Newly appointed commissioner sworn in

City pushes forward on stalled dispatch software migration

Commission approves $194,000 for new dog park

City purchases 26-foot Christmas tree for downtown revitalization

City awards $740,000 contract for chip seal program

Downtown Main Street improvements target ADA compliance

Former fire station sold to private buyer

Commission authorizes $60,000 for cemetery expansion gas line relocation

City employee named Water Operator of the Year

Newly appointed commissioner sworn in

LIBERAL, Kan. — A newly appointed commissioner officially joined the city commission after taking the oath of office at Tuesday's meeting. The commissioner fills a recently vacated seat.

City pushes forward on stalled dispatch software migration

LIBERAL, Kan. — After nearly two years of what city staff characterized as vendor delays, the city reported progress on the Spillman software migration project with Motorola. Following communication from the city, the vendor assigned new staff to the project and committed to finishing the foundational geographic information systems mapping work within the next two weeks. The delayed transition is a critical technological upgrade for local emergency communications, and city officials said they are eager to see the encumbered funds put to use.

Commission approves $194,000 for new dog park

LIBERAL, Kan. — The city commission unanimously approved an expenditure not to exceed $194,000 for a new dog park situated north of the McCray Park playground on S. Pershing Avenue. The facility will feature separate play spaces for large and small dogs, artificial pet turf with a 10-year warranty, fencing and overhead shade structures. Funding will come from the community development portion of the city's 1-cent sales tax. To alleviate neighborhood congestion on a nearby residential street, city staff will separately install a concrete parking lot for the park using the streets and drainage capital improvement fund.

City purchases 26-foot Christmas tree for downtown revitalization

LIBERAL, Kan. — In an effort to revitalize the downtown area and boost holiday tourism, the commission approved the purchase of a 26-foot commercial Christmas tree from a holiday display vendor for $25,510. The panel-constructed tree, which features more than 1,300 lights and a star on top, will be installed in the Third Street fountain courtyard in downtown Liberal. Officials said the purchase, funded by the 1-cent sales tax, responds to frequent community requests for a larger holiday centerpiece that can serve as an anchor for local celebrations.

City awards $740,000 contract for chip seal program

LIBERAL, Kan. — A paving contractor secured a $740,000 contract for the city's 2026 chip seal program. The project will resurface a large section of the city's south side. Funding will be split between the special highways fund, which will provide $285,000, and the streets and drainage capital improvements portion of the 1-cent sales tax, which will cover $455,000. The contractor was the sole bidder for the project.

Downtown Main Street improvements target ADA compliance

LIBERAL, Kan. — City staff announced ongoing concrete improvements along Main Street between Eighth and Ninth streets aimed at bringing sidewalks into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Previously, light poles and extended sidewalks created pinch points that severely limited wheelchair accessibility in the area. Once the current block is completed, city crews will move south toward the old Wendy's building corner to continue the sidewalk upgrades.

Former fire station sold to private buyer

LIBERAL, Kan. — A vacant former city-owned property on Walnut Street, formerly used as a fire station, was sold to a private buyer for $55,000. The buyer was the sole bidder for the property, offering a purchase price that exceeded the city's appraised value. The unanimous commission decision will return the largely unused municipal storage facility to the local property tax rolls.

Commission authorizes $60,000 for cemetery expansion gas line relocation

LIBERAL, Kan. — The city commission approved a $60,000 quote from an energy company to reroute four gas lines currently obstructing the planned cemetery expansion project. Moving the underground utility lines is a necessary step before the property can be developed. City staff said the existing 8-inch, 6-inch and 4-inch pipes will be excavated and repurposed for municipal fencing projects, saving money on future material costs.

City employee named Water Operator of the Year

LIBERAL, Kan. — Water Supervisor Guillermo "Gil" Corona, with 28 years of service to the city, was formally recognized as the 2026 Water Operator of the Year by Kansas Municipal Utilities. A statewide utility association representative attended the meeting to present the award, saying Corona was selected from a pool of more than 3,000 certified operators across Kansas. City management praised Corona's role in training staff and implementing a succession plan ahead of a planned retirement later this year.

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