GOODLAND CITY COMMISSION

Regular Meeting

September 18, 2023                                                                                                              5:00 P.M.

Mayor Aaron Thompson called the meeting to order with Vice-Mayor J. J. Howard, Commissioner Ann Myers and Commissioner Brook Redlin responding to roll call.  Commissioner Jason Showalter was reported absent.

Also present were Dustin Bedore – Director of Electric Utilities, Jason Erhart – Interim Chief of Police, Joshua Jordan – IT Director, Kenton Keith – Director of Streets and Facilities, Neal Thornburg – Director of Water and Wastewater, Danny Krayca – Director of Parks, Zach Hildebrand – Code Enforcement/Building Official, Jake Kling – City Attorney, Mary Volk – City Clerk and Kent Brown – City Manager.

Mayor Thompson led Pledge of Allegiance

PUBLIC COMMENT

1. Craig Loveless: GRMC Update – Craig provided the Commission with a financial update for GRMC.  Craig stated, we received a report from the State for the hospitals across state that are struggling.  Goodland is not one of them.  We are performing right in line with budget.  I would like to thank you for the joint meeting and keeping the meeting on track. 

CONSENT AGENDA

1. 09/05/23 Commission Meeting Minutes
2. Appropriation Ordinances: 2023-18, 2023-18A, and 2023-P18

ON A MOTION by Commissioner Redlin to approve Consent Agenda seconded by Commissioner Myers.  MOTION carried on a VOTE of 4-0. 

PRESENTATIONS & PROCLAMATIONS

1. SCCD Update: Julica Oharah and Board Members – Julica stated, I have board members Gennifer House and Bill Biermann present tonight.  The Flatlander Festival is scheduled for September 29^th and 30^th.  We met with Jason on layout for vendors and are ready to go.  Vendor numbers are up from last year to fifty-five.  I met with department heads to see if there was anything they needed.  Bill stated, the commission has information on the strategic plan we have been working on.  Other board members are Ben Schears, Rachelle Standley, Jacque Livengood, Steven West and Amy Sederstrom.  SCCD was formed January 12, 2021 and it has been adventurous getting the program up and running, but we have to be patient.  We hired an outstanding director April 2021 and our job description continues to evolve.  In July 2021 we developed our first strategic plan with three to five year goals.  In March and April of this year we evaluated where we are and direction to move forward.  Kent did a good job as our facilitator.  We concentrated on four strategy initiatives.  The first is organization infrastructure; evaluating staff structure and determining whether our budget will allow us to hire an economic development director.  During busy months we man the Welcome Center with assistance of a part time employee through Nex-Gen.  Then we want to build the board structure.  Our board members have three year staggered terms.  Steven and Rachelle are the members going off the board this year and we are currently accepting applications from the public.  Our second strategy is economic development, incentives and programs for current and new businesses.  We worked quite a bit on housing issues with the city and building a land bank.  We completed the housing assessment as the first step.  We had a good grant application filed for the MIH Grant two different times, with no award.  We have applied again and I feel we have a good application.  We worked with city on the Base grant they received.  Our third priority is business enrichment network.  We rebranded the chamber and continue hosting workshops for business owners.  Our upcoming workshop is cyber security.  Julica and Jessica are active at awarding local businesses for Star Awards.  The final strategy is Community Engagement and Tourism, which is Julica’s strength in organizing public events to improve quality of life for people in Goodland.  The board is committed to make Goodland better.  We feel we have come a long way in three years.  Economic Development is starting to happen and hopefully we will move ahead with housing issue.  Mayor Thompson stated, it is easy to forget the board was established three years ago from nothing.  There were a lot of mixed feelings and I am proud of what you and the board have accomplished.  Thank you for all you do, it takes a lot of hard work.  Nothing is perfect but a lot has been accomplished.  Bill stated, the board is funded through the city and county and with the strengthened relationship between those two entities, it has strengthened our ability to accomplish what we have.    

FORMAL ACTIONS

1. CMB License: Fabulous Burgers & Cones – Kent stated, Natividad Vasquez, JR applied for a CMB for Fabulous Burgers & Cones for consumption on the premises.  He is present for license.  All inspections have been successfully complete.  Natividad stated, we are coming on our one year anniversary and I still have new people visiting the restaurant.  We are trying to expand to continue to get more people in the door.  ON A MOTION by Mayor Thompson to approve the CMB license for Fabulous Burgers and Cones seconded by Vice-Mayor Howard.  MOTION carried on a VOTE of 4-0. 

DISCUSSION

1. Follow up Proposal Facilitated Discussion on Housing Needs and Options: Community Matters Institute – Kent stated, last meeting the commission questioned whether there were grants available for assistance on proposal.  There are no grant opportunities with Department of Commerce.  However, having completed the housing assessment and this being follow up to assessment, a grant is more likely to be funded through the Dane Hansen Foundation.  This is one of their key focus areas.  Mayor Thompson asked, what is our time frame to approve proposal before it being amended?  Kent stated, I would believe within 60-90 days.  Mayor Thompson stated, the proposal was around $13,000.  I feel it is an important part of what we are trying to accomplish with housing.  Commissioner Redlin stated, I feel we need more options.  I do not like spending money but we need direction for available options.  Mayor Thompson stated, in what we are trying to accomplish it is a good approach to move forward.  ON A MOTION by Mayor Thompson to approve the proposal addressing Goodland’s housing needs with the Community Matters Institute for a not to exceed amount of $13,000 seconded by Commissioner Myers.  MOTION carried on a VOTE of 4-0. 

REPORTS

1. City Manager – 1.  Manager memo is in the packet.  2. August month end financial report is in the packet.  3.  Police monthly activity report is in the packet.  4.  Last week I appointed Jason Erhart as Interim Police Chief.  There is no additional schedule at this point.  5.  I received notification from Journeys & Destinations regarding event on November 7^th.  I hope we will get more involvement.  They hold event in several locations across the state and Goodland is a repeat site.  6. Sending commission information from Sidewalks in Kansas and who is responsible for the sidewalk.  We have had quite a few discussions regarding responsibility of sidewalks when removed.  Years ago it was enforced to replace sidewalk if taken out for disrepair but have not enforced last few years.  A lot of discussion that points out the community needs to move forward with pedestrian routes or key walking paths on busy streets.  On 8^th Street project, part of the design is to include sidewalks on one side of the street from west side of town to Caldwell.  The removal of sidewalk in areas is causing an issue.  Kenton pointed out that our code states sidewalk must meet up with the neighbors.  Our current code for sidewalks does not establish that it needs to be replaced.  There are a couple areas that need to be clearer in the code.  Mayor Thompson stated, sidewalks make a neighborhood better.  7.  Dustin and I had a good meeting with KMEA on the solar proposal.  They pointed out some items showing the proposal was not as good as presented.  Dustin is following up with other communities that have invested in similar projects to determine pros and cons as well as following up with KMEA.  We appreciate the assistance from KMEA.  It was a good proposal but we still need to follow up on some items.  The PACE application was a little deceiving as it was one billion dollars funding nationwide.  KMEA indicated it is not a valid route for funding.  There are other routes we can pursue to fund project.  The PACE proposal is not an urgency for our project.  We will continue to follow up on proposal.  Dustin stated, I met with KMEA last Thursday and Friday.  It is questionable; I would like to have more in person conversation with developer.  Numbers look good but how do we get to those numbers.  There are a lot more items that need to be added to show true costs for the city like transformer, switches, etc.  KMEA felt it was a good proposal, just needs follow up.  Commissioner Redlin stated, thank you for reaching out to KMEA for assistance. 
2. City Commissioners

Vice-Mayor Howard – 1.  I would like to thank board members for all our boards.  They do a lot of volunteer work for the city.  2.  Hope everyone has a good time at Flatlanders.

Commissioner Showalter – 1.  Absent, No Report.

Commissioner Myers – 1.  Thank everyone involved to ensure Flatlanders is successful. 

Commissioner Redlin – 1.  Appreciate everyone attending celebration of life for Chief Hayes.  The police department has so much networking, it was good to see.    

• Mayor Thompson– 1.  No Report

ADJOURNMENT WAS HAD ON A MOTION BY Commissioner Redlin seconded by Vice-Mayor Howard.  Motion carried by unanimous VOTE, meeting adjourned at 5:38 p.m.  Next meeting is scheduled for October 2, 2023.

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ATTEST:                                                                               Aaron Thompson, Mayor

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Mary P. Volk, City Clerk