Detroit Diesel will get $120,000 over three years for its recent expansion, the city decided Wednesday.
The Emporia plant has added 20 jobs as a result of receiving a new gasoline engine line from Chrysler/Daimler, the four-liter MOPAR engine. It’s the first non-diesel engine that the plant has ever remanufactured.
Average pay for the new positions is about $25,000. The expansion also adds about $1.1 million in new equipment, which is exempt from property tax under current state law. No further tax exemptions were granted.
Detroit Diesel now employs 224 people. Because of the expansion, it has placed some of its operations further north in the former Didde building at 1200 Graphic Arts Road.
“Many of you can remember when Detroit Diesel was 15 people out on 12th Avenue,” City Manager Steve Commons said. “There has been continual success and growth with this company in Emporia, Kansas, over the long term.”
The plant is one of five engine remanufacturing plants that Detroit Diesel has in the U.S. Historically, the company has only worked on two-cycle diesels engines.
“We’ve been trying to diversify a bit and bring in a new market to smooth out the ups and downs,” general manager Brian Lewallen said. “We’re not the biggest guys in town, but we continue to grow and we’ve done so in a very stable manner.”
“We really appreciate the growth you’ve had here and the longevity,” Commissioner Ray Toso said.
The incentive will be paid quarterly. The expansion is the plant’s first since 2000.
City manager search
In a morning meeting, commissioners began checking references of the companies interested in finding a new city manager for Emporia. At this stage, three companies are being seriously considered: Robert J. Saunders of Liberty, Mo.; the Mercer Group of Louisburg, N.C.; and Waters-Oldani Executive Recruitment of Dallas.
Saunders received glowing reports from Mayor Mark Squire of Spring Hill and Mayor Carol Lehman of Gardner. Both cities have used his services twice.
“Bob brought us winners,” Lehman said. “He knew what we were looking for and he brought us dead ringers two times in a row.”
Commissioners also talked with Commissioner Arleta Rice of Arkansas City, whose commission is working with Mercer to find a new city manager. The city is down to three finalists to replace a 20-year city manager.
“They were a little more expensive, but we felt we were getting a little more for our money,” Rice said. “They’re very thorough, very professional, comfortable.”
The commission will continue checking references Sept. 13.
In other action, commissioners:
F Agreed to pay $347,000 to the state for a Logan Avenue paving project that runs from Commercial Street to Exchange Street. The Kansas Department of Transportation will cover $175,000 of the project. The city will also do its own inspection and cover non-construction costs, another $35,000 in expenses.
F Gave the bid for an elevation change at 12th Avenue and Hatcher Street to Star Construction for $152,551. The project, which is near Dolly Madison, will be done in concrete instead of asphalt to help it better endure the number of heavy vehicles that turn there. It will also improve the turning radius to 40 feet.
F Voted to adjust the sewer rate for existing customers who put in a new lawn over the winter. Before now, the bill could only be adjusted for a brand new customer.
F Increased the electric franchise fee for Westar Energy to 5 percent. It had been 3.
F Issued $225,000 in bonds plus expenses for the Soden’s Grove ball field project instead of $175,000. The amount includes the school district’s $50,000 share of the project, which will be repaid though a 10-year lease.
F Approved the design for the “We The People” sculpture to be given to the city by Emporia Main Street for the 150th anniversary next year. Tentatively, the sculpture will be placed either in front of the Civic Auditorium or the Lyon County Historical Society.
F Adopted the new version of the state’s traffic ordinance, which includes stricter child seat rules as well as a 90-day sentence for those caught driving under a suspended license for the third time.
alfalfa (anonymous) says...
I wonder if they will pay any of this $120000 back now??
August 20, 2009 at 8:43 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )