yeah. >> Well,

[19:05] » if Thursday will work for everybody else, make it Thursday.

[19:11] I think the push it off to Friday. >> Yeah.

[19:14] » Okay. out to Friday. >> Have

[19:18] having worked these small trying to schedule these small groups, it would be

[19:22] best for us if we just pick a day. Cuz if I go out to small group and say give

[19:27] me a day to open, you know, I'm sweet. I'm going to get six different days.

[19:31] » Okay. Let's do the 14th.

[19:36] » How would you go? >> You thinking evening or you thinking

[19:39] » Well, for the the schools, it would have to be

[19:43] later. But we did

[19:46] 5:30 >> I can't do Thursday. Yeah, I can't do

[19:49] Thursday. If it's going to be me, you could think about that till now.

[19:53] » Why don't we do Wednesday? >> No.

[19:56] » After I work. On Wednesday.

[19:59] » evening. >> I'm going to get something out. Probably

[20:01] today. >> Why don't we shoot for Wednesday?

[20:04] Wednesday's the 13th.

[20:08] » Okay. >> Yeah, I'm a

[20:10] » Right. >> I'm never on time.

[20:11] » Okay. And then I'll help you out with the

[20:13] meeting. So, we'll just do Wednesday the 13th in the evening and we'll just see

[20:18] who can make it and if they they need send somebody, send somebody else and

[20:22] » If they can't make it, I'll try to have a conversation with them about the

[20:26] process and and assuming they want to participate, try to walk through the

[20:29] process with them that way we can get them.

[20:31] » What time?

[20:36] Yeah, I'm late. >> 4:30 5:00

[20:39] » 5:00 works. >> Yeah.

[20:41] » Do we want to meet out here?

[20:45] » Or at City Hall meeting?

[20:49] » City Hall's fine. >> Okay. So, we'll just do next Wednesday

[20:52] 5:00 p.m. at City Hall. Okay.

[21:03] Cool.

[21:07] Okay. Are there any other things we need to

[21:10] discuss with the NRP?

[21:16] » No. >> Okay, perfect. Well, again, as I said, I

[21:20] I do I do echo what everyone said. Heather

[21:22] Morgan was a very big part of this as well, besides Cody and Ty as well. So,

[21:27] again, I'm very happy we finally got this through, but more importantly, it's

[21:31] a big kudos for our both our governments working together on this.

[21:36] » Good team effort. >> Yeah, great team effort. So, all right,

[21:39] moving on to economic development. Uh I know the city we were kind of told

[21:45] Chase in our last meeting we planned on still giving $30,000

[21:50] and for next year's budget and everything. So, I didn't know I know you

[21:53] guys don't have your budget talks still this week or next week.

[21:56] » Tomorrow. >> Tomorrow. Okay.

[21:58] » We start tomorrow. >> Start tomorrow. So, but I invited Chase

[22:02] here for other reasons, too, besides the economic development, but Chase, if you

[22:07] have anything to say with economic development or I know you're changing

[22:12] the agreements after the end of June with the chamber, correct?

[22:15] » Yeah, I've been meaning to get to you and you've been on my list to get to to

[22:18] come visit about budget. I just been gone the last three presentations, but

[22:22] um yeah, as far as our agreement with the chamber, so it the current one

[22:26] expires June 30th. Um we're not going to renew it in its

[22:30] current form. We're currently negotiating more just on

[22:35] administrative services as far as bookkeeping.

[22:39] It's um that's going to be kind of our interim

[22:43] plan um at least for the next 6 months till we

[22:46] kind of get some other stuff figured out. So, um we still

[22:50] want to need someone to do the stuff that the board members are

[22:55] currently doing just from a finance standpoint. Um we're going to kind of

[22:58] put a pause on that uh for right now while we get some other stuff going. So,

[23:03] um as far as uh programs and grants, all of

[23:06] the same since I think we last spoke. So,

[23:09] um our housing incentive, getting this uh neighborhood revitalization going

[23:13] will help that put that at least on hold until this is done

[23:18] since it's tied to that as far as paperwork goes. So, um

[23:22] other than that, um we're still getting We probably get about one

[23:26] at least one um grant application of some form about

[23:31] every month. Um the last couple have been pretty small ones. They just didn't

[23:35] qualify, but um we've had a few others out here the last

[23:38] 6 months. So, um we'll we'll feel pretty good about our

[23:42] things on our side.

[23:45] No. All right.

[23:48] I don't Is there any other questions for Chase with the economic development?

[23:51] Okay. >> Thanks, sir.

[23:52] » Yeah, thank you, Chase. All right. Uh the next thing is looking

[23:56] at our 20 looking at 2027 budget just to see, you know, just have that open

[24:01] communication on what you guys are seeing what you know, what we're planned

[24:04] on. You guys know we are initiating this uh sales tax

[24:10] initiative and stuff to put on the August ballot. Uh we have not come down

[24:13] to the conclusion yet of if we'll do a half cent sales tax or full full cent

[24:18] sales, but the overall goal is just to hopefully cut property taxes or more

[24:22] importantly our mill levies uh in half to 26.5.

[24:27] Gina, is that correct? >> Well,

[24:30] » Or is it >> So, if if a 1 cent sales tax were

[24:33] implemented, then we would cut our mill levy in half.

[24:35] » Yeah. >> And if it were a half cent, it would be

[24:38] um >> 13.

[24:39] » by 25%. >> Yeah.

[24:41] » Um and of course this is it would be on the ballot. It's up to the voters to

[24:46] approve or not. >> And you guys haven't decided which

[24:49] » Right. >> which direction you're going to go.

[24:52] » So, but our goal is if it does if it would fail, our Our is to still hold the

[24:56] line for 27 stuff for our budget alone. So, that's our goal anyway.

[25:01] » The city commission gallery has been filled for the last three

[25:05] years in a row at budget hearing time. But, we have not The city has not

[25:10] increased the mill levy in many, many, many years. However,

[25:15] our gallery is still full of people saying, "We have to do something about

[25:19] property taxes." So, we're trying to be creative and and and look at options and

[25:24] um this is an option. >> Yeah, our lovely people up in Topeka,

[25:29] they uh

[25:32] they seem to think we're the problem with the property tax, but yet they keep

[25:35] giving >> mandates

[25:37] » mandates to us and they keep giving tax uh rebates to all these groups and and

[25:44] every time they do that, it just increases pressure on the homeowner.

[25:49] Uh

[25:51] So, yeah, I don't know where we're going to get

[25:55] into it, but I'd like to keep soaring or the same as

[25:59] we can. >> Yeah.

[26:00] » I know we are looking at the insurance increases again and thanks to

[26:06] last week's hail storm, we'll probably have a big increase.

[26:10] The nature. >> Yeah.

[26:11] » Yeah, I know with the airport authority getting hit, you know,

[26:15] I don't know have we seen Do we look at Do we get their We have their insurance?

[26:20] » Right. >> No.

[26:20] » No. >> We cover the buildings that we

[26:23] own and our infrastructure at the airport.

[26:26] And Right. I mean, I I keep hearing these

[26:30] flubby answers of well, stop spending money. Well, we have employees that that

[26:36] keep our lights on, that keep the water pumping and the waste water treatment

[26:42] plant pumping and um the our health insurance numbers were anticipated to go

[26:47] up by double digits. You know, just to to keep our people healthy. Um so,

[26:53] when when we have to to do things like buy fire trucks and bulletproof vests to

[26:57] protect our first responders, the answer isn't as easy as we'll just

[27:01] stop spending money. >> Yeah, it's

[27:05] we hear the same thing. You know, why why are you buying a

[27:09] a new road grader, a $300,000 road grader? Well, because it's got 20-some

[27:12] thousand hours on it and it it will work out.

[27:15] » Yeah. >> And we buy them one every every year.

[27:18] We've got 15 of them. So,

[27:22] they get used heavily. So, uh

[27:26] yeah, it's it's it's a balance for us and we provide

[27:32] services and

[27:35] you know, the tax rate and it it's that

[27:39] really it's a

[27:43] The people would buy in high-dollar homes, but we

[27:46] » Yeah. >> We got to just tell us the market got

[27:49] money out there. >> Yeah.

[27:51] » I think we had What did you say? Six or seven

[27:55] homes sell for over $500,000 in Franklin County last year?

[27:58] » It was >> I think it's what DJ had said.

[28:00] » Yeah. >> In that area. So, that tells the market

[28:04] there's money out there. I don't know where. I don't have any.

[28:07] But, uh

[28:09] Yeah, there's there's a lot that goes into it. A lot more than

[28:15] I just wanted to say this. Isn't it 18 19 uh 18 or 19 statute

[28:22] unfunded statutes

[28:25] » The government has to ask for. >> Fine.

[28:28] And I don't think most constituents know that.

[28:32] » Wait.

[28:35] 20,000. >> Well, that's what the one said.

[28:40] » I understand. >> Yeah.

[28:43] » It really is as simple as if you want taxes to be lower coming to your

[28:48] entities and telling you telling them where you want to cut.

[28:53] Uh and it from the county's perspective

[28:56] when you can talk about some of these entities, there are certain things that

[28:59] we can't cut. >> Yeah.

[29:01] » Yeah. >> Um so it's not a simple fix.

[29:05] Watch a lot of the legislative session. Unfortunately.

[29:10] And it's going to come back up again next

[29:14] session. >> We have a question.

[29:16] » It seems to me big picture it would benefit all the cities and

[29:21] counties in the state to to work with the legislature on a solution.

[29:28] There were numerous times when I was watching at the legislatures.

[29:34] New counties and towns.

[29:38] And that's hard to watch because I know everybody in this room we're

[29:43] talking to be a steward of taxpayer money.

[29:46] Um

[29:49] it's not going to get easier. I guess that's is where I would leave it.

[29:53] » Yeah. If that bill would pass we could be stuck.

[30:00] » Is that the 3% protest one that >> Yeah. Yeah.

[30:03] You could be stuck at the same amount of tax dollars for pure killing one that so

[30:08] regardless of what your health insurance does, what

[30:11] your property insurance does. You know, if the state sends down

[30:15] another mandate and said you got to fund this

[30:18] it would have been a disaster. But I don't think they're done.

[30:22] » I don't either. They're going to come back.

[30:23] » Yes. >> And they're going to try to handle it.

[30:28] What's going to happen is services are going to get cut.

[30:31] » Yeah. >> And

[30:32] then they're going to scream, "What are y'all doing?"

[30:34] » So that was awful. >> And you want to clarify too

[30:39] I'm not saying that property taxes aren't high, they are.

[30:43] There are ways to address it at the state level that we don't have the power

[30:47] to do at a local level. >> I concur.

[30:50] » And and typically working with the groups that

[30:53] we're in, Association of Counties, League of Municipalities on a

[30:58] on a a bigger picture plan that actually makes sense.

[31:02] It would benefit the entire state. >> That's what a lot of people don't

[31:05] understand, too. I don't blame B.J.

[31:09] B.J. has to follow a formula that's from the state.

[31:14] We get audited every year to make sure we follow that.

[31:17] » Yeah. >> So, even though we might disagree with

[31:20] how this value in this county come out, we don't have a say in

[31:24] that. >> Yeah, you're right. And also with our

[31:28] size population, we actually we have seven taxing entities as well. I mean,

[31:31] so it's just

[31:34] one thing after the next. We can't control everything.

[31:37] » So, there's a lot of money being thrown here and that's right. But, the issue

[31:42] with the this the sales tax is that currently this city has no money from

[31:45] these sales taxes. Um our annual is 3/4 of a cent. So, we

[31:52] don't even have a a 1-cent sales tax. The vast majority of

[31:56] the sales tax in every county is the state at 6.5%.

[32:01] So, you know, these are not easy answers.

[32:04] Just like the rest of the population's equipment and vehicles and gas and

[32:10] and all of those commodities have increased substantially. A lot of our

[32:12] equipment has doubled since 2020. Lots of our equipment has doubled. And

[32:17] so, in order for us to take care of our citizens, we have got to be able to pay

[32:21] for fuel and

[32:25] and and motor equipment, you know, all the things that we pay for with the

[32:30] with fewer fewer dollars. The the department heads that I met

[32:34] twice each of the department heads that I met twice last week.

[32:38] The budgets and the term to be aligned. But what that necessarily means is that

[32:43] we're going to have to cut into our cash reserves by a substantial amount in

[32:48] order to keep the millage you know,

[32:51] well, the revenue neutral rate even that that just means we're going to

[32:56] have to break into our savings in order to address the issue.

[33:00] » You got to be careful there. You're getting a buck rate.

[33:03] » Yeah, on the issue of cash reserves, what I heard this comment at least three

[33:07] times at the state level. Uh

[33:11] it's almost like they think that we're sitting on large cash reserves, like

[33:15] just sitting on money to sit on money. I can tell you when Scott came in four or

[33:20] five years ago originally, he his number one concern was we didn't have cash on

[33:25] hand. And so

[33:28] at least I don't know what's going on statewide. I know here though, we're not

[33:33] sitting on a bunch of cash. No, we're not.

[33:37] So, but as I said, I know you guys have your budget talks this week. We have

[33:41] ours. I think we agreed earlier in June.

[33:47] Yeah. >> So, the the department heads have all

[33:49] met with me and with Tara and have their their spreadsheets and the requests and

[33:56] um Well, once Tara updates everything,

[34:00] sends it to bring, we'll do a combined spreadsheet.

[34:03] Company 90. >> Yes.

[34:05] » Monday the 8th is the day. >> Yeah.

[34:08] » I thought it was happening. >> That's perfect. All righty, and is there

[34:12] any you guys have any or anything on the budget wise? Okay, and really the last

[34:16] thing is and I'm glad Chase is here and I brought this up to Tyson is

[34:21] uh the city is planning on moving forward now uh

[34:24] with the moving the police department to of course the community center. Uh you

[34:28] know, back in December we of course supported uh

[34:31] nine was it 946,000? >> 44

[34:35] » Yeah, 44 and even though we kind of supported that at first, you know, the

[34:40] commission we kind of discussed if there was other ways to kind of cut back some

[34:44] more and in the course Chase, we appreciate all you've done and stuff and

[34:48] so with all Chase's work along with our city workers, you know, we're planning

[34:53] on moving forward. We're going to spend 746,000

[34:57] and we're hoping to start this Chase in late summer early fall. Okay, so

[35:03] » I'm sorry, I just I wanted to realize

[35:07] dollars >> Yes.

[35:08] » stewardship The initial bids came in at 1.6 million

[35:11] » Yeah. >> and 1.3 million. 1.3 million was the low

[35:14] bid and we went to work to cut that number, you know, and and back and back

[35:19] and had all kinds of discussions about all the different infrastructure and

[35:23] buildings that we have. Where do we put this and how can we be most responsible

[35:27] and still get our law enforcement officers in a better situation and so

[35:32] the lowest bid initially was 1.3 million and we brought it down to 900

[35:37] I'm sorry, 746,000. >> Yes.

[35:40] So, no, I thank you Gina for that. So, I I agree with you. So,

[35:44] with that I want Chase here to kind of explain just to you guys since again

[35:49] with us, you know, we're going to move out, you know, whatever that date is,

[35:52] you know, that kind of changes the kind of the agreements between the city and

[35:55] county over dispatch and everything. So, Chase, I just kind of wanted to invite

[35:59] you to you know, kind of give us an idea once we start this where if you have an

[36:03] idea where the end date would be once we complete this.

[36:06] » Um I mean total probably I'm going to say 6 to 7 months total. Um I mean as

[36:11] far as uh

[36:14] I don't think there'll really be any significant disruptions

[36:18] um to the west half of the building other than

[36:23] probably one long day of power when it gets replaced, but other than that, I

[36:27] mean, there'll be noise for sure, but uh um I think as far as services go,

[36:33] the west half should remain

[36:36] fully functional. I mean, I think the basement we went

[36:39] down there a couple weeks ago, it was cleaned out. I don't know if that was

[36:42] whose old stuff that was, but um that portion's ready to go. And then

[36:46] obviously upstairs is wide open as it is. So, we will probably

[36:51] um

[36:54] probably block off the east entrance.

[36:59] So, everyone else using the building will

[37:01] have to come in the west end. Um we'll have to do something different

[37:04] so it's not as inconvenient, but um it minimizes parking disruptions and

[37:09] things like that. So, um overall, it should be

[37:13] » Do you think you could open that for commodities one day?

[37:15] » I was going to say something. Yeah. >> Yeah, that's the main reason we're going

[37:18] to have traffic all over. >> Yeah, and I think that might be easier

[37:21] than disrupting that. That might hurt more problems anyway, so yeah. And we'll

[37:25] be uh

[37:27] before we start, have a point of contact on here.

[37:31] On each side to make sure >> Everything's again

[37:33] » and as notices are given for everything after everything like that.

[37:38] » Okay. So, when you say 6 or 7 months from now

[37:42] or from when you start? >> Start. Construction start.

[37:45] » And that is several months away, right? >> Yes. Yeah.

[37:50] » And so, are you hoping September kind of the ballpark

[37:54] » Yeah. >> Yeah. That's about right around there.

[37:56] » So, roughly we'd be opening up the police station hopefully

[37:59] in April and probably give it a go. >> And I mean,

[38:05] it should go quicker, but >> Yeah.

[38:07] » Yeah. >> Hopefully it does, you know, and all

[38:09] that. So, as I said, Tyson, I didn't know with that, you know, how much that

[38:13] if you know, we don't open this up till April, you know, I don't know how much

[38:17] » We executed in December of 25. >> Yeah.

[38:21] » And so, my guys had budgeted money for this year

[38:26] and they'll budget money for next year. It's all just a question of

[38:30] what that money is. Um I think and uh

[38:35] I'd have to look. You guys at Chad agreed to provide us uh

[38:41] like a prospective budget that way we could

[38:45] know and we can get get that you know by the end of the month middle of the

[38:50] month. >> Yeah. What we did was we um separated

[38:53] out up until this well through budget year 26 the the police department and

[38:59] the dispatch will run uh we're in the same budget. This year for the 2027

[39:05] budget we split them out and it's not it's it's

[39:09] our best educated guesses you know on uh you know base I mean it's based on

[39:15] actual circumstances such as how many dispatchers we have.

[39:18] » Yep. >> But as far as some of the costs that are

[39:21] broken out I think we took 15% of what the police department was spending on

[39:25] office supplies and things like that and put it into that.

[39:28] » In our in the the sheet that was provided in 25 so the we'd agreed to pay

[39:35] all employment related costs none of the day-to-day costs and so I don't remember

[39:39] what the name of the form was that you'd given me but it just had a breakdown of

[39:43] wages and then my share of this. >> Right. And so we will give you

[39:48] I'll I'll I'll give you the whole spreadsheet and then you can just ignore

[39:51] the end that >> It it is broke out like that where we

[39:54] can I have that? Yeah helpful.

[39:56] » Health insurance social security workers comp wages yeah.

[39:59] » Yeah how much it gives you around 350,000

[40:02] or something? >> It's about that.

[40:04] Well the wages for 2027 are anticipated to be 3.3 million and so then the

[40:09] the benefits on top of that. >> Yeah so the

[40:11] » But I will get that to you. >> Yeah I appreciate it.

[40:16] » Robert do you have anything with the police department or anything with the

[40:20] moving and all that?

[40:26] You guys have any other Okay, perfect. >> Doug, one question. Yes. You guys

[40:30] brought to my attention last week you guys have been buying or I guess buying

[40:35] like a thousand ton of asphalt from the county every year.

[40:38] » Mhm. >> And this year it's dropped to 250.

[40:42] » I don't know what it was last year. Nick he managed told me or told me and Jeff

[40:47] and Jeff isn't here and Nick isn't here but um that

[40:51] that at one point in time it was a thousand but

[40:55] » That's what Doug had told me last week it had been a thousand and he's already

[41:00] made it for this

[41:04] the thousand ton and then he was told later after it's already done

[41:09] that you guys just wanted 250 so we're going to have to eat the other 750.

[41:15] It's already been paid for or made.

[41:19] » So I haven't talked to to I I can't really give you a

[41:23] a full intelligent answer because I don't have the public works

[41:27] But what Nick had said is that it had been decreasing. He thought that last

[41:31] year it was 300 and something. >> Okay, I That's just what Doug had told

[41:34] me so that's all I was asking. >> Yeah, and I I can have Jeff and Doug

[41:39] talk. >> Okay.

[41:40] » Make sure that we're not putting you in that situation, you know,

[41:44] in the future. >> Right. Okay. He was just a little

[41:47] concerned about that. >> Okay. Yeah, let's talk about it.

[41:50] » It It affects his budget and it goes into our street.

[41:53] » For sure. Yeah. Yeah, we we want to be good partners and we should all make

[41:56] sure we're talking. >> You're going to get that asphalt cheap.

[41:58] » No, it should be >> Well, and one of the things that the

[42:01] city has recently approved that the the city commission has recently approved an

[42:05] asphalt recycler to be able to to repair potholes and and some street cracking

[42:12] with hot mix. You know, that but it's in small batches. Small batches.

[42:16] » It's like our old truck being driven >> Yeah.

[42:19] » Yeah.

[42:23] That's all right. >> Oh, no. No, you're good. Are you good?

[42:25] Do you guys have any other concerns or whatsoever? So

[42:30] Well, I appreciate I as I said as as I told Sasha a couple of couple weeks ago

[42:35] and I know I told Rick, you know, I I think we've done some great work here in

[42:39] the last couple years and I think our relationship has gone stronger and

[42:43] better than it's ever been. And again, I mean it really shows, you know,

[42:47] especially our meeting I'm just kind of looking at the clock only 45 minutes.

[42:51] It's all been positive uh positive things. So I do appreciate

[42:55] that but um other than that though, look forward to

[42:59] hopefully getting this NRP finally to bed. Once we get this signed off, we can

[43:03] never we don't have to worry about this.

[43:07] » Only thing I've got left to say is to my geek side with may the force be

[43:13] with you.

[43:22] » I might get that tonight at tonight's city council.

[43:25] That's all. So >> Did the city respond?

[43:27] » I will. I will. That's okay. So uh with other that being said, um I'd

[43:32] like to make a motion that we adjourn for to this afternoon.

[43:37] » Second. >> It's been moved and seconded that we

[43:39] adjourn for this afternoon. Any other discussions? All those in favor, please

[43:42] say I. >> I.

[43:44] » I'll make a motion we adjourn. >> Second.

[43:48] » We move and second we adjourn. All those in favor, say I.

[43:51] » I. >> I.

[43:52] » Opposed, same sign. We are adjourned. >> You got to get food over here for

[43:57] » Yes. >> Thank you.

[44:00] » It's not safe to drive on >> No.

Pratt Joint City/County Meeting 5/4/2026

Transcript