By Jennifer Stultz
Tri-County Tribune Editor
*from approved meeting minutes
The Greensburg City Council met February 18, 2025 at City Hall to consider bids for airport water and septic projects, among other things.
Mayor Matt Christenson called the meeting to order at 6 p.m. and a Pledge of Alleigiance was said. There was no invocation given.
Those present included council Mark Trummel, Nathan Charlton, Haley Kern, and Wayne Keeton. Pam Reves was absent. Also present was Administrator Stacy Barnes and City Clerk Christy Gibson.
Christenson requested an addition to the agenda: “Consider an agreement with Priority Power for use of a portion of the industrial park as a staging area for construction of the PACE Solar project.”
Trummel motioned to approve the agenda with the requested addition. Charlton seconded, and the motion passed 4-0.
The first item of business addressed by the council was Airport Water/Septic System Project Bids; and Contractor Selection
Barnes advised that four bids for the airport utility improvements project were received and opened at 11 a.m. on February 11. A bid tabulation was provided to council members in their meeting packet. Lochner reviewed the bids and did some followup communication for clarification. Lochner recommended the council accept the low bid from Kramer Construction.
Funding for the project is in part from a 2022 KDOT Cost Share grant. The remaining funds in that grant are $88,007.83. The city’s cost share with this contractor would be $164,019.14. The Insurance Fund has traditionally been earmarked as matching funds for airport construction. Reducing the current cash balance of the Insurance Fund by the 15% match set aside for a potential KAIP award allows for a remaining cash balance of $245,277 that can be used for this project.
Trummel asked what Lochner altered or changed on the project specs to bring the bids more in line with available funding. Barnes stated that the well house would be wood construction rather than fiber glass. There were also changes with the well itself. Trummel asked what the electrical portion of the project would be. Barnes described it as electric to the well, to the meter building, and to the pump itself. There will have to be chlorine added to the water supply. Barnes confirmed that there would be a local entity working with Kramer Construction. Trummel asked what portion of the project the local company would be participating in. Barnes said she was unsure of the extent of their work, but she believes they would be working on a good portion of the water line and septic installation. A well company will be hired to work on the well itself. Trummel asked if the contractor would have to be bonded through city. The city no longer requires a bond but does have minimums for liability insurance coverage.
Following brief comments, Kern motioned to accept the bid of $252,027 from Kramer Construction. Trummel seconded. The motion passed 4-0.
In other business, the council:
* reviewed three engineering firm RFQ responses from information requested that did not include project bids. Council is now tasked with choosing a firm to design, engineer, and do construction management. Christenson said his review found that each of the firms is qualified and would do a fine job. Scoring by council was requested to be returned by February 27 so that results could be compiled prior to the next meeting.
* considered an agreement with Priority Power for use of a portion of the industrial park as a staging area for construction of the PACE Solar project. Storage would be near the construction site. A motion to approve the agreement as presented passed unanimously.
* learned that two of the City’s Public Works employees attended an all-day asphalt preservation and maintenance class on February 7 in Great Bend hosted by University of Kansas Transportation Center. Some of topics covered included proper asphalt patching and repairs, utilizing proper crack sealing techniques, identifying asphalt defects and preservation treatments and carrying out proper chip sealing techniques. Employees found the training to be very beneficial.
* discussed a topic brought to the council by Trummel who said that he was contacted by a gentleman wondering if the city had ever considered putting up a camera for east and west traffic at the Main and Kansas intersection that would take a picture of a tag if a vehicle ran the light. He had stated that he frequently uses that intersection and multiple times has witnessed the light turning green to go north and south and then a truck flies through going east or west. Barns said that officers could sit at that intersection all day and write tickets and noted that those type of cameras have been mentioned before but that they are very expensive. The city does have cameras on the Incubator Building but they are designed more for security than traffic enforcement. Barnes offered to discuss the suggestion with Chief Davis, looking into the cost and what a system like that would entail. Trummel encouraged Barnes to get Davis’ thoughts on the matter.
