The Emporia City Commission chipped in $2,500 on Wednesday to help rebuild The Little Train in Soden’s Grove.
The donation puts a little more luster on an already successful fund-raising campaign. Earlier this week, the fund stood at $29,600, well above the initial $20,000 mark set by the Sertoma Club.
The club intended to use that money to replace the diesel engine and drive motors on the train. Now that more funds have poured in, a new $40,000 goal has been set and additional plans have been made to work on the train’s platform, depot and rails.
The Emporia Area Chamber of Commerce began the little train project in the 1950s but soon decided it had “no business being in business.” It was taken over first by the city and then by the Optimists Club. From 1985 until its dissolution in 2001, the Early Bird Optimists managed the railroad, often having to rebuild it after floods.
The Sertoma Club took over the train in 2002.
Commissioners voted unanimously to support the train, with the money to come from the special parks fund.
In other action Wednesday, commissioners:
F Signed an agreement to inspect a road project at U.S. Highway 50 and Graphic Arts Road without funding from the Kansas Department of Transportation. The agreement does not commit the city to the project itself, which has not yet been bid out.
F Postponed a decision on approving a contract for water main improvements and petitions for paving and sewing work in the Greenwood Addition, located near 10th Avenue and Weaver Street. Commissioners wanted more information on what the city was committing to and what its liability would be.
F Closed the western part of the 700 Merchant parking lot during the Farmers Market, which will run 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays from May 5 to Oct. 27 and from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesdays from June 13 through Oct. 31.
F Closed the 700 Merchant parking lot for Emporia State University’s “Senior Week” activities, which run from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. April 26. Setup will begin around 5 p.m.
F Recognized Riverside Elementary School teacher Nancy Robohn for writing a song for Emporia’s 150th birthday party last month.
F Proclaimed March “National Developmental Disabilities Month.”