For the second time this year, the city of Emporia is seeking an extension its Community Development Block Grant for the downtown sanitary sewer project.
Back in February, the city submitted a request for a six-month extension of the same grant due to unfavorable weather conditions setting back the project’s timeline to which the state granted just a three-month extension. This time around the city is requesting another three-month extension due to the project’s contractor experiencing difficulties related to the COVID-19 pandemic according to assistant city manager Lane Massey.
Massey says if the extension is not granted and the project is not completed in accordance with the original timeline, Massey says the city could be facing a few different repercussions.
According to Massey, stopping the project without completing it would then mean the city would be left to fund the remainder of the work. Additionally, Massey says not completing the project as scheduled could have negative impacts on future CDBG applications from the city.
A response from the state is expected within the next two to four weeks.
In other business, commissioners chose to table approval of an agreement with the Emporia Recreation Commission for the operation of the Jone’s Aquatic Center for the 2020 season until next Wednesday. This action will allow more time for the city and ERC to discuss staffing, training, operational hours and exactly what the season could look like if the decision is made to open the pool to the public.
The ERC has not set any plans in stone for operations this year, however, current recommendations, which were detailed during the ERC’s monthly meeting Monday, would see the pool open from 1pm to 3pm before closing for an hour to conduct cleaning and resuming operations for another two hours. Additionally, the recommendations would see the exclusion of inflatables, poolside chairs and concessions during the swimming season.
Further discussions on the topic will take place during the city’s upcoming study session next Wednesday, following which a special action session has been scheduled during which time commissioners may approve the operations agreement.
Commissioners adjourned Wednesday evening’s meeting to 10 am Friday morning at which time a public hearing will take place regarding a CDBG grant application for economic development purposes related to COVID-19. The meeting is scheduled to be held in the municipal courtroom at White Auditorium.
