The Emporia City Commission held back to back sessions during their meeting Wednesday morning.
The meeting began with commissioners revisiting two previously tabled items from their action session last week. The first item on the agenda was the approval of an amendment to a loan agreement with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.
The amendment seeks to increase the original amount of the loan from $28,735,000 to $32,285,000. The increased loan amount will allow the city to complete additional repairs to the downtown sewer system, wastewater treatment facility and lift stations 1 and 2.
City Manager Mark McAnanrney explains the increase was necessary as much of the infrastructure, namely the downtown sewer lines, are seeing many issues due to aging.
The increased amount of the loan will have no impact on the repayment time frame of 20 years nor the original interest rate of 1.9 percent.
Along with the amendment, commissioners also approved the awarding of a bid for the downtown sewer system improvement project to Utility Solutions LLC out of Baesor. McAnarney anticipates that project to begin by early April.
After the action session concluded commissioners than shifted their focus to items on the agenda for their regularly scheduled study session. The session was highlighted by the presentation of the year-end review.
According to the report, Emporia ended 2018 in a “good position” with all budgeted funds ending the year above the minimum fund levels. The general fund currently has an unencumbered cash balance which is $66,918 more than 2017.
Supermarkets, department stores, wired telecommunication carriers, and hotels all saw increases in revenue in 2018.
Mayor Jon Geitz says during the report he could see clear trends both positive and negative.
In terms of the water fund, sales were $162,648 higher than budget and penalties and service charges were $21,171 higher than budget. The water fund ended the year with a cash reserve of 23.16 percent and an unencumbered cash balance of $1,282,370.
In regards to the multi-year fund, a total of $2,109,588 was spent on numerous projects within the city limits. This included $1,321,800 on sidewalks and streets, $94,000 on stormwater drainage and $511,000 on civic building updates and courtroom remodeling just to name a few.
Mayor Geitz says as in year’s past the city has come in with better than expected revenue despite having a rather conservative budget. He adds, while there will surely be a year where this trend reverses, for now, he is pleased with the results they are seeing.
Commissioners also held discussions on Funston and Exchange Roads, discussed the interlocal agreement and reviewed city appropriation request forms.
The Emporia City Commission will next meet Wednesday, March 6 at 1:30 pm inside of White Auditorium.
