The City of Emporia outperformed financial expectations in 2021.
City Treasurer Janet Harouff delivered the annual end-of-year review to city commissioners during their recent study session Wednesday and says revenues came in much higher than anticipated to the tune of roughly $1.8 million in the general fund. Harouff says a large portion of the ending balance was due to sales tax.
Harouff adds that she believes federal dollars also played a role in the higher revenues, specifically stimulus checks which led to increased spending locally. Also during the report, Harouff stated the city invested over $1.3 million in city streets and sidewalks alone over the past year and had a carryover of $3.3 million in the multi-year fund which has been earmarked for numerous projects throughout 2022.
In other business, commissioners discussed possible uses for the traffic light at the intersection of 6th and Congress which has been “inactive” for the past several years since USD 253 Emporia moved out of the former Lowther North Building back in 2011. Shortly after that move, the building was purchased with plans to convert it into a hotel and convention center, which has been an ongoing endeavor for over a decade now.
City Engineer Jim Ubert says with a development in the works, it made no sense to remove the traffic signal and thus it went inactive and has remained so since then.
While speaking with commissioners Wednesday, Ubert made three proposals for how to utilize the traffic light in the near future including removing it altogether, leaving it be or putting it back into service. During the discussion, commissioners expressed an interest in possibly moving the light a block west to the intersection of 6th Ave. and State Street.
The suggestion comes as the State Street underpass is likely to see more traffic over the next 60 days due to construction taking place on the Mechanic Street underpass.
Ubert says it is a possibility to move the light, however, before any decisions can be made a traffic study will need to be conducted. Ubert plans to consult with city staff in the coming weeks and have additional information to present at a later time.
City commissioners will reconvene for an action session next Wednesday at 7 pm inside the Municipal Courtroom at White Auditorium.
