City commission adopts revenue-neutral 2027 budget

Design for new Arkansas City fire station nears 70 percent completion

City seeks $800,000 state grant for East Pressure Zone water project

City coordinates with Creekstone Farms Premium Beef to balance water supply

Mill Road property rezoned for Kansas Gas Service facility

Madison Avenue property rezoned for expanded self-storage facility

Wilson Park playground project advances as community groups offer support

Commission discusses Halloween trick-or-treating conflict with Arkalalah

City explores downtown revitalization through Main Street program

1. City commission adopts revenue-neutral 2027 budget

ARKANSAS CITY, Kan. — The Arkansas City Commission unanimously approved a $40.3 million revenue-neutral budget for 2027 that decreases the overall property tax mill levy to 55.911 mills. While the general fund levy decreased, the debt service levy increased to accommodate potential financing for a new fire station. City staff noted that holding the property tax revenue flat required difficult sacrifices, including cutting a requested 2 percent cost-of-living adjustment for city employees, alongside several personnel and equipment requests. Despite the cuts, the general fund prioritizes core public safety needs, including cybersecurity monitoring, swift water gear, a medical vehicle remount and a new police patrol vehicle.

2. Design for new Arkansas City fire station nears 70 percent completion

ARKANSAS CITY, Kan. — Design and pricing for a new Arkansas City fire station are approximately 70 percent complete, according to an update provided by City Manager Randy Frazer. The construction and design team, which includes Crossland Construction Company and Tessere Architecture, is working to finalize pre-construction details, with the city expecting to have accurate pricing established shortly. The city plans to initiate the financing process for the new public safety facility by the end of September.

3. City seeks $800,000 state grant for East Pressure Zone water project

ARKANSAS CITY, Kan. — Commissioners authorized city officials to apply for up to $800,000 in Community Development Block Grant funds from the Kansas Department of Commerce for phase one of the East Pressure Zone water system improvements. The $4.07 million infrastructure project aims to upgrade the water tower, Chestnut pump station and river crossing infrastructure. Crystal Heinen, a financial consultant from Ranson Financial Group LLC, informed the city commission that the state is expected to allocate more funds toward water and sewer grants, increasing the city's chances of an award when decisions are announced in December.

The city commission also unanimously approved a resolution authorizing the issuance of general obligation bonds to finance portions of the project cost not covered by potential state grants. To meet grant application requirements, the commission passed a resolution guaranteeing the Kansas Department of Commerce that the city will budget an additional $60,250 annually for the operation and maintenance of the new water system infrastructure.

4. City coordinates with Creekstone Farms Premium Beef to balance water supply

ARKANSAS CITY, Kan. — City administration provided an update on recent collaborative meetings with Creekstone Farms Premium Beef staff aimed at balancing the city's water system. City and Creekstone Farms personnel toured each other's water and storage plants to better understand the flow process from the city's well fields through to the industrial facility. City Manager Randy Frazer noted the communication is helping both parties manage water supply during times of low production, ensuring the large industry's needs are met while maintaining adequate municipal fire suppression capabilities.

5. Mill Road property rezoned for Kansas Gas Service facility

ARKANSAS CITY, Kan. — A property at 915 Mill Road was unanimously rezoned from low-density residential to light industrial to pave the way for a new Kansas Gas Service facility. The utility company, which purchased the property from the city in 2024, plans to relocate its operations from North Summit Street to the Mill Road site, utilizing it for offices, storage and a laydown yard. City staff noted the property was previously zoned residential due to its proximity to the bypass, but the industrial designation better fits the site's future use.

6. Madison Avenue property rezoned for expanded self-storage facility

ARKANSAS CITY, Kan. — The city commission unanimously approved the rezoning of 708 E. Madison Ave. from an agricultural district to a general commercial district to allow for the expansion of an existing business. Property owner BDK Land Holdings requested the change to construct a new container-style self-storage facility on the underdeveloped rear portion of the lot. Following the rezoning, commissioners also unanimously approved a conditional use permit required for self-storage operations in the commercial district.

[EDITOR'S NOTE: "BDK Land Holdings" — verify full legal entity name and confirm this is the correct property owner on record. If incorrect, attributing a rezoning request to the wrong party could pose a liability concern.]

7. Wilson Park playground project advances as community groups offer support

ARKANSAS CITY, Kan. — The city has officially opened the bidding process for new playground equipment at Wilson Park, with construction expected to begin in March 2027. During the meeting, it was revealed that two local clubs have expressed interest in privately funding a centralized seating area between the new playground and the water park, a feature that had been previously removed from the project's design. City staff agreed to consult with the project's architect, LK Architecture, to explore incorporating the privately funded seating area into the ongoing construction plans.

8. Commission discusses Halloween trick-or-treating conflict with Arkalalah

ARKANSAS CITY, Kan. — City officials discussed potential scheduling conflicts between community Halloween trick-or-treating and the final day of the Arkalalah festival, both of which fall on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026. While the city does not officially govern trick-or-treat hours, concerns were raised about downtown merchants scheduling events on the same night as the festival's climax. The city commission opted not to take formal action, instead choosing to consult with the Arkansas City Area Chamber of Commerce regarding the community's schedule and past precedents for moving the holiday's observance.

9. City explores downtown revitalization through Main Street program

ARKANSAS CITY, Kan. — Arkansas City officials are actively exploring new avenues for downtown revitalization, recently participating in a chamber of commerce meeting with Scott Sewell, the state director of the Kansas Main Street program. In addition to the Main Street initiative, City Manager Randy Frazer reported meeting with an independent preservation architect whose name was withheld during the meeting. The city plans to connect the architect with local building owners to further support ongoing efforts to preserve historic architecture and enhance the downtown commercial district.

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