Overbrook reels in children’s fishing pond

DeAun Michael
Branch Reporter

The Overbrook children’s fishing pond, a project of Overbrook PRIDE supported by the city of Overbrook, dominated a large part of the Oct. 8 Overbrook City Council meeting. In addition, a full agenda of other issues faced the council, including an update on the second phase of a sewer project.

After lengthy discussion, the council agreed the bids submitted, opened and awarded for the work on the fishing pond were handled in an appropriate manner. Initially, concern was expressed regarding the authority that had been granted to project manager Leonard Jirak.

Overbrook Mayor Jack Young said he understood the council had given Jirak authority to request and award bids in order to allow work to proceed on the fishing pond project. However, several council members questioned whether bids should be opened and awarded at a council meeting, if the city is awarding a contract.

Councilman Bob Sisson initially disagreed with the decision of letting Jirak make the bid determination.

“He’s in charge of overseeing the lake, he’s not in charge of saying whose going to build it,” Sisson said. “Anytime you have a bid on something, you have to have the council’s approval.”

Eventually it was agreed the council, in a previous meeting, had given authority to Jirak, since the project is a PRIDE committee project as well. The city is operating as a pass-through only for grant money awarded for the project from Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks.

City attorney Michael Coffman assured the council he saw no negative issues with the way bids were handled. The council requested Jirak be present at the next council meeting to report on progress of the fishing pond.

Vic Robbins, the city’s engineer for Phase II of the sewer rehabilitation project, updated council members on the project’s progress.

He said the community development block grant and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) loan application have been submitted. A contract has also been signed with King Engineering. It is expected the city will soon learn results of the loan application, but an answer on the grant application is not expected until after the first of the year.

Young expressed concern at waiting for the grant application approval.

“We’re still doing required stuff, right?” Young said. “We really don’t have a choice. We just start spending loan money instead of grant money. It’s up to the council, but we really don’t have a choice.”

Robbins said he believes if the grant application is not approved, KDHE might be agreeable to allowing the city to proceed with the project in phases. However, in order to keep the proposed timeline, the council agreed it was best to begin with the highest priority on the project first.

Robbins was instructed to proceed with drawing plans for the lagoon project, as it appeared to be the main concern on KDHE’s list of improvements.

An ordinance designating imminent domain sewer line rights of way was unanimously approved, allowing work to proceed on the sewer project. Robbins said the liner method being used to replace sewer lines should prevent citizens’ yards or trees from being disturbed, but easements must be in place in the event the liner method is not suitable for use in some areas.

Changes to the water service deposit amounts and disconnect and reconnect fees were also considered by the council after a review of another ordinance. Overbrook City Clerk Jim Koger recommended several options for the council to consider. Council member Dorthy Chikly requested additional time to review and update the ordinance before making changes one at a time.

“The League of Kansas Municipalities provides sample ordinances that address these very things that we are trying to solve here,” Chikly said to the council during her request for further study of the ordinance. “If we look at their sample ordinances for other communities similar to us, we can see what ordinances they have on their books that are working for them. We don’t have to rebuild the wheel. Let’s use other wheels that have been through this mud.”

It was decided to hold a special meeting at 6 p.m. Oct. 21. Chikly will research ordinances other cities are currently using and finding successful.

In other business, the council:

• approved the purchase of a chlorine backup device from Douglas County Rural Water District #3.

• heard an update on city swimming pool repairs.

• agreed to a work day at the city shop and storage area Saturday, Oct. 18.

• approved the purchase of a new controller for the school crossing light.

• approved an After Prom donation request.

• made and passed a motion to conduct a special election, at the earliest convenience of the county clerk, to obtain an advisory opinion of citizens on the question of hiring a second full time police officer.

• heard a report from Koger regarding a building at 323 Maple. A structural engineer has inspected the property and the city is waiting for a written report on the safety status of the property.

• discussed animal control issues and agreed to review the current ordinance before making any changes to policy. Council also agreed to purchase an animal control pole.