ELLY GRIMM
• Leader & Times
The Liberal City Commission will be taking on a variety of topics 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.
After hearing some updates to zoning amendments, the commission will then be discussing Resolution No. 2443 concerning the authorization of a Kansas Department of Transportation grant.
“The Kansas Department of Transportation's Innovative Technology Program Grant provides financial assistance for innovative transportation-related projects that promote safety, improve access or mobility, and implement new transportation technology that does not currently exist in the local community of the project,” the agenda information noted. “Our proposed project, if awarded, would replace 30-year-old signal equipment at three key intersections where optimized traffic flow is needed: Pancake Blvd. and S. Pershing Ave.; 11th Street and N. Kansas Ave.; and Pine Street and S. Kansas Ave. This proposed project would integrate advanced technology to upgrade our signalized intersections with real-time safety sensing technology and data analytics to automatically detect and report a vehicle stopped on the shoulder, a vehicle stopped in a lane, slow traffic, stopped traffic, vehicles moving in the wrong direction, stop-sign violations, crosswalk violations, double yellow line crossing, commercial vehicles, speeding, near miss incidents, and red-light violations. Traffic flow would be enhanced through implementation of a traffic controller platform which uses real-time data feeds to adjust signal timing for optimal traffic movement during periods of heavy traffic. These intersections do not currently feature any protective signal technology for pedestrian crossing safety. All intersections would be upgraded to incorporate Ped Head crossing time countdown technology with audible pedestrian push buttons. The addition of uninterruptible power supply (UPS) equipment to two of these intersections will also enhance safety by allowing critical intersections to continue operating during periods of power failure.”
Up next for the commission will be discussion of Resolution No. 2444 concerning the waiver of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles and then discussion of expansion of the airport terminal parking lot.
“The Liberal Municipal Airport is looking to expand the terminal parking lot. Staff has been working with Lochner and the FAA to finalize an agreement and get started on the project,” the agenda information noted. “The agreement with Lochner will begin the process and hopefully bring about the Airport Terminal Project as well. The agreement is for the design, consulting, and engineering for the Parking Lot Project that will be located between General Welch Boulevard and Terminal Road. The building on the lot will have to be taken down. The agreement for services has a total amount of $505,000 which will be reimbursable by the FAA at a 95/5 split. The city's portion will be $25,250 and funded from the Economic Development portion of the 1-cent sales tax. Staff recommends the commission approve the agreement and allow the mayor or the city manager to sign all documents related to this project, with the City's portion being funded from the Economic Development portion of the 1-cent sales tax in an amount not exceed $30,000.”
Concluding the meeting’s new business will be discussion of a contract for the sale and purchase of the 15th Street fire station.
“On May 19, 2025, the Seward County Board of County Commissioners hosted a joint special meeting with the Liberal City Commission. The topic of discussion was the 15th Street fire station. The original MOU dates back to Jan. 25, 2007 and details the term, financial expectations, maintenance requirements, and potential dissolution of the agreement between the two,” the agenda information noted. “At the conclusion of the meeting, the Liberal City Commission had a consensus to offer a flat $500,000 for a buyout of Seward County's portion of the facility. County commissioners requested an appraisal, of which we agreed to schedule but later canceled. In the months that followed, staff detailed under Section 12(a), the MOU states that ‘Either party hereto may terminate this agreement at any time for any reason or for no reason by giving the other party thirty (30) days' advance written notice.’ It goes on to state in Section 12(b) ‘Upon termination by City, unless otherwise agreed, City shall remain the sole occupant and owner of the facility. City shall pay County 40 percent of the appraised value of the facility, based on an appraisal obtained by city.’ The City then requested to exert the ‘unless otherwise agreed’ portion of Section 12(b) with the flat dollar amount offer. The City also extended the Right of First Refusal to the county in the event that we ever decided to sell the facility. This offer letter was presented and approved at the Sept. 2, 2025 Seward County Commission meeting. Staff recommends approval of the contract for sale and purchase of interest in real estate pertaining to the 15th Street fire station, with funding having been approved from the Streets, Drainage, Capital Improvements portion of the 1-cent sales tax in 2026.”
