Meeting Minutes – November 2024

College Hill Association Meeting

Monday, November 18, 2024, 7 p.m.

Westminster Presbyterian Church

Attendance: Jasmine Puderbaugh, Duane and Debbie Pomeroy, Laura Burton, Mark Schreiner, Robert Bidwell, Jeff Lolley, Brian and Dana Adams, Sue Fackler, John and Carol Christensen, Brett Martin, Andy Fry, Susan Duffy, Annie Buckland, Gretchen Hammond, Diane Pomeroy

Meeting called to order at 7:02pm by Carol Christensen
Report by Community Police Officer, Officer Bryan Stricklin

2 thefts and 1 aggravated assault; aggravated assault is ongoing investigation but was at the hotel at 17th and Washburn
Reminder to lock it, remove it, or lose it- to reduce theft
Holiday tips:

crime most susceptible to is fraud
www.ftc.gov Federal Trade Commission- helpful tips to help avoid scams/ fraud

www.ag.kansas.gov/fileacomplaint file a complaint to report fraud

try to protect yourself from identity theft by freezing your credit at the 3 credit bureaus

Contact Officer Stricklin with any concerns about community policing or crime 785-861-0197

Presentation: Huntoon Street Roadway Improvement by Jeff Lolley, Bartlett & West • Started with a public meeting to share thoughts on the 12th street project • Next had an open house at the public library to hear what the public wanted to see on the Huntoon Street project

Examined pavement, conducted traffic studies
Put together information to put together 3 options for Huntoon

◦ 1) Repair roadway, not changes or other improvements

◦ 2) Remove and replace roadway within same design

◦ 3) One driving lane with buffer, bike lane, parking, and shared use path

76% of public voting preferred option 3
Question: are there lead pipes in this area to remove? Not sure, but if so will be replaced as part of the project as the water pipes are needing replacement anyway- when we replace a roadway, we take care of everything under the roadway at that time
huntoonstreetproject.org
Will replace from Gage to Harrison
Moving forward with option 3 and city council has been supportive at this point
2025-planning, 2026- utilities move, project work 2027-2029 with sections closed
Question: will there be construction on 17th street or 10th street at the same time? No planned work, but can’t guarantee that there won’t be repairs • Still in planning phases- this is a concept and will now be examined down the corridor and changes made as problems come up
Contact Jeff Lolley or your city council member to share concerns • Can sign up on the project website to sign up for notice for meetings

Minutes from September 16, 2024 meeting – Jasmine Puderbaugh Laura Burton moved to approve, Debbie Pomeroy seconded, motion passed
Treasurer’s Report – Debbie Pomeroy

Susan Duffy moved to approve, Annie Buckland seconded, motion passed

Old Business
- 6. A. Washburn Homecoming Parade—report on College Hill involvement • New route was really appreciated because it was shorter

Over 70 entries but fewer than half came, still made parade longer than it had been before
Next year is Saturday, October 25, 2025
- 6. B. Blessing Box—need for coordinator, organization to keep box stocked • Blessing Box is in place
  - Need coordination to ensure it is filled
  - Neighbors report that they fill it regularly and food is being used • Annie Buckland volunteered as coordinator to manage groupings and responsibilities for filling
  - Need street captains for each street
  - Introduce as part of the next newsletter- outline how it works and who to contact
  - Susan Duffy moves to go 6 months with no organized structure but just communication (newsletter, social media reminders); if box fails to be managed appropriately through this loose structure, form a subcommittee that will meet separately and report to board. Annie Buckland seconded, motion passed.

New Business
- 7. A. College Hill dues—when due? (September to September or calendar year, beginning in January?)
  - Have either been collected September to September (annual meeting to annual meeting) or for the calendar year
  - Need to pick one and communicate it before publicizing/ creating a campaign
  - Need more households to pay dues and see the value in them • Jasmine Puderbaugh moved that dues are paid on the calendar year and we will campaign to collect them by the annual chili feed. Annie Buckland seconded, motion passed.
- 7.B. Continuance of WIFI in Boswell Park?
  - Program began during COVID so students could access internet and do school work outdoors
  - Grant funding has almost run out
  - Susan Duffy moved to discontinue internet access after paying final bill, Laura Burton seconded, motion passed

- 7. C. Holiday decorating contest
  - Encourage people to decorate, no contest this year
  - Will make a Facebook post to ask for people to share their photos
- 7. D. Chili Feed—date, chair and committee, publicity, charity food donations • Laura Burton, RaLynn Schmalzried Schmidt, Elissa Jones, Annie Buckland are the committee
  - Committee will pick a date within the next month and communicate it • Charity food donations will go to Doorstep
- 7. E. Newsletters—next one, article ideas, frequency in 2025
  - Laura Burton on board to run the newsletter for the next year • Would like to move to quarterly for the newsletter
  - Need a couple of backup delivery people
- 7. F. Other items of concern
  - Sidewalks desperately need repairs; need a reminder in every newsletter about the 50/50 sidewalk repair program
  - Remind neighbors to keep their porch lights on

Upcoming Events
- December 14, Saturday, 9 a.m. – Recycling Drive
- January 13, Monday, 7 p.m. – Next CHA meeting, Westminster Presbyterian Presentation by Dan Warner, Topeka Planning Director, about possible housing code changes that could affect College Hill
- Date/Time _______________ – Chili Feed/Cookoff, Westminster Presbyterian
Sue Fackler moved to adjourn, Annie Buckland seconded, motion passed and meeting adjourned at 8:31pm