The good news: Iola and Allen County have a number of assets that could draw in prospective businesses to the area.
“The bad news,” former Iola Mayor John McRae said, “is that it’s a well-kept secret.”
McRae, speaking on behalf of Iola Industries, spoke Monday to Iola commissioners about the need for an economic development director or other consultant to assist Iola and its neighboring communities about “putting together an inventor of what we have to offer.”
He suggested a collaboration among Allen County communities to share costs for an economic developer.
“I don’t think we have a good handle on what we do offer,” McRae said.
For example, McRae asked rhetorically, does Allen County have Internet access.
“Yes, we do,” he said.
But what of ultra high-speed Internet service, capable of sending or receiving a gigabyte of information in short order.
LaHarpe does with its fiber-optic service, McRae noted.
Yet few outside the community know about it.
Having an economic developer would put Iola and other communities in touch with somebody who can find contacts for specialized businesses as well, McRae said.
Commissioners, noting that Iola’s new city council will be seated later this month, agreed that the idea warranted further discussion.
A NEW monument sign, welcoming visitors to Iola on the east side of town, will be built for an anticipated price of $12,600.
The sign is part of the upgraded community signage concept developed in 2010 as part of the Vision Iola Process.
Commissioner Bill Shirley, who asked that the signage concept be reintroduced at Monday’s meeting, said his vision would be to see a large flag erected near the sign, visible to motorists passing by Iola on U.S. 169.
He did not have a cost estimate on the flag. That addition will have to be approved by the new council, he said.
Funds for the sign came from a budget line item for community signage using revenue generated by a portion of the city’s sales tax for capital improvements. Iola has about $80,000 in the budget with another $100,000 to be budgeted this year.
COMMISSIONERS handled a number of matters in what was their final meeting as a governing body.
The three-member commission will be replaced by an eight-member city council April 18.
Commissioners approved a request to install added electric pedestals and necessary transformers in Riverside Park to accommodate growing crowds for the annual Allen County Fair Barbecue Cookoff.
The cookoff — now known as the Riverside BBQ Classic — will grow this year to 48 competitors from last year’s 40, noted Dale Donovan Jr., president of the Allen County Fair Board.
Limited electric facilities have proven a headache in years past for the cookoff’s organizers, commissioners noted. Last year’s required use of an electric generator to supply the necessary power.
A NUMBER OF measures were approved by the commission.
City employee John Lord will once again handle mowing services for several acres of green space in vacated flood properties in the south part of town. Commissioners approved a contract that will pay Lord $45 an hour for the service.
Commissioners tabled a decision on whether to renew the city’s liability, auto and workman’s compensation insurance through EMC Insurance, because of an anticipated 21 percent increase in premiums. Commissioners directed City Clerk Roxanne Hutton to investigate whether another workman’s compensation policy available through the League of Kansas Municipalities would be less expensive.
Commissioners approved an easement request from Kretzmeier, McCammon and St. Clair to connect to Iola’s sanitary sewer system at 1006 N. State Street. The business has operated on its own septic system for years and hopes to tap into the city’s system. Doing so would require crossing city property, Assistant City Administrator Corey Schinstock said, thus requiring the easement.
Commissioners also approved hiring Professional Engineer Consultants, Wichita, to assist with the city’s ongoing dealings with the Environmental Protection Agency regarding its wastewater lagoons. The city upgraded its lagoons in 2008, under orders from the EPA, and now meets all of the federal standards affecting wastewater discharged into the Neosho River. However, federal regulators have again approached the city about the matter.
“It’s almost a matter of EPA’s left hand not knowing what its right hand is doing,” Schinstock said.
Commissioners agreed that hiring PEC would ensure the city ably completes all of the necessary paperwork.
Commissioners approved a contract that would pay PEC $8,775.
“We need to get off of the EPA’s radar,” Commissioner Craig Abbott said.
