CITY OF FORT SCOTT

SPECIAL CITY COMMISSION MEETING

Minutes of May 14, 2020 Special Meeting #4

A special meeting of the Fort Scott City Commission was held May 14^th, 2020 at 10:00 a.m. in the City Commission Meeting Room, 123 S. Main Street, Fort Scott, Kansas.

ROLL CALL:

Commissioners Kevin Allen, Pete Allen, Randy Nichols, Lindsey Watts, and Mayor JoLynne Mitchell presiding.

AUDIENCE IN ATTENDANCE: None

CONSIDERATION:

1. Approval to apply for K.D.O.T. Cost Share Program – Susan Bancroft, Finance Director, informed the Commission, that she and Chad created a spreadsheet and a handout for the Commission to review for the two proposed projects. The totals including sidewalks/trails, bicycle paths, crosswalks/striping, utility additions if needed, signage, and curb and gutter: Horton Street – 6^th Street to Lakin – Total costs $569,322.20 – If including 6^th Street also with the Horton project $858,955.40; National Avenue – 13^th to 18^th – $89,032.20.

Kevin Allen said that he went on Horton and agrees that 6^th to 10^th on Horton needs replaced. He believes that from there on south is good.

Chad said that utilities will also be updated from 6^th to Lakin on Horton.

Lindsey said that part of the reason for this street is the sidewalk area towards the college and the downtown area.

Kevin said that there are 27 businesses on National that would like that street upgraded. He asked if this could be added to the Horton project.

Susan said that KDOT will not combine two different projects. KDOT was involved in our Highway 69 Corridor Plan and they would like to see us utilize that plan.

Discussion was held regarding the curve at 18^th and National and if they wanted to do that improvement.

Susan said that KDOT would like in the future to design a road behind the business to keep traffic flowing on Highway 69. This project would include land acquisition and was estimated at $2.2 million. She informed them where the proposed improvement would be on 18^th which would be called Judson Street. Part of that area the City owns but part of it would include land acquisition. There is access management and geo-metric grants that we could apply for with this project next year.

Pete Allen said that the City has done no planning. He said he made Staff aware of this program in January and now it is May, and nothing has been done. He compared this to a shot-gun wedding. He said that the chances of the City getting a grant was 20%. He said last year there were 22 grants issued by KDOT. He said that there is a summer grant program available. He said that this should be tabled. It needs to be well thought out and have the Street Advisory Committee meet. There is no common goal in his opinion. He said he does not know where Horton Street comes into play with our projects. He asked Commissioner Watts where she lived.

Lindsey Watts said that she has heard that there have been discussions on Horton Street for many weeks. She reminded him that he and Kevin were both in discussions on this.

Mayor Mitchell asked that we all calm down and be respectful to each other.

Lindsey Watts said that City staff has provided lots of information to them. Cost estimates for the three projects have been gone over numerous times.

Pete Allen made a motion to table this grant knowing full well that as of May 18^th we can apply for summer grants, that a thorough study is conducted, the Street Advisory Board Committee is involved, the community involved, and figure out a plan that is best for all members of the committee and not just a select few.

Randy Nichols asked if there was any reason to get the City’s name in the que for this current grant cycle.

Susan said yes.

Randy said that the implications of where we live have nothing to do with this grant submission and the implications of that is really ugly.

Pete said that he thinks it is coincidental maybe but all three of you live right off of Horton Street.

Mayor Mitchell said that Pete’s motion died for lack of a second.

Kevin asked if it will hurt our chances for another grant if we don’t go for this grant.

Susan said no. She said that she does not feel that project this was thrown together. Statistics were brought back to the Commission. The Horton project was very thought out and it was in our 2020 plan. That was not a fair statement. We are trying to get funding to help cover the costs. National could still be accomplished with our capital outlay dollars.

Kevin said that he hasn’t been as heavily involved in these discussions as Pete has. He said he would appreciate being treated as his own person and as his own individual. He believes we should go for the grant. He may differ on what we go for, but we should move ahead.

Susan said that we have always been told by KDOT they had to be shovel ready and she asked that specific question and they said no. That’s why this project was brought before them. The other two grants – access management and geo-metric will have to be engineered before submission.

Pete said that he was told yesterday that the grant will only cover asphalt. It will cover sidewalks also.

Susan said that it will cover sidewalks also and said that yesterday.

Pete asked if we would spend all of our capital improvement funds on this one project.

Susan said that she would suggest going out for temporary notes and bond this $600,000 for ten years.

Kevin says that he feels like we should go for the grant, but he feels like the National project should be looked at.

Lindsey said that her opinion differs due to the work that City staff has brought to them. This is a far larger project that we will have to put far less City dollars into.

Lindsey Watts made a motion to approve Horton from 6^th Street to Lakin Street and also from 6^th Street from Judson to Horton. She also added if City Staff deems to add the sidewalks down to the Community College or even the Golf Course to be included in this project to be submitted for the KDOT Cost Share Grant. Randy Nichols seconded. Randy Nichols, Lindsey Watts, and JoLynne Mitchell voted aye. Pete Allen voted no. Kevin Allen abstained. Motion carried.

approved Horton from 6^th Street to Lakin Street and also from 6^th Street from Judson to Horton. She also added if City Staff deems to add the sidewalks down to the Community College or even the Golf Course to be included in this project to be submitted for the KDOT Cost Share Grant

City Manager said that Staff has worked hard on this project. The City still won’t know what we have to spend due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This will be a year of planning, but we may not be able to complete due to funding.

2. Approval to use Olsson Associates for engineering if needed for K.D.O.T. Cost Share Program – Susan Bancroft, Finance Director, informed the Commission that Olsson Associates is familiar with our community. They would only be needed if technical questions were needed to be answered in submitting this application.

JoLynne Mitchell made the motion to approve Olsson Associates for engineering if needed for submission of the KDOT Cost Share Grant. Lindsey Watts seconded. K. Allen, R. Nichols, L. Watts, and J. Mitchell voted aye. P. Allen abstained. Motion carried.

approved Olsson Associates for engineering if needed for submission of the KDOT Cost Share Grant.

ADJOURNMENT:

R. Nichols moved to adjourn the special meeting at 10:38 a.m. L. Watts seconded. All voted aye. Motion carried.

ADJOURNED SPECIAL MEETING AT 10:38 A.M.

The next regularly scheduled meeting is to be held on May 19^th, 2020 at 6:00 p.m.

RECORDED BY:

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DIANE K. CLAY

CITY CLERK