U.S. Cellular gives $10,000 to zoo
Donation comes during city commission meeting
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
The David Traylor Zoo of Emporia received a $10,000 grant from U.S. Cellular during a city commission meeting Wednesday night in the municipal courtroom.
Zoo director Steve Trebilcock and Friends of the Zoo President Brenton Bennett accepted the check from Jill Donner of U.S. Cellular.
Donner told city officials that U.S. Cellular employees quickly noticed the value of the zoo to the community when the company moved to Emporia in 2006. That first year, the company donated $5,000 to the zoo, followed by a $1,000 gift earlier this year.
"I can't begin to tell you how much we appreciate this very, very generous grant," Bennett said. "... It's going to significantly help us improve our graphics ... and our signage around the zoo."
The commission voted 4-0 to deny a request from Pizza Hut for a license agreement to place a sign on public right-of-way at its new location, now under construction on Eaglecrest Drive. City Commissioner Jeff Longbine was absent for the meeting.
City Engineer Keith Beatty said that city staff recommended denying the request, which was prompted by location of a Magellan Co. pipeline that runs through the property.
"With Magellan, you have to stay 20 feet away from a pipeline," Beatty said.
The sign would be too near the curbing and would likely pose a hazard for traffic.
Beatty said that Pizza Hut representatives had been cautioned earlier about potential problems at the site, and that other sign options existed and could be implemented when they were laying out the area.
"We felt that this is a new site; we felt that they knew what they were getting into," Beatty said. "... We told them there was going to be an issue there."
The final draft of a Planned Unit Development near 18th Avenue and Prairie Street received unanimous approval.
Kevin Hanlin told commissioners that the city had received the final plans from developer Maurice Schmidt, and that the plans were in line with the original request approved earlier by the planning board.
The PUD will hold 20 single-family residential condominium units that will consists of four units in each building.
City Manager Matt Zimmerman said that the plan is acceptable to the city and includes a 50-year storm detention provision.
Commissioners unanimously approved purchasing a Styker MX-Pro bariatric transport cot for the Emporia/Lyon County Ambulance Service, despite a modest cost increase. The Lyon County Commission already had approved paying one-half of the cost of the unit before the price increased on Monday, raising the cost from $6,256 to $6,480.
The bariatric cot is made to handle people who weigh more than 400 pounds. The stretcher should improve transportation of the patients and reduct the risk of injury, according to information provided to the commission.
Zimmerman said the city would ask the county to pay half of the additional cost, though the county would not be obligated to do so.
"I would recommend the city pick up the difference because the need is so great," Zimmerman said.
The fire department budget has approximately $5,000 left in its capital improvement plan, as does the county.
A contract for up to $100,000 was approved with CTR, LLC, to install sidewalks as part of the city's hazardous sidewalk program. CTR's bid was the lowest of three submitted for consideration.
Beatty said that property owners would be allowed to choose their own concrete contractors if they wished; however, the city's share of improvements would be paid at the CTR bid rate, up to $400 per residential improvement. Businesses may participate in the program, and will pay half of the cost of improvements.
The commission tabled two requests.
Mission La Esperanza had asked for a conditional use permit to allow a church in an R1, low-density residential district at 201 S. Commercial St. The building has been used as a church for approximately 60 years. Church representatives were unable to attend the meeting Wednesday evening and asked that the request be tabled. It will be taken up at the Nov. 21 meeting.
The second item tabled was a request from Emporia Enterprises Inc. to change zoning status of 2.6 acres at Weaver Street and South Avenue. The property is being transferred from Norfolk Iron & Metal to REG. The requested change from I1 Light Industrial to I1 Heavy Industrial would have a conditional use permit for biodiesel production. The request was tabled because the transactions are not yet available.
In other action, the commission unanimously:
-- proclaimed Oct. 21 through 27 as "Employ the Older Worker Week," after a presentation by Salli Holliman, representative of the Older Kansas Employment Program here.
-- proclaimed Nov. 3 through 12 as "All Veterans Week" and Nov. 11 as Veterans Day after a presentation by Jeanine McKenna, president and Chief executive officer of the Emporia Area Chamber of Commerce.
-- appointed Brent Windsor to a vacancy on the Emporia Recreation Commission.
-- approved a license agreement with Detroit Diesel to place a sign on city right-of-way near the company's office at 12th Avenue and Graphic Arts Road. The sign will not affect the four lanes of traffic planned for that area and the license agreement can be revoked if unanticipated changes create a need to do that.
The commission met for 20 minutes in executive session to discuss confidential information about a business and to discuss a litigation matter because of attorney-client privilege.
Zimmerman presented a lengthy list of upcoming activities involving or of interest to commissioners. Among those were:
-- the first public meeting, set for 7 p.m. on Oct. 22, regarding the rental inspection program
-- fire training from 8:30 to 3 p.m., with participation by city officials and others
-- lunch at the Ayan Cafe prior to the Nov. 7 city commission meeting
-- kickoff of Phase One of the Image Campaign, when community leaders will discuss the city's strengths, weaknesses, and areas that need improvement. The Chamber of Commerce ha shired a consultant to run the campaign.
-- an employee awards ceremony and commission luncheon to be held Nov. 24 in the Little Theater after the commission's study session.
yellow82 (anonymous) says...
Thank you U.S. Cellular for your generosity, I particularly enjoy seeing companies give back to the communities they serve.
October 18, 2007 at 11:53 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )