On Tuesday, May 27, the Chanute City Commission approved an expansion of the city’s fiber connections to allow for additional fiber connections.
Fiber Pon 13 has an engineer’s estimate of $926,608.25 for underground work near the Osa Martin residential area. Overhead fiber installation was completed by the city’s electric department. There are three more passive optical networks before the project is completed with a total of 1593 residential customers. Pon 13 can support 220 new customers.
According to City Manager Todd Newman, fiber expansion is an asset to the community.
Vice Mayor Tim Fairchild said these fiber projects have taken a long time to complete, but it has been done without debt.
“The community has been really great about waiting,” Fairchild said.
Newman said 45% of the city is connected to fiber internet currently, and expects that number to rise to 47-48% after this expansion is completed. In total, Newman said he’d like to see 50% of the city to be connected to fiber.
In other business, The city approved a new wholesale electric contract with Ash Grove. Ash Grove has agreed to a quarter-cent increase in the energy rate and a reduction of a quarter-cent in the FECA credit beginning January 1, 2026. According to the commission, There will be a 75-cent increase in the demand charge beginning January 1, 2027, and an increase in the the energy charge for 2028 based on the 2027 consumer price index.
The demand charge of the wholesale rate is $10.25 per kilowatt hour. The energy rate is $0.0298 per kilowatt hour, plus fuel and energy cost adjustment, according to the agreement, which will go into effect on January 1, 2026.
A temporary street closure was approved for June 28, for the Chanute Recreation Commission Splash ‘N Dash. Closures will begin at 7 a.m., and reopen at noon, or when the 5-kilometer un is completed. The streets impacted include: East 5th Street, South Central Avenue, East 6th Street, South Katy Avenue, and the intersection at East Main Street and South Katy Avenue. Katy Park and the Katy Park Hike & Bike Trail will also be utilized for the event, with volunteers stationed throughout the running route.
Commissioners also voted to declare eight properties in violation of municipal code and approved various board and committee meeting minutes.
The next Chanute City Commission meeting will be on Monday, June 9, at 6:30 p.m. at the Memorial Building. Meetings are also live-streamed to the City of Chanute Kansas Gov Facebook page.
