Commission to discuss property tax exemption

Topeka City Hall renovations and a proposed Shawnee County property tax exemption are among topics local governing bodies plan to take up this coming week.

The Shawnee County Commission will meet at 9 a.m. Monday in its chambers in Room B-11 of the county courthouse, 200 S.E. 7th, while the Topeka City Council will meet at 6 p.m. Tuesday in its chambers at 214 S.E. 8th.

Commissioners plan to consider scheduling a public hearing over a proposed 10-year exemption from property taxes to Global Grain LLC for a proposed facility that would process soybeans and other crops to be prepared for international export.

An administrative review committee formed by the county recommends commissioners approve the exemption.

The city's governing body, consisting of the nine city council members and Mayor Michelle De La Isla, plans to consider approving a revised budget that would earmark additional funding in the amount of nearly $4.74 million to carry out the first phase of a project to renovate the building at 215 S.E. 7th and 214 S.E. 8th, which houses City Hall, Topeka Municipal Court and the Topeka Performing Arts Center.

The governing body in 2017 raised the city’s total expenditure to about $8.2 million for the City Hall project.

City staff members suggested late last year that the governing body earmark nearly $8.9 million more to cover a revised project cost, including current commitments and expenditures, of nearly $17.1 million. A majority of city council members responded by objecting to spending that much.

The city staff then came forward with the proposal that will be considered Tuesday.

The governing body in coming weeks also is expected to consider earmarking an additional $5 million to finance second and third phases for the City Hall project as part of city manager Brent Trout's proposed 2020-2029 Capital Improvement Plan.

Governing body members also plan Tuesday to consider approving a final plat and then annexing the proposed 33-lot Sherwood Village subdivision, which is to be constructed on property adjoining the city’s boundary at 2400 S.W. Indian Hills Road in unincorporated Shawnee County.

Nine people, including residents of the nearby Sherwood Park subdivision, voiced concerns last month to the governing body about the proposed moves.

That body plans Tuesday to discuss but take no action regarding a proposal to drop the city's requirement that its employees live in Shawnee County.

The city since the early 1980s has required all its employees to be "bona fide residents of Shawnee County," though it allows for new hires to move into Shawnee County within six months of their hiring.