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Cityapprovessigning agreementforsaleoflandinSouthDevelopment

Ridge Investment Group, LLC is making a commitment to Concordia.
The Concordia city commission approved authorizing mayor Sam Sacco to sign an agreement with Ridge Investment Group, Chesterfield, Mo., for the sale of city owned property in the South Development.
Information provided to the commission by CloudCorp executive director Ashley Hutchinson stated that Ridge Investment Group submitted the contract for Lot 3 Block A in the South Development, which is located in the southeast corner along College Drive and near Lincoln Street.
According to the information provided by Hutchinson, the developer and the client qualify for free land under the College Drive Park Land Pricing Policy, Resolution 2017-2057, adopted by the city in June, 2017.
“Your incentive policy that was passed in June of 2017 was a key factor for them taking a look at the property,” Hutchinson said, “They are interested in putting in a single tenant space at this point and time.”
According to Hutchinson, the currently unnamed client  will be utilizing the front half of the property for the initial retail development, and the back half of the lot will be used for hopeful future development.
The contract states that if the land remains undeveloped after 18 months, the city of Concordia has a right to obtain ownership of the property for the same price of $0, and if the remainder of the land remains undeveloped, the city has a right to obtain ownership of the property after five years at the same price of $0.
“I think that is good because they will be paying the property taxes on it while it sits, so if we have someone come to us in the mean time and is interested in the property, first of all we can direct them to a developer, which is helpful because we are not developers, and then second, while it sits and is waiting, somebody else is paying the tab,” Hutchinson said.
Hutchinson informed the commission that the client working with Ridge Investment Group has asked to remain confidential at this time, but it is a national retail business.
The estimated property taxes on the 10,000 square foot building at that location is around $25,000 per year.
“We think the first development will help prompt future development,” Hutchinson said, “To have somebody commit, and it is a long term commitment for them also, they think Concordia is a good place for their business to thrive, and that is exciting because that means it is a good place for a lot of businesses to thrive.”
Commissioner Chuck Lambertz said that a goal of establishing the South Development was making unmarketable ground marketable.
In other action taken by the commission during the meeting, accepting the Quit Claim deeds for properties at 429 East Second St. and 435 East Second St. was approved.
It was reported to the commission that the owners of the two residential properties, located within the floodplain boundary, intend to deed them to the city.
The properties were previously condemned and the structures were demolished, leaving two vacant lots adjacent to each other.
Both properties could be marketed for future residential development.
Placing the cities in the Land Bank allows the county to initiate an abatement on delinquent property taxes.
The city will initiate marketing efforts for the property immediately, and will mow the property until it sells.
Resolution 2018-2080, amending the 2019 pay scales for classified and non-classified employees by an increase of 2.1 percent for cost of living was approved by the commission.
“Our financials are where they were expected to be when we made the budget for next year,” city finance manager Amber Farha said in addressing the increase.
The commission approved authorizing the mayor to sign the audit engagement letter with Jarred, Gilmore & Phillips for the year ending December 31, 2018 in the amount of $13,000, to be paid for one half from the general fund and one half from the water/sewer utility fund.
Remaining with KMIT as the city’s worker’s compensation carrier was approved by the commission.
In November, the commission had approved switching to Midwest Public Risk as the worker’s compensation carrier.
Midwest Public Risk did not have the necessary commitments to begin the coverage in 2019.
City clerk Stacey Smith informed the commissioners that Midwest Public Risk is still interested in providing the coverage in 2020.
The commission approved cereal malt beverage licenses for Casey’s General Store, Country Honky Tonk, Easy G Sports Grill, Gambino’s Pizza, Pizza Hut, Rod’s Food Store, Short Stop stores # 4 and # 10, Thunder Strikez Bowling Alley, Walmart and Wood Oil.
During staff comments, recreation director Chris Atkins reported that the city had received a $7,000 grant from the Community Foundation for Cloud County for the purchase of the new scoreboard to be installed at the Concordia Sports Complex.
“Without their generosity and giving, we wouldn’t have been able to do it,” Atkins said.
Atkins said he is expecting delivery of the scoreboard in late January or early February.
Lange announced that the Concordia Police Department was voted as the winner of the Battle of the Badges Chili Cook-off.

 

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510 Washington St.
Concordia, KS 66901