City Hears Boy Scout Water Well Plans

news1@ulyssesnews.com

The Ulysses City Council approved a lease agreement with the Boy Scouts May 14, for a water well in the area of Frazier Park.

“This is establishing the Boy Scouts’ ability to lease that little spot so it’s their spot and eventually put a well on it,” said City Administrator Luke Grimes.

The Scouts will have a water well class June 13.

City Attorney Lynn Koehn said before the Scouts do anything, they need the consent of the city engineer and city administrator.

“When you’re talking about doing stuff with water wells, just to make sure KDHE (Kansas Department of Health and Environment) approves it,” Koehn said. “That protects the city, in my opinion, to the extent we need to be protected.”

In other business:

•The council approved spending up to $272,000 for a concrete renovation of U.S. Highway 160 (East Oklahoma Avenue) between Missouri Street and Stubbs Road.

“It’s a lot better than $2.5 million,” said councilman Caleb Woods.

“These are projected number, that is important to note,” said city administrator Luke Grimes.

•The council approved a Federal Fund Exchange with the Kansas Department of Transportation for $81,713.77 and the city will receive 90 cents of every dollar, which is $73,542.39.

•Approved Ordinance 1350 which allows code enforcement to abate a nuisance property without bringing it to city council for permission.

“I think that’s superfluous and there’s no reason for that,” Grimes said. “This is just giving Natalie (Anguiano) essentially the authority to have lawns mowed that go way too long without getting mowed.”

City attorney Lynn Koehn said he was surprised that wasn’t in city code when Grimes brought it up.

“We’re not talking about tearing down a residential structure, we’re talking about cutting some weeds down,” Koehn said. “That needs to be delegated to your code enforcement officer, not brought to the (council’s) attention every two weeks.”