The Ellsworth City Council Monday night approved a franchise agreement with the WaKeeney-based Western Cooperative Electric to operate within the city limits.

(A copy of the agreement can be found starting on Page B8.)

City administrator Scott Moore said Ellsworth currently receives a 5 percent franchise fee, which amounted to $178,191 in 2017 and $174,324 in 2018.

“Western Cooperative Electric is requesting a 20-year term with the proposed agreement. This will allow the company to plan major capital improvements to their infrastructure throughout the city,” Moore said.

Also Monday, the council accepted a $13,218 grant award from the Smoky Hills Charitable Foundation for the Kiwanis Club splash pad project in Preisker Park. The money brings the total amount raised by organizers to $145,600.

The goal is to complete the project by this summer. Testing on the splash pad should begin this month.

On the club’s priority list are dirt work, pavement between the sidewalk and rest room area, seeding for ground cover, handicapped parking area, picnic pads and fence.

Future improvements include a sidewalk at Nebraska and Third Street, 2nd Street parking and retaining wall and Nebraska Avenue parking and retaining wall.

In other business:

• Council members approved an interlocal agreement with Ellsworth Township trustees for future maintenance and upkeep of a section of Avenue JJ and the drainage ditches adding a contingency clause it will only go into effect if the city accepts a bid for the entire project. While the project is approved for bidding, the council has the option if they don’t like the bids, they don’t have to complete the project.

Total cost of the project is $80,777. Township trustees met March 29 and reached a consensus to support $2,000 worth of the improvement. The updated agreement will be sent to the township for approval.

Moore said existing Tax Increment Financing dollars from the Carrico development could be used to fund the city’s non-participating cost for the portion of Avenue JJ that connects to Carrico’s service driveway.

Once signed by both the city and the township, the agreement will be sent to the Kansas Attorney General for approval before it goes into effect. City attorney Patrick Hoffman does not anticipate any problems with the AG’s approval.

Moore said the City Council will be given financing options in the near future from Piper Jaffray, the city’s bond advisor.

• Ellsworth Police Chief Emil Halfhill received authorization to purchase a 2019 Dodge Ram truck using funds in the municipal equipment and fire and policy funds in an amount not to exceed $25,000.

The truck will replace a 2007 RAM 4x4 with 113,000 miles. It has been used by the department since 2011. The current truck will be sold to another department within the city once the new truck is received.

• Elevator repairs continue at city hall. The piston is in, however, it is missing a gasket which should be added Wednesday and testing to begin. It is hoped to be in working order by the next council meeting scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Monday, April 22.