Fort Scott plans truck replacements

The Fort Scott City Commission approved purchases to help replace aging equipment used by city workers during their Friday morning meeting at City Hall.

The commission unanimously approved spending a total of almost $300,000 to replace two dump trucks and repair a third dump truck for the streets department, and to replace two heavy-duty trucks for the city utility department. It was reported at the meeting the two departments often share equipment for their duties.

Director of Utilities Richard Cook said Tom Coffman, mechanic supervisor for the city, worked with Streets Supervisor Chad Brown to find reasonably priced used vehicles to replace aging vehicles that have continued to experience mechanical issues.

"We tried to get equipment on the upper end without buying brand new," Cook said.

City Manager Dave Martin said recent snowstorms have "taken a toll on equipment."

"We need to be good stewards of the equipment we buy," he said.

Two dump trucks are needed for the streets department as the current vehicles are "down mechanically" and also "dangerous to the ozone," Cook said.

"They've served well, but are not mechanically dependable anymore," he said.

The cost to replace those two trucks will be about $140,000, and the cost to repair a third dump truck will be about $20,000, "and we'll have three good dump trucks," Cook said.

The utility department has a supervisor's truck with engine problems and needs to be replaced. A service truck in that department has a frame that is cracked on both sides and has been "deemed unsafe to drive," Cook said. The commission approved donating that vehicle to the USD 234 auto repair program as surplus property.

Commissioners approved spending up to $40,000 to replace those heavy-duty trucks with used vehicles.

Also needed is a backhoe loader, as there is no dealer in the area that handles industrial equipment, Cook said. The current loader has several hours on it. Cook said it is easy to find parts for the equipment and the current loader can be traded in for less than $80,000.

"We need to upgrade our equipment," Cook said.

The total for the purchases amounts to about $290,000 and they have all been planned for and budgeted. Funds will come from a combination of the street and utility funds. Director of Finance Jon Garrison said there should be money left over after the purchases. Garrison and commissioners expressed their appreciation toward city staff for doing research to find pieces of equipment at the least expense possible.

In other business Friday, commissioners:

* Approved the consent agenda, which included appropriation ordinances totaling $667,778; approval of appointment of Ruth Garner to serve a four-year term on the Fort Scott Library Board; and resolutions and notices of hearing with reference to alleged unsafe and dangerous structures located at 1107 W. Sixth St., 1228 E. Oak St., and 1225 E. Wall St., and set public hearing dates regarding those structures for 6:15 p.m. April 1; and a notice of hearing with reference to an alleged unsafe structure and accessory structure located at 923 S. National Ave., for 6:15 p.m. April 1.

* Heard from Fort Scott Fire Chief Paul Ballou, who introduced the new Bourbon County Emergency Manager William Wallis, who talked about his experience and willingness to work with the city.

* Approved appointment of William "Buck" Fischer, Jim Gladbach, Shawn Goans and Ken Lyon to the Airport Advisory Board, and Carol MacArthur to the Fort Scott Planning Commission.

* Approved the bid from Krantz Docks, a company in Climax Springs, Mo., for construction of two boat docks at Lake Fort Scott. Kenny Howard, airport and lakes manager, said current docks are in bad shape and in need of many repairs. Bids were received from three out-of-town vendors as no local vendors build boat docks, Howard said. The Krantz bid was $7,000 per dock. Other bidders were Williams Construction, of Grain Valley, Mo., with a bid of $22,167 total, and Elf Boat Docks with a bid of $7,722 per dock.

* Heard from Frank Halsey, with the Gunn Park Trails Committee, who asked the commission's permission to host an upcoming mountain bike race at the trails. Halsey said the committee's goal has been to host a sanctioned mountain bike race, adding he hopes it could be an annual festival. A company called United Federation of Dirt has approached the committee about hosting a race. Commissioners approved use of the trails for two races: the Tri-Yak-A-Thon on June 21 and an as-yet unnamed mountain bike race Aug. 2. Events would be covered under the city's insurance and participants sign a release. Halsey said the committee recently received a "generous" contribution from the Key Charitable Trust.

* Heard a report from Martin on the recent Southeast Kansas Day on the Hill on Jan. 28 in which he and other city officials met with Sen. Caryn Tyson in Topeka. Topics such as the Rural Opportunity Zone, healthcare, taxes and community colleges were touched on briefly. Martin also requested permission from the commission to move forward with a plan to partner with the Fort Scott Community College Construction Trades program to build a new clubhouse at Woodland Hills Golf Course. Martin said $20,000 in seed money is available to start the project, which would involve the city supplying materials and construction trades students performing labor. The commission approved the request.

"This would give us a nice facility at the golf course," Martin said.

* Approved a proposal for telecommunications consulting professional services from Thomas, Ross and Associates, Inc., of Libertyville, Ill. City officials contacted the firm because the city is interested in having an independent audit and assessment of their current telecommunications environment and development of a communications strategy, according to city documents. The independent consultant will analyze all phone and communications lines for the city, Garrison said.

"We can get advice on what we have and where we need to be down the road as far as communications needs," he said.

Garrison said the same firm was used to assist the city of Pittsburg with a similar project when Garrison held the same position there. City officials met and decided the consultant was the best decision. The firm's fee is $9,000. The consultant is Jim Stewart.

"He's independent and very thorough," Garrison said.

After the project, city of Pittsburg was able to reduce phone lines and cut bills from communications companies by 40 to 45 percent, Garrison said.

"We feel it's money well spent," he said. "We may have to spend money to realize some cost savings."

Commissioner Sam Mason was absent from Friday's meeting, which was rescheduled from Tuesday due to inclement weather.