[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6163598,"mediaKeyId","5433738-206dc3ef5932c874a7404ed06ac16c93","parentId",5433738,"title","Commission approves $390,000 purchase of building for police investigative use; some commissioners push for open RFP","audioSeconds",653,"startMs",4243050,"endMs",4896580,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5433738-206dc3ef5932c874a7404ed06ac16c93&start=4243&end=4896","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5433738-206dc3ef5932c874a7404ed06ac16c93/thumbnail_4243050.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6163598/Junction-City/Geary-County/Kansas/Commission-approves-390000-purchase-of-building-for-police-investigative-use-some-commissioners-push-for-open-RFP","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6163598-360ebe3bdcc1c4ae9bdd89fe5511850b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771192267&Signature=TEZEnEKCyOWfOczN00p6OSAeq29RI1r1KmImE5IvT-dqjZY41ou1R8HLUi4V9uKi495FrrXZFi0ZmGMWpwapQ3V9JTJbgBaxJlKrN6ty-1raGfF16lJpFxzePAkXE3QSDUrPZvAjeqJe0sOBmqkKa2vSCgf11urdDa2GNmzvehrFTf0Djp77bPcxjAPhC8HFVBQkTLe0i7-cezyt2Y2V5tF-~uXYs2jHI9NwfGnggzCy5zHHNhSNDp5V52aDPHgrLpUCzzv9fhBzVtcHzzkHtyyZd1MXegRc~T5~GWa8SZVgduLloJcaFIeD7~KV-CoLoeSqMD4DKy1h96IqIQYTkw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Junction , KS","date","2025-07-01T00:00:00Z","article","The Junction City Commission approved purchase of a property for $390,000 to provide space for investigative personnel, storage of evidence and vehicles, and specialized evidence processing including an enclosed fingerprint fumigation chamber.

Assistant Chief (presenting) said the building is roughly 6,000 square feet on approximately one acre and already contains two vehicle lifts that are useful for vehicle searches and processing. He told commissioners the space would let investigators, a SWAT/rescue vehicle and seized‑vehicle storage be located on the opposite side of town from the main police department, which staff said would reduce response times for certain incidents.

Why some commissioners asked for an RFP

A commissioner asked whether the city should have solicited proposals from multiple property owners. The commissioner said after reviewing other properties in town, he believed more buildings could have met the department’s needs and recommended a formal RFP process. Staff replied they had reviewed multiple properties with a local real estate contact and that several properties had already been considered and disqualified for operational reasons.

Costs and likely renovations

- Purchase price for the building was $390,000; staff estimated renovations at roughly $100,000–$115,000 to make the property suitable for full investigative use.

- Assistant Chief said the property already has two vehicle lifts and space for long‑term vehicle storage; staff also noted land adjacent to the building allows for future enclosures such as fenced storage or canine kennels.

Vote and implementation

A motion to purchase the property for $390,000 passed; staff said renovation plans will be bid separately and return to the commission before work begins. Commissioners divided on procurement approach; the purchase moves forward but several members asked staff to document outreach and market review for transparency.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Junction City Commission Meeting - July 01, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The commission approved purchase of a roughly 6,000‑square‑foot property and adjacent land for $390,000 to house investigative personnel, vehicle storage and specialized evidence processing; commissioners asked why the city did not first issue a request for proposals.","taxTitle","Junction City, Geary County, Kansas","taxId",63543,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6163603,"Commission approves hiring public information officer and advances plan for five new staff positions",644,3613090,4257740,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5433738-206dc3ef5932c874a7404ed06ac16c93&start=3613&end=4257","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5433738-206dc3ef5932c874a7404ed06ac16c93/thumbnail_3613090.jpg","/articles/6163603/Junction-City/Geary-County/Kansas/Commission-approves-hiring-public-information-officer-and-advances-plan-for-five-new-staff-positions","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6163603-4b917587c502d72e7dff48f4cf4fedaa/orig.mp4?Expires=1771192267&Signature=XdqXgkA10i4Tevq4ZF7v85NniIOvq6elqVAFVkcq5EM927ADvivC8lSu4BXs0ZpPbp~ty09g4DRhPKH55jJfkTzu2152hyNCmfRYihxwZPiFFyUAqHrrxdYtQ1dR5TgivTLdOE0tLK5W2tUtbBf444FoRVPuZpD2X39HmUBxr65DExHSI6XAFR9ye52TznwDj1OCQn-3wgY-IHZebu9GsZeoVTysiIC6bYV8sCCqa13csLpAIvgWH5X-bWY9Sb0vTdcUMxauNetWTnWca4V9j9NwnAjABmWo6vYr0KhoZ5WdJrkndxyF9AzWsf4W2A5Eb5bbIS-lE3qZ0vLGLZ6IzQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Junction City Commission voted to proceed with adding a public information officer (PIO) and approved a resolution to add several positions to the city’s salary schedule, part of a broader effort to expand administrative capacity.

City leaders said the hires address workload bottlenecks. The city manager told commissioners the assistant city attorney position is needed because the current attorney is “swamped,” and the project manager role would help public works and parks staff keep major capital projects on schedule. The city manager also described a need for a grant writer, a city planner and a PIO to support outreach and apply for external funding.

What the commission approved and why it matters

- Commissioners approved hiring the PIO and voted to add the positions to the salary schedule; the manager said funding for the roles is included in the personnel budget and that the PIO candidate is prepared to start in July if the commission approved the hire.

- The manager said a project manager would support Department of Public Works and Parks & Recreation with engineering and construction-management expertise; he emphasized that current staff shortages make it difficult for project teams to prepare full project packets early in the process.

- Commissioners asked about hiring procedures, equal-employment‑opportunity practices and public recruitment. City staff said the city’s personnel policy (a 2009 document with limited updates) is being revised to clarify open recruitment procedures and modern workplace protections before broader recruitments are launched.

Next steps

Staff said they will proceed with the advertised PIO hire and will prepare job descriptions and formal recruitments for the other positions, returning to the commission with candidates and timelines. The commission approved the resolution and a motion to move forward with the PIO hire at the meeting.","The commission approved adding a public information officer to city staff and supported a resolution to add five positions — assistant city attorney, grant writer, city planner, project manager and public information officer — with further recruitment steps to follow.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6163608,"Commission approves $127,599 playground purchase for Hammond Park; commissioners urge more ADA features",631,3004410,3635600,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5433738-206dc3ef5932c874a7404ed06ac16c93&start=3004&end=3635","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5433738-206dc3ef5932c874a7404ed06ac16c93/thumbnail_3004410.jpg","/articles/6163608/Junction-City/Geary-County/Kansas/Commission-approves-127599-playground-purchase-for-Hammond-Park-commissioners-urge-more-ADA-features","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6163608-5e5af089f327d42d13c9c9572cfed162/orig.mp4?Expires=1771192267&Signature=GDnWJzEtmpSn8~lQGUVpai8qj8m8O2HmN7Bn6IZpIqAuQGM1ydgf82Caub~I~c12sGqZDUl1k65IaXguFwUuL3jB-u52cFtf0TU95kzXkLqOw3AgjujQYEFZvJQypmlXx1wuK7wvTWtPPaXRhiPfe~pFY4sbq2hHqVoxrPZY-1ZwW6ivGUo5Or8W2iPBRcRqu0P-bdvUaAeIcxUIL5Z-jvU3~FMK~L99Q18xFpk9fqSt3kN96wsWowyoHKOhW0xqPuuVaWO4sY2O6HE52vTJv9ACjVfrnOLFY4gNE8XkpAlYh6FQLC1JAB2SHQQa1t4USmF4y~KXVTgNdG9H3WAD1A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Junction City Commission approved a $127,599.19 purchase of playground equipment from ATHCO for Hammond Park, but several commissioners asked staff to add more Americans with Disabilities Act–accessible features before final installation.

City parks staff said Hammond Park’s existing playground is old and replacement parts are increasingly difficult to obtain; staff recommended buying equipment through a cooperative purchasing contract and installing wood‑chip surfacing. \"The playground service we use is ADA approved,\" a parks staff member told the commission, and staff said the selected design includes some accessible elements such as a spinner and transfer components.

Why accessibility and surfacing mattered in the discussion

Commissioners noted that fully ADA‑accessible play components and a rubberized surfacing are substantially more expensive than traditional wood chips. Parks staff said a fully accessible merry‑go‑round and poured-in-place surfacing can add tens of thousands of dollars (staff cited equipment and surface costs that, for some pieces, exceed $40,000). The commission directed parks staff to include additional ADA equipment in future budget planning and to explore grant opportunities for accessibility upgrades.

Funding and schedule

Staff said the capital improvements fund has roughly $300,000 remaining after other purchases; the parks team also plans restroom repairs and tennis‑court resurfacing in coming years. The parks department estimated a multi-month lead time: equipment typically takes about three months from order to delivery. Commissioners approved the ATHCO purchase and asked staff to return with options to add more accessible elements where feasible.","The commission approved purchase of new playground equipment for Hammond Park from ATHCO for $127,599.19; commissioners asked staff to explore adding more ADA‑accessible equipment and surface improvements before installation.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6163613,"Commission awards $483,830 utility relocation bid for McFarland Road despite questions about prior disclosure",452,2589780,3042020,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5433738-206dc3ef5932c874a7404ed06ac16c93&start=2589&end=3042","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5433738-206dc3ef5932c874a7404ed06ac16c93/thumbnail_2589780.jpg","/articles/6163613/Junction-City/Geary-County/Kansas/Commission-awards-483830-utility-relocation-bid-for-McFarland-Road-despite-questions-about-prior-disclosure","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6163613-3cc83afb0c16e0dfc80bd43d2849c0a5/orig.mp4?Expires=1771192267&Signature=WE-B97NN11e9qY3hmfqMqnJ4JtwO-CcvTGqWrPdh-f-du0~JuUXsd~OpJ5g1t6JR-MAkRYDNbTpX58yzngZaXiqh9hqME-8SnO92WRQwETaC90mg08vWRNFWjsneVotVc8n0BhoZHU2oSoxTa0WkueyHIblnLe10xV7nREfceb9uEBmxavb~Ikl1zwT8dNDskTSLZePdxHZ-yf4kicftx9lsI6XUCfvYRMQF5joR29IXTGiNyaWwA6m3dU~x9DHikUbMAXcN6hRKzpXk2J15LRw7JRtw9bs2uHPsT5W8U29XQSpGKWFtFES4DV5BMBWqi1LJcdX4S~ioqPNs9LJJmw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Junction City Commission voted 3–2 to award a $483,830 contract to J and K Contracting LLC to relocate water and sewer utilities on McFarland Road before construction of a planned roundabout.

City staff said the work will replace a section of 6-inch water main and an 8-inch sanitary sewer main that currently run under the intersection planned for the roundabout. “Both the water and sewer lines broke, and we want to make sure we’re being proactive,” a city engineer said during the presentation, adding that the utility relocation is needed to avoid future repairs inside the roundabout footprint.

Why the vote drew concern

Several commissioners said the half‑million‑dollar relocation cost should have been disclosed before the commission approved the roundabout, because it increases the project’s total local share. One commissioner said the city had known about potential utility work “for a long time” and that the estimate “might have influenced the vote on the roundabout.” The city manager and staff responded that the scope and cost could not be known until crews opened the site and confirmed conditions.

What the commission approved

- The commission approved awarding the relocation contract to J and K Contracting LLC for $483,830. Three qualified bids were reported: J and K at $483,830; Smokey Hill LLC at $550,522; and Lunic Prime LLC at $555,557. The engineer’s estimate was $682,667.

- Staff said funding will come from the city’s water and sewer funds.

- Commissioners asked staff to improve communication about major change orders and to brief the commission earlier in project planning; city staff said they are limited by staffing and process and that some steps must be completed before firm bids and estimates are available.

Vote and next steps

The motion to award the contract passed 3–2. Commissioners recorded concerns about transparency and whether the full cost of the roundabout had been apparent to the public when the earlier vote occurred. Staff said they will proceed with contract execution and move forward with utility relocation work.","The commission approved a $483,830 contract to J and K Contracting LLC to relocate water and sewer mains along McFarland Road ahead of a planned roundabout; several commissioners said the cost should have been presented earlier when the roundabout project was debated.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6163618,"Fresh Start Emergency Shelter asks Junction City for $45,000 as it seeks to expand services",1651,804350,2456320,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5433738-206dc3ef5932c874a7404ed06ac16c93&start=804&end=2456","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5433738-206dc3ef5932c874a7404ed06ac16c93/thumbnail_804350.jpg","/articles/6163618/Junction-City/Geary-County/Kansas/Fresh-Start-Emergency-Shelter-asks-Junction-City-for-45000-as-it-seeks-to-expand-services","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6163618-f732bf7f55c2a43bbf7eb3f497c72b3e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771192267&Signature=F9jabBHy37a783lbgYHUxh7L8GCjaIaBJZEzTlhJJ6fLpfKNwB2ThP0VbfTuUXsiei756v5Z0Pwgz~Zba3e7fRKP0INCySDiSe~YgIjncW-MmNyzRbYeXWlBovXlqNFrX5oYOSl2fUNfolJY8yL8W3EQv5QoSCzLrTPWnknGlTfLXR6e6TSHwtPDu93HnRb7TnnjchtlCj3~5~rgkcVU-XUKzhz9j-px~GsVmRmBQjBE~~zzUugexjBXNZIwNjbIw3jbT4vJb0NWXsQ0R2uup564-gqbbIBrH805T9M2POy4z5aFz4YTWPdJqgR95tyU-BuUT94Rbc0A8NKxLWiK2Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Fresh Start Emergency Shelter asked the Junction City Commission on Monday for $45,000 to be included as a potential line item in the city’s 2026 budget to sustain the shelter’s day services and staffing.

The request, made by Debbie, executive director of Fresh Start Emergency Shelter, came during a public presentation in which she described current operations: “We are open as a day shelter offering meals and food, laundry,” and asked the commission for continued local support while the shelter awaits a decision on a pending Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) application to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

The board’s context: why it matters

Board members said local, predictable funding helps the shelter retain experienced staff and provide continuity of case management that they said is essential to helping people exit homelessness. Meredith Butler, a board member, said the group has recruited volunteer and paid staff with lived experience and is developing a strategic plan and fundraising activities to reduce reliance on one-time donations.

Most important details and supporting facts

- The shelter asked for $45,000 as a possible 2026 budget line item; that figure was presented to commissioners as a request, not as a formally approved appropriation. The city did not vote to grant the amount at the meeting.

- Debbie told commissioners the shelter currently operates Monday–Friday and provides meals, showers, laundry and case management; she said staff sometimes help clients appeal Social Security disability decisions and assist with landlord negotiations.

- Board member Ed Savage described case management as the shelter’s central function and said when the shelter formerly operated 24/7 it averaged about 23 people per night. He argued that overnight service without case management would not accomplish the same outcomes.

- The board said an overnight, full-year operation would need “a little over double” the local requests and referenced a one-year budget figure the presenters described as roughly $276,000 to operate 24/7; the board said the day-shelter annual projection is about $101,132. The presenters characterized those numbers as budget estimates developed for grant planning but noted the ESG award was not yet known.

- Commissioners asked for more detail and suggested the shelter hold a town-hall or community meeting (the board said it planned one in July or August) and then return with a defined strategic plan and clarified funding needs before the commission takes a formal budget decision.

Commission response and next steps

Commissioners expressed sympathy and support for the shelter’s work but also asked for a clearer plan and a community-engagement step before committing recurring city dollars. One commissioner recommended the organization come to the commission’s July 8 budget session to present its request alongside other community funding requests.

No formal appropriation or vote on the $45,000 request occurred at the meeting. Commission staff said the shelter may be added to materials for the upcoming budget session so commissioners can consider the ask when they review other line items.","Fresh Start Emergency Shelter requested $45,000 as a possible 2026 city budget line item to maintain day services and keep staff; board members said full overnight operations would require substantially more funding and that they are awaiting an ESG grant decision.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Commission approves $390,000 purchase of building for police investigative use; some commissioners push for open RFP

Commission approves hiring public information officer and advances plan for five new staff positions

Commission approves $127,599 playground purchase for Hammond Park; commissioners urge more ADA features

Commission awards $483,830 utility relocation bid for McFarland Road despite questions about prior disclosure

Fresh Start Emergency Shelter asks Junction City for $45,000 as it seeks to expand services