Yet another long-standing tradition in Emporia is coming off the community calendar due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
During the Emporia City Commission’s recent study session Wednesday, City Manager Mark McAnarney made the recommendation to cancel the annual Fourth of July Fireworks show. McAnarney says the decision was made with the best interest of the general public’s health and safety in mind.
McAnarney says while it is regrettable, holding off on this year’s show could help the city to improve it for years to come.
While the fireworks show will be a no-go this year, McAnarney did share some good news regarding the city’s splash pad at Peter Pan Park. According to McAnanrney maintenance work is currently ongoing at the pad and will likely wrap up by the end of the week, meaning the splash pad could be open to the public as soon as this weekend.
Further details on the pad’s opening are currently pending, however, McAnarney says if it were to reopen, social distancing and other mitigation efforts will be in place.
In other business, commissioners made the decision to approve the payment of remaining 2020 appropriations to the Granada Theatre, Emporia Arts Center and the Red Rocks State Historic Site. Discussions on the appropriations began two weeks ago after city treasurer Janet Harouff presented a projected shortfall of $400,000 in transient guest tax revenues.
Harouff presented a trio of options to the commission including paying the appropriations in full, which commissioners chose to do.
Back in January, the city fulfilled its allocation to Emporia Main Street and its yearly contribution to ESU’s Welch Stadium.
The Emporia Area Chamber of Commerce receives a portion of the transient guest tax as it comes in and so far has received $193,000 according to Harouff. Commissioner Jon Geitz supported paying the full remaining allocations as it made no sense to hold off on the allocations after already fulfilling previous requests.
Geitz says if the transient guest tax revenues do not bounce back following the COVID-19 pandemic, the city will be forced to make some difficult decisions regarding future allocation requests.
Separately, commissioners also began a review of the city’s Capital Improvement Plan as part of the commission’s five-year budget plan. The review included presentations on equipment purchases, maintenance and other expenditures for the Emporia Fire Department, Police Department, EMS, Code Services, Administration, Civic Building and the Emporia Public Library.
The Emporia City Commission will reconvene for an action session next Wednesday.
