City of Ellis moving toward the future

The City of Ellis is experiencing a potential growth surge in both residential and commercial areas within the city. Our population is slowly and steadily growing and our schools are holding their own with solid student numbers.

A Comprehensive Community Plan was recently adopted by the Governing Body. The CCP gives the City Council a guideline or timeline as to various projects and improvements that need to be accomplished in the upcoming years. The timeline addresses a 20 year projection.

Another accomplishment is the recently adopted Planning and Zoning regulations for the city and surrounding area. These new documents replace the set of regulations that had been in place since 1970. Many of the regulations were outdated and needed to be revised and updated to facilitate growth.

A developer has purchased a large area of plotted building lots in the south part of town and is currently constructing affordable housing units on these lots. Most of these properties do not have the infrastructure (streets, curbs gutters, water and sewer) in place. The project to get the needed infrastructure in place is being financed by Tax Increment Financing Funds which is a method of state financing for specific projects. The City of Ellis is one of the first, if not the first, to use this financing tool for the purpose of encouraging affordable residential housing starts. One of the advantages to this project is that there will be no specials assessed against these properties. This will make the new home buyers monthly payment more reasonable.

An extensive study was done by the developer and presented to the City, County and Ellis School District showing each entity the benefits which could be derived from this TIF project. An organized timeline for completion was presented by the developer.

Another area included in the current TIF project is the area east and south of the Ellis Country Club. This area was recently annexed into the city so that this area can also be developed for housing.

A new street, Cedar Lane, which has actually been dedicated and on the city maps for over 30 years will be surfaced and connected to the highway east of Mt. Hope Cemetery. This will provide another access for the residents of the city. Speculation for this area include added and varied housing prospects and a thought to expand the current 9 hole golf course to an is hole course.

On the north hill area near I-70, several existing commercial properties in the area have been purchased with some plans to expand business services in this area. New business is a welcome addition to any community.

Several new businesses have occupied downtown buildings. The Kansas Main Street Program guides our Local Main Street organization in helping to relocate established businesses and assists in recruiting new businesses to our downtown development area.

With increased housing and business activity it seems only prudent to think about the future and infrastructure issues. The Governing Body has been investigating options. We have some nonproducing water wells which can be offset and put back into service. With some recent technology we have found a way to possibly treat some of the unused wells with a treatment and softening process. This will require looping and blending of all city water sources. This is something the residents have been asking about for many years. The proposal is on the table now.

A Park Study Committee has just been activated to evaluate the parks system in Ellis. What is needed and where?

An Voluntary Recycle Program started in 2003. To date 85 tons of recycleables have been diverted from the landfill. From 11 daily attendees in 2003 to 26 daily attendees in January of 2005 the program continues to grow.

David R. McDaniel is the mayor of Ellis.