Concordia City Commission Takes Action on Electrical Service to New Residential Subdivision

The Concordia City Commission took steps towards completing the electrical infrastructure at the St. Joseph Subdivision during its regular meeting Wednesday, March 6th.

The city intends to develop the St. Joseph Subdivision, formerly home to the Cloud County Health Center in Concordia, to address a demonstrated housing shortage in the community.  Campbell and Johnson Engineers completed design work for the public infrastructure to serve the St. Joseph Subdivision late-last year, while the commission awarded the infrastructure construction bids to Vogts-Parga Construction, LLC of Newton, Kansas in the amount of $1,749,991.90 in December 2023.

Concordia City Manager Amy Lange says the city learned last month that an additional cost will be incurred to provide electrical service to this residential subdivision.  A deposit must be made prior to work being done, Lange said, and a portion is refundable.

Currently, Prairie Land Electric Cooperative's policy is that a $3,000 per home refund may be issued at the time a home is connected to the electrical systems for homes completed within five years.  This is an estimated $48,000 refund.  City Manager Lange said the city will request special consideration to obtain the deposit refund in full and up front but that will require approval from the Prairie Land Electric Board of Directors.

The infrastructure design for the St. Joseph Subdivision included underground electrical service to all lots, although this was not included as a plat covenant.  The cost to install this underground electrical service is $139,271.

As of this week, Vogts-Parga is progressing quickly with grading, and anticipates utility construction (water and sewer) to begin within the next couple of weeks, weather permitting.  Therefore, materials need to be ordered soon.

To fund this up-front unplanned expense, the commission discussed several options before voting to move its budgeted Capital Improvement Program (CIP) allocation for a mill and overlay of Archer from 12th Street to 18th Street to their Special Highway Fund, reallocating the CIP dollars to the electrical infrastructure at St. Joseph Subdivision.

In the only other action of the meeting, the commission accepted three trailer houses at 1905 Broadway Street into the Demolition Program.

David Sprague applied to have the three trailer houses, which have been on the city's condemnation list since last year, into the demolition program.  Sprague recently purchased the property with the intent of repurposing it into a travel trailer park.

Three more trailer houses remain on the property.  According to City Building Inspector Bruno Rehbein, one trailer house is being dismantled and removed by Sprague, while there has been interest shown by potential buyers into the other two, which may be sold and moved off the property to out of town.

The commission authorized City Manager Lange to sign the contract with Sprague based on the lowest bid of $9,000.00 from Dalton Dirt Works.  Under the Demolition Reimbursement Program, the city's policy allows for a maximum reimbursement of $4,000.00.

During commissioner comments, Commissioner Ashley Hutchinson said as we move into the spring and summer months, she wants to remind residents of their responsibility to do everything possible to prevent animal attacks.  With more people out and about during the day, there is an increased chance of encounters with aggressive dogs.  Hutchinson spoke about the need for responsible pet ownership and to focus attention on reducing the chances that their pet will injure someone.