Approved To Barricade 1st Street For Sledding
With plans to purchase new patrol and body cameras for the Greenwood County Sheriff’s Office, Sheriff Heath Samuels approached the council during their Monday, Jan. 13 meeting to request diversion funds from the Eureka City Council. It was noted that the diversion account currently has approximately $20,000 through previous diversion agreements that had been reached. Attorney James Watson stated that these funds can be used for prosecution, court equipment and/or equipment for law enforcement. Sheriff Samuels shared the new cameras would have unlimited storage and would provide access to footage when officers may not activate the camera. The vehicle cameras will also have the capabilities to run data from vehicles that will assist with locating stolen vehicles, BOLOs (Be On The Look Out), missing persons and burglaries, as the system would note when the vehicle was last seen and provide a general area. The system does not record data regarding owners/ drivers. A total of 13 M500 Motorola in-car systems and 19 body cameras for deputies, jail and court staff will be purchased/ installed to assist the department, with Sheriff Samuels noting that the cost of $189,000 over five years, would be funded through various funds. It was shared that he had applied for and received a $40,000 grant for the purchase; will utilize $60,000 of Greenwood County Diversion funds and the Sheriff’s Office budget will absorb the remainder, as well as the backside costs of installation. Attorney Watson stated that he would like to keep approximately $5,000 in the diversion account for incidental needs but was in favor of utilizing $15,000 for this purchase. The council approved the request of $15,000 for the purchase.
Closure Of 1st Street Mayor Stephen Coulter brought up the recent closure of 1st Street between School and Oak Streets for area youth to sled. He noted that in years past, it was referenced to be a liability concern. The council agreed that regardless of the closure, sledding would still occur and they would agree to close it for the safety of the area’s youth. The council approved a motion to leave those closures to the Mayor’s discretion. Mayor Coulter also took the time to express appreciation to Sheriff Samuels and his staff for watching the intersection during recent snow days.
New Fire Station
Eureka Fire Department Chief Luke Westerman presented the council with a proposal from TESSERE, an architectural firm out of Wichita, with hopes of building a new fire station.
Chief Westerman shared that Mayor Coulter, Councilmember Jason Brandt, Steve French and Chief Westerman recently traveled to Yates Center to tour their fire department. The agreement with TESSERE would include meetings and design work for the facility including a training room, decontamination zone, four back-in bays, storage at the back of the bays, restrooms and parking for up to 15-20 vehicles north of the station. A preliminary cost will be provided by Crossland Construction. The council approved the $3,500 contract with TESSERE, with the anticipation that it would take eight weeks to complete the project from the initial workshop meeting. These services will provide conceptual drawings and a cost estimate for the city to apply for grant funding for the new station.
City-Wide Garage Sales Robin Wunderlich addressed the council regarding the annual city-wide garage sales. She asked the council to waive the $5 permit fee for those wishing to have garage sales the first weekend in April and the first weekend in September. The council approved to waive the fees for garage sales held April 3-5 and September 3-5. Those wishing to note their garage sales should contact The Eureka Herald for classified placements and/or the special flier listing.
Trick-Or-Treat Main Street
Wunderlich also asked the council to close Main Street between 1st and 3rd Streets for Trick-Or-Treat Main Street in October. The date will coincide with Marshall Elementary class parties, which is believed to be Thursday, Oct. 30. (Eureka USD 389 will approve the calendar for 2025-26 later this spring/early summer) Other Business
With no council committee reports being available, councilmember Cinda Beals suggested that the various committees be scheduled to meet before the regular meetings, to ensure those committees meet. Moving forward, the council plans to implement this process. Committees are as follows: Transportation (Chair Richard Drake and Jeff Marks); Quality of Life (Chair Dan Campbell and Kevin Lawrence); Utilities (Chair Marks and Drake); Safety (Chair Beals and Brandt); Finance (Chair Brandt and Beals); Development (Chair Lawrence and Campbell); and Personnel Committee (Beals and Marks) Discussion was also held regarding an ordinance referencing overhanging trees. Councilmember Marks noted with the recent weather, some trees were overhanging more. He referenced trees at 7th and School Streets and believed the issue could become a liability issue. After noting that homeowners are responsible for trimming trees, Code Enforcement Officer French stated that the ordinance could be updated to realign with other city ordinances to reflect fees being assessed if the city was forced to step in and trim trees.
Clerk Renee Burk shared that the payment for the airport tractor had been received. The auction brought in $160,000 for the tractor; $9,700 for the batwing and $3,400 for the snow blower.
Due to the inclement weather, the state postponed the hearing regarding the animal shelter and a new date hasn’t yet been scheduled. With the resignation from former Animal Control Operator Jerry Rushmore, Code Enforcement Officer French shared he was getting quotes to bring the facility back within 2x4.5=$69.75
compliance. French also noted that he is working to rehome the dogs while work is being completed. Currently the shelter has five dogs. Sheriff Samuels shared contact information for Wichita Animal Action League (WAAL). Anyone wishing to adopt, can contact the City of Eureka at 620-583-6212.
Discussion shifted to snow season. Although there have been struggles with equipment and ice plaguing the area, Mayor Coulter noted that city crews had been working hard to clear what they could. It was further noted that both snowplows owned by the city are manuals. One of which is a 1977 that has possibly completed its service. Discussion was held regarding using the city’s dump trucks and purchasing snowplow attachments that can be added and removed for the snow season. The council was in favor of gathering quotes to do so.
With the Code Enforcement Office being unable to reach property owners, the city council approved three resolutions for publication as proof of service: Resolution 25-01, 644 W. 2nd Street; Resolution 25-02, 423 W. 2nd Street; Resolution 25-03, 650 W. 2nd. The resolutions can be found on page 9 of this week’s edition.
Two lake lot transfers were approved as presented: Lake Lot #10, from Matthew E. Wilson and Camilla J. Wilson to Matthew E. Wilson and Camilla J. Wilson Trust; Lake Lot #105, from Ralph Larry Cross to Ralph L. Cross Revocable Trust.
The council held two executive sessions, both for 15 minutes, with Attorney Watson and Clerk Burk for legal reasons pertaining to personnel. No action was taken.
The consent agenda, including the Dec. 23, 2024; Jan. 3 and Jan. 10 meeting minutes and scheduled claims list from Dec. 23, 2024 totaling $278,429.66, were approved as presented.
The next Eureka City Council meeting is slated for Monday, Jan. 27, at 7 p.m., at the Eureka Public Library.
