The Emporia City Commission took action Wednesday approving an incentive compliance agreement for Cargill, Inc.
The manufacturer has invested $5 million in new equipment and upgrades, and will invest $4 million into a new 50,500 square-foot warehouse. As a result, the city is giving Cargill nearly six acres of land owned by Emporia Enterprises. Mayor Danny Giefer says that ensures job security for those employees for years to come.
The move comes at the recommendation of the Regional Development Association of East Central Kansas. The agreement includes a 10-year tax abatement. Cargill has created 10 additional full-time positions and added $330,000 additional payroll in Emporia.
City commissioners Wednesday also voted to merge the Emporia-Lyon County Metropolitan Planning Commission with the Board of Zoning Appeals, effective July 1. Giefer says the issue has been in discussion for a few years.
The merged boards will include nine members, seven of which are appointed by the city commission and two appointed by the county commission. Those seven appointed by the city will make up the Board of Zoning Appeals.
Also approved was a grant agreement with the U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration. The $1.3 million for water tower project near Simmons Pet Food.
In other business, city commissioners approved a $401,500 bid from Integrity Municipal Sytems for the Public Works Department’s Lime Slaker project. Also approved was a $53,000 bid to Mayer Specialty Services for closed circuit television inspection of a downtown sanitary sewer project.
