Harrington commission authorizes KDHE loan application documents, approves engineering agreements and schedules budget workshop

HARRINGTON — The Harrington City Commission voted to authorize the mayor to sign documents for a Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) loan application for the city’s wastewater treatment facility, and approved related engineering contracts on Monday during a regular meeting at City Hall.

The commission also approved a supplemental engineering agreement with SMH for bidding and construction-related services and construction observation tied to the wastewater project, approved a preliminary engineering agreement for a KDOT-funded Safe Routes to School project, and scheduled an additional budget workshop for Aug. 19 to review the coming year’s budget and mill-levy options.

The KDHE items: The commission opened and closed a public hearing required for the KDHE loan application and then authorized the mayor to sign five loan-related documents included with the application — the loan application, a certification of cost-effectiveness, an assurance of public participation, an affidavit of publication (to be provided after meeting minutes and publication are finalized), and a certification related to lobbying. City staff said those pieces must accompany the application to substantiate that the public hearing and required notices were held.

Todd, an SMH project representative, described the loan timeline as more favorable than previously expected after discussions with KDHE and said the agency has “earmarked”…