Ignite Emporia is continuing its work to help develop growth in multiple sectors of the local community.
That was the report of Ignite Director Rob Gilligan to the Lyon County Commission Thursday morning. Gilligan stated that 2021 has seen “steps forward and backward.”
That being said, Gilligan stated the agency is continuing to make progress on other main initiatives namely workforce development. Gilligan says Ignite is currently working with multiple agencies to identify the best employment opportunities at a time where the county is seeing a 10 percent vacancy rate amongst most employers.
Despite this, Gilligan says data is showing that there are more people in the county’s workforce than in recent years. He says this trend indicates that the local business sector is growing.
Gilligan says housing development continues to be a daily focus and is confident physical progress will be evident in the coming year. Following Gilligan’s report, commissioners voted unanimously to approve a $20,000 appropriation to Ignite Emporia for the 2022 fiscal year.
In other business, commissioners approved an agreement with the Kansas Department of Transportation through the federal aid off-system bridge program. The agreement will see KDOT cover 80 percent of the cost for a complete bridge replacement three miles north of Emporia on Road J according to Lyon County Road and Bridge Safety Supervisor Matt Collins.
Separately Thursday, commissioners tabled a request to increase fines related to animal-related nuisances within the county to reflect inflation since the original fines were set in 1987. That item could see final action next Thursday.
At the end of the meeting, commissioners held the annual employee recognition ceremony honoring employees for years of service to the county.
Commissioners will reconvene for their regular action session next Thursday at 9 am inside the Lyon County Courthouse.
