Emporia City Commissioners approved one application and discussed a pair of others as part of back-to-back meetings Wednesday morning.
During their regular study session, commissioners discussed the city’s State Revolving Drinking Water Loan Fund. BG Consultants are preparing to submit an application to the state for a second SRF loan fund totaling between $14.5 to $15 million.
Emporia Mayor Rob Gilligan explains the SRF fund is a great cost-saving resource for the city.
says the city will first have to close out its current fund which has financially backed the completion or near completion of six projects in the area. He says with the new fund, the city has identified seven possible projects the fund could be utilized for.
Once the city closes out its current fund, Gilligan says they will likely have a due balance of around $5 million.
The city expects to begin the publication process for the application within the next 30 days.
In other business, commissioners also discussed an application to the Kansas Department of Transportation’s Aviation division for funding in fiscal year 2023. The grant, if approved, would provide 90 percent of the funding needed to extend the Emporia Municipal Airport’s runway 51 feet.
If the grant were approved, the city’s share of the cost would be roughly $52,500. Commissioners could approve the application during their upcoming action session next week.
Prior to their study session, commissioners reconvened their adjourned action meeting from the week before. During that time, commissioners held a brief public hearing for the submission of a CDBG grant to provide partial funding for a street improvement project. The planned scope of the project would see street and utility improvements on Highland Street from 12th Ave. to 16th.
Word on when commissioners will have a status update on the application is currently pending.
The Emporia City Commission will reconvene for an action session next Wednesday inside the Municipal Courtroom at White Auditorium.
