The Liberal City Commission met in a Special Meeting Tuesday at 3:00 pm and heard from the Ruddell Group. The Ruddell Group is a privately held real estate investment group headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama. They acquire and develop industrial properties that are strategically positioned for increased value and ripe for transformation. They create site plans to maximize use and construct initial buildings. Land is conveyed to Ruddell Group on a zero-cost basis. The ultimate goal would be to create jobs, diversify the community’s economic landscape, and increase the tax base. Representatives from the company visited the Commission in person in order to take questions from the Commission and provide further clarity on the mission of the company and how this could potentially benefit the City of Liberal.

City Staff presented three options for the future of Adventure Bay Waterpark, to the Commission along with financial reports that discuss 2025 revenues and expenses and 2026 budgeted items.
After reviewing potential options and financial numbers, the Commission discussed what method they wish to pursue in order for off-season planning and work to begin. No vote was taken.

At 5:30 PM the Commissioners held their regular meeting and approved the purchase of a 2026 CAT Backhoe from Foley Equipment, for the Water Department, for an amount not to exceed $115,000.00 to be funded from the Water Department Equipment Reserve.

The Commission, also gave approval for the purchase of a salt spreader from the Alamo Group in an amount not to exceed $32,000.00. This will be funded from the Snow Removal Reserve Fund.

Also approved were road repairs at Arkalon Park. Commissioners approved the quote from J&R Construction Group in an amount not to exceed $330,000.00 with funding coming from the Streets, Drainage, and Capital Improvements portion of the One Cent Sales Tax. Work will be done in the off-season