Liberal City Commission Meets, Approves City Bus Service

The Liberal City Commission met Tuesday evening at 6:30pm for their regularly scheduled meeting. Among the items on the agenda, Commissioners heard a presentation from Jeff Parsons, Economic Development Director for the City, on a proposed plan for a city wide bus service. The City of Liberal was notified that a grant that Parsons had applied for with the Kansas Department of Transportation had been approved. The grant, for a City Bus Service, was for $409,315.00. The City’s match would be $140, 579.00. The monies would pay for Operations of the bus service and the purchase of 3 -20 passenger buses. The buses would run Monday through Friday from 6:00am – 6:00pm with two bus routes and several stops throughout the City. Cost would be $1 per ride with Senior citizens and Students paying 50 cents. Monthly passes could be bought for $30.00 or $15.00 for Seniors and Students. Exact routes and stops would be determined after a needs study was taken. The bus service could be in operation as early as July. The Commissioners voted unanimously to approve the acceptance of the grant, and the service.

Another item on the agenda, the Commission approved the 15th Street Project. This would include the widening of 15th street west of Western Avenue to the Liberal Cemetery. This would include, covering of the ditch, widening of the street, curb and guttering and a sidewalk. The project is expected to cost around $660,000.00.

In other action items, the Commission appointed Marybettie Tabor to the Liberal Housing Authority Board, approved the sale of a parcel of land at the airport to Allan and Charlene Classen, moved to a second Reading Ordinance 4004, vacating property, and also approved the purchase of Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors for the Safe At Home Program from Westlake Ace Hrdware in the amount of $6,200.00.

The next regular meeting of the Liberal City Commission will be May 8th.