The City Commission will not move forward with adding electric vehicle chargers to the Village Green after a motion was not seconded at Monday’s meeting." />
The City Commission will not move forward with adding electric vehicle chargers to the Village Green after a motion was not seconded at Monday’s meeting.
The City Commission will not move forward with applying for a grant to build four electric vehicle charging stations within Village Green after Monday night’s meeting.
Commissioner Alex Curnes made the motion to submit an application for a Kansas Department of Transportation grant for the stations, but the motion was not seconded and will not go forward.
The cost of the project was estimated at $360,000. If the grant was approved, KDOT will pay 80% of the costs, and the city would pay the remaining 20%.
“It was not in our budget for next year. However, we have enough wiggle room I think in our electric fund that we can fund this provided we are awarded the grant,” Public Works Director Branden Boyd said.
Under the state program, the city would earn revenue as the electric provider but then would need to pay some of the money back to the company maintaining the stations.
Mayor Tim Reazin asked what the city would get back from having these state funded as opposed to a private company coming in to install its own chargers.
Reazin also asked Boyd if the city would still be responsible for paying the company to monitor the equipment if the stalls were not being used.
Boyd said the first five years would be maintained by the company and the city would still be responsible for paying a portion to the company, and after that it would be the city’s responsibility to maintain the stations.
Reazin questioned if the stalls would be beneficial enough to make enough to offset future costs, or replace them when needed in 10 years.
“I don’t know that we have that answer because we don’t know how many people actually are going to use it right now,” Boyd said. “We’re kind of in a desert area as far as when it comes to availability for electric power right off of K-10.”
Reazin was concerned that the chargers were more of a want than a need, and with a tight budget discussion this year, it is hard to justify the project, he said.
In other business, Assistant City Manager Zack Daniel gave a presentation on the potential for a rural housing incentive district on the 97 acres annexed next to the high school at the last City Commission meeting. The developers of the project have let the city know they intend to pursue this kind of district.
A rural housing incentive district helps to reimburse developers building houses to assist with infrastructure needs.
Funds can be used for things like sanitary and storm sewers, street lights, underground utilities, sidewalks and water mains and site preparations.
For a developer to use this program, the properties must lie within the established district. The city must complete a housing needs analysis, set up boundaries, pass a resolution to establish the district, get approval by the secretary of commerce and then create a development plan.
Daniel said the concept is similar to a tax increment financing district, but for housing.
“The challenge is we need a certain type or cost or value of home in town, and if they use this [rural housing incentive district] and then build $500,000 homes that aren’t fitting the need for what Eudora is trying to provide,” Reazin said.
Developers would still have to specify their design plans in the agreement with the city, Daniel said.
“The funds generated through the [district] are not going to individual houses, but the public infrastructure that we need to be there anyway if we wanted to have some kind of residential development,” Daniel said.
There was no action taken after this presentation, but was it necessary to prepare for the next three to four months, Daniel said.
In other business, the city approved a permit for alcoholic beverages to be sold and consumed on the 800 block of Main Street from 8 a.m to 4 p.m. Oct. 7 for EudoraFest to host a wine tasting.
They also approved a permit for alcohol sales and consumption in CPA Park from 6 to 9 p.m. Oct. 28 for Eudora Chamber of Commerce’s Trunk and Treat and Monster Bash.
The city also approved a cereal malt beverage license for Family Dollar to sell beer.
Police Chief Wes Lovett said the department will participate in National Coffee with a Cop Day from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. Oct. 4 at Kwik Shop.
Fire Chief Mindy Andrasevits said October is Fire Safety Month so they will be going to schools in the district to do programs out in the community.
The Parks and Rec Department got a grant from Blue Cross Blue Shield to buy two new pieces of equipment for the fitness center. The Parks and Rec also will now be a part of the SilverSneakers program. People 65 and older can get a free membership through insurance.
Reach reporter Sara Maloney at [email protected]