Local water customers will notice a change in their monthly water fees soon.
During their regular study meeting Wednesday afternoon, Emporia City Commissioners approved an increase of $2.24 per month for residents using 5,000 gallons of water and $31.13 for commercial businesses using 70,000 gallons effective Apr. 1. An additional increase of $1.91 for residential customers and $19.62 for commercial businesses will take effect beginning Jan. 1 of 2024.
City Treasurer Janet Harouff says the increases will not have a significant effect on customers’ monthly bills.
The increases will help to repay a pair of loans through the Kansas Department of Health and Environment for $4 million and $15 million respectively for upcoming waterline improvements as well as a new water meter project according to Emporia Public Works Director Dean Grant. Grant says the increases are a small price to pay for what will ultimately be a great benefit to the entire community.
A map of the planned waterline projects is available below.
During their regular action meeting Wednesday morning, commissioners approved extending the closing date of the former Fanestil Meats facility at 1524 South Highway 99 to May 1. According to City Attorney Christina Montgomery, the reason for the extension is due to funds from a FEMA Pre-Disaster Mitigation Grant not yet being transferred to the city’s account.
Montgomery says the city’s grant manager is confident the funds should be transferred on or before the May 1 closing deadline.
The roughly $1 million in funding is covering 75 percent of the cost of demolition of the facility which is set to be converted into green space.
Per the FEMA grant, the city must have the facility demolished and converted by September.
In other action business Wednesday, commissioners also approved a pair of easements between the city and Emporia’s Radio Stations, Inc. related to construction at the David Traylor Zoo. The first easement will allow the radio station access for maintenance of its radio tower which extends to the city’s lot housing the Zoo administration building.
The second easement will allow for the construction of bus parking on property owned by the radio station. According to the agreement, the station will be granted use to the parking lot for needed purposes including “cutting into the parking lot or damaging the parking lot” for the purpose of maintenance.
If such use were needed the city would not be financially obligated to cover the cost of repairs.
Separately commissioners:
*Conducted a public hearing for the performance of a community block grant for housing rehabilitation. The grant assisted with the rehabilitation of 10 homes in an area encompassing South Avenue, Neosho Street, Kansas Avenue and Commercial Street utilizing just over $258,000 of the $300,000 grant with an additional $58,306 in local funding being contributed.
*Awarded the 2023 Hazardous Sidewalk rehabilitation program.
*Approved the purchase of car and body-worn cameras for the Emporia Police Department totaling just over $278,000.
*Awarded a bid of $411,479 to Viridity for a Municipal Golf Course T-Pad project.
*Discussed mowing orders and procedures.
The Emporia City Commission will next convene on Wednesday, Apr. 5 at 11 am inside of the Municipal Courtroom at White Auditorium.
Map of proposed waterline improvement projects.
Courtesy of the City of Emporia.
