City approves agreement with CCHC
CITY COMMISSION
A development agreement with the Cloud County Health Center, and an ordinance closing a portion of Broadway Street for Fall Fest activities were two of the action items discussed and approved by the city commission during its regular meeting Wednesday.
Mayor Ashley Hutchinson signed a proclamation declaring the week of September 17-23 as Constitution Week in Concordia.
During the action item portion of the meeting, the commission voted unanimously to approve Resolution 2022-2139 which adopts the Concordia Housing Study and Market Analysis prepared by FIVE Rule Rural Planning as guidance for future housing development in Concordia.
In another action, the commission voted to approve a development agreement with the Cloud County Health Center, Inc. for the donation of property for the purpose of a new housing development in Concordia.
The 2022 Housing Study and Market Analysis revealed a shortage of 245 moderate-income homes and 12 high-income homes in Concordia. This study also included a recommendation for the potential re-purposing of property owned by Cloud County Health Center, Inc. for housing to address this need.
On August 26, 2022, city and CloudCorp staff offered a proposal for housing on this property that included 11 moderate-income single-family homes and three-to-four high-income single-family homes. The Cloud County Health Center board of trustees desired a viable re-use of the current hospital property in a manner that improves the community, and responded favorably, voting to donate approximately eight acres to the Concordia Land Bank for the purpose of a new housing development in Concordia.
The current hospital site commonly known as 1100 Highland Drive and Lots 1-7 of Lost Creek Hills Addition will be donated. The city will have eighteen months to commence construction and proceed with due diligence, or the hospital may reacquire the property at no cost. The city bears responsibility for the costs of the project; the hospital has no financial obligation.
The commission also approved Resolution 2022-2140 authorizing the city to participate in
the competitive Moderate Income Housing (MIH) grant proposal.
The state of Kansas recently enhanced its MIH grant program making $5 million available this year on a competitive basis, with up to $650,000 awarded per applicant.
Through the activation of the Community Resources Committee of CloudCorp, local expertise and interest in housing development in Concordia have been channeled toward this project. As a result,
CloudCorp will be listed as the developer with the city providing a supporting role within this MIH grant proposal. If awarded, a portion of the grant funds will be used to pay for construction materials costs, thereby minimizing financing costs and risk of local contractors building new moderate-income homes in both the anticipated new subdivision and infill lots throughout the community. A portion of the grant funds will also be used for property acquisition costs (infill lots) and down payment assistance for homebuyers (new subdivision and infill lots) in an effort to keep these new homes affordable for
moderate-income earners.
Specifically, the target mortgage for these new MIH homes will be $200,000 or less depending on
homebuyer qualifications and available equity.
The MIH grant proposal is being written for 15 new MIH homes to be built over the course of six years. The new homebuyers will be required to prove their income falls within the moderate-income range for Cloud County, and if they choose to sell the home within five years, they will be required to repay a pro-rated portion of the MIH grants funds used to construct their home.
In other action, the commission approved Ordinance 2022-3192 authorizing the sale and consumption of alcohol on Broadway Street between Sixth Street and the alley between 2 p.m. Saturday, September 24, 2022 and 12:00 a.m. Sunday, September 25, 2022, as an extension of the All-Class Reunion.
Authorization for a special event on a public street was requested to expand the boundaries of the
All-Class Reunion held at Broadway Plaza as part of Concordia’s Fall Fest celebration. Specifically, the request is to close Broadway Street to vehicular traffic between Sixth Street and the alley and allow the sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages.
City Code Section 3-203 permits the consumption of alcoholic beverages within Broadway Plaza, as determined by the executive director of CloudCorp per the Broadway Plaza management
agreement, paragraph 5.
Street closure requests for special events are authorized by the city public works director following
consultation with the police and fire chiefs. State and U.S. Highways are not closed as a general practice.
If alcohol will be possessed or consumed in a street that has been closed for a special event, the City Commission must approve an ordinance specifically authorizing the special event. Then a temporary
permit must be approved by the ABC. Additionally, the organization or business providing or selling the alcohol within the special event boundary must be properly licensed by the ABC. In this case, the vendor has a catering license that covers special events, and no other permit is required.
The city’s liability is limited to premise liability, such as slips and falls, if the city is not selling alcohol. The vendor selling alcohol are liable for 1) selling to minors, 2) knowingly allowing over-consumption of alcohol by a patron, 3) and other violations of liquor laws.
In its final action of the evening, the commission approved the 2022 cereal malt beverage license for the Country Honk Tonk, located at 418 Broadway Street.