When election season rolls around this year there will be at least one seat open on the Emporia City Commission.
At the tail-end of the commission’s regular action session, Wednesday afternoon commissioner Jon Geitz announced he will not be filing for re-election this year. Geitz has served on the commission for the last seven years after being elected back in April of 2013.
At the conclusion of his current term, Geitz will have served as a commissioner for a total of eight years. He says eight years is a pretty good run.
Geitz went on to say he believes change is necessary and feels it will be good to have new fresher eyes taking on city-related matters. Those wishing to run for the open seat need to contact the Lyon County Clerk’s office by calling 620-341-3243. Interested individuals may also visit the clerk’s office inside the Lyon County Courthouse at 430 Commercial.
The candidate filing deadline is Jun. 1. The primary election, if needed, will take place in August with the general election set to take place in November.
Prior to Getz’s announcement, commissioners had a number of items up for consideration, the majority of which dealt with city infrastructure matters.
Commissioner’s unanimously voted to accept a $700,000 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) for work on city sanitary sewer lift station 2. Plans are to replace the current lift station which has been in place since the late 1970s.
The CDBG funding will help to offset a significant portion of the $1.3 million project and will allow the city to allocate more funds to other related projects according to City Public Works Director Dean Grant.
Current plans are to have the project begin in the next three to six months, however, that timeline is subject to change according to Grant.
Additionally Wednesday, commissioners accepted an emergency solutions grant from the Kansas Housing Resources Corporation totaling more than $139,000 to assist with operations of Family Promise of the Flint Hills. The funding will be used to help provide emergency shelter, food and needed essential services such as case management, life skills training, counseling and assistance in obtaining housing and employment.
Separately, commissioners approved the awarding of a bid to APAC Kansas Shears Division for paving and construction work on 30th Ave. the signing of an agreement with the Kansas Department of Transportation for a Community Connecting Link Improvement Program (CCLIP) surface preservation award of up to $300,000, a bid for the 2021 Hazardous Sidewalk program, an agreement with Kaw Valley Engineering and several other construction and improvement related items.
The Emporia City Commission will hold a study session next Wednesday at 9:30 am inside the Municipal Courtroom at White Auditorium.
