During the April 14 Chanute City Commission meeting, commissioners discussed street closures during upcoming events.
On Saturday, April 26, some roads and entrances downtown will be closed during Safari Family Funday. The west side of the Martin and Osa Johnson Safari Museum parking lot connecting to Main Street will be closed off at 9 p.m. on Friday, April 25. Elm Street will be closed where it intersects with Lincoln Avenue beginning Saturday morning at 7 a.m. Barricades will be removed after 3 p.m. when Safari Family Fun Day events have ceased.
Attendees can look forward to a petting zoo, an openair market, crafting tables, a welding rodeo, and a car show. Safari Family Fun Day will be open to the public from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Commissioners also approved the use of Katy Park to host the annual Mirza Southeast Kansas Cars and Trucks car show. This year will be the fifteenth in the event’s history and will take place on Saturday, June 21.
In his report, City Manager Todd Newman said that there have been no applications to lease the restaurant space available at Stone Creek Golf Course. Newman said his current course of action was to spend the next 30-60 days continuing to advertise the vacancy. Newman said prospective buyers have asked questions about the opportunity, but none have ended in a lead on a tenant.
“Times are hard right now for everyone,” Newman said. Mayor Jacob LaRue asked if there were additional benefits the commission could include to attract a tenant. Newman said that based on the feedback he received, the contract was “very fair.”
The Commissioners also heard an update on the water plant from Danny Coltrane, who said the project is in early, preliminary stages. Coltrane said concrete work would begin soon.
“We feel like we’re a little bit behind,” Coltrane said. “But with a two-year contract, there is going to be ebb and flow throughout the whole project.”
Coltrane said he anticipates completing the project on time despite these early delays.
In other business, Mayor Jacob LaRue read a proclamation declaring April to be Child Abuse Prevention Month. Court Appointed Special Advocates of the 31st District, AmeriCorps Seniors, Hope Unlimited, and Kansas Children’s Service League partnered together to promote the spread of child abuse prevention messages throughout Chanute and the broader community. CASA of the 31st District Executive Director Aimee Daniels was present at the proclamation and passed out blue pinwheels on ink pens. She said that pinwheels are the national symbol for child abuse prevention and represent the hope that child abuse will end.
The next Chanute City Commission meeting will be held on Monday, April 28, at 6:30 p.m. at the Memorial Building.
