ELLY GRIMM
• Leader & Times
The Liberal City Commission will officially be voting on a change to community members’ water bills at its next meeting this evening starting at 5:30. This evening’s meeting will be in the commission chambers at the Liberal Recreation Center at 950 S. Grant Ave.
Up first in these discussions will be Resolution No. 2430 concerning the adoption of a Wastewater Improvement Fee.
“As discussed at the commission’s Feb. 25 meeting, the City intends to move forward with the proposal of a $10 flat fee to assist in the revenue needs of the Wastewater Plant,” the agenda information noted. “This fee will be assessed across both residential and commercial accounts and begin April 1. It is estimated this fee will generate an annual revenue of $852,000 and assist the department with additional sewer infrastructure needs, with the main concern being a lack of funds to address any type of catastrophic failures within the dated sewer lines. Although the intent will be to keep the fee in place through loan repayment in 2037, it can be discontinued at any time based on the City's current financial situation and passed by city commission vote. City staff requests commission consideration to approve the $10 flat fee for the Wastewater Fund effective April 1.”
Up next among this action will be discussion of Resolution No. 2431 concerning the discontinuance of the previous Water System Improvement Fee.
“Due to the implementation of the $10 flat fee to assist with the revenue shortfall in the Wastewater Fund, city staff is recommending the discontinuance of the Water System Improvement Fee of $6.25 for residential customers and $12.50 for non-residential customers,” the agenda information noted. “We feel the cash balance in the Water Fund is sufficient to cover current and future expenses, as well as the outstanding debt service. It is our goal not to overextend our citizens and keep flat fees in utility funds to a minimum. City staff requests commission consideration to approve the discontinuance of the Water System Improvement Fee for both residential and non-residential customers effective April 1.”
The finale of the discussions will concern the addition of waiver for $10 Wastewater Improvement Fee to the housing programs.
“A modification to the Housing Program, which allows seniors to get a waiver for Water Improvement Fee, will now also waive the $10 Wastewater System Improvement Fee under the same qualifications,” the agenda information noted. “The Water Improvement Fee will continue to be waived through April 1, at which time, we will sunset this fee and move to the Wastewater System Improvement Fee. Any existing customers who are currently approved for a waived fee will be grandfathered. City staff requests commission consideration to grandfather currently waived customers and continue the process to waive the $10 Flat Wastewater Fee for future qualifying customers.”
The city’s Information Technology Department will also have a pair of requests up for consideration.
“The 2025 Budget season outlined the purchase of the remainder of the City’s fleet of computers in addition to specific security service licensing purchases for all firewalls and access points,” the agenda information noted. “The attached documents detail the requested items, which include the current vendor submitted bid pricing. The pricing includes all applicable State of Kansas discounts. The bids have been separated into two different purchases due to being funded from different line items in the 2025 budget. Staff recommends for consideration awarding the City of Liberal 2025 IT Hardware Refresh Project to CDWG in the amount of $154,147.55, which is 7.24 percent lower than SHI. This item will be funded from the 100-4180-47045 budget line. This quote is 10.64 percent below budget estimate. Staff recommends for consideration awarding the City of Liberal 2025 Sonicwall Licensing purchase to CDWG in the amount of $28,475.33 which is 1.61 percent higher than the vendor Connection. This is due to the minimal difference between the two bids and the City of Liberal’s long-standing relationship with CDWG. This item will be funded from the 100-4180- 46028 budget line. This quote is 23.04 percent below budget estimate.”
The commission will also be hearing about ARFF training for the Liberal Fire Department.
“The Liberal Fire Department is required to do annual ARFF refresher training per Part 139 to meet AC 150/5210-17,” the agenda information noted. “This Memorandum of Understanding is between the Liberal Fire Department and the University of Kansas to put the training on April 7. This is to meet part 139 requirements of the FAA for the year for training purposes for the fire department personnel stationed at the airport. The amount of the training is $11,350, which is a 3 percent increase from last year. They stated that there will be a 3 percent increase every year from now on. They also require that the host agency provide assistance in coordinating propane delivery for the burns, which usually run about 320 gallons if it is empty. City staff recommends the commission approve the Memorandum of Agreement with the University of Kansas and the Liberal Fire Department and approve the amount of the training to not exceed $12,000 to come out of the airport training budget.”
The commission will also hear a request for Levi Williams to be appointed to a four- year term as a restaurant representative to the Convention and Visitors Bureau Board and a request to approve the KPERS Supplemental Defined Contribution Plan Adoption Agreement for KPERS 401(a).
