Public comments question condition of the community building to Kiowa City Council

Residents who want `attractive town' address council about eyesore properties

 

Yvonne Miller

This is the scene in yards throughout Kiowa as the major waterline replacement project is underway. Nowak Construction trucks from Goddard are a common site in Kiowa as their crews dig up yards and place the new blue waterline pipes in the ground.

"Have you been in the community building?" Kiowa Chamber of Commerce co-presidents Janet Robison and Cindy Archuleta repeatedly asked Kiowa's City Council at their May 10 meeting.

The women spoke under the public comment section of the meeting. They told in detail numerous things that need attention.

"That place needs some love," Archuleta said. "The toilets are disgusting and there are bugs everywhere."

Listing examples, they said the ceiling in the women's restroom fell in and was barely fixed. The curtains hang haphazardly from the windows, the old toilets cannot be scrubbed enough to get rid of stains and lime build-up. The bathroom is not truly handicap accessible. A wheelchair or scooter cannot fit in the "designated handicap" stall (as this handicapped reporter will confirm after years of complaining to many city administrators.) For how bad the women's restroom is, "the men's is worse," Robison said.

Archuleta said the building is not clean. Citing an example, she was with a group who recently rented the building and said they had to totally clean the facility prior to the event. Yet people who rent the facility are expected to clean up their mess. The aging building that is used frequently has numerous problems.

She reminded that the community building has historical significance. Through the VFW, years ago the building was brought to Kiowa from Alva where there was a POW Camp during WWII.

The women told the council of men, "We challenge you to go in the bathrooms. Please go look all over the community building and drive around your town."

Robison and Archuleta also spoke at the invitation of City Administrator Sam Demel on a project they want at Progress Park. Robison said they have talked to local artists Jamie Terwort and Tamara Bogatay

about painting interactive murals on the outside walls of the park bathroom. They said private funds will be used and there will be no cost to the city. They have the council's approval.

Myers Represents Many Voices About Eyesore Properties

Kiowa homeowner Brenda Myers spoke to council on behalf of many Kiowans regarding old vehicles left in the street and other eyesore properties around town. "We want to keep our town attractive," she said.

She listed licensed and non-licensed cars, boats and other vehicles that have been parked on city streets, some for years. Abandoned vehicles, houses or structures are a safety concern besides being unsightly, Myers said. "Kids are kids," she said about them daring each other to enter one of those dangerous places and get hurt or worse.

She listed one eyesore location and said, "It's been three years and nothing has been done." She told council, "We need to pay attention." Councilman Tom Wells said to her, "You are absolutely right." Demel and council asked Myers to make a detailed list of the places to which she referred and give it to them so the city can handle it. That means giving some of the list to city attorney Brandon Ritcha.

Kiowa home owner Bea Thurman spoke briefly on the public agenda. She told the council she wants a fine imposed on "owners of all the trash houses." She described a house at 9th and Robinson as "just awful." Again Demel told her to submit a detailed list of locations that need attention so the city can handle it.

Kristina Duvall told council that the sidewalk by the city lot at 7th and Main is in major need of repair.

Waterline Replacement Project Ongoing in Kiowa

Those passing through Kiowa probably see strips of yard dug up with piles of dirt and orange netting around the holes. This is the scene in yard after yard north of Main Street as Kiowa's $6.5 million waterline replacement project is going full force. Nowak Construction of Goddard started working on this project a few months ago for BG Consultants of Wichita, the engineering firm hired by the City of Kiowa for the project.

The waterline project replaces the city's estimated 100 year old water system. The existing pipe that is said to be some cast iron, asbestos concrete, etc., is cracked and corroded. For the waterline replacement in town, Nowak is running three to four crews, according to Jeremy Wills who is Nowak project foreman. That involves approximately 10 to 12 miles of waterline being replaced with PBC (poly vinyl chloride) pipe.

The meeting agenda addressed a change order on the water project. Demel said the city saved $25,725 on that change order. A directional bore on a 10 inch waterline was not needed. Instead they did an inplace eight inch water line.

Demel said that the total cost was $101,518. With the $25,725 savings, the net increase in spending totaled $75,793.

The water project completion date is October of 2022. The day of the meeting, Demel said the project was about eight percent complete.

Nowak started at the north end of town and are working their way to the south end of town. Some residents are choosing to, on their own, hire a private contractor to put a new water line in their own yard from their water meter in the city's new water line to their house. That way when the city's new waterline is flowing with greater pressure in clean pipe, the resident will have the benefit of cleaner water and more pressure when it flows from their faucet. The resident's cost is approximately $1000, depending on who they hire, the distance of your meter in the city line to your house, etc. Having this done at my home, it took just one afternoon. Looking inside the old, corroded, broken pipe that was bringing our water supply to us, I am more than happy that we spent the money.

As Nowak digs the holes, sometimes sidewalks are damaged or torn up. If so the sidewalk will be replaced, Demel said. He said the approximate cost of installing a handicap ramp at the end of a sidewalk is $1300.

More City of Kiowa Business, One Purchase Debated

Mayor Bill Watson called the meeting to order with all members present. They said the Pledge of Allegiance and Councilman R.L. Simpson led the group in prayer. Along with the city administrator and City Clerk Cady Tucker, other councilmen present were: B.J. Duvall, Brian Hill, Jason Thayer and Tom Wells.

Demel told the Newsgram Friday that earlier in the week someone dumped a truck and trailer full of railroad ties and fence posts at Kiowa's Burn Site. "We've had to close the burn site until our next meeting," Demel said. Council may have a special meeting he confirmed.

The council has been divided for months when they discuss whether or not to purchase or lease a mini-excavator. Demel said the city has many areas of broken sewer lines that could be fixed with a mini-excavator.

Simpson said, "We can't fix many things because we don't have the right equipment. We've been kickin' this down the road for eight years. I'm done. I have citizens who are mad and want something done. We've got a hole in the yard at the grade school that we can't do anything about." He continued, "We've had bids and other solutions and it keeps gettin' shot down."

After much discussion, Simpson moved and Wells seconded that the city purchase a 50 horsepower mini-excavator. The motion failed when Duvall voted "no" and Hill abstained which counts as a no vote.

Then Hill made a motion to lease a mini-excavator for one month at a cost of $3400. The motion passed 5-0.

Demel told council they are working to recover the hard drive on the city clerk's computer. They've purchased a new computer for her, but continue the recovery process for the other vital information on her previous computer.

Regarding the city's insurance for vehicles, property, worker's compensation, etc., Demel said they paid about $90,000. The city received a $14,900 rebate.

Yvonne Miller

This is a view of the new PBC waterline pipes put in the ground by Nowak Construction of Goddard. Kiowa's $6.5 million waterline replacement project is about eight percent complete with a completion date of October 2022.

The city's old electric building is torn down. Now council is considering a new building and Demel is researching with staff to see exactly what they need.

City Superintendent John Duvall gave his monthly report. The city is advertising for two part-time summer workers. The crew is preparing the city pool for summer. The city's generator batteries have been changed. City workers are cleaning out items stored at Ellis Field. From the audience Robison said on behalf of the chamber the city has her permission "to pitch any old stuff that might belong to the chamber." Duvall said they need to schedule a power outage to make some repairs. The date and time will be announced.

Mayor Watson said the Masonic Hall is holding a Cancer Screening in the fall. He requested the city allow a sign-up sheet at the city office for people to schedule appointments.

Following executive session, the council took no action.

 

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