Main Street Beautification outlined at city meeting

Jayne Prockish and Sally Lowry were at the Stockton City Commission meeting held on Tuesday, May 5th to update the commissioners on the plans for the beautification of Main Street. Lowry walked the commissioners through the proposed plan, which would include black metal benches, self-watering planters, perennial flowers and bushes, metal fencing and ground planters. Plans are to also check to see about painting the streetlights and flagpoles black for a more cohesive look. The commisers voted to approve a match of $3,500.0 for the grant Lowry will write for the purchase of the planters, fencing, etc. As schedules permit, City will remove the tree stumps from the sidewalk and concrete over several of the open areas that had been cut out for the trees in preparation for the project.

Lowry also proposed another idea of a Community Kiosk to be located across from the City building. She will bring back costs for a kiosk at a later meeting for the commissioners to consider.

Next, Chamber president Jayne Prockish informed the commissioners that the cost for watering the pumpkins last year for the Stockton Pumpkin Patch was $170.00. Prockish asked if the City would again pay for the cost of the water for this summer. The commissioners voted to give the Chamber $170.00 to pay for the watering of the pumpkins in anticipation of the annual Pumpkin Patch.

Jesica Kerr was at the meeting to ask permission for a building permit for a structure that is 50 square feet larger than what is printed in the zoning regulations. Commissioner Nathan Glendening asked if the Commission had approved any requests in the past for a larger structure with commissioner Don McLaughlin asking about sending the request to the Planning Commission. Commissioner Bob Becker noted that the policies are in place for a reason and the Commission shouldn’t deviate from the policies. Becker asked Kerr if they could shorten the length of the structure. With the plans for what they want to use it for, this would not be feasible. City manager Courtney Flower informed the commissioners that they could amend the zoning regulation. The commissioners then reviewed the policy and amended the zoning regulation so buildings can be a total of 1,600 square feet instead of 1,550 as it was previously written. They then approved the building permit from the Kerrs as presented.

City manager Courtney Flower then gave her report. She noted that the city-wide cleanup has been set for the week of May 18th through May 22nd. Interviews are being held for summer help and for the code enforcement position. The water main break on Main and Ash Street has been repaired. The Solomon Valley Manor has been awarded the Payment Protection Funds as discussed at the last meeting. At this time, the Kansas Library Association is putting a re-opening plan together for the public libraries. The City has opened its doors to the public with social distancing in place. Flower sent the commissioners a link for the LKM meeting, which talks about situations dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic. At the present time, the City is waiting on CDC guidelines for the determination for opening the pool. The commissioners will wait until the first meeting in June to make any decisions. McLaughlin asked if the lifeguards could do other City work like they did a few summers ago when the new pool was being built.

At the start of the meeting, the commissioners had approved the Consent Agenda as presented. Items listed included the Solomon Valley Manor gross payroll in the amount of $49,495.35, the Solomon Valley Manor warrants in the amount of $39,493.06, the City of Stockton warrants in the amount of $58,503.83, the City of Stockton gross payroll in the amount of $89,441.80, and the April 21st regular meeting minutes.