The Regional Development Association of East Central Kansas is stepping up to assist local businesses struggling to deal with impending utility bill increases following record-setting low temperatures last month.
This was the main focus of RDA President Kent Heerman’s report during the RDA Board’s monthly meeting Friday. Heerman says the below zero temperatures and resulting gas shortages had a major ripple effect on businesses throughout the community and not just major employers.
According to Heerman, the RDA plans to continue conversations with state and federal agencies to help develop increased communication between state agencies, utility providers and businesses in the event a situation such as this were to develop again.
Additionally, Heerman says there needs to be increased transparency and more effective plans in place to reduce the impact on businesses both operationally and financially.
In other business, RDA Board Chairman and Emporia City Commissioner Jon Geitz updated the RDA on the city’s efforts to develop a Rural Housing Incentive District Policy — the focal point of the Emporia City Commission’s recent study session Wednesday. During this time, Geitz asked the RDA board to begin looking at how the RDA could potentially be involved in this endeavor.
Heerman says the RDA has filled numerous roles at the behest of the city in the past and is ready and willing to do so again for this scenario. Heerman says it is unclear at this time what the RDA’s position will be, however, discussions will be taking place to that end over the next month with more information likely to be delivered during the board’s next monthly meeting in April.
