During Monday evening’s Chanute City Commission meeting, commissioners agreed to move forward with a new solar project.
Commissioners accepted a special use permit authorized by the Chanute Planning Commission to build a new solar farm near Power Plant 3. Evergy will be investing an estimated $13 million in this project, which is scheduled to be commercially operating by June of 2026.
The City of Chanute has a Power Purchase Agreement with Evergy to purchase energy generated by this solar farm.
“Things are moving forward, and we’re excited to finally get it under construction,” City Manager Todd Newman said.
According to Newman, the conceptual plan was brought to the city roughly a year ago.
“One of the advantages of solar is that you can get those constructed and online a lot faster than a conventional plant,” City Attorney David Brake said. “This provides additional reserves that our electric utility really needs.”
During the meeting, commissioners heard from Cole Hoing, who is the project manager for this solar farm.
“Evergy is excited for this partnership and beginning construction on the Chanute solar project,” Hoing said.
Hoing said that environmental permits have already been obtained. The first phase of construction is expected to begin in August, after fencing and building permits have been officially granted.
Mayor Jacob LaRue inquired if the work would be completed by Evergy or contracted out. Hoing said that most of the work was contracted out, and that Evergy will serve in a project management role.
Commissioner Kevin Berthot asked about potential road damage. Hoing said that they intended to document and monitor the conditions of the road before and during construction, as well as pay for any repairs necessary for roads used during the project.
“Evergy is committed to repair and fix any road damage upon conclusion of the project to ensure the road there is restored to its original condition prior to construction,” Hoing said.
Berthot said part of the road near the project site is owned by the county and asked if he had approached the county commission.
Hoing said he had not directly contacted the county, but Brake said that he has been in contact with the Neosho County Commission concerning the project.
“We’re on the same page,” Brake said.
Discussion concerning the ballot question of a sales tax funding Chanute Regional Development Authority continued during the meeting.
CRDA presented minor language changes to the ballot question for clarity.
The initial ballot question proposed was as follows: “Shall the following be adopted? Shall the City of Chanute, Kansas, be authorized to collect a city-wide retailers’ sales tax in the amount of one quarter of one percent (0.25%) within the City of Chanute, Kansas to fund a five (5) year agreement with the Chanute Regional Development Authority for economic recruitment programming and other economic and community development activities? The collection of such sales tax to commence on April 1, 2026 and shall terminate five (5) years after its commencement, in accordance with the provisions of K.S.A. 12-187 et seq., and amendments thereto?”
The amendment offered by CRDA removed the language about the agreement, and reads as follows: “Shall the following be adopted? Shall the City of Chanute, Kansas, be authorized to collect a citywide retailers’ sales tax in the amount of one quarter of one percent (0.25%) within the City of Chanute, Kansas with the full proceeds to be distributed to the Chanute Regional Development Authority, whose mission is to support economic recruitment programming and other economic and community development activities, for a period of five (5) years? The collection of such sales tax to commence on April 1, 2026 and shall terminate five (5) years after its commencement, in accordance with the provisions of K.S.A. 12-187 et seq., and amendments thereto?”
Commissioners discussed whether a formal agreement between CRDA and the City of Chanute was necessary. Shelli Sheerer of CRDA said they felt an agreement was needed to show what they intended to do with the sales tax funding if passed.
“We look at this as a partnership with the city,” Sheerer said.
Chanute Public Schools Superintendent Matt Koester also expressed that an agreement would primarily serve to inform the public of CRDA’s plan for sales tax funding.
“It’s the taxpayers approving us for a five-year period to do things for the community,” Darin Leubbering, another CRDA member, said. “If we do what we say we’re going to do, we’re going to come back in five years and want another eighth to a quarter to keep doing great things for our community. At that time, the voters get to decide - did we do what we say we’re going to do or not?”
Through lengthy discussion, commissioners agreed that such an agreement would not be enforceable, as the City of Chanute would act as a passthrough entity with the sales tax.
Commissioners would not be voting on how CRDA uses the funds from the sales tax.
“The citizens - the only strength of their input is their vote,” Vice Mayor Tim Fairchild said. “So we’ll put the question to the citizens, and they’ll decide if they want to allocate money out of their pocket to the CRDA for five years with no control.”
Fairchild said if citizens approve the sales tax question, they should watch what CRDA does with their funding.
“I would make that argument that goes on in the community, from your own household, to your church, to the city government, to the county people; please participate,” Fairchild said, addressing Chanute citizens.
Commissioners also discussed lowering the sales tax amount to an eighth of a cent instead of a quarter, so as not to raise the total sales tax higher than that of surrounding cities. Commissioner Kevin Berthot said he believed this change would make it easier for the citizens to vote for.
Commissioners voted to approve CRDA’s wording changes to the sales tax ballot question, with the additional change of lowering the proposed tax from a quarter to an eighth cent. This question will be reviewed by the Neosho County Clerk before official publication ahead of the November vote.
In other business, commissioners approved to set a public hearing to designate land behind Walmart as the Hidden Hills Townhomes Reinvestment Housing Incentive District during the Aug. 25 Chanute City Commission meeting. This has been initially approved by the City of Chanute and the Kansas Department of Commerce. This RHID will allow Chanute Housing LLC to build 32 units of housing.
SEKCAP Transportation Services asked for a general letter of support and to seek matching funds for grant purposes. Commissioners said that their budget process was almost complete, but that they could arrange to hear their funding request ahead of next year’s budget process.
In Neosho County, the majority of transportation requests either begin or end in Chanute. Commissioners voted to approve providing a letter of support, and purchasing a $5,000 advertisement for Chanute Fiber on the local bus.
The next Chanute City Commission meeting will be held on Monday, July 28 at 6:30 p.m. at the Memorial Building. Meetings are also livestreamed to the City’s Facebook Page.
