HUMBOLDT — Humboldt council members pledged $25,000 for local match of a proposed 20-80 grant to make it safer for students walking or biking to school. IF HAIL damage ever came at an opportune time, it was earlier this spring in Humboldt. IN OTHER NEWS:
Mary Durand, middle school math teacher, said her students took on a project to attract a Kansas Department of Transportation Safe Routes to School grant a year ago, but came up short in the competition. Calling themselves Cubs that Care, they want to try again this year and think their chances are better with the city’s support.
If the grant is successful, KDOT would put in $100,000 to make the total $125,000. Sidewalks would be constructed and improved, curb cuts would be made to accommodate the handicapped, routes to and from school would be color-coded, and street crossings would be marked. Some street work also would be involved, including signage.
The work would center on 11th, 12th, Central and Bridge streets and involve students enrolled at elementary and middle schools.
Durand said her students began the project by walking routes to and from schools and photographing problem areas, which she showed in a slide presentation.
“The city’s support is important,” she said, and could be the tipping point this year.
“We have to do what’s right by our kids,” said Mayor Nobby Davis. “I think this is a must for us.”
City Administrator Larry Tucker said the city’s financial support could be drawn from the community development fund, which contains $95,000.
Prior to Durand’s presentation, council members voted to add stop signs on east-west streets along South Eighth Street, except at Pine, an east-west artery, and lower the speed limit from Pine on south past the swimming pool from 30 to 20 miles an hour.
Chief of Police Brian Dillow asked for the safety measures, noting officers had worked several traffic accidents on South Eighth and that changes should make it safer for children going to and from the swimming pool.
A crosswalk also will be installed at Pine and Eighth streets.
Durand said it would be helpful to mention those improvements in a letter supporting the Safe Routes to School grant.
Tucker said stop signs needed for the South Eighth Street project would cost about $900.
Council members had been mulling repairs to the City Hall roof and now will have nearly $21,500 in insurance proceeds to help pay the bill.
Tucker pointed out the settlement was for all city buildings, but “we’ll get it in a lump sum check and can use it all on City Hall.”
A bid from Murphy Roofing, Stark, at $34,750 for a foam roof was the lowest of four.
Rick Murphy noted that if a contract were approved, he could start the project next week. Waiting might push the work back several months, he added, with a number of roof repairs in Fort Scott pending.
Council members didn’t waste any time and voted unanimously to accept Murphy’s proposal.
— Security cameras will be placed in Cannon, Centennial and Neosho River parks, as well as near the brush dumping area south of Hunter Park. Dillow said rotating cameras atop utility poles would feed images 24 hours a day by Internet and be recorded at police headquarters.
If vandalism or other incidents occur, images will provide information and evidence for officers. Cost will be $2,850. Images will be stored in a rolling 30-day segment, with the first day replaced by the 31st and so on.
— Barbara Anderson, with the Kansas Department Commerce, announced Humboldt was recognized as a Community of Excellence by the Kansas PRIDE Program, which “opens the door for grants.”
Anderson lauded all the community had done, including construction of Neosho River Park that “will be here 50 years from now, just like the WPA (Works Progress Administration) projects built in the 1930s are today. I’m very proud of you.”
— Council members instructed Tucker to proceed with research on having a mural painted on a wall in the City Hall basement meeting room. The mural idea surfaced at a Rotary Club meeting. Tucker showed a sketch done by Harvey Peck, local artist and Rotarian. Peck has done such projects in the past but isn’t physically able to now, Tuckers said, which will lead Rotarians to look for another artist.
— Craig Mintz had the higher of two bids for a 1973 Ford tractor at $1,451.
— Tucker said a community conversation on housing would be the evening of May 21 at Humboldt Public Library. Also upcoming is the opening of the swimming pool on May 25 and dedication of Neosho River Park at 5 p.m. June 8.
— Among annual appointments made by Davis were Tucker as administrator, Fred Works attorney, Jean Flores city clerk and Dillow chief of police.
USD 258, Humboldt work for grants
