Dodge City Commission Summary
Week of March 3, 2026
City delays construction, hiring to manage budget constraints
City officials prepare for annual Dodge City Night in Topeka
Commission awards $2.18 million street reconstruction contract
Commissioners push for smoother roads on new street projects
City adds dust-controlling 'fog seal' to annual street maintenance
Annual crack seal program approved for $125,000
Mariah Hills Golf Course to upgrade cart fleet amid high demand
City approves $29,000 in turf maintenance equipment for golf course
City delays construction, hiring to manage budget constraints
DODGE CITY, Kan. — Following the revenue neutral rate process last fall, City Manager Nick Hernandez announced the city will delay some construction projects and hold off on filling an administrative position to balance the upcoming budget. While responding to questions regarding capital improvements, Hernandez noted that essential police and fire equipment purchases will move forward as planned, but other secondary acquisitions like pickup trucks and plows may be delayed for a year to conserve funds.
City officials prepare for annual Dodge City Night in Topeka
DODGE CITY, Kan. — City Manager Nick Hernandez reminded the public that local officials are traveling to the state capital for the annual Dodge City Night in Topeka. The annual event provides local leaders and commissioners an opportunity to meet face-to-face with state legislators to advocate for the community's interests and secure potential state-level support for local initiatives.
Commission awards $2.18 million street reconstruction contract
DODGE CITY, Kan. — The city commission unanimously approved a $2.18 million bid from Building Solutions for the 2026 street reconstruction project. The project, funded by the Street Sales Tax Fund and the Capital Improvement Program Water Fund, will rebuild nearly a mile of asphalt streets and replace underlying water lines. Scheduled for completion by March 2027, the improvements will target portions of High Street, Shadow Lane, Division Street, Ash Street, Avenue J and Sewell Street.
Commissioners push for smoother roads on new street projects
DODGE CITY, Kan. — During discussions on the 2026 street reconstruction project, commissioners raised concerns about the drivability and smoothness of recently paved roads in the city. Director of Engineering Ray Slattery explained that straight edges are currently used to level roads, but crests and dips can make perfect leveling difficult. Following the debate, Slattery agreed to look into reinstating a profilograph specification — a device used to measure pavement surface roughness — in future city contracts to ensure future paving projects meet strict smoothness requirements.
City adds dust-controlling 'fog seal' to annual street maintenance
DODGE CITY, Kan. — Commissioners approved a $475,000 bid from Vance Brothers LLC for the city's annual asphalt chip seal program, which will cover roughly 8.5 miles of streets in maintenance zone one. This year's road maintenance will feature an additional "fog seal" applied over the standard chip seal. City Engineer Tanner Rutschman said the new measure is designed to control dust, lock the rock chips in place and extend the overall life of the roadway.
Annual crack seal program approved for $125,000
DODGE CITY, Kan. — A $125,000 contract was awarded for the application of 115,000 pounds of crack seal material to city streets. City Engineer Tanner Rutschman said the preventive maintenance, which targets large and small cracks in asphalt, will focus on maintenance zones one and six to keep moisture out of the subgrade and prevent costly road failures before the city's chip seal program begins.
Mariah Hills Golf Course to upgrade cart fleet amid high demand
DODGE CITY, Kan. — To keep up with significant growth in rounds played, the city commission approved the purchase of 10 new Club Car golf carts for Mariah Hills Golf Course. The carts, purchased from Clear Creek Golf Car Company for $60,320, will be partially offset by selling 10 older carts at auction for $3,000 each. Parks and Recreation Director Daniel Cecil said the department plans to purchase 10 carts annually moving forward to keep the high-use fleet updated and under warranty.
City approves $29,000 in turf maintenance equipment for golf course
DODGE CITY, Kan. — Commissioners authorized the $29,475 purchase of a top dresser and a vibrating greens roller for the Mariah Hills Golf Course. Parks and Recreation Director Daniel Cecil noted that the equipment replaces late-1990s and early-2000s models that have exceeded their expected lifespans. The new roller will attach directly to the course's existing mowers to smooth putting surfaces without over-compacting the soil.
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