City commissioners approved an annexation request from Eudora United Methodist Church during Monday’s meeting. 

The church, at 2084 N. 1300 Road, is adjacent to city limits and located on approximately 35 acres that has potential for medium-density residential land use.

While the church has no immediate plans to develop the land, the move to annex the property into the city is the first step toward subdivision, a necessary step in the process to prepare the land for future development.

During a Planning Commission meeting a few weeks ago, the church’s finance chair, Tom Schmidt, explained the need for annexation. 

“We don’t have any idea what’s coming, of course, but in order for us to even prepare for something down the road, we have to be able to subdivide the property,” Schmidt said. 

In other business Monday night, Parks and Recreation Director Sally Pennington said the department has started creating its next master plan. The document is still in its early stages, and the department will meet with a consulting firm next week to start.

Parks and Recreation also updated the memorandum of understanding between the city and the Eudora Amateur Baseball and Softball Association, Pennington said.

“There’s been some communication that hasn’t always been the greatest and so we’ve both agreed to all of these,” she said.

The memorandum lists season expectations for both parties. 

The city will be expected to provide items such as safe and playable athletic fields, field maintenance and clean restrooms, to name a few, according to the agenda statement. The associationwill be responsible for purchases regarding the scoreboards and field damage that occurs during games, according to the agenda.

Reach reporter Caroline Zimmerman at [email protected].