HUMBOLDT Humboldt council members signed a 30-year agreement with the Kansas Municipal Gas Agency that will save local users a few dollars each month. The exact amount will depend on consumption.
Though set for 30 years, Humboldt could back at five-year intervals.
Humboldt will save 33 cents for every MBtu (1,000 British thermal units) of gas purchased in each of the first five years. Herder said an MBtu is about the same as one MCF (1,000 cubic feet), the measurement more commonly used.
City Attorney Fred Works said he wasnt overly eager to see Humboldt subscribe to KMGAs proposal.
It seems like to me that 30 years is an awfully long time, he said.
Council members unanimously supported Herders recommendation, voting 6-0 in favor. Two, Ashleigh Dooley and Sunny Shreeve, were absent.
STATE-CERTIFIED arborist, Tim Donnell, recently surveyed ash and other trees in the downtown square. He recommended 12 of the 18 ash trees be removed, because of disease, damage and age.
Since then, 10 have been felled. One was excluded because a colony of bees had settled in it.
A $5,000 grant courtesy of Enbridge Pipeline paid for the work.
Herder said usable portions of the felled trees will be milled and made available for yet-to-be-decided projects.
While the tree-trimming company was in town, four trees that threatened Pat Haires woodworking shop on the square were trimmed as well as two large trees in Mount Hope Cemetery.
IN OTHER NEWS, council members:
Said they would consider an annexation request, approved by the Humboldt Planning Board last week, for about 22 acres east of B&W Trailer Hitches. JW-JW Real Estate proposes to convert the area to a park with trails, camping and other amenities to support the Southwind Rail Trail. They will vote on annexation at their October meeting. Also, a hearing will be held to provide anyone protesting the project to be heard.
Approved putting four properties, 415 and 417 Bridge, 404 S. Seventh and 218 Charles, up for demolition, because of their deteriorated states. They will hear from owners, if they so wish, before deciding whether to proceed.
Named Staci Johnson, city clerk, voting delegate for the League of Kansas Municipalities annual meeting Oct. 12-14 in Overland Park. Herder will serve as an alternate.
Gave the go-ahead for erection of a Christmas tree in the middle of the intersection of Eighth and Bridge streets, to renew a Humboldt tradition of many years ago. A wild cedar will be cut and put up, with decorations including those created by elementary students.
Were told by Chief of Police Shannon Moore her department had processed more reports to date than in any of the 12 months of the previous three years. She said officers were active in being as transparent as possible with the public, including the schools.
