By Allen Dinkel
Junction City Manager Allen Dinkel 's 515 report
This week, I am covering a variety of topics regarding the City. Graffiti was found on a structure at a City water well this week. Yes, there is graffiti painted in City parks at times. In all cases it destroys the aesthetics of the property, but it also causes much work for City staff members as they have to remove these markings that sometimes are vulgar. This is a cost to all of us in the community. These actions put a “mark” on items that were an investment of time and money. In the case at the water well, this is considered a Federal offense as it is illegal to tamper with a public water system. Naturally, the Police Department is investigating.
We receive a number of questions about the Bridge on 6th Street that is being replaced. First of all, this is not a City project as this is part of Highway K-57 that goes through the City but is part of the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) system. The City has zero input on the project or any control of what is being done. There has been some delays, but hopefully it will now move ahead. We don’t know the time table for the project, but I am guessing it will not be completed until next summer. We have all heard of the work that will be done on Interstate 70 over the next 2 years. I am sure there will be many inconveniences and delays, but the improvement is greatly needed. Basically, it will be a brand-new roadway. Also, at some time during this period the roundabout on Washington Street will be replaced. This project is being done by the same contract doing the I-70 project. This will allow for better coordination. Needless to say, let’s all be patient.
This week someone asked me about the City Land Bank. The Land Bank was begun in 2014 as a way to market the large number of residential lots that remained after the expansion a few years earlier. The Land Bank here is unlike any others. Most Land Banks were designed to redevelop areas of a City, where the one here was to market the lots that were not purchased at the County tax sale. Unfortunately, there was a very large number of Land Bank lots and learning how to market the lots was a challenge and a number of adjustments in how to market the lots were made.
Initially, there was thoughts that the City Land Bank could just sell the lots by itself. However, it became apparent that local realtors were needed. That was a great move as City staff did not have the time and certainly did not have the expertise to handle these transactions. The sale of Land Bank lots is a bit different than a more normal land transaction as some State rules apply. A Public notice has to be printed in the official City newspaper for 30 days after the offer is accepted by the Land Bank Board and closing of the sale. Not our choice but must be done.
Slowly the lots were sold a few at a time over the last few years. The gentleman noticed that recently a large number of lots have been sold. There has been an uptick in demand and hopefully there will be homes filling those lots. No doubt there has been some battles to get to this point, but maybe we are beginning to turn those “lemons into lemonade”.
And lastly, if you drive on 8th Street and then onto Highway 18 heading to the new High School you will notice the new walking trail being constructed from Spring Valley Road to Blue Jay Way. There will be a safe, lighted 10-foot walking and biking trail from Eisenhower Street all the way to the Middle and High Schools when this final project is completed. State funds were used with local funds to make it all happen. Walking trails and sidewalk improvements will continue to be a focus in the City.