Streetscape plan advances

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November 13, 2013 - 12:00 AM

HUMBOLDT — Humboldt will apply for a Kansas Department of Transportation grant that would fund substantial downtown improvements.
Council members also agreed, on a 5-to-1 vote, to provide $25,000 from their Community Development Fund, if application of the $420,000 grant is successful.
The Downtown Action Team has been working on a downtown streetscape plan for three years. The grant would enable it.
A local match of 20 percent is required, of which DAT has $65,000 in hand or pledges. The city’s contribution would push the total to $90,000, or slightly more than the required local match.
Jerry Stephens, council and DAT member, made an impassioned plea for the application’s approval — it’s due by Feb. 14.
“This is a leap of faith,” Stephens said, of the plan to upgrade sidewalks, install 44 new decorative light standards, trees, benches and trash containers.
“All that’s being asked is to apply for the grant,” with opportunity to change plans for how the streetscape project will unfold after the grant is awarded, he said. “The reality is, we have to start at home” if improvements are to be made and Humboldt’s downtown is to be made more appealing. “There’s no magic wand.
“This is a modest attempt to do something to make Humboldt a little bit better,” he said. “It’s the appropriate thing for the city to move forward.”
During run-up to the vote, City Administrator Larry Tucker gave an overview of answers Matt Just, engineer for the project from d3 Civil, LLC, Lawrence, provided to questions that arose at a public meeting last week.
He said lights and trees would be placed symmetrically and in a manner that wouldn’t interfere with businesses. Street lights would improve the illumination downtown and security lights may be added in alleys through lease agreements with Westar.
Christmas lights and decorations would fit onto the new light standards and, according to Tucker, would be at the top three feet, at least 11 feet above the sidewalk and not block view of any shop.
Small trees would be planted and other arrangements would be made to protect sidewalks from root damage. An irrigation system would keep trees watered and city crews would pick up leaves and foliage.
JKS Sanitation, contracted to provide service to the city, has offered to dispose of trash collected in trash containers.
Replacement of deteriorating sidewalks would be a precursor to the streetscape project. A grant, without local match, of $36,575 is being sought from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. City crews would install sidewalks.
If the streetscape grant is approved, DAT would turn over local matching funds to KDOT, which would administer the grant’s expenditure, including hiring of contractors for specific parts.
The streetscape grant will be decided sometime in summer 2014. Tucker noted KDOT has $11 million available in federal money that will be awarded over the next two years.

IN OTHER NEWS, council members:
— Put off until their Dec. 9 meeting deciding whether to file for a four-year exemption to permit concealed carry of weapons into City Hall and the swimming pool, the only two city facilities open to the public. Chief of Police Brian Dillow would develop a security plan. If council members decide otherwise, they will have to remove no-gun signs or install metal detectors and have security personnel on duty when the buildings are open. Discussion was precipitated by a state law that took effect July 1 that opened public buildings to concealed carry.
— Were told construction to improve the sewer system, including lift stations, should start in December. Nearly $100,000 is budgeted.
— Approved a plaque to recognize Mary Durand, middle school instructor, and about 20 students for their efforts that led to a $200,000 KDOT grant for construction of sidewalks and crosswalks in a Safe Routes to School project. They pursued the project over two years before being successful.
— Learned the Franklin Street Park, mainly a fishing pond near senior housing, is complete except for stocking by the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, likely to be done in the spring.
— Authorized City Attorney Fred Works to pursue remediation of a nuisance property at 617 N. Sixth St. Council members were told — and saw photos — that the vacant house was littered with trash and infested with bugs.
Contact Bob Johnson by email at [email protected].

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