Liberal City Commission Summary
Week of July 29, 2026
CityBus transit facility nears completion as city provides project updates
Officials warn against blocking splash pad drains with plastic bags
City launches Downtown Redevelopment Master Plan website
City renews school resource officer agreement with USD 480
City to activate school zone flashing lights ahead of fall semester
CityBus transit facility nears completion as city provides project updates
LIBERAL, Kan. — Construction on Liberal's new CityBus transit facility is expected to wrap up by mid-August, with the city recently receiving its final reimbursement from the state. During a staff report, officials also noted that demolition and final grading at Adventure Bay Family Water Park are complete, paving the way for future construction. Meanwhile, a taxiway project at Liberal Mid-America Regional Airport is running about 30 days behind schedule due to soil compaction issues, prompting crews to work nights and weekends to catch up.
Officials warn against blocking splash pad drains with plastic bags
LIBERAL, Kan. — City officials issued a public plea urging residents to stop covering splash pad drains with plastic bags at local parks. Families have reportedly been blocking the drains to pool the water, but officials warned the practice risks sucking the bags into the plumbing and destroying the pumps. Repairing the systems requires ordering expensive, specialized parts from Canada, which would force the city to shut down the splash pads during peak summer heat while awaiting repairs.
City launches Downtown Redevelopment Master Plan website
LIBERAL, Kan. — Residents can now provide direct feedback on the future of downtown Liberal through a newly launched interactive website. The portal features a brief survey and a mapping tool that allows users to drop pins on specific locations to suggest improvements or highlight areas they want preserved. City staff announced they will also host a pop-up outreach tent during Thursday's downtown block party to gather additional public input for the Downtown Redevelopment Master Plan.
City renews school resource officer agreement with USD 480
LIBERAL, Kan. — The city approved the 2026-2027 school resource officer agreement with Unified School District 480. Police Chief Chester Pinkston noted that the existing arrangement has functioned well for the past two years, with both entities coordinating closely on scheduling and staffing limits. Under the terms of the agreement, the school district pays for approximately 70 percent of the school resource officers' salaries and benefits.
City to activate school zone flashing lights ahead of fall semester
LIBERAL, Kan. — With the Unified School District 480 fall semester beginning Aug. 12, city street crews are finishing crosswalk striping and will activate school zone warning lights on Aug. 10. The early activation is intended to test the equipment and give drivers a two-day grace period to adjust to the reduced speed limits before police begin strict traffic enforcement and issue citations on the first official day of classes.
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