At Tuesday’s meeting, the City Commission approved moving forward with accepting almost $3 million in grant money to partially fund an extension of the Sand Creek Bike Path.
Last summer, the City applied for Transportation Alternatives funding from the Kansas Department of Transportation and was not successful. Last month, KDOT staff reached out to offer funding through the federal Carbon Reduction Program to cover 80% of the project cost, with the City funding the remaining 20%.
The project would extend bike path from the Sand Creek dam south along the creek to Southwest 14th Street. The new path would eliminate the remaining gap in the bike path, creating a continuous off-road trail from Sand Creek Station Golf Course on the south end all the way to Bethel College on the north. It will also create walking/biking access to the new Rhoades Wetland Park on SW 14th Street.
The pre-design project cost estimate is $3.6 million, making the City’s share about $728,000. The cost is expected to be bonded, with an annual payment of $57,000 over 20 years.
Commissioners noted that the opportunity for nearly $3 million in funding doesn’t happen very often, and the path will be an amenity for generations of Newtonians to enjoy. Commissioners also noted that in Newton’s most recent community survey, over 68% of respondents said the City should invest more in walking/biking trails, and about 50% said they would be willing to pay more in taxes and fees to pay for it. The project has been in the City’s capital improvement plans since at least 2007.
Once a grant agreement with KDOT is finalized, it will take several months to design the project because of the creek crossings, right-of-way acquisition, and working with BNSF Railway, as the path will cross under the railroad trestles south of First Street. KDOT expects to bid the project by September 2026.
Avcon expansion
The Commission also approved a development agreement with Avcon Industries for its planned expansion into the former Mennonite Press building at Newton City/County Airport. The Development Agreement is the next step in the tax abatement process, which the Commission began in November.
The company’s total capital investment in the project is estimated at $1.23 million, with 10 new jobs created in the first five years. The tax abatement will exempt property taxes on the increase in valuation created by the improvements, 75% in year 1, 50% in year 2, and 25% in year 3.
The Commission also waived its right of first refusal for purchase of the building and approved reassignment of the ground lease to Avcon.
- Received a request from Mennonite Housing for a pledge of $80,000 in City fee waivers and support for Phase 2 of its low-income senior housing development, Harvest Pointe, on West First Street. The pledge would give Mennonite Housing extra points on its upcoming application for Low Income Housing Tax Credits from the Kansas Housing Resources Corp. The Commission will consider the request at a future meeting.
- Approved a letter of assurance that the City will provide the necessary support for the proposed sale of Building V at the Airport.
- Designated the Newton Kansan as the official newspaper for the ensuing year.
For more information, please contact Communications Director Erin McDaniel at 316-284-6055 or emcdaniel@newtonkansas.com.
|
