By Dewey Terrill
JC Post
A motion by Geary County Commission Chair Trish Giordano to continue with up to $500,000 in community improvement district funding paid by customers for Redfish / LLC - Acorn's Resort and up to 500,000 to Rural Water District 4# has received approval by the governing body. The money would be intended to help encourage economic development. Each entity would receive CID funds until they have been used or the year 2036 is reached, whichever comes first.
The County declined to extend a cumulative benefit amount sought by Acorn's for $500,000 however and instead moved for the CID support. The County pointed out that Acorn's was near a limit of one million for cumulative benefit money set in a ten-year old economic development agreement.
Giordano and Commissioner Keith Ascher voted yes on the motion while Commissioner Alex Tyson voted no. There will be a caveat that Acorn's can expand as desired and the rural water district will continue to provide water to the resort, other developers and the state park could also expand.
Acorn's has until June 5th to decide if they accept the proposal or receipt of CID fund collections by the state would stop on October 1.