Residents will soon notice a couple of additions when it comes to retail locations in Leavenworth.

The Leavenworth City Commission approved final plats on Tuesday for both the South Crossroads development that includes a Wal-Mart Supercenter on the northwest corner of Eisenhower Road and 10th Avenue and the Limit Street Plaza development that includes a Walgreens on the southwest corner of Fourth and Limit streets.

Although commissioners had no comments regarding the South Crossroads development, Louis Klemp asked the commission to clarify its understanding of who would be paying for a traffic signal at the intersection of 10th Avenue and Eisenhower Road.

His question came near the end of the meeting when the commission approved a bid of $143,736 by Sosaya and Sons construction to install a traffic signal for the intersection.

Mayor Lisa Weakley said none of the “minutes” from previous meetings of the planning commission or the city commission indicated that Wal-Mart would pay for the traffic signal.

However, during the planning commission’s public hearing on Feb. 4, Terrence Haynes, the engineer for the project, presented results from a traffic study on the area. At the time, Haynes said Wal-Mart was willing to install a traffic signal at the intersection of 10th Avenue and Eisenhower Road in order to improve the flow of traffic.

Minutes from government meetings do not always include all comments made by either city officials or those who speak at public meetings. A Leavenworth Times staff writer attended the meeting and reported Haynes’ comments in a news story that was published on Feb. 6.

As for the Limit Street Plaza development, commissioners debated various approaches for having a sidewalk constructed along Hughes Road north to Limit Street; from Limit Street east to Fourth Street; and from Fourth Street south to just past the Applebee’s restaurant.

Since the developer does not own all of the land on the block, Commissioners Larry Dedeke and Shay Baker said they do not think the developer should be responsible for the entire length of the sidewalk.

However, Commissioner Ken Bower said the developer should be responsible since the city offered economic incentives in the form of property-tax abatement.

“It’s not that much sidewalk to put in for what he’s invested,” Bower said.

Commissioner Laura Gasbarre said she supported having the sidewalk along Limit Street and Hughes Road, but not necessarily along Fourth Street.

“I don’t see how we can force him to do it,” Gasbarre said.

The city attorney, Bob Beall, suggested that the city could create a sidewalk benefit district for adjoining property owners to share in the cost.

“That makes the most sense to me,” Baker said.

Bower said he did not want to force the owners of two homes on the corner of Limit Street and Hughes Road to participate in a benefit district just because a majority of the block is being redeveloped for retail purposes.

The developer, Doug Henslick, said they were already planning on building sidewalks along the property for the development.

Bower asked for a “good neighbor” approach from the developer. Henslick agreed to build the sidewalk along the residential properties on the corner of Limit Street and Hughes Road.

Commissioners agreed to move forward with creating a sidewalk benefit district for the remaining portion of sidewalk on Fourth Street in front of Applebee’s.

In other action:

* PRESENTATION — Michael McDonald, director of public works, gave a presentation on the city’s new curbside leaf pick-up program.

“Our goal is to pick up leaves throughout the city,” McDonald said.

McDonald said three-person crews will use leaf vacuum machines to suck up leaves that residents rake near their curbs.

“We’re not a yard service,” McDonald said in reference to the crews not entering yards to rake the leaves.

The crews will make two passes through the city, starting in the north end of town at Metropolitan Avenue and working south toward Eisenhower Road.

“If nothing else, it will be interesting and exciting,” he said. “It’s going to be a learning experience for everyone.”

* ORDINANCES — The commission unanimously approved two ordinances that will increase residential rates for refuse and wastewater.

Refuse rates will increase by 7 percent starting in December. The current residential rate of $14.10 a month will be increased to $15.09 a month.

Wastewater rates will increase by 3 percent starting in December. Rates are based on a minimum monthly charge and additional charges based on usage levels.

* PARK ADOPTIONS — Commissioners approved the adoption of parks by four groups of volunteers who will help maintain the areas.

“It’s a record number,” said Megan Gilliland, public information officer for the city.

Cushing Memorial Hospital adopted the Gazebo Park in downtown Leavenworth; the Leavenworth Master Gardeners adopted the Welcome Center in north Leavenworth; the Leavenworth Rotary Club adopted 10th Avenue Park; and the Knights of Columbus of Leavenworth, Council 900, adopted the Sportsfield.

The groups will have signs installed at the parks to recognize the efforts of volunteers who will clean up the parks once a month.

Although six parks have now been adopted, Gilliland said the city is still accepting requests from volunteers who want to adopt parks in the city.

* RESOLUTION — The commission adopted a resolution nominating the Kansas Scenic Byway for designation as a National Scenic Byway.

Connie Hachenberg, director of the Convention and Visitors Bureau, said eight counties along the byway have been working for the designation since 2006. She said the national designation would allow for more federal grants.

Hachenberg said Leavenworth County and the city of Lansing have already adopted similar resolutions.

* CIP — The 2009-2013 Capital Improvements Program was approved, with one addition since it was first presented during a study session.

The CIP now includes a public safety training facility in 2011 at a cost of $217,220.

Klemp asked commissioners why the expansion of Eisenhower Road was not included in the five-year plan.

Commissioners said the project was too expensive and including it in the CIP would have meant that several other road projects would have to be removed.

The city’s finance director, Daniel Williamson, said Eisenhower Road could possibly qualify for funding from the Kansas Department of Transportation during the next five years. Williamson said the other road projects in the CIP would not be eligible for KDOT funds.

* BID — The commission approved a bid by Sprint for cellular phone service. The city will pay $2,382 a month for the service.

Since Sprint offers “push-to-talk” as a free service, Dedeke said he wants city staff to eliminate some of its radios in order to cut down on costs and to reduce duplication of services.

“I don’t want to go crazy in the toy shop,” Dedeke said.

* PROCLAMATIONS — The mayor proclaimed the month of November as “National Hospice Month.”

The mayor also read a proclamation marking Nov. 1 as “Military Retiree Appreciation Day.”