Chanute City Commissioners voted to extend the dates of firework sales within the city at its recent meeting on Monday, May 12. This was first proposed during the April 28 meeting.
The Kansas Legislature has passed Senate Bill 199, which allows municipalities to set the dates of seasonal firework sales which can begin as early as June 20, and end as late as July 7. Municipalities may offer permanent fireworks retailers the option to apply for a year-round license to sell fireworks as well.
“I’d be interested in extending the sales dates,” Commissioner Kevin Berthot said during the April 28 meeting. “I’m not interested in yearround sales.”
During Monday’s meeting, Berthot suggested a sales window opening June 29, and ending July 5, which would allow seasonal retailers to be able to sell excess inventory the day after Independence Day festivities.
This sales period was approved by commissioners.
In other business, commissioners voted to approve temporary street and alleyway closures for Blues and More. On Thursday, June 5 from 5:30 to 10 p.m., Main Street between Highland and Evergreen will be closed, along with the alley near the Main Street Pavillion.
Mayor Jacob LaRue extended gratitude to Chanute Main Street Director Ruthann Boatwright. Boatwright said this year, there would be food vendors present.
“For a five-hour event, you guys have probably put hundreds of hours into it, I don’t think the community realizes that,” LaRue said.
Also discussed was an extension of the Voluntary Demolition Program, which was approved for five new properties.
City Manager Todd Newman said last year the city was able to remove seven blighted structures. This year so far, city crews have removed five, and are set to demolish another five.
Newman said blighted structures were a common problem in many Southeast Kansas municipalities.
“It’s definitely all around us,” Newman said. “Every community is dealing with it.”
Commissioners also heard an update on capital improvement plan projects, Ongoing projects include: the water plant, which is underway; the wastewater plant, which is in the engineering phase; Fiber expansion, which has three phases left; and a solar project.
Newman said currently the City of Chanute has 1,600 fiber customers, with a goal to have 2,000 customers after the expansion project is complete.
Future projects to be discussed during budget sessions include fire and police radios. Newman said over the last five years, the City of Chanute has completed roughly 90 million dollars in CIP projects.
“I think we have completed 20 to 25 projects over the last five years,” Newman said.
In other business, commissioners voted to declare eight properties in violation of Chanute Municipal Code.
The Chanute City Commission also voted to reschedule to upcoming meeting due to the Memorial Day Holiday. The next meeting will take place on Tuesday, May 27, at 6:30 p.m. in the City Commission Room on the second floor of the Memorial Building. Meeting are also live-streamed to Facebook, and on the city website at https://www.chanute. org/civicmedia.
