BY LUCIE KRISMAN
Eudora’s streets could see the beginning of $200,000 worth of infrastructure improvements in 2021, city staff said at the Eudora City Commission meeting Monday.
City staff plan to put out bids for two streets projects, including a reconstruction of Winchester Road from the north side of the K-10 bridge to 10th Street and a chip seal on all streets between Sixth and 10th Street. A curb and gutter replacement along Church Street from 10th Street North to Ninth Street is also listed in the city’s 2021 Pavement Management Program as an alternate project.
Public Works Director Branden Boyd said Winchester Road gets a lot of traffic and this project would serve as an extension from previous maintenance done from the K-10 bridge to 20th Street. The Winchester Road maintenance is proposed at a cost of about $420,000.
“It’s about 20 years old right now and hasn’t been touched since, other than some minor maintenance to it,” Boyd said.
In addition, the commission voted to close out the Community Development Block Grant program as the final step in the program that granted nine Eudora businesses funding to ease the financial effects of COVID-19 in spring 2020. The city received a total of $120,000 in funding for businesses. The businesses funded by the program were as follows:
Eudora Yoga Center: $5,000
Cornerstone Property Management: $17,700
Zeb’s Coffeehouse: $20,000
Torched Goodness: $19,200
Sunflower State Dance: $17,700
Long Lasting Lighting & Landscaping: 17,700
Anthony Brown Agency: $17,700
Western Consultants: $10,000
One Window Photography: $5,000
In an update from the Chamber of Commerce presented to commissioners, Chamber Executive Director Karen Boyer said grant funding made available through the Lawrence Restaurant Association and Douglas County have gone toward Eudora businesses. The Chamber has also organized gift certificates to be given to Eudora residents in need from restaurants in town through available funding.
She said the Chamber is working on one-year, three-year and five-year strategic plans.
“Everybody has been really on board with making sure they participate,” Boyer said. “Once it’s complete, as much as we think it is, we’ll get it sent out to our Chamber members. We want to make sure that they’re aware and we get their input.”
Reach reporter Lucie Krisman at eudoratimes@gmail.com.
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