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BELOIT CITY COUNCIL – Wednesday, July 17, 2024

By Terry Bailey

The Beloit City Council conducted their regular biweekly meeting at City Hall Wednesday, July 17. All Councilors were present except for Andrew Grabon. Also in attendance were City Manager Halley Roberson, Katie Schroeder, City Attorney, and Amanda Lomax, City Clerk.
One major topic of discussion was a topic that is near and dear to everyone - the safety of our children. Councilor Tony Gengler summed up everyone's thoughts saying, "Watch out for the little people."
During the last school year, the traffic congestion of lots of people in a limited and very busy space in and around the Beloit Elementary School indicated a less-than-optimal safety environment.
The topic was initiated at the July 3 meeting with directions from the Council to have suggestions to consider at the July 17 meeting. City Manager Roberson, City Attorney Schroeder, and Chief of Police Chad Lackey presented possible solutions to this traffic situation. The major point was to develop driving lanes so that kids DO NOT have to cross traffic while getting into or out of vehicles to get into the school building.
In order to make this happen, the following were proposed:
• Lincoln Street - One way start at the north entrance of the Medical Center and with no parking on the west side of the street. This would utilize a drop off/pick up lane that would be clearly indicated by barriers.
• One-way traffic on 13th Street.
• Bell Street - One-way traffic from Bell to 13th Street with no parking on the east side of the street. This is would have a drop off/pick up lane clearly marked by barriers.
One critical factor would be the one-way traffic on Bell. This is the major point of traffic congestion and where many kids cross the street going from vehicle to the school and from the school to the vehicle.
The Council will allow the School District to take the lead position on this issue with a possible ordinance to consider at the August 7 meeting. Once a decision is firmed up, an educational program will need to be put in place to get everyone up to speed on the changes.
The possibility of rolling blackouts in future energy consumption was considered. GRDA is cutting back on the amount of energy produced using fossil fuels. They hope to take up the slack with renewable energy sources. At this point it is not known how successful they will be in the ability to convert their total load to renewable energy.
Manny Milbers told the council, "As it is now, if GRDA shuts off our electricity due to rolling blackouts, our municipal engines can produce enough electricity of meet the needs of the City of Beloit. But, if one, or more, of our engines goes down, we will have rolling blackouts within the City of Beloit."
Milbers reported that it would most likely be two years before the blackouts become an issue with GRDA.
Roberson told the Council, "With the future of outside energy sources up in the air, the thought of adding to our solar farm sounds better and better."
She also said it might be wise to urge citizens to consider voluntary electrical consumption in the same fashion as voluntary water consumption.
"Folks might want to think in terms of setting their air conditioning to 73 degrees instead of 65 degrees to help lower the burden on the system. There are other ways to lessen the load."
Chief Chad Lackey told the Council that his two newest officers received their baptism under fire with the traffic demands of the post-fireworks display on July 6.
"The line of traffic coming into town after the fireworks was at least two and a half-miles long. The officers had all sorts of activity to monitor and consider. They did a good job of taking care of business that night."
He also announced his department would be conducting a campaign from July 22 to July 28. The focus will be on speed control. "We want everyone to get where they are going safely."
One question from the group was, "Can you tell us the locations of where the officers will be working?"
Lackey chuckled and responded, "We want to help everyone to get where they are going safely."
In formal actions the Council:
• Authorized the expenditure of $18,700 for the purchase of two natural gas values for the engines at the power plant.
• Authorized the purchase of pipe to carry water from the soon-to-be bored line under the railroad tracks to the water plant. The cost of this pipe is $29,975.
Also a major topic of discussion, continued from the last Council meeting, was the proposed Verizon tower to be built just outside of the City's limits near the extreme south end of Independence Street. Because this tower in not inside the City limits, Beloit has limited control over what can and what cannot happen.
Roberson reported that Verizon had requested an 800-amp breaker.
"This is very big," she said. "If they need that much electricity, we may mot be able to provide that much electricity on a regular basis."

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Beloit, KS 67420, USA