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Russell, KS

Russell public meetings in 2022

9 substantive meetings from 2022, with official agendas or minutes and plain-English summaries.

Tue Dec 27, 2022

City Council

Council to vote on golf fees, development agreement, water plant change order

The Russell City Council is meeting to consider several items, including an ordinance amending daily greens fees at the municipal golf course, a supplemental development agreement with Russell Development Inc., a water conservation plan review, and a change order for the Water Treatment Plant A construction project. They will also discuss electric utility load growth, solid waste fees, and a public transportation grant. The agenda includes consent items, public comments, and executive sessions.

golf-feesdevelopment-agreementwater-treatmentsolid-wastetransportation-grantpublic-hearingconsent-agenda
✓ Decided: Russell City Council approves water conservation plan and golf course fee changes

The City Council approved an ordinance amending daily greens fees at the municipal golf course and adopted a Water Conservation Plan. The council also authorized a public transportation grant application and approved a contract decrease for the Water Treatment Plant A project.

Tue Dec 27, 2022

City Council

Council to decide fate of unsafe house at 223 N Lincoln St

The Russell City Council will hold a public hearing and consider a resolution ordering repair or removal of an unsafe structure at 223 N Lincoln Street. They will also review progress on a dangerous structure at 1337 N Elm Street, consider a resolution on solid waste fees, and discuss a street maintenance cooperative agreement. Other items include a water plant chemical room rehabilitation proposal and a 2023 employee rate schedule.

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✓ Decided: City Council approves street maintenance agreement and water plant services

The City Council approved a cooperative street maintenance agreement and a $51,020 contract for water plant chemical room rehabilitation. A new employee rate schedule was established for January 1, 2023. A public hearing regarding a structure at 223 N Lincoln Street was rescheduled.

Mon Nov 28, 2022

City Council

Council to consider housing incentive district for Holland Hotel Apartments

The Russell City Council will hold a public hearing and consider ordinances related to establishing a Rural Housing Incentive District for the Holland Hotel Apartments, along with a development agreement and redevelopment plan. The council will also discuss registration of work-site utility vehicles and ATVs, golf course fees, a special event application, nuisance abatement, and an economic development policy.

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✓ Decided: City Council establishes Rural Housing Incentive District for Holland Hotel Apartments

The City Council approved a housing incentive district and redevelopment plan for the Holland Hotel Apartments. Council also updated ordinances for utility vehicle registration and approved a new Economic Development Policy.

Mon Nov 7, 2022

City Council

Council to hold hearing on unsafe Elm Street structure, RHID for Holland Hotel

The Russell City Council will hold a public hearing on an unsafe or dangerous structure at 1337 N. Elm Street, then consider a resolution ordering its repair or removal. The council will also discuss creating a Rural Housing Incentive District (RHID) for the Holland Hotel, including a redevelopment plan and development agreement. Consent agenda items include meeting minutes, appropriations, and reports. The meeting includes executive sessions for personnel discussion.

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✓ Decided: Council orders repair or removal of unsafe structure at 1337 N. Elm St.

The City Council approved a resolution declaring the property at 1337 N. Elm St. unsafe and ordering its repair or removal. Other actions included approving an amendment to the city manager's employment agreement and scheduling a public hearing for a redevelopment plan.

Fri Oct 7, 2022

City Council

Council to consider housing resolutions and grant application

The Russell City Council will consider two housing-related resolutions: one supporting housing development and authorizing a Moderate Income Housing grant application, and another proposing a Rural Housing Incentive District. The council will also review a Title VI non-discrimination plan, discuss city code on work-site utility vehicles, and consider a replacement electric utility bucket truck.

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✓ Decided: Council approves housing grant resolution and $218K bucket truck purchase

The Russell City Council approved a resolution supporting Russell Development's renovation of the former Holland Hotel into loft apartments and authorized applying for a Moderate-Income Housing grant. They also approved a resolution to create a Rural Housing Incentive District. The council approved the purchase of an Altec bucket truck for $218,223.00, with one councilmember voting against. Additionally, they directed the city attorney to draft an ordinance updating fees for work-site utility vehicles, micro-utility trucks, and ATVs.

Fri Oct 7, 2022

City Council

Council to consider dangerous structure hearing, fireworks permit, and utility contracts

The Russell City Council will meet to handle routine business, including approving minutes and licenses, and will discuss several items: an engineering contract amendment, a wastewater lagoon change order, a review of vehicle codes, and material procurement for electric distribution circuits. New business includes a public fireworks display permit, a dangerous structure hearing for 223 N Lincoln St, and a purchase of benches and flower pots for downtown, contingent on grant funding. The meeting also includes employee service awards and an executive session for legal and personnel matters.

zoningpublic-safetyutilitiescontractsparksfireworksproperty-maintenance
✓ Decided: Council approves $1.5M for electric distribution materials

The Russell City Council approved several items, including authorizing up to $1.5 million for materials for the East Residential 1 and 2 electric distribution circuits, with one councilmember voting against. They also approved a fireworks permit, a dangerous structure hearing, and a downtown bench/flower pot purchase contingent on grant funding. No action was taken on a draft ordinance updating fees for work-site utility vehicles.

Thu Sep 22, 2022

City Council

Council to adopt 2023 budget, hear revenue neutral rate, approve housing grants

The Russell City Council will hold public hearings on the 2023 budget and revenue neutral rate, then consider adopting the budget and approving a 10-year capital improvement plan. They will also discuss housing development funding, including a grant agreement with the state and a subgrant to Russell Development Inc., and consider several property-related actions at 1337 N. Elm Street, including a dangerous structure hearing and nuisance abatement.

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✓ Decided: Council adopts 2023 budget with property tax rate above revenue-neutral level

The council unanimously adopted the 2023 budget and a resolution to levy a property tax rate exceeding the revenue-neutral rate after a public hearing. They also approved the 2022 amended budgets for special parks, highway, and fire equipment reserve funds, and authorized several housing development agreements and grants. A dangerous structure hearing and nuisance abatement were set for 1337 N Elm St, and up to $30,000 from the Duke Johnson Trust was authorized for demolition of unsafe structures.

Tue Sep 13, 2022

City Council

Council to weigh water outlook, nuisance abatements, truck purchases

The Russell City Council is meeting to discuss the city's water source status amid drought conditions, consider nuisance abatement resolutions for two properties, and review bids for replacement pickup trucks. The agenda also includes consent items like the July financial reports and appropriations, plus a 2021 audit report and a video service agreement. The meeting includes public comment periods and an executive session for attorney consultation and personnel discussion.

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✓ Decided: Council approves two new pickup trucks for city departments

The council approved the purchase of two 2023 Ford F150 pickup trucks from Lewis Automotive Group for water distribution and street departments, passing 4-3. They also approved nuisance abatement resolutions for two properties, a special event application for Bricks, Broncs, and BBQ with fee waivers, the 2021 audit report, and directed staff to finalize a video service agreement with Nex-Tech. No action was taken during executive sessions.

Mon Aug 29, 2022

City Council

Council to consider nuisance abatement at 1250 N Kilian St

The Russell City Council will meet to consider several items, including a water source status presentation, a task order for electric distribution system improvements, and a resolution to remove nuisances at 1250 N Kilian Street. The agenda also includes routine consent items and an executive session for attorney consultation.

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✓ Decided: Council approves KMEA substation design task order

The council unanimously approved Task Order #5 for the Fossil Street Substation Improvements under the KMEA/Mid-States Master Services Agreement. They also authorized nuisance abatement at 1250 N Kilian Street, with costs charged to the property if not resolved. No other substantive decisions were made; the meeting included a water source update and a housing project report.