LYONS, Kan. — Lyons City Administrator Troy Houtman told the City Council Monday night the city needs to move now on addressing issues at the wastewater treatment plant which has been a major headache for the city in recent years.
To that end, Houtman is asking the city to move forward with final design work on plant improvements, and on the financing for it. The city has a commitment for financing from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment’s revolving loan fund for what is estimated to be a $6-7-million-dollar project.
He would like to have that contract in place by mid-March. Connected with this, he also is asking the council at that time to consider a sewer rate increase to fund the project. It has been estimated this could result in a $22-25 increase in monthly sewer fees, on top of an existing $10 fee that has generated sufficient funds to cover the cost of design work.
Houtman said the rate increase he’s looking at could allow the city to reduce the amount it has to finance, with a resulting savings on interest rates and perhaps pay off the project early. There is a rate study in the works for both sewer and gas rates. One question that will be looked at is how a rate increase would be divided, be it on a flat rate across the board, by usage or a combination of both. He also expressed a feeling that sewer rates in Lyons have been too low for an extended period of time.
Council member Mary Kendrick expressed continued frustration with BG Consultants and with Thaniel Monaco, the engineer the city has been working with. Council members have voiced concerns in the past about a lack of contact with them on the project.
Houtman said he had had several contacts with Monaco in the past couple of weeks, and there is an indication Monaco is just waiting on the city to give their go-ahead on this. City Counselor Patrick Hoffman noted BG is currently working on a project in Ellsworth, and that project is proceeding on schedule.
Council member Sheila Spielman stressed the importance of moving forward now. Spielman said this is critical because of the potential KDHE could order a specific type of plant to be built the city would have no control over and likely would cost much more than what is currently being looking at.
The city is looking at organizing a town hall meeting to explain what the city is facing and why this kind of expenditure needs be made now rather than waiting and trying to keep what is now in place operating, which is not a sustainable option long-term.
The Council approved payment of $13,238 and invoice from Landia, Inc of Cary, North Carolina for repairs and maintenance work on an oxygen generator at the plant. They have had two failures on oxidation units in the past few months, and while a workaround was put in place last week as a backup oxigator, which is used to inject air into a oxidation ditch at the plant that has been the source of part of the plant’s problems, is expected to be back in place by the end of the week.
The Council accepted a pair of Planning Commission recommendations related to the former Lyons Town and Country Club clubhouse. This included a change in zoning for the property from residential, the zoning it has been under since the property was annexed into the city, and a variance from parking requirements.
At one time the clubhouse use had been grandfathered but since has not been used for that purpose for more than six months. The clubhouse closed about 12 years ago and it is currently owned by Lyons Federal Bank. The changes are related to plans to open a restaurant and bar in the former clubhouse. It was indicated residents in that neighborhood had no issues with it being opened back up for that purpose.
The Council approved a $102,469.26 bid from White Star Machinery and Supply of Wichita for purchase of a backhoe for Public Works, which is a budgeted purchase for 2025, to be paid for out of the gas, sewer, street and water funds. Four bids were received from three vendors for the backhoe, one submitting two options. The existing backhoe would be transferred the Park Department, which the cemetery could also use.
An amendment was approved to the Community Development Housing Grant for housing rehabilitation, to allow completion of the last property to be rehabilitated under the grant which resulted in over $300,000 of investment into property improvements. This also involves some amendments to use of grant funds to be able to use the full amount of the grant.
The Council approved a one-year lease agreement with Todd Kaiser for a round-top hangar at Lyons-Rice County Airport, at rental of $500 a month. Rice County Commissioners approved the lease earlier after changes were made to the legal description of the land provided within the lease.
