Coffeyville commission approves housing incentive district, infrastructure contracts, compensation study and cybersecurity agreement; tables hospital ordinance

The Coffeyville City Commission on March 25 approved several resolutions and contract actions intended to advance housing development, street and utility repairs, a citywide compensation study, and cybersecurity protections, and it voted to table a home-rule ordinance concerning Coffeyville Regional Medical Center.

The actions were taken by recorded roll-call votes during the regular meeting. The measures approved included a reinvestment housing incentive district (RHID), awards of construction contracts for a storm sewer and a water main, a contract for a compensation and restructuring analysis, and authority for the city manager to negotiate and execute a three-year cybersecurity agreement with Huber and Associates. The commission also tabled home-rule ordinance S-25-O2 addressing the Coffeyville Regional Medical Center.

Resolution R-25-27 — reinvestment housing incentive district Amber Dean, director of community development, said the resolution "establishes a reinvestment housing incentive district in Coffeyville to help address the city's ongoing housing shortage" and that the city is working on a preliminary plat for the 100-acre site included in the RHID. Vice Mayor Van Oster moved to approve R-25-27; Commissioner Faulkner seconded. Commissioners Edwards, Hendricks, Faulkner, Van Oster and Mayor Deborah Maples voted aye.

Resolution R-25-28 — storm sewer repair contract (Fifth and Santa Fe) Jim Wright, director of public works, described a collapsed culvert beneath Fifth Street and said engineers recommended JKS Construction as the low bidder. Commissioner Faulkner moved to approve R-25-28; Commissioner Edwards seconded. Commissioners Hendricks, Van Oster, Faulkner, Mayor Maples and Commissioner Edwards recorded aye votes. Commissioners discussed that the low bid was about $151,000 less than the high bid and that the engineering firm (Algier Martin) will perform inspections during work.

Resolution R-25-29 — water-main replacement contract (West Sixth) Wright said the work is part of the 2025 street-repair projects; the water line sits under the asphalt and is being moved clear of the pavement edge. Commissioner Hendricks moved to approve R-25-29; Mayor Maples seconded. Vice Mayor Van Oster, Commissioner Faulkner, Mayor Maples, Commissioner Edwards and Commissioner Hendricks voted aye. Wright confirmed contractors are responsible for road, driveway, backfill and grass restoration tied to the water-line work.

Resolution R-25-30 — compensation restructuring and analysis City Manager Ben Brubaker summarized the need for a wage and step study after recent union bargaining revealed pay compression and inconsistent step practices. Brubaker said the city solicited proposals and selected McGrath Consulting, a Tennessee firm recommended by several Kansas cities and the city’s labor attorney. Mayor Maples moved to approve R-25-30; Vice Mayor Van Oster seconded. Commissioners Faulkner, Maples, Edwards, Hendricks and Van Oster voted aye.

Appropriation ordinances and consent items The commission approved the consent agenda, which included the March 11 meeting minutes, resolution R-25-26 (an agreement between the Coffeyville Recreation Commission and the City of Coffeyville), and the 2025 appropriation ordinance AO-25-O6 totaling $1,641,462.42. Mayor Maples moved to approve the consent items; Vice Mayor Van Oster seconded. The record shows aye votes from Vice Mayor Van Oster, Commissioner Faulkner, Mayor Maples, Commissioner Edwards and Commissioner Hendricks. A follow-up appropriation item described as AO-25-O6A (Ishams and Leberts) in the amount of $41.67 was approved; Vice Mayor Van Oster recorded an abstention on that item.

Ordinance S-25-O2 tabled The commission moved to table the second reading of home-rule ordinance S-25-O2 related to Coffeyville Regional Medical Center so staff can continue discussions with the hospital. The motion to table was made by Vice Mayor Van Oster and seconded by Commissioner Edwards and passed by voice/roll-call with ayes recorded.

Executive session outcome — cybersecurity agreement Following an executive session on security matters permitted under KSA 75-4319(b)(12), Mayor Maples moved and Vice Mayor Van Oster seconded a motion to authorize the city manager to negotiate and execute a three-year agreement with Huber and Associates to implement cybersecurity and related measures for the City of Coffeyville. The motion passed with aye votes recorded.

No action was taken following the attorney–client privileged executive session (KSA 75-4319(b)(2)).

What passed and who voted - RHID (R-25-27): approved (van Oster move; Faulkner second). Ayes: Maples, Van Oster, Faulkner, Edwards, Hendricks. - Storm-sewer contract to JKS Construction (R-25-28): approved (Faulkner move; Edwards second). Ayes: Maples, Van Oster, Faulkner, Edwards, Hendricks. - Water-main contract to CDL Electric (R-25-29): approved (Hendricks move; Maples second). Ayes: Maples, Van Oster, Faulkner, Edwards, Hendricks. - Compensation study contract (McGrath) (R-25-30): approved (Maples move; Van Oster second). Ayes: Maples, Van Oster, Faulkner, Edwards, Hendricks. - Appropriation ordinance AO-25-O6 ($1,641,462.42) and consent items: approved. Ayes: Maples, Van Oster, Faulkner, Edwards, Hendricks. AO-25-O6A ($41.67): approved; Vice Mayor Van Oster abstained. - Ordinance S-25-O2 (second reading): tabled (Van Oster move; Edwards second). Ayes recorded. - Authorization for city manager to negotiate/execute three-year agreement with Huber and Associates for cybersecurity: approved (Maples move; Van Oster second). Ayes recorded.

The commission did not adopt the S-25-O2 ordinance and took no action following the attorney–client executive session. Several approvals are next-step authorizations (awarding contracts or directing the city manager to execute agreements) that will require follow-up implementation steps by staff.