Agreements, ordinances and bond issuance related to a pair of major development projects gained unanimous approval by Emporia City Commissioners Wednesday.
During their regular action meeting, commissioners approved a development agreement, an amendment, supplementation and reinstatement of main traffic ways and the issuances of $1 million in bonds for the Red Brick LLC Travel Plaza. The bonds will go to facilitate roadway improvements for the development according to City Treasurer Janet Harouff.
Current plans will see restaurants, hotels and an RV park included in the 30-acre development located southwest of US Highway 50 and Graphic Arts Road.. According to Special Projects Coordinator Jim Whitt, work should go “vertical” in the next 35-60 days.
Commissioner Jamie Sauder says the plaza will allow Emporia to further capitalize on the high level of traffic that passes through the community on a regular basis.
In other business, commissioners approved the rezoning of property at the southwest corner of Whittier Street and Riley Avenue and a final plat for the so-called Mahtropolis Addition. The addition is set to bring 27 single-family residential units to the area.
City Commissioner Jamie Sauder says he is excited for both the short and long-term potential the development brings to Emporia.
During their regular study session, commissioners set forth the steps to finalize and approve the city’s new logo. After crowdsourcing designs from the local community and receiving requests for qualifications from professional design firms, commissioners have chosen to use a combination of the two options.
Commissioners have chosen two designs which they will purchase for $600 and hand off to Lot and Ilk design to refine a final product. Commissioners will next meet to finalize this plan before the design committee meets with Lot and Ilk to begin design discussions.
The majority of commissioners were in favor of this approach, however, Commissioner Susan Brinkman stated she was adamantly opposed saying she would prefer to just hire Lot and Ilk rather than use the crowdsourced designs saying those designs were “great for T-shirts,” however, she didn’t feel comfortable using them for the city’s “identity.”
Mayor Becky Smith believes the city will be getting the “best of both worlds” through this course of action.
The Emporia City Commission will reconvene for a combination action and study meeting Wednesday, Sept. 7 at 11 am inside the Municipal Courtroom at White Auditorium.
