Colby City Council Moves Forward with Equipment Purchases, Financing at March 3 Meeting
March 3, 2026
The Colby City Council met Tuesday, March 3, at the Colby Event Center to address several items ranging from equipment purchases to infrastructure financing, while also discussing upcoming projects and community concerns.
Mayor Lee Leiker called the meeting to order, with council members Jerad Johnson, Marc Pearce, and Ericka Nicholson absent at the start of the meeting. The council quickly moved through the opening business, approving the consent agenda, which included minutes from the Feb. 17 meeting along with routine financial reports and registers.
The council had no items under old business and moved directly into new business.
One of the first items addressed was a bid review for a new 2026 crew cab 4x4 pickup for the Colby Fire Department. Fire Chief Scott Hilbrink explained that the vehicle will replace the department’s 2013 Dodge Ram. The department received bids from both Ford and Dodge dealerships, with the Dodge bid coming in at $43,212 and the Ford bid exceeding $45,000.
Hilbrink told the council he did not have a specific preference between the two manufacturers, noting that both would require additional equipment installation before the vehicle could be fully deployed. The truck will eventually be outfitted with emergency lighting, graphics, a topper and slide-out tray, and other specialized equipment through multiple vendors.
Council member Bruce Hansen made the motion to purchase the Dodge model from Colby Dodge for $43,212, which the council approved.
Council members also approved two annual ordinance updates commonly adopted by Kansas cities. Ordinance No. 1707 adopts the 2025 edition of the Standard Traffic Ordinance for Kansas Cities, while Ordinance No. 1708 incorporates the 2025 edition of the Uniform Public Offense Code. Both measures update local enforcement references and replace older versions previously adopted by the city.
Another major topic involved financing for electrical generation equipment the city plans to install later this year. The council approved Resolution No. 1244, which allows the city to move forward with a lease-purchase agreement to help finance electrical generators for the city’s power system.
City Attorney John Gatz recommended approval of the resolution, explaining that it allows the city to reimburse funds already used toward a down payment on the generator project while arranging long-term financing.
The council then considered proposals from two local banks—Farmers and Merchants Bank and Western State Bank—for financing the purchase of the CAT generator engines.
City officials recommended the Farmers and Merchants Bank proposal after reviewing the submitted terms. Farmers and Merchants offered both 15-year and 20-year fixed-rate lease options at 4.74 percent interest, while Western State Bank submitted a 15-year fixed rate of 5.425 percent.
Following discussion about fixed rates and the potential to refinance in the future if interest rates drop, the council approved the Farmers and Merchants proposal with a 15-year fixed lease at 4.74 percent.
During reports and discussions, city officials reminded council members about a scheduled tour of the power plant facility at North Sterling planned for Wednesday afternoon.
Council members also approved a request to temporarily designate a parking stall next to a handicap space at the Colby Event Center for expecting mothers during upcoming events in March.
Additional community topics included a request to close a downtown street during the upcoming Sunflower Festival, which will be revisited at a future meeting. Officials also reported that the long-awaited water line replacement project along Webster Street is expected to begin in the coming week.
Council members also discussed questions from residents about the legality of chickens within city limits. City staff indicated that a reminder about the ordinance will be posted on the city’s Facebook page to clarify the current regulations.
Council member Ericka Nicholson arrived later in the meeting at approximately 5:48 p.m.
Following final comments from council members, the meeting adjourned.