Economic Development Asks Council for Operating Funds

The Ulysses City Council held their meeting on Wednesday, May 11, 2022.

Those present at the meeting were Council Members: Ken Warner, Sam Guy, Caleb Woods, John Duran, Terry Maas, and Mark Diaz; City Clerk Sarah Britton, City Administrator Alan Olson, and City Attorney David Black.

The meeting was called to order at 5:00pm by Warner and led in prayer by Mark Diaz. The consent agenda was accepted and approved by the Council.

Pete Earles returned to discuss the intersection of Highway 160 and Stubbs Road. Earles showed the Council the State’s plan to refurbish this intersection, the major change being an acceleration lane before merging on the highway. Earles said the original cost of the project was around $1.4 Million, but is currently about $1 Million. Earles explained the City would spend 10% of the cost, with the State paying the rest of the 90%.

The Council moved and passed the motion to take this project to the State.

Earles said the State has inspected the crossing on Highway 25 in front of Kepley Middle School. Earles said if the City resubmitted the plans, the project would be funded. This project would reduce the width of the street and install red traffic lights activated by a push button to create a safe crosswalk for students to walk across the street. Earles said the cost of the project would be around $125,000, with the City paying around $56,000.

The Council moved and passed the motion to take this project to the State.

The Council moved on to the Economic Development Budget Request for 2023.

Kristi Frazee presented the budget request to the Council, highlighting expenses, balance sheets, and quarterly budgets. Frazee showed the Council their anticipated budget for 2023, with an amount of $50,000 requested for operating expenses. Frazee told the Council that Economic Development has around $172,000 out in the community to help local businesses with improvements, equipment, and other needed expenses, as well as $50,000 for businesses in 2022 with the Business Revitalization Program. Since 2015, Frazee explained, the Economic Development has dispersed about $200,000 in grants with the Business Revitalization Program, as well as about $130,000 with the help of Strengthening People and Revitalizing Kansas (SPARK) funds.

Warner acknowledged the decreasing of funds from the Council last year, only granting $25,000, and asked how it affected them directly. Josh Freeman said there was infused money into the Economic Development due to COVID funds. Due to this, Freeman said this decrease was not as noticeable last year, but explained the SPARK funding has been distributed, asking for the full $50,000 for the year.

Bob Dale told the Council the SPARK fund was a pass-through to other businesses, and was not implemented in their operating funds. Bob Dale explained the plans to replenish the Economic Incentive Fund (EIF), which started in 2015. Bob Dale said the leftover Operating Funds were placed into the EIF, as well as other sources of revenue the Economic Development has. With this, Bob Dale explained, there was not a leftover amount to place in the EIF last year. Bob Dale asked the Council to fully fund the Economic Development so they can use the EIF to grow and expand local businesses.

The Council did not make a motion, deciding to table the Budget Request until a later meeting.

The meeting was adjourned by Ken Warner at 5:55pm. The next regular meeting of the City Council is scheduled for Wednesday, May 25, 2022 at 5:00pm at City Hall.