Emporia City Commissioners made quick work of a hefty agenda during their regular action meeting Wednesday evening.
Among the highlights was the acceptance of a grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency under the pre-disaster mitigation grant program. The grant will be used to assist with demolition and associated costs of Fannestil Meat’s production plant on South Kansas Highway 99.
The grant will provide roughly over $1 million in funding to cover up to 75 percent of the K99 production plant’s property’s cost, the cost of demolition and renovation of the area. The relocation has been ongoing for the past several years as Fanestil has been consolidating its operations to its new facility at 4700 West Highway 50.
Once the K99 facility is demolished, Regional Development Association of East Central Kansas President Kent Heerman says the area cannot be used for the construction of residential, commercial or industrial use facilities.
Word on when demolition on the former production facility will commence is pending.
In other business, commissioners approved a contract with KLM Engineering for design and construction services related to a restoration project on the city’s elevated water storage tank at 12th Ave. Public Works Director Dean Grant explains this project will “expand the lifespan” of the storage tank.
The tank was originally built in the late 80s and since that time has seen little to no significant maintenance or restoration. The project is tentatively set to begin in 2023, however, an exact date and timeline has not been announced.
Commissioners have adjourned Wednesday’s meeting to 11:30 am next Wednesday inside the Municipal Courtroom at White Auditorium. That meeting will follow the city’s regularly scheduled study session set to begin at 10 am.
