City may sell industrial park lots to B&P Propane

The Holton City Commission has tentatively accepted the proposal to purchase two lots in the city industrial park at the north edge of town on the west side for a total of $32,000 from B&P Propane of Holton, it has been reported.

The purchase contract agreement presented to the city commissioners at Monday evening’s meeting is contigent on B&P seeking and receiving Industrial Park (IP) zoning through the city planning commission and obtaining a special use permit.

Bret Bauer, city manager, said action on the purchase contract agreement with B&P could be back on the agenda as an action item at the next city commission meeting.

Currently, Bauer said, there are four vacant lots in the industrial park. 

At their meeting, commissioners also discussed whether a connecting road should be built between the industrial park and the road traveling east and west behind the Holton Community Hospital – known as Gilliland Lane.

A special meeting for city commissioners and city staff to visit the area to get a better look at the possible location for a connecting road may be scheduled soon, it was reported.

At their meeting, city commissioners also brainstormed about possible capital improvement projects that might be undertaken in the near future such as hard-surfaced parking lots for the Chandler, Countryside and Rafters Parks.

Another capital improvement project that is being considering is the purchase and installation of a new “clarifier’’ for the city water treatment plant.

Bauer explained the “clarifier’’ as a piece of equipment that separates sediment from incoming raw water, the process that starts the water treatment process.

Another possible capital improvement project mentioned was the installation of water lines at the city’s Prairie Lake, which would serve the campgrounds.

There is some new curb and guttering work under way for the east side of the Courtyard located at the inside area of the Town Square roads. Bauer said one section has been completed.

In other business, the city commission:

*Appointed Bauer to serve as the city’s ex officio member on the Holton/Jackson County Chamber of Commerce board of directors.

*Re-appointed Ira Harrison, power plant production superintendent, to represent the city as Director 2 on the Kansas Municipal Energy Agency.