The city of Emporia is looking to have a majority say in the work of the Regional Development Association of East Central Kansas and has taken action to make that happen.
Following an executive session during its regular meeting slate Wednesday afternoon, the commission approved a motion “to authorize the Mayor (Erren Harter) to send a letter to the RDA Chair requesting immediate reorganization of the RDA to include majority representation of the city appointed by the city commission.” The motion also included an ultimatum saying “If this does not occur additional action may be taken by the city including but not limited to termination of funds.”
A cessation of funding would essentially deplete the agency’s finances as it is 100 percent funded by the city of Emporia. City Commissioner Susan Brinkman says funding is one of the main reasons the city requests the reorganization as it provides the entirety of its financial backing but only has two individuals represented on the board.
Brinkman clarified the city is not looking for total control on the board but believes it needs to have the majority say in RDA matters as it does with other city boards. As for the makeup of proposed representation, Brinkman says it would likely consist of a combination of city staff, possibly commissioners and appointed citizens. Towards the end of our interview with Brinkman, KVOE News asked if this decision had anything to do with the recent Tyson Foods and Holiday Resort closure announcements to which she responded “no” adding that conversations on this subject have been ongoing for approximately a year.
KVOE News also spoke with Commissioner Jamie Sauder who had the same train of thought as Brinkman and also noted the city has additional issues with the makeup of the RDA aside from the city’s presence on it.
While he couldn’t elaborate on those assertions Sauder did later state to KVOE News “Typically when a person who has served a term is willing and eligible to serve another term, the group that has had them in that spot has renewed them for that spot especially if they have provided exceptional work. We have had recent board members who are eligible for more terms who have provided exceptional leadership and aren’t going to be given the chance to return into that role.”
As previously mentioned, city tax dollars do makeup 100 percent of the funding for the RDA and when asked if the city is truly willing to terminate said funding, thus potentially leading to the agency’s demise, Sauder stated “I don’t think we would send the letter if we weren’t resolved to take that action.”
KVOE News has reached out to RDA Board Chair Kala Maxfield and Interim RDA President Jim Witt for comment on the city’s move Wednesday. Both have declined to comment on the situation at this time.
In other business Wednesday, commissioners:
*Approved a resolution repealing a previous resolution setting March 4 as the date for the special election about a one-percent sales tax for the proposed public recreation facility at Champions Landing.
*Approved an equipment purchase for Lift Station 15
*Approved a lease agreement with Nex-Tech Wireless for equipment on top of the southeast Emporia water tower on Warren Way
Study session items included discussions about procedures for filling City Commission vacancies, contractual provisions, an ordinance for the industrial user rate formula for sewage waste stream pretreatment and the creation of a Public Building Commission to issue bonds for the Emporia Fire Department headquarters building currently in early stages of construction.
The Emporia City Commission is scheduled to reconvene for its first regular meeting of 2025 on Wednesday January 8.
