Iola City Council members are supportive of a local businessman’s efforts to install an electric vehicle charging station downtown, but they have a few questions about the specifics of the plan.
Paul Porter, who owns the old Shannon Building at the intersection of Jackson and Washington avenues, is seeking to install two or three EV charging stations on the west side of the building.
Porter would pay all of the installation costs, “unless the city is willing to help,” he said, and would allow public use of the stations at no cost to the user.
“It’s a pretty great thing to be able to attract people to the square,” Porter said.
He anticipated his electric bill would increase because of the electricity used to charge vehicles, but hoped those increases would be mitigated if he installed solar panels on top of the building.
The charging stations would be designed for Tesla vehicles, although other EV models typically have adapters and could be charged there as well, he said.
The stations would be connected to the electric infrastructure within the building, which has a vacant room directly beneath the sidewalk along Washington, Porter explained.
While supportive of his endeavor, Council members noted some items that would need to be addressed.
As a private entity operating on a public right-of-way, Porter will need to have a franchisee agreement with the city, akin to a telephone or cable TV company.
Porter also would need to become a member of the Kansas One-Call system, Assistant City Administrator Corey Schinstock noted because the power lines would come up through the sidewalk.
Council members directed Schinstock and City Administrator Matt Rehder to draw up a franchise agreement.
The other potential hiccup centered on Porter’s request that three parking stalls along Washington be reserved for EVs while they’re charging.
“You’re gonna open a can of worms if you restrict parking,” Rehder warned.
That issue will be discussed further.
Porter also noted he would be responsible for carrying liability insurance on the chargers.
