The Emporia City Commission is placing a heavier emphasis on uniformity when it comes to contracts with outside agencies.
During the commission’s study session Wednesday, commissioners conducted a review of its current contracts with the Regional Development Association of East Central Kansas, Convention and Visitors Bureau and Emporia Main Street. During the discussions, the board agreed to change each contract’s termination clauses to 90 days and set a consistent allocation request date of May 1.
In addition, discussions regarding additional city representation on Main Street’s Board of Directors garnered significant attention from Main Street Board President Kevin Nelson and commissioners. The commission has proposed appointing an additional voting member and one non-voting ex-officio member on the board bringing the city’s representation to three members.
Nelson posed the question as to why the additional appointment was necessary. Nelson expressed a concern that the additional representation could disrupt the board’s current operating formula.
City Commissioner Susan Brinkman felt the concern was unwarranted.
Like with each agency’s contract, the commission’s intention with its proposal is to ensure a uniform and consistent level of representation amongst each outside organization. Main Street Director Casey Woods says uniformity is only achievable if the organizations in question are also uniform, which he feels is not the case in this situation.
Discussions and review of the contracts are expected to continue in the coming weeks. Word on when the contracts will be formally approved is currently pending.
In other business, City Consultant Jim Witt updated commissioners on the development of close contact COVID-19 testing to be funded through SPARK and CARES Act allocations totaling $105,000. The effort is being conducted in partnership with Newman Regional Health and Lyon County Public Health and will allow testing for asymptomatic and presymptomatic close contacts of positive COVID-19 cases.
Witt says some commissioners had posed the question of what would this do for the city’s positivity rate. Witt says local health professionals have expressed that with increased testing the city should see a decline in its positivity rate.
Discussions as to when the program will begin are still ongoing, however, Witt says Newman has expressed a desire to begin the program as soon as Monday.
The Emporia City Commission will reconvene next Wednesday at 1:30 pm for an action session inside the Municipal Courtroom at White Auditorium.
