Other items of discussion and actions taken at the Hoisington City Council meeting Monday night included:
The swimming pool will open May 23, and new lifeguards will be training this weekend.
Approved Ordinance 1514 pertaining to outdoor fireplaces and recreational fires in the city. The size was revised from three feet or less to four feet or less in diameter.
The Planning Commission has been working on defining the size and materials of an accessory building. The building may not exceed 1,200 feet in area, and materials must be consistent with the neighborhood. They are still refining the language of the ordinance.
Wastewater lift station will be ready to be bid and by early August.
Subway has sent a down payment to Favela roofing, and the city is working on revising the timeframe for the roofing of the building that includes the Office Tavern for a target completion date in June. A draft contract will be presented at the next meeting.
Randy Strickland will be the new fire chief upon Sekavec’s upcoming retirement from service.
Mayor Williamson proclaimed May 17-23 will be EMS week in Hoisington, and the fire department will host an open house on Wednesday, May 20 from 6 to 8 p.m. Rotomix will provide a grill and Haunted Heights will supply hot dogs. The smoke trailer will also be on site for children to explore.
The new city vehicle has arrived and has been put into service with trips to Garden City and Manhattan.
Ross Vogel of Rural Housing Partners and Jason Hogan, contractor for RHP, one of the builder’s to propose the construction of new homes in Hoisington, met with the Hoisington City Council Monday night. He came to ask the city to agree to pave Vine Street, where RHP proposes to build on seven lots on both sides of the cul-de-sac.
The mayor and council members, six of which had been affected by a tornado that made a direct hit on Hoisington 14 years ago, grilled Vogel and Hogan on specs and the quality of construction to be used in the proposed homes.
“We treat our projects as though we are building a house for ourselves,” Vogel said. “Our goal is to build the best possible house a family of four with an income of $68,000 can afford.”
The homes will have have full basements with eight-and-a-half-feet high ceilings, with plumbing for a shower, toilet and sink, as well as stud-walls for two bedrooms, each with an egress window, he assured them. In addition, the houses would contain quality components, and a limited amount of choices in color and materials both inside and out.
Council person Jim Sekavec wondered if the average purchaser would be able to afford the proposed homes. Council person Brian Wilborn responded that a family with a combined income of $60,000, provided they do not have credit issues, could qualify for a $160,000 mortgage.
“It’s not a starter home, but it’s far from a luxury home,” Wilborn pointed out. In short, it is exactly what the city needs at this time to provide adequate housing to young professionals moving back to work in the community. He and City Manager Jonathan Mitchell listed several couples and families who have had to locate out of town for that reason.
But council members wanted to know more. In addition to a video, floor plans, and a frequently asked questions brochure, Vogel directed them to a development in McPherson the builders are working on. He invited them to come get a first-hand look at the construction as soon as they are completed.
McKenna Meadows is the subdivision where RHP intends to build, should they get enough commitment from prospective homeowners. A few other houses have already been built there, and council members wanted to know how the proposed houses would compare. The new homes will be smaller in stature, but will fit the look and quality of the neighborhood, Vogel assured them.
So far, three purchasers have agreed to commit, but at least one more is needed before June 30, when RHP will need to begin considering other projects.
Mitchell said getting that commitment would be much easier if buyers were certain the street would be paved.
“It enhances the desirability of the project,” Vogel said. “It’s a leap of faith on all of our parts.”
The council took no action on the proposal, but will consider it further.
Vogel and Hogan are also involved in the Great Bend project at Amber Meadows.
Other good news on the housing front was the confirmation that Housing Opportunities Incorporated had received confirmation they would be able to move forward on their plans to build 12 new housing units in Hoisington. They are executing options, and plan to move ahead on construction this fall, Mitchell reported. This will provide more needed housing and help to clean up blighted properties.
One such property, the burned remains of 522 E. Fifth Street, will be the subject of a show cause hearing to be held on June 22 at 7 p.m. in the council chambers. Any lien holders of record or owners may appear to show cause why the structure should not be condemned and ordered repaired or demolished. The city attorney determined since the last council meeting that the mortgage on the property had in fact been released from the Bank of Holyrood, and there was no insurance. The city has determined Leroy Schartz, the elderly owner who died in the fire, had a few heirs who will be contacted. The family has had the house boarded up, but they anticipate no opposition to the condemnation of the property.
Meanwhile, no progress is being made on the buildings located at 122 E. Railroad Street, which has been determined dangerous, unsafe or unfit for human use or habitation. This, despite intervention by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.
The council entered an executive session to discuss non-elected personnel. No action was taken. The next Hoisington City Council meeting will changed to Tuesday, May 26, in observance of Memorial Day.
