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Kechi council voices concern for annexation
By Katie Eaves
Last Updated: July 15, 2004
The July 8 meeting of the Kechi City Council brought a second political hopeful to the town.
Robert Kearney, formerly of Kechi, attended the meeting to introduce himself to the council. Carolyn McGinn, a candidate for Kansas Senate, attended a previous Kechi council meeting.
Kearney, who is running for Kansas House of Representatives in the 85th District, heard questions from the council regarding education, the economy and annexation.
Council member Kevin Opat asked Kearney where he stood on annexation since it plays a large part in helping small communities grow and develop economically.
“I don’t want to Kechi to be swallowed up by Wichita and become another Eastborough or Bel Aire if that is not what you want,” said Kearney.
“Kechi must be allowed to grow in accordance with a larger general plan,” he added.
City officials agreed that it was important to allow Kechi to grow and develop as its own unique community, separate from those surrounding it. They seemed to agree that if the city and others like it were limited to consent annexations, it would undoubtedly hinder such progress.
As a professor of undergraduate and graduate economics, finance and business studies for the University of Phoenix-Wichita campus, Kearney said, he felt strongly about educational spending. He said Kansans simply “are not getting what we deserve out here (in smaller communities) with our tax dollars.”
In other business July 8, the council:
- Heard from Anthony Winn, executive director of the Independent World Chess Championships Inc. Winn addressed the council about recruiting players for his countywide chess program.
Winn said he was looking for someone who could act as a liaison between Kechi and the organization and seeking players to represent the community in monthly chess tournaments.
Council members agreed that although Kechi does not have adequate facilities to host a large tournament, they would promote the organization and try to recruit players and someone who could teach people about the game.
“I think it’s a good idea,” said Opat. “We lack a lot of good opportunities for kids here.”
- Heard Lee Butler and Kris Morlan of the Kechi Economic Development Committee speak about the proposed one-year action plan for Kechi. Morlan and Butler outlined two goals and how they plan to accomplish them.
The first goal was to seek and complete at least one grant for the city. That would entail researching what grants are available and finding a grant writer.
The second goal, targeting businesses to bring to Kechi, was more complicated. Butler explained that the council would have to develop a list of reasons Kechi is a good place to begin or expand a business.
Butler also said he thought it would be a good idea to contact surrounding property owners to determine who would be interested in selling some land for commercial or residential development. That, however, would require a meeting with the Kechi Planning Commission to determine what areas could be targeted for future growth because of zoning restrictions.
In addition, the pair thought it would be beneficial to purchase a Highway 254 study and/or Kechi marketing study to find out what would work well in town.
Some of the initial ideas for business additions involved Snowbird Park, a new subdivision that is being platted. The front part is slated to be zoned commercial. Ideas included a Braums, Phillips 66 with a restaurant such as KFC, Taco Bell or Subway, and a post office since the current one in Kechi has outgrown its space.
Butler also reminded the council of the upcoming economic development training workshops July 28 and Aug. 25 that will be held at Kechi City Hall.
- Agreed to allow a statement from the economic development committee to be listed as a standing item on the agenda of the first council meeting of each month.
- Heard City Superintendent Larry Kallenberger announce the bids for the Northridge Heights water line would be taken Wednesday, July 21.
- Briefly discussed the preliminary draft of the city’s budget completed by City Clerk Laura Hill. Hill said that tentatively the mill levy was not going to change.
Kechi’s mill levy is 18.365, and the proposed amount for 2005 is 18.361. A mill is $1 for every $1,000 of assessed valuation on property.
- Allowed City Attorney David Hiebert to alter the contract regarding the construction of the new Kechi city building. Several items were changed, including a $500-per-day liquidated damages clause. Errors regarding the cost of brick and stone also were changed.
- Discussed the auction of the Four Winds School building owned by John Estes. The auction was held Saturday.
Hill suggested the council purchase the property to maintain the history and heritage it represents to the community, remarking that it would be a great library or small museum of Kechi’s history.
The council discussed the idea but did not vote on the matter. The highest bid Saturday was $127,500. Hill said the council would have had enough money in the capital improvement fund to place a higher bid for the historic school house.
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