StreetScape problems remain on commission agendas

By Michael Pommier

The Fort Scott Tribune

Commissioner Jim Adams presented the commissioners with photographs of the intersection of 1st Street and Scott Street to show the failing brick and concrete produced in the Downtown Streetscape Project at Tuesday's regular meeting of the Fort Scott City Commission. Adams told the commissioners he was concerned with the quality of the project as areas have begun to fail just three months after completion.

Adams also mentioned his concern for the other projects, including the Wall Street Waterline Project, due to his dissatisfaction with how the project has been overseen by the project inspector.

"My concern is we have another major project with the same engineer and the same inspector," Adams said.

During the discussion, Adams requested the city ask Professional Engineering Consultants P.A. for an extension of the performance bond from the contracted length of one year to three years. In addition the idea of hiring an independent inspector to oversee the completion the Downtown Streetscape Project's punch list. Fort Scott City Attorney Robert Farmer informed the commission there is nothing wrong with asking, however, the city does not have any leverage to get the extension.

Following a heated discussion between commissioners, Adams made a motion to have city staff begin a discussion with PEC about the performance bond extension based on past failures and the project not being built to specification. The motion passed 3-1.

Commissioner Nick Graham followed with a motion to have city staff ask PEC to provide a new inspector for the two projects. The motion passed 3-1.

Jerry Witt, representing the Riverfront Authority, addressed the commission with a request for funding to purchase approximately 36 acres in four parcels of land along the Marmaton River. Witt mentioned the money could come from the Flood Mitigation Fund as the land falls in the flood plain area.

"The Riverfront is at a point to move ahead," Witt said.

Fort Scott City Manager Joe Turner informed the commission that Fort Scott Director of Finance Susan Brown will be looking into the fund to see if the money is available. If the money is available the commission will vote on the funding in a future meeting, according to Turner.

"This would be a great asset to the community," Turner said.

Also on hand at the meeting was Bob Medina of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment to discuss the city's participation in the implementation of the new state Illegal Dump Clean-Up Program. Medina said the program will provide up to $10,000 per site for surveillance, prosecution of offenders and other costs of cleaning the site. The state would provide 75 percent of the cost and it would be up to the city to provide the other 25 percent. Fort Scott's share could be covered by utilizing city employees and equipment to do the work.

"The program works," Medina said. "We are fair with everybody."

Fort Scott Fire Chief Paul Ballou gave an update on Fire Station No. 2. He said operation began Jan. 4 and everything is running correctly. He added the department had responded to about 100 calls in January with slightly more than half coming from Fire Station No. 2. It was also announced the response time to the east side of town has been cut in half.

"Response times have shown a remarkable decrease," Ballou said.

In other business:

* The charter ordinance from the meeting held Jan. 20, was passed after receiving its 2nd and final reading.

* Commissioners accepted a grant offer from the FFA in the amount of $137,337 to be used for the repair of the runway at the municipal airport.

* The property at 12th Street and Shepherd Street was re-zoned from R-1 to C-1. The reason for the change is because there is a possibility of the state building an office at the location. Notification of plans will be given within 60 days.

* Commissioners approved the final payment to Slates Earthworks in the amount of $57,000.

The next meeting of the Fort Scott City Commission will be at 6 p.m., Feb. 17 in the Commissioner's Room at City Hall.