Lyon County Commissioners spent a good portion of their regular action meeting Thursday morning conversing and considering a pair of parking-related matters with a pair of Emporia business owners.
Justice Painting and Raise Your Paws owners Jarom and Melanie Smith came before commissioners in part to discuss a renewal of a parking lease agreement with the county as well as a possible conversion of the Lyon County Area Transportation bus barn property into public parking. Jarom Smith says opening certain properties, such as the bus barn, to the general public would help to significantly reduce a lack of available parking in the downtown corridor for local businesses and their employees.
Following a lengthy discussion, commissioners ultimately stated there were several concerns with opening the space to the general public from both a financial and liability standpoint. That being said, commissioners noted they plan to speak with the Traffic Safety Committee on the topic at a later time.
As for the parking lease agreement which is set to expire soon, Jarom Smith stated they are paying around $750 a year for three parking spaces downtown adding they are the only business owners that do so. Commission Chairman Rollie Martin says that statement is true, however, the lease agreement was proposed by the Smiths to the county a year ago.
Commissioners chose to table further discussion and potential action on the agreement for two weeks to allow time to update the agreement. Melanie Smith felt that was a fair decision.
In other business Thursday, commissioners received a report from Flint Hills Technical College President Dr. Caron Daugherty who informed commissioners the college will be redirecting fiscal year 2024 allocated funds. Original plans were to put the county’s $100,000 allocation towards the construction of a new manufacturing facility on the campus.
However; with the college in the process of a facilities study and master plan development, Daugherty says they have put those plans on pause for the time being and are instead pursuing the construction of a new maintenance facility.
According to Daugherty, the college has received a number of requests for proposals for the project ranging from $500,000 to $600,000. Daugherty says the college has budgeted $300,000 in addition to the $100,000 allocation for the project.
Current plans are to have the facility complete by June of next year which Daugherty says should not be an issue as the building will not be a traditional brick-and-mortar structure but rather a metal building similar to the college’s welding facility.
In separate action Thursday, commissioners approved the purchase of a new camera system through Motorola Solutions totaling more than $6,300 for a Detention Center van. A pair of executive sessions, one for non-elected personnel and another for legal matters were also held with no action taken.
Commissioners will reconvene for their weekly action meeting next Thursday at 9 am inside of the Lyon County Courthouse Commission Chambers.
