The Emporia City Commission has now joined the 70 plus investors to support the Ignite Emporia Campaign after approval of an agreement between the two Wednesday.
Commissioners approved a one-year, $25,000 commitment to Ignite Emporia after city staff made adjustments to the agreement following last week’s study session. The changes specified the total of the donation and added the requirement that Ignite Emporia must make a yearly financial report to the City.
Emporia Area Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Jeanine McKenna says the request for a report was a very reasonable requirement.
Ignite Emporia originally requested a five-year $150,000 contribution from the city, which had been standard with other investors. However, commissioners opted for the one-year commitment in order to gauge the program’s progress before entering into any lengthier agreements in the future.
In other business, commissioners also approved the annexation of properties for an extension of the Emporia Airport’s runway. The extension is required for Emporia to be in accordance with new regulations set forth by the Federal Aviation Administration from three-years ago.
Commissioners approved the project and purchase of land in the area back in 2018 and finally closed on the final piece of land just recently. The property acquisition includes roughly 33 acres of land on Road K and half an acre of Road J.
The property was originally owned by the county and will now be absorbed and added to the existing city limits of Emporia according to commissioner Rob Gilligan.
Additionally, commissioners approved a request for the creation of the Riverside Addition subdivision final plat just south of Riverside School and an ordinance and request to vacate the utility easements for two lots of the Zirnstein Addition near the intersection of South Avenue and Barbie Drive. Emporia Mayor Danny Giefer also signed a proclamation naming Feb. 21 as Emporia State University Day.
The Emporia City Commission will hold a study session next Wednesday inside city conference room 1AB at White Auditorium.
