Emporia City Manager Mark McAnarney joined KVOE’s Newsmaker segment Monday to review a laundry list of projects from last year and look ahead to new ventures in 2020.
Much of last year was dominated by infrastructure projects, including the downtown sanitary sewer project, a new water tower and the conclusion of major renovations to the Wastewater Treatment Plant. McAnarney says the $30 million in renovations to the treatment plant and the over $3 million water tower benefit residents and businesses in different ways.
McAnarney also says the city received glowing reviews after opening up a splash pad at Peter Pan Park.
Looking ahead, one of the city’s major points of business will be in selecting a new police chief after prior department leader Scott Cronk retired last month. Deputy Chief Ed Owens is the interim leader, and McAnarney says the search formally begins soon.
The framework and scope of the search will be finalized in the coming days.
McAnanrney also recognized several businesses for local expansions, including Cargill, Glendo and Simmons, and he noted the ongoing work on the Citizens Plaza and Preston Lofts that started in 2019 and will wrap up by summer 2020 as benefiting both residents and the local economy.
