El Dorado commission sets KDOT Twelfth Avenue Bridge hearing, approves aquatic center planning contract and names vice mayor

The El Dorado City Commission voted to set a public hearing for the Kansas Department of Transportation bridge replacement at Twelfth Avenue and to approve a professional services contract for planning a potential aquatic center. The commission also approved the consent agenda, which included minutes and the appointment of Cindy Scribe as vice mayor for 2025.

KDOT Project and public hearing: The commission agreed to hold the official public hearing for K DotProject900Dash08KsADash6474Dash01 — described in the meeting as the El Dorado State Park Bridge Replacement / Twelfth Avenue — on Feb. 17, 2025, and authorized a 45‑day public comment period to begin after publication in the official city newspaper. A KDOT representative told the commission the project is in the design phase and construction is planned to begin in fall 2025 and would take about a year to complete. The current bridge was described as “functionally obsolete” and the replacement will be a full replacement. The project will require acquisition of federal property administered by the United States Army Corps of Engineers; meeting materials characterized the affected land as “4 F” property (public recreation land). The plans presented to the commission indicate the new bridge will have two lanes with narrow shoulders and a 10‑foot path on the north side; study materials also showed an 8‑foot path profile on an approach segment of Twelfth Avenue.

Commissioners and staff said the city and Butler County Commission previously advocated by resolution for pedestrian accommodations on the bridge as part of the city’s transportation master plan; KDOT officials said no city matching funds are required for the bridge project and that pedestrian accommodations would be funded through the federal/KDOT project. The United States Army Corps of Engineers and Kansas Wildlife and Parks were described in meeting materials as regarding the planned right‑of‑way acquisition as a non‑adverse taking.

Aquatic center planning services agreement: The commission approved a professional services agreement with “the dark room” for phase‑1 planning services for a potential aquatic center. The scope includes site feasibility studies (existing facilities, Rio Park and Legion Park were named), conceptual layouts, and a financial and market analysis to estimate construction and operating costs and revenue potential. The city manager and staff said the original proposal price of $235,651 was negotiated down to a not‑to‑exceed amount of $162,086; that planning cost will be paid from general fund reserves. The agreement’s schedule calls for completion of the planning work in 27 weeks from contract execution. Staff said some elements of public engagement and additional tasks were removed from the consultant scope and will be handled by staff.

Consent agenda and vice mayor appointment: On the consent agenda the commission approved minutes from Jan. 15 and Jan. 21, 2025, and approved Cindy Scribe as the vice mayor for 2025. Each motion on the record carried by voice vote and the chair declared the motions carried.

Votes at a glance: • Consent agenda (approval of Jan. 15 and Jan. 21, 2025 minutes; appointment of Cindy Scribe as vice mayor): motion carried by voice vote; recorded present commissioners at roll call: Peter Young, Commissioner Schreckner and Commissioner Wilkinson; outcome: approved. • Set public hearing for K DotProject900Dash08KsADash6474Dash01 (El Dorado State Park Bridge Replacement/Twelfth Avenue) for Feb. 17, 2025 and authorize 45‑day comment period: motion carried by voice vote; outcome: approved. • Approve aquatic center planning services agreement with “the dark room,” NTE $162,086, paid from general fund reserves, schedule 27 weeks: motion carried by voice vote; outcome: approved.

What officials said and next steps: City staff said the KDOT project expects construction in fall 2025 and that no local match is required. For the aquatic center, staff said the planning phase will produce site options and conceptual costs for future commission and community decision-making. The commission directed the mayor to sign the aquatic center contract and authorized commencement of the public comment period for the KDOT project following publication.