Click Here to Listen LIVE to

BELOIT CITY COUNCIL – Wednesday, September 18, 2024

By Terry Bailey

The Beloit City Council conducted their bi-weekly business meeting on Wednesday evening, September 18. All Councilors were present except for Gretchin Staples and Mayor Tom Naasz. Also attending were City Manager Halley Roberson, City Attorney Katie Schroeder, and City Clerk Mandy Lomax.
The agenda was filled with items previously considered by the Council and in need of action.
City Manager Halley Roberson reported that she is involved in an ongoing conversation with the Bureau of Reclamation. This interchange involves a grant that could result in a 50/50 split in the funding of the new water treatment plant.
Roberson has checked with Olson and Associates about a timeline for a new hangar at the airport. They told her the hangar would be completed in 2026 with a small chance of construction in 2025.
Because Roberson will be out of town on October 2, the Council will not meet on that date. They will have a meeting on October 9 at 5:30 p.m. at the Severance Conference Room at the Fort Hays Technical College - North Central Campus,
Chief of Police Chad Lackey told the Council that Emily Benedick is diligently finishing up the funding for the mobile radar signs. They should be in place and functioning soon.
Lackey reported that he has been invited to serve on yet another committee. This one deals with public safety. The members are now doing walk throughs of public places and evaluating the facilities. The Committee will meet every month.
Lackey is working with another committee that wants to address Mental Health Awareness. Most people are aware of the significance of mental health in today's world.
Finally Lackey informed the Council that the footings have been poured for the Welcome to Beloit entry signs.
Ordinance 2358, action to vacate a portion of 4th Street, was approved.
Two ordinances dealing with the Millapalooza were passed. Ordinance 2359 approving a Special Event activity for the Chamber of Commerce. A special event license was approved for the Solomon Valley Eagles.
The Council approved ordinances declaring buildings as unfit structures. These are located at:
• 520 Elliot
• 627 East Main
• 1012 North Hersey
• 1200 West Main
The property owners will be notified and allowed reasonable time to respond.
In formal actions the Council:
• Approved an Agreement between the City and the Isle of Lights.
• Approved a letter to be sent to the Bureau of Reclamation concerning the Water Treatment.
• Approved a Memo of Understanding with Rural Water District #2.
The business meeting was adjourned, and the Work Session was called to order. In response to the need to replace the White Building in the Chautauqua Park, City Manager Roberson has put together plans for several different structures as replacement structures.
The overall goal of replacing the White Building is the hopes that more folks from in town as well as people from out-of-town will schedule activities and which will create some type of flow of money into the City's businesses. It is apparent that the White Building, while providing many years of service, has outlived its useful life.

Other News

Beloit, KS 67420, USA