HUMBOLDT — Though “I thought we just did this,” was actually five years ago, Mayor Nobby Davis’s sentiment about getting the city pool repainted was widely shared at Monday night’s city council meeting.
Members agreed to pay $28,900 to Ashton Kate Construction doing business as Torrey Business Construction to paint the pool, a job that needs done about every five or six years.
“As much as it pains me, I would recommend we maintain our pool,” said Cole Herder, city administrator.
Council members also agreed to renew their participation in the Neighborhood Revitalization Plan for another three years.
The program provides a limited property tax break to homeowners who make at least $3,000 worth of improvements to their properties, and to businesses and industries who improve or expand their properties by a minimum of $5,000.
“It’s one of the few incentives Humboldt has to bring people this way,” said Herder.
For the first six years of the program, recipients don’t pay any property taxes on the improvements determined by the Allen County Assessor’s office; in year seven, participants receive an 80% rebate on the taxes; year eight, 60% rebate; year nine, 40% rebate and year 10, a 20% rebate.
“These aren’t taxes we are losing, but taxes we have yet to realize,” Herder explained.
Five percent of each rebate goes to the county for administering the program.
Next, Herder will ask officials with the Humboldt school district, Allen Community College and Allen County to sign on.
Humboldt first began participating in the revitalization program in 2008 on a limited basis. The entire city came under its umbrella in 2011.
“It’s made a big difference to our city,” Herder said.
The city signed on to a multi-state opioid class action lawsuit that holds producers and distributors of opioids accountable for the negative effects they have had on society.
Humboldt can expect to receive several thousand dollars in settlement funds, Herder said. Humboldt’s only stipulation is that it prove it has spent or will spend at least $500 in dealing with addiction mitigation and that it will use the settlement funds to further mitigate their harmful effects.
By participating in the lawsuit, Humboldt waives its right to individually sue an opioid manufacturer or distributor.
Council members agreed to renew the city’s health insurance policy with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas for another year with the intention to thoroughly investigate alternatives for the following year.
