City commission approves money for Fire Station 2 repairs
By The Emporia Gazette (Contact)
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
City commission members passed an ordinance to issue debt for improvements to Fire Station 2 at their regular meeting Wednesday night.
The temporary notes of up to $505,000 will go to finance necessary repairs at the fire station in a project that has been in the works for over a year. The original estimate of $450,000 was increased because of the age of the estimate and because a study of the sub-base under the floor of the station and the east driveway shows more damage than was seen at first.
The city will pay off the notes in three years; money to pay the debt will come from the county-wide sales tax.
Commissioners also passed an ordinance levying sanitary and street improvement special assessments for the Greenwood Addition subdivision. Property owners in the subdivision signed waivers foregoing the public hearing process for the assessments.
The sanitary sewer project will cost $45,250 and the street improvement project will cost $199,500.
In other business, commissioners passed a resolution authorizing the public sale of the City of Emporia’s general obligation bonds, Series 2009, in the amount of $765,000. Projects included in the g.o. bond include the Greenwood street and sanitary sewer improvements, Cedar Bend street and sanitary sewer improvements and Sunflower Meadows street improvements.
Projects included in the Series 2009 temporary note issue include the Fire Station 2 repair project for $505,000, REG street improvements for $532,000 and REG water and sanitary sewer improvements for $135,000.
Mayor Jeff Longbine signed a proclamation declaring August 4th as National Night Out in Emporia. That day is the 25th annual National Night Out, an event sponsored by the National Association of Town Watch that focuses on crime and drug prevention. Neighborhood watch groups in Emporia will join others across the country to raise awareness of crime and drug prevention.
Commissioners also re-appointed two members to the Accessibility Advisory Board. Lennie Armstrong will be serving her second term on the board, and Liliana Heredia-Taylor will serve her first full 3-year term after having replaced Kayla Oney.
Paccifier (anonymous) says...
OK, REG is not moving forward, and has made no commitment to do so, but the city is moving forward with street & sewer development/improvements?
July 15, 2009 at 9:34 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
madpoet (anonymous) says...
Maybe they're hoping something else will go in there if REG doesn't finish their project. I would have waited to spend the money but I'm not a commissioner so don't have the spend spend spend attitude.
July 16, 2009 at 8:11 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
giggles (anonymous) says...
Shouldn't this be part of budget discussions?
July 16, 2009 at 9:57 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Paccifier (anonymous) says...
This is the 2009 budget year- so this would have been in the budget approved during 2008 for 2009. The present budget being discussed is the 2010 budget.
July 16, 2009 at 12:17 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Paccifier (anonymous) says...
Sorry, stepped away, but I agree with madpoet, Maybe best to wait to spend the money once REG says they are finishing project, or someone else takes on the development. On the other hand, are labor rates for this type construction lower right now?
July 16, 2009 at 12:23 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
oh4theluvof (anonymous) says...
In over three decades of living here, I have never heard of Greenwood St., Cedar Bend St. or a Sunflower Meadows addition. Let me guess, northwest corner? Using the word "improvement" would indicate that the sanitary sewer already exists there? If it does and is in fact in the NW corner, why are improvements needed seeing as it would be the newest? If it doesn't, why are we calling it "improvement" or even attempting to expand with the many homes for sale for downsizing?
Could we get some improvements east of Industrial St. please? How about east of Prairie St.? Would you consider east of Commercial St., even? We were in line first.
July 17, 2009 at 1:25 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
biscuitboy (anonymous) says...
In almost seventy years of living here on and off, I have never known a city commission that knew Emporia existed south of twelvth or east of prarie.
July 17, 2009 at 6:14 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
glarson (anonymous) says...
4theluv:
I can't tell you about Greenwood or Cedar Bend, but Sunflower Meadows is in NE Emporia, just off Burlingame Road north of I-35.
Gwen Larson
July 17, 2009 at 6:57 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
SFIns (anonymous) says...
It sounds like some improvements were made east oc Commercial.
July 17, 2009 at 8:06 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
oh4theluvof (anonymous) says...
Thank you for the geography clarification, Gwen. Sorry it took me a couple of days to get back. That neighborhood is in need of some repairs and has been for awhile. Good to hear it's getting some done.
July 18, 2009 at 4:33 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
spectator (anonymous) says...
oh4theluvof and biscuitboy, I agree 100% and I thank you for bringing it to light. Unfortunately, the holders-of-the-purse-strings will (continue) to ignore it.
July 19, 2009 at 4:28 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )