CITY MANAGER’S REPORT
Week ending July 9, 2010
Grant funds installation of emission control equipment
The City of Lawrence participated in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) State Grant Program conducted by Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE). This grant was for the installation of emission control equipment on older medium and heavy trucks as part of the Diesel Emission Reduction Act (DERA).
The city was awarded $26,800 to retrofit fourteen trucks with diesel oxidation catalysts (DOC) and five trucks with closed crankcase ventilation systems (CCVS). All the components installed were approved by EPA and verified by the California Air Resource Board.
Central Maintenance Garage staff and staff from Central Power Systems of Liberty, Missouri completed installation of all the equipment. The city was the first agency to complete the installation phase of the grant, the required reporting, and came in under budget. Staff monitored the progress and obtained permission to add units to the project. The finished program included fifteen trucks with DOC’s, seven CCVS installations, and enough maintenance filters for the next three years. A copy of the grant final report is attached which includes photos of the equipment on one of the trucks.
Rotary installs bike racks at farmers market and arboretum
The Lawrence Central Rotary (LCR) recently completed installation of a “Ride Lawrence” bike rack at the Farmers Market (see photos). LCR was awarded a $1,000 grant from the Lawrence Cultural Arts Commission and LCR provided additional funding. Installation was made possible by the Public Works and Parks & Recreation departments. All three Lawrence Rotaries participated in the installation of another “Ride Lawrence” bike rack at the Rotary Arboretum (see photo), which was paid for by the arboretum committee with installation by Parks and Recreation.
Wings of Freedom Tour coming to Lawrence Municipal Airport
The Wings of Freedom Tour is coming to Lawrence Municipal Airport. The Wings of Freedom Tour consists of the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress, the Consolidated B-24 Liberator and the North American P-51 Mustang. The Tour brings the aircraft to about 110 cities each year and allows the public to take walk through tours of the aircraft for a small donation. The Tour also allows people who are interested to take a once in a lifetime flight experience on the aircraft. The dates and times that the Tour will be on display are as follows:
Wednesday July 14th, 2:00 PM till 6:00 PM
Thursday July 15th, 9:00 AM till 6:00 PM
Friday July 16th, 9:00 AM till 12:00 PM
Utilities Department receives 2009-2010 Preparedness Partner Award
On July 8, 2010, the Douglas County Emergency Management Board/LEPC recognized the Lawrence Utilities Department with a 2009-2010 Preparedness Partner Award. This award is given annually by the Board to an agency, business, facility or individual that participates with and supports the responsibilities and activities of the Douglas County LEPC (Local Emergency Planning Committee), demonstrates initiative and leadership with local response agencies on preparedness and planning activities, and exhibits a pro-active approach and attitude towards the health, safety and well-being of the community and its employees. The Utilities Department has participated actively in emergency drills both internally and county wide, developed a comprehensive emergency response plan, and received certification in ISO 14001, OHSAS 18001, ISO 9001, and the NBP EMS for Biosolids.
Public input sought for K-10/23rd Street Bridge project
The City of Lawrence and KDOT are seeking citizen input on a future construction project that will reconstruct the 23rd Street Bridge between Barker and Haskell. The project is not slated for construction until 2012 but citizen input is needed as part of the process. An online public meeting presentation is available for citizens to review and send comments directly to the design firm, HNTB. The online public meeting can be found at www.lawrenceks.org/construction. Comments will be accepted until August 6, 2010. This project was selected to improve safety, address capacity, and provide for pedestrian connectivity, while meeting the needs of adjoining landowners.