The City of Emporia will be taking over control of water services from Rural Water District No. 2.
This follows approval of a purchase and service agreement by the Emporia City Commission during their action session held Wednesday afternoon. The purchase was for the district’s service area, which runs north to south from Road 180 to 170 and east to west from the Kansas Turnpike to Road F. The purchase also included the district’s service lines which will now be connected to the city’s system.
The need for the relocation of the district’s lines came about due to the Kansas Department of Transportation’s Highway 50 expansion project taking place in the vicinity. Customers served by Rural Water District No. 2 will now become city customers, but will not see any changes to their current water rates.
The total cost of the purchase according to City Engineer Jim Ubert is $35,000.
Approval of the purchase was nearly unanimous with one no-vote from city commissioner Bobbi Mylnar. Mylnar tells KVOE News her vote does not reflect her personal feelings on the purchase, but rather certain concerns regarding the city not following specific protocol.
Additionally, commissioners also approved three properties to be included in the city’s Rural Housing Incentive District program. The properties include the Pleasant Points subdivision between Oak Street and Seventh, North Prairie and Lincoln Village and The Jones Aquatic Center.
Two more properties may also be added to the program at a later date. Details on those properties and when they will be added are currently pending.
In other business, commissioners approved an agreement with Sacred Heart School for parking at Exchange and Cottonwood street. Two proclamations declaring October as domestic violence awareness month and Oct. 6-12 as fire prevention week were also presented.
The Emporia City Commission will hold a study session next Wednesday inside city conference room 1AB at White Auditorium.
