Iola may get new housing next year through the efforts of inmates at the Kansas Department of Corrections facility in Hutchinson.
City Administrator Judy Brigham told Commissioner Bill Shirley and Mayor Bill Maness — Commissioner Craig Abbott was absent — Tuesday evening that an affordable housing program proposed at a meeting in Humboldt also might work well in Iola.
The Kansas Housing Resource Corporation has teamed with the DOC to offer cities affordable housing opportunities through the use of inmate labor. The modular-style homes could be built for a little more than $50,000 and when coupled with such things as foundation, driveway, garage and other development fees — total cost would be $100,000 or less. Iola would provide building lots and waive utility hook-up fees.
Brigham said a 30-year mortgage at existing interest rates would put monthly payments at about $500 for a house costing $100,000.
Maness noted 30 houses built in the Cedarbrook area were purchased about as quickly as they were ready for occupancy and that he anticipated these would as well.
Commissioners will look at the program in more detail when they meet again on Dec. 28.
Brigham also said the city was enrolled in the 2011 Take Charge Challenge, a competition promoted by the Kansas Energy Office to see which of several southeast Kansas cities could come up with the best energy efficiency plan by developing ways to reduce usage of electricity with non-renewable energy sources.
Each city will get a $25,000 grant and the one most successful will receive an additional $100,000 award to further develop efficiencies. A local team of people from the school district, Allen County Community College, businesses, industries and the private sectors is being put together to flesh out ideas, Brigham said.
POLICE CHIEF Jared Warner and Code Enforcement Officer Jeff Bauer petitioned for an animal control officer.
Bauer said he and his assistant, Tony Godfrey, would have more time to pursue property maintenance problems if the control officer were a full-time position. As it is, the two also perform duties of an animal control officer.
Warner and Bauer figured cost at about $65,000 a year, which includes not only an officer’s salary and benefits but also money to pay for a vehicle, fuel, materials and training and as much as $20,000 for boarding fees.
Where to find that much latitude in the 2011 budget is the challenge, they admitted, but one that Shirley said should be resolved. He asked Brigham to come to the Dec. 28 meeting with a financing proposal. Some money is available, about $22,000 in police coffers, set aside for animal control and a part-time officer, and another $11,000 in the code enforcement budget.
COMMISSIONERS did not accept a change order totaling $881.50 for Iola Public Library upgrades.
They were asked to approve $338 to add lights in the vestibule display case and $908.50 to add lights and switches in one of the library’s rooms. Those contract increases were offset by a deduction of $365 for elimination of a wall that was in original plans.
“Those costs (for the lights) don’t seem reasonable,” said Mayor Maness. “Can’t the city crews do the work? There should be a fiscally better way.”
Shirley agreed, and asked Corey Schinstock, assistant city administrator, to “look at the change orders and see if the city can’t do them.”
Maness asked Warner if timed lights might be installed at pedestrian crossings on Madison Avenue, including where students cross near the Bowlus Fine Arts Center. Warner said he would look into the matter.
BETH ANN Turner, who will retire Dec. 22 after 43 1/2 years as administrative assistant, was given a plaque and gold watch and received accolades from Shirley, Maness and others.
A reception for Turner will start at 2 p.m. on her last day at the North Community Building and continue until 6 p.m. Iolans are encouraged to stop by for refreshments and to give Turner a pat on the back.
Commissioners will continue their evening meetings on Tuesday, Dec. 28, and then change to the first and third Monday of each month to avoid conflicts with school sports and other community events.
Mayor Maness lauded the switch to evening meetings, noting they would give more people an opportunity to become involved as elected officials, as well as attend meetings as citizens.
