The City of Emporia has made tremendous strides financially according to an annual report delivered Wednesday morning.
Greg Vahrenberg of Raymond James presented the report to Emporia City Commissioners and referred to the city’s financial condition over the past 20 years as “such a good story.”
According to the report, the city’s debt ratio stands out, especially when compared to other similar-sized cities, at 2.98 percent. Vahrenberg says he cannot predict exactly where the city would be if it had not chosen to address its debt issues as proactively as it has, however, he says the state of the city would likely be very different.
Emporia Mayor Becky Smith says the city’s impressive debt rate could open a whole new door when it comes to future projects, however, she says the city will still need to approach those possibilities cautiously.
In other business Wednesday, commissioners heard a presentation from HomeServe, a UK-based multinational home emergency repair and improvement company, for an NLC service line warranty program. The program, if approved by commissioners, would provide up to $8,500 in water and sewer line repairs each and up to $3,000 for indoor plumbing repairs at a minimal monthly cost for residential property owners.
Wes Preston of HomeServe says there are two main objectives with this program, assistance and education.
To utilize the service, customers will call a 24-hour service line and the company will dispatch a plumber, receive the bill for services and pay the cost. The city will have no financial obligation for the program if approved.
If commissioners enter into the agreement, an introductory letter will be sent to all residential properties. A formal contract may see approval next week.
Separately Wednesday, commissioners discussed an operation agreement with the Emporia Recreation Commission for the Jones Aquatic Center this summer, final action for which may come next Wednesday, a recent study on the Emporia owned Carnegie Library and the possibility of a new mural at Las Casitas Park.
The Emporia City Commission will reconvene for an action session next Wednesday at 7 pm inside the Municipal Courtroom at White Auditorium.
