The city of Emporia will likely remain in a water watch, meaning voluntary conservation efforts, through the remainder of the month.
That’s the current plan for the city according to Incident Commander Mark Detter who delivered the latest water system update to Emporia City Commissioners Wednesday afternoon. According to Detter, the city is waiting to lift the watch until the Warren Way water tower is back to full capacity.
As it stands, the tower is at 25.8 feet, 82 percent of the 31.4-foot capacity, and the city expects it will take a total of 24 days to hit that capacity. This means the water watch will likely stay in place, at least, until the end of October.
That being said, Detter tells KVOE News there are other factors that could alter that timeline.
Prior to the water system update from Detter, city commissioners held their regular action meeting during which time they accepted a Community Improvement District (CID) application for Fairview Hotels, LLC and set a public hearing date of November 1 for the matter. If approved, the CID would place a two percent sales tax on the property which was previously occupied by Montana Mikes according to Director of Special Projects Tayler Wash.
Wash says the tax, if approved, would not bring any additional financial burdens on the city, however, the city will be issuing Industrial Revenue Bonds to support the project as approved last November. In addition to the planned hotel project, the CID, and related sales tax, will also encompass the Hampton Inn at 2900 Eaglecrest Drive according to Wash.
Plans are to build a hotel and convention center on the property that can accommodate at least 200 attendees at a given time. The CID would not add any financial burdens to the city of Emporia but would provide a three percent administrative fee to cover internal costs related to the “administration and distribution of the tax.”
In separate action, commissioners approved the sale of more than $9.9 million in series 2023 general obligation bonds. The bond sale is slated to take place November 14. Commissioners went on to approve the annexing of property at 515 South West Street into the city limits and the appointment of Aaron Larson and Mark Remmert to the Economic Development Structure Advisory Board and a city appointee, City Manager Trey Cocking, to the Community Corrections Advisory Board.
As part of their study meeting, which included the water system update, commissioners discussed the potential purchase of extrication tools and training props for the Emporia Fire Department.
The Emporia City Commission will convene for a special study meeting to discuss a potential grant opportunity next Wednesday at 11 am inside of the Municipal Courtroom at White Auditorium.
