Mayor's Message

Hello, Lake Quivira,

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 It’s been a bit since I have provided a city update. Going forward I will provide quarterly updates. In general, we have strong city staff and wonderful city council.

There has been a lot going on this year, so here we go!

Important Dates in November:

·        Monday, November 3: City Council Meeting. 6:30p.m. at Lake Quivira City Hall.

·        Tuesday, November 4: Election Day! Polls will be open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Most of you will vote at our Lake Quivira City Hall

·        Saturday, November 29: Mayor’s Christmas Tree Lighting! From 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. We will once again have the Dicken Carolers, drinks and a photo station. The clubhouse will be open for dinner.

 City Goals:

Our priority as a city is to balance safety and freedom for our residents. Our priorities for the next two years will be:

·        New revenue sources to offset the recent property tax increase (see Property Tax FAQ at the end of my message)

·        Improve road safety inside and outside the gate

New Revenue Sources

In June 2021, the city took over the management of our fuel station. In that time, we sold more than 1,000,000gallons of fuel and generated roughly $50,000 of revenue each year. This has been a great success, and we are looking to uncover new sources of revenue. There will be more news on this front as we get more specific information.

Also in 2021, the city purchased40 acres of land at 5535 Renner Road, in Shawnee. The intention was to hold the land until we could partner with Q, Inc. to determine the best use of the property. The City of Lake Quivira owning land in the City of Shawnee makes theanswer more complicated. The land being financed through a general obligationbond has to be considered in any solution. We have a group of people working onseveral options for the land. The overarching goal is to do what is best forour community.

Safety

The number-one comment I hear from citizens is concerning the truck traffic on Holliday Drive. I appreciate everyone who participated in Wyandotte County’s Vision Zero initiative togather feedback on problem areas on the roads. We will get a summary of their findings soon. It may help get resources to make Holliday slower and safer.

Additionally, I have been in contact with the Unified Government, KDOT, and the Mid America Regional Council to have Holliday recategorized from a “minor arterial” to a “minor collector" road. This will help with limiting oversized vehicles. We have other options beyond these as well, but these appear to be the most promising.

The Lake Quivira Police Department is running very well under the leadership of Chief of Police, Manny Olmos. Lieutenant Leif French has been a great addition as our second full-time officer. Along with our part-time officers, Chief Olmos and Lieutenant French are doing a great job of keeping our city safe. Feel free to say hi to them when you see them around the lake. If you don’t want to meet them under other circumstances, slow down!

July 4, 2026, planning

The best day at Lake Quivira exceeded all my hopes this year. From the early morning fun run, to the fireworks at night, it was a great day to be proud of our country and of our town. Thank you all for helping to keep the day family friendly and fun! Next July 4 marks the250th anniversary of the signing of The Declaration of Independence, and we are looking to make our July 4 Celebration the best ever at Lake Quivira.

What’s new at City Hall

Even though we are a small city, we do have all the rules and procedures of cities many times our size. This requires quite a bit of work from our city staff. One area that has seen an increase in demand for our staff is municipal court. We hired part-time deputy clerk, Audra Moore. Audra is a wonderful addition to the team and has stepped in to immediately add value to court clerking and general city tasks.

Our building official, Charles McAllister, continues to make the job his own and has been looking for an intern to help digitize our volumes of paper building plans and other documentation.

City Administrator Kathy Bounds keeps everything running smoothly. We have elections, court dates, council meetings, zoning and appeal meetings, planning commission meetings, the Christmas Tree Lighting, shred days, large-item pickups, and so much more every year at the city, and Kathy keeps it all running smoothly. She makes my job easier, and we are all grateful to her. Next time you are around city hall, stop and say “hi” to her and the rest of our staff!

We have so much to be proud of and thankful for in our town. I am honored to be mayor for a few years to work with our city council to help keep our city on sound financial footing and to provide a safe home for everyone.

I am happy to discuss any concerns with anyone. Just send me an email and I’ll reply as soon as I can.

dmccullagh@lakequivira.ks.gov

PropertyTax FAQ:

Property Tax FAQ: Land Purchase and Spillway Replacement

Why did we raise property taxes?

We issued $3.5 million of general obligation bonds to pay fr the spillway replacement and the purchase of the land at 5535 Renner, Rd.

When did the city acquire the land at 5535 Renner? 

The city council voted to acquire the land on November15, 2021. The final sale was in December 2021.

What was the reason for the acquisition? 

To provide a buffer for Lake Quivira and help manage runoff into the lake.

What was the purchase price?

$1,200,000

What has been done to the property since the purchase?

Structures on property have been demolished, and a water well has been filled in. A committee of city councilmembers and residents had a drainage and environmental studies completed. They recommended the land stay “as is” for the time being.

What options is the City considering for the property?

Leaving the land as it until it is paid off

Selling the land outright

Selling a portion to pay for the remaining land

Leasing the land to Q, Inc.

Partner with a developer to generate a source of revenue for the city

As the land resides within the city of Shawnee, the city’s options are limited. Any decision would require a majority vote by the city council in a public meeting with prior notice to residents.

More information on the land acquisition on the City’s website:

https://www.cityoflakequivira.org/news/land-purchase-provides-rare-opportunity-to-enhance-lake-quiviras-footprint

Spillway Replacement

Why was the spillway replaced?

The state of Kansas mandated we replace the spillway. Our dam is rated as high-hazard dam by the Kansas Department of Agriculture. High-hazard dams are likely to cause loss of life or serious property damage if they fail. High-hazard dams are required to be inspected by an engineer every three years and significant-hazard dams every five years.

When did the city complete the spillway project?

April 2024

The spillway financing was approved by the city council at the October2023 meeting.

What was the final cost of the project?

The total cost of the project,including additional repairs, engineering, and financing, was $3.3 million.

Do we anticipate any additional expenses related to this project or the spillway in general?

No additional expenses, however, the area south of the spillway (specifically the gate and weir) are very old. Engineering studies show they should have another 20 years remaining.

More information on the Spillway on the City’s website:

https://www.cityoflakequivira.org/news/spillway-improvement-project-summary

Financing/General Obligation Bonds/Revenue Opportunities

Why did the city decide on 15-year bonds?

Given the potential for the replacement of the weir and gate in the next 20 years, we felt it best to have this bond paid off before that project becomes necessary.

Also, each additional 5 years of duration is roughly $500,000 more of debt servicing for the city.

What is the impact of the financing on Lake Quivira residents?

Unfortunately, the city of Lake Quivira has very few revenue sources. The primary source of revenue is personal property taxes. The financing results in increased taxes for all homeowners.

When does this take effect? 

With your 2026 personal property taxes.

Has the City explored other revenue opportunities?

We are in the early stages of investigating possible revenue sources. It is a priority for the city council.

Does the City anticipate any other large expenses that would require future financing?

Nothing in the next 10-20 years. However, our city hall building has needed more maintenance lately and our gas station’s tanks are old. We have about $200,000 in reserves to fund repairs.

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