Sounds like the Skateboard Park is getting some momentum.
Zach may have found himself a project eh :)
Its great to have the kids involved in it. I will really be theirs once it is built.
Ill put stuff in the paper for you. Any fundraisers or whatever. Just let me know a few days ahead.
One suggestion is to make sure you keep good records and a good trail of where the money goes. People will donate if they know their donation is spent well.
What about the area south of town where we had - have the music festival. The old meat packing plant.
There's tons of room there. It is a hard sandy surface so it could handle a cement park really well. It's got a meat packing pant buried under it so it really can't handle normal buildings.
Reason I mention that is, I would like to see that area developed and have river access there eventually.
Having a skate park there, and a growing music festival, can only help in that.
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Trial
Have you guys been following the Thurber murder trial?
Nothing much has been said on here, but it is all over the place.
Most of what is coming out, came out during preliminary hearings over a year ago.
The defense has not done very much cross examining. It will be interesting to hear their case.
Ive not heard it talked about all that much in the street either. I wonder why that is.
Is it just too hard to talk about?
Nothing much has been said on here, but it is all over the place.
Most of what is coming out, came out during preliminary hearings over a year ago.
The defense has not done very much cross examining. It will be interesting to hear their case.
Ive not heard it talked about all that much in the street either. I wonder why that is.
Is it just too hard to talk about?
Friday, February 6, 2009
Tourists and downtown
Did you see the story in the Traveler this week about the tourist group from Wichita that came to Arkansas City for a day trip?
With all the Thurber trial coverage, it might have gotten lost, but it was on the front this week.
They had a good time and enjoyed their day here.
All those naysayers who are always running the city down should pay attention to this.
The tour group is interesting. Its called a "mystery" tour. A couple in Wichita runs the group, and takes people on a "mystery" tour 3-4 times a year. You go somewhere in Kansas for the day.
We have made a lot of daytrips in Kansas, and there is a lot to see and do.
Some of the people said they would like to come back. They were given schedules of events coming up, such as festivals.
Also, yesterday I was meeting someone for lunch downtown. I was running late. It was only 2 blocks, but since I was late I took my car. Here is the weird thing. There was not a single parking spot available on that block - were Bricks is - or on either side street of the block.
So I ended up parking almost as far away as I would have if I had just walked to start with.
The downtown does get busy at times.
Hardly sounds like the ghost town some want to make it out to be.
With all the Thurber trial coverage, it might have gotten lost, but it was on the front this week.
They had a good time and enjoyed their day here.
All those naysayers who are always running the city down should pay attention to this.
The tour group is interesting. Its called a "mystery" tour. A couple in Wichita runs the group, and takes people on a "mystery" tour 3-4 times a year. You go somewhere in Kansas for the day.
We have made a lot of daytrips in Kansas, and there is a lot to see and do.
Some of the people said they would like to come back. They were given schedules of events coming up, such as festivals.
Also, yesterday I was meeting someone for lunch downtown. I was running late. It was only 2 blocks, but since I was late I took my car. Here is the weird thing. There was not a single parking spot available on that block - were Bricks is - or on either side street of the block.
So I ended up parking almost as far away as I would have if I had just walked to start with.
The downtown does get busy at times.
Hardly sounds like the ghost town some want to make it out to be.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
City Commission on dogs and other issues
You can be fined in Arkansas City now for not cleaning up after your pet.
City commissioners passed an ordinance Tuesday that will impose fines on people who do not clean up after animals that defecate on public property, or on someone else's property without permission. It will be complaint driven. No one will be patrolling to see if anyone is violating the ordinance.
The city also passed two ordinances regarding pit bulls and vicious dogs.
They talked about the water bill fees and the crash recovery fee more, but didn't take any action. On the water bills, they plan to exempt non-profits, and seem to be leaning toward reducing the fee to $35 instead of 50. Both will be brought up again in March meetings.
It was a four-hour long meeting.
They also heard from skateboarders. They tabled an ordinance that would require parents to come to the police station to retrieve skateboards that have been confiscated. Parents could also be fined.
Other matters:
* Approved the Public Building Commission to issue $28,000,000 in revenue bonds for new hospital facility. Voters approved the half-cent sales tax last November. The Public Building Commission — made up of city commissioners — must issue the bonds that will be used to build the hospital, funded in part by the sales tax. This is a preliminary step to selling bonds.
* Accepted KDOC HOME grant, providing for grants to remodel low-income, owner-occupied homes.
Passed a resolution authorizing city participation in NLC Prescription Discount Card Program.
* Passed a resolution authorizing engineering services agreement with Smith & Oakes for Sanitary Sewer Relocation project. A sewer main was heavily damaged in the flooding during the summer of 2007. FEMA has agreed to reimburse the city as repairs are made. Archer said the city has decided it would be more efficient and less costly to build a new one. Smith & Oakes will be doing the design work.
* Passed an ordinance modifying municipal code regarding City Commission authority to remove any board member (of the city boards) without cause.
City commissioners passed an ordinance Tuesday that will impose fines on people who do not clean up after animals that defecate on public property, or on someone else's property without permission. It will be complaint driven. No one will be patrolling to see if anyone is violating the ordinance.
The city also passed two ordinances regarding pit bulls and vicious dogs.
They talked about the water bill fees and the crash recovery fee more, but didn't take any action. On the water bills, they plan to exempt non-profits, and seem to be leaning toward reducing the fee to $35 instead of 50. Both will be brought up again in March meetings.
It was a four-hour long meeting.
They also heard from skateboarders. They tabled an ordinance that would require parents to come to the police station to retrieve skateboards that have been confiscated. Parents could also be fined.
Other matters:
* Approved the Public Building Commission to issue $28,000,000 in revenue bonds for new hospital facility. Voters approved the half-cent sales tax last November. The Public Building Commission — made up of city commissioners — must issue the bonds that will be used to build the hospital, funded in part by the sales tax. This is a preliminary step to selling bonds.
* Accepted KDOC HOME grant, providing for grants to remodel low-income, owner-occupied homes.
Passed a resolution authorizing city participation in NLC Prescription Discount Card Program.
* Passed a resolution authorizing engineering services agreement with Smith & Oakes for Sanitary Sewer Relocation project. A sewer main was heavily damaged in the flooding during the summer of 2007. FEMA has agreed to reimburse the city as repairs are made. Archer said the city has decided it would be more efficient and less costly to build a new one. Smith & Oakes will be doing the design work.
* Passed an ordinance modifying municipal code regarding City Commission authority to remove any board member (of the city boards) without cause.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
More notice
At the worksession Monday, the city decided to try to give more warning - or notice - about upcoming ordinances.
They are going to start putting ordinances on the agenda two weeks earlier.
This means, for instance, when they put out the agenda for the first meeting in March, it will have any ordinances that will be considered in the second meeting listed.
That way, there will be more notice.
So the the agenda for the first meeting in march will have that night's items, plus the items for the following meeting. This will apply only to ordinances.
Kansas is pretty lax in its rules about agendas and such. Legally they do not even have to have an agenda, and if they do, they don't "have to" follow it. They could legally bring up an item and pass it that same night.
Got to give them a little credit here for trying to give the public more notice about things.
You can find out a lot by going to their web site.
The agenda is usually posted Thursday afternoon before the following week's meetings.
The "packet" is usually posted at the same time, or Friday morning.
The packet has background information about the items on the agenda. It is the same material - for the most part - that commissioners receive.
They are going to start putting ordinances on the agenda two weeks earlier.
This means, for instance, when they put out the agenda for the first meeting in March, it will have any ordinances that will be considered in the second meeting listed.
That way, there will be more notice.
So the the agenda for the first meeting in march will have that night's items, plus the items for the following meeting. This will apply only to ordinances.
Kansas is pretty lax in its rules about agendas and such. Legally they do not even have to have an agenda, and if they do, they don't "have to" follow it. They could legally bring up an item and pass it that same night.
Got to give them a little credit here for trying to give the public more notice about things.
You can find out a lot by going to their web site.
The agenda is usually posted Thursday afternoon before the following week's meetings.
The "packet" is usually posted at the same time, or Friday morning.
The packet has background information about the items on the agenda. It is the same material - for the most part - that commissioners receive.
Monday, February 2, 2009
water bills and crash reports
Commissioners talked a long time about the water bill thing and the crash report thing.
They will likely be changed some.
One thing to realize is, that you do not have to pay the crash report fee. It is voluntary.
The insurance companies are asked to pay, and about half do, chief Wallace said.
Some companies send it back to the person who was at fault.
Wallace says no one will go after the person to pay, it wont be turned over to a collection agency etc.
On the water bills. Lane Massey said since this connection and shutoff fee went into effect, a lot fewer people are failing to pay their bill.
There were more people late last month, but the number of shutoffs were cut in half.
So if its getting people to pay, then maybe its not so bad.
But they are considering cutting the amount of the charge, and are going to not charge if a non profit - such as salvation army or a church - is paying the bill.
They talked over 4 hours.
They will likely be changed some.
One thing to realize is, that you do not have to pay the crash report fee. It is voluntary.
The insurance companies are asked to pay, and about half do, chief Wallace said.
Some companies send it back to the person who was at fault.
Wallace says no one will go after the person to pay, it wont be turned over to a collection agency etc.
On the water bills. Lane Massey said since this connection and shutoff fee went into effect, a lot fewer people are failing to pay their bill.
There were more people late last month, but the number of shutoffs were cut in half.
So if its getting people to pay, then maybe its not so bad.
But they are considering cutting the amount of the charge, and are going to not charge if a non profit - such as salvation army or a church - is paying the bill.
They talked over 4 hours.
Sunday, February 1, 2009
city commission agenda
Here is the agenda for the city commission meetings
Monday 5:30 p.m., worksession.
Tuesday, 7 p.m. regular meeting
all meetings open to the public
1. Consider resolution requesting the Public Building Commission to issue $28,000,000 in
revenue bonds for new hospital facility.
2. Consider resolution accepting KDOC HOME grant, providing for grants to remodel low
income owner occupied homes.
3. Consider resolution authorizing City participation in NLC Prescription Discount Card
Program.
4. Consider resolution authorizing engineering services agreement with Smith & Oakes for
Sanitary Sewer Relocation project.
5. Consider ordinance modifying municipal code regarding skateboarding violations in the
downtown, increasing deterrents and penalties.
6. Consider ordinance modifying municipal code regarding Commission authority to remove
any Board Member without cause.
7. Consider ordinance modifying municipal code regarding additional regulation of Pit Bulls.
8. Consider ordinance modifying municipal code regarding additional regulation of vicious
dogs.
9. Consider ordinance modifying municipal code regarding removal of pet waste from public
and private property.
10. Consider Mayor’s appointments to City Boards.
Monday 5:30 p.m., worksession.
Tuesday, 7 p.m. regular meeting
all meetings open to the public
1. Consider resolution requesting the Public Building Commission to issue $28,000,000 in
revenue bonds for new hospital facility.
2. Consider resolution accepting KDOC HOME grant, providing for grants to remodel low
income owner occupied homes.
3. Consider resolution authorizing City participation in NLC Prescription Discount Card
Program.
4. Consider resolution authorizing engineering services agreement with Smith & Oakes for
Sanitary Sewer Relocation project.
5. Consider ordinance modifying municipal code regarding skateboarding violations in the
downtown, increasing deterrents and penalties.
6. Consider ordinance modifying municipal code regarding Commission authority to remove
any Board Member without cause.
7. Consider ordinance modifying municipal code regarding additional regulation of Pit Bulls.
8. Consider ordinance modifying municipal code regarding additional regulation of vicious
dogs.
9. Consider ordinance modifying municipal code regarding removal of pet waste from public
and private property.
10. Consider Mayor’s appointments to City Boards.
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