Alva Review-Courier -

The multi-million waterline project that updated Kiowa's underground water pipes and the waterlines from the city's water wells south of Sharon, Kansas, is almost complete. However, the city council keeps approving checks for needed work to finish the project which should be complete this summer.

At a special meeting in late April with all members present, council approved a $13,641.33 payment for change orders on the water project to NOWAK who has done the work.

Brian Foster from BG Consultants told council, “We tried our best to manage hours, but over the last year-and-a-half the project took longer than we had budgeted for. The wellhouse and transmission line took a long time to build.”

Demel reminded that at a previous meeting, council approved Bill's Repair (from Kiowa) and an Oklahoma company to work together with BG on this transmission line. They are boring a new line as the other line was not buried deep enough and was exposed on the surface. This runs along K2 Highway from Hazelton to Kiowa. The Oklahoma Company is doing the boring and Bill's Repair is doing the connection.

Councilman Brian Hill questioned Foster about details. Mayor Bill Watson said the inspector had to be there when NOWAK redid something and requested more details.

Council didn't approve the payment to BG before Robison also questioned more details. “They will not ask for more? No more extra budgeted time?” Robison asked. Then council approved up to $7000 for BG's labor.

Pool repairs were an agenda item as it was at a recent meeting. Councilman Tom Wells will paint and repair the big pool and baby pool as his business Wells Paint Service. Demel estimated the cost at $25,000 to $30,000. Wells said he thinks he can do for closer to $20,000. Council approved Wells Paint Service bid for up to $20,000 for pool improvements.

The Blue Cross/Blue Shield health insurance increased by 12 percent, Demel said. He and city attorney Brandon Ritcha are working on an “option out” claus for employees if they can prove they have other health insurance. The city would pay the employee the $500/month for their other health insurance premium. The council approved the annual premium of $213,833 to BCBS.

Council approved Resolution No. 23-002 to establish the 457 retirement plan for city employees.

Resolution No. 23-003 was also approved regarding a two percent match for the city's part in 457.

Demel explained the 2022 Transfer of Funds is so the city doesn't have too much carryover money.

They plan on transferring enough from general fund for the fire department to have $104,000 of funds that are leftover and not used by the fire department in years: 2019, $29,579; 2020, $31,172; 2021, $18,620; 2022, $25,178. That totals $104,000 plus add $5,000 for a firetruck that was sold. That is roughly $109,729. There was already $26,000 in the public safety fund so now the total in it is $136,000. That is for Fire Department to purchase their firetrucks, etc.

Council also approved transfers: into streets $170,000; roughly $50,000 into capital improvements; another $55,000 into equipment reserves.

Watson presented an insurance bill from 2022 for city insurance that was authorized previously. City Clerk Sheila Smith said the council needs to transfer $89,000 for an EMC invoice Watson presented for the 2022 year all city insurance.

On electricity, Demel said the city has a request wanting Kiowa to share a journeyman with Ashland. “We don't have enough work for a full time journeyman,” Demel explained. For emergencies the city would use Duvall's Repair. Demel is researching further.