Chamber seeking more funds from city

In light of the Holton/Jackson County Chamber of Commerce having “taken a loss” on this year’s Jazz on the Square event, the Chamber’s new director asked the Holton City Commission on Monday to consider some extra financial assistance for 2016.

During the commission’s regular meeting that evening, commissioners told incoming Chamber director Elise McLeod, who takes over from current director Carolyn McKee on Nov. 30, that she would have that consideration.

McLeod also told commissioners that with the Jazz on the Square event, she would like to keep supporting acts for Holton native Jim Seeley “local, meaning the Kansas City area,” where the city “could find some really good talent without having to reach out quite so far.”

Seeley’s opening act at the most recent Jazz on the Square event was rhythm-and-blues musician Kelley Hunt, whom Commissioner Dan Brenner said was a “very expensive act.” Brenner also noted that people who support the event “are basically there to see Jimmy Seeley,” a Grammy Award-winning jazz trumpeter.

McKee, who was also present at Monday’s meeting, said Hunt’s $8,000 fee to perform at this year’s event was covered by part of a grant awarded to the Chamber. She added that even with funds provided by an outside source, the event “would have taken a loss, even with that in the equation.”

Holton City Manager Bret Bauer and members of the commission reminded McLeod and McKee that the city had approved a $7,500 allocation for the Chamber during budgeting for 2016 earlier this year. In previous years, the city had approved a $5,000 allocation for the Chamber, Bauer said.

The city had also approved a $10,000 allocation to the Holton Main Street organization as part of a five-year commitment to the organization while it was active. But after the end of 2014, when Main Street was dissolved, the city split that allocation, giving $2,500 to the Chamber and $2,500 to the Jackson County Historical Society, with the remaining $5,000 “left alone,” Bauer said.

McLeod said the Chamber would like to see a $10,000 allocation from the city, but not all at once because “it would behoove the city to break that down so that it’s not as much cash outlay at one time.” However, she noted, the Chamber is looking at doing more with the funds than just keeping Jazz on the Square going.

“With the revenue from the city, economic development and local businesses will be able to continue to grow,” McLeod said.

McKee also noted that Jackson County is providing a $20,000 allocation to the Chamber for 2016, stating that part of the county’s allocation comes from its “bed tax” gleaned from hotel room revenues. That amounts to $2,500 quarterly, she added, noting that “it doesn’t matter if they collected $2,000 in a quarter, or if they collected $30,000 in a quarter.”

Commissioner Tim Morris said that he would prefer that the city “continue on the path we’re on” with the Chamber, taking periodic looks at “where we’re at financially” in the coming year.

“I would not be opposed to helping out the Chamber if we see that we’re going to have some monies available for it,” Morris said. “But I don’t think I could actually promise at this point in time.”

McLeod told commissioners that was fine, noting that she was not expecting a decision on increased funding right away — just “your consideration” of the Chamber’s financial situation, which she added involves “increasing expenses.”

“You definitely have that,” Mayor Robert Dieckmann told McLeod.

In other business, commissioners expressed favor toward potential action that would result in the creation of a “dog park” for city residents and their canine companions. Bauer said the first step in that action — according to a “guideline” recommended by Parks and Recreation director Mike Reichle — involved forming a committee to discuss options for a dog park.

There are “a lot of different variables” that go into the creation of a dog park, Bauer told commissioners. A “non-binding” committee — meaning one that would make recommendations to the city commission without having any “voting authority” in commission action — would review those “variables,” including where a dog park would be located, he said.

It was reported at a previous commission meeting that a financial donation had been pledged to the city to be used toward the development of a dog park. Bauer confirmed the donation had been received by the city as of Friday.

Commissioners also:

* Approved minutes from the Nov. 2 meeting and financial appropriations made since that meeting.

* Met with Holton Community Hospital administrator Carrie Saia to discuss making a request to the Kansas Department of Transportation to reduce the speed limit on U.S. Highway 75 near the entrance to the hospital at Columbine Drive (see related story).

* Met with Lee Doyle to discuss the commission’s decision at the Nov. 2 meeting to cap a manhole at the end of an abandoned city sewer line located on property owned by Doyle. Bauer told Doyle that the city filled the manhole with concrete. Doyle also said he made no repairs to the abandoned sewer line and that breaking the line to alleviate flooding in his field did not constitute “a modification” to the line.

* Discussed Christmas bonuses for city employees.

* Heard a report from Bauer that the final phase of the Holton Industrial Park road reconstruction project was complete and that all roads in the industrial park are open. Commissioners also restated a suggestion to hold a public ribbon-cutting ceremony at an entrance to the industrial park.

* Heard a comment from Brenner about street lamps being placed at certain locations in the city. Holton City Clerk Teresa Riley said that in one case, “it may be a yard light” that is being rented from the city, adding that the city only installs street lamps on corners.

* Heard a comment from Brenner lauding Holton Street Superintendent Rex Cameron, who took time on Veterans Day — which Cameron and other city employees had off — to remove a fallen tree on Iowa Avenue.

* Met in executive session for 10 minutes to discuss land acquisition matters. No action resulted from the session.

* Adjourned the meeting at 7:55 p.m. All commissioners were present.