A lower-than-expected allocation from the state of Kansas could mean some changes to plans for improvements and additions to the Debauge Family Sports Complex based on comments from city leadership following the Emporia City Commission’s latest meeting slate.
As part of the consent agenda portion of the meeting, commissioners voted unanimously to accept a $750,000 Community Development Block Grant for updates to the Debauge Soccer Complex. While a positive development, the approved grant was only half of the $1.5 million sought by the city for the project and it was a contingency for a $1.5 million pledge approved earlier this year by the Emporia Recreation Commission.
With that in mind, KVOE News asked Emporia Mayor and ERC representative Erren Harter if the smaller allocation would mean a reduction or change in the ERC’s planned allocation. He says he cannot say for certain at this time; however, he expects that the matter will be discussed at length in the very near future.
With the city requesting $1.5 million from CDBG, coupled with the ERC allocation and a separate pledge of $1.5 million from Stormont Vail Health, original projections were for $4.5 million in upgrades, at least for the first phase of work which would have seen the addition of two new turf fields, parking improvements, new seating, concessions, restrooms and storage. Now operating with roughly $3.75 million, Harter says the project may need to be scaled back just a bit.
Deputy City Manager Mark Detter says that while they would have liked the full ask in grant funding, the city is grateful for what has been awarded, adding they are looking into several other possible funding opportunities.
In other business Wednesday, commissioners approved adopting a new policy for legal reviews of complex or ambiguous legal matters. The commission also approved the appointment of Eric Paul as the city’s representative on the Emporia/Lyon County joint traffic safety committee, Carlos Garate to the Community Housing Board/Emporia Land Bank and accepted a $100,000 grant from the Kansas Forest Service for city tree removals and planting. This is a reimbursable grant, meaning the city will front the initial dollars for the work.
Two proclamations, recognizing November 29th as Small Business Saturday and November 2nd-8th as Animal Shelter Week, were also presented.
Following their action meeting, commissioners convened their regular study session, in which the main topics of conversation were updates on David Traylor Zoo events and activities, brick street paving, and utility bills, specifically a decision to pause utility shutoffs and disconnections due to impacts on certain benefits caused by the ongoing Federal Government showdown. More information on that particular matter is available here.
The Emporia City Commission will next convene on Wednesday, November 25th at 11 am, which will be a combined November and December meeting due to schedule conflicts with previously planned meetings.
