ELLY GRIMM
• Leader & Times
The Liberal City Commission will have multiple matters seeking approval 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 for the commission will be discussion of Ordinance No. 4660 concerning a KDHE loan amendment for a water infrastructure project.
“The original loan agreement for the KPWSLF Project No. 3077 was dated April 26, 2022. Following the COVID-19 era, high inflation caused the overall project budget to increase, which resulted in amendments to the original agreement,” the agenda information noted. “This will be the third and final amendment for the project, increasing our total line by $1,500,000 and raising the maximum loan amount from $4,068,038 to $5,568,038. Loan advances are typically made as progress billing is delivered to the City; however, we have been awaiting these documents for close to two years, so we will be advancing the full remaining amount upon finalization of this paperwork, as the project is in its last stage of completion and should be zeroed out in the Construction Fund by year-end. Staff requests consideration for approval of Ordinance No. 4660 as presented, which increases the total line of the KPWSLF Project No. 3077 by $1,500,000 and allows the project funding phase to close and full repayment schedule to start.”
Up next for the commission will be discussion of Resolution No. 2468 concerning the authorization of a Western Kansas Community Foundation Grant, which would help support the 2026 Holiday Extravaganza.
“WHEREAS, it is determined by the governing body of the City of Liberal there is public support for the City to prepare a grant application, which if approved, will provide funding for the 2026 Holiday Extravaganza,” the resolution noted. “WHEREAS, the City of Liberal, if awarded the grant, would allocate the funds toward 2026 Holiday Extravaganza expenses. Therefore, be it resolved by the governing body of the City of Liberal that the City of Liberal authorizes submission of this grant application, and authorizes the mayor, city manager, or grant administrator to sign all documents pertaining to the grant on behalf of the organization.”
City staff will also be seeking approval of Resolution No. 2467 concerning the authorization of a Kansas Department of Transportation Grant, which would provide annual funding for the transit program administration, operations, and capital expenses for Fiscal Year 2028.
“WHEREAS, the City of Liberal is an eligible applicant under the 2028 Section 5311 Transportation Program Grant, and WHEREAS, it is determined by the governing body of the City of Liberal that there is public support for the City to prepare a grant application, which if approved by Kansas Department of Transportation, will provide funding for the Transit Program operations, administration, and capital expenses for State Fiscal Year 2028,” the resolution noted. “WHEREAS, the City of Liberal, if awarded the 2028 Transit Program Grant will match up to 20 percent of the City Transit Program. Staff recommends approval of Resolution No. 2467, allowing the application of the 2028 Section 5311 Transportation Programs Grant and allowing the mayor, city manager, and grant director to execute grant documents.”
After hearing an economic development update from Eli Svaty, the Liberal Fire Department will be on hand to ask for the approval of the purchase of foam concentrate for operations at the Liberal Municipal Airport.
“In recent years, the FAA has been encouraging Part 139 fire departments to transition away from Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF) due to the PFAS ‘Forever Chemicals’ contained in the foam concentrate,” the agenda information noted. “Fluorine-Free Foam (F3) is the acceptable eco-friendly alternative foam that has been developed and approved for use by the FAA. As a result, AFFF is becoming much more difficult and expensive to obtain. We are required by Part 139 to maintain our trucks at full capacity and have one ‘shot’ of foam concentrate on the shelf to be compliant. Recent foam concentration testing and vehicle repairs have led to foam usage and dropped our supply well below the required amount. To further complicate things, our back-up ARFF vehicle, Squad 4, will be essentially obsolete when AFFF Foam is no longer available. This is due to the fact that it carries a batch mix of water and foam concentrate discharged by air pressure rather than injecting the foam into the water from the pump. After discussing this within the department and with Aviation Director Chance Plett, we are confident now is the time to complete our transition to F3 Foam in our operations.”
The purchase will have multiple benefits, the agenda information continued.
“Our primary vehicle, Truck #12, will operate solely with its supply of F3 Foam. Our remaining supply of AFFF will be used to batch mix on Squad 4 and should be an ample supply to get that truck to the end of its expected service life,” the agenda information noted. “And finally, having F3 onboard will allow us to borrow from or loan foam concentrate to the Garden City and Dodge City airports. We will all three have compatible foam concentrate in the event any of us experiences an incident requiring extensive use of our foam supplies. Battalion Chief Aaron Luman has been heading this project and received an estimate of more than $11,000 to purchase only the necessary quantity of AFFF foam concentrate. After obtaining three quotes for a complete supply of F3 Foam concentrate, the low quote is $14,356. A difference of approximately $3,000 to go ahead and make the transition to the recommended foam. Therefore, that is our recommendation at this time. We can also consider how this foam concentrate might just as easily be used to handle liquid fuel fires in the city, on the highway or the railway. Staff requests consideration to purchase the required quantity of F3 Foam Concentrate from Conrad Fire Equipment in the amount of $14,356, with funding from Special Fire Equipment - Fund 201.”
A new work order for a project will also be seeking approval.
“The Liberal City Commission has previously discussed city-owned properties in northeast Liberal to the south of East Tucker Road and west of U.S. Hwy 83,” the agenda information noted. “Economic Development has been working with a developer to construct commercial/light industrial buildings on parcels currently owned by the City of Liberal. Staff has also researched ownership of Liberal Land Company, LLC located adjacent to the City parcels. The Liberal Land Company parcel was omitted in error during a foreclosure proceeding by a lender in 2002. The property has sat vacant since that time with unpaid taxes ($240), special assessments (+$240,000) and penalties accruing (+$602,000) for a total of $841,632 as of September 2026. Staff contacted the lender to explain the situation. The lender has agreed to release the lien contingent on Liberal Land Company deeding the property to the City. The owner of Liberal Land Company does not live in the area and was unaware he had ownership claim to any remaining property in Liberal after the foreclosure. He has agreed to deed the property to the City. A survey of record for the parcel does not exist as this parcel was the remaining portion of land after an adjacent surveyed addition was created. Therefore, the city requires a formal survey to be completed and filed of record, providing for a land legal description to be used in the deed from Liberal Land Company, as well as a lien release to be completed by the lender. The property is estimated at 13.79 acres and would serve as additional land available for development. Staff recommends approval of the PEC Work Order No. 26-11, in an amount not to exceed $26,900, with funding coming from the Streets, Drainage, and Capital Improvements portion of the 1-cent Sales Tax.”
The commission will conclude the meeting’s new business by approving Landon Sallaska to the Liberal Youth Council and discussing approval of updated Title VI documents in order to qualify for the FY 2028 KDOT Transit Grant.
