Greensburg’s City Council formally adopted the sizeable pay hike it voted in earlier this summer at Monday’s meeting by approving Ordinance 958 on a 4-1 vote. Since the initial vote of June 16 council members have been on record to receive $250 a month, rather than the rate of $25 per meeting attended that had been in effect since April 23, 2007. The mayor’s pay was also increased dramatically, to a current level of $500 a month.
The lone council member to vote against the pay hike both June 16 and last Monday was Erica Goodman. Councilmen Matt Christenson, Gary Goodheart, Mark Trummel and Brandon Hosheit voted for the raise both times.
In other matters…
*The council discussed the pros and cons of annexing adjoining land to the east and south of city limits, Goodman asking at one point what the particular advantage of doing so would be.
“Basically, property tax,” City Administrator Steve Hewitt replied. “You’ve got people now outside city limits that could get city utilities, usually for less than they’re now paying, in exchange for being on our tax roll.”
Hewitt said he was “looking for some direction from Council” on the matter. Hosheit eventually moved the City’s staff “look into annexation and what will be required to effect it to the east and south,” the motion passing.
• The date for the council’s retreat was set for August 19-20 at BNIM headquarters in Kansas City.
• Dwane Shank’s resignation from the Housing Authority was accepted, Mayor Dixson’s appointment of Tom Corns to replace Shank being approved by council.
• A motion to reject the current bids on the streetscape was passed, with the understanding BNIM will adjust the scope of the project to bring it more in line with the targeted cost of $4 million. Hewitt said he hoped bids could again be let within 60 to 90 days.
• Budget hearing for the 2009 spending plan was set for August 18 at 6 p.m. the proposed budget was published in last week’s Signal.
• Hewitt said the external lighting on the water tower is nearly completed and he expects bids for the street lighting project to be opened August 14. “I expect them to be very competitive,” he said. He also mentioned the deadline for bids for City Hall to be extended to “give a couple some more time to submit.”
• The Letter of Intent between XtremeStructures and the City was reviewed, accepted and voted to send. Following are the highlights of that letter:
*Greensburg will continue its development of an industrial park on the east edge of Greensburg. This process will include survey, design, platting, and planning and design for roads and utilities *XtremeStructures will require approximately fifty (50) acres of land within the industrial park area for the purpose of constructing a new factory. The exact location of the factory site and acreage will be determined in the course of completion of the development of the industrial park plan. Greensburg has agreed to furnish the land for the factory site at no cost to XtremeStructures; provided, transfer of ownership of the land to XtremeStructures shall be specifically conditioned upon completion of the construction of the factory facility in accordance with pre-approved plans and specifications within a time frame to be agreed upon. *Greensburg, either directly or through the assistance of other governmental or private entities, will assist XtremeStructures in human resource recruitment needed to staff a factory; it is estimated the initial work force will be 30-40 with the possible expansion to up to 300 plus jobs. *Greensburg will cooperate with XtremeStructures to the extent practicable in the development of a financial structure to permit the business expansion by XtremeStructures. This assistance may include the issuance of Industrial Revenue Bonds through Greensburg for the benefit of XtremeStructures or an affiliate it may create. The amount of any such bonds and the terms and conditions of any such issuance shall be subject to future agreement as specific requirements become known. Greensburg agrees to retain Kevin Cowan, Gilmore & Bell, Attorneys, Wichita, Kansas, as bond counsel for the purpose of assisting Greensburg and XtremeStructures in developing a financial structure plan for the business. Greensburg and XtremeStructures agree to diligently work to complete this portion of the project as soon as possible.
*Consistent with its sustainable comprehensive plan, Greensburg intends to revise existing codes and enact new codes to assure to the extent reasonable and practicable that all buildings being built in Greensburg will meet minimum environmental specifications of LEED Certified or other programs such as Build It Green. This will be a priority and Greensburg will undertake efforts to have this in place by September 30,2008.
*Greensburg and XtremeStructures have established and will continue a Task Force consisting of members of Greensburg city government and representatives from XtremeStructures. The Task Force will assume responsibility to complete the tasks necessary to facilitate the expansion of XtremeStructures business to Greensburg with the goal of beginning construction in the fourth quarter of 2008. The Task Force will report to the City Council at its regular meetings on the tasks and requirements necessary to complete the project.
*As soon as sufficient information is available to allow Greensburg and XtremeStructures to make the appropriate decisions regarding the basic terms and conditions of agreements necessary to facilitate the business expansion, the parties will create a mutually acceptable written Development Agreement setting forth specifically their respective rights and responsibilities. *Each party will afford the other reasonable access to its records, documents and other information reasonably necessary to allow them to accomplish their responsibilities pursuant to this Letter of Intent and each party agrees that all such information will remain confidential. *Greensburg and XtremeStructures will only be responsible for and bear their respective costs incurred at any time in connection with this project and nothing herein shall create a financial obligation of one party to the other unless adopted in the final Development Agreement.
*This Letter of Intent will remain in effect from the date this letter is signed on behalf of Greensburg and this Letter of Intent will automatically terminate on March 31, 2009, and may be terminated earlier upon written notice by either party to the other party unilaterally for any reason or no reason with or without cause, the earlier date being the termination date. Upon termination of this Letter of Intent, the parties will have no further obligations hereunder. The parties may mutually agree to extend the termination date.
Greensburg, KS —
