Meeting started 7:10pm…5 residents in attendance
Ted started the meeting with the Corridor Study currently led by city. The meeting held at Woodlawn Elementary was very over crowded and confusing considering they only expected 50 people to attend when 160 people attended. There will be an open house on the corridor plan at Venue 1235 on December 10th from 4pm to 7pm.
Ted emphasized that there needs to be new pumps, a grocery store, and a hardware store. The consulting firm for the corridor is a firm out of Kansas City. However, Matt Bond is a consultant on the board of the consulting firm. The consulting firm wants major development.
The corridor plan has some KU stakeholders. The elected mayor proposal was rejected because it was not favorable to the city government of Lawrence. Craig Owens is leaving his position in May of next year.
The corridor study will be going on for 18 months. The majority of businesses in North Lawrence are aware of the corridor study plan. Ted and the NLIA has raised $4,500 for Christmas family help. A new pump would cost $35 million approximately. Ted mentioned why the city has to handle the county’s water to pump to the river. Ted discussed the fact that extra development due to the corridor study could flood North Lawrence without a new pump. The city is still sitting on the funding for the railroad improvements that the Federal Railroad Administration has allocated with grants that has no progress.
Ted talked about the safety measure city implemented with the high water signs at the intersection of 2nd and Locust to avoid a lawsuit not to proactively address when the underpass floods due to power issues.
Ted implored to the businesses and residents to go to the Corridor Study to fight for what is best for North Lawrence. Two thirds of the attendance for the Corridor Study at Woodlawn Elementary were North Lawrence residents. Ted has continuously met with Mike Dever, Mike Amyx and there has been no progress on the grant money for the railroad improvements from the city.
Ted does not understand why the city is not pursuing the grant for railroad improvements. Ted believes Polian will be a good city commissioner for North Lawrence. Ted also met with Mike Courtney and he sounds like a good commissioner as well. Ted thanked TJ for his work on the Facebook group. It is the 20th year of the North Lawrence Christmas Fund.
There is a development for habitat homes in North Lawrence near the Bird and Comfort Lane. 339 Elm St is being rehabilitated by a new owner.
Meeting adjourned…8:22pm
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