Go
Saints!

Thursday
March 28th, 2024

city of liberal logoELLY GRIMM • Leader & Times

 

The Liberal City Commission will be making it a short and easy meeting for itself Thursday afternoon starting at 3 at the Randall Girls Scout Building. 

Up first for the commission will be discussion of work on the restrooms at McCray Park and Country Club Park. 

“Staff is requesting the allocation of funds from the Streets, Drainage and Other Capital Improvements portion of the 1-cent sales tax to complete the two public restroom projects at McCray Park and Country Club Park,” the agenda information noted. “Staff is requesting an amount not to exceed $20,000 to finish the restrooms, and all the concrete work has been completed and paid for by a private donation of $30,000.”

The other item of new business for the commission will be discussion of making some changes to the city’s Façade Grant Program. 

“Instead of offering this just to portions of Pancake Boulevard and Kansas Avenue, this new program would make it available to any commercial business in the Liberal city limits,” the agenda information noted. “City Attorney Lynn Koehn has reviewed the application with the changes and did not see any other changes that needed made. A business owner can apply for up to $5,000 with a 50/50 match requirement, and funds are available on a first come-first serve basis. We only have $16,000 to use in the 2020 budget, but if this project goes well, we can increase that amount next year from the Economic Development portion of the 1-cent sales tax.”

The agenda information also listed the guidelines for the grant. 

“City grants will be for outside façade improvement only. The business or building owner must match the city’s grant with building improvements outside of the building,” the guidelines noted. “Grants will be paid on a REIMBURSEMENT BASIS only. The project must be completed within 12 months of being approved by the Liberal City Commission in order to be reimbursed. An application for any grant assistance must be approved by the economic development director prior to any work being started. Proceeds of the façade grants shall not be used to: pay off or refinance existing debt, pay salaries or applicant’s officers or employees, pay for the purchase or down payment for real estate, or pay income, real estate or other taxes or assessments. The property will meet all applicable building, life safety, and zoning and maintenance codes upon project completion, and the applicant must obtain the required building permits and/or historic review prior to beginning any improvements. At the time of the application, there shall be no taxes, fees or other debts owed to the City by the applicant and/or building owner. Only an individual or business having a legal interest in the subject property may make an application, and this includes: a tenant, owner of the property, or an individual or entity holding a fully executed contract to purchase the subject property. Application for grant assistance will be considered within 21 business days after submission of a completed application.”

After comments from the commissioners and other city staff, the meeting will be adjourned.