Members of the Ellsworth City Council recently approved several resolutions and ordinances dealing with the construction and payment of infrastructure improvement projects in the city.

After Kevin Cowan of Gilmore and Bell in Wichita spent an hour at the more than three-hour Nov 25 meeting explaining the intricate details of the schedule for issuing general obligation bonds for payment, the following were approved;

• Resolution 19-1125A, authorizing and providing for improvements to certain public buildings in the City of Ellsworth and providing for the payment of the costs of those improvements. This includes boiler improvements at city hall, improvements to the swimming pool, drive and drainage improvements to the existing cemetery and the design and construction on various improvements to the existing airport.

• Ordinance 3098, designating certain streets within the City of Ellsworth as main traffic ways and main traffic way connections. Specifically, the main traffic ways are Third Street within Ellsworth, and 15th Street and K-140 Highway within the city. The traffic way connections are Prospect Avenue from 15th Street and Eighth Street, and Grand Avenue between 15th and Eighth streets.

• Resolution 19-1125B, authorizing the improvement or reimprovement of certain main traffic ways and traffic way connections within the City of Ellsworth and providing for payment of the associated costs. This includes the intersection of K-156 Highway and 15th Street in Ellsworth, East Eighth Street in Ellsworth, Prospect Avenue between 15th Street and Eighth Street, Grand Avenue between 15th Street and Eighth Street, and East Third Street in Ellsworth.

• Ordinance 3099, authorizing and providing for the construction of storm water drainage improvements in the city and authorizing the issuance of general obligation bonds of the city to pay for the costs of the improvements. This includes the construction of drainage improvements, including curb and gutter improvements at First and West Street near Second and Washington Avenue and near Eighth and Kansas Avenue.

• Resolution 190-1125C, authorizing the offering for sale of general obligation temporary notes, Series 2019, of the City of Ellsworth.

• Authority to award the contract commitment of the City of Ellsworth of city funds Resolution 19-1125D (KDOT project 027 KA-4763-01, CCLIP, K-156 and East Eighth Street Project).

• Approved an agreement with Kirkham Michael Engineers for the KDOT cost share project Eighth Street improvements.

In other business:

• A 15-minute public hearing on a proposed tax increment funding (TIF) district expansion was held. The area is bounded on the east by Evans Street, on the north by Eighth Street, on the west by K-156 Highway and on the south by Second Street.

Patrick Hoffman, city attorney, said several property owners in the proposed district have questioned whether their property taxes would go up as a result of the TIF.

“They do not go up by virtue of being in the TIF,” Hoffman said. “The TIF district designates where those property taxes go.”

Hoffman said instead of the general fund, they would go into a TIF fund to pay for infrastructure.

“Now if you build something on your property, obviously, that gets reassessed, and that valuation would go up,” he added.

Curt Glaser asked how much money was in the TIF district pool from the original designation. He also asked whether the money not needed for debt service increased the pool, the current rate of interest and when the term of the TIF district will expire.

Hoffman said the proposed TIF district will expire in 2031.

“It does not extend the time these properties are off the general tax roll,” the attorney said of the expanded district.

Mayor Mark Kennedy said the rate of interest the city is getting is 1.82 percent.

George Martin of the Ellsworth American Legion asked if the establishment of the TIF district will affect the property taxes of non-profit organizations.

Hoffman said the Legion is exempt, and would remain exempt.

“It doesn’t change your property tax status,” he said. “It doesn’t change any of the classifications. It does make it possible, maybe, for some infrastructure improvements to happen. But the TIF in itself doesn’t change anyone’s property tax or their valuation.”

Ciry clerk Patti Booher said the city has received $179,509.55 from the existing TIF district so far in 2019.

• Kennedy appointed Jessica Kootz to fill the vacant seat on the council. Council member Wayne Scritchfield was nominated and approved as council president.

• Approval was given to authorize a grant submittal for social media and an advertising campaign for the 2020 Census Grant. Stacie Schmidt of Ellsworth County Economic Development said the $2,000 grant is from the Kansas League of Municipalities.

• Police Chief Emil Halfhill said the invoice for the purchase of new firearms for the department was approved prior by Scott Moore, former city administrator. The total was $1,172.50.

He also discussed the two dumpsters placed on Ninth Street. The total bill for the dumpster to date is $261.44. Tony Lamia of Slechta Enterprises wrote off $390 at the city’s request.

“I was asked to go speak to Mr. Lamia by the previous administration to set up this project,” Halffhill said.“I voiced my concerns. But I was instructed to do it.”

When Halfhill talked to Lamia, Lamia agreed to waive the hauling fees or mileage. But the city would have to pay for the dumpster and the landfill fee.

Halfhill said he was asked to find other organizations in the community to help pay for the bill.

“I said no,” he said.

Halfhill said there were also other residents he was instructed to call.

Halfhill said one resident seemed to have the understanding through the previous administration that he is getting a dumpster as well.

“How would you like me to handle that?” Halfhill asked.

“I don’t think it’s a good thing to get into issuing dumpsters,” said council member Tyler Renard.

The council tabled the matter.

• Patrick Hammel of the Ellsworth Golf Course said he didn’t have any projects, but there may be an equipment upgrade in the near future.

• Streets superintendent Delvin Bettenbrock said Citizens State Bank and Trust has requested the city replace the sidewalk around the parking lot. He also received a request to repair the alley behind Douglas and Lincoln avenues between First and Second streets. Kirkham Michael submitted a construction cost bid of $83,000. Kyler’s Construction submitted a $48,500 bid.

Bettenbrock said Survey’s has been working on the ballfield easement behind Pizza Hut.

“They have spent $450 so far,” he said.“And they’re estimating another $100 to finish what they need to do.”

Bettenbrock said $700 has been invested in the drainage from Preisker Park down to North Main Street with another $150 to finish the project.

• City superintendent Joe Travnichek reviewed several projects, ranging from the sewer to the splash pad. He said the backup generator purchased by the city to run the water at the sewer plant is not sufficient to do the job. He also said the meter for the Ellsworth Correctional Facility has arrived and will be installed.