The city of Emporia will be expanding its timetable for the downtown sanitary sewer relining project after approval by the Emporia City Commission Wednesday evening.
Commissioners approved a contract amendment request seeking a time extension for the sewer relining project from the Kansas Department of Commerce. According to Assistant City Manager Lane Massey, the project is funded through a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) contract which sets a predetermined date for which the project must be completed.
Due to unfavorable weather conditions both last year and this winter the project has experienced a number of delays thus leading to the need for the contract extension. The approved request is for a six-month extension, however, Massey believes the project will likely be completed before that time.
Massey says not seeking the extension and going over the preset date would cause the city to fall out compliance with CDBG guidelines which could negatively impact the city’s potential for receiving future grants. With the approval of the request, the city will now send off paperwork to the state and should receive word on the extension’s status within the next 30 days.
In other business, commissioners also formally accepted a housing rehabilitation grant from the CDBG program. The grant provides the city with $300,000 which will be utilized for the rehabilitation of 14 houses currently occupied by individuals with low to moderate-income.
City Community Development Coordinator Jeff Lynch tells KVOE News the 14 houses will be located in a three by four-block radius on the northeast side of Peter Pan Park including Kansas Avenue, State Street, Commercial Street and South Avenue. Lynch says the project will entail “whole house rehab” for each of the homes involved.
The rehabilitation project is anticipated to be completed by March of 2022.
Commissioners also lent approval for several additional items Wednesday including a federal-aid fund exchange master agreement, an application for a USDA rural business development grant, and made the recommendation for changes to rules and regulations for fishing at both Jones and Peter Pan Parks. Additionally, commissioners set a date of Apr. 1 for a public hearing regarding the Riverside Rural Housing Incentive District.
The Emporia City Commission will hold a study session next Wednesday inside city conference room 1AB at White Auditorium.
