April 20, 2026 Commission Minutes

GOODLAND CITY COMMISSION

Regular Meeting

April 20, 2026                                                                                                                       5:00 P.M.

Mayor Jason Showalter called the meeting to order with Vice-Mayor J. J. Howard and Commissioner Sarah Artzer responding to roll call.  Commissioner Angie Cloyd and Commissioner Brook Redlin were reported absent.

Also present were Dustin Bedore – Director of Electric Utilities, Jason Erhart –Chief of Police, Joshua Jordan – IT Director, Kenton Keith – Director of Streets and Facilities, Neal Thornburg – Director of Water and Wastewater, Danny Krayca – Director of Parks, Zach Hildebrand – Code Enforcement/Building Official, Jake Kling – City Attorney, Mary Volk – City Clerk and Kent Brown – City Manager.

Mayor Showalter led Pledge of Allegiance

PUBLIC COMMENT

CONSENT AGENDA

1. 04/06/26 Commission Meeting Minutes
2. Appropriation Ordinances: 2026-08, 2026-08A and 2026-P08

ON A MOTION by Vice-Mayor Howard to approve Consent Agenda seconded by Commissioner Artzer.  MOTION carried on a VOTE of 3-0. 

PRESENTATIONS & PROCLAMATIONS

1. Employee Retirement Recognition: LeAnn Taylor – Kent stated, LeAnn started employment with the City January 1992 as Municipal Court Clerk.  In 2004 she also became Municipal Court Judge, then retired December 31, 2025.  Mayor Showalter recognized LeAnn Taylor for her 34 years of service with the City of Goodland as Municipal Court Clerk and Judge.  Mayor Showalter stated, I know that hours have been both day and night and we appreciate your service.
2. Arbor Day Proclamation 2026 – Mayor Showalter proclaimed April 24^th as Arbor Day in the City of Goodland.  We have been a Tree City for 46 years.  Danny stated, Arbor Day celebration is 1:30 Friday in Chambers Park.  We will plant two American Elm trees.

ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS

1. Ordinance 1817: Amending the fence regulations increasing the setback from the backside of the curb and the maximum allowable height within the City of Goodland in Section 19-607, Zoning Regulations – Zach stated, language in sections of the code were conflicting in heights and distance.  This amendment ensures city code agrees with zoning code standards.  Kent stated, this was reviewed by the Planning Commission and they recommend approval.  Commissioner Artzer asked, will this affect properties who are in conflict with this amendment?  Zach stated, if it currently exists, the property is grandfathered.  ON A MOTION by Vice-Mayor Howard to approve Ordinance 1817: Amending the fence regulations increasing the setback from the backside of the curb and the maximum allowable height within the City of Goodland in Section 19-607, Zoning Regulations seconded by Commissioner Artzer.  MOTION carried on a VOTE of 3-0.
2. Ordinance 1819: Amending the text of Chapter 4, Section 801 regarding the location of fences on premises to be no nearer than 6 feet to a city curb or curbline – Zach stated, language in few sections of code were conflicting.  Amendment ensures city code agrees with zoning code standards.  ON A MOTION by Commissioner Artzer to approve Ordinance 1819: Amending the text of Chapter 4, Section 801 regarding the location of fences on premises to be no nearer than 6 feet to a city curb or curbline seconded by Mayor Showalter.  MOTION carried on a VOTE of 3-0.
3. Ordinance 1820: Amending the text of Chapter 4, Section 803 to reflect the zoning districts that are recognized in the section on fences– Zach stated, this amendment reflects zoning districts recognized by the City of Goodland.  ON A MOTION by Commissioner Artzer to approve Ordinance 1820: Amending the text of Chapter 4, Section 803 to reflect the zoning districts that are recognized in the section on fences seconded by Vice-Mayor Howard.  MOTION carried on a VOTE of 3-0.
4. Resolution 2026-08 (Revised) Authorizing Submission of an EDA FY25 Disaster Supplemental Grant Application – Kent stated, this resolution was approved last meeting.  However, information in this resolution is revised stating total amounts involved with project based on increased maximum power required and the resulting cost to provide that power in the project.  The original resolution authorized the city to make an application to the Economic Development Administration for a Disaster Supplemental grant requesting $5,110,371, which the city will match with 20% of the cost of the project, currently estimated at $1,277,592.60, resulting in an estimated total project cost of $6,387,963.  The revised resolution is asking for a Disaster Supplemental grant of $5,497,836, which the city will match 20% of the project cost, currently estimated at $1,374,459, resulting in an estimated total project cost of $6,872,294.  When bakery increased power requirements from original amount of 8MW, the cost increased.  The increase is not as much as we thought, which is a nice surprise.  We need to have resolution match cost estimate in application.  Commissioner Artzer asked, will cost increase hurt us in grant process?  Kent stated, they have not indicated it will be an issue.  ON A MOTION by Vice-Mayor Howard to approve Resolution 2026-08, as revised, Authorizing Submission of an EDA FY25 Disaster Supplemental Grant Application seconded by Commissioner Artzer.  MOTION carried on a VOTE of 3-0.

FORMAL ACTIONS

1. Animal Control Service Contract 2026 – Kent stated, this is an extension of the contract with Kathy Schermerhorn to provide animal control services.  Impound services are under a separate contract.  Kathy gets involved in many issues and appears in court for violations.  Current contract is $1,500 per month since 2020.  This will increase the contract $200 per month to $1,700, beginning January 1, 2026.  Mayor Showalter stated, she responds every day, including holidays, if called and we appreciate her services.  Commissioner Artzer stated, I am extremely grateful for Kathy.  ON A MOTION by Commissioner Artzer to approve the Animal Control Service Contractwith Kathy Schermerhorn seconded by Mayor Showalter.  MOTION carried on a VOTE of 3-0. 
2. Merchant McIntyre limited contract extension – Kent stated, Julia Angelotti, Charlie Pistner and Thomas Corddry from Merchant McIntyre will discuss what has been accomplished to this point and what the road ahead looks like.  A contract extension with a limited services agreement from May 1, 2026 will be presented.  Julia stated, we value our partnership with the city.  It has been a pleasure working with city staff on grant applications.  We recently submitted an FY27 Congressional directed spending request earmarked request for funding on behalf of city and continue to work on the Economic Development Administration (EDA) disaster supplemental grant.  In the fall of 2025, we conducted our resource inventory and developed a federal strategy grants grid which indicated we would work on FY 27 earmark application and the EDA grant for electrical at the grain mill and bakery.  Mid-March we requested $1.613 M in congressional directed spending with Senator Moran.  Senator Moran was required to submit his selected projects to Senate Appropriations Committee today.  We should be able to find out if your project was selected for consideration by May 6^th.  We should get word tomorrow if project was submitted.  If project is selected by Senator Moran it goes to Senate Appropriation Committee where they will be conducting hearings and working through projects in June and July.  We will continue monitoring process so we can advocate on behalf of city.  We continue to develop the EDA application for grain mill and bakery project.  We have engaged actively with EDA and congressional delegates for the city’s application.  Charlie stated, we have spent a lot of time on developing the EDA application over last several months.  The applications are very comprehensive in nature and we have made good progress with information from staff and are formally preparing to submit application before April 30^th.  In our request we have made changes to expanding electrical capacity to increase funding to close to $1.5M.  We based our decision to submit application by April 30^th based on conversations with Mark Werthmann, Regional EDA Representative for Kansas.  For EDA projects, your representative wants to hear about the project early in process and work alongside you on your application.  To date we have had three separate meetings with Mark Werthmann to discuss project.  Initial meeting was to inform him of the project and in other meetings we discussed the project in detail to ensure he remains on board with project.  During meetings he informed us of EDA review timeline for projects submitted monthly.  Once the application is submitted in April, the Denver Regional Committee will hold their meeting in June where Mark Werthmann will advocate for the project with the IRC.  Once process is complete and there is a favorable outcome, EDA will typically provide City with a curing letter which includes their interest in funding project plus additional information they may need to for further approval.  The Regional District begins the process but final approval is from Washington DC.  Merchant McIntyre can help the city navigate the process.  We have been successful in securing EDA funding previously and are in a good position to assist the city with the process through the award letter, which will be late summer early fall.  Many times, they have additional questions for follow-up with application. 

There are other potential projects available for future federal funding.  We will highlight three of those possibilities.  The first is the EPA Brownfield Assessment Grant focused to clean up polluted or contaminated properties where there is no appropriate or reliable party to clean up property.  The City would work through the process to own property then pursue the grant to assist clean-up of contaminated property.    Thomas stated, the next opportunity identified for the city we previously discussed is the Department of Transportation (DOT) Safe Streets and Road Program with a submission deadline of May 26^th.  Goal of program is to eliminate or reduce traffic fatalities.  In this plan the city will ask for grant money to create an action plan for safe roads.  This entails traffic studies of streets and roadways where highest fatalities have occurred.  We feel to complete this program we would request $250,000 and this program requires a 20% local match.  An additional program is DOT’s Better Utilize Investment to Leverage Development program (BUILD).  This program has been around for a while and is for comprehensive infrastructure projects.  Award ceiling is much higher for this program.  Program is split into the planning track for design, as well as the capital project.  Submission for this program is early 2027 and if city wants to apply, we need to start application immediately. 

Julie stated, if city considers a six-month extension of our agreement, the retainer would remain at current amount.  With the extension we will continue work on EDA grant and proceed on other grants if there is interest from city.  If your project is selected by Senator Moran, there will be additional tracking required for project.  Commissioner Artzer asked, are both grant submissions for the grain mill and bakery project?  Julie stated, the Congressional Directed Spending is earmarked for the second entrance to Industrial Park and the EDA is the bakery.  Commissioner Artzer asked, does the safe street program only go off fatalities because I do not believe we have had many fatalities?  Thomas stated, it also goes off injuries.  Mayor Showalter asked, is Mark Werthmann supportive of our project and does he feel it is a good request?  Charlie stated, he is excited for the application and we have discussed project numerous times.  Through the conversations, he is very interested in following project through to completion.  Mayor Showalter asked, how competitive are EDA requests?  Charlie stated, it is competitive for sure but different than other federal grants where they award a specific number of applications.  Projects are awarded until the EDA funding bucket is exhausted.  Based on conversations with Mark Werthmann, we feel submitting application by the end of April we will have a competitive edge.  Typically, the summer and toward end of federal fiscal year is when they want to get a lot of projects through the review process.  We are hearing there have not been a lot of committee review meetings so far.  While it is competitive, we feel our timing is good and we are on the front end.  Mayor Showalter asked, if there are a significant number of applications in our region, would it decrease our chance to receive a grant?  Charlie stated, not necessarily as there is not a set matrix for projects selected by region or amount.  Commissioner Artzer asked, are we the only entity you are advocating for on the EDA grant?  Julie stated, we have a number of clients across the nation but in your region, we are not advocating for any other applicant.  Kent stated, the future potential projects are options if we are interested.  The safe street program is a building block for future years.  We would have to complete the plan to be eligible for construction grants.  The problem that might push this grant to a priority is K-27 and pedestrians getting to commercial area.  An accident has not occurred but it does not mean that it will not.  It has been a topic of discussion.  Extending the contract would allow the city to move forward in process to finish Congressional Directed spending and EDA grant.  There is more work to be done on these projects.  I feel it is critical to finish what we have started.  Mayor Showalter stated, thank you for your assistance on the programs and submitting grant applications.  Commissioner Artzer stated, a walking trail on Highway 24 has also been discussed in the strategic doing meetings.  Is it in budget to extend the contract with Merchant McIntyre, and do we have the money?  Kent stated, it is there and we are starting to be concerned but feel benefit to community is the priority.  Commissioner Artzer stated, I feel we need to follow through with EDA and Congressional Directed spending grants but I am nervous after that point.  Mayor Showalter stated, in six-months we can work through process to finish these two grants, then we can begin a new discussion on potential projects.  I am in favor of another six-month extension.  Vice-Mayor Howard asked, when does contract end?  Kent stated, April 30^th, which is when grant will be submitted.  KMEA mid states has done a lot of leg work to help complete application for city.  Then curing letter will ask for additional information before they would award project.  Commissioner Artzer asked, is there anything else we can do to help applications get approved, or do we have to let it run the course?  Kent stated, the final decision is with a committee not elected officials.  ON A MOTION by Mayor Showalter to approve a six-month extension to the contract with Merchant McIntyre seconded by Vice-Mayor Howard.  MOTION carried on a VOTE of 3-0.

• Appointment to Construction Advisory Board of Trades & Appeals: Jacob Leis – Zach stated, Jacob Leis has submitted an application to volunteer on the Construction Advisory Board of Trades & Appeals.  He would be the licensed electrician on the board.  ON A MOTION by Mayor Showalter to approve the application of Jacob Leis on the Construction Advisory Board of Trades & Appeals seconded by Commissioner Artzer.  MOTION carried on a VOTE of 3-0.
• Progress Update on 621 W. 17^th St. – Zach stated, inspection of property was done Friday.  They sistered up roof, fixed door on cellar and are working on flooring.  I feel commission should continue working with them on deadlines.  I recommend the next deadline should be to complete floor, replace windows and work on paint.  Commissioner Artzer asked, do they have windows and paint?  Zach stated, I do not know.  Kent stated, I recommend the next deadline be second meeting in May to see if they continue to proceed on project.  Vice-Mayor Howard stated, if they do not have new windows, they can at least fix the glass in windows as it will take a while for new windows to arrive.  Consensus of commission is to set next deadline for property owners of 621 W. 17^th Street as the second meeting in May with Zach’s recommendations. 
• Pole Purchases: Electric Department – Dustin stated, we are in need of purchasing poles for the distribution system.  We received the following quotes:  1.) Bridgewell Resources for 50’ poles at $989.00 each, 40’ poles did not bid and 35’Poles at $637.00 each; 2.)   Koppers or 50’ poles at $872.97, 40’ poles at $607.68 and 35’ poles at 456.55: and 3.) Stanion Wholesale for 50’ poles at $926.93, 40’ poles did not bid, 35’ poles did not return bid.  We purchased from Bridgewell Resources in past, but they were high this year.  I received a review on Koppers from Colby.  Koppers is putting a yard in Burlington which will help our costs.  It is difficult to get people to bid smaller orders.  Staff recommends the bid from Koppers for $15,066.17 for 35’ poles and $16,518.40 for 40’/50’ poles.  Funds are budgeted in the construction maintenance line item in distribution budget.  ON A MOTION by Vice-Mayor Howard to approve the bid from Koppers for $15,066.17 for 35’ poles and $16,518.40 for 40’/50’ poles seconded by Mayor Showalter.  MOTION carried on a VOTE of 3-0.

DISCUSSION

1. Set time for special meeting to award bid on SRE Building –Kent stated, the SRE building is funded with FAA grant.  Bids are due April 28^th.  The FAA must receive the commission’s recommendation for bid award by May 1^st.  This will require a special meeting to present engineering recommendation on low bid and building construction information.  There are two active bidders for project right now.  Consensus of the commission is a special meeting April 29^th at 8:00 a.m.
2. Reinvestment Housing Incentive District (RHID) project – Kent stated, last year we had a presentation from Conner Hampton for an MIH grant.  We created an MIH District by Topside Manor.  Mayor Showalter and I had a call with several individuals who are interested in moving forward with project this year.  They will make formal presentation at a May meeting.  The MIH District requires the increase in property taxes to pay for infrastructure on projects.  In Wichita there is a business going in which would fulfill this grant and most likely reduce costs for our project.  I wanted to give commission a heads up on project as our city and school partners will be involved.  We started to schedule a meeting but feel this would be a presentation for both the City and County Commissions.  Mayor Showalter stated, I feel information presented in meeting is more palatable for housing units then before with decent homes more in line for middle income housing.  These would cost significantly less, which is housing we need.  They have ideas how to start project.  Depending on the project we select, it will require a financial obligation for the city.  They are excited they can get an affordable housing project done.  Kent stated, they will request we concentrate building houses on two original lots which have access to all utilities except sewer.  Then they have professionals to start platting subsequent parcels to have them ready when houses from original lots are sold.  They will present information to the commission.   Mayor Showalter stated, I appreciate they are starting small so we measure interest in housing and do not get into a financial loss.  Commissioner Artzer asked, what brought them here?  Kent stated, Conner Hampton has relation in the business who wants a presence in western Kansas.  When grain mill and bakery come to fruition we will need some housing.  We cannot just expect a house in three months; we have to have a plan to proceed.  Mayor Showalter stated, we had a member from Dane Hansen Foundation on call so they are aware of project and interested in assisting.  Kent stated, staff can coordinate date for joint meeting to include county in meeting.  Consensus of commission is to proceed with joint meeting.

REPORTS

1. City Manager – 1.  Manager memo and First Quarter Financial Statement are in the packet.  2. Reminder spring cleanup is scheduled for May 7^th and 8^th.  Kenton and his crew are leading the cleanup but other departments are involved.
2. City Commissioners

Vice-Mayor Howard – 1.  Remind citizens to use water responsible, do not water the streets or during heat of day.  I feel there will be restrictions coming.

Commissioner Artzer – 1.  We had a tour of city facilities recently.  There is a clear sense of pride from department heads with their facilities.  Thank you to the employees. 

Commissioner Cloyd – 1.  Absent, no Report 

Commissioner Redlin – 1.  Absent, no Report 

• Mayor Showalter– 1.  Echo Commissioner Artzer’s report.  It is important for all commissioners to visit the facilities when making financial decisions. 

ADJOURNMENT WAS HAD ON A MOTION BY Vice-Mayor Howard seconded by Commissioner Artzer.  Motion carried by unanimous VOTE; meeting adjourned at 6:10 p.m.  Next meeting is scheduled for May 4, 2026.

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ATTEST:                                                                               Jason Showalter, Mayor

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Mary P. Volk, City Clerk