03-24-1975 Minutes47
City of Salina, Kansas
Regular Meeting of the Board
Of Commissioners
March 24, 1975
The Regular Meeting of the Board of Commissioners met in the
Commissioners' Room, City -County Building, on Monday, March 24, 1975, at seven
o'clock P.M.
The Mayor asked everyone to stand for the pledge of allegiance to the
Flag and a moment of silent prayer.
There were present:
Mayor W. M. Usher, Chairman presiding
Commissioner Robert C. Caldwell
Commissioner Norma G. Cooper
Commissioner Mike Losik, Jr.
Commissioner Jack Weisgerber
comprising a quorum of the Board, also:
L. 0. Bengtson, City Attorney
W. E. Harris, Deputy City Manager
D. L. Harrison, City Clerk
Absent:
Norris D. Olson, City Manager
printed. The Minutes of the Regular Meeting of March 17, 1975, were approved as
THE MAYOR PROCLAIMED - Tuesday, March 25, 1975 - "MUSTANG DAY". The
proclamation was read by Cheryl Thielen, accompanied by other cheerleaders from
Central High School.
STAFF AGENDA
CITY ENGINEER filed Plans and specifications for improvements in
Country Club Estates Addition Number 2. (Engineering Project 75-575). A motion
was made by Commissioner Cooper, seconded by Commissioner Weisgerber to accept
the plans and specifications for Engineering Project 75-575 as filed by the City
Engineer, and set the date of April 7, 1975 as the date to receive bids. Ayes:
(5). Nays: (0). Motion carried.
THE CITY ENGINEER filed a feasibility report for a water line on
Van Horne Street, which was requested in Petition Number 3463, filed by Grace Igo
A motion was made by Commissioner Caldwell, seconded by Commissioner Losik to
accept the feasibility report filed by the City Engineer. Ayes: (5). Nays: (0).
Motion carried.
A LETTER was received from the City Planning Commission concerning
Petition Number 3453, informing the City Commission that, "At the request of
Mr. Kenneth W. Wasserman, attorney for the petitioner, Petition Number 3435 was
formally withdrawn on March 18, 1975. It is, therefore, the recommendation of
the Planning Commission that this withdrawal be honored." The petition requested
the rezoning of Lots land 9 to 14, Block 4, Schippel Addition from District "A"
(Second Dwelling House District) to District "D" (Local Business District). A
motion was made by Commissioner Cooper, seconded by Commissioner Losik to accept
the withdrawal request. Ayes: (5). Nays: (0). Motion carried.
1
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COMMISSION AGENDA
"Status of the proposed meeting with the County and the School Board."
(Sponsored by Commissioner Losik)
Commissioner Losik said, "I am continuing to pursue this matter, becaus(
first of all it is a very important thing to attempt to get better mileage out of
tax dollars. Inflation being what it is, tax dollars being in short supply, I
think it would be wise to review that on October 21st, 1974, by unanimous decisior
we elected to send a formal invitation to the County and to the School Board
inviting them to a joint meeting. On December 12th a letter was sent to the
County and the School Board. On December 17th the County replied stating the
idea had merit and they would be pleased to attend. On January 8th the School
Board replied, stating the same thing. Pleased to attend. Both letters stated
they wanted to be notified of the date and time of the meeting. Now on January
27th this year, I placed it on the agenda again and by unanimous vote we directed
a letter to be sent over the Mayor's signature suggesting February 5th or 6th as
the meeting date, inviting at least 2 elected officials from each group and if
they wanted to bring a staff member, fine. Now, I would like to find out why a
meeting has not materialized, especially since all three groups have been wanting
to meet. Now was a letter sent? Bill, I might refer this to you because it was
to go out over your signature."
Mayor Usher replied, "Well, we have discussed it, Mr. Bolen and I and
Mr. Wayne Lockard and I discussed the proposal and they were of the opinion and
I am inclined to agree with them that there isn't much that three heads of the
governments could do by themselves that it is more important to have the people
who are actually involved with purchases and things of this kind to be involved.
We have since appointed Don Harrison to represent the City, Wayne Lockard has
appointed Mr. Lampe to represent the County and we haven't heard from the School
Board yet. They indicated probably Bob Jaggard, I haven't received confirmation.
Mr. Harrison, as soon as he gets the final confirmation will call the meeting."
Commissioner Losik said, "I think there is just a little bit more to it
Bill than just the purchasing practices, and I don't know why this thing is
dragging out or why we are changing the procedure that this Commission has set
up by unanimous vote, which in itself if quite a deal for this Commission. Now
it seems to me that since the governing bodies, the elected officials have all
indicated so much interest in this in writing, why we are limiting it to just one
area when there are other areas to be pursued. Now we are talking about a period
of five months from the time this started. Now we have managed to get together
with other people from out of town and every other way on much shorter notice and
in a shorter period of time and we can't seem to get groups that are all in this
same building to get together and hold a meeting. Now is there any follow up
procedure established in this meeting you had with Wayne Lockard and with Pat
Bolen to follow up to see that this is going, continuing? And is there a method
of reporting back to this Commission and to the other elected officials, the other
two governing bodies, so that we can monitor this?"
Mayor Usher replied, "I presume we will ask them after they have had a
couple of meetings what they are doing."
Commissioner Losik asked, "Do you have any idea when the first meeting
will be held?"
yet." Mayor Usher replied, "No, because we haven't heard from the School Board
proposed?" Commissioner Losik asked, "Is anybody following up on it? When was this
Mayor Usher replied, "I presume Mr. Harrison will as soon - if he
iasn't heard from them in the next few days."
Commissioner Losik asked, "May I ask when this was first proposed that
hese people be ..."
190.11Mayor Usher replied, "Oh let's see. We talked to Mr. Bolen about a week
Commissioner Losik asked, "And how about Wayne Lockard?"
Mayor Usher replied, "I talked with him today."
Commissioner Losik said, "Well, I am glad at least we got it started,
because ..."
Mayor Usher commented, "We are going, you know wheels of government me
very slowly."
Commissioner Losik said, "I don't agree Bill, when it comes to saving
tax dollars we should expedite and speed it up. I would move that we accept the
report rendered by the Mayor and proceed."
Mayor Usher commented, "That is nice of you. That is a question you
could have asked me just about any time."
Commissioner Losik said, "I think we made this a formal matter and I
think the public is just as concerned about what we are doing in this area as a
few of the members here, Bill."
PUBLIC AGENDA
PETITION NUMBER 3475 was filed by Lawrence Warta to limit parking to
2 hours on both sides of Duvall Street from Broadway to a point 300 feet to the
West. A motion was made by Commissioner Weisgerber, seconded by Commissioner
Losik to refer the petition to the City Engineer for a recommendation. Ayes: (5)
Nays: (0). Motion carried.
Mayor Usher said, "I would like to preface before we ask these question
the fact that on December 23rd, I think it was, we approved the idea of looking a
Crawford from financing it the State or the Federal Highway Act, and from that
date or shortly thereafter our staff became extraordinarily busy in taking care
of our application for our Community Development, so during this period of time
until January, February and the first part of March, I think it is safe to say
probably not a whole lot has gone along this particular project, but we will go
ahead and find out the answers."
Dean Boyer, City Engineer, replied, "No, the application has not been
filed, this is now the question refers to only one segment of Crawford, the
referal by the Commission was to file for assistance on Crawford from Broadway
to the east city limits. This making it actually a more feasible type of
application than the one short job would have been. The reason it has not been
filed as yet is the time element. We have been quite busy with the Community
Development program we had tight time limits set on us, however it probably
would not be in yet, it would be questionable if it would be in yet even had we
not been involved with the Community Development program. Before the application
can be entered we must have several elements in it including preliminary design
including statements of intent, or design by statement instead of design by
drawings, so they can ascertain that we do meet all their specifications as well
as cost estimates for the different segments, or the different projects that you
break it into; and a priority schedule set up for the different segments. We
have had meetings with staff to determine the best design approach to it. We hav
it broken into five different projects and we have the field work done on two of
the five. This is about as far as we have gotten on it. We talked with Mr. Ogan
in January concerning questions to get this application developed. He has come
A LETTER was received from Ernest W. Dill requesting the following
matter be placed on the
agenda for Monday, March 24, 1975:
"1. Has an application been filed with Federal Authorities in
Topeka requesting Federal funds
to be used to help rebuild
East Crawford Street from the bridge east to the City Limits.
If so, when was application filed?
2. Has the City Engineer submitted a construction plan with
Federal Authorities in support of this application and, if so,
has
the plan been approved? If not, why not?
3. Has the City Commission taken all the action required by the
Government to qualify the street for Federal funds? If not,
will such action be taken, and when?"
Mayor Usher said, "I would like to preface before we ask these question
the fact that on December 23rd, I think it was, we approved the idea of looking a
Crawford from financing it the State or the Federal Highway Act, and from that
date or shortly thereafter our staff became extraordinarily busy in taking care
of our application for our Community Development, so during this period of time
until January, February and the first part of March, I think it is safe to say
probably not a whole lot has gone along this particular project, but we will go
ahead and find out the answers."
Dean Boyer, City Engineer, replied, "No, the application has not been
filed, this is now the question refers to only one segment of Crawford, the
referal by the Commission was to file for assistance on Crawford from Broadway
to the east city limits. This making it actually a more feasible type of
application than the one short job would have been. The reason it has not been
filed as yet is the time element. We have been quite busy with the Community
Development program we had tight time limits set on us, however it probably
would not be in yet, it would be questionable if it would be in yet even had we
not been involved with the Community Development program. Before the application
can be entered we must have several elements in it including preliminary design
including statements of intent, or design by statement instead of design by
drawings, so they can ascertain that we do meet all their specifications as well
as cost estimates for the different segments, or the different projects that you
break it into; and a priority schedule set up for the different segments. We
have had meetings with staff to determine the best design approach to it. We hav
it broken into five different projects and we have the field work done on two of
the five. This is about as far as we have gotten on it. We talked with Mr. Ogan
in January concerning questions to get this application developed. He has come
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come out and visited with me in my office following the meeting he had with you
people and to this date the City Commission has done all they can. They must now
wait until we get, the Engineering Department gets, the application developed to
the point of submitting it. I think at that time you would probably want to
approve the application."
Mayor Usher said, "Okay, are there any further comments? Anything
from the bench?"
Commissioner Losik asied, "Dean, any idea as to the time that we are
talking about as to when this application would be in?"
Mr. Boyer replied, "I was thinking about that this afternoon and I
would say we are probably talking near the latter half of June."
Commissioner Losik asked, "That it would be ready for submission?
Now didn't Mr. Ogan state that as a preliminary we should just send them a
formal letter requesting that we be considered for this and that this procedure
would follow that is the step by step procedure. Have we done that as yet? Are
we on record with them as being desirous of being in this?"
Mr. Boyer replied, "We have not written a letter. I asked him about
it because when he was in my office and we were discussing the things in
developing this application I asked, 'is the letter necessary and what function
does it do?' He said it would only open a file for you. He said it would not
speed the project and it would have no effect on the timing of it except that
it would put Salina on a file and put the letter in there. The letter would
really have no effect, but possibly it would be a public pleasing action, but
it would have no effect on the project itself."
Commissioner Cooper asked, "Does this formal letter have to accompany
the application at the time the City does submit?"
Mr. Boyer replied, "It would then be a part of a much longer letter.
The letter with the application would start out the same way, only there would
be much more added to it. As I discussed it with him, 1 said what do they do wit
the letter? Well they can't do anything because before they can make a judgement
as to even if we have a project of if they want to do anything or not they have
to know what we are going to build, they have to know how we are going to build
it, and they need cost estimates, like some judgement on moneys available; so
he indicated the letter would have no effect on it, so based on that we did not
submit a letter."
Mayor Usher thanked Mr. Boyer and asked if there are any comments
from the audience.
Mr. Ernest Dill was present and said, "My question has been answered,
I can't complain about that, but the only thing I find a little bit difficult
for me to understand is the apparent lack of urgency now in getting this project
started as compared to the apparent urgency before the matter of federal funds
was considered and I am just wondering if there isn't some way, even for the
letter, even it it isn't too significant, at least we can go on record as being
desirous of going into this project and applying for Federal funds."
Mayor Usher commented, "Well that isn't going to do you any good.
That isn't going to guarantee any money for Salina or anything else and they are
well aware of the fact that we are thinking about it, and that our staff is
beginning to work towards that end."
Mr. Dill said, "I appreciate this and I agree with you 100%. 1 just
don't think the letter would hurt."
Mayor Usher said, "It isn't going to do any good either."
Commissioner Weisgerber said, "I think one thing we did when we agreed
with you folks to go for this Federal money, we gave up trying to get this done
in a short time, because I am guessing if we go this way, it is going to be 2
years at least before there is any construction, probably 1977. These things tal,
a long time, so we gave up, I am afraid on that, in that regard at least."
Mayor Usher said, "We promised you we would pursue this matter and we
intend to do that."
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Mr. Dill replied, "I appreciate that, the only - my only concern about
it is one of the reasons I wrote the letter was because had the application been
filed in April, May or June we probably would have been able to qualify and had
the construction of the road under way now."
Mayor Usher replied, "No way! No! There is no possible way of that
Ernie. If anybody has been telling you anything different than that they are
wrong because I went over the flow chart today with Mr. Boyer and there isn't
any possible way we could get anything done within the next 18 months. Now that
is what we are talking about. Eighteen months from now before we can even start
laying a brick or pouring any mortor at all."
Mr. Dill said, "This may be true under present - under present
appropriations, but with the government's program of acceleration of appropriatio ..
Mayor Usher said, "We have to have the design done and these people
can't get the design done in a matter of 30 or 60 days."
Mr. Dill asked, "Does the design have to be completed before the
application is filed?"
Mayor Usher said, "Yes, before you can really start going through that
flow chart. Now just submitting a letter to the State Ernie is not going to
earmark any funds for Salina. They are going to first have to see some plans
and specifications and what we want to do, and then with those estimates, cost
estimates, if there is money available, then they will start thinking about
allocating some funds and that is a long way away."
Mr. Baringer said, "I think the longer we drag our feet, we have been
dragging our feet on this thing for quite a long time, and I think the longer we
drag our feet on it the longer it is going to be. I can see where you say it is
going to be 18 months or more because we have been trying to get this thing -
something done on for three or four years anyway."
Mayor Usher said, "We are not dragging our feet."
Mr. Baringer said, "Yes, I can see where, the way we move, Yes I
can see where it may be longer than that."
Commissioner Caldwell said, "I don't want to prolong the conversation,
but at the time the City had proposed the road for East Crawford, with plans and
everything for it it was frowned on by the benefit district so I don't think the
City Commission should have to back up for the things that they tried to do that
the benefit district did not accept."
Mr. Baringer said, "At that particular time, if you remember, we
discussed this thing, if we would declare this a thoroughfare, we knew that there
was money available for this project, but nobody would believe us, and you
remember that discussion got a little bit hot at that time, and nobody would
believe us."
Mayor Usher said, "There hasn't been any money spent in Kansas yet on
situations like we are talking about."
Mr. Baringer said, "This money has been available for quite a long time
I understand that all we had to do was declare that a thoroughfare and if that
isn't a thoroughfare I don't know what you would call it.'i
Mayor Usher said, "Mr. Baringer it isn't that simple or that easy when
you are dealing with Federal funds. It takes a long, long time."
A motion was made by Commissioner Caldwell, seconded by Commissioner
Losik that the Regular Meeting of the Board of Commissioners be adjourned.
Ayes: (5). Nays: (0). Motion carried.
D. L. Harrison, City Clerk