BY LUCIE KRISMAN
The Eudora City Commission approved two new programs Monday that will assist utility customers and small businesses financially impacted by COVID-19.
These programs were made possible by CARES Act funding awarded to Eudora. The city was awarded a total of $499,212 in direct aid from the CARES Act, of which $163,500 will go toward the Utility Assistance Program and $119,500 will go toward the Small Business Assistance Program.
Applications for both programs will be open from now until Oct. 30. City staff will review applications and distribute funds based on applicants with the highest need.
Prioritizing applicants for utility assistance will be determined using four tiers based on household income and demonstrated financial loss.
"We're structuring it in such a way that we want to prioritize those households and those families and those residential utility customers who are most heavily impacted by COVID to receive money first," city management analyst Jeff Rhodes told commissioners.
A program committee will make the decision over applicant prioritization for small business assistance based on criteria including having 20 or fewer employees and having a business plan in place to return to full operation after emergency regulations are lifted. Additional information regarding eligibility for both programs can be found in the meeting's agenda.
In other news, the commission approved a real estate sale contract for the 1504 Elm St. property to acquire it as part of the Nottingham redevelopment project.
The city has agreed to a price for the property after discussion with the owner’s real estate representative Christel Torneden. The city will purchase the property for $225,000 and demolish the house currently on the property to redevelop the property as part of the Nottingham Center.
City Manager Barack Matite said the deal with the purchase is anticipated to close on Nov. 2.
"For us to be able to incorporate it into the development, that will probably take some time because we have to go through the Planning Commission to re-plat the property and also re-zone it," Matite said.
Additionally, the commission and city staff recognized city budget analyst Renee Davis for 15 years of service for the city. Matite said she has been an integral piece in his time with the city helping with the city's finances and budget.
"She has been a critical piece to make that possible," Matite said. "She does her work with so much passion. She is meticulous with what she does and how she does it."
Reach reporter Lucie Krisman at eudoratimes@gmail.com.
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