[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6550236,"mediaKeyId","5402460-04901a6e365de01c0925f27e1a30e7c0","parentId",5402460,"title","Harrington discusses changes to Hilltop apartment lease to shift electric costs and 30-day notice language","audioSeconds",847,"startMs",3168000,"endMs",4015000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5402460-04901a6e365de01c0925f27e1a30e7c0&start=3168&end=4015","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5402460-04901a6e365de01c0925f27e1a30e7c0/thumbnail_3168000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6550236/Herington/Dickinson-County/Kansas/Harrington-discusses-changes-to-Hilltop-apartment-lease-to-shift-electric-costs-and-30-day-notice-language","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6550236-44388a5df12df9b25832daeab68291c4/orig.mp4?Expires=1771091246&Signature=RrG~se6MnZ56x7FTwdz02q96LjZC2koDwtwte1s6v-vYF1kiNIh2IQqua8VOwCbOkUQnhZ~ImUk3sZlPs719p06UcZuXg8i3jjL1GYTsLbY3IZpNugsz-XoW4KtCFQyU4A4a74b~A5BecIoAx0qb7q78UJd~y9HVla5NOA4pmLAaWtq9co-7wrhx9o8bw7wnrx9fZBasTRFsegN0ljPaQr-zuYSLZ2319xX4gVEIMG0SENvRzQASz7dR~~vx4ZAk1wimDEroREDZybZX~u7IqktwfIVikDk-IQ5mxifZZ5D6sBDG2h2xAuHD~dBd477WFgFfNehjjZOc0utAkuowKg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Herington, KS","date","2025-07-16T12:56:57Z","article","The Harrington City Commission reviewed a proposed update to the standard lease used at the city-owned Hilltop apartment complex during its July 15 meeting. The draft lease language would explicitly allow the city to change monthly rent, services provided and fees with at least 30 days’ written notice to residents.

What was proposed: staff presented a lease draft that specifies the city may change monthly rent and service fees by giving residents 30 days’ written notice. Staff said the leases in practice operate like month-to-month tenancies over time and that the 30-day notice clause is intended to provide procedural authority to adjust costs without requiring court proceedings.

Utilities and cost drivers: commissioners and staff focused on electric costs. Staff said the building currently has a single electric service and the water heaters are electric; a separate gas service to individual units is not available. Staff gave examples of high winter electric bills at Hilltop and said that treating electric as an individually billed utility would give tenants incentive to manage usage. \"If someone's paying for their own electricity, they'll manage their heat and stuff better,\" staff said. Staff suggested rolling water and trash into rent rather than separately billing them, while noting electric appears to be the largest variable cost.

Contractual and tenant-rights questions: city legal staff and commissioners discussed whether changes would apply to current signed leases or only to new leases. Legal staff noted the draft reads as an ongoing tenancy that converts toward month-to-month and that the 30-day notice provision allows the city to make changes that take effect after notice; tenants who object could exercise termination rights under the lease. Staff warned that forcing changes without tenant agreement could trigger disputes that would require legal action if tenants refuse to pay new charges.

Occupancy and operations: staff reported nine occupied Hilltop apartments at the time of discussion and said the complex produces a mix of rental revenue plus reimbursements tied to staff positions; for 2024 Hilltop-related revenue (including rent and reimbursements) was described as approximately $111,889 but that figure was not all rental income. Staff said they will not take immediate unilateral action but will update forms and consider onboarding new leases that specify clearer term lengths to reduce ambiguity.

Next steps: staff said they will handle implementation details and that, under the draft language, the city would provide at least 30 days’ written notice of rent or fee changes; if tenants do not accept changes they may terminate per the lease. Staff recommended incorporating clearer term language into future leases to avoid legal ambiguity and to reduce the risk of contested enforcement actions.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City of Herington - City Commission Meeting 7/15/2025","oneSentenceSummary","The commission reviewed a draft update to the Hilltop apartment lease that would allow the city to adjust monthly rent and service fees — including potentially separating electric costs — with at least 30 days’ written notice.","taxTitle","Herington, Dickinson County, Kansas","taxId",61725,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6550240,"Harrington commission votes to notify intent to exceed revenue-neutral rate at 87 mills; public hearing set for Sept. 2",1870,1243000,3113000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5402460-04901a6e365de01c0925f27e1a30e7c0&start=1243&end=3113","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5402460-04901a6e365de01c0925f27e1a30e7c0/thumbnail_1243000.jpg","/articles/6550240/Herington/Dickinson-County/Kansas/Harrington-commission-votes-to-notify-intent-to-exceed-revenue-neutral-rate-at-87-mills-public-hearing-set-for-Sept-2","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6550240-3cabc9ee2d2e91ea9d080dbd6d8e2346/orig.mp4?Expires=1771091246&Signature=SVon39yDa2JbTVpWm0edXWaGJWPMefW-7tP2sMxgJIR8JHTcAL250xWkoQz-xNHQd0w1FstrX16Qqpd4n-E902HtdFNknMZ-an8xVlQISgrA5tadOs46JEovpPkj2Yz8s7oiYVM4-nqYospQpYMfurPqocrDUXngO9e1ja~e8b5s-~X5cT2o9Jj6qp2r7XghyRS2xUj7tr67jtwBiz8tAdJsBLulG0nRWGiY7NsuYl6Ndl1oxC54uZwYLlboR8GtoSEI1zIGzmQCuSJFtbNaaTZU0rdQF3bHfFZ~7Z1DMWhNs8rFyVTZL7ZVH6Wr75pX1Ur-AKz50j1RS7u2gLD-oA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Harrington City Commission voted July 15 to notify Dickinson County that it intends to set a maximum mill levy for 2026 at 87 mills, pending final staff review and correction to match the county clerk’s calculation, and scheduled a combined revenue-neutral rate and budget public hearing for Sept. 2 at 6 p.m.

Why it matters: the commission’s notice reserves the option to exceed the county-set revenue-neutral rate (the county clerk’s revenue-neutral rate for the city was reported in the packet as 81.257 mills). Notifying a higher ceiling gives staff and the commission flexibility during the formal budget process but does not commit the city to a final mill levy; the commission may set a lower final rate during later proceedings.

Discussion and positions: commissioners gave a range of preferences during the meeting. Commissioner Naylor said he could \"go higher\" and identified a personal maximum of 95 mills; Commissioner Scarf said he would \"like to not increase\" the mill levy and preferred to remain at revenue neutral; Commissioner Stapp said he favored staying revenue neutral but would accept 85 mills and said commissioners will take heat for increases; Commissioner Bell said his historical view put a workable maximum at 90 mills; Commissioner Scott said he would \"stick with 85.\" Staff calculated that a single mill equals approximately $13,368.29 in revenue and estimated the group’s average indicated number at about 87.2 mills based on the five commissioners’ stated positions.

Motion and vote: a motion to take action on a resolution notifying intent to exceed the revenue-neutral rate for 2026 to 87 mills, \"pending staff review,\" was made, seconded and put to roll call. The resolution text and accompanying materials were to be corrected to reflect the county clerk’s actual calculation before final signature and submission. The Nov. 2 public hearing was set in a separate motion and was also seconded and approved; the clerk will publish required notices.

What staff must do next: staff said it will revise the resolution to match the county clerk’s numerical calculation (the packet shows county-calculated alternative figures) and prepare supporting documentation for the county and for public notices. Staff also was asked to prepare a revenue-neutral alternative budget so the commission and public can compare options at the Sept. 2 hearing.

Limits and context: commissioners repeatedly stressed that notifying a ceiling is not an irrevocable commitment; the council may adopt a lower mill levy after public hearings. Staff warned that late changes compress staff time and make deeper review difficult; staff asked that commissioners make their positions clear so the administration can finalize a notice before the county’s deadline.

Public process: the commission scheduled a combined public hearing on the budget and revenue-neutral rate at the Sept. 2 meeting at 6 p.m., and staff said that public comment during the hearings could still change the commission’s final decision.

No dollar amounts beyond per-mill revenue estimates and candidate mill positions were adopted as final during the July 15 meeting.","After a wide-ranging budget discussion, the Harrington City Commission voted July 15 to notify the county of an intent to exceed the revenue-neutral rate and set a combined budget and revenue-neutral public hearing for Sept. 2 at 6 p.m.; the staff-notified ceiling in the motion was 87 mills pending staff review of county calculations.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6550245,"Harrington holds public meeting on KDHE loan application for wastewater plant, estimates $3.61 million project",557,118000,675000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5402460-04901a6e365de01c0925f27e1a30e7c0&start=118&end=675","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5402460-04901a6e365de01c0925f27e1a30e7c0/thumbnail_118000.jpg","/articles/6550245/Herington/Dickinson-County/Kansas/Harrington-holds-public-meeting-on-KDHE-loan-application-for-wastewater-plant-estimates-361-million-project","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6550245-cbea3211d067c923e304ea65e9a7502b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771091246&Signature=M2nC6EQl1xmxmwyrmO~z8EGExlmfEPdmdgHGLFPzc4G9urS6kvO9A0~ZTAkl4K5joX3OjHQ~~w2Nd4W2QQ4wNw5V8ftc9h7ygz~MAh4SyeY-3M0j83IpSX5Sv5NRWwbL0aqdjnvlD8YXiVHL5dc6Hx49OOq2iENrXyBFXRu8UCQbWQ96X6tYIsmYHP3kC~JJGMf~UYmzEkcQXmXwlem66SnFBUA7RnWk2nmtwVTuCRBvC-h5-g~AeKIaE0ULsXZ~i3~gh6GqNAQWsrTu5GuJkyjXq1ex42FPiP6moeJnUKJWQZGXSg73KmxQwce6srF-sar2j5evxFrWdiI0l1nD~w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City staff updated the Harrington City Commission and the public July 15 on the city’s application to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) for a 30-year wastewater treatment plant revolving loan and held a public meeting ahead of a formal public hearing scheduled for Aug. 5.

Staff said the loan application packet contains a multi-page cost breakdown and a list of planned improvements at the wastewater treatment plant. \"So the current price tag is 3,614,120,\" staff said, adding the estimate was last updated in May and that the estimate still includes an Aeromod equipment line item the city expected to receive a $90,000 contribution for but had not deducted from the total.

Why it matters: the loan application must be complete before mid-October and the city needs affidavits of publication, meeting minutes and a resolution authorizing the loan application and the mayor’s signature to accompany the submission. Staff said they intend to file as early as August, shortly after the public hearing, to allow time for any requests for additional information prior to the county’s October deadline.

Staff outlined the remaining timeline and steps: design completion by mid-September, the KDHE loan decision potentially arriving in January and a council decision point about whether to begin construction this fall (which would require temporary or bridge financing) or to delay construction until after a loan award in January. \"If we can get under construction this fall, let's do it,\" staff said; but they cautioned contractors will expect payment if work begins in October or November and that a bridge loan or other interim financing would be required.

Staff also described the environmental review process for KDHE applications. Notice was sent to 12 agencies in April for environmental review; most agencies have returned comments, but staff noted it is not unusual to receive one or two late responses. Among documents already gathered for the application, staff listed the city's capital improvement plan, sewer use ordinance and the city’s most recent discharge permit; staff said they would obtain and include the finalized capital improvement plan and a short letter explaining how the city’s sewer rates are calculated using winter water use records.

During the public meeting staff answered procedural questions and invited public comment; no substantive changes to the application were recorded at the July 15 meeting. The public meeting was closed later in the agenda and staff said they will provide the mayor’s signature and supporting documents to the city clerk in short order to include with the loan packet.

Supporting details and limits: staff emphasized cost estimating uncertainty in the current market and said the estimate intentionally erred on the high side. They said contractor installation costs were polled informally to arrive at the construction estimate. Staff also noted that, if construction begins before KDHE loans are awarded, the city would need bridge financing because contractors expect prompt payment.

The commission did not take a formal vote on the loan application at the July 15 meeting; staff identified remaining administrative steps and the Aug. 5 public hearing date as the upcoming formal public process.","City staff reviewed steps for a Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) 30-year loan application for wastewater treatment plant improvements, including an Aug. 5 public hearing, an October application deadline, an estimated $3,614,120 construction cost and potential need for bridge financing if construction begins before loan closing.","actionData","errors"]

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Harrington discusses changes to Hilltop apartment lease to shift electric costs and 30-day notice language

Harrington commission votes to notify intent to exceed revenue-neutral rate at 87 mills; public hearing set for Sept. 2

Harrington holds public meeting on KDHE loan application for wastewater plant, estimates $3.61 million project