KANOPOLIS — A resolution to extend the maturity date of the temporary notes issued this past March for the city water project was approved March 10 by the Kanopolis City Council during the monthly council meeting.

The notes carry dates of March 26,2002 to June 1, 2020.

Dominic Eck of Gilmore and Bell of Wichita, said the United States Department of Agriculture is the permanent lender for the project. First Bank Kansas in Ellsworth is the owner of the maturity note for the project.

“If we closed on the permanent financing in April instead of March, the interest rate would be 1.875 percent instead of 2.25 percent,” Eck said. “That’s a $3,700 annual savings for the city, and for the life of the loan about $150,000.”

Eck said he would return at the council’s April 14 meeting with documents to approve a deal with the final USDA construction permanent financing.

Eck said the resolution doesn’t require a public vote or a public protest period.

“We’re at the stage where we’re turning our temporary financing into permanent financing,” he said. “And so to extend this note, what is required is a resolution adopted by the governing body and consent of 100 percent of the owners of the temporary note, in this case, First Bank Kansas.”

In other business:

• A request by Linnea Beebe of the Sunflower Civic Club to hire a contractor to refurbish the counter tops in the kitchen area of the Kanopolis Community Center was approved.

“It’s bad,” she said of the counter.

Beebe said the club would pay for the work.

“We would want to do that because that is our fundraiser, and we need something to spend our money on,” Beebe said.

Beebe said she would bring a plan back to the council before any work started.

• Approval was given to a request by Kanopolis resident Jack Modrow to blade B Street and C Street. The council expanded that approval to include spending up to $500 to blade all the dirt streets in town. Council member Greg Tripp will contact Gary Falk of White’s Construction to schedule the work.

• Mayor Anthony Hopkins said he previously asked city clerk Debbie Kralik to apply for grants to renovate the sidewalks and curb and gutter on Ohio Street to the west edge of town and along Kansas Street.

“Some of them are looking pretty rough,” Hopkins said.

Kralik also will apply for a grant for a new fire station.

Kralik said she is waiting for financial information so she can apply for the fire station grant. She has, however, submitted information to apply for the sidewalks and curb and gutter grant.

• Approval was given to participate in a free drinking water assessment by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.

Logan Smith, a KDHE geology specialist, and drinking water protection program coordinator, said his job is to visit small communities like Kanopolis that have nitrate problems and to try to find a solution to those problems.

It was noted the city’s water well number seven was previously shut down due to high levels of nitrates. The well is now back below the maximum level of 10 milligrams per liter and the city has been testing it regularly in hopes of bringing it back on line.

“We want to try to mitigate those nitrates and keep those below m.p.l.,” Smith said. “Before we partner with a community, we like to do an assessment.”

He said that would involve talking to individuals and asking permission to test any private water wells they have.

“That way, we can get an idea of how much nitrate is in certain parts of the area,” Smith said.

From there, a KDHE contracted third party will do the water sampling.

A report will then be generated and a recommendation presented to the city council. The council will then decide whether to participate.

Hopkins said he met with another KDHE official recently to be briefed on the drinking water protection program.

“Once the assessment is done, there is no obligation or mandates on us,” he said.

Hopkins said KDHE has some dollars available to help the community find a solution to its water problem.

“I don’t think there is any way we can lose on this,” he said.

“It sounds like a great idea,” said council member Michelle Schwerdtfeger.”

• Approval was given to a $1,063.76 bid from Quality Glass to replace 24 windows broken at the old fire station. It was noted two windows were recently broken by kids throwing rocks. Hopkins said the parents of the kids will pay $98 to replace the two windows.

• Approval was given to the yearly emergency water supply plan. Hopkins said the plan was updated a year ago.

• Approval was given to the $265 agreement with World Pest Control to renew the Sentricon termite colony elimination system.

• Hopkins said he has been accepted into Leadership Kansas, a statewide program designed to enhance and motivate future leaders of the state.

• Kralik said she has received several complaints concerning dogs running loose in town.

• Kanopolis Police Chief Jeff Weigel said code enforcement letters will be mailed out to four property owners.

The next meeting of the Kanopolis City Council will be at 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 14, at city hall.

“We’re at the stage where we’re turning our temporary financing into permanent financing,”

Dominic Eck

Gilmore and Bell of Wichita