07/07/26 | Hutchinson, KS, | City Council Meeting

The City of Hutchinson held a City Council meeting on July 7, 2026, which included several procurement and contracting discussions. Key procurement-related items included the approval of a professional services contract recommendation for the WTC bypass project, a water system improvement aimed at providing redundancy and increasing water availability during plant outages, with a contract amount of approximately $150,427 budgeted for 2026. The council also set public hearings for special assessments related to multiple special benefit districts, including Plum Creek Lift Station and Spyglass Hills Waterline, to facilitate bonding and financing of infrastructure projects. Additionally, the council discussed the disposition of the former IT building, authorizing staff to approach a neighboring property owner for potential purchase before proceeding with further steps such as appraisal and environmental review. The meeting also addressed regulatory measures, including temporary zoning regulations for data centers and battery energy storage systems to control their development within city limits. Other topics included the city's efforts to address abandoned residential structures through nonprofit partnerships and legal processes, and a resolution to exceed the revenue neutral tax rate to allow budget flexibility. Motions related to these procurement and budget items were unanimously approved by the council members present.