HUMBOLDT – An unidentified Ottawa company that wants to expand its reach into southeast Kansas may find a home in Humboldt’s old city hall.
City Administrator Cole Herder told council members Monday evening he and company officials thought the building wound meet its needs. His suggestion was to charge about $400 a month rent, which he predicted would have the city break even after paying utilities, taxes and other costs.
To facilitate negotiations, council members gave Herder, Mayor Nobby David and City Attorney Fred Works their go-ahead to deal with the company.
Herder said he thought the building could be reconfigured into another office or two for a second — maybe third — enterprise, in addition to housing the Humboldt branch of the countywide ambulance service. After it was abandoned as city hall, the building housed Weide Monuments, which moved out a few months ago.
Herder also told council members Allen County commissioners gave indication they were ready to provide new, or remodeled, quarters for ambulance personnel stationed in Humboldt and Moran.
The county has money in reserve, an outcome of Enbridge pipeline company paying property taxes on better than $35 million of assessed valuation, to fund the projects.
Keeping the ambulance in a refitted portion of the old city hall will be next to impossible when the ambulance fleet is updated to larger units.
“The garage there isn’t big enough,” for a new ambulance, which is taller than the current ones, Herder said.
Whether something could be done in concert with Humboldt volunteer firefighters is probably out of reach. Long on the volunteers’ wish list is a new station, but the city isn’t in financial position to pursue one soon.
During a review of Humboldt’s 2016 audit, council members were told they should be concerned about their balance, $249,000 for all funds, including reserves. Funds are lower than is considered appropriate, with the water fund having just $428 on the books when the new year started.
“Our objective is to build cash balances,” Herder said. “But, our reserves are looking better.”
A recommendation was for council members to consider raising (property) taxes, adjusting utility rates to create more revenue or cut expenses. With expenses cut to the bone, a means of moving ahead fiscally would be to establish policies to enhance cash carryover, he added.
Otherwise, the city’s books were clean.
In other business, council members:
— Received good news from Loren Korte of Personal Service Insurance, who said that as one of about 450 cities in a statewide insurance pool, Humboldt’s experience was good enough in the past year to receive a premium refund of $16,049.
— Approved a request from Thrive Allen County to make ballfields and nearby spectator areas in southeast Humboldt, Cannon Park and the swimming pool area smoke-free. Areas where smokers may puff away will be marked. Jessica McGinnis, whose role is to combat chronic diseases, made the request.
— Were told by Herder four council members – Mark Slater and Don Becannon in the south part of town and Cindy Holinsworth and Otis Crawford north of Bridge Street – would be up for election in November. June 1 is the filing deadline. Slater said he didn’t intend to run again; Holinsworth and Becannon said they did; Crawford said he hadn’t decided.
Ottawa company considers Humboldt
