Emporia City Commissioners gave unanimous approval to a trio of matters related to a multi-million dollar facility upgrade in Emporia Wednesday morning.
Following a brief public hearing inside the Municipal Courtroom at White Auditorium, commissioners approved the following motions:
*Authorization of an application to the Kansas Department of Commerce for a $1.5 million CDBG grant.
*Assurance to KDOC that funds will be continually provided for operation and maintenance of improvements to the DeBauge Family Sports Complex
*Administrative contract with Western Consultants for the administration of CDBG funds should they be awarded.
All of these actions are related to the proposed $4.5 million improvement project at the DeBauge Family Sports Complex, which has been in discussion and development for the past several months. According to Emporia City Manager Trey Cocking on the most recent installment of KVOE’s Q&A With Trey Tuesday morning, the project did have to be scaled back slightly due to CDBG grant requirements.
The current project will see one grass field upgraded to turf, the construction of a new grass field, parking improvements and the addition of concessions, bathrooms, limited seating and a storage facility. Deputy City Manager Mark Detter says there could be an add alternate for a second turf field; however, that may not fall into the scope of the $4.5 million price tag. However, final estimates for the work are still pending.
In addition to the $1.5 million being sought through the CDBG program, the project is also set to receive financial support from the Emporia Recreation Commission and an anonymous donor, both offering $1.5 million. Cocking did note that the financial support from the donor and ERC will be contingent on the city receiving the CDBG grant.
KVOE News once again inquired as to who the anonymous donor is during Tuesday’s interview with Cocking. Cocking says that is not the city’s announcement to make.
While the CDBG grant requirements will not permit the city to pursue the project on a phased schedule as originally planned, Cocking tells KVOE News there will be opportunities for future improvements once the initial round of improvements is completed.
When asked if the city has any contingency plan for if the CDBG funding is not awarded, Cocking told KVOE News they would likely try to work with the Rec Commission to pursue upgrades on a smaller scale.
