City direction

Ok, looks like the blog is working now. I am still in Tennessee, but should be home by the weekend. This area of the mountains is like a big city now. Traffic is awful. But then, im used to ark city traffic now...
Anyways, I saw in Brand-X that Lane Massey had a "secret" severance package drawn up even before Archer left. Im not so sure that is a real conspiracy though. The package was probably there in his contract just like it was for Archer.He would have gotten that money anyways.
The problem I have with all this is the total money being spent. Massey is getting around 40 grand and Archer is as well. With other expenses, paying a temporary CM, and costs involved with finding new people .. this thing could get to $100,000.
And for what reason?
is it worth $100,000 to change the leaders of administration?
All of this was in executive session, so other than the fact that commissioners were unhappy, we don't know what exactly they were unhappy about.
As a casual observer, it is hard to see how either of them were doing such an awful job...
We will see who replaces them, and whether it was worth it, but it will be a couple years before we know for sure.
Its going to be real interesting to see what happens there.

Whats up with the city

Time of change for city

City Commission worksession may not be all that interesting tomorrow night, except that they may interview candidates for interim city manager in executive session (non public meeting). Nothing illegal about executive sessions, and sometimes it is probably a good thing. I just want to point it out when they do it ...
The deeper issue of course is what the city commission is doing. They will be giving current City manager Steve Archer $33 grand plus other bennies in exchange for his resignation. This is in essence four months pay. During those four months the city will be paying another salary for an interim and possibly a new city manager.
The search for a new city manager will take time and money too.
We are probably looking at at least $50,000 to make this change...
Only time will tell if it is worth it.

Three city commissioners will be up for re-election in April. Deadline for applying for the race is Jan 25. at noon. The filing fee is $10. There is cost involved in running a campaign, but I suppose one could spend as much or as little as he or she wanted.
I am still thinking of running. If i did, i would have to quit the blog.
But I would like to encourage other people to run as well.
Public discourse is a good thing. The election campaign is about that.
We need vision... direction.
With the current political landscape of incumbents being unpopular in general and with the state of flux the city is in .. i think now is an excellent time for someone new to the process to run...

Worksession is 5:30 p.m. Thursday, and regular meeting is Tuesday at 7.
Say what you like about the commission, but they do welcome people at the meetings. They will let you talk even. Ive been around a lot of commissions in different states. I would have to say that the commission here is as open as any i have seen as far as letting the public speak at meetings.
Their rule that it has to be something not on the agenda does seem a bit odd, but ... if you are paying attention to the issues, there is a time when things are being discussed but not yet on the agenda, so there would be the opportunity.
Hope to have the live blog going Thursday at 5:30..

Roof repair refunds available

Here is something from the city's website about that guy who didn't finish people's roofs. 

NOTICE TO 4-STATES EXTERIORS CUSTOMERS

NOTICE TO PROPERTY OWNERS THAT HAD DEPOSITS FOR ROOF WORK NOT HONORED BY CHRIS HAAS DBA 4-STATES EXTERIORS.
The City has received the funds from Mr. Haas Compliance Bond in the amount of $4,000.00. These funds will be distributed to property owners that can verify their losses. All funds will be evenly dispersed.
If you were a customer of 4-States who had their monies taken without work being done and you have not received a refund or had the work completed than you will need to come by City Hall 2nd floor and fill out a request. You will need to bring proof of loss, canceled check, contract or receipt.
The deadline for claims will be November 30, 2010 at 5:00 pm.
MATT ROWLAND, DIRECTOR
CITY OF ARKANSAS CITY
BUILDING, PLANNING AND CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICE
CITY HALL, ARKANSAS CITY
620-441-4420
OFFICE HOURS ARE M-F 8-12 & 1-5

Man dies after being crushed by car

Here is something from the Ark City Police

 

On 11-06-2010 around 3PM, officers were dispatched to a report of a car that had fallen on a person on north 4th street in Arkansas City.  Upon arrival, officers saw a man's legs coming from under a car.  Te front wheels had apparently been removed to work on the car.  Officers learned the identity of the man by speaking with a neighbor.  Officers tried to speak to the man but received no response.  Officers assisted a neighbor in lifiting the car off of the mane with a scissor jack provided by the man. 

 

Two officers were then able to pull the man out from under the vehicle as EMS arrived.  The man's face was flushed, he was not breathing and he was cold to the touch.  Reports from those present indicated that the man had only been down for a couple minutes.  Officers immediately began CPR assited by EMS.  Officers continued on with rescue breaths for several minutes as EMS continued to treat the man medically.  CPR was continued as the man was transitioned to a cot, secured and placed in the back of the awaiting ambulance.  As the man was placed in the back of the ambulance he began to breath on his own.  He was later sent to Wesley by way of EagleMed and later that evening was stable an still breathing on his own.  I understand, howeer, that the man died of his injuries the following day.

 

Due to the officers' and neighbor's quick thinking to get the man from under the car and to begin CPR as quickly as they did, the man lived for several more hours. These officers and the neighbor should be commended for their actions.  The Arkansas City Police Deprtment urges persons working on their autos to take every precaution to secure them before getting under the auto to service them.  Accidents such as this are almost always preventable.  Our hearts and prayers go out to the man's family. 

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Hike-Bike Path and City Commission

Looks like the hike and bike trail is finally going to become a reality. A letter in the City Commission packet, from the Kansas Dept of Transportation, says the state will pay all the cost of the project. The city's share was to have been $500,000. The state was going to pay part of it anyway, but these are some Obama Stimulus Package funds being spread around.
It is already out to bid, and big opening is set for Oct. 22, and the city could give approval at its first meeting in November. There really isnt anything for the city to do at this point, but they still have to give the OK to letting the state pick up the tab.

Here are the items on the agenda for Thursday's worksession. Worksession is at 5:30 p.m., I will have the live blog going.

1. Good neighbor award to Curt Freeland
2. Special assessment on various properties for weed cutting and removal of junk and debris.
3. Consider request to withdraw petition for rezoning on Kansas Ave., from business to industrial.
4. Agreement for wastewater discharge from Kan Pak
5. Consider purchase of 33 acres from AC Industries in the Goff Industrial Park.

Arkansas City football time

The Arkansas City Bulldogs start their season Friday at Valley Center. It is going to be a few weeks before the new stadium hosts a game.
It is a bit odd, but the Bulldogs will play Winfield (at Winfield) in the second game of the season on Sept. 10. Gonna be strange not having that game during Arkalalah week.
The first varsity game at the new stadium will be Sept. 17 when the Bulldogs host Goddard.
I have found a couple of good links for following the Bulldogs. Catch it Kansas has a good preview of the upcoming season, and scores and stats will be updated there regularly. Here is the link.

The other place is Hovpen Sports, which is a really good high school sports website

So there is time for the loose ends to be tied up at the new stadium. I noticed there is no press box, but that is probably one of the loose ends that will be fixed.
Now, before the naysayers get rolling, there are just five varsity games scheduled at the new stadium, but there will be a lot more than that going on there. There is JV football, and whatever other football teams the Bulldogs have.
Soccer will likely be played there as well. Then there will be track and field. Im sure the field will get a lot more use than just five games.
Im not sure what the policy will be on allowing other public events .. outdoor concerts or whatever, but hopefully there will be some of that.
A few commented about the cost and such when I posted the snake dance photos.
Yea it cost a lot. But how long has it been since they got a new stadium. Ive no idea the history of Curry Field, but it has been many years.
There were major parking problems at Curry Field, not so at the new stadium. Plenty of parking available, modern restrooms.
I think it is good for the town to have a new stadium. It can be a point of civic pride. There are some good things happening in Ark City whether the naysayers admit it or not. And during a recession or depression IS a good time to build because costs go down. It is tax money well spent.
I have visited many high school football stadiums in my years of covering high school sports for newspapers.
Often that has been what shaped my opinion of a town and was the only real information I had about the town. People who come to games from out of town do that as well. Issues like parking matter. Also just the general aesthetics and intuitive nature of the facility matters. Is the stadium easy to find? You may not find it just by driving into Ark City, but at least having it at the high school is more user friendly from that viewpoint. Is it obvious where to park once you find it, or is it obvious where to go to enter once you find it?
Just how a stadium feels is important too. A new stadium has a nice feel.
It also has a tremendous impact on the athletes. Would not surprise me to see more kids come out for football and for the team to improve a bit just because of their surroundings.

Having said that. I have always enjoyed Southwestern College's football stadium in Winfield. It violates everything I just wrote, but it just has that really nice feel to it that makes up for it being hard to find and not having real good parking. The Aesthetics and design are great.  I also like the stadium at Wellington for the same reasons. I dont dislike Curry Field but it is time to move on.