ELLY GRIMM

   • Leader & Times

Discussion of plans for the revitalization of Downtown Liberal took a couple steps forward thanks to the Liberal City Commission at its most recent meeting Tuesday evening.

Up first was discussion of the approval of a Master Services Agreement with Professional Engineering Consultants (PEC).

“As the commission is aware, there are a lot of projects going on and a lot of future growth on the horizon, so the City of Liberal is in need of a variety of civil engineering and related consulting services,” Liberal City Manager Scarlette Diseker said. “This Master Services Agreement with Professional Engineering Consultants (PEC) establishes the general legal and financial terms under which the City of Liberal may utilize professional engineering services. A retainer fee of $7,600 per month for the first six months will be paid by the city, followed by $5,000 per month thereafter. Overall, city staff feel that securing an agreement and having a permanent engineering partner will allow for better planning and continuity as we manage existing properties and develop future projects.”

“And there will be a lot that will be provided in this agreement,” PEC representative Alexis Starr said. “The scope of services will include providing a professional, registered engineer on-site at City Hall for one business day, eight hours per month, for attendance at staff meetings and coordination with city staff on engineering or public works issues; providing a professional, registered engineer at regularly scheduled meetings of the Liberal City Commission, city planning meetings, and workshops upon request; providing routine advice on matters upon request pertaining to planning and engineering issues confronting the client; previewing proposed plats, drainage plans, utility plans, site plans, petitions and phase maps submitted to the client for conformance to city standards upon request; assisting with preparation of project estimates, including cost estimates for capital improvement projects upon request; being available by telephone (virtual) for consultation on matters not requiring extensive research for resolution; and accepting, via separate contract, all planning, engineering, and architectural projects, studies, and investigations that the client may undertake during the term of this contract. If PEC cannot accept the project due to staff limitations, PEC will advise in writing.”

Ultimately, the agreement was approved 4-0.

Up next was discussion of the approval of a Downtown Master Plan Steering Committee.

“As everyone knows, community engagement is a critical component of the Downtown Redevelopment Master Plan process,” Chief Communications Officer Keeley Young said. “Community surveys, an interactive project Web site, stakeholder interviews, and public pop-up events will be used to conduct vision exercises and formulate concepts for a re-imagined Downtown space. This Steering Committee is being made of community members, elected officials, and business owners will also be engaged to review community feedback, refine concepts, and review the content of the final Downtown Redevelopment Master Plan, and they were all very enthusiastic about being part of this process. The consultants from Confluence will guide and facilitate multiple meetings throughout the planning process.”

The committee was approved 4-0, and the members will be Jeff Parsons, Janeth Vazquez, Kathleen Alonso, Clarissa Carrillo, Karem Gallo, Jeff Hall, Diana Meza, Evangeline Penner, Citlaly Reyes, Alexis Salgado, Todd Stanton, Eli Svaty, Sarah Thompson, Jairo Vazquez, April Warden, Earl Watt, Rozelle Webb, Sam Webber and Levi Williams.

Earlier in the meeting, local citizen Mark Marcellus came before the commission to share some concerns about some upcoming projects. After discussin his concerns about allowing a city road to remain dirt instead of ashpalt, he shared a concern about the elevated walkway on U.S. Highway 54 leading to and from Mary Frame Park.

“I attended the recent KDOT meeting about expanding U.S. Hwy 54 and some other areas, and it came to my attention the state of Kansas is doing away with responsibility for elevated walkways like the one that leads to and from Mary Frame Park,” Marcellus said. “I’m told there is a way the city can accept responsibility for that bridge so it can stay, and I’ve also been told City of Liberal leadership has been working on that, and I truly hope it gets to stay because there are a lot of people who use that walkway to get to the park. If that walkway is gone, it’s a real detriment to the community, and someone could get really hurt.”

Marcellus ended his remarks talking about work in the downtown area.

“With Kansas Avenue, I know there’s a lot going on there, but I don’t know what decisions are being made in terms of potential changes – I know there’s money being spent to draw up plans, but I would strongly recommend not skinnying that down from four lanes to two,” Marcellus said. “Traffic is always an issue, it will always be an issue. When it comes to beautifying Kansas Avenue, I know that’s someone else’s job to come up with those plans and ideas, but if you skinny things down and go with the angle parking, there could be issues with big truck traffic and there not being enough space.”

In the meeting’s other new business, the commission approved Resolution No. 2454 concerning vehicle abatements, Resolution No. 2455 concerning demolition of property at 110 S. Grant Ave., and a contract with Hays Fire & Rescue Sales & Service for a 2026 Prairie Ranger Brush Truck in the amount of $238,780 for the Liberal Fire Department.