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Tonganoxie department buildings open

By Shawn Linenberger - | Aug 10, 2016

The new Tonganoxie City Hall and Tonganoxie Police Station are open for business.

Both departments opened Monday, with City Hall in the former Post Office (most recently Tan Time) in the 500 block of Fourth Street.

The police station, in the former Cornerstone Family Worship church at Sixth and Church streets, moves from its location across from the former City Hall on Delaware Street.

Council meetings, as well as municipal court and Tonganoxie Planning Commission meetings will continue to take place in Council Chambers just south of the original City Hall at 321 Delaware St.

Council approves proposed tax rate

The council approved, 4-0, with Andy Gilner absent, to approve the proposed mill levy rate for the 2017 budget at its Aug. 1 meeting.

The rate is .62 of a mill higher (44.799) than the current rate (44.179) to accommodate Tonganoxie Public Library’s proposed .62 increase for employee benefits.

A mill generally is $1 in taxes for every $1,000 in property valuation.

The budget is also published in The Mirror’s classified pages for residents to review. Residents will have their opportunity to speak about the budget during a budget hearing that is set to take place at the beginning of the next City Council meeting, which will be 7 p.m. Aug. 15.

After the hearing, the City Council will decide whether to give final approval to the proposed rate.

Drainage discussion continues

Officials continued to discuss drainage issues in the Greystone subdivision that has affected a handful of residential properties during the Aug. 1 meeting

Homeowner Zachary Provost, who lives in the 200 block of Whilshire, has asked the Council to work with him and neighbors on a solution. Provost has involved engineers to assess the situation, while BG Consultants, the city’s engineering firm, also has been working toward solutions.

An exceptionally heavy rain last year caused substantial damage and other issues have continued on the property with drainage with subsequent rains.

At the Aug. 1 meeting, council members asked about litigation with regards to the engineer signing off the plans at the time of the subdivision’s development, but City Attorney Mike Kelly said that would be a moot point because of the statute of limitations.

Other options to rectify the situation would cost the city $122,000 or $145,000, while another option discussed is a benefit district, though Kelly said he was unsure how successful it would be in convincing other property owners to contribute funding in the neighborhood to solve a drainage solution that likely affects a handful of homes.

The council plans to have a work session with Provost and others at a date to be determined. The next regular meeting is 7 p.m. Monday.