Jessi Dobson

The commission discussed various business items, including the approval of a special event permit for a company fun run and the write-off of utility bad debt. A significant portion of the meeting focused on selecting the South Central Kansas Economic Development District to provide grant writing and low-to-moderate-income survey services for a Community Development Block Grant application. The commission also awarded a construction contract for a water improvement project and approved a new retiree group health plan policy. Additionally, the city manager provided updates on seasonal hiring and upcoming citywide cleanup efforts.

The commission addressed several key topics including the selection of a firm to assist with a CDBG grant application and low-to-moderate-income survey services. Additionally, the construction contract for the KMW expansion water improvement project was awarded to the lowest responsible bidder. Discussion also included potential extraterritorial zoning authority, a Q1 update on the KMW expansion project, and updates on city maintenance and staffing for the upcoming pool season.

The agenda for the regular meeting includes appointments, covering the nomination of Ethan Gray to the Park Advisory Board. Consent agenda items involve the approval of previous minutes (Regular Meeting March 2, 2026) and Accounts Payable dated March 13, 2026, for $156,606, as well as approving a special event permit for the Sterling Chamber of Commerce Fourth of July event. New business centers on authorizing a grant application for the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Community Facilities: Small Grants program for library ADA improvements, approving an agreement with Governmental Assistance Services (GAS) for grant application services, and approving a Retiree Group Health Plan Policy. The agenda also calls for an executive session for consultation with the City Attorney.

The agenda for the City Commission meeting included several key actions. Appointments were scheduled for the Kansas Municipal Energy Agency (KMEA) Board of Directors and the Library Board. Under Old Business, the Commission was set to consider accepting a donation of a handicap accessible swing for Evergreen Park. New Business items involved approving an ordinance for a special use application (SU-2026-001) related to pickleball courts, approving amended Park Advisory Board by-laws, approving a resolution to update the Master Fee Schedule, and approving a resolution to adopt the 2026-2030 Five-Year Capital Improvement Plan (CIP). The document also references minutes from a prior Regular Meeting on February 16, 2026, and minutes from a Planning Commission Regular Meeting on February 19, 2026, which included approvals for the pickleball court special use application, site plan review, lot splits, and a conditional use application for a billboard.

The regular meeting agenda included organizational matters such as appointing the Chairman, Vice-Chairman, and Secretary for 2026. Key business items involved holding a public hearing and approving a special use application (SU-2026-001) for the Sterling Recreation Commission (SRC) pickleball courts located at E. Washington Avenue & N. 4th Street. Further new business included approving the associated site plan review application (SP-2026-001) and two separate lot split applications (L/S-2026-001 for 906 N. Broadway Avenue and L/S-2026-002 for 150 Beth Drive). The Board of Zoning Appeals also held a public hearing and considered a conditional use application (BZA-CU-2026-001) for 908 N. Broadway Avenue.