Web posted
Saturday, February 2, 2008
Commission sets goals
By JAMES JORDAN
Traveler Editor
news@arkcity.net
City commissioners will begin setting goals for the coming year at their work session meeting Monday night at City Hall.
One issue that will likely come up is the hike-and-bike path along the levee.
The project has been in the works for years, but some commissioners have questioned the wisdom of proceeding even with a state grant and money available to pay for the project.
Another issue likely to arise is the recruiting of industry and the idea of an industrial park.
The city's work session starts at 5:30 Monday; its regular meeting is at 7 p.m. Tuesday.
The goal setting is not likely to move to the main meeting Tuesday night.
The hike-and-bike project is in motion, so the city doesn't have to do anything for it to proceed. However the city could put the brakes on if it decided it did not want to finish the project.
It will be a goal discussed, but there may or may not be a vote taken on the issue.
Commissioner Scott Margolius originally questioned the project and felt it should not be completed even if the city had the money. Since that time he said he as come to the point of "not opposing" the project. He said he is still unsure how he would vote if the matter were to come to a vote.
Commissioner Patrick McDonald is a supporter of the project and sees it as a "quality-of-life issue. I think there are a lot of people who would appreciate it whether they used it or not," he said.
McDonald believes building the trail would open river access and has the potential of economic development.
He recalled seeing pictures from about 100 years ago when there were fishing docks and other amenities on the river.
"There are a lot of opportunities. There could be canoe rentals, bait shops, hamburger stands and other things," he said.
Commissioner MelL Kuhn has expressed skepticism about the project and said earlier that he would rather see softball fields built than a hike-and-bike trail.
Mayor Dotty Smith favors the project and said she wants to see it happen this year.
She believes it would be a good quality-of-life issue and that it would help attract people to the city.
The project will cost almost $1.7 million. A grant from the Kansas Department of Transportation will pay for about $1 million, leaving the city to pay almost $700,000.
The city's share could come from money Creekstone gives the city each year as a payment in lieu of taxes. Creekstone pays the city $300,000 per year, and $280,000 of that is earmarked for recreation. The current plan is to use that money for the hike-and-bike trail.
City Chief of Administration Steve Archer said that money will come until 2011 at which time Creekstone will start paying regular taxes.
Archer said all the property has been acquired for the project, and that it is currently in the design phase. The design phase is to be completed by the end of March and construction could begin this fall.
Margolius said he is concerned about the overall picture of the city.
"Does it rank high enough with the specific needs we have," he said.
|
