At Wednesday’s city commission meeting, commissioners unanimously approved a resolution setting the date for public hearing regarding the creation of a tax increment financing redevelopment district on 40 acres of land northeast of 24th Avenue and Industrial Road.
The hearing is to be held on Oct. 15 at 7:15 p.m. in the city commission hearing room in the municipal court room, 518 Mechanic St.
The process for applying for the district is to continue throughout the fall, and approval is contingent on the rezoning of the land in question. The planning commission will hold a public hearing at its meeting on Sept. 23.
“There will be lots of opportunity for public input and lots of decisions that have to be made that depend on each other,” Commissioner Jeff Longbine said. “I would encourage the public, if they have questions, to either attend one of the public hearings or contact either Kent (Heermann) at the RDA or one of us.”
Commissioner Julie Johnson agreed. “I want to make a comment related to the whole concept of TIF and TDD,” Johnson said. “I think we’re embarking on something new for the community and I believe a public hearing is an important component of this. ... For that reason I will vote for this motion ... with the complete understanding that I’m not necessarily for the creation of the district. I think it’s important that we have public dialogue for this issue.”
In other business, commissioners
• Removed and discussed two items from the consent agenda regarding a grant agreement for the Safe Routes to School Program. The first item was a request from the Multi-Use Path Planning Board that the city accept a $15,000 reimbursement contract from KDOT for phase I of the program, which will focus on Logan Avenue Elementary, Walnut Elementary, and William Allen White Elementary. The second item was approval of an agreement with BG Consultants to provide the engineering work to apply for phase II of the program. Both items were approved.
• Authorized Mayor Bobbie Agler to sign a proclamation recognizing Michele Rodriguez for 29 years of service to the city. Rodriguez, who is to retire Sept. 17, started as a police dispatcher in 1974 and worked in that position until 1979. After marrying Sgt. Bob Rodriguez, Michele left until 1984, when she began as secretary and ambulance billing clerk in the city clerk’s office. In the following years Rodriguez served as secretarial/account clerk II, administrative secretary to the city manager and director of community service and executive secretary to the city manager.
• Authorized the mayor to sign a proclamation recognizing Justin Klumpe for spending sixty-six hours of his own time to repaint the UH-1 helicopter at the All Veterans Memorial.
• Approved a request from Kayla Oney, director of Emporia Main Street, to use the parking lot at Seventh Avenue and Merchant Street from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sept. 20 for a special event, “Grillin’ at the Market.” The event, which was to have been held Aug. 9, was postponed because of rain. It will run from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Approved a resolution for Emporia to join the National League of Cities Partnership for Working Toward Inclusive Communities.
• Adopted an ordinance to authorize the issuance of general obligation debt for the Series 2008 General Obligation Bond issue and approved a resolution to increase the estimated costs of certain street improvements from $1.2 million to $1.325 million.
• Rejected two bids for water and sewer relocations for the Highway 50 and Graphic Arts Road project. The bids were from Middlecreek Corporation of Peabody, which bid $133,439, and Nowak Construction Company of Goddard, which bid $215,587. The city engineer estimated the project would cost $68,073. The project will be re-bid.
• Approved a design and a color scheme for the W. L. White painting project. Commissioners decided on a plan provided by ESU that incorporates a color scheme of black and gold. The contractor is planning to start painting Friday.
• Designated Commissioners Nelson, Agler, Longbine and Johnson as voting delegates for the Kansas League meeting to be held in Wichita Oct. 11-14.
• Appointed Commissioner Jim Kessler to the Emporia Community Foundation board to replace Agler.