CHANUTE, Kan. — The long journey to establish a Reinvestment Housing Investment District for the Hidden Hills town-home project behind the Chanute Walmart took a major step forward Monday night when the Chanute City Commission approved the RHID Agreement with Chanute Housing LLC, which allows the property taxes on increased valuation to be used for specified infrastructure projects. This agreement has an 18-year payback period, which Neosho County Commissioners, who vetoed an earlier.
The Commission agreed to provide around $21,000 to the Southeast Kansas Community Action Program’s public transportation system in Neosho County. Transportation Director Scott Christiansen reviewed the finances involved in their overall operation. It takes a little over $40,000 to operate each of the 11 routes SEK-CAP has in their service area. Right now, Neosho County provides $14,000 a year, and Chanute provided $5,000 last year.
Christiansen said they would like to see more funding, but one factor in this cited by Commissioners is the differences between the city’s calendar budget year and SEK-CAP which runs on a July to June fiscal year, as does the state of Kansas. Christiansen also noted they have had some brief discussions with Southeast Kansas Mental Health Center about providing some funding assistance, which he said SEKMHC apparently is not willing to do. SEKCAP will be making a formal request for outside agency funding from the city in the 2027 budget.
New Chanute City Commissioner Tim Harding was sworn in at the meeting, replacing Commissioner Tim Egner, who was presented a plaque in recognition of his service to the city. During the Commission’s reorganization Jacob LaRue was re-elected mayor, as was vice mayor Kevin Berthot, both of whom were re-elected in November. The Commission also discussed assignments to various boards and committees, including filling of the positions held by Egner.
Commissioners also approved abatement orders on five properties, one of which was on an earlier resolution but has had a change of ownership requiring the process to start over.
An executive session was held on non-elected personnel, with no action taken.
