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Record of Proceedings

Ottawa City Commission Meeting - November 4, 2026: Data Center Ballot Measure, CDBG Grant, and Community Projects

City Commission — Wednesday, November 4, 2026
BodyOttawa, Kansas
SessionCity Commission
DateWednesday, November 4, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 2:00:14

Original source
Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it

Speaker numbers apply only to this recording.

Unassigned speaker

0:13

I

Speaker 1

0:13

will call to order the Ottawa City Commission meeting for November 4th, 2026.

0:17

May I have a roll call, please?

Speaker 2

0:18

Mayor Clayton?

Speaker 1

0:19

Present.

Speaker 2

0:20

Mayor Pro Tim Crowley?

Speaker 1

0:21

Present.

Speaker 2

0:22

Commissioner Allen is absent.

0:24

Commissioner Skidmore.

Speaker 1

0:25

Present.

Speaker 2

0:26

Commissioner Van Leyden.

Speaker 1

0:27

Present.

Unassigned speaker

0:28

We have

Speaker 1

0:29

four of us here tonight.

0:30

We have a quorum.

0:31

I want to welcome everyone here in the audience, as well as the OHS students and any folks watching the recording online.

0:37

We will do the Pledge of Allegiance followed by the invocation by Commissioner Skipmore.

0:49

And to the Republic.

0:53

Under God and indivisible with liberty and justice for.

Speaker 3

0:58

Let's pray.

1:00

Father in heaven, we just give you thanks for this meeting.

Unassigned speaker

1:03

I

Speaker 3

1:03

just give you thanks for uh Nehemiah 6 that I just read this morning when he suffered a setback.

1:09

He just prayed, Lord, strengthen my hands.

1:12

And we pray that for all of our commissioners, our city staff.

Unassigned speaker

1:16

We

Speaker 3

1:16

just thank you for your direction, your guidance in our lives.

1:20

Father, we pray for the agenda today as we look over the items here that you'll give us direction and guidance as

Unassigned speaker

1:26

well

Speaker 3

1:27

as we make these decisions tonight.

1:29

We thank you for our city staff.

1:30

Thank you and bless them, each and their families as well.

1:33

We just give uh we just give so much gratitude for all the work they do for our city to make it a better place.

1:38

Give you thanks in Christ's name.

1:40

Amen.

Speaker 1

1:45

Thank you, Commissioner.

1:47

That'll take us to item six, the consent agenda, which consists of minutes from the October 21st, 2026 regular meeting, minutes from the October 28th, 2026 study session.

2:00

Approval of a purchase of a 1500 KVA pad mounted transformer and an agenda approval.

Speaker 4

2:06

Motion to approve.

Unassigned speaker

2:08

We

Speaker 1

2:08

have a motion.

2:08

Is there a second?

2:09

Second.

2:10

Motion and second.

2:10

All in favor say aye.

2:12

Aye.

2:12

All opposed.

2:14

Consent agenda passes.

Unassigned speaker

2:16

We

Speaker 1

2:16

will skip item seven appointments, proclamations, recognitions, and nominations as there is none.

2:21

That'll take us to item eight, public comment.

Speaker 2

2:24

We have four registered.

2:25

We'll start off with Barbara Mezik.

Speaker 5

2:35

Barb Messik, uh Third Street in Ottawa.

2:41

Um I abore public speaking.

2:46

It's not because I'm not opinionated or don't have strongly held convictions, quite the opposite.

2:52

It's because standing up here makes me nervous and anxious.

2:56

This is important, and I worry that I will get flustered, stumble over my words, lose my train of thought, or become so overwhelmed and frustrated that I cry.

3:07

So be warned.

Unassigned speaker

3:08

And

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Parks and Recreation███████████████████████████27%
Fiscal Sustainability████████████12%
Historic Preservation████████████12%
Procedural███████████11%
Public Engagement███████████11%
Community Engagement██████████10%
Engineering And Infrastructure█████████9%
Technology and Innovation████4%
Arts And Culture██2%
Summary of Proceedings

Ottawa City Commission Meeting - November 4, 2026

The Ottawa City Commission held its regular meeting on November 4, 2026, at 7:00 PM. Key topics included public comments on the recent data center ballot measure, approval of community partner funding, a bid award for the Ottawa Memorial Auditorium kitchen renovation, public hearing and resolutions for a proposed community center at Forest Park, and a land proposal for the historical society. All votes were 4-0 except for the historical society land proposal which passed 3-1.

Consent Calendar

  • Approved minutes from the October 21, 2026 regular meeting and October 28, 2026 study session.
  • Approved the purchase of a 1500 KVA pad mounted transformer.
  • Approved the agenda.
  • Motion carried unanimously.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Barbara Mezik (Ottawa resident) criticized the commission for ignoring the public's wishes regarding data centers and urged the commission to respect the ballot measure results.
  • Lori Hazen (lifelong resident, Ottawa United member) thanked voters and stated "your vote is your voice."
  • Rich Colson (Ottawa) noted that 2,882 people (nearly 72% of votes cast) voted to deny a hyperscale data center. He accused the commission of ignoring the public and urged them to represent the citizens.
  • Brooke Sheets (Ottawa alumni) reported that on November 3, 2026, 10 states had local ballot measures targeting data centers, and only one (in North Dakota) failed. She stated "we may not be able to outspend you, but we will outvote you" and requested an open forum.

Discussion Items

  • 11A: Community Partner Funding Agreements – Director Landis presented agreements for the Elizabeth Leighton Center ($7,806) and Ottawa Main Street ($47,000). The agreements include reporting and planning requirements. Approved unanimously.
  • 11B: OMA Kitchen and Restroom Renovation – Director Evans presented a bid from Lloyd Builders totaling $164,213. The project includes a base kitchen bid ($125,838) and two alternates: removing a hallway ($11,734) and restroom updates ($26,641). Grant funding covers $117,000 (Blue Cross Blue Shield $50,000, Goppert Foundation $58,000, Franklin County Community Foundation $9,000). Net city cost is $47,213 from Capital Improvement Fund. Approved unanimously.
  • 11C: Public Hearing for CDBG Blueprint to Build Community Center – City Manager Marty presented the updated design for a large gym and pool facility at Forest Park with an estimated cost of $12,595,110.39. The state grant would provide $4 million. Public comments included questions about traffic, floodplain, operating costs ($294,000 annual estimate), and affordability. The hearing was closed.
  • 11D: Resolution Authorizing CDBG Grant Application – Resolution to submit the grant application and commit $8,595,110.39 in city cash funds. Director Landis explained that this commits funds only if the grant is awarded and the city decides to proceed. Approved unanimously.
  • 11E: Resolution for Operation and Maintenance – Resolution committing the city to operational and maintenance costs of the proposed community center, as required by CDBG. Approved unanimously.
  • 11F: Land Proposal for Historical Society – City Manager Marty proposed a 12-month lease with deed transfer option for a 40x80 storage building at 801 East Enterprise. The county and historical society support the move. The building would replace an existing storage facility that must be vacated by March 2027. Approved 3-1 (Mayor Pro Tem Crowley voted no; Commissioners Skidmore, Van Leyden, and Mayor Clayton voted yes).

Key Outcomes

  • Consent calendar approved unanimously.
  • 11A (community partner agreements) approved unanimously.
  • 11B (OMA renovation) approved unanimously.
  • 11C public hearing held; no vote taken.
  • 11D (grant application resolution) approved unanimously.
  • 11E (O&M resolution) approved unanimously.
  • 11F (historical society land) approved 3-1.
  • City manager provided operational highlights and upcoming events.
  • Commissioners congratulated Rebecca Schmoey on her election and thanked Franklin County Honors for Veterans Day decorations.

Meeting Transcript

I will call to order the Ottawa City Commission meeting for November 4th, 2026. May I have a roll call, please? Mayor Clayton? Present. Mayor Pro Tim Crowley? Present. Commissioner Allen is absent. Commissioner Skidmore. Present. Commissioner Van Leyden. Present. We have four of us here tonight. We have a quorum. I want to welcome everyone here in the audience, as well as the OHS students and any folks watching the recording online. We will do the Pledge of Allegiance followed by the invocation by Commissioner Skipmore. And to the Republic. Under God and indivisible with liberty and justice for. Let's pray. Father in heaven, we just give you thanks for this meeting. I just give you thanks for uh Nehemiah 6 that I just read this morning when he suffered a setback. He just prayed, Lord, strengthen my hands. And we pray that for all of our commissioners, our city staff. We just thank you for your direction, your guidance in our lives. Father, we pray for the agenda today as we look over the items here that you'll give us direction and guidance as well as we make these decisions tonight. We thank you for our city staff. Thank you and bless them, each and their families as well. We just give uh we just give so much gratitude for all the work they do for our city to make it a better place. Give you thanks in Christ's name. Amen. Thank you, Commissioner. That'll take us to item six, the consent agenda, which consists of minutes from the October 21st, 2026 regular meeting, minutes from the October 28th, 2026 study session. Approval of a purchase of a 1500 KVA pad mounted transformer and an agenda approval. Motion to approve. We have a motion. Is there a second? Second. Motion and second. All in favor say aye. Aye. All opposed. Consent agenda passes. We will skip item seven appointments, proclamations, recognitions, and nominations as there is none.

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