By Lucky Kidd
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Hutchinson City Council Tuesday approved the sale and delivery of bonds to cover a number of projects in the city. TD Securities had the low bid on the $2.44 million in bond sold, which due to a bid premium paid to the city will be $50,000 less than had originally been projected for the 20-year bonds, which will carry an interest rate of 3.91 percent.
These bonds will cover a bridge project on 14th at Marland and Hoagland, improvements to Harsha Park, playground equipment at Grandview, and Herman Bunte Parks, HVAC Replacement at City Hall, a vestibule for the Elmdale Community Center, and design work on the north end of the Woodie Seat Freeway.
The Council approved agreements two loans to the State of Kansas Revolving Loan Fund for water and wastewater projects. The largest of these is a $3.57 million loan that will fund replacement of the headworks at the Wastewater Treatment Plant and rehabilitation of five lift stations, a project that is currently projected to cost $5.8 million with the remainder to be funded through existing funds.
The second loan agreement for water system projects is for a base amount of just over $1.2 million but there is a principal forgiveness from KDHE as part of it making the net loan $843.500. These funds will be used to replace 1.5 miles of water lines in an area between K-61 and Town Street from 1st to 9th, identified as the lines in most need of replacement per a recent waterline condition audit. The existing lines were put in between 1925 and 1948.
Approval was given to two special event districts connected with upcoming events. The districts permit consumption of alcohol within designated areas of the city. One district is for SW Bricktown Park and a portion of West 1st for the SW Bricktown Fiesta September 23rd, and the other is for The Reno County vs. the World boxing event September 16th that will be held in a parking lot in the 2500 block of North Main September 16th.
