The City of St. Francis will have 3 positions up for election in 2023: Two City Council positions currently held by Amanda Milne and David Butler, and the City Mayor position held by Scott Schultz. Those wanting to file for any of these positions need to do so by June 1 at noon with the Cheyenne County Election Officer Scott Houtman:
Email: cnclerk@cncoks.us
Hours: 8:00-12:00 1:00-5:00
Phone: 785-332-8800
Fax: 785-332-8825
Address1: 212 E Washington
City, State, Zip: St Francis, KS 67756
The general election will be held November 7 and those elected will take office on January 8, 2024.
The City Council has chosen to once again put on the Fall Clean Up and this year it is limited to the clean up of tree branches that you may have cut down or have fallen down but have not been removed yet. If you would like the city to assist you in hauling the branches away, contact City Hall @ 785-322-3142. The last day to call in to be placed on the list is October 20th. The city crew will be starting to collect on October 23rd for those that have signed up.
The tree branches must be ready for pick up and placed in an accessible location either on the street side or the alley side of your property. The branches cannot be in any enclosures or behind fences as the city crew will possibly need to use equipment to haul them off.
The City Council would like to remind residents and contractors of the contents of City Code Chapter 4 Articles 207 and 208 which pertain to building permits. Applications for building permits must be submitted to the City Clerk and approved by the City Superintendent and are subject to review and final approval by the City Council before work begins. Penalties for violation are defined in Chapter 4 Article 216. Thank you for your cooperation.
Junked Motor Vehicles on Private Property
The City Council would like to remind residents of City Code Chapter 8 Article 3 regarding junked motor vehicles on private property. It is unlawful for any person to maintain or permit any motor vehicle nuisance within the City. Junked, wrecked, dismantled, inoperative or abandoned vehicles affect the health, safety, and general welfare of citizens. The Council has set a deadline of October 1, 2022, for residents to come into compliance with the ordinance, after which time warning letters and citations will be issued. Thank you for your cooperation.
The City of St. Francis will hold a public hearing on Monday, July 11, 2022 at 7:00 p.m. at City Hall 209 E. Washington Street, St. Francis, KS for the purpose of evaluating the performance of Grant Agreement Number 20-PF-014. The CDBG application proposed was for street system improvement. Locations included: Scott St. removed and replaced with 6″ thick concrete , Benton Street – removed and replaced with 6″ Thick Asphalt within existing curb and gutter, replaced broken curb and gutter sections, Denison Street – Removed & replaced with 6″ thick asphalt from Spencer to Emerson within existing curb & gutter, replaced broken curb and gutter sections, Emerson to Whittier – 2″ Mill and overlay asphalt within curb & gutter, replaced broken curb and gutter sections, Frances Street – removed and replaced with 6″ thick asphalt within existing curb and gutter, replaced broken curb and gutter sections, Frances Street (First to First St.) – Removed & Replaced with 6″ thick concrete, Parkway Drive removed & replaced 8′ wide center section with 6″ thick concrete. The project was funded, all or in part, from the Kansas Department of Commerce, Small Cities Community Development Block Grant funds. All aspects of the grant will be discussed, and oral and written comments will be recorded and become a part of the City of St. Francis CDBG Citizen Participation Plan. Reasonable accommodations are available for persons needing assistance. Requests for accommodations should be submitted to Lila Whitmore, City Clerk, by Friday, July 8, 2022.
The City of St. Francis will hold a public hearing on Tuesday, October 12, 2021 at 7:00 p.m. at the City Council Chambers of City Hall, 209 E. Washington, St. Francis, Kansas, for the purpose of considering an application to be submitted to the Kansas Department of Commerce for Small Cities Community Development Block Grant funds under the Community Facilities category. A specific project application to be discussed is street system improvement project in an area generally bounded by the City of St. Francis, Kansas. The project will consist of using a combination of full depth pavement replacement, mill & overlay, and keeping the existing curb and gutter in the identified streets listed below:
Whittier Street – Quincy Street to Scott Street
Frances Street – Spencer St. to Washington St. & Emerson St. to North St.
Webster Street – Frances Street to College Street
Quincy Street – Highway 36 to First Street
College Street – Highway 36 to Spencer Street
The budget includes staking, mobilization, and traffic control. The estimated project cost is $1,081,920 with the grant request for $600,000 of the project cost. Other project proposals introduced at the hearing will be considered. Oral and written comments will be recorded and become part of the City of St. Francis’ CDBG citizen participation program. Reasonable accommodations will be made available to persons with disabilities. Requests should be submitted to Lila Whitmore, City Clerk, by Friday, October 8, 2021.
July 21, 2021 – The Street Improvements Phase 1 project has begun! This $1.2 Million project was funded in part by a Community Development Block Grant of $600,000. The remaining cost is funded by General Obligation Bonds with a portion of the 1% local sales tax going towards repayment of the bonds.
Below is a map of the streets being repaired/updated in phase 1:
(PUBLISHED IN THE ST. FRANCIS HERALDAND BIRD CITY TIMES ON JUNE 25, 2020)
ORDINANCE NO. 622
AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING AND PROVIDING FOR THE ISSUANCE OF GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS, SERIES 2020, OF THE CITY OF ST. FRANCIS, KANSAS; PROVIDING FOR THE LEVY AND COLLECTION OF AN ANNUAL TAX FOR THE PURPOSE OF PAYING THE PRINCIPAL OF AND INTEREST ON SAID BONDS AS THEY BECOME DUE; AUTHORIZING CERTAIN OTHER DOCUMENTS AND ACTIONS IN CONNECTION THEREWITH; AND MAKING CERTAIN COVENANTS WITH RESPECT THERETO.
WHEREAS, the City of St. Francis, Kansas (the “City”) is a city of the third class, duly created, organized and existing under the Constitution and laws of the State; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to the laws of the State of Kansas applicable thereto, by proceedings duly had, the Governing Body of the City (the “Governing Body”) has authorized the following improvements (the “Improvements”) to be made in the City, to-wit:
Project Description
Res. No.
Authority (K.S.A.)
Amount
Street improvements
2019-06
Article 12, Section 5 of the Kansas Constitution, and Charter Ordinance No. 2018-2 of the City
$1,200,000
; and
WHEREAS, all legal requirements pertaining to the Improvements have been complied with, and the Governing Body now finds and determines that the total cost of the Improvements (including issuance costs of the general obligation bonds) and related expenses are at least $850,000, with all of said cost to be paid by the City at large, to be paid for by the issuance of general obligation bonds; and
WHEREAS, the Governing Body is authorized by law to issue general obligation bonds of the City to pay costs of the Improvements; and
WHEREAS, none of such general obligation bonds heretofore authorized have been issued and the City proposes to issue $850,000 of its general obligation bonds, together with any bid premium thereon, to pay costs of the Improvements; and
WHEREAS, the Governing Body has advertised the sale of the Bonds in accordance with the law and at a meeting held in the City on this date awarded the sale of such Bonds to the best bidder.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY OF ST. FRANCIS OF THE CITY OF ST. FRANCIS, KANSAS, AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Definitions of Words and Terms. In addition to words and terms defined elsewhere herein, the following words and terms in this Ordinance shall have the meanings hereinafter set forth. Unless the context shall otherwise indicate, words importing the singular number shall include the plural and vice versa, and words importing persons shall include firms, associations and corporations, including public bodies, as well as natural persons.
“Act” means the Constitution and statutes of the State including K.S.A. 10-101 to 10-125, inclusive, K.S.A. 10-620 et seq., Article 12, Section 5 of the Kansas Constitution, and Charter Ordinance No. 2018-2 of the City, all as amended and supplemented from time to time.
“Bond and Interest Fund” means the Bond and Interest Fund of the City for its general obligation bonds.
“Bond Resolution” means the resolution to be adopted by the Governing Body prescribing the terms and details of the Bonds and making covenants with respect thereto.
“Bonds” means the City’s General Obligation Bonds, Series 2020, dated July 16, 2020, authorized by this Ordinance.
“City” means the City of St. Francis, Kansas.
“Clerk” means the duly appointed and acting Clerk of the City or, in the Clerk’s absence, the duly appointed Deputy, Assistant or Acting Clerk.
“Governing Body” means the Governing Body of the City.
“Mayor” means the duly elected and acting Mayor of the City or, in the Mayor’s absence, the duly appointed and/or elected Vice Mayor or Acting Mayor of the City.
“Ordinance” means this Ordinance authorizing the issuance of the Bonds.
“State” means the State of Kansas.
“Substitute Improvements” means the substitute or additional improvements of the City authorized in the manner set forth in the Bond Resolution.
Section 2.Authorization of the Bonds. There shall be issued and hereby are authorized and directed to be issued the General Obligation Bonds, Series 2020, of the City in the principal amount of $850,000, for the purpose of providing funds to: (a) pay costs of the Improvements; and (b) pay costs of issuance of the Bonds.
Section 3. Security for the Bonds. The Bonds shall be general obligations of the City payable as to both principal and interest from ad valorem taxes which may be levied without limitation as to rate or amount upon all the taxable tangible property, real and personal, within the territorial limits of the City. The full faith, credit and resources of the City are hereby irrevocably pledged for the prompt payment of the principal of and interest on the Bonds as the same become due.
Section 4. Terms, Details and Conditions of the Bonds. The Bonds shall be dated and bear interest, shall mature and be payable at such times, shall be in such forms, shall be subject to redemption and payment prior to the maturity thereof, and shall be issued and delivered in the manner prescribed and subject to the provisions, covenants and agreements set forth in the Bond Resolution hereafter adopted by the Governing Body.
Section 5. Levy and Collection of Annual Tax. The Governing Body shall annually make provision for the payment of principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Bonds as the same become due by levying and collecting the necessary taxes upon all of the taxable tangible property within the City in the manner provided by law.
The taxes above referred to shall be extended upon the tax rolls in each of the several years, respectively, and shall be levied and collected at the same time and in the same manner as the general ad valorem taxes of the City are levied and collected, shall be used solely for the payment of the principal of and interest on the Bonds as and when the same become due and the fees and expenses of the paying agent for the Bonds. The proceeds derived from said taxes shall be deposited in the Bond and Interest Fund.
If at any time said taxes are not collected in time to pay the principal of or interest on the Bonds when due, the City Treasurer is hereby authorized and directed to pay said principal or interest out of the general funds of the City and to reimburse said general funds for money so expended when said taxes are collected.
Section 6. Further Authority. The Mayor, Clerk and other City officials are hereby further authorized and directed to execute any and all documents and take such actions as they may deem necessary or advisable in order to carry out and perform the purposes of the Ordinance, and to make alterations, changes or additions in the foregoing agreements, statements, instruments and other documents herein approved, authorized and confirmed which they may approve, and the execution or taking of such action shall be conclusive evidence of such necessity or advisability.
Section 7. Governing Law. This Ordinance and the Bonds shall be governed exclusively by and construed in accordance with the applicable laws of the State.
Section 8. Effective Date. This Ordinance shall take effect and be in full force from and after its passage by the Governing Body, approval by the Mayor and publication of the Ordinance or a summary thereof in the official City newspaper.
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PASSED by the Governing Body on June 22, 2020 and APPROVED AND SIGNED by the Mayor.
