Despite vocal objection from several attending Monday night’s meeting, the Iola City Council officially passed a motion to rezone the property at 1002 N. Kentucky from R1 (single family) to R3 (multiple family.) ANNEXATION of Country Estates north of Iola on State Street was ultimately tabled to allow City Administrator Carl Slaugh more time to gather total cost for the undertaking. IN OTHER BUSINESS:
The rezoning will allow Neighborhood Senior Living to build a 19,000 square-foot, 26-unit assisted living facility on the land. Rezoning was approved on July 22 by the council — following two hours of heated resistance from attendees — and Monday’s motion officially passed the ordinance.
“I hear the neighbors, I hear their concerns,” council member Jon Wells said. The motion was passed six to one, with Beverly Franklin abstaining from a vote.
Ken Hunt, Mary Ann Dvorachek, Dottie White, Judy Snavely and Angie Linn each appeared before the council one last time, to plead their case against the rezoning.
“I’m not sure they deserve our trust,” Dvorachek said of the company. She cited concerns over the size of the structure, and what sort of impact it would have on the neighborhood. She and her husband visited five different facilities owned by Neighborhood Senior Living across Kansas.
In the end, the council saw the concerns as unwarranted, believing similar concerns would be raised in any location the assisted living facility would seek out.
“We can make it happen,” he said to the council.
The subdivision would add more than 60 homes to the city, but not without some logistical work. Slaugh said the wastewater system, which has been brought up in prior council meetings, would be the most costly aspect of the annexation.
“We are at a standstill as far as improvements to the wastewater system,” he said.
Allen County Commissioners are discussing replacement of the pump and motor at the main lift station for the system, which would cost approximately $42,000. If annexed, the city would be responsible for the updates — which Slaugh said may warrant an entirely new pump, which he estimated to cost around $100,000.
“This neighborhood needs a lot of work,” Mayor Joel Wicoff said.
Infrastructure throughout the area would need to be updated for city crew access, possibly including street repair and reworking. The city would be responsible for road maintenance as well.
“It should’ve been annexed a long time ago,” Slaugh said. “I think it’s really the right thing to do.”
Council member Nancy Ford said she would need some specifics on cost, and revenue, to the city before she took any action.
“If we’re going to do it, we need to do it right,” Ford said.
— Assistant City Administrator Corey Schinstock garnered approval to hire an engineer — for $800 to $1,000 — to examine plans for the Missouri Pacific Trail Project, regarding right-of-way issues in the city.
— Following a public hearing, the 2014 budget was approved by the council including: a motion to raise the mill levy from 37.791 to 38.686, a motion to raise the library mill levy from 5.715 to 5.938 and a motion to increase the cost adjustment factors for gas (5 percent) and electric (3 percent).
Kentucky rezoning approved Assisted living facility will move forward
