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BELOIT CITY COUNCIL – Wednesday, May 21, 2025

By Terry Bailey

The Beloit City Council conducted its regular bi-weekly meeting at City Hall Wednesday night, May 21. In attendance were Councilors Todd Adolph, Gretchin Staples and Tony Gengler. Councilors Lee McMillan and Andrew Grabon were absent. Also attending were Mayor Tom Naaz, City Attorney Kathie Schroeder, City Clerk Mandy Lomax and Chief of Police Chad Lackey.
City Attorney Schroeder announced that the deadline for filing for local office is June 2. Councilors Tony Gengler and Gretchen Staples will stand for re-election.
City Manager Haley Roberson began her report by saying "There is an awful lot going on in town."
The City was the recipient of a $665,000 grant for electrical updates. She said this will improve the resiliency of the system.
The connections to the RAW water line and the river will be put together early next week.
Two obstruction lights will be installed at the airport next week due to FAA mandates.
A meeting for the EDA grant will be held soon.
The Walnut Street project has started. Folks will notice changes in the North Walnut area.
The Chautauqua Park swimming pool is a busy place as the workers are putting the final touches on the pool for the Memorial Day opening.
Street lights for Walnut Street will cost $39,750.
Chief Lackey reported on the status of the emergency alert sirens. Currently sirens #3 and #5 are inoperable. These units are older ones and the newer sirens take up the slack from their out of operation status.
Lackey said, "The emergency sirens are used to alert people who are OUTSIDE. If people are inside, they have many ways to stay alert to the weather. The sirens are not intended to alert people inside of a building."
Public hearings were held to consider garages at 1008 N. Hersey and 423 East Court as unfit structures. No one appeared to speak for or against the issue.
The Council then approved resolutions declaring the following to be unfit structures: 1008 North Hersey, 423 East Court and 704 North Campbell. The appropriate action will be taken.
The Council approved a bid of $441,755 from Midland to rebuild lift stations. The cost will be covered mostly by ARPA funds.
Midland also submitted the low bid for PVC pipe for the water pipeline from Waconda Lake to Beloit. The cost of this pipe is $3,030,225.
It is believed that USDA funds will be available to pay for the cost of the project. However, USDA will not release the funds until the entire project is completed. Several sources for temporary funding are being considered.
The Council voted to reauthorize the sidewalk and demolition program. The Council authorized spending $25,000 for the program, $10,000 for sidewalks and $15,000 for demolition projects.
City Attorney Schroeder announced she has completed a new agreement with the Country Club to provide effluent water for irrigation. This new ten year agreement replaces the previous 30 year contract. The previous contract included a five cent per thousand gallons fee. The new contract calls for a fee of 11 cents per gallon starting January, 2026 with a one cent yearly increase for the next ten years.
In the work session, City Clerk Amanda Lomax led a very thorough and detailed discussion regarding water rates for Beloit residents. The end result is that the City has relatively low water rates and they must be raised to provide a reserve for the needs of the water system. Cities who do not do so face budgetary crisis when repairs are needed. Lomax proposed a raise from the current monthly minimum rate of $19.78 per thousand gallons to a new minimum rate of $25 per thousand gallons. The Council will take action on this proposal at their next meeting.

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Beloit, KS 67420, USA