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Tree board in Bel Aire wants to branch out
By David Dinell
Last Updated: April 23, 2015

Spring is the time for planting and gardening. With that in mind, the April 21 meeting of the Bel Aire City Council had a decidedly horticultural atmosphere with a proclamation declaring Arbor Day 2015, a report from the Tree Board and a proposal for the city to provide the board with funding for seeds and supplies.

Council member Guy MacDonald, a member of the board, pointed out that board members provide supplies at their own expense and suggested that the city might help out with them.

"This may be something that we discuses in the future," he said.

City Manager Ty Lasher was open to the concept and said it could be part of the 2016 budget.

Normally, tree boards are not funded by a city, he said, but the amount would be nominal and the board has been quite active — and intends to be even more so.

"They want to do more," said Gary Northwall, chairperson of the board. He said the board, fully staffed at seven, has been infused with some new members who bring fresh enthusiasm to the task.

Trees are vital, he said, as they clean the air, provide shelter and simply look good, among other benefits. Some studies have also shown that well-planted and cared-for trees can increase property values as much as 15 percent.

A city's appearance, including trees and greenery, is important, say officials, and that makes an impression on visitors — and potential residents.

Mayor David Austin said the city has long been tree friendly as it has logged 19 years as being a "Tree City USA," a designation by The Arbor Day Foundation to recognize cities for their excellence in urban forest management.  

As part of that continued effort, and as one of the requirement of continuing to be a Tree City, the Tree Board is holding an Arbor Day celebration at 10 a.m. April 25 at Central Park just west of the playground.

A Chinese Pistache is set to be planted to honor longtime board members and Bel Aire volunteers Kathy and Moe Terrebonne.

In other action, the council:

•Witnessed the oath of office given by City Clerk Jamie Hayes to Mayor David Austin and council members Ken Lee and Betty Martine. All were re-elected.

•Approved an appropriations ordinance in the amount of $662,994, but not before council member Martine questioned several expenditures, including $5,850 for a new website design. City Manager Ty Lasher said it was a one-time expenses for a new website, www.whybelaire.com, which was built specially for the city. Martine also questioned more spending on monitors and printers, asking, "when is this going to stop?" Lasher explained that many of the new monitors were for staff to work more efficiently on two monitors at once, switching from document to document.

She also told Lasher she wanted him to look at the way the city buys gasoline and work on getting the lowest price possible and Lasher said he would do that.

•Heard Lasher report that the siding at Sunflower Commerce Park was approved by the Union Pacific Railroad. A ribbon cutting will take place May 6. The time has not been selected yet.

•Approved an engineering agreement with Professional Engineering Consultants, P.A. for the design of relocating and replacing a water main running along 37th Street from Harding to Parkwood. Value of the contract is $11,200. MacDonald thought the price was low and wondered why. Lee, himself an engineer, agreed that it was a reasonable price and said PEC likely had some of the survey work done.

•Approved rescinding the purchase of a 2016 Dodge Durango from Davis-Moore at a cost of $30,920 and approving the purchase of a 2015 Ford Explorer from Shawnee Mission Ford at a cost of $26,635. Council members were glad the savings were possible. It came about when Police Chief Darrell Atteberry re-examined options and discovered the Explorer provided the better deal. Council member Ken Lee, while also pleased with the new price, said it should serve as an example to staff to work as hard as possible on pricing when submitting requests.

•Approved a contract with PP&J for $25,190 to repair a thermal crack on 45th Street from Woodlawn to Rock Road. The type of repair is beyond the scope of the city's street department.

•Watched as Austin signed a proclamation declaring May 2015 as Older Americans Month.  

•Went into executive session for 35 minutes to discuss an attorney-client matter. After the session, the council approved a 79-acre land sale at the northwest corner of 45th Street and Greenwich for $711,000, or $9,000 an acre, to Shaleen Real Estate LLC of Wichita.

Four members of the council were present. Peggy Sue O'Donnell was absent due to a professional obligation. The next council meeting is 7 p.m. May 5 at City Hall.





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