Several matters developed in relation to the proposed Flint Hills Digital Campus were scheduled to be considered by July 15th; however, Emporia City Commissioners will now be taking those matters up a week later than originally planned.
During their regular action meeting Wednesday morning, commissioners voted unanimously to push the meeting back to July 22, with City Manager Trey Cocking noting the reason for the delay is an upcoming class taking place in Topeka through Kansas Municipal Utilities.
With multiple commissioners planning to attend the two-day conference, and noting the importance of the matters set to be addressed, now in three weeks, Cocking stated it was the feelings of staff that all commissioners needed to be present for the meeting. Among the items set to be considered during the July 22 meeting will be the proposed Digital Infrastructure Overlay, the rezoning of 11 tracts of land and the DIO’s application to the recently rezoned properties, all of which were recommended for approval by Emporia Planning Commissioners Tuesday evening. Details on those discussions can be found here.
Cocking says pushing the meeting back was the only available option for the commission due to a 14-day protest period, which is now in effect for the next 14 days.
Should a valid protest petition opposing the rezoning of the 11 tracts of land be submitted and approved, it would make a super-majority vote — four out of five commissioners — necessary to approve the rezoning.
Also expected to see consideration will be a pair of policies related to large volume water and wastewater use. The water use policy was first reviewed on June 17th, with the wastewater policy seeing its first review during Wednesday’s meeting.
Cocking explained that both policies are the first of their kind and, regardless of the reasons for their creation, which Cocking has previously said was prompted by the proposed data center project, they are filling longstanding “holes” in the city’s framework and are needed additions.
Aside from their individual focuses, both policies are virtually identical in terms of purpose and regulations as they are designed to help regulate water use by large volume customers. As residents have voiced concerns regarding penalties for violations of set standards of the policies, namely pointing to the threat of fines as insufficient means of enforcement, Cocking stated Wednesday that one of the additions to the water policy would be stronger enforcement through the potential for discontinuation of water service for violations as one example.
In separate matters Wednesday, commissioners approved the appointment of Jon Geitz to the Emporia Enterprises Board, Lenia Goeckler to the Emporia Human Relations Commission, the purchase of a 2026 Chevrolet 3500 cab chassis from Longbine Auto and outfitting of a CM Truck Bed for better than $75,000 and a permanent sanitary sewer easement for the Cedarbrook Meadows Addition. In study matters, the commission held its latest budget discussion and a CIP budget review as well as engineering fees.
Again, the Emporia City Commission will next convene on Wednesday, July 22 at 11 am inside White Auditorium.
