Larned meeting at a glance
Here is a quick at what the Larned City Council did Monday night:
• Unanimously approved Appropriations Ordinance No. 3 in the amount of $712,278.49 plus transfers.
• Unanimously approved a multi-year contract with Midwest Energy as presented by Fred Taylor, vice-president of operations, describing the in-scope and out-of-scope services and the fee schedule. The contract is for an initial 10-year term, with an automatic extension for another five years. The contract may be terminated with a 180-day notice by either party. The contract is for a total annual amount of $33,075.46.
• Unanimously approved a change order request to the city’s CDBG waterline project with contractor True Solutions. The change order adds $83,295.45 as sales tax (9% of total project cost as non-exempt for materials and equipment from state tax) and sales tax administration cost and inflation adjustment of $20,000. A contract extension to May 31 for the finished project with a deadline for final inspection to meet CDBG requirements was also approved.
• Set a public hearing date of June 6 for three properties deemed unsafe per state statute as determined by Will Tice, city building inspector.
• Discussed ongoing ADA and street projects, along with a potential buyer for the city’s 4-H club building in Schnack Park.
• Heard an update on the recent Pawnee County fire as presented by Fire Chief Leonard Herrman and Assistant Chief Kyle Beckwith.
LARNED — The Larned City Council Monday night set public hearings for three properties deemed unsafe and dangerous by city safety personnel. The hearings will take place on June 6, at 6:30 p.m.
The properties include: 301 W. Fourth St.; 530 W. First St.; and 810 Topeka St.
At the meeting, Will Tice, city building inspector, presented a report on the three properties for citation, with the determination that they violate the International Building Code adopted by the city in 2021 and are subject to statutory remedies afforded by state statute regarding structures deemed a safety hazard. Tice documented conditions with photography after personal inspection of the properties before preparing their citations.
By resolution, a hearing for each property was set to allow owners, agent lienholders or occupants to appear and show cause why the structures should not be removed. Each resolution will be published in the official city newspaper for two consecutive weeks. The hearings are at least 30 days subsequent to the last publication in the newspaper.
Complaint citations and notice of hearing will be sent to owners of record for the properties to appear.
301 W. Fourth St.
A petition for removal of the property also known as Mullins Apartments and a companion structure to the immediate south was received in 2018. At the time, the owner was three years delinquent on property taxes and the city had been mowing the property for five years. Demolition bids were sought in 2006; however, the current owner asked for permission to renovate the building and was given two years to make improvements. The property has since been sold, and the city had not revisited the issue since granting the extension.
Tice noted the following items:
• The front door was inaccessible due to the deterioration of the front porch.
• Several other doors and windows were either missing or unsecured, invoking the statutory remedy for safety.
530 W. First St.
• Doors and windows are missing or unsecured, invoking safety issues.
• There is a sinkhole on the property, possibly affecting integrity of the basement and also the neighboring driveway, which is starting to sink.
810 Topeka St.
• Doors and windows are missing or unsecured, invoking safety issues.
• Property is in proximity to an active daycare, presenting a safety hazard.
The council then unanimously approved adoption of the condemnation resolutions and their publication and set the date for public hearing.
