A proposed bowling alley entertainment center has until the end of May to complete financing after the City Commission agreed to provide another extension Monday.
However, commissioners also approved additions to a new agreement with High 5 Entertainment Center that allow the city to have discussions with other parties that may be interested.
“They requested an extension of 120 days, and that’s what we included in the amendment as well,” City Manager Barack Matite said. “Making that non-exclusive, we can still continue to have discussions with other parties that might be interested in the land.”
Scott Emley, owner and operator of High 5, joined the meeting on Zoom, where he thanked the commission for the extension.
“We just want to reiterate our interest in Eudora and try to find a program and a plan that works,” Emley said. “Through COVID, we’ve seen some unprecedented changes, and I’m sure you’ve seen this as well, in terms of costs and the appetite for financing. It’s just a little more challenging than we hoped when we first started the project.”
City Commissioner Ruth Hughs told Emley she’s looking forward to continuing the partnership between Eudora and High 5.
“I know personally, this has really been very exciting for Eudora to consider your business being here,” Hughs said. “We hope that you’ll be able to successfully figure this out in these unprecedented, weird times.”
Mayor Tim Reazin said there have been many conversations in the community about High 5, and how the development will serve as an anchor for that area of Eudora.
“As we go through this process, if there’s things we can do to help you, or get through this process, I think we’re all pretty willing to do that,” Reazin said.
In other business, the City Commission adopted Juneteenth and Indigenous Peoples’ Day as city-recognized and observed annual holidays, beginning in 2022. The motion to adopt the holidays passed 3-2, with Hughs and Commissioner Jolene Cullen voting against.
Matite and Assistant City Manager Keyvn Gero were tasked by Reazin in the fall of 2021 to research the background of these holidays, and the budget impact that adopting them would have on the city.
In June 2021, Juneteenth became a federal holiday, and in December 2021, the Douglas County Commission approved Juneteenth as a paid holiday for county employees. Eudora currently observes all federal holidays, except for Columbus Day.
“My feelings on both of [the holidays], is that they have a significant meaning,” Reazin said. “This region and this community, before the German settlers had representation, the Indigenous folks lived here. I think that historical piece for the community is something we should honor.”
In other business, the purchase of 31 portable and five mobile radios for the use of the Fire Department was approved unanimously. Near the end of the meeting, Fire Chief Mindy Andrasevits added that the fire department is partnering with the Red Cross on its Sound the Alarm program.
“The Red Cross will provide a 10-year lithium battery smoke alarm, and fire department members will install it for anyone in the city,” Andrasevits said. “It’s also for the replacement of old smoke alarms, too. The Red Cross also has bed-shaker alarms that are available for the hard-of-hearing, that can go along with the smoke alarms. Let us know, and we can install those.”
Reach reporter Abby Shepherd at [email protected]
