The Council Grove City Council met for its regular meeting Tuesday, June 2, at City Hall.
The meeting opened with approval of the agenda, followed by a presentation from Jason Hoskinson, engineer with BG Consultants, on the downtown streetscape project. Hoskinson said the project is at the KDOT field-check stage, about 50 to 60 percent complete. A meeting with KDOT was scheduled for the following week at City Hall, after which BG Consultants expected to move into more detailed design work.
Hoskinson said the city is targeting a November KDOT bid letting, although that date could move. Construction would likely take place during the 2027 construction season and is expected to last three to four months. Traffic would be maintained on the highway during the project, but Hoskinson said there would be block-by-block and sideby- side disruptions during sidewalk reconstruction.
The project is funded through a 100 percent KDOT grant of up to $1.88 million. Hoskinson said the current construction estimate is about $1.83 million, with a $50,000 line item for amenities and a $70,000 contingency. He said the project also is currently about $50,000 under budget, leaving the city in a good position as design work continues.
The streetscape improvements include sidewalk and streetscape amenities from Belfry Street to the bridge, bulb-outs at intersections to shorten pedestrian crossings, historic brick-style paver inlays behind the curb, and removal of the double curb on the southeast block near the Territory Ballroom to improve ADA access. Hoskinson said lighting improvements are not included in the project, but the construction timeline could provide an opportunity for the city to consider refurbishing existing light poles.
Possible amenities discussed included benches, receptacles, planters, limestone fence posts, hitching posts, wagon features and potential bike-rack elements. Hoskinson said he could provide larger maps and amenity information for display at City Hall or downtown, and another work session may be scheduled after the KDOT meeting. He said final decisions on amenities would ideally be made by late July or August.
The council approved the consent agenda, including minutes from the previous meeting, appropriations in the amount of $44,542.07 and Lake House transfer R11, also known as 140 E. Shore Dr, from James G. Steckart and Grace A Steckart, Joint Revocable Trust to Kevin Mallot Trust of Leawood, Kansas.
During public comments, three members of the Welch family asked the city to consider an honorary street designation in memory of their father. The request would not change postal addresses, emergency services or city services. The family proposed adding an honorary “Welch Jr.” designation to two short blocks of South Ninth Street extending from East Elm Street across Welch Street to the alley, creating a symbolic cross with the existing Welch Street. The family said it had gathered 16 signatures, including signatures from the four directly adjoining addresses, and offered to pay costs associated with the signs.
City Attorney Brian Henderson said honorary naming appeared possible as long as official street identification remains clear for emergency and postal purposes, but he recommended checking state requirements for street sign layout before the council takes formal action. The matter is expected to return to a future agenda.
City Inspector James Masters reported that he had returned full time and had completed 21 inspections in two days. He said 10 tall-grass violations had been issued, and a cut order had been issued for one property. Masters said his goal is to make the department more proactive, including organizing lake and city files for eventual digital access, tracking backflow testing, following up on septic and ATU system reports at the lake, addressing blighted and dangerous structures, environmental nuisances, property maintenance violations and dock electrical issues.
Masters said dangerous-structure cases require a formal process, including title searches, notice to interested parties, a resolution setting a public hearing, publication and a 30day waiting period. He said the city could handle several cases at a time but would need to proceed carefully.
City Inspector Darren Emery said he expected to focus on intake, plan review, larger commercial projects, code analysis, permit questions and written procedures for the inspection office. Emery said written procedures could help staff, assist with software setup and provide better public information through the city website. He said he is working with MyGov software and hoped to have the system ready by mid-July. Emery said he also expects to bring proposed ordinance changes related to licensing to the council, followed later by permitting and zoning updates.
City Administrator Nick Jones reported that contract questions related to the Katy Depot project had been resolved. He said the contractor is working with the window company, which must submit a design to the State Historic Preservation Office for approval before a start date can be set.
Jones also reported that the city hopes to schedule a pre-construction meeting this month for the Highway 56 resurfacing project from Belfry to the western city limit, with work anticipated to begin in late June or early July. The goal is to complete the project before school starts Aug. 20.
Under ordinances and resolutions, the council approved Ordinance No. 2281 regarding parking of trailers and recreational vehicles. The ordinance allows unattached trailer parking on streets for seven days, instead of 30 days, and allows attached parking for 48 hours. It applies to trailers, boats, RVs and other recreational vehicles, while separate city code provisions already address RVs on private property.
The council then entered executive session under KSA 75-4319 for personnel matters of non-elected personnel, specifically employee retention and staffing matters. The executive sessions were repeated two more times for the same reason. No action was taken after any of the sessions.
After the executive session, the council approved the appointment of Michael Stover as utilities foreman at a pay rate of $26.27 per hour, effective June 3. The council also approved the appointment of Konner Farr as a part-time seasonal employee in the Utilities Department at $15 per hour.
The council also continued discussion of food truck regulations. The revised proposal included fees of $50 per day, $150 for three months, $400 for a seasonal permit and $600 for an annual permit. Henderson said the draft language needed clarification because it could be read broadly enough to apply to brick-and-mortar restaurants or other businesses, rather than being limited to mobile vendors.
Discussion included whether food trucks operating on private commercial property should be required to obtain permits, whether the ordinance should apply to farmers market vendors, whether the language should include “food truck” and whether a $1 million liability insurance requirement is appropriate. Several comments focused on balancing opportunities for food truck operators with protection for established brick-and-mortar businesses.
Frankie Greco, of the Hays House, said a food truck serving a competing menu had operated less than 10 feet from his building and asked the council to consider protections for existing businesses. Henderson said a proximity rule or downtown district limitation during non-specialevent times could be considered. No action was taken on the food truck proposal, and city officials said the draft would be revised again for future consideration.
The council tabled discussion of committees. During governing body comments, council members said they were looking forward to the upcoming Washunga Days celebration, were pleased with the improved experience of UNBOUND Gravel coming through Council Grove, expressed optimism for new businesses in town and their success, and voiced appreciation for continued local business investment.
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