Humboldt opens range, picks painter

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June 11, 2013 - 12:00 AM

HUMBOLDT — The police department firing range here will be used with council members’ blessings for hands-on training in concealed carry classes.
The range is at the south end of Camp Hunter Park, in the southeast part of town and adjacent to an area where brush, limbs and grass clippings may be placed. It will be open from 7 a.m. to dusk, under new rules adopted by council members Monday night.
The area had been locked and users were required to obtain a key at City Hall or the water plant, an aside many found to be a nuisance. Also, surveillance cameras will be installed to ensure the firing range is used properly, as well as parks throughout the city.
Jeff Collins, a Humboldt police officer and gun shop owner, will use the range for concealed carry classes he teaches. He expects to use the range one hour on one Saturday a month, during which time the dumping grounds for yard refuse will be closed as a safety precaution.
Loren Korte, of Personal Service Insurance, which provides coverage for city employees, recommended Collins, and any other private user of the range, have $500,000 liability insurance. Collins told City Administrator Larry Tucker he had $250,000 in liability insurance and that buying more would be prohibitive; council members agreed $250,000 was sufficient.
While Collins used the range previously, some concerns of residents in the area earlier brought it to the attention of council members. The issue then went to the Planning Commission because zoning was involved. The area is zoned residential, which technically precludes commercial activity, which Collins’ concealed carry class is. The Planning Commission recommended an exception.
As for concealed carry of weapons in city buildings, council members unanimously instructed Tucker to send a letter to the attorney general’s office that will give city staff until Jan. 1 to study whether Humboldt wants to allow citizens to carry guns into buildings.
Options are to allow concealed carry or provide metal detectors and personnel at entrances to frisk people coming in and hold weapons. However, if a security plan is proposed, the city may be eligible for a four-year exemption from the law, an approach that has been taken elsewhere.

IMPROVEMENTS, required by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, will be made to the sewer plant, amounting to about $100,000 this year.
Council members approved a bid by BG Consultants, Emporia, of $10,100 to oversee the project. BG’s bid was $1,550 higher than one made by Wilson and Company, Salina, at $8,550.
BG was recommended because, in Tucker’s words, the city has a comfort level with the company from having worked with it in lead-up to the improvements. Council members agreed unanimously.

COUNCIL members established a specific bicycle route, which will be marked with signs paid for with a $2,956 grant from the Kansas Health Foundation, to carry bike traffic from the Southwind Rail-Trail to Neosho River Park.
Signs will direct cyclists from the trail along 12th Street to Signor, west to 12th, south to Central, west to Ninth, and then south to Bridge Street, which will take them on west to the river park.
The route will coincide somewhat with previously marked bike routes that meander through town to city parks.
In another public project, Harvey Peck will paint a mural on a blank wall in the City Hall’s basement, in a room used for council and many other meetings.
The Rotary Club meets in the room and its members came up with the idea for the mural. Peck, a muralist of note in Humboldt, initially said health problems prevented him from doing the mural, but with improved health said more recently he could.
Several employees were recognized for years of service, and those with 10 or more years were given cash bonuses. Patricia Sanchez, utility foreman, led the way at 30 years and a $400 bonus. City Clerk Jean Flores and two volunteer firemen, Sean McReynolds and David Wells, have 20 years and received $300 each.

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