City Council - Regular Meeting

Good evening. My name is K Richardson. I'm the president of the council. And we'll call our meeting to order for Monday, March 16, 2026. Will you join for the pledge of allegiance? Pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Thank you. I'll now call Pastor Lori Hoskins from the First Christian Church for a prayer.

Will you please join me in prayer? Oh God of justice and mercy, we thank you for the gift of life. We thank you for the opportunity to serve the people of our city. Help us to act with character and conviction. Help us to listen with understanding and good will. Help us to speak with charity and restraint. Give us a spirit of service, God, and remind us that we are stewards of your authority. Guide this council to be the leaders your people need. Help us see the humanity and dignity of those who disagree with us and to treat all persons, no matter of status or standing, with a reverence your creation deserves. And finally, Father, renew us with the strength of your presence and the joy of helping to build a community worthy of every person. We ask this confident in your goodness, guidance, and love. Amen.

Amen. Amen. Thank you, pastor. All right. Take a look at your city council meeting minutes. uh you should have a single sheet of paper with your uh at your desk uh that has the meeting minutes for the special meeting from February 17th and then the March 2nd uh 2026 minutes were in the packet. You had to do those separate. No, you can do both at once.

Entertain a motion when you're ready. I move to approve the minutes from February 17th, 2026 special city council meeting and the March 2nd, 2026 city council meeting. Second. Second. We have a motion, a couple seconds for to approve the meeting minutes from the February 17th and March 2nd, 2026 meetings. All in favor?

I oppose. same sign. Motion carries. All right. We have the appropriation ordinance number three. I move to consider the approval of the appropriation ordinance number three dated March 11, 2026. Second. We have a motion and second to approve the appropriation orders number three dated March 11, 2026. All in favor say I. I.

Oppose. Same sign. Motion carries. That moves us down to our visitor section. Do you have anyone in the crowd that uh would wanted to visit the with the council that is not on an item that we have on the agenda tonight? Seeing none, we'll move on. A gusto here. Josh Ignite Augusta is here. He knows he can read. They're they're on the agenda. Ready? Ready for Ignite Augusta? Yes, sir. Uh who wants to represent Ignite Augusta? Zack Harold. Which one? Okay.

Um Ignite Augusta is here. Uh they has been speaking to staff for a while about the uh about the uh the lights display that's in Garvin Park. As you all know, they've been working to get that reestablished in the park and have had a really successful event the last couple of years with it. Um, for a long time, the uh the lights displays have been stored in uh portable semi-trailers. Um, before they restarted the uh the show a couple years back, those semi-trailers have been stored on city property for a long time and now I believe you guys are storing them on private property at the moment. Is that correct? or do we still have them on our side? They're still

um so right now they're stored in those mobile trailers so that those trailers have to be moved to the park when they're going to do the displays. Uh they've approached us with this idea of building a storage facility that is in Garvin Park. Um it's a tricky ask for us to sort out one because it it's just a different sort of ask to have a private building in a public park. It is for a display that goes on exclusively in that park. So, I understand the efficiency of it. I understand why that ask uh would be made. Um ultimately, as we try to make that decision what to do about the request, um you all are the property owners of the park. And so before we start down any sort of path talking to a park board, talking to a planning commission, I wanted to at least get to ask in front of you all, let them talk about what their project is, what their idea is, uh why they think that uh they need it, and um and then we can kind of figure out from there. But first, uh since it is your property, I would like some sort of thoughts or indication on if you're comfortable even with the concept of it. Um, and then beyond that, you got to figure out where does it go and how does it go there. Um, because developing in the park is not something we have even really a precedent for in that way. And I've sent you all some maps showing some different ideas. Um, but each idea has uh a lot of leg work behind it and probably uh runs into some sort of obstacle in zoning or otherwise that would have to be figured out if you're going to allow it. But, uh, anyway, with that, I'd like to turn it over to Zach Harold, let them speak about the display, how that's been going, what the thought is behind the project and and, uh, how that how that helps their situation, and then, uh, I can pull up the maps from there and and talk about, uh, what you think about it conceptually.

Awesome, Josh. Thank you for that introduction of kind of the past of how that is all working along. Um, I'm Zach Atenbach. I'm the treasurer with Ignite Augusta. This is Harold Wery. He is the president of Ignite Augusta and um yeah, Josh, you nailed it right on the head of kind of where, you know, what we're looking for. Um it's something that we've talked about a lot during the setup and the figuring out of who can move these trailers because it takes a specific smaller semi um and a local individual as opposed to a big corporation to try and accomplish that um on there. And it is a little bit of a headache. And that's where we were talking about, you know, how could we make this work? And in a concept very similar to the um uh the concession stand that you see down there as well. It would be working in towards with uh what we what we can tie together and present to the community, making a a decent looking building that serves a purpose and a function and a little bit of history behind the purpose and the function with what Ignite has done. and and Harold, you could, you know, stand behind this or however there, but um we've been able to give back with the donations that have been received through the community. We've been able to give back to the directly to the parks department. Um we have student scholarships in process for volunteers that are coming in um that they'll be able to coordinate with local community schools. Uh we've supported the angel tree. Uh we've hired additional police officers as extra labor and supervision as needed. um fire department money as fundraiser, uh the school district student trip needs. There's been a lot of money that we put back towards the community and even more that we're still working on in process with going forward um as we continue to grow. And a portion of the proceeds from those gates we also um put back into new displays and in order to replace older displays and continue a draw of new faces into the

community. Um the city's been supportive in the past with uh uh uh helping to get the electric back up and going and everything which majority of that was in place. It took some reconnections after after other things happened, but um on there and that's really, you know, I mean, I guess the formal request is is basically we submitted uh some requests for bids for a 40 by 70 as an approximate size because we do have um four Yeah. four semi-trailers that are 10 by 52 53 and they're about 8 to 10 feet wide.

Yeah. And so that is kind of a rough translation in size there which would give us some added room to kind of grow um as well as some room. We had talked with uh uh Frank with Frank Sullivan with parks department, head of park parks depart department about where does he keep his equipment while he's you know working in those parks because we know it takes some special equipment to mow that steep dam and then you know if you've got weed eaters or gas or whatever and we visited about the concept of maybe sharing that with some of the city needs that could be uh could be the ability to save him some time and headache and leg work with his guys in there, which also leads to that is exactly what um the aisle of lights with Winfield and the city of Winfield parks department do um or did for many years um they shared a building space in their main park there um with maintenance and the Christmas light displays. And then as they continued to grow, um the city of Winfield built a new facility and the aisle of lights purchased for an unknown amount the remainder of their 50% on that building um on there which is actually even bigger than what we're looking for, but they've got a much larger display. So, um, we've kind of been scratching around of how to make it work and what would be the best option and and we would love to have your guys' support. Um, if there was some way that that we could organize and and really come together and make that happen, it would be fantastic for the community. Um, I think a simple, clean structure, like I said, that kind of matches the the shape and the coloring of of what buildings are existing down there already. Um, wouldn't be an isore or inconvenient on any stretch. So, and there there's plenty of room that it could change. It could be a bigger

building. We go a little smaller if if the parks needed more room and it was something you guys are we could always make that building larger than what it is and give more room to the parks or whatever. And it's all a matter of where we go. We had a couple different locations picked out. One location is much bigger than than the other one. So, and another one requires a little more dirt work, which is just added expense. And we're we're trying to come from the approach of a thrifty financially thrifty position. Um you know we are a nonprofit organization that you know we're not we're we're here to help the community as we can um and do what we can do. So on and so I'm sure there are probably a lot of questions um that you guys will have um on there. So I I guess we open the target now. So, right over No,

we're here. My question is, you guys build this building. Does that building belong to you or does it belong to the city? You know, that's a fantastic question. Um, and I think that that would be something that would need to be addressed in in entirety. Um, especially as we were kind of talking about, you know, do we share that would that be shared with the city?

Um, you know, who has ownership of that? Could we, if the city built it, would we maybe be responsible for, you know, renting out a portion of it from you guys if that's within the budget? Um, we did have a supporter who offered a a fairly significant amount that's been several years ago now. Um, and they've got some other things that they're considering, but still have some support there. Um, and maybe we if my thought was maybe we could do a match if the city could match what we're able to fund raise or maybe we could match what the city was willing to kick forward on that. Um, you know, it'd be I think fantastic if the city owned it as a city building. Um, but if we needed to own it as a liability or whatever you want to call that, then then I suppose that's something that we would need to present to the board and

work our way through. I I think we'd be open to either way, whether we own it or the city, either one. Now, as far as a donor, we'd have to check with them and get their input on that as well. I don't know if it really matters to them or not, but I would want to check with them before we said one way or the other, but I'm not opposed to either way.

So, Josh, is this something based on the ask that we can put into our strategic planning session and look at what that would look like in the budget? conversations for this year's budget. You can if you'd like to. Is that what that would look like if we wanted to consider just even the discussion around it? Yeah. Yeah. Josh, have you had any time or been able to take a look and see if there's any restrictions on the property? Um, since it was donated property, if there's any restrictions on if we can put other buildings on there and

so there not not yet. Um, what what Kip's referring to is I I called him real quick before the meeting tonight just to give him some background. One of the things that I haven't had a chance to research is like the origin of Garvin Park. And a lot of times with parks, you want to check how that originated and how that land came to the city and was given to the city because sometimes um they will have covenants associated with that when they donate it that way. So for example, Santa Fe Lake which is a 500 plus acre park of ours that was given to us by the railroad and in those covenants they actually pre preclude us from any private development on the property. Um so that was a condition of that donation. Um with Meadow View Acres. So ignore that yellow box. It should actually go all the way out here. that is um deed restricted by FEMA now after all of those homes were removed to where it can only be used for green space and no structures can be put back on it unless there's some kind of approve approval granted by FEMA. If you remember, we had a 90page application submitt to get the dog park fence put back in that area. So, the likelihood that you're going to be able to add a structure out there without adding significant cost like physically raising it out of the flood plane, um, I don't think anything in that area is going to be likely given the FEMA restrictions. Anything shown in blue over here, that is essentially floodway for the spillway channel. That's why we had to relocate the concession building out of the floodway and place it over here. So, just off top, those areas are going to be restricted by your zoning and

development codes or by deed restrictions. But the question that I wasn't sure about is the origins of Garvin Park. I don't know how we got that. I don't know if there was anything like that in the original donation or if you have it free and clear to do whatever you want with it, but Santa Fe Lake was the example. When that was donated, it was deed restricted and we had to turn away a a private glamping development that wanted to go out there because those covenants from 60 70 years ago did not allow it. So, it's just something I would have to research. I have no idea what the origins of Garvin Park were. Um, scale-wise, the concession building is 45 by 90. So this is a 40x70 building ass. So it is similar in scale, a little bit shorter. Um so you're talking about this this red building here, finding another location. Um anything else on this lower area, if you ever get to the point of of really developing out those baseball fields and adding parking lots and stuff like that, any other buildings do get in the way of that. um you don't have anything else I think shown in your park master plan uh beyond something like that. But if you were to utilize any of that space, that's what you're compromising down there on the lower level. The upper level is programmed in a lot of places unless you're going to do away with part of disc golf. Um this middle area is where the amphitheater and that seating is. um anywhere else up there you're doing away with some kind of activity. We have also looked potentially at this space here which is not technically part of the park and it's not part of a plat either. Um all of these this neighborhood is platted around it but

that's not actually a lot but it's not part of the park either. On the plat there's a line that cuts it off back here. It's just kind of this dead space and there's some utilities that run through it. The only conversations we've ever had about it in the past were about potential of adding other parking um to supplement in Garvin Park. We had that conversation years ago, but never really moved on it. It's not a it's not a priority in our development plans to consider that at this point in time. Um, that's the only space that's kind of park adjacent that you could potentially look at trying to turn into a lot, but it's not even a lot right now that would be developable without you platting it in some way and developing it the way your zoning code says. Um, but that at least if if you did that, that gets you away from any of your programmed areas. You don't worry about anything with FEMA. You don't worry anything about floodway. Uh but there are hurdles to it and there are zoning hurdles too because I think your zoning um essentially just a garage which would be a commercial storage structure I believe is probably an accessory structure under your zoning and um in order for a lot to be developed I believe you have to have a primary structure on the lot and so this would be in an accessory structure without the primary. So you have planning commission would have to do something in that dynamic in order to make that okay and maybe that is making this a part of the park or something else. There may be solutions to it. It's just those are the things they'll have to evaluate to answer that question. So um that's the only ideas we've had to this point. These are the only things I'm aware of that I know you can't develop in. Um the rest of it I would have to research. I don't have an answer tonight. Um,

any anybody up there know when Garvin Park was donated? I'm going to guess in the 30s, 40s. Maybe it's older than that. Anyone know? Okay. So, we're going to have to go back a ways in that history to find out, but uh we'll we can get an answer to that fairly quickly checking with the register at deeds, but that that's just stuff to think about. So, it doesn't answer the question. There's just stuff to think about as as we move forward.

I think I'm kind of with Jake's thoughts and things. I think maybe um if we could let have you go to, you know, take a look at at uh what the history was there with Garvin Park and if we have any restrictions and things there and then let's talk about it during our strategic retreat and bring some of those the things together and also talk about the property that you've got marked up there in red and what it would would need to do there. So gentlemen, they haven't scheduled it yet because it's actually later on the agenda, but the strategic retrieve we were looking at the 30th. So, two weeks from now. Okay.

Do you guys have a meeting in between now and then as a board? Uh, no. Our meetings are the first Monday of every month. Okay. It'd be right after that. I on your question, Josh, about the uh the history of Garvin Park. I do know uh from an Eagle Scout project of mine personally, the um stone fire rings were put in as part of a WPA project or something that I know we redid some point work and stuff on that and painted the old playground that had been down there and everything that's now gone. But I also know that Harold's grandfather or great-grandfather, great great grandfather,

there you go, was part of that project in and his name is on the back of the stone fireplace there. So, there is indeed some neat history there and it's and it's cool to continue on being part of some of that uh project and seeing the legacy carry on of of Garvin Park in the community. So, I just want to thank you guys for, you know, reviving that ignited. It's a great asset to our town and I know it's a lot of hard work and I appreciate you all very much. Thank you for doing that. Thank you. Thank you. So, does anybody have a a motion or thing that you like to see what we do or anything as far as setting it aside or tableing for now? Does it need a motion or is it do we table it?

I I don't think it needs a motion. It's a consensus is helpful. Lets me know you want me to do the research. So, um they brought up something with aisle of lights which would be helpful for me as well if there's um um example agreements that another city has done that I can pull from them. So, this gives me a couple of weeks to try to pull all of that data together and then you can have a more informed discussion in your retreat. I think that's a good idea. We have a consensus on that, guys. Yes. Yep. Yep. Okay. We'll uh we'll we'll talk about our meeting on the 30th and stuff and then we'll get back with you. Okay. Fantastic. Thanks. Appreciate your time. Thank you.

All right. We'll move on to our first order of business. Selection of construction manager risk for Augusta Public Works campus. Josh. Yes, Mayor and Council. I'm actually not going to steal any of our staff's thunder. I'm going to turn it right over to our public utilities director, Tim Johnson, to present his report.

Good evening, Mr. President, Council. Tim Johnson, uh, director of public utilities. I'm here this evening to ask you to approve the selection of Dawninger Construction as the construction manager for the uh new public works campus project and to authorize staff to begin negotiating a construction manager at risk uh or CMA contract with uh Don Linger. Once those negotiations are complete, the final contract will then have to be brought to you for your approval before the next steps can be taken. Uh, a little bit of background. Uh, this public works campus is a quite the significant investment in the city's ability to maintain streets and utilities, parks, and solid waste services. The project includes uh site demolition and preparation, grading and paving, utility and storm water improvements, and the construction of several pre-engineered buildings to support operations, vehicle storage, and staff workspace. The project is being completed in two phases. Uh back in August of last year, the council approved an agreement with JEO Consulting Group, which is the city's uh engineering firm, to design the campus and move forward with phase one, which was construction of a salt storage building that has been completed a little earlier this year. Then in November of last year, the council approved an amendment allowing work to begin on phase two. This phase includes three additional buildings. Uh a large 100x100 foot

vehicle storage and office building. Another 100x 220 foot vehicle storage and office building. That first one is for the solid waste uh utility. The second one is for a combination uh street division and parks division utility. The third uh structure is a 30 by 320 uh uh foot open vehicle storage uh uh structure. Because of the size and the complexity of this particular project, the city uh chose to use what is called a construction manager at risk delivery method. This method allows the contractor to work with the design team early in the process to provide cost estimates, construction planning and value engineering. And it also helps us establish a guaranteed maximum price earlier in the process which uh improves budget certainty and reduces risks uh for the city. Another benefit of this approach is it it helps us phase the construction so that public works operations can continue more or less uh uh uninterrupted and safely while the project is underway. A couple of months ago in January, council authorized staff to issue a request for proposals for these services. The RFP was issued in late January and three proposals were received and opened uh February 17. a selection committee made up of the uh street superintendent uh the street foreman uh city engineer and the uh park superintendent and myself uh reviewed and scored the proposals based on experience project approach

references schedule and fees based on that evaluation staff is recommending uh selecting Doner Construction as the CM M uh construction manager at risk for this project. There is a uh summary scorecard as well as a detailed scorecard uh attached to your report. From a fiscal standpoint, this uh facility will be funded using two primary sources. The first is the electric utility which will contribute approximately $1.2 $2 million to purchase the existing uh solid waste building which is located over at the power plant campus on 12th Street. Uh the uh line division, the crews that are out working the lines and getting your electricity back on when it goes off, they will move their operations into that into that building. Uh the remaining project costs are to be financed through a general obligation bond series 2025 which uh this council authorized back in October of last year. Uh again, staff does recommend approval of the selection of Doninger Construction and authorization for us to begin contract negotiations uh to move the project forward. Uh I will conclude my comments and stand for any questions you may have. questions. You have any questions for Tim? Mr. Shaw, do you have anything you want to add?

I think so. Okay. We've heard uh the public utilities director's report. What's your uh what you guys wish? Can you explain or give some details about is this going to be Donnelly or company or is it an individual uh that's going to be working along with the contractors? Uh could you give me a little brief on that? This is this is Doninger Construction Company. The Doninger Construction Company of Witchah, right? They will be the general contractor.

Uh so they will be responsible for help Under a under the more conventional design, bid build process, our people, our architects and engineers would have designed it would have put cost estimates to it and would bid it to a general contractor such as Doninger. Doninger would then just build to whatever specifications we had already put together. Using this process, we bring Don Linger in before all of the pricing is completed and all of the design is completed so they can help us get tighter and lower costs for construction of the project. Direct answer to your question is they are the general contractor.

Okay. Any other questions? I'm I'm all about lower cost. Trust me on that. But I want to know if is there some type of warranty if they did something wrong. I mean, is there some kind of if there's a always a warranty and it is in the contract? Okay, that's all I need to know. Thank you. That will be something that you'll have to give consideration to if we bring you back a contract and nothing begins until you've approved an actual contract with them. And and tonight's approval is of the construction company and to begin the negotiation.

Correct. Correct. Correct. It's not We're not requesting that you pay Dling or anything, but rather that we negotiate what they're going to do and what you're going to pay them after the after that is done. Will they be used just on this project or will they be used throughout other projects that we do through the city later on? You know, whenever

they are hired only to do this project. Okay. the public works campus project. Yeah. I make a motion to approve the selection of Don Leer Construction as construction manager and authorize staff to negotiate a contract for construction manager at risk services for the public Augusta public works campus project. Second. Okay, we got a motion several seconds to approve the selection of Doninger Construction as a construction manager and authorized staff to negotiate a contract. All in favor say I. I. All oppose. Same sign. Motion carries. Thank you very much. Thank you, sir.

Okay, we'll move on to number two. We'll hold a public hearing and resolution authorizing the condemnation of residential structure located at 3404 North Quell Drive. Josh. Yes, mayor and council. Presentation of the staff report. I'm going to go ahead and turn it over to our building inspector, Travis Colbmes. Good evening, council. Um, so I'm going to kind of bring you up to speed on the property at 3404 North Quail. Um, did we want to open the public hearing to begin this or

we need to open first staff report and then open public hearing as if you want. Uh, if you want Travis can give his staff report and then you can open the public hearing for public after. Perfect. Would you would would you introduce yourself just so everybody up here knows you now?

I'm Travis Combmes. I'm our building inspector here in the city of Augusta. Um, so there was a house fire at 3404 Northwell Drive. So if you want to go to the next slide, I will dive right into the fire report. So this fire happened November 15th, 2025 at approximately 2:45 a.m. It was occupied at the time and there was one fatality. The fire originated in a southeast bedroom. The contributing factors would be smoking and there is fire damage, smoke damage and water damage throughout the structure. Some of the next slides are from shortly after the fire was put out from the fire report. And then we have an insurance proceeds ordinance. So this ordinance is for any uh properties that have that carry insurance coverage. And if the the settlement for the insurance company exceeds 75% of the policy coverage, then we would get 15% of the settlement. And then when we get that check in, then I have to go inspect the property within 45 days and we would start the proceedings of KSA 12-1750 which is a condemnation. And these funds can be released if there is no condemnation proceeding initiated, if the owner removes or repairs the structure, or if the city needs

reimbursement dur during the condemnation for any expenses we incurred. Then next slide. So this is just some of the information about the property at on Quail Drive. Uh, it was built in 1980. It was a ranch style house approximately 1,700 square feet with a full basement. The approximate value was almost 300,000 before the fire. With that, we do an ownership and encumbrance report through a title company. This will state the current property owner, which is Kelvin Cruz. And then there is an executive of Kent Nelson's estate. Uh James Hardgrove is an attorney out of El Dredo who is handling that. And there were no leans on this property. Uh both of the both the owner and the attorney have been notified of tonight's meeting. We have a structural engineer take a look at the property as well. Um some of the items noted substantial structural damage. Uh it's considered dangerous and unsafe. Uh structural components such as the roof and the floor have collapsed. Interior and exterior walls have been damaged by the fire and it is deemed uneconomical to repair and should be demolished according to that report. So staff's recommendation is to approve the resolution tonight. Um if it does get approved, then staff would publish the resolution on the website and then mail copies of the resolution to all

parties of interest. Um after that we would start soliciting bids from demolition contractors to remove the structure and properly grade it. And then any insurance proceeds would be used to cover the costs incurred by the city and any remaining funds would be returned. And with that, I will turn it over back to council for any questions. Okay. Uh, I'm going to go ahead and open the public hearing. Um, do any council members have any questions for Travis before we

Yeah, I have a quick question. So, when you knock all that down and condemn it, does the property owner still have rights to that lot or do the city have it? So, the property owner would still own it after the fact. Yeah. Okay. Yes. He can sell it or rebuild or whatever. Absolutely. Correct. Okay. Anyone else have any questions? Can we have Mr. Cruz here? Kelvin Cruz who is the owner of the property and he wishes to uh talk to the before the council and speak to the council. Are we Quick question? Are we doing this as part of the public hearing? Can we open the public hearing for me? Okay.

34 Quail North Quill. I'm Trevian Cruz and I am the owner now and I will be tearing it down demolishing it. Okay. Uh James L. Hogro haven't released any funds to me. They come from Robert Kent Nelson over to Kelvin Crew. Okay. But I'm going to take my own money, which I have some. I got 10,000 which I'm try to start on the demolition. So that's my next process. So eventually I'm not going to rebuild. I'm not going to leave. I'm going stay right here in Kansas. Whether it's Augusta, Andover, or Witchah. I'm not going nowhere. Not going nowhere.

Uh, I will demolish it, pay for it. So, I beat out y'all here. Can you speak in the microphone, please? Yes, sir. Um, excuse me. How long do I have? I'm looking for some contractors right now. Taking three beers and I will go for the lowest one, the tear down. Okay. But the lot eventually, maybe later on, I may sell it. I told him eventually I will stay here two years. Okay. At least two years. I think I'mma stay longer. I love it here. I'm going back to Texas. And I'm going take it down. Okay.

Okay. Travis tax paid. It should be paid up. Well, he's been paying too much for the last two years. I'm going handle that. But Jamesville Hogrove haven't gave me a dime. Not a dime, one cent of money yet. But I know it's time for two. But anyway, I'm tear down. I'm tear down, sir. Okay, Travis, can you speak to the the timeline that the resolution lays out so Mr. Cruz know what time he's working with? Okay, you're fine. You're fine. You can hang out with the mic.

Uh, so this resolution would still allow for 30 days for the pro property owner to uh get demolition permits or any kind of permits. Uh so that would be April 5th 16th it looks like in the resolution. And so within that time is when I'd be looking to get uh bids from demolition contractors as well. Can you work within that time frame? Sure. Mr. Cruz. April 16th. 30 days. You got 30 days. I got 30 days. Y 30 days. Yep. Just give it to me if uh if you're planning on that. He got a contractor for now.

Yes, sir. We'll do 30 days. Okay. So, after this 30 days, can you explain what happens if if after 30 days we don't have it's not corrected? Yeah. So, uh after the 30 days, if you want to go back to my last slide, is that possible to the slide? Yeah. Yeah. So after that, um, in the in the next few days, I'll I'll solicit bids. We'll put an RFP out for proposals from the same demolition companies that I gave to Mr. Cruz.

Um, obviously we would also be looking at low bid and then once the 30 days is up, um, obviously I can talk to Mr. Cruz about where he's at in the in his part of it. And if not, then we would still have the insurance proceed funds to to cover the costs and and we would and then we would initiated after the April 16th. Okay. Yep. And and has the city received any insur any of those insurance funds? Sorry, what was that?

Has the city received any of those insurance funds or do we have any holding on those? In the staff report, it states that we have approximately $46,000. It should be in the financial in the bottom one. Keep scrolling down. Uh $46,36,360 is what we received for. And then if those if those proceeds are not required for the demolition, what happens to the proceeds? Yes. So that that would be used for the tear down. Oh. And then if there's anything above and beyond that, that would get returned. Yeah.

So we would just be looking at covering the cost for the tear down. So if you don't come up with the the cost in the next 30 days, then that's the insurance funds that we have. Yeah. Y'all got insurance already. I ain't got nothing. Mhm. For uh that would be for the house policy. For the who? for the house. That would be for the do it then. So, Mr. Cruz, can you can you get with him afterwards? Okay. So, we can go ahead and hold our meeting. Yep. Okay. Um

Okay. So, and Travis, so when we do that, then the just so the other property owners in that area know that what we're looking to get it back at is is a dirt property there that would be a able to be developed on or left left behind be sold at the end of it. The house would be removed, the lot would be graded, and Kelvin would still own the lot at the end of the day. And I believe the we should have enough funds in there that it would cover any of the demolition costs for that. Okay. Yes. Okay.

All right. Thank you very much. Do we have anyone else who'd like to speak on this be on behalf of this? I do. Okay. Hearing none. I will close the public hearing. Good. Mr. Cruz. He's he's able to say he's done. You go ahead.

All right. We've heard the we've had the open and closing of the public hearing now. And um Mr. Cruz states that he wants to have it demolished and he's going to be working with with uh Travis. What uh you guys have any other questions or comments you want to make at this time or questions of staff? All right. Do we want to take any action on this tonight?

Do we need to take any action? The approval of the resolution. Okay. Yeah. I make a motion for approval of resolution number 2026-03 authorizing the condemnation of a residential structure located at 3404 North Quil Drive pursuant to the provisions of KSA 12-1750. Second. We had a motion and a second to authorize the condemnation of residential structure located 344 North Quail Drive. All in favor say I. I. All

in favor? Same sign. Motion carries. All right, we'll move on to item number three. Public hearing and resolution authorizing the condemnation of residential structure located at 3402 North Quil Drive, which was directly south of this first property we spoke of. Staff,

good evening again. Uh Travis, building inspector. Uh so this is a continuation of the 3404 uh Coil Drive fire. Uh so the next slide I'll get into the fire report for 3402. So we went over the the h the fire happened November 15th about 2:45 a.m. Uh this property was also occupied. Uh there were no inquiries reported from the occupants. The fire originated at the neighboring property to the north at 340 Quail. It had uh fire damage and water damage mostly on the north side and then smoke damage throughout the structure. And then this will be pictures from shortly after the fire was put out. And it shows some of the exterior shots and interior. And this property as well had insurance on it and it exceeded the 75% policy coverage. So we retained 15% of that as well. I believe our 15% was approximately $47,000 and some change for this property.

Correct. This property was also built in 1980. It was a conventional style house uh 24 uh 2452 square feet and the total appraised value prior to the fire was $246,000. Uh we also did an ownership and encumbrance report for this property and the current property owner is Jonathan and Faith Schae and they have no leans on the property as well. The structural report the fire damage was mainly isolated to the northern portion of the home. There was framing damage that was observed on the north end wall. and a portion of the upper roof over the garage has collapsed. The structural engineer did say that the structure could be repaired and should be further evaluated during reconstruction of this property. Building permits were issued to Klein Construction in February. Uh the scope of work is repairing any and all fire damage throughout the house and then adding a new 16x 27 room addition on the south side of the house. If tonight's resolution is approved, the contractor would have enough time to start making the repairs to the home. And then staff would also support releasing the insurance proceeds once the framing and the roughen inspections are complete on this project. That is if the resolution is approved tonight. And if you have any other questions, I'm open to

Thanks. Thank you, Travis. Does anybody have any questions for Travis on this property at 3402 Quad Drive? Okay, I'll open the public hearing on this. Mr. Shelf, do you have Yes, please.

Uh I'm Jonathan uh Schae, the owner. Uh we've started they just started getting the house uh week and a half ago. So we have started I do plan on rebuilding at this time. Uh I don't know what else to say. Uh is there any questions? So thank you Travis. Do you have anything to add after this? I think I'm good.

Okay. Do we have any anyone else that here to speak about the property at 3402 North Quad Drive? Seeing none, I'll close the public hearing. Council, I need a motion to you accept or do the residential condomination of the property. Travis, could we ask some questions? I think now that we've got the property owner's input on that, what does that change from a condemnation standpoint within our ordinance, if he's genuinely got interest in restoring, reconstructing the property as far as if we were to approve this motion or not this evening? Is there substantial progress to be made with open dialogue? And then should progress not be made, revisit this or or how does that process work?

Travis, maybe you and I can tag team this. So my my initial thought with any condemnation action is what it does is it starts your timelines

and it makes sure that that's running concurrent. And you've had other examples in the past where where and I'm not saying that's what would happen here, but you have examples in the past where we've had a condemnation process. you've had a discussion and then the property owner for whatever reason isn't able to follow through and then you end up starting the process much much later than you would have had it been running concurrently. In this case, the property owner has already taken affirmative actions. I believe as soon as you pass the ordinance and start the procedure, they're essentially compliant with all of the deadlines and things in place, but it is running concurrently in case something were to come up and those repairs are not made and gives you the ability to act on it in a timely fashion. So, my thought is it doesn't hurt them. Um, I think it protects uh the city, protects the city's interest uh just to have that concurrently, but I don't think it changes anything that they're currently in the process of doing. Travis, if I'm wrong on any of that, you can speak to it, but that would be the reason why you still consider the resolution as opposed to not um because you do have those past examples where that has occurred. Yes, I believe in the resolution. It does speak to uh just making progress throughout the the reconstruction. Um I believe with this project um within probably two months if they get to working on it, they should have the envelope of the structure put back together as well as probably getting to that rough in stage at that point.

So I think that would be a good timeline. But if uh if for whatever reason the progress just stops, then we would revisit it with council and just before we actually made any any concessions to to tear it down or even going forth with that project. And Travis, real quick, this is a logistical question. So if they did not move forward with a condemnation resolution, does that change the status on the insurance proceeds in any way? Do those get released now? Yeah, if you don't approve tonight's resolution, then we would release those funds because the condemnation would be over at that point.

So, that would be the secondary risk then is if you don't do the resolution, you release that now and then if it weren't uh carried through and repaired now, you no longer have the proceeds to do the demolition yourself. So, that that's the risk to it. Mr. Shaw, I know you addressed the council. Do you have any questions after hearing that conversation? I was curious. No, it kind of clears it up. Yes. Okay. I think I understand. Perfect. And I I wanted to make sure you heard that so that whatever action the council took, you didn't feel like we didn't hear you standing right there.

As I understand it, I understand it. That just what it means is you guys still hold on to the funds, but it doesn't actually you guys tear it down or anything can still work in coordination with your efforts. Yeah. And then once you've met the the benchmarks for when Travis says that uh that repair is at a suitable place, then we can re release the funds back to you rather than hold on to them in case you're not following through. Perfect. Any other questions or comments? All right, Darl. Entain a motion.

Make a motion to approve resolution number 2026-04 authorizing the condemnation of a residential structure located at 3402 North Quil Drive pursuant to the provisions of KSA 12-1750. Second motion and a second to approve the resolution authorizing the conation of residential structure located at 3402 North Qu Drive. All in favor say I. I. Oppose. same sign. Motion carries. Thank you. Thanks, Travis.

Thank you. Uh number four on your uh deal um has been taken care of. So, we'll pass by number four. Moving on to number five. Resolution number 2026-05 for reinvestment housing center district for Red Bed Ridge. Okay. staff.

Good evening. Um, so this item is about the reinvestment housing incentive district. Um, the RHID program allows municipalities um to encourage housing development by reimbursing certain eligible project costs through the incremental increase in property tax revenues generated within a designated district. Back in July of 2025, the city completed a housing study and needs assessment which identified a shortage of available housing and recommended the use of development incentives such as RHID um as a tool to encourage residential construction. Back in the fall of 2025, we worked um with the developers of Redbud Ridge on through the platting process and also the reszoning and PDO process as well, which was approved by the city council um in the fall of 2025. Um also in December of that year, the council approved resolution, what we call resolution number one. It was resolution 2025-27. And this was just stating the findings of fact from the housing needs assessment that the city is in need of housing and it did set a legal description of the Red Bud Ridge development um as that incentive district. In January of 26, the state department of commerce reviewed the city's um findings and agreed um and the use of RHID to establish that district. um in February well now in February, oh excuse me, in March of this year, we are now moving forward with resolution number two in that process which sets the public hearing. Um, so the state statute requires that before that RHID district may be formally established that the governing body must adopt that

resolution setting the public hearing and making the proposed RHID development plan which is included in your packet and with the resolution available for public inspection. Um, so this proposed resolution before you just schedules the hearing and allows staff to make that development plan available to the public if they want to review it. Approval of this resolution does not establish the RHID district at this at this time. Instead, it begins that formal statutory process required to consider creation of the district. Um, so after the public hearing, which will be scheduled for April 20th of this year, um, that's when the council will be able to adopt a formal ordinance establishing that RHID district. Um, so I can answer any questions you have on this process. Um, and also we have the developers here as well. Um, if you have any questions,

anybody have any questions for our assistant city manager or for the contractors? I don't.

Okay. We've heard the request to uh schedule a public hearing for April 20th, 2026, our meeting. Uh what would it be your pleasure? I'll make the motion for resol to approve resolution number 2026-05 scheduling a public hearing to consider the establishment of the Red Bud Ridge Reinvestment Housing Incentive District and directing that the proposed RHID development plan be made available for public inspection for the required review period prior to the hearing.

Second. Got a motion, a second to approve the public hearing April the 20th, 2026 at the city council meeting. Uh all any other comments time would be during our our regular meeting. Yes, during our meeting. All in favor say I. I. Oppose. Same sign. Motion carries. Okay. Move on to number six under business award bid for 2026 pavement and preservation program staff.

Yes. So, mayor and council, as you recall, in our uh street sales tax fund, every year we have a dedicated budget that we've been allocating towards pavement preservation, and uh our street crews have have actively worked to uh prepare uh the recommendations, just continuing our our past practices on identifying streets that are in in the the right sort of condition for us to take advantage of preservation activities. uh for presentation of the uh the staff report. I'm going to turn it over to our public works superintendent, Anthony Craft. And I I will note that we did have uh one thing that we added to this item. There is a secondary item that I believe we want you to vote on separately. Uh we did get favorable enough bids that there was room left in the contract and we had the ability to add some additional work. And so uh the re the main recommendation is on base bid. The secondary is on the alternate. So Anthony, can you uh speak to the bid process what you saw from the the vendors and the projects. So tonight I'm presenting the recommendations for the 2026 pavement preservation. Uh over the past several years, the city's tested several different uh methods and found that a combination of chip seal and microsurfacing provides consistent and durable results. Um for medium volume roads, uh the roads selected for the 2026 program are part of our uh snow route system and function as collector streets within the city. Uh for this reason staff is recommending we continue using the chip seal followed by mic microsurfacing treatment. Uh this less this method is less expensive and less disruptive

than the traditional mill and overlay while still adding approximately 6 to 8 years of life to the roadway. Uh the city received three bids from two contractors. Uh, Pavement Management submitted two bids because their subcontractor expressed uh, difficulty obtaining the cover stone specified for the chip seal. Um, after consulting with the city engineer and the other contractor, staff confirmed that the specified material was available and decided to keep the original specifications. Uh, the low bid was submitted by Vance Brothers in the amount of $277,5454, which came in below the staff's estimate. Uh, because the bid was so favorable, I contacted Advance Brothers to ask if they'd be interested in adding an additional 8 to 10,000 square yards uh at the same contract unit price. Uh, they agreed. So staff is recommending an ad alternate project for Augusta A and Greyhound Drive from Ohio Street to Belmont Avenue. Uh this work would would cost approximately 51,38 and uh would allow us to complete more preservation work while still staying within the budget approved by the city council. Um, staff recommends awarding a 2026 pavement preservation program to Vance Brothers and approving the ad alternate. And I will take any questions.

Anthony, is the Vance Brothers is that the one that was new to us last year that you were given a testing them out? We've used Vance Brothers for the two years before that. Uh, pavement management. Um, they were the ones that were new to us. Okay. Uh, I think they did a pretty good job overall. Um, I think their subcontractor is what really kept them from being competitive in this one. Got it. Thanks.

Was the Was that um East West Street in there in the middle? Was that Kelly Avenue that was going through there? Which What is that one? Nope. So you have Fanny Fanny. Okay. You have Fanny Augusta A.

So um as part of as part of this contract here with these roads being near schools um we've really pushed the timeline up and we're going to expect them to have this completed by September 1st instead of we usually give them until November. Um, but we would really like to see this project done through the summer. Uh, the good part about it is we've talked to Vance, they picked up the project in Rose Hill, too. Rose Hill has the same criteria, so they're going to tag team us and Rose Hill at the same time. And I think that's what helped bring our price down. So on the map we're showing Belmont Dearbornne um Fanny Washington Lane and then Augusta A City Lake Road west of Ohio Street and then if you support the ad alternate Augusta A becoming Greyhound Drive between Ohio and Belmont that's what the ad alternate adds

and it's just not covered on there right the Greyhound drive yeah it's Uh, it was it was an ad alternate. Okay, there should have been another page in the uh That's okay. That had it in there. See, second page. There you go. That works. So, this shows the ad alternate.

Okay. Anybody else have any questions for Anthony or staff? Okay. So, we have uh we'll need to make that in two motions. As you can see on the on the agenda there B and C. So um on the first one for approval of bid from Vance Brothers in the amount of $277,5454. I'll take a motion on it. I move to approve the bid for the Vance Brothers in the amount of $277,000 $54 for construction of the two 2026 pavement preservation program. Second 54 cents

and 54 cents. I did not say that. We got a motion in the second to approve the bid from Vance Brothers. Uh all any other discussion? All in favor say I. I. Post same sign. Okay. Motion carries. C. Alternate work. I'll try my best. I move for make the authorization of the add alternate work to perform a single chip seal and microsurface treatment on Augusta Avenue and Greyhound Drive from Ohio Street to Belmont Avenue utilizing the unit pricing already included in the contract for a total contract increase of $51,38.40.

Second. Okay, we've had a motion to second um for the alternate work be performed for the single chip seal microsurface treatment. Uh all in favor say I. I oppose. Same sign. Motion carries. Thank you very much. Thanks, Anthony. All right, we'll move on to item number seven, insurance removal or renewal, excuse me, staff,

mayor and council. Um, thank you. Tonight on the agenda is the renewal of our 2026 insurance uh policies. It includes all of our general liability, our property, our automobile, cyber security, law enforcement, just all of our policies. They all expire March 31st and so they would be renewed for April 1st. The only ones that are after that is the uh airport liability renews on 4:15 and the flood is closer to the June time frame. So this proposal includes everything except for the flood which we typically renew with. Um it's been all state I think lately is who we've been using. Um we have worked with ICI the last several years and prior to that Madric go and Welch back into the 1980s. Um they acquired them has it been about five six years ago something like that. Okay. Um and uh they've always worked really well with the city to obtain the the lowest bids for insurance. EMC is typically well it is who we've been insured with since the 80s. Um they're pretty typical insurance companies or coverage for cities. We have looked at other brokers that have proposed their services. Um the problem we run into is with our in with our power plants. A lot of those brokers don't have access to um coverage for those types of power plants and the things that we're required to have. And so we get a long way through the process and realize that they can't cover that. We'd still have to get a different broker for that. And it just makes more sense um both from a technical standpoint and an economical standpoint to work with the brokers that we've been working with. um they shop our policies every year to look to make sure I know that um Ryan's been really good about looking at travelers and other companies that cities use for coverage. Um but they've always found that these two companies typically have been the best coverage. I think we did have someone else who did our boiler um and commercial output policy several years ago. Um but as those of you that have been on the council for the last several years, those policies are extremely expensive and they keep going up and they have worked really closely

with us to keep those um down. If you'll recall last year, we did drop the coverage at our power plant one down here downtown. Um, and that was a huge savings because we were looking at I'm thinking it was like a 30% increase or something. Um, because they raised what those properties were valued at. Um, so last year we actually saw a 9.6% increase. That was after dropping those policies on that one property. Otherwise, it would have been significantly more. This year's proposal is for a 3.9% increase. Um the total policy amount is 500, excuse me, $637,386. Um we do have enough budgeted to cover all those. Last year we were a little bit short, close to $1,500 short, but this year there is enough in the budget to cover those. Um I did provide a comparison from the prior years. Um, and I did ask Brian to kind of touch on a couple of things, but really most of the increases we are seeing is because of changes in our payroll, changes in our vehicle fleet, changes in our property, um, changes that we did that affected those rates. Um, but there were a few that were a little bit higher. Our law enforcement and our, um, inland marine was a little bit higher, but we've added and changed out some equipment. Uh, cyber coverage is higher. um it was really lower last year, so we saw an increase. The law enforcement, I think we just haven't really seen increases in the last several years um or last few years, I guess. Um so I really feel like 3.9% is not bad when you look at uh the the whole what you're seeing from this industry standard really. Um but I'll let Ryan speak to that. Um, I will tell you that uh let's see the big increases for the boiler and uh commercial output policy if you recall

last year it was going to be like a 28% increase on both of those that they had proposed and Ryan went to bat for us um and uh pushed back and they both they agreed to do those by half. So it was 14% increase on both of those last year and then 14 and 5% this year. So, um, with that, I will ask Ryan to come up. And this is Ryan Murray with ICI. He's been here the last few years with us. Um, and let him just talk about those. And then also, he does have the 2026 dividend refund for us this year, which is an improvement from the last couple years. So, I'll let you Sorry to steal your thunder.

Thanks, Erica. Good evening, council. Thanks for allowing me to be here. I'm happy to be here on a somewhat uneventful insurance renewal because we've had a little bit of a rough ride for the last 5 years, but we are seeing the insurance market in general start to soften a little as you'll see. I mean, a a property premium going down has been unheard of for the last 5 years. So, um, you know, as Erica said that most of the insurance premium comes from the property and that is the the power plant and then all the other buildings that the the the city owns. What they did is they a just a 4% increase to the values this year on both the power plant and all the other buildings. So over the last few years we've been seeing much higher increase to buildings and then on top of that an additional you know they might do 5 to 7% building increase but then another 10% rate increase. So the premium increase was uh substantially more. So um this is probably a little better than what I was expecting in my head. I I thought we'd be around 7 8% uh on the city of Augusta. I I will tell you based on based on the other renewals we're seeing and and and ICI ensures uh I can't remember the number of cities. I know we have about a 100 governmental entities in in Kansas that we ensure and so we work very closely with EMC as well as the other carriers that offer coverage to to public entities. And as Erica alluded to, there's probably three uh that that would be suitors for a risk like the city of Augusta, just given your complex insurance needs. So, we do work with all of them. As Erica mentioned, EMC has been very good to work with for both us and I believe to the city of Augusta. And so, uh, we actually did not quote it

this year, Erica, only because Travelers, who's the other, I would say, main player in this space, they're requiring up to a 5% wind hail deductible, 5% of building values. Um, EMC kept yours at a 50 $50,000 flat per occurrence, which is is still really low compared to what what we're seeing everybody else do. So, and we did visit about that last year. I forgot about that. That um if we were to make that change, it would be a significant increase. Deductible and then our coverage would be significantly less. Yes. Yeah.

And mayor and council, if you don't mind me sharing, um I don't know if she shared the number, but this is just reminding you of that action that we took when we removed that original power plant just just on the property coverage. were still covered on liability, just not the building because the values were going up. Um, that was estimated and was listed in the staff report about $100,000 savings. That's per year. Wow.

So, by by taking that action, we've probably saved $200,000 the first two years that we've done it. Maybe more depending on if that valuation continues to go up. So, that was a choice that we made. you have one less building that's covered on the property side. But I just wanted to highlight that number because we did make that choice for a reason and that's what it saved you. Awesome. Awesome. I might add one more thing. Since the dividend is up there for 2025 that was received in 2025, we actually just received the city's dividend from EMC on Friday for the 2025 policy period. And it is $45,

Wow. $542. So, it's about a 9% return on on your premiums paid with EMC. And that is another thing that no other carriers in this space do. So, and we've before the last couple years, we were seeing over 50 grand each year, which was a significant refund towards and that that's a direct result of what our employees are doing and then just employees across the board with um keeping our claims low and the performance low. So, nice. Great. All right. Does anybody have any questions for Ryan? Thank you for your report, Ryan. I like those zeros up there. I like seeing this 0% increase. I saw three 0%.

We've not been able to do that for quite a while. So, we like them too. Airport and crime. Good job, Chief. And then that there. So, I'll take credit for that actually because that's for the financial crime. Oh, okay. Darn. Just to be clear. Okay. Sorry about that. Sorry. That's what he meant when he said chief. His went up. I'm just saying. I I was calling you chief is what I He was saying you were chief. Thank you. Anyone else have anything comments or questions? All right, we have a consideration here for acceptance of the bid proposal from ICI insurance for this year.

Yep. I'll make a motion to accept the bid proposal from ICI insurance for the renewal of the city's 2026 insurance policy in the amount of 637386. $637,386, not including the flood insurance policies. Second. Got a motion in a second to approve the bid policy in the amount of $637,386, not including flood insurance policies. Anyone else have any comments or questions before we move? All right. All in favor say I. I. All oppose, same sign. Motion carries. Thank you very much, sir. Appreciate Thank you all. We appreciate the partnership very much. Absolutely. Thank you, Ryan.

All right. And we'll move on to business number eight. Renewal of common consumption area permit for Augusta Municipal Airport and resolution authorizing a temporary special event and the associated sale and consumption of alcohol beverages. Staff,

good evening again. At the April 21st, 2025 council meeting, the governing body approved ordinance number 2243, which established the Augusta Municipal Airport Common Consumption Area, as we call the CCA. The CCA is set to expire on May 1st of 2026. At that same meeting in April of last year, the governing body approved a corresponding resolution number 2025-06, which authorized a temporary special event in the associated sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages at the Augusta Municipal Airport. Um, back in October of 2025, the city council approved a special event application form um from um Ryan Trobridge for the Rod Trobridge memorial flyin and those dates are scheduled for May 8th of May 8th and May 9th of this year. Um the CCAs that were established last year are only valid for one year. Um so due to the timing of the ordinance and resolution being adopted and the timing of the actual event um that necessitates renewal of the CCA and the approval of the res resolution in accordance with state statute. Um the renewal of the CCA again will be for a term of one year and there are no changes being made to the designated area um or any changes to the event that the city council approved back in October. Um, so I will stand for any questions. I think Erica has all the answers, but

all right. Does anyone have any questions for assistant city manager or financial director? All right. Hearing none, uh, we want to consider renewal of common consumption at the airport. Motion Anybody? I move that we consider renewal of the common consumption area permit for the Augusta municipal airport with Kansas Department of Revenue for one year. Second. Got a motion and a second to renew the common consumption area permit for the Kansas I'm sorry for the Gusto Mort with Kansas Department revenue for one year.

Okay. Real quick. Yes. Um your motion was to consider renewal. So is it is your motion to renew? Yeah. Okay. Okay. All in favor say I. I. I. All oppose. Same sign. Or could you get his? Okay. Make sure. And then we have the last one. Consider approval of resolution number 2026 authorizing temporary special event and associated sale and consumption of alcohol at the airport. I move to approve resolution number 202606 authorizing a temporary special event in the associated sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages at the Augusta Municipal Airport.

Second. Got a motion and a second to approve the resolution 2026 at the Augusta airport. Any other comments, questions? All in favor say I. I. Oppos. Same sign. Motion carries. Okay, we'll move down to manners from city council. Josh.

Yes, Mr. President. Council, I only have one item for you tonight and uh I told you to go ahead and look at some of the upcoming off Mondays in March as placeholders for potential work sessions. We are targeting March 30th as long as that works uh in your schedules for our strategic retreat which is how we start the uh the budget process every year. The strategic retreats an opportunity for us to talk about uh some of the bigger highle projects that we're working on. Uh also set the stage for how the year is stacking up. We'll have legislative updates. We'll have uh some financial outlook and uh to just kind of get your get your brain in the mindset of getting prepared for the annual budget process. We do have three projects that uh I I will be planning on some level of presentation for. Uh one of them is the u the low voltage electric project. Uh that's the the roughly 6 to7 million project that we had estimated to uh replace that low voltage system. We will have updates from our staff based on the pricing information they're getting from uh potential vendors. Uh in addition to that, we have a recommended ad that is a uh I want to call it a a rehabilitation project to one of our generators at the plant that uh makes it um operate much more efficiently than it is now. There's some issues with the controls that cause problems for us when it's dispatched and that costs us in many different ways. And there is there are some companies out there that have figured out how to deal with that. And if we're going to be looking at a bond issue for the bigger project, we thought it made sense to consider talking about that one as well and maybe rolling them together. The second project is giving you an update

as we uh prepare to move forward with the Santa Fe Lake OG wear and the dam. Uh in an email that I shared with you all today, I did give you the uh the final report from our engineer uh that they are going to be submitting to the uh Kansas Division of Water Resources. That report we've been working on for years. um does the hydraulic analysis and then provides recommendations on the repairs that need to be made and ultimately if we can get to resolution on that a project that's been hanging over us for better part of seven or eight years now we can finally uh start moving towards resolution. Uh so we want to give you an update on that and you already have the report so you've got a couple of extra weeks to read it. And then uh the final project you all added tonight uh we'll do some background research on Garvin Park and try to give you some info on uh potential options regarding that Ignite August building. So that's the three items that were added. Everything else will be part of our our normal presentation for strategic retreat and then it'll be open for whatever directions you want to take it. Okay, you heard that? Uh, need a motion for the strategic retreat in a different time than normal. We have it. It started at 5:30.

Will there be food there? Yeah. Make a motion to host a strategic retreat on m March 30th at 5:30 p.m. at the city hall. Second. A motion second to hold our strategic retreat here at the city hall at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, March 30th, 2026. All in favor say I. I. Post. Same sign. Motion carries. Josh, could I ask you, could you also go over just as a reminder to everybody the power outage?

Yes. Uh we are close enough in time that it's looking like the weather is going to allow us to move forward with our originally scheduled date on the outage. Uh which is currently scheduled for Wednesday night going into Thursday morning. So it's uh that Wednesday night on the 18th at midnight going into the 19th 2 a.m. Um as uh as we shared at the prior meeting, the outage is not something that we can avoid because of the parts that we have to replace. they just happen to be important parts that are on our main tie to the grid. So, in order to replace them, uh we have to shut down the entire grid. Um it's not expected to be a lengthy project. It just it's a disruptive project. And so the time that was selective was tried to uh be as um as friendly to the community as possible, but there's no time we can pick that doesn't create some level of problem. Uh but the traffic is going to be low on the streets at that time. Schools aren't in session. Pretty much all of the stores and businesses are shut down at that time. Um but there there's always something that that can come up. And so we know that folks have uh um uh oxygen. We know there's different things that happen at night with CPAT machines. So we've been fielding questions in that regard. Uh so we've just been trying to get the information out there as early as possible so people can plan. Uh again, it's not expected to be a short outage, but it's an unavoidable outage uh for us. We have to shut it down. Um so that's the time frame coming up. Uh we did put out additional notice today confirming those times. Uh Shauna did start reaching out again and contacting all the original entities that we contacted. I believe that included the assisted living facilities. Um, I know public safety has met on it and is planning on having as

many resources available as they can on the street. Um, because people have different concerns about security and otherwise. So, as many resources as they can bring to the table, they will. Um, I believe that emergency management is aware. I believe the ambulance service is aware, been notified. And uh so anyway, that that's the best thing we can do right now is just get the word out and people can adjust if there's any entities that have overnight shifts, they can plan for that as well. We sent specific notices to DJ because we know that they have a third shift. I'm not aware of of other major companies that might have that, but we've been trying to get the word out.

Awesome. Awesome. Thank you. Thank you. All right, we'll move to call for to in from city council members. Mr. Jake Mo. Nothing, sir. Nothing.

I've got a couple things just that I think are noteworthy. Number one, the reason why Councilman Davis isn't here, he's being honored up in Topeka at a dinner for the outstanding work he's done on this building. I just like everybody know about that because he's worked hard and he deserves that. Also, we had a great turnout at the pub crawl and again, Councilman Davis who spearheaded that and did a fantastic job with that. And I want to thank everyone who came out and made that a special day. We had all kinds of people on the streets. The weather was perfect and it went very, very well. And so, I just want to thank our community for supporting that.

Thank you. Well, um, just to tack on to what Shaina said, uh, I unfortunately wasn't able to make it to the pub crawl, but I do know that it did bring people in from outside. Uh, I know a couple families of that I know personally came and uh, so I thank all the businesses for making that happen. Awesome. Thank you. Thank you. It's nothing tonight. Thanks.

I have three things. Those u street signs that the city acquired to for city hall, they really look big in here. When they put them up on the polls out there, they look, you know, they didn't look as big, but they look really nice. And I wanted to compliment whoever put those signs up. It looks really good. The uh east and west overpass that's over the railroad tracks is needing some love. it it you know that and I had a question about between fourth street and fifth street um on school. I've had four people inquire if that's a permanent fix or if it's going a temporary fix or if it's a it's a rough rough rough bounce on your car when it goes through there. But I just thought I'd make a question of it and It's definitely settled a little bit.

Good evening, Michael, city of Augusta Street foreman. Um, so to touch on your overpass, we do plan on coordinating that with the blackout um overnight Wednesday night into Thursday morning to hit it with some of the mastic. Uh, we had some pretty good luck with that last year. um because a lot of those potholes are so thin, we can't keep asphalt in. So hopefully you'll see an improvement here in the next couple days. As far as on School Street, um that was intended to be a permanent repair. Um and then after a few days of letting traffic back on it, um it appears the base has um sunken due to poor compaction or whatever the case may be on that. Um, so we do have that on our list to get right back out to it and try to get that repaired as soon as we can.

Thank you. Any other questions? Have anything for Michael? Nothing else. Thank you, sir. Josh, I'm sorry. And sorry, I did have one thing coming up today I'll share with you. Um, it was an update on our disc golf tournament which we just hosted uh this past weekend for uh it's a twocourse tournament between Garvin and Knockwood. We've been hosting it for several years now. And this ended up being the largest one that we've ever hosted, 169 players.

And after four years of hosting that, now the uh the tournament directors have approached us and indicated that we qualify to upgrade to a multi-day A tier tournament. And in doing that, their experience in other communities has been that it uh it does generate a lot of additional traffic. um generates overnight stays, which was the goal when we started all of this was to try to ultimately build up and uh create an event that drew people to town. And so we'll we'll be talking with them to see if that makes sense for us uh going forward. We do know that there's the pending project at Santa Fe Lake that could impact that, but I just wanted to let you know that they gave us feedback that this was their biggest, most successful event that they've run um here in Augusta. And with those sort of numbers, they do believe they can scale it up to a multi-day tournament. Um, there's a similar, uh, right now, I believe we're a Btier tournament, there's an A tier tournament, uh, which would be the next step up. Similar A tier tournament sometimes stretch two to three days, have several hundred uh, players. Um, overnight stays, their experience in Nevada, uh, Missouri. I believe they indicated off their metrics they generate about 30 or $40,000 in local economic activity from those tournaments. So again, that that's a an example of something small that we started with that we've been trying to build up for years and they did give me the feedback that they they think it's that time if if the community is ready to work with them to do that. So

I thought that was great. I thought that was awesome. I make a motion to adjurnn. Second. Motion second to journ. All in favor say I. I. Have a great night. Thank you. Chief go. Chief gone.