The city will begin next steps to improve Pilla Park after Monday’s City Commission meeting. " />
The city will begin next steps to improve Pilla Park after Monday’s City Commission meeting.
The city will start the process to apply for a grant that has been used for other downtown projects to hopefully improve Pilla Park.
The city will begin next steps after Monday’s City Commission meeting.
By applying for a community development block grant, the city will be able to determine if the money is available for the project. First, income surveys will be conducted on the neighborhoods around the park.
The grant provides assistance to fund projects for low- to medium-income neighborhoods. If the survey results are in the income range to be eligible, the city will move forward with applying for the grant.
Plans for improving the park have been ongoing for multiple years, with estimates for the project most recently totaling $400,000. The city could receive up to $600,000 with 35% local match if they get the grant.
The renovations will include updates to the playground and parking lot as well as possible signage for the side facing north.
The city hopes that these improvements can occur later this year. More updated costs and plans will be discussed in March.
Assistant City Manager Zack Daniel said he hopes the city will find out if they received the grant by late summer or early fall and the project timeline is dependent on the grant.
The commission voted to go into a contract with Governmental Assistance Services to prepare the application and do the neighborhood survey for $20,950. If they find that the project is not eligible for the grant, the city is out $12,000 for the survey.
The commission also heard updates on the RAISE grant, which will improve infrastructure of about one mile of Church Street from 20th to 28th Street. A third lane for turning will be added to the current two-lane road.
The city will begin asking for bids for the project’s phases later this month. The commission approved a resolution to allow the city to use state procedures for RAISE grant bids.
“All this resolution does is establish essentially for the transcript, a paper trail, that we are intending on using the standard from the Office of Procurement and Contracts utilized by KDOT,” Daniel said.
Commissioner Tim Bruce asked if there were any requirements from the state that would change the city’s usual protocol for projects.
Public Works Director Branden Boyd said the city usually matches their criteria anyway, so it won’t make much of a difference.
“They’re really good guidelines for us to abide by, so they’re a little more restrictive than we typically are,” Boyd said.
The project will run through a process of design, bid and then build, with authorization from the commission.
Bruce and Commissioners Alex Curnes and Roberta Lehmann were also sworn into office Monday night after they were reelected in the last election. Bruce was also reelected as vice mayor.
Mayor Tim Reazin also reappointed several Planning Commission members. The commissioners up for reappointment wanted to continue serving. The new term will expire on Dec. 31, 2026. Josh Harger, Jason Hoover, Grant Martin and Ryan Rock will remain on the commission.
The commission also approved the city manager to move forward with purchasing a new 2024 Dodge Durango for the police department with a cost not to exceed $40,600. This cost was approved during the 2024 budget.
The commission approved the 2024 meeting schedule. Reazin canceled the May 27, Nov. 11, Dec. 9 and 23 meetings and added a meeting for Dec. 16.
City Manager Kevyn Gero said the city offices would be closed due to weather on Tuesday. Gero also said the commission is working to have a joint meeting in February with the township board.
Reach reporter Sara Maloney at [email protected].
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