'Voids' discovered under Adventure Bay Water Park; safety concerns raised

'Rainbow bench' made of wind turbine blades approved for park

Street department completes major concrete work, targets Harrison Circle next

City seeks tenant for historic Grier House space

Fire department provides mutual aid to Booker, Texas

City secures over $1 million in grant funding for 2025

Commissioners eye airport enplanement goals for federal funding

Agreement reached with USD 480 on school resource officer payments

'Voids' discovered under Adventure Bay Water Park; safety concerns raised

LIBERAL, Kan. — City recreation staff and commissioners discussed concerning results from a recent ground-penetrating radar assessment at Adventure Bay Water Park, which revealed significant underground voids beneath the pool deck and infrastructure. The scan identified voids ranging from 15 to 45 feet long, including areas beneath a slide support pillar, a themed pool area and main water lines. Staff reported the facility is losing approximately 20,000 gallons of water daily due to leaks. Commissioners expressed hesitation about opening the park for the summer without further investigation, citing safety hazards. The commission directed staff to urgently seek bids for boring and camera services to determine the depth of the voids before a decision is made on the upcoming season.

'Rainbow bench' made of wind turbine blades approved for park

LIBERAL, Kan. — Commissioners unanimously approved the purchase and installation of a "Rainbow Bench" to be located near the Dorothy's House attraction and the Ruby Slipper Slide. The custom bench will be manufactured by Noblewins using recycled wind turbine blades, highlighting the city's connection to both the "Wizard of Oz" theme and renewable energy. Tourism Director Sally Fuller stated the bench is expected to be installed before the Memorial Day travel season begins to serve as a photo opportunity and seating area for parents.

Street department completes major concrete work, targets Harrison Circle next

LIBERAL, Kan. — Street Director Jesus Cardenas reported significant progress on road repairs, noting that crews completed approximately 1,700 feet of concrete work in the last 30 days. Following the completion of the current project, street crews are scheduled to move operations to Harrison Circle to begin repairs there. Commissioners praised the department for their efficiency and for managing snow and ice removal during the recent winter storm.

City seeks tenant for historic Grier House space

LIBERAL, Kan. — Staff announced that a request for proposals has been issued to find a new tenant for the lease space at the historic Grier House. The building was recently vacated by a previous tenant, and city crews have been cleaning and making necessary repairs to the property. The city aims to select a tenant for both the upstairs and downstairs office spaces by the end of February to aid in downtown revitalization efforts.

Fire department provides mutual aid to Booker, Texas

LIBERAL, Kan. — The Liberal Fire Department provided mutual aid to Booker, Texas, to assist with a fire at the Preferred Beef meat processing plant. Due to local resource constraints, the city sent two off-duty firefighters to assist, while the rural fire department provided a ladder truck. City officials commended the first responders for assisting a neighboring community while maintaining local safety coverage during severe winter weather.

City secures over $1 million in grant funding for 2025

LIBERAL, Kan. — Grants Director Karen LaFreniere reported that the City of Liberal has secured approximately $1.2 million in grant funds so far for the year, with an additional $221,000 allocated for drug court funding. Highlights include just over $1 million in federal solar green energy credits to offset energy costs. The city currently has $2.7 million in water project requests and $5.3 million in loan forgiveness applications pending review with the Kansas Water Office. Approximately 45 percent of the city's applications have been awarded to date, primarily from state funding sources.

Commissioners eye airport enplanement goals for federal funding

LIBERAL, Kan. — Commissioners discussed the importance of the city's ongoing air-service development efforts and the critical goal of reaching 10,000 enplanements at the local airport. City leaders emphasized that hitting this passenger threshold is vital for the city to qualify for specific federal funding brackets. The commission urged the community to utilize the airport to ensure these federal dollars are secured for future improvements.

Agreement reached with USD 480 on school resource officer payments

LIBERAL, Kan. — City Manager Scarlette Diseker announced the conclusion of a two-and-a-half-year negotiation with Unified School District 480 regarding school resource officer funding. An agreement has been reached to settle back payments for SRO wages and benefits covering the years 2021 and 2022. She credited Superintendent Dane Richardson for his cooperation in resolving the long-standing financial dispute between the city and the school district.

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