Commission approves two fire command vehicles, adopts traffic and public-offense codes and authorizes FAA reimbursement; wastewater agreement updated

The Harrington City Commission approved a five-year lease-purchase for two Dodge Durango command units for the Harrington Fire Department and took a string of other formal actions Tuesday, including adopting updated model traffic and public-offense codes, authorizing an FAA reimbursement agreement for runway-lighting testing, and approving an updated wastewater discharge agreement with Union Pacific.

The lease-purchase decision authorizes purchase of two former Kansas Highway Patrol Dodge Durango units, already outfitted for emergency response, with a $20,000 down payment and a five-year payment schedule. Chief (name not specified) told the commission the department’s current first-responder vehicles are wearing out and said the Durangos are preferable for routine medical and first-response calls. “It’s a safety risk,” Chief (name not specified) said of retaining the older vehicles.

The commission approved the lease purchase on a roll-call vote; recorded ayes included Commissioner Naylor, Commissioner Stapp and Commissioner Bell (motion and second recorded in the minutes). The city manager recommended Option 1 — the $20,000 down payment and five-year term — as the most cost-effective route and said the purchase can be funded from the capital-improvement budget without increasing the overall budget.

In related vehicle business, commissioners discussed whether to retain the older Explorer and Tahoe for limited nonemergency municipal use or dispose of them through public auction. Several commissioners recommended sending worn units to auction (Purple Wave) rather than continuing to insure and maintain them.

The commission also authorized the city to enter a reimbursement agreement with the Federal Aviation Administration covering up-front costs for test flights associated with a runway- and PAPI-lighting project at the city airport. The city manager said the FAA requires payment up front for up to two test flights and that the engineering consultant believes both contractor work and testing can be coordinated in a single day, which would reduce the actual cost. The city manager estimated the likely net cost to the city would be roughly one-third of the up-front amount after reimbursements and said KDOT has agreed to match approximately 50 percent of the city’s obligation; the motion specified an up-front amount of $29,801.52. The motion to approve the FAA reimbursement agreement passed on roll call.

Two ordinances incorporating updated model codes were approved in routine action: the Standard Traffic Ordinance (Kansas, 2024 edition) with specified local omissions and the Uniform Public Offense Code (Kansas, 2024 edition). The city attorney and staff confirmed changes and local supplements are reflected as required. Both ordinances passed on recorded ayes.

Finally, the commission approved an updated wastewater-discharge agreement with Union Pacific. Staff said Union Pacific updated the testing provisions to reflect current EPA methods and pollutant lists (including EPA method 624.1). The commission authorized the mayor’s signature on the updated agreement.

Votes at a glance - Lease-purchase: Two Dodge Durango command units; $20,000 down; five-year term; outcome: approved (roll-call ayes recorded). Motion and second recorded; financing to come from capital-improvement funds. - FAA reimbursement agreement: Up-front amount $29,801.52 for runway/PAPI test flights; outcome: approved (roll-call ayes recorded). City manager said expected net cost after reimbursements will be lower. - Standard Traffic Ordinance (2024 edition, local omissions specified): outcome: approved (roll-call ayes recorded). - Uniform Public Offense Code (2024 edition): outcome: approved (roll-call ayes recorded). - Wastewater discharge agreement update with Union Pacific (testing updated to current EPA methods, e.g., EPA method 624.1): outcome: approved (roll-call ayes recorded).

What the actions mean for the city The vehicle purchase is intended to remove unreliable first-responder vehicles from daily emergency use and put the fire department back onto a replacement cycle. The FAA agreement moves the airport lighting project forward by allowing the city to front test-flight costs that are expected to be reimbursed under federal and state matching arrangements. Updated codes bring the city’s ordinances into alignment with the 2024 model publications while preserving local modifications.

Next steps Staff will finalize the lease-purchase paperwork and proceed with vehicle graphics and wiring improvements recommended by the seller. Airport staff will work with the engineering consultant and the FAA to schedule testing; staff said the city has budgeted funds in the airport account to front the required payment.