Ark City Commission Summary
Week of March 3, 2026
Arkansas City Fire-EMS Department acquires surplus military truck for grass fires
Arkansas City Fire-EMS Department launches public input survey
City prepares $800,000 grant application for east side water project
Ark City awarded state grants for housing and parks
Construction progresses on Wilson Park projects and pickleball courts
Arkansas City Fire-EMS Department acquires surplus military truck for grass fires
ARKANSAS CITY, Kan. — To improve wildland firefighting across its 750-square-mile coverage area, the Arkansas City Fire-EMS Department was authorized to purchase an M977 heavy expanded mobility tactical truck from an Oklahoma fire department [FLAG: Specific Oklahoma fire department name could not be confirmed]. The $80,000 dual-purpose truck has fewer than 3,000 miles and carries 2,500 gallons of water, an upgrade from the department's standard 300-gallon pickup trucks that have suffered mechanical damage in rough terrain.
Arkansas City Fire-EMS Department launches public input survey
ARKANSAS CITY, Kan. — The city has released an online public survey about the Arkansas City Fire-EMS Department, seeking citizen input on potential facility locations and other operational priorities. The survey is available online at form.typeform.com/to/KlJI0s4tX following promotion through social media and local press releases. [FLAG: No formal deadline for the survey was listed in the available materials.]
City prepares $800,000 grant application for east side water project
ARKANSAS CITY, Kan. — The city is seeking an $800,000 Community Development Block Grant to help fund the estimated $4.8 million East Pressure Zone water project near the Madison Avenue neighborhood and the Walnut River area. With State Revolving Fund loans currently prioritizing systems with regulatory water-quality issues, the city is exploring other financing options — such as U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development funding or municipal bonds — to cover the remaining estimated $4 million.
Ark City awarded state grants for housing and parks
ARKANSAS CITY, Kan. — City Manager Randy Frazer announced the receipt of two Community Development Block Grants, which include a $300,000 grant focused on housing improvements and a $628,728 grant for new park equipment. A public meeting is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. on March 24 for the 70 residents who pre-applied for the housing grants to receive full application details.
Construction progresses on Wilson Park projects and pickleball courts
ARKANSAS CITY, Kan. — Recreation updates showed water pipes have been installed at Wilson Park ahead of concrete work, with LK Architecture finalizing designs for playground equipment targeted for an October installation. Construction on the city's new pickleball courts is scheduled to begin April 15, a project that is funded without taxpayer dollars through local fundraising efforts by community pickleball groups.
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