The Emporia City Commission approved two bids, one for repairs to the old Soden’s Grove bridge and one to buy three new squad cars for the Emporia Police Department, at its regular meeting Wednesday afternoon.
A combination of age and high water has damaged some of the stones on the southwest wall of the Soden’s Grove bridge. The issue of repairing the bridge came up in past commission study sessions, and the city sent requests for bids to six contractors.
Only one contractor, Emporia Construction and Remodeling, responded with a proposal, which the commission approved. Bridge repairs will include excavating approximately 20 feet of the wall, replacing the concrete foundation and replacing the existing stones.
Total cost for the project will be $22,696.25. The repair work will be paid for out of the city’s general fund as an unbudgeted expense.
The commission also awarded a bid to John North Ford for the purchase of three 2009 Ford Crown Victoria squad cars for the Emporia Police Department.
The cost to the city for the three cars is $67,239. Mayor Bobbie Agler and Commissioner Jeff Longbine abstained from the discussion and the vote, citing potential conflicts of interest because of business connections.
City commissioners also approved a request of Corner House, Inc., to donate $25,992 in landfill tipping fees for the demolition of three houses, at 422 and 428 N. Market St. and 207-211 E. Fifth Avenue, in order to build a new facility. The commission also agreed to donate $450 in services to cut off the sewer connections to the houses.
Corner House is preparing a grant application to demolish the houses and replace them with a new building. According to Corner House memo to City Manager Matt Zimmerman, the company is discussing an opportunity with the Department of Veterans Affairs to earn a $400,000 grant to serve female veterans. To qualify for the grant, Corner House must secure $216,000, both monetary and in-kind, in local gifts. According to Sarah Riley-Hansen, executive director, Corner House currently has $24,000 in place.
Commissioners also approved a request to modify Article 15, Section 15-201 of the Emporia/Lyon County Metropolitan Area zoning regulations to allow telephone exchanges, electrical substations, cable television or other public uses in light and heavy industrial districts. The 1988 version of the zoning regulations allow these uses, but when regulations were updated in 2000, the text apparently was left out.
The commission also voted 3-2 to deny awarding a bid to Treanor and Associates for construction contract services for repairs at Fire Station 2. Commissioners Jim Kessler and Jeff Longbine, along with Mayor Agler, explained that they felt the work should be opened for bids from local contractors.
In other business, commissioners also authorized Mayor Agler to sign a proclamation honoring Kayla Oney for her service as director of Emporia Main Street. Oney began working for the organization in May, 2006 and became executive director in February of 2007. She will be moving to Wamego to take up the position of director of marketing and events for the Colombian Theatre.