[0:00] 
[5:49] We're going to
get started today.
[5:50] Sorry, that was a little loud,
but we just had a full house.
[5:52] So we're going to get started.
[5:55] Call the meeting to order.
[5:56] I'll stop this president.
[5:58] All commissioners are present.
[5:59] We'll move on to proclamations.
[6:01] We are doing June
is Pride month.
[6:04] So who is in the
audience representing
[6:05] our Pride Month proclamation.
[6:08] Ys jagan.
[6:10] OK, Doctor.
[6:11] Hat Just try not to die
while I get up there.
[6:15] Sorry set a
minefield for myself.
[6:18] My apologies.
[6:19] No OK, well, good
morning commissioners.
[6:23] I just wanted to
say very briefly,
[6:25] thank you so much
for this proclamation
[6:28] representing Pride Month
here in the city of Emporia,
[6:30] where pride has
become very much.
[6:32] 
[6:35] Celebrated and
welcomed and growing
[6:38] up here in this community,
I love being from Emporio.
[6:41] I'm proud to be from Emporio.
[6:42] I never thought I'd see anything
like that in my lifetime.
[6:45] And as a proud member
of the LGBTQ community.
[6:48] I'm very proud of the fact
that I don't even have
[6:50] to message the city anymore.
[6:51] I get a message at the end
of May every year asking,
[6:55] are you planning to submit
a pride proclamation.
[6:57] And that means a lot
to a lot of people.
[6:59] The fact that the city wants
to be recognized for that
[7:02] and wants to recognize it.
[7:04] Of course, we'll have plenty of
activities coming up on June 21,
[7:07] so I want to make sure
everybody comes out
[7:08] and enjoys those activities.
[7:10] And just wanted to
say very quickly,
[7:12] I know that sometimes these
topics can be divisive
[7:16] and can cause a lot of debate
and in some cases, anger.
[7:21] But that's not what
pride is about.
[7:23] Pride is about everyone.
[7:25] Pride is for everyone.
[7:27] And we would ask anybody that
maybe has an experience that
[7:29] or has their weariness about
it, come and experience it
[7:33] with an open mind and enjoy
the peace and the love
[7:35] that comes with it.
[7:37] So thank you again
to the city for this,
[7:39] and for constantly
recognizing those of us
[7:41] at the LGBTQ
community who, again,
[7:44] never thought that we would
live to see a moment like this.
[7:46] Thank you.
[7:48] All right.
[7:48] Whereas the city of Emporia
is a welcoming community
[7:50] and exceptional place to live,
work, play, and raise a family.
[7:55] And whereas Emporia has a
diverse lesbian, gay, bisexual,
[7:58] transgender, and
questioning LGBTQ community
[8:01] and is committed to supporting
visibility, dignity, and equity
[8:05] of all its residents.
[8:06] And whereas many of the
residents and business owners.
[8:09] Excuse me.
[8:10] I put in a cough drops cough
within the city of Emporia who
[8:14] contribute to the
enrichment of our city
[8:16] are a part of the
LGBTQ community.
[8:19] And whereas Emporia
is strengthened
[8:20] by the diversity of ethnic,
cultural, racial, gender and
[8:24] sexual identities
of its residents
[8:26] and business community
members, all of which
[8:28] contribute to the
city's character,
[8:29] talent, economy and leadership.
[8:32] And whereas critical
steps have been made
[8:34] towards full LGBTQ equity
and equality, members
[8:39] of our national, state,
and local communities still
[8:41] face discrimination,
exclusion and prejudice simply
[8:43] for being who they are
and for who they love.
[8:45] And whereas discrimination
against people
[8:47] from the LGBTQ community
from around the world
[8:50] makes it imperative
for cities like Emporia
[8:51] to stand up and show our
support for LGBTQ residents.
[8:55] And whereas we respect
and celebrate the richness
[8:57] and variety of cultures, values,
traditions and uniqueness
[9:00] as they contribute to the
tapestry of our community.
[9:02] And whereas each of us could and
should promote inclusiveness,
[9:07] celebrate diversity, support
all fellow community members,
[9:11] prevent the spread
of misinformation,
[9:13] and reject hate and
bias in all forms,
[9:16] which will make for a stronger
and healthier community.
[9:18] And whereas June shows,
International Pride month
[9:20] commemorates the 1969 protests
and demonstrations in response
[9:24] to raids at the Stonewall Inn
in New York's Greenwich Village.
[9:27] And whereas June has become
a symbolic month in which
[9:29] the LGBTQ community and
allies come together in
[9:34] various celebrations of pride.
[9:36] Now, therefore, be resolved that
Becky Smith, Mayor, do hereby
[9:39] proclaim the month of
June as LGBTQ Pride Month
[9:43] and encourage all
residents to actively
[9:45] promote, support and help build
a culture of inclusiveness
[9:47] and acceptance.
[9:48] 
[10:00] Oxygen I'm taking you.
[10:03] Oh, yeah.
[10:04] Oh, you can stand
up there with me.
[10:08] I mean, give everybody a minute.
[10:09] Sure I. Don't want
to leave anybody out.
[10:15] Thank you for being here.
[10:17] 
[10:22] Thank you.
[10:23] Good job.
[10:25] Thank you.
[10:26] Thank you.
[10:26] This is for you.
[10:28] All right.
[10:38] So, proclamation designating
the month of June as zoo month.
[10:42] 
[10:50] All right.
[10:50] Thank you.
[10:51] Sure all right.
[10:56] Mayor, commissioners and
members of the community,
[10:58] on behalf of all
zoo staff, we'd like
[11:01] to thank you and
the city of Emporia
[11:03] for their continued recognition
and support through this zoo
[11:07] month proclamation.
[11:08] The success of the
David Traylor zoo
[11:10] rests on the dedication of
the city, the community,
[11:14] the local businesses.
[11:15] For 92 years, the city
of Emporia, its residents
[11:19] and its businesses community
have shown an immense commitment
[11:22] to providing an oasis where
visitors can step away
[11:25] from the hustle and
bustle of daily life, even
[11:28] if only for an hour, and become
immersed in nature and Wildlife.
[11:32] That support has allowed us to
thrive and accomplish so much.
[11:36] It has helped us maintain our
aza accreditation for 36 years
[11:41] created a more welcoming
experience at our entrance,
[11:45] and develop a new
Education Center
[11:47] and continue planning for
the future advancements that
[11:50] will benefit our community
and visitors for generations
[11:53] to come.
[11:55] We are proud to serve as an
anchor in the Emporia community.
[11:58] Beyond providing opportunities
to learn about wildlife
[12:01] and conservation.
[12:02] The zoo offers a place where
families and friends can gather,
[12:05] connect with nature,
and enjoy time
[12:07] together in a peaceful and
comfortable environment.
[12:11] As we celebrate zoo
month, we remain
[12:13] grateful for the
partnership and support
[12:15] that make our work possible.
[12:16] Thank you.
[12:17] Thank you for your commitment
to the David Traylor zoo,
[12:20] and for recognizing
the important role zoos
[12:23] play in education,
conservation, recreation,
[12:26] and community engagement.
[12:28] Thank you.
[12:29] Do you have any exciting
activities for the month.
[12:33] I mean, you guys are always
busy, but you want to promote.
[12:36] Note we have stolen show coming
up featuring Disney's Zootopia
[12:41] on June 12 from the stroll
starts at o'clock in the zoo,
[12:45] and the movie will begin
at 7:00 o'clock at the zoo
[12:47] Education Center, free for all.
[12:49] We've got free popcorn
donated by Walmart,
[12:51] so we're looking forward to
having a lot of fun and crafts
[12:54] provided by our
Education Department.
[12:56] And then we also
have our Open House
[12:58] on June 28 from 1 to three.
[13:00] That all are welcome for
behind the scenes tours,
[13:02] meet and greet with our
staff and an excellent chance
[13:05] to see how we do what we do.
[13:07] And an update on construction.
[13:09] Construction with
the King vulture
[13:11] where putting perching in now
getting the animals acclimated.
[13:14] So you will be seeing a grand
opening date posted soon.
[13:18] But summer nights, our summer
hours this year is new.
[13:23] We're adding Saturdays, so our
summer hours will be Sunday,
[13:28] Wednesday and Saturday
will be open until 7:00
[13:31] o'clock o'clock o'clock PM so
come on down and join us and we
[13:34] have the kazoo wild adventure
passport as well that you can
[13:37] get and visit all
seven AZA accredited
[13:40] zoos in Kansas and enjoy what
the whole state has to offer.
[13:44] If you join, you get discounts.
[13:47] If you join a heck of a deal.
[13:49] Yes, absolutely.
[13:52] I agree.
[13:52] All right.
[13:53] OK we're at zoological parks
and aquariums of North America.
[13:57] Serve the needs of both
humans and Wildlife.
[14:00] We're bringing them
together in a unique
[14:01] meet in a unique setting.
[14:03] And whereas they help build
awareness, understanding,
[14:05] concern and a sense
of stewardship
[14:08] for wildlife and
the environment.
[14:09] And they provide a vital link
to global conservation efforts.
[14:13] Their commitment to education
fosters and enriches
[14:15] the appreciation of
wildlife in over 20 million
[14:18] school children each year.
[14:19] And whereas they actively
conduct scientific studies
[14:22] to better care for and
preserve the diverse wildlife
[14:25] of the Earth.
[14:26] And they provide important
cultural, recreational
[14:28] and educational
experiences for over 175
[14:31] million people each year.
[14:33] Therefore, be it known that our
esteemed mayor, Becky Smith,
[14:36] does hereby designate the
month of June as zoo month
[14:39] and urge all citizens to
visit the zoo of Emporia
[14:42] to experience firsthand
the wonders of nature
[14:44] in our environment
offered by the zoo.
[14:46] 
[14:56] Thank you.
[14:58] Thank you.
[14:58] 
[15:01] Christine is Christine here.
[15:04] Come on.
[15:05] Come on.
[15:06] OK come on.
[15:13] Get all your.
[15:13] 
[15:16] Board members as well, please.
[15:18] 
[15:21] It's a.
[15:22] 
[15:25] Short stay here.
[15:27] 
[15:30] Yes that's a good thing.
[15:39] 
[15:46] Thanks, all.
[15:47] Thanks, guys.
[15:48] Thank you.
[15:50] Yeah you.
[15:53] 
[15:56] Sure you want me to just
pass that forward to you.
[16:00] Well, is there anybody
else who hasn't signed up.
[16:03] Who wants to speak with me.
[16:04] Roll into public comment.
[16:05] We need to sign a sheet
before it gets passed to me.
[16:08] Officially, or once or twice.
[16:11] The public is invited to
make comments at this time.
[16:16] Please limit comments
to two minutes each.
[16:19] Please state your
name and address
[16:22] prior to making comments.
[16:25] Let me start on the top or
the bottom or you don't care.
[16:28] Here at the top.
[16:31] All right.
[16:32] Mickey Edwards is up.
[16:35] Where is she.
[16:36] 
[16:38] Oh, it's.
[16:41] Oh, it's Mickey outside.
[16:44] Can you speak up,
Mickey Edwards.
[16:48] Thank you.
[16:51] OK Mary Halloran.
[16:53] 
[16:56] These people signed up today.
[16:58] I think they're
in the other room.
[17:01] So somebody else.
[17:03] Mickey is outside
on top of page 1.
[17:05] That's how you sign an order.
[17:08] But that's fine.
[17:09] We're going to hear them all.
[17:10] So sure.
[17:10] 
[17:15] When she comes in, we'll give
her a minute, but we'll go to.
[17:18] We'll go the other one.
[17:19] All right.
[17:20] JPG oh, sorry I missed.
[17:26] J OK.
[17:26] Here is Jay.
[17:27] Becky thank you.
[17:28] Thank you.
[17:29] Thank you.
[17:30] And I live at 1319
Lawrence Street.
[17:32] So I'm here today to call
for an immediate moratorium
[17:36] on the proposed data center and
to demand a process that puts
[17:40] the people first, as we see
in a lot of other communities
[17:42] like El Dorado, there's been
behind the scenes dealing
[17:45] non-disclosure agreements
that have been signed,
[17:48] and this does not represent what
our community needs or wants.
[17:52] That's why so many residents
are signing the fair Emporia,
[17:55] because they want to move to a
city commission form of our city
[17:57] council form of government, and
not continue with a commission
[18:00] that doesn't represent us.
[18:02] When we look at data
centers, we're seeing
[18:05] the destruction of water.
[18:06] It evaporates water.
[18:08] It doesn't return
back to the rivers.
[18:10] It's going to impact
our environment.
[18:13] And newsflash, we're
running out of water.
[18:15] And Kansas isn't the governor
talking about it all the time.
[18:18] So this is just not a good idea.
[18:20] It lowers property values.
[18:22] It has.
[18:22] It can be heard
up to a mile away.
[18:25] The buzzing sounds.
[18:27] It impacts agriculture
not just on a water level,
[18:30] but also it stops cows from
being able to produce milk
[18:33] or wanting to have children.
[18:36] So I think that speaks to a lot
of our rural people as well.
[18:41] It has a massive strain on
our local electrical grid,
[18:44] and it results in raising
our utility rates.
[18:47] And if we've seen anything from
Everjoy over the past few years,
[18:49] they're ready to
raise those rates up.
[18:51] They've already done it
twice in the past six years.
[18:53] So we already know what this
is going to look like for us
[18:55] as a community.
[18:56] And like we keep
talking about jobs
[18:58] like this is going to do
something for our community,
[19:00] but we know from other
communities that it's just short
[19:02] lived jobs.
[19:04] For building the data center.
[19:06] And then after that,
there's no jobs.
[19:08] It's like a handful of
people working there,
[19:09] and a lot of those people
probably aren't even
[19:11] going to be from our community.
[19:12] So we need to do
better, and I expect
[19:14] better from our
government here locally.
[19:15] We should be the first people to
speak with, not the last, right.
[19:19] You guys have already.
[19:21] You guys have already planned
all of these different.
[19:24] Today you're going
to annex the land,
[19:25] tomorrow you're going to
take the water that we didn't
[19:27] give you consent to take.
[19:29] And then after
that, you're going
[19:30] to listen to us for a
minute, and then you're
[19:32] going to still push it through.
[19:33] Unacceptable Yeah thank you.
[19:38] Thank you.
[19:39] Thank you.
[19:39] Thank you.
[19:40] My son's next.
[19:41] So he's got a few words
for you guys as well.
[19:44] We got to say buddy.
[19:46] Sorry I will say he's
going to be the cutest.
[19:49] We see today that
green is data center.
[19:54] So say it louder, buddy.
[19:57] Oh, don't do it.
[19:59] Throw the Daddy.
[20:00] He wants to save our rivers.
[20:05] He was telling me earlier, and
he wants to protect the animals,
[20:08] so.
[20:08] Please yeah.
[20:10] Think of our children
for their future.
[20:12] Thank you so much.
[20:14] So is that raya and ragan?
[20:16] Is that who that was.
[20:18] That was my son.
[20:19] No my daughter is.
[20:20] Oh OK.
[20:20] She'll so here it is.
[20:25] So what I have on the
list is read index.
[20:27] Yeah that's right.
[20:29] OK we're good.
[20:29] OK thank you though.
[20:31] We're moving on to Kathy Lamb.
[20:32] 
[20:42] My name is Kathy Lamb.
[20:43] I live at 1706 East
10th Avenue in Kansas.
[20:47] And I'm here to oppose the
data center and the annexation
[20:49] of the tracts of land.
[20:51] I know that once it's
annexed, if it is annexed,
[20:55] it will be the site
of a data center
[20:59] that will cause
noise 24 hours a day.
[21:03] We already pay an
exorbitant amount
[21:05] of money for property taxes.
[21:06] Everyone in this room
is aware of that.
[21:09] On top of the high taxes, our
electric Bills will go up.
[21:12] Our water Bills will go up.
[21:15] There's not going to
be enough money left
[21:18] to spend in any small business.
[21:22] On top of that.
[21:23] Why is it being built so
close to the communities.
[21:26] It's so close to the houses.
[21:28] It's a constant
noise, and I don't
[21:30] know any of you have gone
and actually observed a data
[21:34] center and the noise
that it makes, it's loud
[21:40] and I don't understand why
you would contemplate getting
[21:48] rid of one of the world's
purest, best tasting water
[21:54] and sacrifice it to
a Monster Machine.
[21:58] It is the best water.
[22:01] And we will the
well will run dry.
[22:04] We have droughts.
[22:05] What are you going to do for us
when we don't have the water.
[22:09] Our people need water.
[22:10] Our farmers need water.
[22:12] We put.
[22:14] We take showers.
[22:15] We cook with it.
[22:16] We drink with it.
[22:17] We need it.
[22:19] And to use it on that
monster contraption
[22:24] that you want to call
something that we all know.
[22:26] It's a data center.
[22:28] It's wrong.
[22:29] I think it's very wrong.
[22:31] And I think you're selling
out the people that put you
[22:34] in office when you consider it.
[22:37] Thank you.
[22:38] Thank you.
[22:39] 
[22:45] I'm going to ask everybody
to be respectful.
[22:48] If you talk while
they're trying to talk,
[22:50] sometimes we cannot hear them.
[22:52] So keep your.
[22:53] And you're welcome to do
the yeses and the clapping
[22:55] in between.
[22:56] I'm just saying, while
they talk, please use
[22:57] their time to Edgar Esparza.
[23:02] Yes go ahead.
[23:06] Hello my name is Edgar, and
I'm a software developer,
[23:08] and I live at 11:06 Neosho.
[23:10] And I'm here to speak against
the proposed data center.
[23:13] I work with data centers
for my professional career,
[23:16] so I know how they operate.
[23:17] I'm not here to talk based
on fear or misinformation.
[23:21] My main concern is water, and
residents use 6 to eight million
[23:24] gallons of water every day.
[23:26] And in 2023, when we
were using 12 million
[23:30] gallons of water per
day, the infrastructure
[23:32] was pushed to its limit.
[23:33] In 2024, the infrastructure
failed, and in 2026
[23:37] it produced a sinkhole.
[23:40] Adding a data center to that
will only make things worse.
[23:44] I'm also concerned about the
strain on the power grid,
[23:46] the environmental impact on the
proposed on site natural gas
[23:49] generation, air and noise
pollution, and the fact
[23:52] that this facility will be
an eyesore from the highway.
[23:54] Transparency is
also a major issue.
[23:56] Data centers are being fast
tracked nationwide, often
[23:59] despite public opposition.
[24:01] This site alone is 1,000 acres,
that is 505 football fields.
[24:05] That's the size of a small town.
[24:08] I can tell you, as someone
who works in the industry,
[24:10] we don't need something that
size unless it's for something
[24:13] that your intelligence.
[24:16] I read the proposed
Amendment carefully,
[24:18] and I am troubled by how often
the phrase the city may require
[24:21] was used.
[24:22] May gives permission, but
doesn't require action.
[24:25] It sounds like
the city will have
[24:27] the power to enforce things,
but will likely choose not to.
[24:29] Hiding behind this
deliberate language.
[24:31] We don't want permission for
the city to act on our benefit.
[24:35] We want to require
the city to make sure
[24:38] that they act on our benefit.
[24:40] You must use words
like shall require
[24:44] or the developer must provide.
[24:45] Anything less is just a
suggestion and not a safeguard.
[24:48] Also, there are terms in
there like surveilling
[24:50] and quantum computing.
[24:52] Why are those terms in there.
[24:53] Are we just blanket trying to
rezone something just to make
[24:56] sure that it pushes through.
[24:57] And then later on we can't
put any of the safeguards up.
[25:01] So these are all red flags
and speculative zoning to me.
[25:05] So I urge you to vote yes.
[25:08] 
[25:15] David young.
[25:18] I don't have orientation.
[25:20] I have questions.
[25:21] Are you willing to answer those.
[25:23] Well, no, we don't
actually engage
[25:25] in our public speaking time.
[25:28] There is a plan, and there
is a planning and zoning
[25:31] meeting in on the 23rd.
[25:34] And that is the zoning
is actually where
[25:37] this will be really taken up.
[25:38] So I'll wait till
then MS McGuire.
[25:42] Thank you.
[25:43] I was told I could
hand these out.
[25:44] And we can pass those
around to the group.
[25:47] Good morning.
[25:48] My name is Mike McGuire.
[25:49] I live at 1702 Cal
Loma, by the way.
[25:52] Loud and proud.
[25:53] Even going straight.
[25:55] Oh right on.
[25:56] Yeah here we go.
[25:58] Thank you for facilitating
the public meeting.
[26:00] It is a sign of your
willingness to be transparent.
[26:03] Government I do not have the
expertise to make an informed
[26:06] decision on whether the Kansa
park data center is the best
[26:10] option for Emporia, so I
will offer two points close
[26:14] and then leave.
[26:15] Number one, I wish that Emporia
were not in this moment.
[26:19] That feels so desperate.
[26:22] Number 2, I am handing
you and those gathered
[26:25] j here a two sided document.
[26:29] It is meant to be studied.
[26:32] On one side is a
list that states.
[26:34] Quote before any data
center project is approved,
[26:38] the community and
the local leaders
[26:40] should require several key
protections to ensure residents
[26:46] receive real benefits and
are not left subsidizing
[26:50] the project end quote.
[26:52] That information came from
Natalie Martin, a former Emporia
[26:56] resident ESU graduate, science
teacher and now project manager
[27:01] at Black Veatch.
[27:03] On the other side is a letter.
[27:05] The letter is an idea
about a theme park.
[27:08] The letter was written by me
and addressed to Taylor Swift.
[27:12] Some may write it
off as a dream.
[27:15] That's OK.
[27:16] I like to dream big.
[27:17] In closing, creating 20 to
50 full time data center jobs
[27:22] might be the way to go.
[27:23] Building the Taylor Swift
heart of America theater
[27:26] and Swiftie family
theme park that
[27:29] could create hundreds
if not thousands of jobs
[27:32] might be a better way to go.
[27:33] And for comparison,
Dollywood in Tennessee
[27:36] employs 4,000 people annually.
[27:39] Thank you.
[27:39] 
[27:47] Judith oh, man.
[27:50] I had 12 seconds to.
[27:51] 
[27:55] Get gas.
[27:56] I didn't want to stop.
[27:59] Thank you.
[28:00] I'm at 9:21 Lakeview.
[28:03] I don't know if
any of y'all know
[28:04] how many threatened
or endangered
[28:06] species we have in this area.
[28:08] Rhetorical question.
[28:09] I don't either, but I know
the four in my discipline,
[28:12] which is Freshwater biology.
[28:14] And of those four,
there are two that
[28:17] are named after one of the
rivers that surrounds our city.
[28:21] And I think that's
important to know
[28:25] because that means
those creatures
[28:27] are nowhere else in the world.
[28:29] They are endemic to that river.
[28:31] And if we start building data
centers that draw tons of water
[28:38] and start killing off
our endemic species,
[28:42] we're going to be causing
way more problems than just
[28:45] for humans.
[28:46] We need to also look at the
economical or ecological impacts
[28:50] of these things.
[28:51] So I would like to
call for a moratorium
[28:53] of no less than five years.
[28:57] Data centers are one of the most
unifying issues in our country
[29:01] right now 7 out of 10
Americans do not want data
[29:06] centers built in their towns.
[29:08] It's more unifying than when
prohibition got overturned.
[29:12] So nothing has unified us more
than beer and data centers.
[29:17] So I would just like you guys to
consider the fact that we might
[29:22] not know everything about these
data centers, which is why
[29:26] we're asking for
more time to know
[29:28] what they will do to our areas.
[29:31] We need.
[29:34] Excuse me.
[29:36] I should have written down my.
[29:39] You're doing great.
[29:39] You're doing great.
[29:41] We know.
[29:43] Yeah so we need
more time in order
[29:45] to realize what is going on.
[29:47] So we're not saying that
we're against progress here
[29:50] in this town.
[29:51] We're just against this
progress right now.
[29:54] Maybe later when we know
what it actually does.
[29:57] But right now, we
need industries
[30:00] that our town has historically.
[30:03] For clarification,
what's the animal that's
[30:05] named after one of our Rivers.
[30:06] We have the Neosho madtom
and the Neosho mucket.
[30:09] Are they fish or ones
actually like amphibian
[30:14] And the other one is a mussel.
[30:15] Thank you.
[30:16] Thank you.
[30:17] 
[30:22] How do I sign up to speak.
[30:24] Oh, you can come on up.
[30:26] 
[30:30] We'll pass it over in
case there's anybody else.
[30:32] All right.
[30:33] We agree.
[30:33] 
[30:39] Hello good morning.
[30:40] OK am I loud enough for
everybody back here.
[30:43] I feel like I'm yelling at
you guys, but I don't want to.
[30:46] My name is Leah Green.
[30:47] I live at 2215 North highway 99.
[30:50] What I wanted to
talk about today
[30:52] is the money part
related to data centers,
[30:55] because I know
everyone here is going
[30:56] to be emotional in front of me.
[30:58] I have the Kansas sales
tax exemption, SB 98, which
[31:02] Kansas has already passed.
[31:04] For those that don't
Kansas has already
[31:06] given data centers a 100% state
and local sales tax exemption.
[31:12] So that means data centers don't
have to pay taxes on the land.
[31:15] They don't have to pay
taxes on any equipment,
[31:18] on any construction costs,
or on any labor for 20 years.
[31:21] And Kansas has
given that to them.
[31:24] What I would like to
ask the city today
[31:26] is that since we're
already losing out
[31:28] on 20 years of local sales tax,
if we were to get an AI center,
[31:32] I think it's fair to
ask that we don't offer
[31:35] them any more tax incentives.
[31:37] I think 20 years of no
sales tax is amazing.
[31:41] I think we would all
be happy to get that.
[31:43] So I would like to ask
them if a data center were
[31:46] approved, would you
commit to having
[31:49] them pay their fair share.
[31:51] And would you refuse to offer
them any local tax incentives.
[31:55] So, Kirk, do you
think that you would
[31:57] want to offer them
any tax incentives
[31:59] we're not allowed to combat.
[32:00] Monica, would you be back.
[32:02] Are you willing to answer.
[32:04] OK Tammy, would you be
willing to stand up for that.
[32:07] I can't do that.
[32:09] Aaron wow.
[32:10] Happy to meet with
you after this.
[32:12] OK I'd love to meet
with you, Aaron.
[32:13] I've appreciated that.
[32:15] The last thing I want to say is
the only way to grow is West.
[32:18] We've all heard that right.
[32:20] But what happens if we use 1,000
acres of our land, developmental
[32:25] land and it goes belly up.
[32:27] Where is this town going
to grow if we've spent
[32:29] 1,000 acres on that.
[32:30] To put that into perspective,
hills has 81 acres.
[32:33] Simmons has 81.
[32:35] Hostess has 36.
[32:36] Tyson had 46.
[32:37] We're talking about 1,000.
[32:39] Where will Emporia grow when
we've put a 1,000 acre Boulder
[32:43] in the middle of her path.
[32:44] Thank you.
[32:45] 
[32:59] Good afternoon, everyone.
[33:00] My name is Anna.
[33:01] I live at 1674 road 235.
[33:05] Am I speaking loud enough.
[33:07] Yes OK.
[33:09] There are entirely
too many unknowns
[33:11] for us to be inviting a data
center into our community.
[33:15] Kansas may not be
the show-me state,
[33:17] but we're right next door.
[33:19] So when it comes to data
centers, we say, show me.
[33:22] Show me.
[33:23] There will be no
noise pollution.
[33:25] Show me there will be no
extreme water consumption.
[33:28] Show me a promise that
utility Bills won't increase.
[33:32] Show me that there are local
jobs that will last five years
[33:36] after construction is complete.
[33:39] Show me that the
benefits of a data center
[33:42] outweigh the negatives
that we are learning
[33:45] more and more about every day.
[33:48] Show me all of that somewhere
that is not in our backyard.
[33:52] 
[33:56] Then show me the names of the
significant private investor
[34:00] and a company name.
[34:03] Show me a clear exit
agreement so our community
[34:07] cannot be left high and dry
in a few years after that.
[34:12] Maybe then we can
begin to consider
[34:15] this so-called opportunity.
[34:18] Until then, we don't want any
land in this city or the County
[34:22] zoned for this use.
[34:25] And today we are calling for
a moratorium of at least eight
[34:30] months, which is the reported
time that you guys have
[34:33] had these talks in progress.
[34:36] At the end of the Moratorium, we
want a public vote on whether we
[34:41] allow data centers.
[34:44] And am I correct
in my understanding
[34:46] that this could be protested
with a petition signed by 20%
[34:51] of registered voter population.
[34:54] Christina depends on
what you're protesting,
[34:58] I think is a zoning change.
[35:01] Can you protest a zoning change.
[35:03] I'd be happy to meet with you
and talk to you about that.
[35:06] OK yes.
[35:07] And I would want to
know when this petition
[35:11] should be completed in order to
stop the zoning change as well.
[35:16] If I can get all
that information.
[35:18] Thank you.
[35:18] Thank you.
[35:19] 
[35:25] I'm going to start
calling you names
[35:26] so that we can have the other
person in the wings just
[35:28] to keep going here quickly.
[35:29] So Leslie Smith and George
typekit George is on deck.
[35:37] George is on deck.
[35:38] I didn't say, is he
outside or is he here.
[35:42] He's OK, he's OK.
[35:43] He's out here.
[35:44] OK.
[35:45] Hi.
[35:46] My name is Leslie Smith,
9:15 Neosho street.
[35:49] I will give all my
extra time to George,
[35:51] because I'm just going to say
something short and sweet.
[35:53] One, I support everything that
everybody said prior to me.
[35:56] I am opposed to the data center.
[35:58] While the city needs to find
ways to grow economically,
[36:01] this is not the way,
especially with the lack
[36:03] of transparency exhibited.
[36:05] I yield my time.
[36:07] All right, George.
[36:08] 
[36:12] I'm not sure what to do with
extra time, but good morning.
[36:15] My name is George hupka.
[36:16] I live at 1919 Irving way,
and I moved to Emporia
[36:19] about three years ago.
[36:21] I grew up in a much larger city.
[36:23] During my time here, I've
absolutely fallen in love
[36:26] with the city, the community.
[36:28] I appreciate the spirit of
Emporia, the energy of downtown,
[36:32] the festivals, the
local businesses,
[36:35] and most importantly,
the people that
[36:36] make it such a special place.
[36:39] Like many small
towns across America,
[36:41] obviously there's
challenges and attracting
[36:46] and retaining good paying jobs.
[36:49] Why that's why this new
opportunity obviously
[36:52] is going to spark so
much discussion, so much
[36:55] emotion, energy and excitement.
[36:59] I understand those feelings.
[37:01] Change can be difficult,
and it's important
[37:03] that we ask questions
and carefully
[37:05] consider the impact of this
change of any major change.
[37:11] I encourage us all
to take the time
[37:13] to fully understand
what's being proposed
[37:17] and decide where we stand.
[37:19] Things can be done right.
[37:21] Things can be done wrong.
[37:25] It could be an incredible
opportunity for the city.
[37:28] It could be an opportunity
to create jobs.
[37:31] It could strengthen our economy.
[37:33] It could ensure the
future generations
[37:36] can build their lives right
here in Emporia if done right.
[37:41] We need to take the time to
make sure it's done right.
[37:46] Understand what
is being proposed.
[37:49] Thank you, thank you,
thank you, thank you.
[37:54] Two more minutes.
[37:56] Do you have anything.
[37:57] It's up to you.
[37:58] If you really want them,
you can keep going.
[38:01] I'd just like to say we're all
using data centers every day.
[38:06] No, that's not true.
[38:07] Just remember that.
[38:08] No, you're not going to get
us on board with that we don't
[38:15] want to operate without that.
[38:19] I'm not doing that.
[38:20] We are moving on to Chelsea.
[38:23] Chris and Ashley Dorris on deck.
[38:25] 
[38:29] Chelsea Chelsea and Ashley.
[38:34] Jordan hi.
[38:37] I'm Chelsea.
[38:38] I have lived here
for six years now,
[38:41] and I've absolutely fallen
in love with this place.
[38:44] Kansas it's beautiful.
[38:45] I go out and I photograph
it every single day.
[38:48] Bringing a data center
here would not be any good.
[38:51] It's more than the phone.
[38:53] It's way more.
[38:54] It's surveillance.
[38:55] It's everything.
[38:56] And to just look at it
from a money perspective
[39:00] and all that is disgusting.
[39:02] It's absolutely disgusting.
[39:03] We need more time.
[39:05] We need more things brought.
[39:06] But in my opinion, it doesn't
need to be here at all.
[39:09] Thank you, thank you, thank you.
[39:11] 
[39:21] She's up.
[39:22] Melissa I'm Ashley door.
[39:25] I live at 7-eleven Constitution.
[39:26] I've lived here most of my life.
[39:28] I just want to say we
don't need a data center.
[39:31] Noise pollution.
[39:32] It's going to cause migraines,
anxiety, which most of this town
[39:36] already has.
[39:38] It's going to.
[39:39] It's going to take
away all of our water.
[39:41] What I want to know is when
they deplete all of our water.
[39:44] They're going to leave.
[39:45] And what's that going
to leave us with.
[39:48] It's not good.
[39:49] We don't need one.
[39:50] Thank you.
[39:50] Thank you.
[39:51] 
[39:56] Moses is up with Clara on deck.
[40:01] 
[40:07] Hi, my name is Melissa stapley.
[40:09] I live at 1542 road 160.
[40:12] Good morning.
[40:13] I am here to formally request
that this commission placed
[40:16] a moratorium to the process
digital infrastructure overlay
[40:20] district zoning, and that any
decision of this magnitude
[40:23] be placed before the
public for a vote.
[40:26] The project was reportedly under
discussion for eight months
[40:29] before Emporia residents
heard a single word about it.
[40:32] Now we are being asked to accept
a zoning framework in 43 days
[40:36] for a gigawatt scale,
1,000 acre facility
[40:39] whose operating company has not
even been named name publicly.
[40:42] That is not
community engagement.
[40:45] Our community depends on
the Neosho river and local
[40:48] groundwater for drinking water.
[40:50] We have already
experienced drought
[40:52] conditions severe enough to
require conservation measures.
[40:56] We already have water intensive
industries operating here.
[40:59] And now we're being
asked to approve
[41:00] without independent study,
without binding water use caps,
[41:04] without knowing who the
tenant is, a facility
[41:07] that a gigawatt scale could
consume millions of gallons
[41:09] of water every single day.
[41:13] Emporia residents are
not opposed to growth.
[41:16] We are opposed to
being bypassed.
[41:18] Decisions that will shape this
community for the next 50 years.
[41:21] Our water, our infrastructure,
our tax base and our children's
[41:25] schools deserve more than
43 days and a planning
[41:28] commission hearing.
[41:30] We're asking for three things.
[41:31] I am asking for three
things a minimum of 100.
[41:34] Minimum 120 day
moratorium to allow
[41:38] independent assessment of
water power and fiscal impacts.
[41:42] Second, full public
disclosure of the end
[41:44] user company before any vote.
[41:47] Third, that the commission
placed the question of approval
[41:49] before Memorial
residents directly.
[41:51] Let us vote.
[41:53] This community showed up
today because we love Emporia,
[41:56] and we expect to be treated
as partners in the future,
[41:59] not as an afterthought.
[42:00] Thank you.
[42:01] 
[42:10] So after Clara will be gone.
[42:12] Luke yes.
[42:15] Hi I'm Clara horn, 1122 West.
[42:18] And I love Emporia.
[42:20] I moved here in 2010 from a town
that I would have considered
[42:24] not really growing
and not really full
[42:26] of vibrancy to a town that is.
[42:28] I love Emporia, and I
said, no one in Emporia
[42:31] is against progress.
[42:33] But not all progress is good.
[42:36] The vast majority of
Syrians don't want this.
[42:39] As you guys can see from
this experience today and all
[42:42] the social media comments and
even the cooling systems that
[42:46] use less water for these days.
[42:48] There's different ones,
like a closed loop system,
[42:50] I believe is what we
were told this one
[42:52] will have if potentially.
[42:54] Oh sorry.
[42:55] Even those use an
inordinate amount of energy,
[42:58] so they may use less water,
but they use a ton of energy.
[43:01] And then Everjoy will
have to use more water.
[43:03] So they end up using a
lot of water and energy.
[43:05] Regardless we've
already seen that we
[43:09] have these blackouts
periodically kind out
[43:11] of nowhere.
[43:12] They don't last that long, but
they pop up during unbound.
[43:15] I was in the coffee shop
and it just happened.
[43:18] Came back on a little bit.
[43:20] No Biggie.
[43:20] We kept going.
[43:21] But that's just unbound.
[43:23] When unbound comes through.
[43:24] Yeah, there's a lot
of energy usage.
[43:26] There's things plugged
in, stuff going,
[43:28] and if energy can't handle
that, how can they handle this.
[43:33] Yeah, I thought about that to
the water system that we have.
[43:38] I mean, the plumbing
in this town
[43:40] is constantly falling apart.
[43:41] And as we saw I believe it was
in the kvoa coverage of this,
[43:48] that there's a variety of
possible scenarios for fixing
[43:52] up our plumbing
system refurbishment
[43:56] to completely rehauling it.
[43:57] It's going to cost
us a lot of money
[43:58] to do that, which is
something we need to do.
[44:02] So that's an addition to this.
[44:03] This is going to use a lot
of water and a lot of energy.
[44:05] And we're already
struggling in those areas.
[44:07] Sinkholes, water main
breakage boil advisories.
[44:10] This is just an
additional issue.
[44:13] Lastly, as I have only
a couple more minutes,
[44:14] the jobs it creates are going to
be very temporary and very few.
[44:17] Thank you, thank you, thank you.
[44:19] 
[44:26] Thank you.
[44:26] Please give it to Gary.
[44:28] And after Don, is
Barb Ferris OK.
[44:34] Let's get one.
[44:41] Hi, I'm Jon Liu.
[44:43] I'm a member of
the advisory board,
[44:45] but I'm not speaking as a
representative of that board.
[44:48] I voted against the champion
landing funding request
[44:50] because I believe
that it does not meet
[44:51] the requirements of the law.
[44:53] Champions landing wants to use
tax funds for the construction
[44:56] of four tiny homes,
the development
[44:58] of four RV pads and
infrastructure improvements
[45:01] to statute and other
state documents
[45:03] do not appear to
allow the use of funds
[45:06] for private property
and enhancements,
[45:10] even if the property is used for
events that attract tourists.
[45:13] The statute indicates
that TGT funds
[45:15] can be used for conventions and
tourism promotion, which means
[45:19] activities to attract
visitors into the community
[45:22] through marketing efforts,
including advertising,
[45:24] and to support activities and
organizations that encourage
[45:27] increased lodging occupancy.
[45:29] There's an ag T91.
[45:32] Attorney general's opinion noted
that convention and tourism
[45:35] promotion has broad
guidelines, and leaves it
[45:37] up to the local governing body
to make particular expenditures.
[45:42] This opinion indicated that
it was OK to use public funds
[45:44] on public property.
[45:46] Last year, the legislators
legislatures division
[45:49] of post-audit
reviewed expenditures
[45:51] by Manhattan, Overland
park, and Wichita.
[45:54] It came up with a long list
of allowable expenditures
[45:57] that draw tourists travel
advertisement festivals,
[46:00] museums, website trade shows,
conventions, sports events,
[46:04] print and digital
promotion materials,
[46:06] and operating and
maintaining existing
[46:08] tourism facilities such as
city owned convention center.
[46:12] None of these are similar to
champion landing's application.
[46:15] I also believe it would be
unfair to other businesses
[46:18] in town to provide lodging, to
give one company tax dollars,
[46:22] to get a leg up on
those businesses that
[46:24] are also supporting the
same type of activity.
[46:29] Thank you.
[46:30] 
[46:33] After Barb will be.
[46:35] We're back to the cameras.
[46:36] 
[46:39] Hi, my name is
Barbara lane Farris.
[46:41] I am at 1408 Guerra place.
[46:45] I've lived here since 2019.
[46:47] I absolutely love Emporia.
[46:49] I am buying a house here.
[46:52] I'm a grad student at Ku.
[46:53] I'm fully invested
in this community,
[46:57] and what I want to say
today is that data centers
[46:59] are not quiet, clean neighbors.
[47:04] They are industrial behemoths
that demand staggering amounts
[47:08] of electricity and water.
[47:10] A single large data center
can consume millions
[47:13] of gallons of water
daily just to keep
[47:16] its servers from overheating.
[47:18] Where do you think
that water comes from.
[47:21] Our local supplies.
[47:24] 
[47:27] In a state where
water conservation
[47:28] is always on our minds.
[47:30] We cannot afford to
drain our local supplies
[47:33] for corporate server farms.
[47:36] To make matters even worse,
to maintain a constant uptime,
[47:39] these facilities rely
on massive numbers
[47:41] of diesel backup
generators, which
[47:44] emit harmful particulate
matter and nitrogen
[47:46] oxides directly into our air.
[47:49] Almost 3,000 people in this
town already have asthma.
[47:53] 
[47:56] Second, let's consider
the economic impact
[47:58] on everyday residents.
[48:00] The massive energy draw required
to power artificial intelligence
[48:04] and data servers puts an immense
strain on our local power grid.
[48:10] Historically, these
massive power demands
[48:12] lead to higher utility rates for
residents and small businesses,
[48:16] forcing the community to
foot the bill for costly Grid
[48:20] Infrastructure upgrades.
[48:23] Add to that the constant high
pitched mechanical humming
[48:27] of industrial cooling fans
and our peaceful Flint
[48:30] Hill nights are replaced
by Endless noise pollution.
[48:35] Emporia is a proud community
with a rich history
[48:39] and a bright agricultural
educational identity.
[48:45] Please listen to us.
[48:46] Please don't do this.
[48:48] Please give us a
reason to trust you.
[48:50] I want to trust you so bad.
[48:52] Please please don't do this.
[48:54] 
[49:03] To me.
[49:03] Edward with Mary
Halloran on deck.
[49:06] 
[49:09] For more.
[49:11] OK, but is Mickey not here.
[49:15] All right.
[49:15] Mary Halloran is up with
Becky Morgan on deck.
[49:18] 
[49:22] Good night.
[49:23] Some new names.
[49:26] Another day.
[49:27] She must be signed
up on the back side.
[49:31] OK, I'm guessing we
don't have these.
[49:34] We added to it.
[49:35] We added to it.
[49:35] Which ones did you add
after Becky tried that one.
[49:39] Mark Jurgens.
[49:42] OK, so then Molly
Williams is on deck.
[49:44] 
[49:48] Thank you.
[49:50] Mark Jurgens, 28, 25, Rio
Vista, Emporia State retiree.
[49:56] 
[50:00] This town is so great.
[50:05] Look what Emporia does.
[50:07] Look what Emporia has.
[50:09] History is.
[50:10] And the direction that it goes.
[50:12] The events and Emporia State.
[50:15] The National track meets.
[50:17] We've had the Shrine Bowl.
[50:18] I mean, Emporia people
come to Emporia,
[50:22] and that pays transient
tax money into this town.
[50:27] If you go to the
Chamber of Commerce,
[50:29] big flyer there
shows these events.
[50:32] Welcome to Emporia.
[50:35] We don't want to put a
black eye on that front page
[50:38] of a data center.
[50:40] That's not going to bring
anybody to this town.
[50:43] No one's going to
come for that at all.
[50:46] It is not a selling point.
[50:48] It isn't.
[50:50] Eight months wasn't
that long ago.
[50:54] We voted for the
city commission.
[50:56] I listened to the interviews.
[50:58] I read about the interviews.
[51:01] I don't recall anybody bringing
that up for the need of Emporia.
[51:07] It wasn't there.
[51:10] We haven't had enough
time to process this.
[51:13] No pun intended,
that you guys have.
[51:17] But I do know this.
[51:18] 
[51:21] Marion lake is where
Neosho river comes from.
[51:25] Last year it was
so dry campers were
[51:28] camping where the water wasn't.
[51:31] Comes down through
the Neosho river.
[51:34] I've seen it dry before.
[51:35] I know that because we've had
water restrictions in Emporia.
[51:39] Lakes are back up.
[51:41] It's a pond.
[51:42] That's not the
direction we want to go.
[51:44] Let's keep the positive
going for Emporia.
[51:48] Someone's going to
profit from this.
[51:50] Yes it's not you guys.
[51:51] 
[51:54] Thank you.
[51:55] 
[51:59] All right, Molly is
up, and then Alex Babb.
[52:03] Hi, I'm Molly Williams,
this is Sophie.
[52:06] I live at 175 or 412
road 175, in Emporia.
[52:11] I would like to say
that I am pro-jobs,
[52:14] but I want jobs for my
children when they graduate.
[52:17] I want jobs for the future
as well as jobs for now.
[52:21] We need to know who
are these investors.
[52:24] What are they planning to
use this data center for.
[52:26] Are they training
large language models.
[52:28] Are they mining
for cryptocurrency.
[52:30] And if they are, they should
have to get up here and explain
[52:33] to all of us what that is.
[52:35] And if they can explain
it to our satisfaction,
[52:38] then we need to know
why should we give
[52:41] them tax breaks to do that.
[52:44] Why are we giving tax
breaks to billionaires.
[52:47] The Brookings
Institute in May of 26
[52:50] showed that incentives
are poorly targeted.
[52:53] Location decisions are
not driven by tax breaks,
[52:56] but by power availability,
land and fiber infrastructure.
[53:00] Second, are we having a
single center or a cluster.
[53:03] Again, Brookings says that
economic benefits to communities
[53:08] require multiple facilities,
not single facilities.
[53:12] What are we doing
about utilities.
[53:14] A Harvard study in
March of 2025 25,
[53:17] showed evidence of
under-the-table agreements
[53:20] between city commissions
and these companies,
[53:23] increasing rates
for communities.
[53:26] What kind of energy are
they going to be using.
[53:28] Clean energy.
[53:29] Are we having noise barriers.
[53:31] What kind of light
pollution should we expect.
[53:34] There's a hospital plan to
go right in across the street
[53:37] from this place.
[53:38] I am an ICU RN with
12 years experience
[53:41] in level 1 trauma centers.
[53:44] That is a real concern
for patient healing.
[53:47] You're going to mix up
their days and nights.
[53:48] You're going to
get ICU delirium.
[53:51] Healing will take longer.
[53:53] Do we zone for noise protection.
[53:55] We need to have them
disclose their energy
[53:56] plan so we can evaluate
clean alternatives
[53:59] during permitting also.
[54:01] How are we going to use
their power during shortages.
[54:05] Can I say one more
thing quickly.
[54:07] Battery storage versus diesel.
[54:10] Pollution from diesel generators
during even limited blackouts
[54:14] showed in Virginia an
association with $300 million
[54:19] in annual public health costs,
increase for asthma and heart
[54:22] disease, and this is
from the World Resources
[54:24] Institute in February 2016.
[54:26] Thank you.
[54:26] Thank you.
[54:27] 
[54:32] Thank you.
[54:32] 
[54:35] We've got Alex up with
Greg Markowitz on deck.
[54:39] Hey, I live on 25 460th road.
[54:44] My grandfather was a geologist
at USU for 20 or 30 years.
[54:48] He wrote papers that went to
Kansas University about how
[54:51] there is a drought imminent
happening right now,
[54:54] despite the fact that we
have this extreme demand,
[54:57] energy intensive, not to
mention the environmental costs.
[55:02] This is going to accelerate
the drought that we're
[55:04] already facing by tenfold.
[55:06] And if you guys
don't recognize that,
[55:08] I want you to ask yourself,
who do you actually represent.
[55:10] We represent the collective
population of Emporia.
[55:14] You to me, represent
moneyed interests
[55:16] in the oligarchs in Washington
and everything that is
[55:18] going wrong with this country.
[55:21] You guys spent eight months
talking amongst yourselves
[55:23] and not sharing this with
the rest of the public,
[55:25] what is actually going on.
[55:25] And then you give us two minutes
to come and try and stop this.
[55:29] You guys can have hell
to pay if you do this.
[55:31] You need to ask yourself who
you really are deep down.
[55:34] What are you
actually doing here.
[55:36] Is this actually
beneficial for employee.
[55:38] Yes or no.
[55:39] And how Why? you
should explain to us
[55:40] how it actually is like this
is a yes or no question.
[55:44] It's not a subjective matter.
[55:46] So let's get serious and
actually do our research.
[55:49] Take the time to understand
what is actually going on.
[55:51] You have experts here speaking
for two minutes and OK,
[55:56] what else I got bit by a
dog here on the way here.
[55:59] It's hard to be
a Good Samaritan.
[56:01] OK like this is insane.
[56:04] Congress just passed
a bill saying AI is
[56:06] not liable for responsibility.
[56:08] Over 100 people dying
due to I. That's
[56:11] what these data processes
are going to be mulling over
[56:14] is the school in Iran that got
bombed due to I think about it,
[56:20] think about what these data
centers are processing.
[56:22] It's not just our phones and
our Google search results.
[56:25] It's everything.
[56:26] It's everything.
[56:27] And this is the Trump regime.
[56:28] This is fascism.
[56:29] This is the tech
oligarchs, the AI bubble
[56:31] that has taken over Americans.
[56:33] It's taken over Wall Street.
[56:34] It's the biggest financial
force in the world
[56:37] that we're just
opening our doors to.
[56:40] They have nothing to say.
[56:41] Thank you.
[56:42] Have a good day.
[56:43] 
[56:48] And then we have Victoria gonet.
[56:50] She was here earlier.
[56:52] Good morning,
Commissioner, and thank
[56:54] you for providing
this opportunity
[56:55] to make our feelings known.
[56:57] I appreciate it.
[56:58] I just have one
point, and that point
[57:01] is an issue of this magnitude
and diversity and questions.
[57:07] This is not a decision to
be made by the five of you.
[57:11] It is a decision that
requires a vote of the people
[57:15] who will be affected.
[57:19] This is not a behind the doors.
[57:21] We're going to do this.
[57:22] This needs to be voted on.
[57:25] And the only reason
you won't vote on it
[57:27] is if you're afraid you're
going to lose the vote.
[57:29] Yep and that's my
two cents worth.
[57:32] Take it for what it's worth.
[57:33] And the other point
that I'll make.
[57:35] And it's not a threat.
[57:36] But if you choose
not to vote on this,
[57:39] I can 100% guarantee
you there will be
[57:41] a petition to force that vote.
[57:43] And it won't be very
difficult to get signatures.
[57:45] No it won't.
[57:46] Thank you.
[57:47] Thank you.
[57:48] 
[57:55] Thank you.
[57:56] And then I have Jessica Danford.
[58:00] Hi it's my first time.
[58:02] So, hi, I'm Victoria partridge.
[58:04] I'm the founder and
executive director
[58:06] of the street cats club,
and I'm here because Emporia
[58:09] has a stray cat crisis.
[58:11] And despite the
incredible work being
[58:12] done throughout our
community, the resources
[58:15] currently available are not
keeping pace with the need.
[58:18] In May alone, the
street cats club
[58:19] received more than 149
requests for assistance
[58:22] through phone calls,
text messages,
[58:24] Facebook messages and emails.
[58:25] We added 191 cats to our
waiting list in a single month.
[58:29] Today, there are more than 1040
cats waiting for spay neuter
[58:33] services in Lyon County.
[58:34] Of those, 625 are located
right here in Emporia.
[58:38] These are not numbers
on a spreadsheet.
[58:40] These are cats living behind
businesses and apartment
[58:42] complexes and neighborhoods
and around our cities,
[58:44] parks and commercial areas.
[58:46] They are producing litter
after litter of kittens,
[58:48] spreading disease, creating
nuisance concerns for residents
[58:51] and overwhelming the
limited resources
[58:53] available to help them.
[58:54] The street cats club
is working to address
[58:56] this value this issue.
[58:57] In May, we spayed and
neutered 106 cats.
[59:01] This year, we have already
spayed and neutered 543 cats,
[59:03] and we are on track to reach
1,000 cats by the end of 2026.
[59:08] Most organizations
would celebrate.
[59:09] Numbers like these.
[59:11] But while we fixed
106 cats in May,
[59:13] 191 more cats were added
to our waiting list.
[59:16] We are working harder
than ever before,
[59:18] yet the demand continues
to outpace our capacity.
[59:21] The reality is that
we cannot solve
[59:22] a problem of this magnitude
without additional resources.
[59:25] We received no city funding.
[59:26] We have no paid staff.
[59:28] We borrow a van every
week to transport
[59:29] cats to spay neuter surgeries.
[59:31] We use a shed to house
cats waiting for surgeries.
[59:33] If we want fewer cats
in our streets, fewer
[59:35] nuisance complaints, healthier
neighborhoods and reduced
[59:38] pressure on local animal
welfare resources,
[59:41] we must continue expanding the
community's capacity to provide
[59:43] spay neuter services.
[59:45] The street cats club
remains committed
[59:46] to being part of that solution,
and we ask the city of Emporia
[59:49] to partner with
us to address one
[59:50] of the most significant
animal welfare challenges
[59:52] facing Emporia today.
[59:54] Thank you.
[59:54] Thank you.
[59:55] Thanks all.
[1:00:00] Jessica Danford on ready to go.
[1:00:03] No and.
[1:00:04] Lou Clara.
[1:00:05] Jean Jacques.
[1:00:06] 
[1:00:09] My name is Jessica Danford.
[1:00:10] I'm from 3532 West 20th Avenue.
[1:00:14] I'm here today to speak,
as many others have had,
[1:00:17] about the proposed data center
and digital infrastructure that
[1:00:21] the commission has announced.
[1:00:23] I would like to start by
saying, as has been evidenced
[1:00:25] by the amount of people
who have come in today,
[1:00:27] this is not a political issue.
[1:00:29] This is a quality of life
issue for our community.
[1:00:32] Data centers are growing faster
than regulation can keep up
[1:00:35] with, and have led to negative
social, economic, and ecological
[1:00:39] consequences in our community.
[1:00:42] If we do not stop, this project
will contribute to these issues.
[1:00:48] Examples of known
consequences of data centers
[1:00:50] include the following.
[1:00:52] There's been an increased
production of known air
[1:00:54] pollutants, such as
methane and hydrogen oxide,
[1:00:59] that can balloon into super
pollutants if not controlled
[1:01:03] further, there is insane
electricity usage with
[1:01:06] infrastructure like with an
estimated use of over 5300mw
[1:01:11] of electricity across the
country from data centers,
[1:01:14] which is in 2023, which is
more than many countries.
[1:01:18] This amount has only
increased over time.
[1:01:20] And the US Department of Energy
has said that the data centers
[1:01:24] alone will consume a total
of 12% of the country's
[1:01:28] total electricity by 2028.
[1:01:32] Data centers also cost a huge
amount to local communities,
[1:01:35] with electricity
costs increasing
[1:01:37] by over 33% since 2020,
with more than 70%
[1:01:41] of the increase impacting towns
within 50 miles of data centers.
[1:01:46] They also exacerbate water
strain issues in communities
[1:01:49] and create new ones in areas
without proper regulations,
[1:01:53] causing permanent damage
to local water sources
[1:01:55] if left unchecked.
[1:01:57] Over $20 billion
gallons of water
[1:02:00] were used by data
centers in 2023,
[1:02:02] and the amount has only
increased from there.
[1:02:07] There's more I want to add, but
there's only a limited amount
[1:02:09] of time, so I would like to
again present this information
[1:02:13] in support of the Moratorium
and transparency of information
[1:02:16] with the community
before any further steps
[1:02:18] are taken on this project.
[1:02:20] Thank you.
[1:02:21] Yes we have looks.
[1:02:31] Sorry and then
Helen Lacey on deck.
[1:02:36] Hi, I'm Alex.
[1:02:37] Claire is 35, 32
West 20th Avenue.
[1:02:39] You just heard from
my lovely wife.
[1:02:41] She did a lot more researching
than I did because as a teacher,
[1:02:45] too busy to really be able
to spend some time on this.
[1:02:49] But I want to let you
guys know that I moved
[1:02:51] here with my family in 1993.
[1:02:53] My dad took a job at Wolf
Creek, and if history serves,
[1:02:57] if I remember
correctly, we didn't
[1:02:58] want Wolf Creek here
for you because of all
[1:03:00] these fears of nuclear power.
[1:03:03] Now, that is ridiculously
overblown in my opinion,
[1:03:06] because we have a really well
regulated nuclear program here
[1:03:10] in America.
[1:03:11] When Fukushima happened in
2011, Wolf Creek immediately
[1:03:15] bought more backup generators,
including extra parts,
[1:03:18] to build a whole
new backup generator
[1:03:20] so that we wouldn't
go under meltdown,
[1:03:22] just like Fukushima did in 2011.
[1:03:25] And these data centers
are not regulated
[1:03:27] to that extreme of an extent,
and that is a big problem.
[1:03:32] We pride ourselves on our water.
[1:03:35] I see clips on
internet now that a lot
[1:03:38] of these cities that have
data centers, their water,
[1:03:41] are getting polluted.
[1:03:42] The Brown water is coming
out of their spigots.
[1:03:44] It's just like Flint,
Michigan all over again.
[1:03:46] But now more widespread.
[1:03:48] We're not going to have the
best tasting water in the world.
[1:03:50] It's like the best
tasting in the country.
[1:03:53] If we had these kind
of data centers,
[1:03:56] someone earlier said
that we're talking
[1:03:58] about gigawatt levels
of energy consumption,
[1:04:01] basic supply and demand.
[1:04:02] Economics would tell us
that with more demand,
[1:04:04] the prices go up.
[1:04:06] Energy is already
jacking up our prices.
[1:04:08] This is only going to
exacerbate the issue.
[1:04:10] And since we're talking
about gigawatt levels
[1:04:13] in March of this year, Wolf
Creek only generated not
[1:04:17] even one gigawatt.
[1:04:18] Now your homes, whenever
you send you your bill,
[1:04:21] they talk in terms
of kilowatt hours.
[1:04:23] I don't know if you know
your units very well.
[1:04:25] I'm a physics teacher,
so I do kilowatt hours.
[1:04:29] That's basic household stuff.
[1:04:31] Power plants push out megawatts.
[1:04:32] We're talking about gigawatts.
[1:04:34] We're talking about million
kilowatt hours here.
[1:04:37] So this is a huge
increase in energy
[1:04:39] production or sorry, training.
[1:04:41] Thank you for your time.
[1:04:42] All right, I have.
[1:04:51] 
[1:04:58] Helen Helen.
[1:04:59] Helen it's OK.
[1:05:01] I'm sorry.
[1:05:03] Yeah OK.
[1:05:05] Good morning.
[1:05:06] I would say it's an
honor to be here.
[1:05:08] It's an honor to
speak in front of you
[1:05:09] on behalf of the community.
[1:05:11] But given the circumstances,
I am slightly ashamed.
[1:05:15] I live at 1622 Center Street.
[1:05:17] I think I said that already.
[1:05:19] I've lived in Emporia
for about three years.
[1:05:21] I genuinely do love this city.
[1:05:23] I have found myself.
[1:05:25] I've met so many
incredible people.
[1:05:27] I've learned so much
about everything.
[1:05:29] 
[1:05:32] Even if we are to ignore the
proven environmental impacts
[1:05:35] of an AI data center
that we've already
[1:05:37] heard so much about the water,
it will consume the animals it
[1:05:39] will kill, the heat it
will bring to a summer
[1:05:41] that I've already seen bring
some of the strongest people
[1:05:44] I've ever known to their knees.
[1:05:45] I cannot think of
a single person
[1:05:47] in Emporia that would
benefit from the construction
[1:05:49] of a datacenter.
[1:05:50] Certainly not myself
or my countless friends
[1:05:52] who are artists whose lifelong
passions are most readily
[1:05:55] consumed and devalued by the
AI'S, powered by data centers,
[1:05:58] not the children that play in
the park below my apartment.
[1:06:00] Who will have to grow up in a
world where the incredible power
[1:06:02] of their mind is
deferred to a computer,
[1:06:04] and the objective
truth is a myth,
[1:06:06] and not the local
business owners who
[1:06:07] are already fighting
a losing battle
[1:06:09] against large corporations.
[1:06:11] The data center provides nothing
for the people of Emporia,
[1:06:14] and we are all here
today to let you know
[1:06:15] that we will not
stand to be sold out
[1:06:17] for the profit of a select few.
[1:06:19] Please hear us and please
do not do this to us.
[1:06:22] Thank you.
[1:06:31] If you cannot control yourself,
we'll have to remove you.
[1:06:34] So please try to be
respectful to everyone.
[1:06:37] More than two minutes.
[1:06:38] There will be a public
hearing on the 23rd.
[1:06:43] It's in this Civic
Auditorium at o'clock.
[1:06:46] So this is another
chance to speak.
[1:06:49] All right.
[1:06:49] Is there anybody else that
didn't get to sign up.
[1:06:52] They just wants to talk.
[1:06:55] What are you going to do.
[1:06:56] The annexation.
[1:06:58] We're annexing land today by
the request of property owners,
[1:07:02] because that's who requests.
[1:07:03] OK, so your manager said it was
by request of the developer.
[1:07:11] Well, we will have
that discussion.
[1:07:13] You're saying the
property owners.
[1:07:16] I may have misspoke.
[1:07:17] I'll have to ask Justin to
come out in our business
[1:07:21] section coming up here shortly.
[1:07:23] Yeah Name and address.
[1:07:25] Brenda Thompson, 1442 road, 130.
[1:07:29] First of all, I want to say
I don't believe any of you
[1:07:32] are going to really
listen to this stuff.
[1:07:34] We know it's environmental.
[1:07:36] We know all those things.
[1:07:37] But it's obvious that you've
been working on this for a while
[1:07:40] before you just
dropped the bomb on us.
[1:07:43] And these people here, and a
lot of people don't trust you.
[1:07:46] That's right.
[1:07:47] A lot of people.
[1:07:49] So what I want to and these
are rhetorical questions.
[1:07:53] Do you know anything
about this Kwanzaa.
[1:07:55] Whatever this the developer.
[1:07:58] Because I do their first
LLC, I believe their LLC
[1:08:05] was in Cedar Point, Kansas.
[1:08:07] Then they requested to
move it to Lawrence.
[1:08:11] And coincidentally, the news
I'm shooting from the hip here.
[1:08:16] This is not prepared.
[1:08:18] The is it Nordstrom family.
[1:08:22] The guy that's the
representative for
[1:08:24] this organization Nordstrom.
[1:08:27] Garrett Nordstrom.
[1:08:28] Thank you.
[1:08:29] Also has a business
where he does
[1:08:32] community block grants
for hire and consulting.
[1:08:36] Have you done any
work with that.
[1:08:37] Have they.
[1:08:38] I want to know have they offered
you any of their services
[1:08:42] and what is the mega
companies at Google.
[1:08:46] Is it Meta.
[1:08:48] Is it Grok.
[1:08:50] Who's behind this.
[1:08:52] Who's behind this.
[1:08:53] Because none of us
are buying this.
[1:08:55] Cans of whatever they are.
[1:08:57] None of us.
[1:08:58] So are you going to disclose who
the big giant behind this is.
[1:09:03] Eventually are you
going to do it up front.
[1:09:06] Thank you.
[1:09:07] Thank you very much.
[1:09:09] 
[1:09:13] All right.
[1:09:14] Anybody else.
[1:09:15] 
[1:09:19] Can I come up.
[1:09:20] 
[1:09:23] Good morning.
[1:09:24] My name is McKenna Phillips.
[1:09:25] My friends know me as I
live on 101006 Constitution.
[1:09:32] I've learned a lot from a lot
of the people in the room here.
[1:09:34] And I've seen you guys as
community members as well.
[1:09:36] I work at gravel, so
we see a lot of people,
[1:09:40] and what I've learned from this.
[1:09:42] And watching your
faces the whole time
[1:09:44] is you're scheming
for eight months on,
[1:09:47] this is what I'm getting at.
[1:09:49] And then you call this
knitting that we can't even
[1:09:52] ask you questions or do
any of that nonsense,
[1:09:55] and everyone's already really
upset, and I can see it like,
[1:09:58] this guy is over, like,
slouched in the corner
[1:10:00] and I can't even look up.
[1:10:02] Yeah all right,
let's be respectful.
[1:10:04] You're asking us
to be respectful
[1:10:06] while you are
stomping on our necks
[1:10:09] with this stupid data center.
[1:10:10] We know it's bad.
[1:10:12] We've seen towns
that have done this.
[1:10:14] I'm asking on a moral
sense as a human,
[1:10:16] if it's really worth it
for you to invest all
[1:10:18] of this time money talking
to these people that
[1:10:21] don't give a shit about us.
[1:10:23] Like, what do you
expect us to do when
[1:10:26] you push everybody this far.
[1:10:28] Good question.
[1:10:28] I don't want to.
[1:10:30] You want to live in a world
where your hospital, you
[1:10:32] got to go to the hospital
and you're outside
[1:10:36] and your electricity
bill is through the roof.
[1:10:39] I can hardly pay my
electric bill as it is.
[1:10:41] And I live in a shoebox.
[1:10:44] You're asking all of
these working people
[1:10:46] to pay more for the
selflessness and betterment
[1:10:49] of people we don't even know.
[1:10:51] I just I don't understand
is what I'm saying.
[1:10:55] I don't understand, and
I think everybody's going
[1:10:57] to be pretty mad about this.
[1:11:00] So I guess I'm just
asking you to be
[1:11:02] a little bit ashamed of yourself
over this, because it's a shame.
[1:11:06] Yeah shame out of here.
[1:11:08] Thank you.
[1:11:09] Thank you.
[1:11:10] Thank you.
[1:11:11] Thank you.
[1:11:14] 
[1:11:19] My name is Caroline Conway.
[1:11:21] I live at 911 Weber street.
[1:11:22] I've lived here since 2010.
[1:11:24] Before that, I lived
here to go to college.
[1:11:26] And then I moved
away and came back.
[1:11:27] I love this community.
[1:11:29] This is my community.
[1:11:30] I am currently the
executive director
[1:11:33] of Blumhouse youth services,
the youth shelter in town.
[1:11:38] Doing something
like this that will
[1:11:40] not benefit the
community that will
[1:11:42] take away from the community.
[1:11:44] It will use our resources.
[1:11:46] A data center of this magnitude
can replace a town of 30,000.
[1:11:50] In terms of water usage
and electricity usage,
[1:11:53] that's double the
size of Emporia.
[1:11:55] So where is that
going to come from.
[1:11:57] Because we still exist here.
[1:11:59] And the prairie that we are
around the Tallgrass prairie,
[1:12:03] we only have 4% of it left.
[1:12:06] So how is this going to
impact the Tallgrass prairie.
[1:12:10] This is the only place it is.
[1:12:12] So when it's gone, it's gone.
[1:12:14] So it is really important that
before we push through this
[1:12:17] in the hopes of lining a
couple people's pockets
[1:12:19] or however this
is coming through
[1:12:21] because it is not benefiting us
before this gets pushed through.
[1:12:25] We really, really need
to do some studies.
[1:12:28] I support the moratorium.
[1:12:30] I believe the five
year moratorium would
[1:12:32] be great to make sure
that this bubble doesn't
[1:12:33] burst while we're inside it.
[1:12:35] Please, please, please
listen to the people.
[1:12:38] None of us want this.
[1:12:39] None of us.
[1:12:40] Thank you for coming over here.
[1:12:50] Maybe she's being
voluntold to come up.
[1:12:55] Thank you.
[1:12:56] 
[1:12:59] Hello my name is
Rosalie Krieger.
[1:13:01] I'm at 5' State Street.
[1:13:02] I appreciate you guys
extending this time.
[1:13:06] Before I begin with the
rest of my comments,
[1:13:07] I will say that
I'm unequivocally
[1:13:08] against this digital campus,
which I'm going to refer
[1:13:11] to as a data center,
because that is the term
[1:13:12] most people are familiar with.
[1:13:13] And I feel that trying
to change the terminology
[1:13:15] to cloud and confuse people's
perception is unethical at best.
[1:13:19] I have several concerns.
[1:13:21] The first is the speed of
which we are moving forward on.
[1:13:23] This implies that either you
thought everybody would be
[1:13:25] on board with this, which
suggests that you're not very
[1:13:28] in touch with the
people of this town,
[1:13:29] or you do not care what
we're going to say,
[1:13:31] and you're going to
move forward regardless.
[1:13:33] I would also just like to ask
a few questions, most of which
[1:13:36] have already been asked, next.
[1:13:37] Who is this LLC that has
been open for seven months
[1:13:39] and has already moved from
Lawrence to a little ghost town
[1:13:42] West of here and is
registered to someone
[1:13:44] named Daniel Garrett Nordstrom.
[1:13:45] A cursory search online only
brings up one person in Lawrence
[1:13:48] with that name, Daniel
Garrett Nordstrom,
[1:13:50] who works at a firm called gas
government assistance service,
[1:13:53] which supposedly specializes in
helping small town governments
[1:13:56] find money and funding.
[1:13:57] I would ask if this is the same
person, has Emporia engaged
[1:14:01] the services of
his company before.
[1:14:03] And is this how that
relationship started.
[1:14:05] I would also ask why one of
the only other businesses that
[1:14:07] is registered to his name
in Max brothers development
[1:14:10] is registered to an
address here in Emporia
[1:14:12] and address, as far as I'm
aware, he does not live at.
[1:14:15] I'm also not sure if
anybody else in here
[1:14:17] has dealt with
filing an LLC before,
[1:14:19] but there are people who can
basically act as the filing
[1:14:20] person and the contact
person for you to help keep
[1:14:22] your information
private, and they
[1:14:24] aren't necessarily affiliated
with the organization.
[1:14:26] But that begs the
further question
[1:14:28] if they are using a
signature or register,
[1:14:30] who really owns the company.
[1:14:32] And are we really going to trust
that any regulations we try
[1:14:34] to put in force, forth, whether
it's power consumption, water
[1:14:37] consumption, et
cetera, are going
[1:14:38] to hold against a limited
liability company.
[1:14:41] Not even an S corp or a
C corp limited liability
[1:14:44] is in their name.
[1:14:46] Additionally, we don't
have the infrastructure
[1:14:49] to support our town now
with crumbling 100 plus
[1:14:52] year old storm
drains that collapse
[1:14:53] under the weight of
our own police vehicles
[1:14:55] on our own Main Street.
[1:14:56] Finally, I ask for a
moratorium on the data center,
[1:14:59] an independent ecological
and economic impact study,
[1:15:03] and a public vote
on the measure.
[1:15:04] Thank you.
[1:15:05] Thank you.
[1:15:05] 
[1:15:14] Hello you're up next.
[1:15:17] Hi, guys.
[1:15:18] I'm Sarah Brian.
[1:15:19] I live at 1850 road S And I
was born and raised in Emporia.
[1:15:24] I love this town,
and I'd just like
[1:15:26] to state that I am completely
against this data center.
[1:15:30] And I'd like to know
if the five of you
[1:15:32] are public servants
or corporate cronies.
[1:15:36] Sorry, I'm a little nervous.
[1:15:38] If you vote through the
annexation of this land,
[1:15:40] we can only assume you will
vote yes for this data center.
[1:15:44] This issue needs to be
put to a public vote,
[1:15:47] so that the 0.00045% of the
town standing in front of me
[1:15:53] does not speak for the
99.99945% of this town.
[1:15:59] For that to happen, we
need to sign a petition.
[1:16:02] 20% of this town so we can
put this to a public vote.
[1:16:06] Thank you.
[1:16:07] Yes thank you.
[1:16:08] Thank you.
[1:16:08] 
[1:16:15] Hello my name is
Christy Deckert.
[1:16:17] I grew up in this
community, and I
[1:16:21] was very excited
about eight years ago
[1:16:24] to move back and buy a
gorgeous property on road F5.
[1:16:28] Now, if you have been
looking at the maps,
[1:16:32] you'll see that
gorgeous property
[1:16:34] is now encircled by a plan
to have a data center on it.
[1:16:39] Very exciting, I'm sure.
[1:16:41] I want to echo
everybody's concerns
[1:16:44] about the environmental
impacts, the physical impacts
[1:16:48] on our public health.
[1:16:50] The impacts on our
infrastructure,
[1:16:53] the potential
costs in utilities.
[1:16:56] And I want to add my voice to
the call for a public vote,
[1:17:02] but not just those who can
vote in city elections.
[1:17:08] Because guess what.
[1:17:09] It is those of us in
Lyon County jurisdiction
[1:17:13] that are going to be
surrounded by this monstrosity.
[1:17:16] Thank you.
[1:17:17] That's right.
[1:17:18] Thank you.
[1:17:19] 
[1:17:26] All right.
[1:17:27] Is there anyone else.
[1:17:30] Good morning, Sir.
[1:17:32] Let me do one.
[1:17:33] Oh no thanks.
[1:17:34] You can get that.
[1:17:36] My name is Tracy Graham, and I'm
a former resident of Emporia,
[1:17:40] currently living
in Chase County.
[1:17:43] I moved to Emporia in 1999.
[1:17:47] First year was pretty rough,
but then we learned to love
[1:17:50] it really quickly after that.
[1:17:52] Lived here for 26 years and
now we live in Chase County.
[1:17:57] And it's probable that if this
data center were to go forward,
[1:18:05] it probably would not impact
me directly because I have
[1:18:11] solar panels and I have my own.
[1:18:13] Well, and so I
don't need to worry
[1:18:15] about the energy and
water anybody else
[1:18:17] needs to worry about.
[1:18:18] If you live here,
but I do shop here,
[1:18:22] and I dine here on a
very regular basis.
[1:18:26] And if the local businesses
here are impacted by increased
[1:18:32] energy costs and water drought.
[1:18:38] I mean, we had drought when we
were asked to conserve water
[1:18:43] in a rationed water a
few several years ago,
[1:18:47] and that will happen again.
[1:18:48] It's part of the natural cycle.
[1:18:51] And when you have drought,
who's going to suffer most.
[1:19:01] So it doesn't impact me
much, but it really matters.
[1:19:07] And that land right
now that you're
[1:19:09] talking about annexing today
is currently performing
[1:19:16] a function economically.
[1:19:18] Ecologically there's water
that isn't being dumped
[1:19:22] into the rivers immediately.
[1:19:24] And if you pave that
and put buildings on it.
[1:19:26] You're going to have
increased runoff.
[1:19:28] You could wind up with the irony
of flooding during drought.
[1:19:34] Too much water in one place
while you're using up the water
[1:19:38] to cool some of these, I grew.
[1:19:42] 
[1:19:49] The more I live in.
[1:19:50] 11:09 Luther street.
[1:19:52] Y'all have taken a
beating here today.
[1:19:54] 
[1:19:59] I understand that you all are
in a very difficult situation.
[1:20:04] Companies are closing.
[1:20:06] The economy is down and
you guys are under the gun
[1:20:10] to fix this, fix the
economy and Emporia
[1:20:13] because people are
scared, people are upset
[1:20:16] and you are under the
gun to find a solution.
[1:20:19] I get that.
[1:20:21] But somebody once told
me that's the reason
[1:20:27] the temptation is tempting
is because it looks
[1:20:31] like a good idea at the time.
[1:20:35] Consider the possibility
that this data
[1:20:39] center is a temptation.
[1:20:43] Maybe it looks like
a good idea for now,
[1:20:49] but maybe once
you've reconsidered.
[1:20:53] Maybe you'll discover that it
just looked like a good idea
[1:20:59] at the time.
[1:21:00] And what.
[1:21:02] It's OK to say what.
[1:21:06] We thought that looked
like a good idea,
[1:21:09] but that was just a temptation.
[1:21:12] We realize now that was
not the right thing to do.
[1:21:17] And if you make that
decision, if you come out
[1:21:20] with that statement that
says what, Emporia citizens,
[1:21:25] you were right.
[1:21:26] We were tempted, but
we were mistaken.
[1:21:30] If you have the
courage to do that
[1:21:33] will not be a sign of weakness.
[1:21:35] That will be a sign of strength,
and you will have regained
[1:21:38] the respect of this community.
[1:21:41] 
[1:21:47] Thank you.
[1:21:48] 
[1:21:50] Boy one if you would
permit me another minute,
[1:21:54] and we have to permit
everybody a minute.
[1:21:56] One more minute.
[1:21:57] No, but everybody would have
to have an additional minute.
[1:22:00] Oh, I give you a minute.
[1:22:02] We'll let her be the only one.
[1:22:03] We'll let her be the only one.
[1:22:04] We can't.
[1:22:04] We can't do that.
[1:22:05] We get into.
[1:22:06] Oh, of course, you can.
[1:22:08] Expand your meeting time.
[1:22:09] Expand your meeting time.
[1:22:10] Two minutes is a shame.
[1:22:12] Yep sure is.
[1:22:13] Come on in.
[1:22:15] Hi, I'm Max Coldiron.
[1:22:17] I live at 1102 East street.
[1:22:19] I'm going to shake
and my voice is
[1:22:21] going to warble the whole
time because I'm terrified.
[1:22:24] Talk to us.
[1:22:24] You're right.
[1:22:26] I've lived here for seven years.
[1:22:28] I came to get a degree,
and I have in biology,
[1:22:34] and I ask that before you move
forward on anything like this,
[1:22:38] you take a second
to go for a walk
[1:22:42] and just appreciate
this beautiful land
[1:22:45] that we have here.
[1:22:47] I grew up in Wichita, and
most of my natural exposure
[1:22:51] was a couple acres plot called
Great Plains nature center.
[1:22:55] And over the course
of my education,
[1:22:57] I have been taken
to so many just
[1:22:59] expansive, beautiful
pieces of land
[1:23:02] directly surrounding the
city or even inside of it.
[1:23:08] And I hate the idea
that we would lose that.
[1:23:13] Yeah Thank you.
[1:23:16] And also, please do look
up the Neosho madtom.
[1:23:19] It's adorable.
[1:23:19] 
[1:23:28] This is just a regular
scheduled meeting, so we
[1:23:30] have a long other agenda to go.
[1:23:32] But I want to give
everybody a chance.
[1:23:34] Going once, twice.
[1:23:37] Monthly statement
for a moratorium.
[1:23:40] We will move on to
our regular business.
[1:23:43] New business.
[1:23:43] Appoint member to the
human relations commission.
[1:23:46] 
[1:23:50] So Tammy and I. And it had
been recommended for us
[1:23:55] with staff's recommendation.
[1:23:57] And so we will approve the
appointment of Angela Acosta
[1:24:00] to motion to approve
the appointment
[1:24:03] of Angela Acosta cruise to the
human relations commission.
[1:24:07] Second, it's been moved and
seconded to approve her.
[1:24:11] Is there any other discussion.
[1:24:13] All in favor, say Aye.
[1:24:14] Aye Motion passes.
[1:24:16] Now we award the bid for the
airport 24 hour refueling
[1:24:19] equipment, installation,
and that line of finding
[1:24:25] somewhere back there.
[1:24:28] Brian silcock.
[1:24:29] Hold on.
[1:24:30] 
[1:24:40] Is Julian here.
[1:24:42] Grab Julian to Brandon, please.
[1:24:45] Yeah there's plenty of
room for anybody out there.
[1:24:47] 
[1:24:51] We're out there.
[1:24:54] We have staff.
[1:24:55] Keep talking.
[1:24:56] Oh, OK.
[1:24:58] Can you guys give us a minute.
[1:25:01] Yeah OK.
[1:25:02] Yeah just a 30 second delay.
[1:25:06] Is Julian.
[1:25:09] Two .51 seconds.
[1:25:14] Not Juliette.
[1:25:18] Come on up and tell
us what you're doing.
[1:25:20] Yeah, you probably
know more than one.
[1:25:22] Got drink and everything.
[1:25:23] Yeah here I am.
[1:25:24] Come at me.
[1:25:26] Did you guys appoint members.
[1:25:28] No OK.
[1:25:30] Sorry go for it.
[1:25:31] Tell us what it's about.
[1:25:33] So, what I need you to do
today is to award a grant
[1:25:37] for the 24 hour services.
[1:25:40] So what it is it's all
the equipment we need.
[1:25:44] The new tanks, the
new dispensers,
[1:25:46] the piping, electrical,
all that is in this bid.
[1:25:52] And our stuff
that's out there now
[1:25:54] looks like it was
before I was born.
[1:25:55] It's all 30 years old.
[1:25:57] OK no longer apparent.
[1:26:00] I can't get parts for it.
[1:26:02] I mean, I'm an old guy.
[1:26:04] We've been holding
this thing together.
[1:26:06] It was going to be the
city paying for it.
[1:26:08] But we did get the
dot to give us a grant
[1:26:11] to take care of this problem.
[1:26:12] They gave us 280.
[1:26:14] Some estimation was 260.
[1:26:16] All you're doing today is
the equipment and stuff.
[1:26:21] I'll be back next meeting
for the concrete bid for you
[1:26:25] to approve it.
[1:26:26] All right.
[1:26:26] Thank you.
[1:26:27] I would like to make a motion
to authorize the city manager
[1:26:29] to enter into a
purchase agreement
[1:26:31] for the installation of a
dual fuel, ground aviation
[1:26:35] fueling system capable of
supporting unattended 24 hour
[1:26:38] aircraft fuel
fueling operations,
[1:26:41] including dedicated
things for storage,
[1:26:44] aviation dispensing equipment,
fuel quality controls.
[1:26:47] Automated transaction
capability associated equipment
[1:26:49] necessary to support relocation
for the airport fuel point.
[1:26:53] Does that sound like it covers
it all that covers it second.
[1:26:57] Motion and second
to award the 24 hour
[1:26:59] refueling equipment
installation with the grant.
[1:27:02] Any other discussion.
[1:27:05] Do we need to add a little
bit that's on this team.
[1:27:08] I might know the equipment.
[1:27:10] Oh we're just authorizing
trade to do that,
[1:27:14] to enter into an agreement.
[1:27:16] Do you want me to
say little bit.
[1:27:18] Is that what you're saying.
[1:27:19] For the little bit.
[1:27:21] Sure Are you guys recommending.
[1:27:23] I would recommend you not
use the low bid recommend.
[1:27:26] There's a couple of reasons
why the bid from linings.
[1:27:29] Yeah, they were
wanting the middle.
[1:27:32] Yeah we would like to
recommend homedale.
[1:27:34] Homedale had more of your
cost quantified in the bid.
[1:27:37] And the other one
was additional cost.
[1:27:40] So I'm amending my motion to
approve to do that work for you.
[1:27:45] Second yeah.
[1:27:47] Second second.
[1:27:48] Still good Yes All right.
[1:27:50] Any other discussion.
[1:27:51] Good catch.
[1:27:51] Curt all in favor, say Aye.
[1:27:54] Aye Motion carries.
[1:27:57] All right.
[1:27:57] Thank you.
[1:27:58] Brian, don't go anywhere.
[1:28:00] That's right.
[1:28:01] Solid waste.
[1:28:02] It's always good to talk about.
[1:28:03] Thank you.
[1:28:03] And I appreciate
Tina weeks who's here
[1:28:07] as our solid waste manager.
[1:28:10] And she has spent an illustrious
career at the transfer station
[1:28:16] and was promoted.
[1:28:18] She's the woman right there.
[1:28:20] She knows where we're at.
[1:28:22] Yes Well, what we
have before you today,
[1:28:25] we've discussed several
times in study sessions,
[1:28:28] and we are presenting
a solid waste
[1:28:32] master plan for the utility.
[1:28:34] But it's more than
just a master plan
[1:28:36] and incorporate the cost
of service rate analysis,
[1:28:40] the operational assessment
on whether for both route
[1:28:45] efficiency, the customer
class type, container types,
[1:28:51] the full detail, as well as a
capital improvement program, how
[1:28:54] to fund said capital
improvement program, and then
[1:28:58] also to look at our procurement
and business strategy,
[1:29:02] for lack of a better word, to
make sure that we're following
[1:29:07] a process and structure
that ensures that we're
[1:29:09] being efficient and
maximizing our return
[1:29:13] on the public dollars.
[1:29:14] So we presented this for
bid previously in March.
[1:29:21] And as you are
aware, we have had
[1:29:25] burns and Mac assessing several
of our utility operations.
[1:29:30] They have a history,
a long history
[1:29:34] of such things for sanitation.
[1:29:36] One of the benefits and why we
feel they were the strongest
[1:29:40] of the two submittals, was
not only are we looking at how
[1:29:45] should we be doing things
and are we doing things,
[1:29:47] and how do we
compare and benchmark
[1:29:49] but also, as consumers.
[1:29:57] There is a cost
entailed to everything.
[1:30:00] And as a municipal
service provider
[1:30:03] of water, sewer, and stormwater
the solid waste, sanitation.
[1:30:10] We run things essentially
as a nonprofit.
[1:30:14] And so that requires that we
do maximize the public dollars
[1:30:18] and are as efficient and
effective as possible.
[1:30:20] So with that being said,
the aggregate burden,
[1:30:26] in other words, if we're looking
at all of these improvements,
[1:30:29] many of which are
necessitated by regulations
[1:30:32] and minimizing the potential
for a single point of failure,
[1:30:36] meaning if you're at
the wastewater plant
[1:30:38] or you're at the water plant
and this piece of equipment
[1:30:42] or this process
goes down, you're
[1:30:45] without water for days
or weeks until you're
[1:30:47] able to get that brought
up online so that you
[1:30:50] have redundancies and whatnot.
[1:30:52] So one of the benefits of
utilizing the same firm
[1:30:57] but different experts
to assess this is they
[1:31:01] can not only give us
that business benchmark
[1:31:04] but also then help us weigh the
priorities on how we can try
[1:31:08] and balance all of this so
that we are keeping in mind
[1:31:12] that aggregate burden
that we're placing
[1:31:14] on ourselves and our neighbors.
[1:31:18] So with that, what
this is 108,500.
[1:31:23] It's essentially a task order.
[1:31:25] And we're asking that
you authorize the manager
[1:31:29] to execute that agreement and
to declare this is actually
[1:31:33] what we talked about last week.
[1:31:34] So two weeks ago.
[1:31:36] So this is not just
coming out of left field.
[1:31:39] I'd like to make a motion to
authorize the execution of task
[1:31:42] order number 3 with Burns
McDonnell engineering company,
[1:31:46] in the amount of $105,800 for
the completion of the solid
[1:31:50] waste facility master plan
to provide the city with
[1:31:53] a comprehensive plan initiative
intended to evaluate operations,
[1:31:57] finances, rates,
capital planning,
[1:32:00] workforce consolidations,
automated opportunities
[1:32:04] and future proceeds.
[1:32:05] Procurement strategies
in support of logdump
[1:32:08] utility sustainability.
[1:32:11] Second I have a motion and
a second for the solid waste
[1:32:14] utility master plan
task agreement.
[1:32:16] Any other comments.
[1:32:19] Seeing none.
[1:32:20] All in favor, say Aye.
[1:32:21] Aye Motion passes.
[1:32:23] Thank you.
[1:32:23] Thank you.
[1:32:24] Thanks, guys Mr. Hubert.
[1:32:25] Close mayor Smith and
commissioners, in your packet
[1:32:34] is the C clip KC clip
geometric improvements project
[1:32:39] on Kansas 99 commercial
street from soden's road
[1:32:42] to Kansas Avenue.
[1:32:44] So city engineering
staff designed
[1:32:47] this project, this
federal aid project
[1:32:48] over the last three years.
[1:32:49] And House and CDOT
then is administering
[1:32:55] the bidding and construction
engineering side of the project.
[1:33:01] On May 20th.
[1:33:02] Get outbid it.
[1:33:03] They had four bidders.
[1:33:05] Kilo construction
is the low bidder.
[1:33:08] So we are asking the city
staff or city staff's
[1:33:16] recommending that the commission
approve awarding it to kilo
[1:33:22] construction and authorizing the
mayor to sign cdot's authority
[1:33:25] to award the contract,
which is our commitment
[1:33:27] of city funds to the project.
[1:33:29] When do they start.
[1:33:31] They have a two
week window starting
[1:33:33] late June through July 6.
[1:33:37] I think the Monday
after 4th of July.
[1:33:41] So I can answer any questions
that you might have.
[1:33:43] 
[1:33:46] It's been a long time coming.
[1:33:47] It has been.
[1:33:49] Yeah I'll make a motion
to authorize the mayor
[1:33:52] to sign authority or contract
commitment of city funds
[1:33:56] for CDOT, CG project
number 568727401.
[1:34:04] Second second.
[1:34:06] Motion to award the
KC project 056727401.
[1:34:13] And have the mayor to sign.
[1:34:15] Is there any other
discussion to add.
[1:34:19] There we go.
[1:34:20] I'd like to make a point that
they beat your estimate again.
[1:34:24] Yes they did.
[1:34:25] Are you just
Messing with us now.
[1:34:27] Thank you.
[1:34:28] And before we start
annexing, I'd like to.
[1:34:30] I had in my mind on
our consent agenda
[1:34:32] is all voluntary
coming into the city.
[1:34:34] Those are the people
I was speaking
[1:34:35] to about when we were annexing.
[1:34:37] I understand that.
[1:34:41] Can you say what you just
said again, so I understand.
[1:34:44] I'm sorry.
[1:34:44] When you were doing it.
[1:34:46] Yeah Justin.
[1:34:49] Justin speaks.
[1:34:50] Becky said hi.
[1:34:51] OK sorry, sorry.
[1:34:53] Thank you.
[1:34:53] 
[1:34:57] I made a career out
of speaking, Brian.
[1:35:00] Oh, for.
[1:35:01] For 15 years, I was able to
translate Brian ease to city
[1:35:05] commissioners and other staff.
[1:35:07] People like that.
[1:35:08] So I get what you're saying.
[1:35:10] OK good afternoon.
[1:35:12] Now, Mayor and council, Justin
Gibbons, Director of building
[1:35:15] and neighborhood development.
[1:35:17] Before you, we have
several voluntary petitions
[1:35:21] and consents for
annexation for property
[1:35:24] located outside the city.
[1:35:26] We were asked to provide
an overview of some
[1:35:29] of the past annexations that
we've done here recently,
[1:35:34] bringing in several tracks and
then some additional tracks
[1:35:38] that really the first
track that was annexed
[1:35:42] was industrial
park for those are
[1:35:45] tracks 5, 6, and
7 on the map that
[1:35:48] was provided on the overview.
[1:35:51] Those were done in
2025, 2024, I believe.
[1:35:57] And then subsequent to
that, just recently,
[1:36:01] track number 8 was annexed,
as well as track number 9.
[1:36:06] Going forward we and then also.
[1:36:12] I think track 11 was.
[1:36:16] Previously annexed to but
so going forward the request
[1:36:21] is basically to extend for
track 10 and then go up North
[1:36:25] where track 1, 2, 3, and
4 are right now to annex
[1:36:31] into the city.
[1:36:34] Does that cover your
question or concerns.
[1:36:40] So the owners of
those properties.
[1:36:42] So yeah, so the owners
gave the developer
[1:36:46] consent and their option
to petition for annexation.
[1:36:51] So the owners the owner's
agent is the owner's agent.
[1:36:55] Agent yes.
[1:36:56] Through the developer, they
gave that consent to them.
[1:36:58] So basically, I think
what the confusion is,
[1:37:00] and we can state it.
[1:37:01] And I'll let Trey give
his Trey speech on it.
[1:37:05] If the project didn't go
through what happens next.
[1:37:08] That would probably
help everybody.
[1:37:10] Yeah so these are
voluntary annexations.
[1:37:13] We have a voluntary annexation
policy where if the project does
[1:37:16] not go through, they can request
that the commission annex it,
[1:37:21] those portions.
[1:37:22] And that's what we're
anticipating to happen
[1:37:23] if this doesn't happen.
[1:37:25] It stays rural ag land
that these annexed.
[1:37:29] It does take an
ordinance to do that.
[1:37:31] So we can't do it in advance.
[1:37:32] But that's part of that
voluntary annexation policy.
[1:37:35] And also part of that is if
it is currently touching city
[1:37:40] property, it can be annexed
into the city with the owner's
[1:37:44] consent owner or agent through
their consent, which is
[1:37:47] what they're doing right now.
[1:37:48] Yes so we're
annexing land already
[1:37:51] story touches other
parts of the city.
[1:37:54] So for growth of Emporia, at any
point, this might be annexed.
[1:37:58] Yes correct.
[1:38:00] No, we're not requesting it.
[1:38:02] The owner.
[1:38:03] The owner through the agent.
[1:38:05] Yes I didn't catch when 11 was.
[1:38:09] What date was it.
[1:38:11] That 11 was two weeks ago.
[1:38:12] Two weeks ago.
[1:38:13] Two weeks ago.
[1:38:14] Yeah Two weeks ago at
our previous meeting.
[1:38:20] All right.
[1:38:22] When we need to do each
one separate, though.
[1:38:23] So that Terry can put
it all in nice form.
[1:38:27] Each one is a
separate ordinance.
[1:38:29] All right.
[1:38:30] So, real quick, let me just
speak to this for one minute.
[1:38:34] This is.
[1:38:36] I haven't sat down
and counted, but this
[1:38:38] is going to be an
approximately a 20 step
[1:38:41] approval with multiple
actions by the commission.
[1:38:45] Annexation today
or zoning change
[1:38:48] does not initiate
this project at all.
[1:38:51] So this is a start
process, and I
[1:38:56] want to be clear, if this
comes down to a deal that
[1:38:59] is not good for this community.
[1:39:00] I personally will
not recommend this.
[1:39:03] The benefits in my mind
it's not just a little bit
[1:39:06] they have to weigh
out and there has
[1:39:08] to be benefits for everybody.
[1:39:10] And, I think what we've seen,
at least in class a projects
[1:39:16] in other communities,
there truly are benefits
[1:39:19] for the entire community.
[1:39:20] And that's what I'm looking
for in this is something that
[1:39:23] benefits everybody, not
just the select few,
[1:39:26] but has tangible benefits
for all of Emporia,
[1:39:30] because we actually could
ask for them and see what.
[1:39:33] And that is my and see if I
have some non-negotiables.
[1:39:38] Folks are absolutely right.
[1:39:40] They don't need to pay
for any of the water
[1:39:41] costs involved in that.
[1:39:43] This needs to be paid
by the developer.
[1:39:45] Now I want to say we have
excess capacity water
[1:39:49] and we lost our industries
and we've lost our industries.
[1:39:51] And so they're
basically it's a loss.
[1:39:53] And we don't have
the other point that
[1:39:55] has came up several
times in Emporia,
[1:39:57] we do not use groundwater.
[1:39:59] We use surface
water that recharges
[1:40:01] naturally from the rain.
[1:40:02] We have about two
years of it in storage
[1:40:04] right now at council
Grove reservoir.
[1:40:08] So we can do some long
term forecasting with that.
[1:40:12] We pay big bucks,
we pay big bucks,
[1:40:13] and we doubled our water rights
at council Grove two years ago.
[1:40:17] So people have mentioned 2011,
2012 when we did have shortage.
[1:40:23] That was before we
doubled our rights.
[1:40:26] So we work closely with
the state of Kansas
[1:40:28] to double our rights on what we
have in council Grove reservoir.
[1:40:32] So this has all been thought of.
[1:40:36] Now, we've identified about
2.5 million gallons a day
[1:40:41] that we have in spare
capacity anything beyond that
[1:40:45] very much do studies.
[1:40:48] And, we've had engineers
engaged to this point.
[1:40:51] The other thing I want
to cover real quick
[1:40:53] is why hasn't this
been discussed sooner.
[1:40:57] Well, just about a month ago,
the land auctions were all done.
[1:41:01] You can't discuss as if
they can't get the land.
[1:41:05] The project doesn't happen and
they just got the land done.
[1:41:09] So now they can start
to move it forward
[1:41:11] to the public discussion.
[1:41:12] And this is going to be a long
six month plus public discussion
[1:41:16] standpoint.
[1:41:17] The zoning is by far
not the end of this.
[1:41:20] I have one more question.
[1:41:21] Sure this is not a city project.
[1:41:24] Correct Correct.
[1:41:25] And we have not been talking
about this for eight months.
[1:41:28] I've only been on the commission
for I mean, since it's not even
[1:41:32] 6 yet, the developer has
developer has been talking
[1:41:36] to city staff about this for
a while, talking to RDA folks,
[1:41:41] just like any prospective
employer does.
[1:41:43] There's a lot of conversations
that go on before anything
[1:41:46] comes to the surface.
[1:41:48] There's a lot of due diligence
that everybody industries
[1:41:51] talked for years before.
[1:41:52] They actually and sometimes this
is not unusual and not unusual.
[1:41:56] Lots of times you have two or
three years where they're just
[1:41:59] looking their ducks
in a row, and they're
[1:42:00] looking at multiple
communities and can
[1:42:04] they even acquire the property.
[1:42:05] And that was one of
the biggest questions
[1:42:07] with this was could they even
acquire the property to do this.
[1:42:11] So I think people feel
very emotional about it.
[1:42:13] So I'm trying not to
take it personally,
[1:42:15] but it's not anything that.
[1:42:17] Yeah and the other thing I want
to be clear is the points that
[1:42:21] were raised over and over
again are points that we
[1:42:23] have carefully considered.
[1:42:25] They were not listening,
but we have I mean,
[1:42:27] we have been listening,
I have absorbed what has
[1:42:31] happened in other communities.
[1:42:32] I've seen more other
communities have got this wrong.
[1:42:35] And I think we are trying to
take steps to do this right.
[1:42:41] And to bring I want to
hit on this point again.
[1:42:46] This project should
bring tangible benefits
[1:42:49] to everybody in Emporia.
[1:42:52] This should drastically
lower our property
[1:42:54] taxes if done right.
[1:42:57] This should keep us from having
to take huge rate increases
[1:43:01] to do this water plant.
[1:43:02] If done right.
[1:43:04] So there are so many things
that this potentially can
[1:43:07] help with if we do it right.
[1:43:09] If we do it wrong, folks
are absolutely right.
[1:43:12] But if we do this right,
and that is my goal in this,
[1:43:16] is to do this right in
a manner that protects
[1:43:21] Emporia today, tomorrow.
[1:43:24] And people are writing
50 years from now.
[1:43:27] And we've asked you
a lot of questions
[1:43:28] and you've given us a lot
of positive good answers.
[1:43:30] And I have and staff has
been in several meetings
[1:43:34] where I've had where I've
been pretty forceful myself.
[1:43:38] This has not been one
of these where I just.
[1:43:43] Oh, yeah.
[1:43:44] I pushed back on you hard.
[1:43:46] I would say I have been very.
[1:43:47] Would you agree that I'd
push back hard on him.
[1:43:50] Hard but again, baby steps in
our poor planning and zoning.
[1:43:53] They can listen to everybody
because we want everybody
[1:43:55] to show up, but they
are literally only
[1:43:57] looking at an overlay.
[1:43:59] And it's one of many,
many, many steps.
[1:44:02] So the public will be informed
of every step of the way
[1:44:04] because it has to be public.
[1:44:06] So questions you'll
have to see what
[1:44:10] it was more than happy to
come sit down with you.
[1:44:13] Sorry our policies.
[1:44:18] Any other before we get rolling.
[1:44:22] Are you ready.
[1:44:24] Can I do the first one.
[1:44:25] Sure I would like to make a
motion that we approve ordinance
[1:44:29] number 2616, annexing lands
located at 647 West highway
[1:44:34] 50 pursuant to KSA 12 520.
[1:44:41] Based on a request for
voluntary annexation.
[1:44:48] Second, I've had a motion
to approve ordinance 2616,
[1:44:53] and it's at 647 West 550.
[1:44:55] Any other discussion.
[1:44:57] Motion say Aye.
[1:44:59] Motion passes.
[1:45:00] What's the next one.
[1:45:03] Kurt no, I'm just asking if you
would like to do the second one.
[1:45:08] Motion let's do it over here.
[1:45:12] OK I'd like to make a motion
to pass ordinance number 26,
[1:45:18] annexing land located at 640
road 180 pursuant to KSA 12 520,
[1:45:26] as pursuant to Justin's
request, not mine.
[1:45:33] The owner's request.
[1:45:34] Request second.
[1:45:36] I have a motion and a second
for ordinance 26 and 641 80.
[1:45:40] Any other discussion.
[1:45:42] All in favor, say Aye.
[1:45:43] Aye anybody else want
to do the next one.
[1:45:49] I'll do the next part.
[1:45:50] OK I'll make a motion to
approve ordinance number 26,
[1:45:54] annexing the lands
located at 1,800
[1:45:56] row f pursuant to KSA 12 520.
[1:46:01] Is there a motion and a
second for ordinance 26.
[1:46:06] Annexing lands at 1,800 road f.
[1:46:08] Any other discussion.
[1:46:11] All right.
[1:46:12] I'll make a motion to approve
ordinance number 26 19,
[1:46:17] annexing lands
located at 1842 road
[1:46:20] f pursuant to KSA 12 5 22nd.
[1:46:24] I have a motion and
second for ordinance 26
[1:46:26] annexing lands at 1842 road f.
[1:46:29] Any other discussion.
[1:46:30] All in favor, say Aye.
[1:46:32] Aye Motion passes.
[1:46:33] I'll make a motion to
approve ordinance number 26,
[1:46:37] annexing lands located
at 600 road 190.
[1:46:40] Pursuant to KSA 12 520.
[1:46:44] Second Motion and
second for ordinance 26.
[1:46:47] Annexing lands located
at 600 road 190.
[1:46:51] Any other discussion.
[1:46:52] Just that they all still touch.
[1:46:54] They all still touch.
[1:46:55] City of Emporia.
[1:46:56] We're growing.
[1:46:57] We're annexing.
[1:46:58] Everybody wants us to grow.
[1:47:00] All in favor, say Aye.
[1:47:01] Aye Motion passes.
[1:47:03] Thank you.
[1:47:03] Thank you.
[1:47:05] Thank you for speaking, Becky.
[1:47:08] Thank you.
[1:47:10] For interpreting.
[1:47:11] Interpreting thank
you Yes All right,
[1:47:18] commissioners, I would draw
your notice to a public notice
[1:47:21] that we put out
last week, June 10.
[1:47:23] We do have a city
commission launch
[1:47:25] with the friends of the zoo
that is open to the public.
[1:47:28] So they show what
are the greatest
[1:47:32] steps in the room with all the
snakes and spiders and snakes.
[1:47:36] So that's next week.
[1:47:40] Then we have seven items
on the consent agenda.
[1:47:43] Commission meeting
minutes from last time.
[1:47:45] Three month extension
with Emporia chamber
[1:47:47] of Commerce for
visitor services.
[1:47:49] And then we have five voluntary
annexation agreements.
[1:47:54] Annexation agreement
number three.
[1:47:56] One would be a
$1,368 annual refund.
[1:48:02] On number 2, it would be $714.
[1:48:05] On number 3, it would be $140
on number 4, it would be $1,751.
[1:48:13] And then the last one,
I believe, is $334.
[1:48:18] That's what that on an annual
basis with those annexation.
[1:48:20] Thank you.
[1:48:21] Make a motion to
approve the agenda.
[1:48:23] Second, the motion seconded
to approve the consent agenda.
[1:48:27] Any other discussion.
[1:48:29] All in favor, say Aye.
[1:48:30] Aye all right.
[1:48:32] And for informational
items, we do like normal.
[1:48:38] But I do want to talk
about we are going
[1:48:40] to be adopting or having you
guys look at a large volume
[1:48:45] water user policy.
[1:48:47] These are really
safeguards that staff
[1:48:48] thinks need to be in place.
[1:48:51] Not even just people coming in.
[1:48:53] Not people.
[1:48:53] Yes, we do want to make sure
that we have a policy where you
[1:48:57] can't take as much water
as just turn on your spigot
[1:49:00] if you're a large volume user.
[1:49:03] If it's going to impact
our service delivery,
[1:49:05] we absolutely need to
have that policy in place.
[1:49:08] And that's what we're going
to put in front of you guys
[1:49:10] and making sure that
they pay those costs.
[1:49:12] Well, and I commend city staff
because a lot of our policies
[1:49:15] haven't been looked
at to reach technology
[1:49:17] in the changing world.
[1:49:19] And the other point, several
of the discussions I've had,
[1:49:23] and we'll talk more
in detail, but we
[1:49:25] are going to ask a
substantial portion of that
[1:49:27] be paid up front.
[1:49:29] So if they do leave your
leave after five years,
[1:49:31] we're not left holding the bag.
[1:49:33] So all industries all have.
[1:49:35] Yes everything.
[1:49:36] Yes can do when you're
going to have that.
[1:49:40] The draft wording.
[1:49:41] We'll get that out
as soon as we'll
[1:49:43] get that out and get it posted.
[1:49:44] We may try to get it out
maybe early next week
[1:49:46] and post it with the bio
information if we can.
[1:49:50] Oh OK.
[1:49:51] Oh you're out of.
[1:49:52] So we'll get it done
hopefully two weeks.
[1:49:55] We were looking at the next
meeting for discussion.
[1:49:58] Yeah so we will try to
get that draft out there.
[1:50:01] I mean, if you're
gone we'll have
[1:50:02] it locked down by Friday, so.
[1:50:04] All right.
[1:50:06] Governing body comments
I'm going to start.
[1:50:10] I think we proved
today that people
[1:50:12] can make an o'clock AM meeting.
[1:50:14] Yes so that should be going.
[1:50:17] And I want to thank
everybody who spoke.
[1:50:19] It takes a lot to stand up here.
[1:50:20] What's your name.
[1:50:21] Put your address down in.
[1:50:22] The five of us know you're live.
[1:50:25] My voice would have shaken
more than four months.
[1:50:28] So I want to thank everybody
that was brave enough to stand
[1:50:33] up here and speak their mind.
[1:50:34] And thank you to city staff and
emergency services for unbound.
[1:50:39] Chief, can you give us
a quick did it go OK.
[1:50:42] Kind of great little
hiccups with the southbound.
[1:50:47] I heard that they took a little
extra detour the first time.
[1:50:50] They say it's good for them.
[1:50:52] Throw them under the bus
because they do a great job.
[1:50:54] But give them a little
taste of this road
[1:50:56] before they hit the ground.
[1:50:57] Quick thinking.
[1:50:58] They had to do probably an extra
mile and a half on that one.
[1:51:00] They can.
[1:51:01] They can handle it.
[1:51:02] Was that everybody.
[1:51:03] All of the first 358.
[1:51:09] So not going to bother them.
[1:51:11] Yeah so what.
[1:51:14] Half or 2/3 or a third
of them didn't finish.
[1:51:17] Yeah Welcome to Kansas.
[1:51:19] Yeah Welcome to the mud.
[1:51:22] All right.
[1:51:23] Kurt, do you have anything.
[1:51:24] Yeah I'd like to thank
everybody that came
[1:51:25] today and voiced your opinions.
[1:51:27] We do listen to you.
[1:51:29] A lot of the things that
we've written down here,
[1:51:31] I know we've already
visited about ourselves.
[1:51:34] We will be revisiting
those things.
[1:51:36] We do appreciate what you bring
to us, and we consider those.
[1:51:39] And we do.
[1:51:41] Thank you for being
here Mr. Duncan.
[1:51:45] I'll echo that.
[1:51:46] Will share.
[1:51:47] I did take a lot of notes
from everyone who spoke.
[1:51:51] It is important to
listen to the citizens.
[1:51:53] And I hope if people
continue to have concerns
[1:51:56] or even if they find answers
or something like that,
[1:52:00] I hope people are willing
to come and share that.
[1:52:02] At the planning
commission meeting
[1:52:05] on June 23 at o'clock
PM at Civic Auditorium
[1:52:09] auditorium upstairs.
[1:52:11] Upstairs And I will echo,
I would love to see you
[1:52:13] all in two weeks at 11 o'clock.
[1:52:15] You're right.
[1:52:17] OK well, not to sound
like a copycat, but yes,
[1:52:21] I do appreciate everyone
coming and showing up today.
[1:52:24] It is.
[1:52:24] It is appreciated.
[1:52:26] I also want to say thank you
to city staff and so many
[1:52:32] volunteers for the bike race.
[1:52:36] It takes a lot and it went very
well, except for mother nature.
[1:52:42] I was wondering,
does anyone know.
[1:52:45] Were there any
injuries this year.
[1:52:49] We had a couple of elite riders,
but they basically had a hole
[1:52:52] in their knee and gave it up.
[1:52:54] But they met each
other in the ER.
[1:52:56] I know I'm acquainted
with one of them,
[1:52:58] and so I don't think there
were any major injuries.
[1:53:01] Fairly normal.
[1:53:02] Really normal actually.
[1:53:03] Blow count downtown.
[1:53:05] OK, good.
[1:53:06] Wash off the mud.
[1:53:07] You'll be fine.
[1:53:08] There are no lightning issues.
[1:53:10] No lightning strikes.
[1:53:12] Well, good, because there was a
lot of lightning out there this.
[1:53:15] 
[1:53:20] I really appreciate
everyone's speaking today.
[1:53:26] We've had a lot of
the same questions
[1:53:28] that you had along this
process, and it is a process.
[1:53:32] So businesses do
this all the time
[1:53:35] in cities throughout the nation
and then it comes public.
[1:53:40] So this is part of the process.
[1:53:42] It became public on Tuesday.
[1:53:44] And people have the same
questions that we have had.
[1:53:47] And we've gotten
some of the answers.
[1:53:49] We have not gotten them all.
[1:53:51] We definitely need
to get them all.
[1:53:53] And they all have to be
rock solid for Victorians
[1:53:56] now and in the future before
this project moves forward.
[1:54:00] We know that we look very
forward to getting the answers
[1:54:04] and getting them to you, because
I completely understand where
[1:54:07] each of you are coming from.
[1:54:09] You heard about it on
Tuesday today is Wednesday.
[1:54:13] Whatever facts people
have heard or opinions.
[1:54:17] We want to make sure that it's
all rock solid before anything
[1:54:20] moves forward.
[1:54:21] And we look forward
to meeting with you.
[1:54:25] All right.
[1:54:28] We're going to recess to the
conference room 10 after.
[1:54:35] Oh, yes.
[1:54:38] That's about 25
minutes to 10 after.
[1:54:43] Can we do just
people wait on us.
[1:54:46] We've got to make a motion to
recess to the conference room
[1:54:49] for study session until 12:15.
[1:54:53] Thank you.
[1:54:54] One 5115 115.
[1:54:58] 115 any other discussion.
[1:55:01] All in favor, say I. I will.
[1:55:05] 
[2:20:45] All right.
[2:20:46] We will bring the
study session to order.
[2:20:51] Thank you for everybody in the
audience who had to wait on us.
[2:20:55] OK finding my agenda.
[2:20:59] I'm so sorry.
[2:21:00] 
[2:21:02] Outside appropriations.
[2:21:04] Who's doing them.
[2:21:06] Do you want to just do the
process of how we usually do it.
[2:21:09] We'll go through a budget
discussion real quick,
[2:21:12] and then we can go to each item.
[2:21:16] All right.
[2:21:18] So outside
appropriations typically
[2:21:20] come from one of four funds.
[2:21:23] Transient guest
tax, which supports
[2:21:25] tourism destination marketing.
[2:21:28] Visitor related
tourism enhancements.
[2:21:30] This is from a tax that's
levied on folks who stay
[2:21:34] at the hotels in our community.
[2:21:36] Special alcohol fund
this is a tax that is
[2:21:38] levied on the sale of alcohol.
[2:21:41] It is a state set fund.
[2:21:43] We can't our state set tax.
[2:21:44] We can't change it.
[2:21:46] A third of the
alcohol money goes
[2:21:47] to the special alcohol fund.
[2:21:49] A third goes to the special
parks and recreation fund,
[2:21:51] and a third goes to
the general fund.
[2:21:52] By state statute, special
parks and recreation
[2:21:56] has to be spent on
Park improvements,
[2:21:59] recreation facility and
community programming
[2:22:01] initiatives for our parks.
[2:22:03] And then economic
development sales tax fund.
[2:22:07] That is about $925,000
of the city's half
[2:22:11] cent sales tax goes to that.
[2:22:16] So I want to talk about
the next big item.
[2:22:19] This year.
[2:22:19] We have received more funds
requests that do not fit
[2:22:23] in one of those four buckets.
[2:22:25] It, and the city has
traditionally looked very.
[2:22:31] We have not funded those
before because that's
[2:22:34] truly property tax
dollars that pay
[2:22:37] for that under Kansas statute.
[2:22:38] Last dollar in last dollar out
of the budget is property taxes.
[2:22:43] And then it is truly
competing with things
[2:22:45] such as public safety,
our facilities,
[2:22:47] parks our solid waste
collectors, people.
[2:22:52] Yeah, people.
[2:22:52] So we are always cautious.
[2:22:57] So give that word of caution,
and I think at the end,
[2:23:01] we just want to have
a little discussion.
[2:23:02] Should we even take general
fund but doesn't fit
[2:23:05] in one of those four buckets.
[2:23:07] Do we take those requests.
[2:23:11] I didn't pass.
[2:23:12] We have moved like the Municipal
Band used to be in something
[2:23:15] and we're like, they're a park.
[2:23:17] So yeah.
[2:23:18] So it says we can pay
for park programming
[2:23:20] with that special park.
[2:23:21] So are there some
of these that you're
[2:23:22] saying that we're going
to talk about today that
[2:23:24] don't fit in any of this talk.
[2:23:25] Are you going to.
[2:23:26] Well, yeah.
[2:23:27] Yeah, we'll identify that.
[2:23:28] Yeah OK.
[2:23:30] The other thing that's not
in this budget this year
[2:23:32] is visit Emporia.
[2:23:33] Emporia, Main Street, RDA and
Emporia chamber funded funding.
[2:23:37] Not that we fund the
chamber directly.
[2:23:40] Those dollars have been put
forward to administration
[2:23:44] for tourism and visits
for small business,
[2:23:48] for economic development.
[2:23:49] So those numbers
have been set aside.
[2:23:52] But until the fire conversation
goes one way or another.
[2:23:56] So either we will
need to come back
[2:23:58] to you guys with a
formal funding request
[2:24:00] and/or funding request for each
of those individuals, which we
[2:24:04] could do, because really,
time wise, I'm not sure
[2:24:07] we'd be there in the next year.
[2:24:09] Well, we have it set.
[2:24:10] I mean, we have the money saved.
[2:24:12] So really, we have a line item.
[2:24:13] Yes line item for it.
[2:24:15] Thank you.
[2:24:15] Because those.
[2:24:16] Yeah we're not.
[2:24:17] Yeah there's a line item for it.
[2:24:19] We're just not budgeting it
to go to those organizations
[2:24:22] at this point in time.
[2:24:23] So we're not giving
them any money
[2:24:25] unless we vote on it like we
just did with visit Emporia.
[2:24:27] Correct so that's so just what
we've done with visit Emporia.
[2:24:31] That money is pulled aside.
[2:24:32] It exists.
[2:24:33] It is there.
[2:24:34] But then if we've decided,
let's do it because it's
[2:24:37] going to take forever to.
[2:24:39] So if we get hey, we're still
another year out on via then
[2:24:42] we can appropriate that money.
[2:24:44] We do want to point out.
[2:24:48] Fund balances I will
say general fund.
[2:24:51] That number is still
a work in progress.
[2:24:54] But, see what our
reserve level is.
[2:24:57] In general fund
transient guest tax
[2:25:00] funding, what the
ending balance is
[2:25:04] and what the target reserve is.
[2:25:06] Special alcohol fund.
[2:25:07] We have not traditionally held
a reserve requirement there.
[2:25:10] Special parks we have not there.
[2:25:12] And then economic development.
[2:25:14] We have not kept a reserve
fund with that either.
[2:25:18] But you can see what's
available funding each of those.
[2:25:23] Where did we come up
with the reserve amounts.
[2:25:26] That's just what we
previous commissions
[2:25:28] have agreed to agreed to.
[2:25:30] So we can always
adjust percentages.
[2:25:31] We always talk about
20% because some of us
[2:25:34] have lived through COVID and TGT
funds don't exist during COVID.
[2:25:38] So we were very
much like, if we've
[2:25:39] got to have reserves for maybe
six months to eight months.
[2:25:42] If something somebody did
the math and came out with,
[2:25:45] OK, it's 19.2% or
something like that.
[2:25:48] So I did not do the math.
[2:25:52] So before you guys or
the transient guest
[2:25:55] tax appropriations, you have
what is and Lucas is not here.
[2:25:59] Is anybody here with tgt?
[2:26:02] Christina Christina.
[2:26:03] Christina is a staff liaison.
[2:26:07] Come on down.
[2:26:07] Matt's back there.
[2:26:08] Matt and Christina, if
you guys want to come up,
[2:26:10] since you guys
kind of staff that.
[2:26:14] But you see what they requested.
[2:26:16] You see what was recommended.
[2:26:17] Mended and then
Taylor has the ability
[2:26:22] we're looking at what I call a
green, yellow, red system today.
[2:26:28] If everybody's good with the
request, we mark that as green.
[2:26:31] If everybody says, hey, we
want to come back and talk
[2:26:35] about it more at
a future meeting,
[2:26:36] we will turn that one yellow.
[2:26:38] And then if it's red and
we don't want to find that,
[2:26:40] then we will.
[2:26:41] Although those aren't
red because of that.
[2:26:43] But those are just red because
their recommendation is
[2:26:46] different from their request.
[2:26:47] Yeah OK.
[2:26:51] You ready.
[2:26:52] Is there anything else before
we dive into this list.
[2:26:56] Are you going to
tell us the ones
[2:26:57] that don't fit in any
category, or is that later.
[2:27:00] That's later.
[2:27:00] That's later.
[2:27:01] That's not in this.
[2:27:01] That's not in this.
[2:27:02] This will fit in
the transient minus
[2:27:05] the carrack request, which
I think they felt that.
[2:27:08] And did they feel that
did not fit within
[2:27:10] does not meet requirement, which
is why it's recommended to 0.
[2:27:14] Yes OK.
[2:27:16] You ready to talk.
[2:27:18] And then.
[2:27:18] Green light.
[2:27:19] Yellow light or red light.
[2:27:20] Is that where we're at.
[2:27:22] Yeah I mean, you guys are more
than welcome to ask questions.
[2:27:25] We can run through
all the slides,
[2:27:27] or we can just tackle
this while we're here.
[2:27:29] I'd like to start at the bottom.
[2:27:31] Yeah let's start numerically.
[2:27:35] I'm OK.
[2:27:36] Excuse me, with William
Allen White House.
[2:27:38] I had their numbers done.
[2:27:41] They have to raise
their own money.
[2:27:43] So is anybody else
against the Red Rocks.
[2:27:47] Green green.
[2:27:48] Green teachers Hall of Fame.
[2:27:50] Green, green.
[2:27:51] I mean, they're literally
using it for their hotel bill.
[2:27:54] So, by golly, we're going
to get our money back.
[2:27:56] OK, first Friday keep
up the awesome work.
[2:28:02] I think it's a good program.
[2:28:03] We see a lot of people
down there on Friday.
[2:28:06] Friday green discovered gravel.
[2:28:12] And what was the recommendation
21 just because instead of 30
[2:28:17] just to request your request.
[2:28:20] So Bobby actually requested
on this one $21,000 this year.
[2:28:23] It's a self reduction from the
30,000 he received last year.
[2:28:27] Part of that was, equipment
investments last year
[2:28:29] and those type of things that
are not reoccurring costs.
[2:28:32] So I mean it's growing
and he's got hotel stay.
[2:28:35] It's all good with that.
[2:28:38] Great I'm going to
need at least dynamic
[2:28:42] to me in a yellow if to discuss.
[2:28:45] Maybe later after we get
through everything else.
[2:28:47] Is that OK with everybody.
[2:28:49] Sure I would agree.
[2:28:50] Oh, sorry.
[2:28:51] Not dynamic, but we
can discuss that yet.
[2:28:53] Yeah dynamic.
[2:28:54] Just that one.
[2:28:55] Just because they
are it's really
[2:28:56] for their events and stuff.
[2:28:58] So I'm and they didn't
have anything concrete
[2:29:01] on what they'd use it for.
[2:29:02] It didn't say in
the application.
[2:29:05] Truth back there she can
twirl herself back up here.
[2:29:08] Well, we'll come
back to you, Jackie.
[2:29:09] The Historical Society.
[2:29:12] Green green.
[2:29:14] Green green.
[2:29:16] Hot so explain why does
that not fit the group.
[2:29:24] And I'm speaking to this as
director of visit Emporia.
[2:29:26] Not on the member.
[2:29:27] But attending the meetings.
[2:29:29] Wanted to see more in
lines of the budget.
[2:29:31] They were having a
hard time understanding
[2:29:33] the budget information
between what
[2:29:34] was in the foundation accounts.
[2:29:36] The way it was presented.
[2:29:38] Is Michael here.
[2:29:39] Yeah OK.
[2:29:40] Michael, he can come up
if you guys want later
[2:29:43] and talk through that.
[2:29:44] But that was one of them.
[2:29:44] And some questions about
the scholarship funds.
[2:29:48] So talk about your
input at yellow now OK.
[2:29:51] On yellow because we
want to talk to him
[2:29:53] the rec commission green green.
[2:29:57] The only thing I will
say what's it for.
[2:30:00] Go ahead.
[2:30:00] I mean I know what it's for,
but can we tell the public.
[2:30:04] Yeah they're doing
those team passes.
[2:30:06] That's right.
[2:30:07] It's a great deal.
[2:30:07] Yeah I'm wondering
why I mean, I'm
[2:30:10] wondering why it wasn't larger.
[2:30:11] The only thing I will say is
with the ever changing landscape
[2:30:16] of our wonderful high school
Activities Association,
[2:30:20] I would like this request
broken out into each tournament
[2:30:25] that they're planning on doing,
instead of the whole year
[2:30:27] for tournaments that
could be in the fall,
[2:30:31] could be in the spring, or
it could be in the winter.
[2:30:34] So is that something
we want, Chris.
[2:30:36] Do we need them No,
I'm good with it.
[2:30:38] I'm good.
[2:30:39] I'm good with it.
[2:30:40] I think it's just the policy.
[2:30:41] OK, so we're going green.
[2:30:43] Just starting process 28.
[2:30:45] State basketball champion.
[2:30:48] Maybe we'll pick
up more baseball,
[2:30:49] baseball, volleyball, men's
golf, which we have Aaron
[2:30:53] wins golf bag.
[2:30:56] Golf is back next year I think.
[2:30:58] OK Kirk read.
[2:31:02] Yeah they were looking
for just their building.
[2:31:05] They were looking for
parking for their building.
[2:31:08] That's right that
the tangential TGT
[2:31:13] is the fact that it
would be, help people
[2:31:16] who also played at Hammond.
[2:31:18] The problem immediately
came up to me
[2:31:21] is we had an explanation from
you earlier in the year about
[2:31:25] what happened in
Wichita with sidewalks
[2:31:28] and that is where the one
AG's opinion has been,
[2:31:31] is that there was
a request to fund
[2:31:35] ADA sidewalks, doing the ramps.
[2:31:39] And they said that
was not at least
[2:31:42] the attorney general
opined that was not
[2:31:44] a valid use of those dollars.
[2:31:47] And that was in Don
Lew's presentation.
[2:31:49] He highlighted that.
[2:31:50] Yeah, exactly.
[2:31:51] What is there.
[2:31:52] Is there another fund that
their request could fall into.
[2:31:55] Maybe I'm not sure.
[2:31:57] So it's above on the
sponsorship request for 40,000.
[2:32:01] So it'll come up again.
[2:32:02] So do we.
[2:32:03] Yeah we have it later.
[2:32:04] So just out right now, we
are just now say we green
[2:32:07] light the 0 recommendation
or do we read it.
[2:32:09] It's read now, so why
don't we just make it read.
[2:32:12] Yeah OK.
[2:32:13] But we're just talking early
out of TGT at this moment.
[2:32:16] Sure OK.
[2:32:17] Arts council green.
[2:32:20] Green is this horrible to say.
[2:32:25] Tell me more about
what theirs was.
[2:32:26] You can call them to the table.
[2:32:27] That's why they're here.
[2:32:29] I just don't
remember, I read it.
[2:32:30] Council, come on up.
[2:32:34] Well, because you've had more
they've had more Granada events.
[2:32:38] Because it's both.
[2:32:39] Granada you weren't
expecting Granada, right.
[2:32:42] That we used to get
an appropriation
[2:32:44] from Granada theater.
[2:32:45] So separate.
[2:32:46] I see, so sorry.
[2:32:48] You may not have
to come up at all,
[2:32:49] but you might not have much.
[2:32:50] Sorry it was because
it means you're here.
[2:32:52] Give us a speech.
[2:32:53] Oh, well.
[2:32:54] Well thank you.
[2:32:55] I'd like to
introduce Cody Lacey.
[2:32:57] He is our manager for
the Granada theater
[2:32:59] since we took it on
in November of 2024.
[2:33:02] We have significantly had
an increase in rentals.
[2:33:07] As we the Granada
can only sustain
[2:33:10] with third party rentals.
[2:33:12] Performances alone does
not bring pay the Bills.
[2:33:16] So Cody has done an
excellent job reaching out,
[2:33:20] and I'll let him talk on
behalf of reaching out
[2:33:23] to other communities
and businesses.
[2:33:26] Yeah so a big part
of this is obviously
[2:33:28] the Granada theater alliance
who was previously running it.
[2:33:31] They did a good job,
but we reached a place
[2:33:33] where it became very stagnant.
[2:33:36] And we didn't see
performances at the Granada.
[2:33:38] And so a big part of this and
with these appropriated funds
[2:33:42] is just to really help
market and advertise.
[2:33:45] Other communities hey, Emporia
is doing live music again.
[2:33:49] We have performances, we have
space to host different kinds
[2:33:53] of events and conferences.
[2:33:55] We've had city planners
meetings in banquets there.
[2:33:59] We're a big part
of unbound as well.
[2:34:01] We're the host for all
activities unbound.
[2:34:05] So just getting back out
there to the community
[2:34:08] and letting them know
that, hey, Emporia is still
[2:34:10] the place to go to
have a fun Friday
[2:34:12] night and experience the town.
[2:34:15] Thank you.
[2:34:15] I know a lot of times I've
been to musical events there
[2:34:19] and met people from
other towns, and they've
[2:34:21] commented that they're actually
spending the night also
[2:34:25] because we've worked with
bring tourism in, we've worked
[2:34:28] with Main Street really closely
on our placer data as well,
[2:34:32] showing that we're drawing a lot
of people from Lawrence, Topeka,
[2:34:36] outside areas.
[2:34:37] And we even I met a couple
that was there from Nebraska.
[2:34:40] They were a big fan of the
frontman when they came in,
[2:34:42] and so we're drawing a
lot of people from all
[2:34:45] over, not just the
state, but the region.
[2:34:47] And we do as an
organization also,
[2:34:50] we have to lodge our artist.
[2:34:53] So we have over 50
to 60 hotel rooms
[2:34:56] that we personally
pay for as well
[2:34:59] to host those artists here too.
[2:35:02] I will point out that we hosted
the Kansas association of city
[2:35:05] managers conference
back in December,
[2:35:07] and we used Granada for
our Thursday night event.
[2:35:10] And other than a really
suspect comedian,
[2:35:13] it was a great experience
and everybody really,
[2:35:17] really enjoyed being there
I agree on that comment.
[2:35:20] Well, and it's not really
any secret anymore,
[2:35:23] we have put a doorway
in between the Art
[2:35:26] Center and the Granada theater.
[2:35:29] That's going to open up a
whole new possibilities to host
[2:35:33] a lot of conferences
and events there,
[2:35:37] so they can use the art
center's rooms as well.
[2:35:40] And we did.
[2:35:41] We use both facilities.
[2:35:42] There wasn't a
door then, but yes,
[2:35:44] but now would be a lot easier.
[2:35:45] They don't have to go
around in the cold.
[2:35:48] Are we green.
[2:35:49] Agree all right.
[2:35:50] Thank you.
[2:35:51] Thank you for the
additional information.
[2:35:53] Sorry, I was confused.
[2:35:54] 
[2:35:57] I'm sorry.
[2:35:57] I'm a red, so you
want me to come up.
[2:36:01] Come on up.
[2:36:02] Sure did you bring.
[2:36:08] 
[2:36:14] Hello hello.
[2:36:15] Can you tell us, in those
listening what these $80,000
[2:36:20] in funds would go towards.
[2:36:21] Please a wide array of.
[2:36:29] Improvements to the
overall property.
[2:36:30] The disk golf course to.
[2:36:32] 
[2:36:36] The addition of
overnight lodging
[2:36:39] through the tiny
homes, RV parks.
[2:36:41] 
[2:36:45] Let me go back through.
[2:36:46] I submit this.
[2:36:46] So long ago.
[2:36:48] It is a long process.
[2:36:50] It's a long process.
[2:36:53] Yeah, it was a wide
mix of that with
[2:36:56] and I did provide obviously
the budget along with it.
[2:37:00] But it's not just for finding
homes or not just for the RV
[2:37:06] pads, it's for improving the
Disc Golf course to continue
[2:37:09] to or not to continue,
but to allow us to stay
[2:37:11] relevant on the Disk
Golf Pro Tour, as
[2:37:13] well as the professional
disk Golf Association
[2:37:16] major tournaments.
[2:37:19] It seems like course
improvements at some point,
[2:37:22] you'd get done with them, but
it's actually as the sport just
[2:37:25] continues to keep evolving it.
[2:37:28] The players continue
to get better.
[2:37:30] They have to adapt
the courses to bring
[2:37:34] in the highest caliber players.
[2:37:38] And we've had to make or we are
planning to make improvements
[2:37:42] to stay relevant on the TOUR.
[2:37:44] Questions I'll give
my opinion and I'm
[2:37:53] probably not next to Aaron.
[2:37:54] I'm probably the
one who that plays
[2:37:55] the most disk golf in town.
[2:37:56] Oh, you play more than me.
[2:37:58] But I know at this point, just
because I've given you a lot
[2:38:03] and I totally understand
keeping the courses up
[2:38:05] and the stuff, but
I'm just right now
[2:38:09] because we have so
many requests that I'm
[2:38:11] just kind of not at the moment.
[2:38:13] So I certainly respect that.
[2:38:17] Something I probably
should add in
[2:38:18] is this request with
adding overnight lodging
[2:38:22] through the tiny
homes and the RV
[2:38:24] park does generate back into
the transient guest tax fund.
[2:38:28] It allows more people to stay.
[2:38:30] But does an RV park do PGE
park does not currently,
[2:38:35] but the tiny homes would.
[2:38:36] But the RV park does
not do a TGT tax.
[2:38:39] I don't know if
that's a local policy.
[2:38:40] I don't know if that's a state
policy on RV parks or state.
[2:38:44] Yeah, I think, but I've looked
and I cannot find not that I
[2:38:47] can't say you can't
charge another bag,
[2:38:50] but I'm just saying we don't
get that back from an RV park,
[2:38:54] so the intention would be
to book it through Airbnb.
[2:38:57] I would have Airbnb.
[2:39:00] Airbnb B would be
easy for you to say.
[2:39:04] The state agitates
those dollars,
[2:39:06] agitates aggregates, aggregates,
aggregates, agitates.
[2:39:10] It has aggregates those dollars.
[2:39:13] Yeah and I think the other
key thing to bring up
[2:39:17] is, it's not just one
tournament or two tournaments.
[2:39:21] It is players coming
through Emporia
[2:39:24] almost on a daily basis for
nine months out of the year.
[2:39:27] Then the season is hit and miss.
[2:39:29] On players coming through
during the winter.
[2:39:32] Just this morning
a family of three
[2:39:34] in from Colorado yesterday
Fargo, North Dakota.
[2:39:40] And I could just
keep going back.
[2:39:42] And I don't think that they're.
[2:39:47] They are coming
intentionally for what we're
[2:39:49] doing at champions landing.
[2:39:50] And I think that the project
that we've got in front of us
[2:39:54] here is something to
really put a stamp on.
[2:39:58] Disc golf being an
important economic driver
[2:40:02] for the city of Emporia.
[2:40:04] Oh, I think it's
a great project.
[2:40:05] I just don't think right now I
am willing to commit that money.
[2:40:09] What percentage of the
80,000 would be used
[2:40:12] for marketing of tournaments.
[2:40:16] I don't think there was anything
put in there for marketing.
[2:40:22] No, we're obviously marketing
our events to the disk golf
[2:40:26] community and beyond, but
that wasn't a specific line
[2:40:30] item in this request.
[2:40:33] The reason I ask because I
couldn't find it on here.
[2:40:35] So I was wondering if that
was because it wasn't.
[2:40:39] Any other questions for Jeremy.
[2:40:43] I don't think so.
[2:40:44] Color choices.
[2:40:46] I'm feeling like
you at this point.
[2:40:48] There's been a lot of
money given on a loan,
[2:40:52] and I understand that.
[2:40:53] I just think right now I'm not
comfortable with another 80.
[2:40:59] Yeah nothing against you.
[2:41:03] Oh I frequent.
[2:41:04] He sees me up there
eating at least.
[2:41:07] Yeah yellow or red.
[2:41:09] So you're in between
orange, yellow, and red.
[2:41:12] So you're kind of orange now.
[2:41:14] OK OK.
[2:41:15] Like your coat.
[2:41:16] Shirt if you don't mind.
[2:41:19] Real quick on the I certainly.
[2:41:21] The city of Emporia
has definitely
[2:41:22] kicked in big on the
$500,000 forgivable loan.
[2:41:26] And that ultimately is the
only reason that I have
[2:41:30] the property at this point.
[2:41:32] I do look at that.
[2:41:33] And I know there's a lot
of criticism towards that,
[2:41:35] but when you look at it on a 10
year basis, at $50,000 a year,
[2:41:40] that makes disk
golf stay relevant
[2:41:43] in Emporia and continues
to bring people
[2:41:45] to Emporia on a daily basis.
[2:41:50] I think the question if that
wasn't there or maybe isn't
[2:41:54] there is going to be why
didn't we support champions
[2:41:59] landing and disk golf more.
[2:42:01] It's certainly been
a challenge to keep
[2:42:03] the doors open and operational.
[2:42:05] I think we've
really found a spot
[2:42:08] to be sustainable
and move forward
[2:42:12] to continue to improve things.
[2:42:14] But on a 10 year, if it
was just if it was $50,000
[2:42:22] a year instead of
500,000, I think it
[2:42:24] looks significantly different.
[2:42:27] And I think the city
of Emporia would
[2:42:29] lose tremendously more than
$500,000 over the 10 years.
[2:42:34] And we still got a long
way to get to that.
[2:42:38] So I would say it was a
very Wise Business decision
[2:42:42] from the decision makers at
the time to do support making
[2:42:47] that property an
opportunity for me
[2:42:51] to acquire it, purchase
it and not let it go up
[2:42:53] on the open market
where it would
[2:42:55] likely become something other
than it actually is guaranteed.
[2:42:59] I have no qualms
about that one at all.
[2:43:01] So yeah.
[2:43:02] Didn't you get another
$56,000 at some point.
[2:43:05] And was that from tgt?
[2:43:07] 54,000 that was two years,
a year and a half ago.
[2:43:12] Two years after the half.
[2:43:13] Yeah I didn't ask for
anything last year.
[2:43:15] And that was to add three
different disk golf courses
[2:43:18] onto the property to make it
a beginner friendly course
[2:43:21] and intermediate level course,
and advanced level course,
[2:43:23] which was needed, and keep
our championship level disk
[2:43:26] golf course.
[2:43:26] So now there's
four different disk
[2:43:27] golf and golf on the
property, as well
[2:43:29] as the addition of footgolf.
[2:43:30] And we've seen
while we didn't ever
[2:43:34] expect it was going to be a
crazy amount of people that were
[2:43:36] going to come and play footgolf,
but it's definitely opened up
[2:43:39] the door to people who would
never step foot on the property
[2:43:42] to come and play.
[2:43:43] Footgolf feel welcome
inside and whatnot.
[2:43:46] And that support
for the GPX4 was,
[2:43:51] I think a very wise investment
from the GPX4 fund to we've
[2:43:55] now been able to have more
disk golf tournaments.
[2:43:58] We can have 368
players a day play
[2:44:03] tournament rounds because of
the use of the two courses
[2:44:05] simultaneously.
[2:44:07] We haven't done that per se
yet on that total number.
[2:44:10] But yeah, a lot of good
improvements there.
[2:44:15] Kurt I'm kind of a yellow
orange kind of guy.
[2:44:20] I think my position would be
just looking at the other things
[2:44:25] that how we fund things and
the other options out there.
[2:44:28] There may be a different way
to fund this part of this.
[2:44:31] The only commissioner
Steinkuhler did ask me,
[2:44:34] the only kind of
parallel I could think of
[2:44:37] was what we did
on the Fairfield,
[2:44:40] where they're
entitled, I believe
[2:44:41] it's 80% because they added the
conference center that there's
[2:44:45] a hold harmless one.
[2:44:47] The TGT fund can't go below
the previous year's what
[2:44:50] we collected, and then they
can have 80% back of what
[2:44:54] was produced by the property.
[2:44:59] And that was for the
conference center
[2:45:00] that they did there, which could
supposed to draw a lot of room
[2:45:04] nights with the
conference center
[2:45:05] and use beyond that
facility for that.
[2:45:09] To me, that's a better
way to look at this.
[2:45:13] How does Jeremy do TGT funds.
[2:45:16] So if he's only got
four tiny homes,
[2:45:18] I mean, you just rebate him back
what he collected on the four
[2:45:22] tiny homes for tiny homes.
[2:45:24] Yeah, and 80% of it.
[2:45:26] Yeah, I mean that that's
the parallel that we
[2:45:29] have with another entity.
[2:45:31] That entity before.
[2:45:32] Yeah did you include
the RV pads with that.
[2:45:37] I mean, if he's
going to collect TGT,
[2:45:38] if he's going through
Airbnb, the hard thing
[2:45:41] in my mind with Airbnb
is I think we just
[2:45:44] get a check that says Airbnb.
[2:45:47] It doesn't break it down.
[2:45:48] And Janet, Janet in here.
[2:45:50] Yeah, I am and it
does not break.
[2:45:52] It doesn't break down.
[2:45:53] It just says Airbnb x amount.
[2:45:54] So he would have to tell us how.
[2:45:57] He would have to
tell us how much we'd
[2:45:58] have to compare that to Airbnb.
[2:46:00] 
[2:46:03] So right now we're
in the yellow Aaron.
[2:46:06] 
[2:46:11] I think there's a lot of
stuff in the application.
[2:46:15] I don't know that
all of it fits TGT.
[2:46:18] Obviously, the folks that
we put on the TGT board
[2:46:21] did think that
all of it fit TGT.
[2:46:24] I would just if it was
a little more broken
[2:46:28] down to what actually fits TGT.
[2:46:30] I'm kind of with the
folks on not making
[2:46:35] it for actual infrastructure.
[2:46:38] But if it was for marketing
and drawing in those larger
[2:46:44] tournaments that we know
have to use champions landing
[2:46:48] to host that quality of players,
I'd be green light all the way.
[2:46:54] We could send it back to
TGT to more carefully.
[2:46:57] We can send it back steady to
consider a rebate type agreement
[2:47:02] and make a recommendation
because that
[2:47:04] was a criticism when the
Fairfield project was done.
[2:47:08] That was just done by the
commission at the time
[2:47:10] without going through TGT.
[2:47:11] So potentially kick that
to TGT to consider what
[2:47:14] a rebate type agreement be.
[2:47:16] It be something to consider.
[2:47:18] Matt and Christine,
what was tg's
[2:47:21] thoughts on the
full recommendation.
[2:47:23] You were there.
[2:47:24] Oh yeah.
[2:47:25] They looked it was definitely
probably the most time consuming
[2:47:28] one they went through.
[2:47:29] They went through it with
a fine tooth comb on it.
[2:47:31] The big thing is, when you
look at transient guest tax,
[2:47:34] one of the three legs
of the actual fund
[2:47:35] is attraction development.
[2:47:38] And that's where they
really looked at this one.
[2:47:40] Yes, it might be a
private business,
[2:47:42] but there's no one excluding
any other private business
[2:47:44] from putting together
an attraction
[2:47:45] and putting together one
of these requests as well.
[2:47:49] They kicked it around.
[2:47:50] It wasn't.
[2:47:51] It was obviously a split
vote on the group to promote
[2:47:54] the recommendation
of $80,000 on it,
[2:47:57] really getting into
the details of it,
[2:47:59] in fact, it was a month ago.
[2:48:01] Trying to think through.
[2:48:04] The big thing is
we've spent a lot
[2:48:05] of dollars in disk
golf infrastructure,
[2:48:08] and we've got to
keep it growing.
[2:48:09] When I look at it from the
visit Emporia perspective,
[2:48:13] it's one of the few
things on this list
[2:48:14] that I can send people
to every day of the week.
[2:48:18] It sometimes we
have a hard time.
[2:48:20] We put money behind
x or y event,
[2:48:22] but attraction development
is critical moving
[2:48:25] forward from our perspective.
[2:48:27] Whether it's this or
something else out there,
[2:48:28] people have other
ideas for attractions
[2:48:31] because we've got
to have those things
[2:48:32] that people can visit the
other 50 weeks out of the year.
[2:48:35] 
[2:48:37] If you guys don't mind.
[2:48:38] One more comment.
[2:48:39] I know that there's some
concern in regards to it being
[2:48:44] a private business that's going
after TGT support and funding,
[2:48:50] and that support is not going
to necessarily a Fairfield
[2:48:55] Inn or any other hotels in town,
and those other hotels in town
[2:48:59] are not drawing and attracting
disk golf destination
[2:49:05] tourism dollars to Emporia.
[2:49:09] And I think that's
one of the big
[2:49:11] that's the difference in this.
[2:49:14] And I think that's really
important to keep in mind
[2:49:17] that that's why this request
is in front of the TGT
[2:49:21] to continue to make Jenkins
landing in Emporia a tourist
[2:49:28] destination for disk golf.
[2:49:31] Yeah, I'd like to send it back
to TGT and they can rework it.
[2:49:34] I mean, so I think
is that OK with them.
[2:49:39] Be careful how you
massage this back
[2:49:42] to because in part
of your literature
[2:49:44] that you submitted with this,
you show the mention of handicap
[2:49:50] accessible into
those tiny homes.
[2:49:54] We can't do that.
[2:49:56] So just don't mention it.
[2:49:58] 
[2:50:01] So we're sending it back to the.
[2:50:05] Sorry is that OK with
you to send it back.
[2:50:10] It'll come back to us again.
[2:50:12] Thank you.
[2:50:13] Yeah, yeah.
[2:50:13] After they rework it and.
[2:50:16] Yeah and at that
point, we'll also see
[2:50:18] how much money is left over.
[2:50:20] So yeah.
[2:50:22] What else.
[2:50:23] So back to dynamic disks.
[2:50:27] Jackie.
[2:50:29] Troll yourself up here MS mayor.
[2:50:32] Yes, Erin.
[2:50:33] Can we.
[2:50:34] Can I submit an appropriation
request to turn these fans on.
[2:50:39] Oh, I second that.
[2:50:43] I don't know how we do it,
but pull the thing Mr. Ebert,
[2:50:49] give that man some lunch.
[2:50:51] All right.
[2:50:52] Yeah OK.
[2:50:54] So, Jackie.
[2:50:55] Yes I think there were
questions of what you really
[2:50:57] wanted to use the money for.
[2:50:59] Is it going to blow over.
[2:51:00] Here Taylor.
[2:51:02] Yeah explain your appropriation.
[2:51:06] What it really helped you do.
[2:51:09] So what it really
helps me do is I know
[2:51:13] at the tax, the last
meeting with the board,
[2:51:16] I was explaining to them
that our disk golf events are
[2:51:20] not funded by dynamic disks.
[2:51:23] They are funded by sponsorships
and the player fees.
[2:51:27] So while I to get some
products from dynamic at cost.
[2:51:32] The money's not
coming from them.
[2:51:34] So I have to raise
those funds elsewhere.
[2:51:38] When the player fees are
supposed to cover x amount.
[2:51:42] So the money that I
ask for goes towards
[2:51:46] of elevating the
experience of the players
[2:51:48] while they're in town.
[2:51:49] Working with radius to
host the welcome party,
[2:51:54] getting disks to the
Emporia Arts Council council
[2:51:57] so they can host kids design
disks and give out prizes.
[2:52:02] Working with Emporia Main
Street to host the block party.
[2:52:07] Different things
like that not only
[2:52:09] our competitors get to enjoy,
but also the community.
[2:52:12] And it makes the competitors
want to come because the more
[2:52:14] of a better party you
throw, the more obviously,
[2:52:17] the more you want to go.
[2:52:18] And I also noted that
in the last meeting
[2:52:22] that the event that's happening
a week or two before ours.
[2:52:28] Only three hours down the
road, only had like 30 people
[2:52:30] signed up.
[2:52:31] We are nearing 400, so
they know that there
[2:52:34] will be a rock STAR Tournament.
[2:52:36] There'll be a rock STAR
Tournament director.
[2:52:38] Yeah so in the tournament, in
the application it says, please
[2:52:41] provide a detailed breakdown
of how the requested funds will
[2:52:45] be allocated.
[2:52:46] And it says I don't have
a breakdown of this right
[2:52:48] now for 2027.
[2:52:50] But I can show what we are
using this year's funds for.
[2:52:53] As I get it more locked in.
[2:52:54] So could this be a
yellow and something
[2:52:56] that comes back to us after
she has it more locked in.
[2:52:59] Yeah and that was my concern,
is that we don't know what the.
[2:53:04] I think that's fair because
Jackie has to work a year out.
[2:53:06] I mean, yeah, she's.
[2:53:08] Yeah, I think it's great.
[2:53:09] When will you know what you
use the money for in 2026?
[2:53:12] So I know a lot of
it more now than when
[2:53:16] in April that we had was asked.
[2:53:18] Yeah so I could
actually probably
[2:53:20] submit that rather
soon because the event
[2:53:22] is actually in three weeks.
[2:53:25] OK yeah.
[2:53:26] That's just what I
would like to see too.
[2:53:28] Of course, before
I make a decision,
[2:53:30] if that's OK with
the rest of the GPX4,
[2:53:34] I'd be willing to Green
light the full amount
[2:53:37] with the TGT board's
discretion to get it.
[2:53:42] Get the information from Jackie.
[2:53:44] I don't and I met with Jackie.
[2:53:46] Was that a month ago
or six weeks ago.
[2:53:47] We sat down for a couple hours
and it was pretty eye opening
[2:53:50] to walk through
the process of it
[2:53:51] and just how much more
competitive tournaments have
[2:53:53] gotten in communities,
and some of those facets
[2:53:56] that have changed
since the pandemic era.
[2:53:58] So it's an eco devo driver.
[2:54:00] I'm OK with Aaron's
idea of making sure
[2:54:02] that it fits into the visitors.
[2:54:06] It's probably it's
part of the process.
[2:54:07] Change with the
attraction is they're
[2:54:10] not only just they're not
just giving the funds anymore.
[2:54:13] They're making them
come back with this
[2:54:15] is what we use the funds on.
[2:54:16] I like that.
[2:54:17] That makes sense.
[2:54:18] So great.
[2:54:20] So we're good with green, with
the caveat that the TGT board
[2:54:24] works with Jackie
to make sure it fits
[2:54:26] into the elevating the
visitor's experience
[2:54:31] because it's a visitor's.
[2:54:32] So in other words, you're not
going to write a blank check.
[2:54:35] You're going to go
through the process
[2:54:37] before you get the full 40.
[2:54:39] Yeah, the whole process.
[2:54:40] You may not get process
that would change.
[2:54:42] TGT 2 is pretty much
like that already.
[2:54:45] Yeah and I but I would
like a copy of it too.
[2:54:47] I mean, I'd like to see
what they're planning on.
[2:54:51] We can do after action reports
to make sure commission
[2:54:53] sees those things.
[2:54:55] Yeah OK.
[2:54:55] OK, so we're turning
to Green work
[2:54:57] with putting some
more information.
[2:55:00] I'm actually OK knowing your
life is crazy for three weeks.
[2:55:03] It would be July.
[2:55:04] I appreciate that.
[2:55:07] Oh, yeah.
[2:55:08] Yeah we're not saying.
[2:55:09] Yeah, we're OK.
[2:55:10] We're talking
about 2027, Jackie.
[2:55:12] And you've been OK, but.
[2:55:13] Yeah, you're OK.
[2:55:15] Thanks, Jackie.
[2:55:16] Thank you.
[2:55:18] Hello we got hot pot.
[2:55:21] Anybody hear from hot Michael.
[2:55:23] 
[2:55:29] Hello, I'm Mike Torres.
[2:55:31] I'm the president
and his attorney.
[2:55:35] OK, so I think what
was their reasoning.
[2:55:39] Because it went to scholarships
and Mike was always on the table
[2:55:42] for.
[2:55:42] Do you want to walk
them through of what.
[2:55:44] Yeah so some of the conversation
that we had initially
[2:55:47] I submitted a pretty detailed,
full, transparent budget
[2:55:52] so that everybody could
see what our expenses
[2:55:54] looked like as an organization.
[2:55:56] They asked for a more
high level view of what
[2:55:59] this money would be used for.
[2:56:01] And so I provided a four year
break out of our budgets.
[2:56:04] Looked like for Hispanics
of today and tomorrow
[2:56:06] over the last four years,
having come into the position
[2:56:10] last year, being in my
second year as president,
[2:56:14] I still had to
thumb through some
[2:56:15] of those previous
financial documents,
[2:56:18] but I provided just a
high level overview.
[2:56:20] We consistently
spend around $25,000
[2:56:23] on our events year to year.
[2:56:26] And that's the five events
that we built up to.
[2:56:29] So when I came to the meeting,
the discussion that we had
[2:56:34] was around scaling
up the events.
[2:56:36] We want to not necessarily
recycle the same thing.
[2:56:39] We want to bring larger
talent to the community,
[2:56:42] and we want to draw more
people to the community
[2:56:44] with our events.
[2:56:45] And so that you all are
aware of those events
[2:56:49] that I'm talking about are
5 de Mayo, day of the dead,
[2:56:53] vamos a buscar.
[2:56:54] That event that we host
Hispanic Heritage month,
[2:56:58] which we stopped holding.
[2:57:00] And within Bahia State
University it's now up to hartos
[2:57:04] that event and then
our annual meeting,
[2:57:07] which includes all of
our 35 plus partners
[2:57:10] and all of our volunteers,
including those that
[2:57:13] are part of our dance groups.
[2:57:16] So following that meeting, some
of the feedback that I received
[2:57:21] was we don't necessarily just
want to fully Fund V events,
[2:57:26] and that's completely
understandable.
[2:57:28] I think the reason we
asked for it's a 10,000
[2:57:33] increase from two years past
when we requested 25,000.
[2:57:37] The reason that we asked for
that increase of $10,000 was
[2:57:40] because we see where $25,000
gets us scaling up with $35,000
[2:57:46] we thought was appropriate.
[2:57:49] We're seeing less.
[2:57:52] 
[2:57:55] Less available options for
things like stage tickets.
[2:58:00] So we have to rent
that out more.
[2:58:02] We're seeing more expenses
go up for entertainment.
[2:58:07] So that's not a.
[2:58:10] And so those are really
the big things that we're
[2:58:12] focused on in the coming year.
[2:58:14] Of course, we can
make do figure it out.
[2:58:17] Don't ever say that.
[2:58:18] Yeah, but I wanted to be clear.
[2:58:21] One of the other pieces of
confusion was around revenue.
[2:58:24] And so we have two accounts.
[2:58:26] Lyon County State Bank and the
important Community Foundation
[2:58:29] account.
[2:58:30] Is this going to events.
[2:58:31] Is this going to scholarship.
[2:58:34] This money is solely
pocketed for events.
[2:58:37] So we have money
that could cover it,
[2:58:45] our events in the community
Foundation, but that's
[2:58:48] all earmarked for scholarship.
[2:58:50] And so I wanted to
be clear about that.
[2:58:53] The only other money that
we get is on a matchday.
[2:58:56] And out of anything that
we get from donations
[2:59:00] for corporations or businesses,
which is entirely up to us
[2:59:04] to raise.
[2:59:04] So a good example
is we had 25,000,
[2:59:09] and then that same
year we had 5,000 with
[2:59:11] the michelin's sponsorship.
[2:59:14] And then we had a little close
to $7,000 for matchday that we
[2:59:19] received, and then
everything else
[2:59:22] was previous year rolled over.
[2:59:24] So I like the idea.
[2:59:26] It's for your leveling
up, your talent and I
[2:59:30] get it at this stage.
[2:59:31] And your speaker, I mean, it
just costs money these days,
[2:59:34] and we have already
shown in the past,
[2:59:38] pacer data shows
that there are people
[2:59:40] that are coming from my
County and surrounding areas.
[2:59:44] Of course, we've
seen some changes
[2:59:46] with transition or whether.
[2:59:51] That, but I have no doubt that
this has the ability to continue
[2:59:55] to draw large crowds.
[2:59:57] We get thousands of
people at these events.
[2:59:59] So I'm really proud
of where we're at.
[3:00:02] We've been here for 30
years, so we're close to
[3:00:06] and I know we can do it.
[3:00:07] So thoughts from commissioners
I mean, I like the thought.
[3:00:17] Yeah go ahead.
[3:00:18] Somebody else want to.
[3:00:20] I'm like, I keep reading,
so I don't want to leave.
[3:00:22] I would be willing
to $30,000 for that.
[3:00:25] OK thank you.
[3:00:25] I am too, because I'm like,
if you can do if you can
[3:00:29] do your after
report to say, look,
[3:00:30] we raised our level of talent.
[3:00:32] Here's our stages,
here's you being
[3:00:35] able to maybe work with
somebody else to do something.
[3:00:38] And that's the way to do it.
[3:00:40] Casey would stop taking
pictures or at least cut me out.
[3:00:45] Yeah I only fear, like any
of these is to make sure
[3:00:49] that the funds
are actually used.
[3:00:51] So I understand that the
TTC board recommended
[3:00:56] less because that
$30,000 it goes over
[3:01:00] and above your guys' budget.
[3:01:03] But I would encourage
you guys to level
[3:01:06] up and show that you did that.
[3:01:08] And I think all
30,000 could be yours.
[3:01:12] Yeah I'm agreeing.
[3:01:13] I agree, especially
with your after report.
[3:01:15] Yeah OK thank you.
[3:01:19] Thank you.
[3:01:19] 
[3:01:22] Yeah are we switching
to the next page.
[3:01:27] All right, well, we didn't.
[3:01:28] Are we saying no.
[3:01:30] We're said no to.
[3:01:31] We're moving on to because
we handled that transition.
[3:01:34] All right.
[3:01:34] Let's go.
[3:01:35] Next page.
[3:01:38] All right.
[3:01:38] This is other funds.
[3:01:42] And these are all new requests
other than cross ones.
[3:01:46] Cross ones at $85,000.
[3:01:49] That's the old corner house.
[3:01:50] That's probably the easy
special alcohol green.
[3:01:53] So maybe unless
there's an objection,
[3:01:55] we can green that real quick,
then we can come to the other.
[3:01:58] Which one are you.
[3:01:59] Greening I'm sorry.
[3:02:00] Cross did you have to
do that at that time.
[3:02:03] Did you not do their normal 25.
[3:02:05] They did not submit this year.
[3:02:06] Oh, OK.
[3:02:08] For that.
[3:02:09] And is that the
whole alcohol thing.
[3:02:11] No, that leaves them in.
[3:02:12] That's everything
we have, Taylor.
[3:02:14] I thought we had 105 in it.
[3:02:15] So we said crosswinds is
going to special alcohol.
[3:02:19] Yes OK.
[3:02:20] For oh, right.
[3:02:22] It's not all that's in there.
[3:02:23] But that's the only.
[3:02:25] All right, let's go back to the.
[3:02:27] We just approved 85.
[3:02:28] Yeah OK Flint hills tac.
[3:02:31] Last year, they received $71,000
for their nursing program.
[3:02:35] This year, they're asking
for a number of things.
[3:02:37] 257,000 for precision alcohol,
CeeDee facility renovations
[3:02:43] for city annexation.
[3:02:45] This is precision.
[3:02:46] Precision agriculture.
[3:02:48] Alcohol alcohol.
[3:02:51] There may be something
coming through here.
[3:02:55] Precision precision
agricultural CDL facility.
[3:02:58] Renovations to include ADA and
fire suppression upgrades there.
[3:03:04] So that's 257,000 at best.
[3:03:07] We have funded the.
[3:03:08] Phase out of economic
development funds in the past.
[3:03:15] We three years ago we
took the request to RDA.
[3:03:20] RDA recommended not to fund it.
[3:03:22] The commission went
ahead and funded it.
[3:03:25] And it wasn't nursing.
[3:03:26] What was it.
[3:03:26] It was mental health.
[3:03:29] No, no.
[3:03:30] They're teaching or maintenance.
[3:03:34] Child care.
[3:03:35] Child care program.
[3:03:37] A program to help
child care to get
[3:03:40] their teachers through faster.
[3:03:41] Yes crosswinds.
[3:03:44] We talked about crosswinds.
[3:03:45] Southwick house, $62,000.
[3:03:47] And this is really,
once again, maybe you
[3:03:51] could stretch it into funds.
[3:03:54] I mean, obviously, it's
the other side of economic
[3:03:56] development, $62,000.
[3:04:01] And this is what they're saying
is required emergency fire
[3:04:04] access drive $40,000
for the car parking,
[3:04:09] which I think were hard to
get into economic development,
[3:04:12] making that link
there by itself.
[3:04:15] My mind, it's probably
a general fund thing.
[3:04:18] And then Kansas
Spanish speakers.
[3:04:21] This does go with
workforce development
[3:04:22] and community services
and employment
[3:04:26] and educational services.
[3:04:27] So I think you can make a
fairly easy argument to put
[3:04:31] that in economic development.
[3:04:32] How much is in
economic development.
[3:04:34] 1.5 OK.
[3:04:41] And then imaginarium
this is $20,000
[3:04:48] for their STEM activities.
[3:04:49] I don't know that this goes
in any of our special buckets.
[3:04:53] In my mind this is probably
a general fund request.
[3:04:56] Just hard to put anywhere.
[3:04:58] Emporia Municipal Band.
[3:04:59] That is the same thing that
we've been doing, by the way.
[3:05:01] 7:30 tomorrow night,
ribbon cutting
[3:05:03] on the new Christine Romans.
[3:05:05] Mark debtor Memorial.
[3:05:08] No honorary.
[3:05:10] Can we get those pictures, like
on a stick when you're at, like,
[3:05:13] a ball game and they're
all marked better.
[3:05:15] I asked Mark if he was coming
back and he told me no.
[3:05:19] He probably said no.
[3:05:20] He told me no.
[3:05:21] I was like, oh, so
you're really leaving.
[3:05:23] Can I ask another question.
[3:05:24] Yes when you say economic
development, what do we have.
[3:05:28] Ending cash fund balance
is that right now.
[3:05:30] Yes Well, what we have
going go back to that Taylor
[3:05:34] real quick because the
proposed expenditures are
[3:05:37] these included in that
proposed expenditures amount.
[3:05:41] I don't believe so.
[3:05:42] No this is last
year's look right.
[3:05:46] This is beginning is the
anticipated 26 ending.
[3:05:52] And then the
expenditures and receipts
[3:05:54] for 27 and then ending balance.
[3:05:56] So, so so the expenditures are
all fully funding everything.
[3:06:01] Yes and the 760.
[3:06:02] Well no.
[3:06:02] The 763 is going to
be one of the 763
[3:06:08] is going to basically be the
water tower and RDA expenses.
[3:06:11] So that's what I'm asking.
[3:06:12] Do I need to take that out of
either the beginning balance
[3:06:14] or the ending cash balance.
[3:06:15] No, I mean no, no,
it's out of there.
[3:06:18] Yeah so the so the proposed
expenditures right now
[3:06:21] is just so we have 1.5 left
after funding RDA and the water
[3:06:26] tower that we can use on
these things that aren't
[3:06:28] in that expenditure
stuff, depending
[3:06:30] on what we want to maintain.
[3:06:32] We don't have a requirement
for a balance on that.
[3:06:34] I would tell you, unless we
truly have somebody who's
[3:06:37] going to create
2000 jobs, I really
[3:06:39] want a strong balance in that.
[3:06:41] Make sure it comes out
of industrial and TGT.
[3:06:45] Yes Main Street.
[3:06:46] Yes right.
[3:06:47] Yes in general keeping them.
[3:06:49] Yeah part of that
763 does include
[3:06:52] the 257 for the Flint hills and
the 25 for the Kansas speakers.
[3:06:59] Does it include and
the water tower.
[3:07:01] Yes, it does.
[3:07:02] OK yeah.
[3:07:05] OK OK.
[3:07:06] 
[3:07:09] 48 RDA is not in there,
so we're 400,000.
[3:07:12] So that's the problem.
[3:07:13] RDA is not in there.
[3:07:14] So that's $400,000 we need
to add in there to fund RDA.
[3:07:18] So it's 257 that
we have in there.
[3:07:21] So really the
normal expenditures
[3:07:23] we need to add 130 to get
to the normal expenditures.
[3:07:28] And then we tried
doing City Math.
[3:07:29] Just tell me how much
money you got left.
[3:07:32] Yeah I think it best you guys
have 150 to play with her
[3:07:37] in economic development.
[3:07:40] Thank you.
[3:07:41] So we don't really have.
[3:07:43] So can we now look at the
economic development ones first.
[3:07:46] Yes so that would be
economic development.
[3:07:49] Go back so that
what could go in.
[3:07:52] I like that screen there.
[3:07:53] What could go in
economic development.
[3:07:55] Is ESU.
[3:07:57] I don't know that can go in
there because that's for what is
[3:08:00] that for the drug prevention.
[3:08:03] Well, they typically
do it out of that fund.
[3:08:05] This is their fishing one
that they do with hot.
[3:08:09] So could that mean could
you get TGT on that one.
[3:08:13] To me it is because
they're bringing
[3:08:16] everybody to do a whole
day of outdoor activity.
[3:08:19] I mean it's an event.
[3:08:20] It's an event event
or a tourist event.
[3:08:23] I think it's both
because they bring
[3:08:24] the kids come from just
funded part of its budget
[3:08:28] for that exact event.
[3:08:30] The hot portion of
it, not the portion.
[3:08:33] Yeah Leland, can you
speak at all on that one.
[3:08:41] Well ESU certainly has never put
in a request, to my knowledge,
[3:08:44] for that specific event.
[3:08:46] And obviously I've not seen
the specific application,
[3:08:48] so I'm not quite sure
what they might be asking,
[3:08:50] but yes, I did hear Mike
clearly, as you all did,
[3:08:53] that is one of the events that
they requested funding for.
[3:08:58] That's about the most historical
context of this issue,
[3:09:01] to my knowledge,
has ever made it.
[3:09:03] It does sound a little
more transient guest
[3:09:04] tax, in my humble opinion,
but I have a weird question.
[3:09:09] Casey woods, can you.
[3:09:11] They told it out.
[3:09:11] The prophet can placer narrowed
down to just the prophet aquatic
[3:09:17] center or whatever it's called.
[3:09:20] I would just be curious.
[3:09:21] Yeah, we can put that
yellow for the day.
[3:09:23] Yeah I wouldn't
take it out of ego.
[3:09:27] If anything, I'm leaning
toward something else.
[3:09:30] TGT that has a little
bit of wiggle words,
[3:09:33] in case you understood
my words. right.
[3:09:37] What else do you want.
[3:09:39] So, did you just
make that yellow.
[3:09:41] Is that what we decided.
[3:09:42] And maybe get some
more information on it.
[3:09:43] Yeah OK.
[3:09:45] Big Brothers Big Sisters trying
to start that program back up,
[3:09:48] and they're asking
for an appropriation.
[3:09:50] Does anybody hear
from Big brothers.
[3:09:52] Big sisters.
[3:09:53] I don't feel like
that's going to be red.
[3:09:57] Yeah I'm sorry.
[3:09:58] I'm like, that's wonderful.
[3:09:59] But if and if $5,000 is
going to make or break you,
[3:10:02] this is not should
have had somebody here
[3:10:05] to try to explain it to us.
[3:10:07] Well, I mean, it's
a great program.
[3:10:09] Don't be wrong,
but I just can't.
[3:10:11] It's a city thing.
[3:10:12] Yeah all right.
[3:10:15] Imaginarium 25,000.
[3:10:16] Once again, we think at best,
that would be general funding.
[3:10:19] Oh, that's somebody's
half salary.
[3:10:22] 
[3:10:24] Didn't we give
them for last time.
[3:10:28] We did out of TGT funding
when they were looking
[3:10:31] at doing the more museum.
[3:10:33] And did they buy any of
that was there after.
[3:10:36] They have not that money
has been impounded.
[3:10:39] So we need to have a
conversation on that.
[3:10:41] So I think until they clear
that up then I'm sorry.
[3:10:44] I think I read yeah, yeah,
they got to get there together.
[3:10:54] All right, now we're
down to eco devo.
[3:10:58] We have the Kansas Spanish
speakers at $25,000.
[3:11:01] That was OK, right.
[3:11:03] Workforce development.
[3:11:04] Which I think does
fit into eco devo.
[3:11:06] Yeah that much
workforce development.
[3:11:09] That's a huge increase.
[3:11:11] That's going from 0 to 25,000.
[3:11:13] Leland is here.
[3:11:14] No, no, not that one.
[3:11:15] I'm totally fine with that one.
[3:11:16] I thought you were on the FH.
[3:11:18] No, we're on the Spanish.
[3:11:20] Yeah, I'm good
with that up here.
[3:11:21] OK I think they
just keep it short.
[3:11:24] You're already at a green for
most of it, so there you go.
[3:11:28] Don't talk yourself.
[3:11:29] Don't talk yourself.
[3:11:29] Out of 25,000.
[3:11:31] Well, it's a new request.
[3:11:33] And we're a new organization
by all standards.
[3:11:36] Just this past
month, we celebrated
[3:11:37] two years of being a 501(c)(3.
[3:11:39] We started as a language club.
[3:11:41] As most of you are aware,
we try really hard.
[3:11:44] We do have some
new commissioners,
[3:11:45] so we want to make sure
we're communicating with you.
[3:11:48] But in those short two
years we have quickly became
[3:11:51] very much a community
development organization
[3:11:53] and in my opinion, a fairly
critical and essential one.
[3:11:56] Obviously, we work predominantly
with Spanish speaking
[3:11:58] population in our community,
which you guys know the stats.
[3:12:01] 2010 we were 15% Hispanic.
[3:12:03] By today we're 33%
of the over 1,000
[3:12:06] people that have lost their
jobs in the past 18 months.
[3:12:09] My organization, which is really
two gals, have seen nearly 500
[3:12:13] of those people.
[3:12:14] We've helped them with
unemployment request
[3:12:15] applications, job applications,
resume building, computer
[3:12:18] literacy, programming and all.
[3:12:21] Almost all of those
Spanish speaking, a couple
[3:12:24] speaking, which we do our best
to translate like anyone else
[3:12:27] would.
[3:12:28] But we're there for
anyone and everyone
[3:12:29] that needs that assistance.
[3:12:30] But the point is our
Hispanic community
[3:12:32] is being disproportionately
affected by the layoffs
[3:12:34] that we're
experiencing, basically
[3:12:35] because they're
predominantly employed
[3:12:37] in those manufacturing roles.
[3:12:39] And our organization has
been a critical lifeline
[3:12:41] to retaining them in
Emporia as long as possible.
[3:12:45] Unemployment gets them
another four months.
[3:12:48] Job applications get them
either working back in Emporia
[3:12:51] or and I will share
with you overwhelmingly,
[3:12:53] they want to remain in Emporia.
[3:12:55] They're willing to commute
to Topeka or Ottawa,
[3:12:57] the warehouses or
factories there.
[3:12:59] And anecdotally speaking,
our organization,
[3:13:02] by admission of
these individuals,
[3:13:04] has been essential in keeping
them in our community.
[3:13:06] They would not have otherwise
been as easily able to remain
[3:13:10] here without our assistance.
[3:13:12] Some of that's
technical expertise.
[3:13:13] A lot of that is trust building.
[3:13:15] And so we went back and
forth on whether to make
[3:13:18] a request to the city.
[3:13:19] But we feel strongly and
confidently that this is work
[3:13:22] that we have become experts in.
[3:13:25] We enjoy assisting in this way.
[3:13:27] We want to continue
doing it, but we
[3:13:29] need support in order to do it.
[3:13:31] And so that's what
this request is.
[3:13:33] And it's not just the
workforce development,
[3:13:36] as Trey put in
the summary there,
[3:13:38] there's a whole other
slew of just community
[3:13:40] integration that takes place.
[3:13:42] It's connecting people to
primary care physicians.
[3:13:44] It's helping them
get driver's license.
[3:13:46] All of those things factor in.
[3:13:48] Driver's license isn't
just for driving,
[3:13:49] it's also for applying for jobs
and immigration documentation.
[3:13:53] Make sure they have the
appropriate documentation
[3:13:55] that allows them to work.
[3:13:57] All of those things
help grow our pool
[3:14:00] of talent that can be employed
here, that can reside here,
[3:14:02] that can rent or
buy homes and pay
[3:14:04] property taxes and sales tax in
our stores and all those things.
[3:14:07] And so we're proud of
the work we've done.
[3:14:10] We've been excited to share it
on a platform with the city.
[3:14:13] And I think this request is
an Avenue for us to open up
[3:14:15] that conversation
about what we're doing
[3:14:17] and how we can work
together on that.
[3:14:20] OK thank you.
[3:14:22] Green green.
[3:14:23] All right.
[3:14:24] Green right.
[3:14:27] Now that changes color.
[3:14:28] It's in the right bucket.
[3:14:29] So, can I speak on behalf
of imaginarium real quick.
[3:14:32] Sure sure.
[3:14:33] Yeah Who is this.
[3:14:37] So, your name and name and
address, Brianna Nelson.
[3:14:42] I am the president of the
Board for imaginarium.
[3:14:46] So the whole plan
that they had had
[3:14:47] originally was when we
got the TJ grant was
[3:14:52] to build a Children's Museum.
[3:14:55] They started working with
somebody who is a business
[3:14:59] consultant based
off of the Patterson
[3:15:02] group grants and everything.
[3:15:03] They have gotten decided that
was not the best direction
[3:15:05] within the next five years.
[3:15:07] So the sale of the building
actually happened today.
[3:15:10] And so now the focus is to
bring back STEM learning to
[3:15:16] with the classes
and the summer camps
[3:15:17] and everything of that sort
versus the actual museum,
[3:15:22] I guess.
[3:15:24] So with that said,
the money that
[3:15:25] they need now is
completely different
[3:15:27] from the original Last year's.
[3:15:30] It's more so for consumable
items for the kids.
[3:15:33] I mean, they're going
through products
[3:15:35] frequently, especially with
summer camps and everything.
[3:15:38] Reusing items it's bringing.
[3:15:42] Let's see, they have a
whole list of things.
[3:15:44] Sorry it was not my favorite.
[3:15:46] 
[3:15:52] No can I grab my phone.
[3:15:54] Sure yeah, sure.
[3:15:55] Yeah let's see.
[3:16:05] Do we already have.
[3:16:07] OK OK.
[3:16:08] So their whole plan is to invest
in long term sustainability,
[3:16:13] to strengthen the actual
foundation of the organization
[3:16:15] before moving forward.
[3:16:18] They've kind of developed
now a three year fundraising
[3:16:21] plan to move forward.
[3:16:24] So this is going to
be bringing in money
[3:16:25] for the different
children that are
[3:16:27] in the groups, the classes, the
stem, like the drop in classes,
[3:16:34] everything of that sort.
[3:16:35] They also do a adult classes
to bring different stem things,
[3:16:42] since they're not being taught
as much in the school system.
[3:16:45] So it's going to
be more so I said,
[3:16:47] for the consumable products,
supplies, different things
[3:16:50] from that source.
[3:16:51] It's also going to go towards
scholarships for kids who
[3:16:54] are in the community, who
have actually reached out
[3:16:56] to families, have
reached out, and there's
[3:16:58] cost barriers associated with
not being able to get their kids
[3:17:02] into it, but they want to.
[3:17:03] So local businesses and
everything of that sort.
[3:17:07] But they want to
be able to actually
[3:17:08] because they got rid of the peak
foundation or the keep program.
[3:17:12] So a lot of kids weren't able
to afford to be able to go
[3:17:15] to the classes and everything.
[3:17:17] So that's what the money is
being requested for this time
[3:17:21] versus the original plan.
[3:17:23] So there is a difference
in between them.
[3:17:25] So yeah, I think the
reason we put it in red
[3:17:31] is because it just doesn't the
ask that they had last year
[3:17:34] fit into one of our buckets.
[3:17:36] And this ask just simply doesn't
fit into one of our buckets.
[3:17:39] So since it does bring in
people from other towns,
[3:17:42] I mean, people do
travel from Wichita.
[3:17:44] They travel from it's
not just Emporia.
[3:17:48] There are children
that are I mean,
[3:17:49] they have a vast Casey is that
can we get a placer on that.
[3:17:53] Because they have I
mean, they teach classes.
[3:17:55] Melanie Melanie goes to Madison.
[3:17:57] She travels and does things
that brings people in.
[3:17:59] I mean, my boys do
classes at imaginarium
[3:18:02] and they have kids that are.
[3:18:04] Tell us how you
think that it would
[3:18:05] fit in workforce development
for eco devo and/or.
[3:18:10] No, I think she's I think she's
saying I understand that it
[3:18:13] doesn't fit into
one of these four,
[3:18:15] but it is bringing people
from outside the community.
[3:18:18] But could part of it be proven.
[3:18:20] Proven to be tgt?
[3:18:22] So if Casey could do
a place here for us
[3:18:23] and we could look
at it and say, Casey
[3:18:25] knows more about all of that.
[3:18:26] So we're putting it
in a yellow in TGT.
[3:18:29] Maybe we do it in the blue and
ask TGT to take a look at it.
[3:18:34] I have a note for it
that it's going back
[3:18:36] to TGT, have them
look at the place
[3:18:38] or make a recommendation on it.
[3:18:40] Sure OK.
[3:18:41] But then it comes back to us.
[3:18:43] Yes yeah.
[3:18:44] Yeah OK.
[3:18:45] Thank you guys.
[3:18:45] Maybe the request amount
changes according to the data.
[3:18:49] Yeah and they can share that.
[3:18:51] Thank you.
[3:18:54] All right Amanda.
[3:18:58] Greg Amanda.
[3:19:00] Yeah the band is just here.
[3:19:02] Yes Bands are just hanging out.
[3:19:05] Bands? green.
[3:19:06] Band The band.
[3:19:08] Band is green.
[3:19:08] Green all right.
[3:19:09] Back here for the band.
[3:19:11] All right, you're green.
[3:19:12] Oh, OK.
[3:19:14] Yeah come on.
[3:19:15] You can be free
whenever you want.
[3:19:16] Now you're green salad, but.
[3:19:18] Yeah Southwick or FTC.
[3:19:25] FTC is anybody here.
[3:19:26] Can I reach over you.
[3:19:28] I'm sorry.
[3:19:29] Come on up.
[3:19:30] Well, howdy.
[3:19:31] 
[3:19:37] How much is it in the eco
devo tech college South.
[3:19:39] One 5150 150,000.
[3:19:44] 150 I think 150 is a safe
amount to stay in 150,000.
[3:19:48] And we've already
spent 25 or committed.
[3:19:51] Yeah So I'm just.
[3:19:54] I know it's math.
[3:19:55] So we got 1:25 left.
[3:19:56] That would be what I
would be comfortable with.
[3:19:59] OK go ahead.
[3:20:00] Go ahead.
[3:20:00] Estimation of math.
[3:20:02] Hello Nancy Thompson.
[3:20:03] I'm taking Karen
Doherty's place.
[3:20:05] Forgive her for not being
able to be here today.
[3:20:07] She was out of town.
[3:20:09] So we are requesting assistance
with renovating our building
[3:20:14] over on the overlander
road to fill our precision
[3:20:21] ag program and our CDL program.
[3:20:23] And the requests that are on
the Appropriations Committee
[3:20:26] are for the ADA compliance
type renovations that we have.
[3:20:31] We've had some requests for the
County and some other grants
[3:20:36] out to for equipment and some
of the other renovations.
[3:20:41] But that's the ADA side
of what we were requesting
[3:20:45] from the city for support.
[3:20:47] Are there other questions.
[3:20:50] Aaron, weren't you
with us when we cross
[3:20:52] ones came for help with their
building 2 and we were like,
[3:20:55] we told them to go
out and match it.
[3:20:57] And then they did not
come back to us on a match
[3:21:00] because we were like, we can't
fund everybody's physical.
[3:21:05] Things we want to come back
to talk about Southwick
[3:21:10] and see how they pair.
[3:21:13] 
[3:21:17] Yeah I'm not.
[3:21:18] Yeah you can stay here,
just for a second.
[3:21:22] Yeah Karen.
[3:21:23] Aaron and thanks for the fans.
[3:21:28] Good suggestion.
[3:21:30] That was a good suggestion
all the way across the board.
[3:21:32] Aaron staring in the room
where Aaron, Aaron and Kara
[3:21:37] from Southwick
and Aaron, I think
[3:21:39] you're going to speak a little.
[3:21:40] Yeah what do you
guys want to know.
[3:21:42] How do you think it
fits into eco devo?
[3:21:44] So in the comprehensive
plan, specifically
[3:21:48] in the economic
development section,
[3:21:50] it mentions equitable
housing as a prime driver
[3:21:53] for economic development.
[3:21:55] And that's where we fit in.
[3:21:56] There's a growing gap between
those who are homeless,
[3:22:00] who do not have a
place to sleep tonight
[3:22:02] and however many
weeks in the future.
[3:22:05] And what's considered low.
[3:22:08] Low income housing,
low income renting,
[3:22:10] there's a massive gap there
and we plan to bridge that gap.
[3:22:15] How were your priorities be
of somebody who is homeless
[3:22:18] versus somebody who has
no place to sleep tomorrow
[3:22:21] versus I'm full
because everybody's
[3:22:23] on our low rent side, I guess.
[3:22:26] Are you trying to
speak, Becky But do you
[3:22:28] see where I'm going with that.
[3:22:29] Like, how are you going to
prioritize your clients,
[3:22:32] prioritize them.
[3:22:33] It'll be first
come, first serve,
[3:22:35] and there will be some
taken away for it's certain.
[3:22:42] Like aggressive.
[3:22:45] Yeah so that a
lot of people will
[3:22:46] come and refer through
certain community partners.
[3:22:48] Is this what you're doing.
[3:22:49] Well, who's getting turned away.
[3:22:50] There are only sex offenders.
[3:22:52] Offenders? know what I'm saying.
[3:22:53] You have, and we'll
just round numbers.
[3:22:55] Your facility has
all low rent people
[3:23:00] right now, which is great.
[3:23:01] Say they're all.
[3:23:02] But now we have two
homeless people walking in.
[3:23:05] How do you.
[3:23:08] I think that our goal
is that with the stay
[3:23:11] is only 280 days, which is
meant to be a time to stabilize.
[3:23:14] So for someone who is homeless
or in a low income level,
[3:23:17] it's never meant to be a
permanent solution, which
[3:23:19] is intended to keep
that space open,
[3:23:22] to keep spaces opening
up continually.
[3:23:24] So It's not meant to be
a permanent situation
[3:23:27] or permanent housing situation.
[3:23:29] It's meant to be a place where
when someone is on hard times
[3:23:32] and they need just that little
bit help and that little bit
[3:23:34] of stabilization maybe
they've lost their job,
[3:23:37] maybe they had some type of
catastrophic medical illness.
[3:23:41] They need a little time.
[3:23:43] So whether or not the
space will be first come,
[3:23:48] first serve, but the goal will
be for the minute someone comes
[3:23:50] in the door to get
them stabilized
[3:23:52] and get them back out so that
then those spaces open up
[3:23:55] for others.
[3:23:55] Yeah the idea is
to turn it over,
[3:23:57] but if you're asking
if we're going
[3:23:58] to have to turn people away
because we're at max capacity.
[3:24:00] Absolutely well, yeah, but
your whole thing for eco
[3:24:03] devo is for the lower rent.
[3:24:06] And so I'm asking, how much.
[3:24:09] 90% lower rent.
[3:24:10] Like how that would really.
[3:24:12] Yeah deal.
[3:24:13] It really depends on what the
needs of the employer are.
[3:24:16] If we have more people who
can't afford section 8 housing,
[3:24:20] then we're going to have to
service a lot more people who
[3:24:24] are on the verge of
homelessness as opposed to
[3:24:25] in that low rent category.
[3:24:28] 
[3:24:32] And I'll also say that
there's a lot of literature
[3:24:34] out there from HUD
about stable housing
[3:24:37] and how it relates to
workforce development.
[3:24:39] And that all of us sitting
around the table right now
[3:24:42] have a bed to go
home to at night,
[3:24:44] have a stove to cook
a hot meal over.
[3:24:47] But when you're working
an eight hour shift,
[3:24:49] and I know you guys are
all fogged up in the brain
[3:24:52] because of how the last
four hours have gone,
[3:24:55] all you want to do is go home
and you want to rest well.
[3:24:58] It's pretty tough to do your
job and do your job effectively.
[3:25:00] If you don't know where you're
going to lay your head down
[3:25:02] at night when you get home.
[3:25:05] There's a lot of
literature out there
[3:25:07] that suggests stable living
supports workforce development.
[3:25:12] I would add the other factor
with us, with our priority
[3:25:15] being women and families, that
families tend to look different
[3:25:18] when it comes to homelessness.
[3:25:20] They don't tend as often
to end up on the street.
[3:25:22] They end up, living
in a car, living
[3:25:25] in someone's spare
bedroom or and so
[3:25:28] that kind of brings us
back to that lower income
[3:25:30] scenario versus what we
like a chronic homelessness
[3:25:34] type situation.
[3:25:35] So I think that the
nature of our facility
[3:25:37] will draw us back
to that lower income
[3:25:40] category versus true
unhoused homelessness.
[3:25:43] But we plan to be able to
accept both the 85,000 we spent.
[3:25:50] Special parks that has to go to
treatments, though, doesn't it.
[3:25:55] What's the.
[3:25:56] Let me have Christina look at
the special alcohol state law.
[3:26:00] So one thing I will say is that
we're not offering any case
[3:26:03] management, and that's fine.
[3:26:04] I'm just wondering, I'll
be honest, we only have.
[3:26:07] How much did we have left, Kurt.
[3:26:09] Yeah, like 125.
[3:26:10] Yeah, that's what
I was thinking.
[3:26:13] Thank you, Eric and math.
[3:26:15] And while she's looking
that up, I you mentioned
[3:26:17] the crosswinds at last year.
[3:26:19] You guys had talked
about them matching.
[3:26:22] We're asking for very,
very, very small percentage
[3:26:25] of our overall budget.
[3:26:26] Our overall construction
budget comes out to about 3.1
[3:26:29] when you account for all
the indirect costs with it.
[3:26:32] But you're asking for a very,
very large part of our budget.
[3:26:35] Yes so it's all relative.
$62,000 of 1.5 million.
[3:26:41] We're down to $150,000
left in this fund.
[3:26:44] Yeah, there's no 051 25 now.
[3:26:47] One there's no other
zeros behind here
[3:26:49] anymore because they didn't.
[3:26:52] Yeah they had to add
in our other stuff.
[3:26:54] 
[3:26:56] So the commission
can either accept 60.
[3:26:59] You can change the amount.
[3:27:01] You can tell them respectfully
know what your thoughts.
[3:27:06] Can I say one last thing.
[3:27:07] Sure in the application.
[3:27:08] Don't make me put
the two minutes on.
[3:27:10] I'm sorry.
[3:27:12] In the application, I
mentioned that $46,000 of it is
[3:27:16] construction for an additional
fire lane that we didn't know
[3:27:18] we needed until about December.
[3:27:21] I want to say January.
[3:27:23] And last fall we
had submitted plans
[3:27:25] pretty early on to the city.
[3:27:27] The plans got pushed back and
forth between our design review
[3:27:30] team and the city, and
ended up landing on his desk
[3:27:34] about a week before he left.
[3:27:36] So the plans kind of sat in
limbo for quite some time,
[3:27:38] and we had to move
forward with our plans
[3:27:41] to get them bid out
on the CDBG timeline,
[3:27:44] because we didn't have
enough time to actually
[3:27:47] reassess that additional cost.
[3:27:49] We bid it as an adult to
our construction budget
[3:27:52] and have the contractor
bid it, so we knew exactly
[3:27:54] how much was going into that.
[3:27:56] Otherwise, the
alternative was probably
[3:27:58] to start chopping off rooms
or go with other materials
[3:28:02] that were less costly.
[3:28:03] We weren't awarded that
time to go over those budget
[3:28:06] considerations, simply
because the process took
[3:28:09] so long with that fire lane.
[3:28:11] So we're asking for $46,000
in appropriations, really,
[3:28:15] for that fire lane addition, as
well as an extra 16,000 of just
[3:28:19] additional construction costs.
[3:28:23] Principal purpose.
[3:28:24] How many rooms do you sleep
or how many South of the house
[3:28:29] is it.
[3:28:30] Is it 12 or 14.
[3:28:31] No it's 14.
[3:28:32] Non-congregate rooms with
111 non-congregate 14.
[3:28:37] Congregate rooms with
the amount of beds.
[3:28:39] Space to hold as many as 60.
[3:28:41] 60 yeah, like 060.
[3:28:45] Non-congregate is like that.
[3:28:46] One unit is basically almost
like an efficiency apartment.
[3:28:49] It's kind of a
self-contained unit,
[3:28:51] particularly because we'll
have families and children.
[3:28:53] That allows us to have a
space because everybody else
[3:28:56] shares a kitchen,
shares a living space.
[3:28:58] They have their
own sleeping space,
[3:29:00] but they share the
showers and bathrooms.
[3:29:01] I mean, it's a separate kind
of a roommate situation.
[3:29:04] Yeah it's like you're
living in the dorms, right.
[3:29:05] Yeah that is you have
your own room, but yeah.
[3:29:09] Are you going to have any
space that is dedicated
[3:29:12] to alcohol and
drug people who are
[3:29:15] in alcohol and drug treatment.
[3:29:17] Not any dedicated space.
[3:29:19] I know I'm trying.
[3:29:21] It says it's the principle you
use has to be the treatment
[3:29:25] of alcohol and drug.
[3:29:28] Unless Cara has.
[3:29:29] So Cara has been our executive
director since February.
[3:29:32] Oh, no.
[3:29:32] Like, end of March.
[3:29:34] End of March.
[3:29:35] And she's been working
with the Kansas
[3:29:36] Housing Coalition for a while.
[3:29:38] So maybe there have
been updates that.
[3:29:40] So I know that we qualify for
certain drug and alcohol things
[3:29:45] under their transitional
housing rules,
[3:29:46] because one of the
requirements, I mean,
[3:29:48] we anticipate a significant
proportion of our client,
[3:29:52] of our residents to be people
with substance use treatment
[3:29:56] happening at that
time or children who
[3:29:58] have been impacted by drug use.
[3:30:01] So it is an anticipated large
portion of our population.
[3:30:06] But until we open the doors.
[3:30:08] I can't know what that
percentage will be.
[3:30:11] We will be having an MOU with
crosswinds and other substance
[3:30:15] use providers.
[3:30:16] So it's definitely a
component in what we do.
[3:30:19] So is there anything
in your budget
[3:30:21] that you could move out
that this would fit in more
[3:30:25] into your budget in a section.
[3:30:27] You see what I'm saying.
[3:30:27] Like, can if we're like,
oh, if we're going to pay, I
[3:30:31] don't 5,000 for your duck pond.
[3:30:34] So take your duck pond
out and it's going to be
[3:30:36] over paid for something else.
[3:30:38] And then we slide in there.
[3:30:39] I'm trying to get you
anywhere I designate one.
[3:30:42] Would designating one room
specifically for that use.
[3:30:46] Christina suffice.
[3:30:47] We're looking at the
Statue on the fly.
[3:30:48] Yeah it says that the
money shall be expended
[3:30:52] for other services
or programs whose
[3:30:56] principal purpose is alcoholism
and drug abuse prevention.
[3:31:01] But that could be
a program within.
[3:31:04] It doesn't have to be the
sole use of the whole.
[3:31:07] That could be a piece of it
and then just that piece.
[3:31:09] But that doesn't give them a
full allow people to have drugs
[3:31:12] or alcohol at Southwick house.
[3:31:14] Or will you.
[3:31:14] I mean, would that somebody
who is in treatment.
[3:31:16] But some 100% people will be in
treatment because we've already
[3:31:20] been in conversation with in
powerhouse about transitioning
[3:31:23] people out into our facility.
[3:31:25] And we have already been in
conversation with crosswinds
[3:31:28] about building an
MOU for their clients
[3:31:30] who are going through
drug treatment.
[3:31:33] So, I mean, but that doesn't
help them build a fire lane.
[3:31:36] Well, yeah, it goes
to the construction
[3:31:39] of the entire I mean, it's
all towards the facility.
[3:31:41] Yeah because unfortunately,
a lot of the wiggle
[3:31:43] room, like for example,
there were initially
[3:31:46] plans to have some things
back behind the building,
[3:31:48] but with the extension
of the fire lane,
[3:31:50] we have not actually had
a chance to reevaluate
[3:31:52] those things either.
[3:31:54] And those would be the areas
we probably would have cut.
[3:31:56] If what we'd need to do is
2027 is show that we treated
[3:32:00] someone for you, you
probably need to show
[3:32:03] that you have a program.
[3:32:05] Do you and any other
support services
[3:32:07] that are job skills related.
[3:32:10] For sure.
[3:32:11] And I think I
mean, possibly if I
[3:32:15] think you would have to
show that a certain how many
[3:32:19] and what's your total
cost for the whole thing
[3:32:22] is like 3.6 for the 3.63, 3.1
for the actual construction,
[3:32:26] 3.6.
[3:32:27] And how many rooms.
[3:32:30] 3.1 and there's 15 units, 15
units, 14 non-congregate or
[3:32:36] congregate one non-congregate.
[3:32:38] Now I'm into math.
[3:32:39] Can we put them in yellow.
[3:32:40] Let's put them in yellow.
[3:32:42] And we can do some creative
thinking outside the box.
[3:32:45] And that way we can move on, try
to see if we're all tired, OK.
[3:32:49] See what we can do.
[3:32:49] Yeah OK.
[3:32:50] Good we're trying, we're trying.
[3:32:52] Our estimates of math are not
working as well this morning.
[3:32:59] Thank you guys.
[3:33:00] Thank you.
[3:33:00] OK oh.
[3:33:03] Nancy Nancy.
[3:33:04] Yeah is Nancy it.
[3:33:07] Yeah No Cara.
[3:33:09] Cara Cara.
[3:33:10] Kara it's Renee.
[3:33:11] Yeah, they've been sitting
here since the meeting started.
[3:33:15] Yeah you guys sat
through the whole.
[3:33:16] They sat through everything.
[3:33:19] I should've took you up on you.
[3:33:20] Didn't have anything else
to do today, did you.
[3:33:23] Not at all.
[3:33:25] No working on your house at all.
[3:33:26] Are you.
[3:33:28] Are you live there.
[3:33:30] OK nice.
[3:33:31] Yeah they're my new neighbors.
[3:33:33] Yeah oh, down the street.
[3:33:35] Yeah, I'll be honest, because
I can be honest with Renee.
[3:33:40] I'm like, a parking lot is not
floating my boat for the money.
[3:33:44] I mean, if we start
doing it for you.
[3:33:47] Well, I want a parking lot,
or I want a parking lot,
[3:33:49] or I want a parking lot.
[3:33:50] So I'll just speak to
how I'm the CFO there.
[3:33:54] I respect that we were
like, trying to look at,
[3:33:59] yes, it'll be a parking
lot for our employees,
[3:34:01] but we are so close
to Hammond park
[3:34:04] and that State Street, if
you guys have driven on it,
[3:34:06] it has no curbing.
[3:34:07] No, we actually had to
park on there at one point.
[3:34:10] It's pretty congested, but
we thought we could open
[3:34:12] it up to evening and weekends.
[3:34:15] And we were willing to if there
was an event scheduled to have
[3:34:18] that parking lot available,
we're like, right by hole
[3:34:20] number 6 on that disk golf.
[3:34:22] So we ask you like we asked
them, is there something
[3:34:24] else that this could fit in so
that opens up the moneys for you
[3:34:29] to spend on your parking lot.
[3:34:32] Do you see what I'm
trying to lay down.
[3:34:36] 
[3:34:42] Because where do we have I mean,
where do we have them right now.
[3:34:46] Nowhere we're floating.
[3:34:47] We're floating Floating yeah.
[3:34:52] Do you have treatment
plans, though.
[3:34:53] Don't you know.
[3:34:55] You don't have.
[3:34:56] We see people with addiction.
[3:34:58] Yes but you don't.
[3:34:59] But you don't have a specific
counseling services for people.
[3:35:02] They do counseling
services, therapy.
[3:35:05] But yeah.
[3:35:06] Med management.
[3:35:07] Just do more Med management.
[3:35:09] How much is in special parts.
[3:35:10] Left just under 50.
[3:35:13] Sorry that's good math.
[3:35:14] Well, we were.
[3:35:15] We're trying over here.
[3:35:17] Yeah so 24,000 negative 85.
[3:35:21] It's less than 50.
[3:35:23] It's 30.
[3:35:25] Parks has to be in the parks.
[3:35:27] Special alcohol.
[3:35:28] Yes, yes, special alcohol
has to be treatment.
[3:35:30] Special parks has to
just be in the parks.
[3:35:32] Yeah we don't have
any special parks.
[3:35:34] That's what I'm asking.
[3:35:35] Special parks.
[3:35:35] Not special.
[3:35:37] I'm sorry.
[3:35:37] Special alcohol.
[3:35:38] Giving numbers.
[3:35:39] Special special alcohol.
[3:35:40] Special alcohol.
[3:35:41] What do you guys decide on.
[3:35:43] Southwick southwick?
[3:35:45] We haven't yet.
[3:35:46] They're yellow.
[3:35:46] Yellow the special
alcohol has $212,000.
[3:35:53] The receipts come through
and then 85 of it's
[3:35:56] going to crosswinds.
[3:35:57] So crosswinds is already
on your expenditures.
[3:36:01] She has 88 5.
[3:36:05] Yeah crosswinds and ESU
are already on your sheet.
[3:36:08] OK, so if there's nothing.
[3:36:10] If Southwick's
not in there, then
[3:36:11] there's 125 special alcohol.
[3:36:13] So for 124, 153.
[3:36:16] That one.
[3:36:17] How much is in special park.
[3:36:21] 25,000 I don't know what.
[3:36:23] But that's negative 15.
[3:36:26] Negative 109 we don't
know what's in the 109.
[3:36:28] Kevin, have a mower.
[3:36:29] Usually Kevin has
mowers and stuff.
[3:36:31] Janet is the 15
for the Municipal
[3:36:33] Band and special parks.
[3:36:35] Yes it is.
[3:36:35] And that 109.
[3:36:37] None of this other
stuff, though.
[3:36:38] Then we have mowers
in there for 94,000.
[3:36:41] For 94,000.
[3:36:42] So we have 25 left.
[3:36:43] Yeah correct.
[3:36:44] That's the ending.
[3:36:45] Balance is 25,000.
[3:36:46] Yes so we don't necessarily
need ending balance there.
[3:36:49] I mean we have COVID.
[3:36:51] We're probably not doing
Municipal Band next year.
[3:36:53] I mean, just the.
[3:36:56] Play inside.
[3:36:57] Outside yes.
[3:36:59] The location of the parking.
[3:37:00] Off street parking.
[3:37:02] I mean, we could.
[3:37:02] Yes it is.
[3:37:04] I mean, if they wanted to.
[3:37:06] I mean, we're getting
creative here.
[3:37:08] I mean, if they wanted
to take that space
[3:37:12] and deed it to
the city as and we
[3:37:16] could call it part of the park.
[3:37:18] 
[3:37:21] Then you just have a
parking lot and then
[3:37:23] you just said we're
maintaining it for the rest
[3:37:25] of the city's life.
[3:37:26] And that's very true.
[3:37:27] I'm Could she OK.
[3:37:29] Could she put up signs and say.
[3:37:31] Or could we do a cross easement.
[3:37:33] I guess the other thing
is access park parking.
[3:37:36] We could do, what we did with.
[3:37:39] Well, when it was the community
club, but we had the parking.
[3:37:43] Is pickleball parking there.
[3:37:45] We maintain that.
[3:37:47] I mean, I'm sure if we have an
easement there, we'll probably
[3:37:49] be asked to fix the
potholes in 10 or 15 years
[3:37:52] when we get potholes,
but I don't know.
[3:37:56] I mean, would that be an
MOU to do it with sos?
[3:37:59] Sos?
[3:38:00] yeah.
[3:38:01] Who do we pay for
it out of parking,
[3:38:02] though, or out of parks.
[3:38:03] No, no, I don't think so.
[3:38:05] That's a Sacred Heart.
[3:38:08] Sacred Heart.
[3:38:09] We gave them a license
agreement to build it.
[3:38:11] OK I believe.
[3:38:14] What did you.
[3:38:15] That was we just had.
[3:38:17] We did an easement so that
it's a joint parking lot city.
[3:38:21] And I think on all
of these yellows,
[3:38:26] I would encourage city staff
to work with the applicants
[3:38:29] and let us think creatively
what we can do there.
[3:38:34] OK trying.
[3:38:36] But unless you come up with
something like the property is
[3:38:41] like it goes down the Hill
and there's no parking there,
[3:38:44] but right up the street, the
city has all that parking that's
[3:38:47] already built. So there's
more opportunities
[3:38:49] for more parking to be
built. Teresa, that's
[3:38:52] not necessarily our property.
[3:38:54] Yeah why don't Taylor and this.
[3:38:57] If you can imagine,
this week's a little.
[3:39:00] A little extra.
[3:39:01] But if Taylor and I
and maybe Kevin Hamlin
[3:39:03] can find time to come out and
visit with you guys on site
[3:39:06] and walk in and just see if we
can do some creative thoughts.
[3:39:10] OK OK.
[3:39:12] Sounds good.
[3:39:13] OK OK.
[3:39:14] Thank you.
[3:39:15] Sorry thank you.
[3:39:17] Yeah thanks for.
[3:39:18] It's been good to see you all.
[3:39:20] Well, when they were
calling Mickey's name
[3:39:22] and then you're sitting
there, I'm like, OK, is there.
[3:39:25] I was like, she's really here.
[3:39:27] OK yeah.
[3:39:29] Thank you.
[3:39:29] 
[3:39:32] We're not done yet.
[3:39:34] What else.
[3:39:37] And while we did with Karen last
time is like, Karen, we cannot
[3:39:40] build you a maintenance shed.
[3:39:41] But we can sure help you
with your drainage system,
[3:39:44] is what we did.
[3:39:45] Do we want to say we can
do 100 and that takes that.
[3:39:49] Do we have 100.
[3:39:50] And what.
[3:39:50] I mean, if we did 20, I
mean, because we said 125,
[3:39:53] all we have left is
the maybe is Southwick.
[3:39:59] What?
[3:40:00] I think we all agree.
[3:40:01] I don't know if eco devo is
going to be her table of HTC,
[3:40:04] and they can come back
with the rest of them.
[3:40:06] But in the meantime,
work towards 100 number.
[3:40:09] Yeah get us there around
100 and see what we can do.
[3:40:12] OK OK.
[3:40:13] We're not promising it,
but it's a more doable.
[3:40:16] Yeah do you want that in a
form like this or just an email
[3:40:20] from Karen or Eugene.
[3:40:22] I would highly.
[3:40:23] Is it that.
[3:40:24] And that's not the one for
ADA that you can't put ADA on.
[3:40:27] I mean, eco devo we can do.
[3:40:28] OK, I think we just have to.
[3:40:31] You just have to show that
it's eco devo related.
[3:40:34] The CDL is highly,
highly eco devo.
[3:40:37] So yeah.
[3:40:37] Yes if you're picking up what
I'm laying down, I'm absolutely.
[3:40:43] And I think in this case, it's
not necessarily that we're
[3:40:47] trying to justify it in a fund.
[3:40:48] I think it's just the
limitation that we have on that.
[3:40:51] So revise it to closer to 100.
[3:40:53] Yeah, absolutely.
[3:40:54] We can do that.
[3:40:55] I mean the 71,000 last year
was really easy to say yes to.
[3:40:58] 257 is just it is a lot.
[3:41:02] Yeah we just don't have it.
[3:41:03] Yeah and still have something.
[3:41:04] If we did if somebody wanted to
reactivate Tyson or something
[3:41:07] like that.
[3:41:09] Yeah Thank you very much.
[3:41:12] Thank you.
[3:41:12] Sorry you had to wait
forever for Kirk.
[3:41:14] Goes to celebrate his
birthday somewhere else.
[3:41:16] I think we should bump
up the transient guest
[3:41:20] tax reserves a little bit.
[3:41:23] Do we need reserves in
any of those other three.
[3:41:28] We do.
[3:41:30] And we don't have any.
[3:41:32] Nothing but I think at all
times we should maintain
[3:41:35] a half a million in that
fund with the caveat
[3:41:38] that if we get the right
economic, we will spend it.
[3:41:41] It's not for a rainy day.
[3:41:43] It's Hopkins again.
[3:41:44] And we can say, we
can use this for you.
[3:41:46] Yes not for I say it's the
opposite of rainy day money.
[3:41:50] It's a sunshine day if we
need it for sunshine day.
[3:41:53] A special alcohol.
[3:41:55] I mean, that goes to
crosswinds, I don't know.
[3:41:58] For crosswinds, would they
don't have funding next year.
[3:42:01] I don't know how
that impacts them.
[3:42:04] And special alcohol is not
one that we have to spend.
[3:42:08] No, I mean it has to
stay in that fund.
[3:42:11] What about special
parks and rec.
[3:42:12] Do we have to spend that.
[3:42:14] No OK.
[3:42:15] So those are fine being 0.
[3:42:16] I just think we should up
transient guest tax reserve.
[3:42:21] And I like half a
million on that.
[3:42:24] Is that OK.
[3:42:26] Do you guys agree or am I crazy.
[3:42:28] What's your thinking
Well, I don't know.
[3:42:32] I'd be fine with half.
[3:42:33] No, it's late in the half.
[3:42:34] I mean, I'd be OK with
going up to 500 on that one.
[3:42:38] Having 500 in reserves for TGT.
[3:42:43] Because again, what if
something big comes up.
[3:42:45] Well that's TGT.
[3:42:46] You have to be an investor.
[3:42:47] If you get a big visitor.
[3:42:49] Yeah what if somebody wants
to put together Taylor Swift's
[3:42:55] amusement amusement park.
[3:42:57] Hey, if Taylor will
sign on for 13 events,
[3:43:00] I'm going to use 13, because
that's the Taylor network.
[3:43:03] I know that that's
a problem, but maybe
[3:43:07] that's a discussion for a little
bit farther down the road.
[3:43:10] After we've set this budget,
how much we really have over.
[3:43:13] Did that feel comfortable.
[3:43:14] Should can we say we
should have somebody stab.
[3:43:17] 13 is the number.
[3:43:18] We don't even have to vote.
[3:43:19] We can just agree
to keep it in there.
[3:43:21] You guys agree with that.
[3:43:22] That's what I'm asking.
[3:43:24] Essentially we have 1.5
million right now in reserves,
[3:43:28] but we'll spend it on some
things I know coming up.
[3:43:32] Can we have that at
the next meeting.
[3:43:33] That's not going
to be this long.
[3:43:35] Yeah, that's fine.
[3:43:35] And we still got executive
session a third 30
[3:43:37] minute executive session.
[3:43:39] Yeah your original
Friday email said no,
[3:43:41] we didn't have it
was a certain member
[3:43:43] of the commission requested it.
[3:43:45] Which one.
[3:43:45] A couple of them.
[3:43:46] The one that sits in the chair
at the head of the table.
[3:43:48] Yes, yes.
[3:43:50] Just checking.
[3:43:51] Well, I also thought we'd be
done, like at 1:30, not 230.
[3:43:54] I don't.
[3:43:55] How long do you guys.
[3:43:55] I mean, 230.
[3:43:56] 30 minutes.
[3:43:57] Fine I have a cake
down there for me.
[3:44:01] Yeah, it's a surprise.
[3:44:03] OK, then I'm OK with that.
[3:44:05] Are we going downstairs.
[3:44:06] Go downstairs.
[3:44:07] So do we.
[3:44:08] Are we going to stay.
[3:44:08] Is there anybody we can.
[3:44:10] We can stay here.
[3:44:11] No we have.
[3:44:14] Well and Eric has problems.
[3:44:16] I don't know.
[3:44:17] Yeah so do I have a motion to
adjourn to executive session to.
[3:44:21] Yeah, but I'll make a motion
to recess into executive.
[3:44:24] Yeah that's it.
[3:44:25] Second 20 minutes 20
minutes, 30 minutes.
[3:44:29] Because everybody wanders away.
[3:44:31] Goes to the bathroom before we
get in there for 30 minutes.
[3:44:34] For 30 minutes.
[3:44:35] As soon as everybody
gets in the room.
[3:44:36] How about this.
[3:44:37] Yeah, we can't do that.
[3:44:38] Permanent city staff to
discuss confidential data
[3:44:40] with third party relating
to the justification
[3:44:43] for the executive session
is provided by KSA.
[3:44:46] 754319 1934.
[3:44:48] To protect financial
affairs and trade,
[3:44:50] secrets of third parties will
resume in the city commission
[3:44:54] chamber at approximately
3:10 PM and inviting
[3:45:01] members of RDA and Main
Street or representatives
[3:45:05] from Main Street.
[3:45:07] Second second.
[3:45:09] Second All in favor, say Aye.
[3:45:11] Aye in a session with
nothing to be decided.
[4:17:58] No action to be taken.
[4:17:59] Do I have a motion to adjourn.
[4:18:01] So moved.
[4:18:01] Second Motion.
[4:18:02] Second and we all.
[4:18:04] Aye Aye.
[4:18:06] Any opposed.
[4:18:08]