Arkansas City Commission approves splash pad, updates to budget and purchasing policies and adds Christmas Eve as city holiday

The Arkansas City Commission on Oct. (date not specified in transcript) approved several administrative and parks measures, including a contract for a new splash pad in Wilson Park, updates to the city’s budget and purchasing policies, and a resolution adding Christmas Eve as an official city holiday beginning in 2026.

The commission approved a purchase order/quote from Powerplay LLC for $306,500 and authorized use of in‑kind city contributions from public works and environmental services for a total project cost not to exceed $326,500 to build a community splash pad in Wilson Park. City staff said the splash pad will be a non‑recirculating (through‑flow) system; estimated annual operating costs are approximately $12,600 (about $5,000 for maintenance and $7,600 for water). The city plans to have city crews perform some site work (curb, hauling dirt, water connections) and expects the vendor work to take roughly a month once on site, aiming for service by the end of the 2026 school year if preparatory work begins in March.

Commissioners also approved updates to the city’s statutory budgetary and financial planning policies as recommended by finance staff to align language with Kansas statutes and to establish guidelines for reserves. Staff noted revisions to the debt policy language to reference the relevant Kansas statute and an updated budget calendar to match state timing.

The commission approved a revised purchasing policy raising the city manager’s approval threshold for purchases from $10,000 to $20,000, citing inflation and the increasing cost of routine purchases that formerly required special meetings. The resolution maintains existing controls for capital expenditures and larger contract procurements, according to staff.

Separately, commissioners approved adding Christmas Eve as an official city holiday beginning in 2026; department staff will remain on call where required and premium pay rules apply when employees are called in on holidays.

On parks funding, the commission authorized staff to apply for the Kansas Small Cities Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program through the Kansas Department of Commerce for playground equipment and related parks system improvements. The resolution certified legal authority to apply for a project with a total estimated cost of $785,910, a grant request of $628,728, and local match of $157,182 drawn from previously budgeted city funds and conditional donor funds. The commission also adopted the required assurance resolution committing that the city will provide ongoing operation and maintenance of grant‑funded park improvements.

The consent agenda — which included approval of the Oct. 7, 2025 meeting minutes as amended to note a post‑meeting incident and approval of the 2026 employee health insurance renewal — was approved at the start of the meeting.

Votes at a glance (all motions carried by unanimous recorded voice votes): - Consent agenda (including amendment to 10/07/2025 minutes; employee health insurance renewal): approved (5‑0). - Resolution updating budgetary and financial planning policies: approved (5‑0). - Resolution revising purchasing policy to raise city manager purchase authority to $20,000: approved (5‑0). - Resolution adding Christmas Eve as an official city holiday beginning 2026: approved (5‑0). - Resolution authorizing award/quote to Powerplay LLC for splash pad (quote $306,500; total not to exceed $326,500 including in‑kind city contributions): approved (5‑0). - Resolution certifying authority to apply for Kansas Small Cities CDBG for parks & facility improvements (project estimate $785,910; grant request $628,728; local match $157,182): approved (5‑0). - Resolution assuring Kansas Department of Commerce that funds will be provided for operation/maintenance of grant‑funded park improvements: approved (5‑0).

Discussion and context City staff described the splash pad as a through‑flow design (non‑recirculating), noting lower upfront engineering costs by using an off‑the‑shelf vendor design and savings compared with hiring a full design engineer. Staff said the installation will include plumbing and concrete pad pour, and the vendor will add play features; provisions will allow additions later if funding becomes available. A site plan in the meeting packet was referenced; staff stated the pad footprint is roughly 2,700 square feet (packet dimensions referenced as about 81 by 65 feet).

Staff said operating and maintenance estimates are preliminary: about $5,000 annually for maintenance and roughly $7,600 annually for water use. The commission noted those recurring costs in approving the project and passed the related CDBG application and assurance to demonstrate the city’s ability to operate and maintain improvements should grant funds be awarded.

On purchasing policy, staff and commissioners discussed the historical approval thresholds (previously $10,000, earlier $5,000) and the administrative burden of calling special meetings for modest overages. The revised policy raises the manager’s single‑purchase approval limit to $20,000 while keeping capital and contract requirements subject to existing procurement controls.

Public comment and next steps Two members of the public spoke during the meeting: Lloyd Colston provided comments urging civic engagement and voting; another resident spoke briefly in favor of the splash pad and asked about placement (confirmed to be at the current playground area near the park restrooms). The commission noted a public hearing is scheduled for Oct. 27, 2025, at 12 p.m. to consider a CDBG application related to Wilson Park improvements. Staff also reported a November 10 bid date for a separate fire station project and ongoing planning work with a developer on a separate housing site; no formal action on those items occurred at this meeting.

The commission adjourned after approving the listed measures.