Russell City Council Recognizes 911 Dispatchers at Tuesday's Meeting

The Russell City Council met Tuesday and opened the meeting by recognizing the Russell County 911 Communication Center team.

Mayor Jim Cross signed a proclamation recognizing April 12-18 as National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, a week set aside to celebrate and thank telecommunications members across the nation who serve our communities, citizens and public safety personnel 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Assistant 911 Director Amy Dollison led a presentation about the Russell County 911 Communication Center and their team along with 911 Director Alese Hageman.

Russell City Clerk Ashley Mai announced four council positions will be up for election later this year. Those four are Michelle Wagner Schneider (Ward I), Lisa Anstaett (Ward II), Andrea Garland (Ward III) and Brad Wagner (Ward IV). The deadline to file for election is noon on June 1.

Russell City Manager Kayla Schneider and Public Works Director Chadd Stevenson visited with council members about the upcoming Downtown Main Street Reconstruction Project. The discussion centered around streets and what parts will keep bricks and others paved with cement. They also discussed the need to repair Main Street area alleys.

Council members approved a request to the Kansas Department of Commerce for an extension of the CDBG contract for the rehabilitating project at 621 North Main Street. This will be the future home for Perfect Print. The current contract deadline is April 14. The request is to extend the deadline to May 31 to allow the contractor to finish the project.

In other business Tuesday, the council approved a quitclaim deed transfer to Flintwood, LLC as the new 24 unit senior housing development has been completed.

A public hearing was scheduled for dangerous structures at 930 North Lincoln Street, but the owner has removed those structures and there was no need for the hearing. A resolution was approved by the council to remove general nuisances at 950 East 7th Street.

Council members approved the purchase of a smooth drum roller in the amount of $48,169 from Murphy Tractor and Equipment.

The council also approved bids from three contractors for the city's asphalt streets maintenance plan not to exceed $113,785.