The Fairview City Council met in regular session at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 2, at the Fairview Community Building. Present for the meeting were Mayor Art Vonderschmidt, Council Members Charlie Kramer, Bridget Harvey and Doug Bletscher, Treasurer Kim Rettele, Secretary Christine Rosenberger, Community Center Manager Joann Keim, Code Enforcement Officer Ashley Martinez, and City Employee George Blanton. Not present were council members Sierra Renner and Steve Holthaus.

Old Business

Vonderschmidt updated the council on the Checkers demolition. Vonderschmidt said “the demolition went really well, with a few nervous times.”

Vonderschmidt said the studded walls are gone and just brick walls remain. He also said there are some holes and missing bricks that needs fixed. He also said the sewer lines were capped that were in it and the company backfilled the space.

Vonderschmidt said the council needed to decide how to seal off the walls of the building because the mortar is a “sand mortar,” which will crumble if it gets too wet. Vonderschmidt said he contacted Jason “Hacksaw” Hinkle about spray foaming the walls.

Vonderschmidt said the company recommended to not tear down the south wall of the building — the front of the building — because there is a “big wooden beam going across the top of it and the bricks are in the best shape on the south wall.” Vonderschmidt also said “it will tie the two buildings together and add support to the corners of the adjacent buildings, and it would give a toothless face look from the street.”

Next, Vonderschmidt said the gutter by the front door of Fairview Community Building needs to be changed, in order to prevent water from standing by the building.

Vonderschmidt said BG Consultants contacted him about the right-of-way on the south side of the U.S. Highway 36 project and the project needing more space for crews to work to put the sidewalk in. Vonderschmidt said the City of Fairview needs to contact the property owners on the south side of U.S. Highway 36 in order to get a “temporary easement to be on their properties.” Vonderschmidt said the city needed someone who was “Right-Of-Way Certified” in order to complete this. Vonderschmidt said he sent the information to Martinez in order for her to get certified.

Vonderschmidt said BG Consultants and the State of Kansas will hold a field check at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, March 14, at the Fairview Community Building regarding the project. The project will span from the east end of Fairview to the new Bert’s Express Travel Plaza.

Vonderschmidt said the application period is open again for the HEAL Grant Program. The council voted to apply for the grant again this year.

Vonderschmidt said the project and expenditure report for the COVID relief money the city received is due April 30. However, the portal to complete the report does not open until April 1. In 2022, the City of Fairview had not spent any of the funds.

The council discussed the sewer fees in depth. After a lengthy discussion about the possibility of increasing the residential and business sewer rates, the council decided to have Rosenberger run a report showing what is currently being paid by residents and businesses. The council tabled the discussion again until the April meeting.

New business

Keim said she was having a new refrigerator delivered to the community building on Monday, March 6. Keim said the refrigerator cost $1,499. Keim texted the council members previously for approval on this purchase. The council members approved the purchase unanimously.

Keim also said she had a bill from Goodman Brothers for the sidewalk at the front of the community building. The bill was for $1,200.

Keim also said the annual 4-H Easter Egg Hunt will be at 4 p.m. Friday, April 7, at the Fairview City Park.

Rettele said she asked about the Wolfe Grant funds but had not heard back yet.

Also at the meeting:

The council approved the following: minutes from the Feb. 7 meeting with two corrections, the treasurer’s report and the bills to pay.

The next regular meeting will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 6, at the Fairview Community Building.