ELLY GRIMM
• Leader & Times
The Liberal City Commission will have a busy evening for its next meeting 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 for the commission will be discussion of work on Loraine Avenue.
“On July 8, the owners of parcels located on Loraine Avenue, which extends north from East 8th Street, requested that the commission waive the subdivision regulations and allow them to install less than the required street improvements. The owners had already obtained a fill permit from KDHE-DWR at that time to place fill in the floodplain, making the parcels suitable for development,” the agenda information noted. “Per Building Services Director Keith Bridenstine, the subdivision regulations require a minimum of a 35-foot-wide concrete or asphalt street to be installed prior to building structures on the parcels. The original improvement plans that were provided by the owners show the installation of a concrete street that meets the subdivision regulations. As the zoning administrator, he has no option to waive the required improvements, but the subdivision regulations do allow for the Commission to waive any improvement requirements if they are not technically feasible or necessary. At the end of the commission’s July 8 meeting, the commission voted to uphold the regulations as written but asked for City staff to possibly pursue the RHID incentive option. On July 17, city staff hosted a meeting with the landowners to discuss their improvements and run cash flow analysis numbers. Finance Director, Kristyn Reust and Grants Director Karen LaFreniere, reviewed the commission on those numbers at the Dec. 9 special meeting. At that time, commissioners directed the landowners to obtain an official engineering estimate. The cost breakdown from Earles Engineering is attached, along with the updated feasibility study.”
The commission will also be asked for approval to apply for a T-Mobile Grant, which would support several needed operational efficiency projects at the Liberal Animal Shelter, and the purchase of a new mower for the Parks Department.
“The City of Liberal Parks Department is requesting the 2026 budgeted purchase of a Hustler Super 104 mower. This mower will replace the current 104 at the Ball Complex that has clocked 10 seasons,” the agenda information noted. “Keating Tractor was the low bidder at $27,500, while Kansas Golf & Turf was $29,999.35. Liberal's Small Engine Specialist was unable to provide a Hustler quote. Staff recommends approval of the budgeted purchase of a Hustler Super 104 mower from Keating Tractor for an amount not to exceed $28,000, to be funded by the Beautification portion of the 1-Cent Sales Tax.”
Willow Tree Golf Course will also be requesting a new mower.
“City staff requests the purchase of a Super 104" Hustler rough mower as well as a 72" Hustler Hyperdrive rough mower for Willow Tree Golf Course,” the agenda information noted. “This purchase is a budgeted item for 2026 to replace existing mowers from 2018 with 3000+ hours on them. Three competing quotes were received from Keating Tractor, American Implement, and Kansas Golf and Turf, with Keating Tractor being the lowest. City staff recommends the purchase of the two mowers from Keating Tractor not to exceed the amount of $41,000. This purchase will be funded from the 2026 Golf Course New Equipment/Machinery, account 100-4550-47041.”
To conclude the meeting, the commission will hear an update on recent marketing efforts for Mid-America Air Museum.
“Our end-of-year performance report for Mid-America Regional Airport prepared by our airline consultant firm, ArkStar, highlights positive performance and growth trends in 2025 compared to prior years,” the agenda information noted. “Notable metrics from the report include a 16 percent increase of round-trip enplanements vs 2024, an increase of 1,228 in outbound enplanements compared to the prior year, and a 1 percent increase in load factor, meaning an average of 15 passengers per outbound flight. Also, only one controllable flight cancellation was reported in 2025 and in Quarter 2 of 2025, the average one-way fare was 23 percent lower than GCK (Garden City) and 11 percent lower than ICT (Wichita). We kicked off a new advertising campaign through ArkStar on Jan. 15 with a goal of reaching 10,000 enplanements in 2026. The campaign targets travelers to 14 of our most flown-to markets. Advertisements feature "visiting friends and relatives" messaging using 140 different display ad formats and five video commercials for distribution across six platforms and Google Responsive search advertising. Marketing messages are also tailored to target business travelers by promoting United's multiple travel programs for businesses of all sizes. As of Feb. 2, the ad campaign has made nearly 160,000 impressions with more than 2,600 ad clicks for a click-through rate of 1.63 percent. The campaign runs through April 12 and is funded in large part by advertising dollars allocated to us through SkyWest Airlines.”
