ED efforts go county-wide

PROGRESS 2016
Economic
Development
A supplement to the Abilene Reflector-Chronicle | February 26, 2016
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2
Friday, February 26, 2016
www.abilene-rc.com
Is new tourist attraction coming?
Editor’s note: portions
of this article appeared
in previous editions of
the Abilene ReflectorChronicle.
valuation as a means of
The city might have to
financing a new project, pay some up-front costs
Dillner said.
of developing a STAR
Bond project, such as
TIF money must be
a feasibility study, but
used for specific infrastructure improvements much of those costs
By Mike Heronemus
other than private park- would be eligible for
[email protected]
reimbursement from
ing lots, unless those
collected state sales tax,
parking
lots
are
accesotential economic
Dillner said.
sible to the public, he
development
said.
If the project is purinitiatives have
sued,
Dillner said the
Another
means
of
almost constantly been
city
would
consider
financing that could
on the minds of Abilene
issuing Special Oblibe added would be to
city staff and elected
gation Bonds because
overlay
the
STAR
Bond
officials. City growth
those are not backed
District
with
a
Comhas remained fairly
by the full faith and
munity Improvement
stagnant for years, but
responsibility of the
District. Two forms of
not because local officity. Developers who
revenue
could
be
capcials and others haven’t
purchase Special Obtured
from
a
CID:
pursued opportunities
ligation Bonds assume
• An increased sales
whenever they presentthe risk, he said. If the
tax applicable only to
ed themselves.
project doesn’t produce
purchases
in
the
CID
A recent example of
the expected revenue,
and
that was when Dickinthe investor is out that
• Special assessments
son County and Abilene
money.
that can be collected
combined efforts and
from property owners
expertise to pursue a
Photo courtesy of the Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum
and applied toward the
Why look at a
Kansas Department of
Local officials and community members pursuing a new tourist venue for
project
costs.
new tourist
Transportation selection Abilene are banking on using the popularity of the Eisenhower Presidential
TIF and CID districts
for a proposed transload Library, Museum and Boyhood Home as leverage to possibly interest a deattraction?
are
established
for
a
facility on Jeep Road
veloper for some sort of addition to the tourist attractions already available
The Eisenhower
limited time period,
east of the city.
in Abilene.
Presidential Library,
Dillner said, usually for Museum and Boyhood
That endeavor failed
to get a nod from
study would be includ- the proposal to build
In the case of the Flint 20 years.
Home brought in about
Special assessments
KDOT, but Abilene
ed in an application to
the Flint Hills DiscovHills Discovery Cen185,000 visitors over
would have to be apCity Manager Dathe state seeking apery Center. Updated
ter project, Manhattan
the past year.
proved by all developvid Dillner reported
proval of the proposed
estimates and costs
collected about $6.35
Although officials
ers and property owners associated with the
later that people on
project.
boosted that amount to
million in STAR Bond
the selection commit$50 million by 2009.
district sales taxes from in the STAR Bond Dis- Flint Hills Discovery
The committee opertrict, Dillner said, and
tee had urged the city
2005 through October
ates with no budgetary
The bonds were used
Center in Manhattan
and county to continue
2009 before issuing the that usually is difficult
authority and will not
to pay for construchave expressed some
to obtain.
pursuing such a facility have any funds approSTAR Bonds in Notion, land acquisition,
envy about how many
If the city pursues a
even if the Abilene was priated to facilitate its
vember 2009. Part of
public infrastructure,
visitors stop in Abilene
STAR Bond project, it
not selected.
that amount — about
purpose. The city com- streetscape, landscape
to tour that attraction,
is leaning now toward
$5 million — is in a
Late in December
mission, however, may and public park imlocal officials and tourreserve fund at the state the increased sales tax
2015, Abilene commis- appropriate such funds
provements.
ist gurus aren’t happy
and property tax on the despite the large numlevel. The other $1.35
sioners passed a resoas may be necessary for
The state’s 2014
lution that established
the committee to fulfill STAR Bond Annual Re- million was transferred difference in valuation
ber of visitors stopping
once the project is com- in town.
an adhoc committee to
its responsibilities.
port stated that total de- to the trustee to be apexplore the feasibility
One of the first tasks
velopment costs for the plied to debt service on pleted, Dillner said.
They are generally
the bonds.
If a hotel is part of the displeased because lots
of developing a new
for the committee will
Flint Hills Discovery
project’s scope, the city of visitors stop in
tourism-related project
Revenue collected
be to decide where such Center project exceeded
could also look forward Abilene to tour the
that would be eligible
a commercial enter$108 million. The proj- after November 2009
to the possibility of
for financial assistance
is
being
used
to
finance
tainment venue would
ect included the 30,000
Eisenhower attractions
dedicating a portion of
using STAR (Sales Tax be located. Defining
the debt service on the
square foot discovery
but don’t stay overnight
the guest tax generated to continue visiting
and Revenue) Bonds.
bonds. Revenue above
a specific district is nec- center and museum,
in the district, he added. the city’s attractions
the annual debt serThe actual commitessary to leverage sales hotel and conference
vice
amount
is
used
to
Additional money for
tee is comprised of
tax money that would
center, restaurants, enthe following day.
covering the project’s
area volunteers with an be dedicated to the
tertainment venues and redeem bonds beyond
“We need something
the scheduled principal cost could also come
expressed interest in
project, Dillner said.
a park area.
to entice them to stay”
from a percentage of
seeing the city grow. It
One means of at least
Total economic impact payments.
in a hotel, have a nice
any ticket fees or adalready has met twice
The 2014 annual
partially paying for
was reported at more
place to eat, have some
mission fees established nighttime entertainment
to begin
STAR Bond report
such a proj- than $160 million in
by the tourist venue,
getting
states that revenue
would
capital investment,
and have another place
The committee ect
Dillner said.
the backcollections
in
the
Flint
be Sales
more than 1,200 conto see the next day,
Members of the ad hoc Tax Reveground its
Hills Discovery Center
Any tax revenue that
struction jobs worth
say many of the city’s
committee are Chair nue Bonds, $27 million in annual
members
project have kept pace
would be generated
leaders and tourism ofMeredith Sleichter, Vice commonly payroll and more than
need to
with projections formu- for the project would
ficials.
determine Chair Todd Moore, Bri- referred to 1,000 permanent fulllated when the project
come primarily from
One idea that has suran Williams, Tim Holm, as STAR
whether a
time employees with an was conceived and it is visitors, Dillner emfaced during informal
new tourist Ann Manning, Jennifer Bonds.
anticipated that future
phasized. Of course, if
annual payroll of more
conversations among
Waite, Deb Sanders, Such bonds than $21 million.
attraction
revenue will continue to local residents shop in
local people concerned
is possible Kristine Meyer, Tony can be used
come in at a level above the district, they would about attracting tourand, if so, Geiger, Diane Miller, by municithe required debt serhave to pay the higher
State sales
ists is the creation of a
Rick Williamson, An- palities as
the scope
vice,
allowing
for
the
sales tax levied for the
Chisholm Trail Mutaxes
available
gela Rindels and Kyle a strategic
of such a
STAR Bonds to retire at district; but Abilene
seum, especially with
for funds
Campbell.
project.
a faster rate.
residents in general
economic
the upcoming 150th
Municipalities that
would not be faced
Besides
developThe state sales tax
anniversary celebration
issue STAR Bonds to
with a higher city sales set for late 2016 and
becoming
ment tool
for Abilene — effechelp finance an entax or property tax, he
familiar with STAR
to entice a major comtive since July 1 — is
throughout 2017.
tertainment
or
tourist
added.
Bonds and how such
mercial entertainment
6.5 percent. All of that
See STAR BONDS, Page 5
attraction can use state
projects are conceived, or tourism project.
money collected in a
sales taxes already in
funded and built, the
STAR Bond district
In 2006, Manhattan
place
as
well
as
other
committee has been
could be reimbursed to
received $41 million in
sales
taxes
collected
charged with the
the city to help pay for
STAR Bonds from the
responsibility of decid- state and its Department within the defined
the special obligation
ing:
bonds that are issued,
of Commerce, based on STAR Bond district.
Dillner said.
• Whether the city
should pursue a STAR
The returned state
Bond project in partnertax money wouldn’t
ship with the state,
completely pay the cost
of the STAR Bonds,
• The boundaries of
Shelly Crane would like to invite you
Dillner said, but other
the STAR Bond project
to call her for all your Real Estate
tax initiatives could be
and
needs, from buying to selling,
added to that revenue to
• The scope of a
Shelly is here to help you.
help pay the cost.
project to be studied
further.
After a series of meetTaxing districts
ings, which would be
could also help
open to the public, the
with funding
committee would make
One such means
its recommendations to
would be establishing a
the city commission.
Shelly Crane, Broker/owner
Tax Increment Finance
If the Abilene comABR,GRI,CRS
District on the STAR
missioners accept a
Bond District. A TIF
Almost Home Realty
recommendation supdistrict would allow the
109 S Buckeye Ave. | Abilene KS
porting pursuit of a
city to use the property
office: 785-200-6956 | cell: 785-263-5028
STAR Bond project, the
www.almosthomerealtyks.com
tax collected from the
subsequent feasibility
increased amount of
P
Friday, February 26, 2016
www.abilene-rc.com
3
Mike Heronemus • Reflector-Chronicle
When an expected flood of new military families didn’t happen after the 1st Infantry Division returned from Germany to be based at Fort Riley, planned
new housing didn’t get built in the Highlands development that was prepared with needed infrastructure. Recent interest has re-ignited the possibility of
new homes in that northwest area of town.
Highlands lots sought for housing
By Mike Heronemus
[email protected]
T
he Highlands
situated in the
northwest part
of Abilene sits basically empty — one
lone duplex resides in a
planned residential area
that was supposed to
be the home of military
families returning from
Germany with the 1st
Infantry Division in
2005.
A few extra military
families moved into
town, but not the droves
that were expected.
But, the development
is ready for new families. It already has all
the infrastructure and
utility services expected
by new residents.
The streets, however,
haven’t felt the tread
of automobile tires, the
coolness of water being
sprinkled on new lawns
nor the slap of running
shoes along its curbs.
That may be changing,
however.
In October 2015 the
Abilene city commissioners, acting as trustees for the Land Bank
of the City of Abilene,
approved a resolution
that allowed the land
bank to accept the entire undeveloped area in
the Highlands development as a donation.
Owner Harry Utzig
had agreed to donate
the property and claim
the gift as a charitable
donation, relieving him
of any responsibility
for property taxes. The
land bank can dispose
of the property as it
sees fit once the title is
received.
Before moving to
approve the resolution,
Commissioner Tim
Shafer said he was glad
to see some movement
in regard to the Highlands. Commissioner
Dee Marshall, who
seconded Shafer’s motion, and Mayor Dennis
Weishaar both said they
were happy to see the
movement, too.
At that time, City
Manager David Dillner
told city commissioners
another property owner
was proposing a land
swap for some of the
lots in the Highlands.
Another land
deal offered
In late December,
Abilene city commissioners accepted another
land donation — 17.3
acres located in the
undeveloped Phase 2
portion of Cedar Ridge
Estates east of the former Alco warehouse.
The land was donated
by Kelly Dunn Construction, Inc., one of
the partners involved in
the Cedar Ridge project.
He was divesting his
40 percent share of the
property in the planned
housing development.
The other 60 percent of
the property is owned
by Timberline Investors,
LLC of Lawrence.
Ryan Wedel, repre-
senting Timberline
Investors, LLC told city
commissioners during
the commissioner’s
mid-December study
session that his firm
is pursuing affordable
housing tax credits from
the state and wants to
swap their portion of
the undeveloped Cedar
Ridge Estates property
for lots in the Highlands
development where
infrastructure already
exists.
Dillner said after
that study session that
regardless of whether
Timberline Investors,
LLC receives the housing tax credits or not,
the city will own the
additional 17.3 acres.
Closing on that was expected to be completed
by Dec. 31.
If the Cedar Ridge
Estates Phase 2 swap
for Highlands lots can
be done, Dillner has
said the deal would be
a win for both parties.
Timberline Investors,
LLC will get several
buildable lots with infrastructure — streets and
utilities services — already installed, which
will reduce their future
development costs; and
Abilene won’t be faced
with an eventual request
to provide new infrastructure to the lots in
Cedar Ridge Estates.
In late January, city
commissioners switched
roles to being land bank
trustees to approve the
land swap agreement
that would give the land
bank 17 acres of undeveloped property in
Cedar Ridge Phase II.
In return, the land bank
would deed over 17 lots
in the Highlands for
the affordable housing
project being proposed
by Abilene Highlands I,
LLC.
As city commissioners
also approved an earlier
resolution of support for
a Housing Tax Credit
Application Abilene
Highlands I, LLC wants
to submit to the Kansas
Housing Resources Corporation in its effort to
build affordable housing
in the Highlands development.
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Other financial
incentives needed
The project is contingent on as yet unstated
economic incentives
from Abilene. The partners are asking Abilene
to consider overlaying the Highlands lots
identified for the project
with a Neighborhood
Revitalization Program
district to help with
financing the construction costs.
If that incentive is not
approved, Dillner said
some other incentive
could be considered, but
that it was important for
the city to do what it
could to help the project
become a reality.
Dillner said the land
agreement would allow
the land bank to reamortize the special assessments on the Highlands lots so that the
city would eventually
receive all the outstanding special assessments
and allow reimbursement of any delinquent
special assessments not
paid by the previous
Highlands owner.
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would build 18 threebedroom units and 10
two-bedroom units.
The units would have
their rent controlled for
a specified number of
years.
Wedel, one of the
Abilene Highlands I,
LLC partners, said the
two-bedroom units
would rent in the neighborhood of $525 per
month and the threebedroom units would
rent for about $625 per
month. He said a family
of four with an annual
income of $30,000
would qualify for the
units.
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Friday, February 26, 2016
www.abilene-rc.com
Chamber trying some new ideas
By Tiffany Roney
[email protected]
P
lenty of new
things are happening at the
Abilene Area Chamber
of Commerce.
Far from a quiet office that keeps things
“same old, same old,”
the organization is
becoming a vehicle
for business education
and, hopefully, new
resident recruitment.
“The chamber is at
the point where we are
definitely coming into
the role of the cheerleader of the community,” said Executive
Director James Holland.
Starting this month,
the chamber is holding
monthly lunch-andlearns at area restaurants and meeting
spaces. Educational
topics at the sessions
will include business
promotion, running a
business, development
incentives and other
commerce-related
subjects.
Holland hopes the
sessions will enhance
local small business
owners’ ability to run
their operations in a
profitable manner.
“We’ve done them
(lunch-and-learns)
kind of sporadically in
the past, but to have
them on a regular basis
is good,” he said.
haven’t had in the
past,” he said. The
meetings would be
held twice each year
for chamber members and prospective
members to receive an
update on the chamber’s activities and
offerings.
Holland foresees the
meetings as “a way of
sharing information
and having a give-andtake with the business
community.”
True ‘career’
day
In addition to partnering with local
business, the chamber is developing an
increased influence in
local schools, especially at the high
school level.
Earlier this month,
representatives
from the chamber’s
Young Professionals
of Abilene spoke at
Abilene High School
about preparing for
future careers. Another
seminar is planned for
March 9.
Also in the vein of
preparing students for
careers, Holland spoke
with school administration about “actually
having more of a career day than a college
day.”
“They’ve had career
days and then when
you go there, 90 percent of the people with
Live, work, play booths are colleges
recruiting,” he said. “I
A new initiative the
think we need to have
chamber plans to kick a separate event that’s
off this year is a “live
related to local busiwork play” flyer to be nesses. Colleges can
issued via email twice have their day — colmonthly. For the “live” lege day — and then
aspect, the flyer will
we can have a career
include rental properday with local busities; for the “work”
nesses.”
aspect, it will list positions available; and for
Growth of BAH
the point of “play,” the
In the midst of these
flyer will inform readnew
offerings and
ers about events going
activities, the chamber
on the community.
is continuing to hold
“In this ‘live work
its monthly business
play’ flyer, some of
the churches might be after hours events,
which Holland said
included,” Holland
have been “very popuadded. “If someone’s
lar.” He said 80 to 140
coming to town and
people have shown
they’re looking for
up at the most recent
a church family, that
might be a good place events.
for the churches to get
the word out on their
programs.”
Holland aims to
launch the flyer by the
end of the first quarter
of this year, saying,
“We’d like to get that
off the ground.”
Reflector-Chronicle file photo
Members of the Young Professionals of Abilene discuss Jan. 20 the upcoming seminars YPA will facilitate and lead at Abilene High School in partnership with USD 435. The seminars will point out to
the students what is available in Abilene as far as potential careers and business opportunities are
concerned. The young professionals meet at noon on the second Wednesday of the month. (Clockwise from far left) Andrea Taylor, Ted Pugh, Crissy McDonald, Krista McDonald, Brian Williams, James
Holland, Kim Bartley, Jared Waite, Jennifer Waite, Travis Sawyer and David Dillner planned Powerpoint
slides at the meeting conducted in the Civic Center conference room.
“One thing that is really encouraging about
those events is it’s
not always the same
people showing up,”
he said. “I’ve seen a
diversity of people
showing up at all those
events, and that is
encouraging, because I
think if everyone who
went to one decided to
show up at one, we’d
have 300, 400 people.”
Due to the diversity
of attendance, Holland
said the events are “a
good way to get the
word out about your
business and meet
other business owners
and potential customers.”
He has found that
simply showing up
can lead to valuable
networking. “I’ve
seen some business
relationships already
kind of develop out
of those things,” he
commented. “That’s a
good thing.”
Whether it’s a flyer,
a meeting, an educational event or a networking opportunity,
Holland said each of
the chamber’s offerings have the same
objective.
“All this is driven
to increase commerce
in Abilene,” he said.
“That’s the goal.”
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Friday, February 26, 2016
5
County ED corp. may set up donor program to bolster efforts
By Kathy Hageman
A
[email protected]
t some time in the future, members of the public may be able
to donate funds to the Dickinson County Economic Development
Corporation.
At this point, nothing yet is in place to
solicit funds or explain opportunities to
potential donors and investors, but it’s
a possibility in the future, said DCEDC
Executive Director Jodie Stickney. “Because we’re formed the way we are, this
is a tax deductible donation.”
By virtue of being a 501(c)(6) nonprofit, people can look to the DCEDC
as a place to donate when going through
probate or estate planning — if the
executive board decides that’s the role it
CORPORATION
ties what they should do,
but I’ll do whatever they
Continued from Page 1
may want to do,” StickED groups cannot.
ney said. “The role I’ve
“Most of that involves
taken is: Feel free to ask
the way we can obtain
me what you need from
funding for economic
me. A lot of the things I
development. As a nonbring are not traditional
profit and economic
ED concepts. I hope I
development organizacan share some of those
tion, we’re able to bring
that weren’t used before
in investors who are
or thought of before.
able to bring in different
Hopefully, we can cash
government programs,
in on some of those ideas
lending grant programs
and use them with good
and things not available
to others,” Stickney said. results.”
Until moving to Abilene,
“Once we’re able to do
Landers
said she never
that, we are then able to
lived in a community that
disseminate it to the best
didn’t have a county-wide
of our ability as to how
economic development
the board sees fit.”
group, but as Abilene and
While most cities in
other towns have slowly
Dickinson County have
declined she saw the need
some type of economic
for the ED corporation.
development arm, Stick“I don’t think people
ney and Landers explain
truly
understand what
the DCEDC is not a
economic development is
duplication of services.
“There’s always concern or they wouldn’t question
the fact that we are here,”
– and rightfully so – that
Landers said.
our tax dollars are being
Stickney is quick to
duplicated and not used
point
out that she will
in the right way. I invite
anyone who has concerns do “anything I can to get
new business anywhere in
to come and visit with
me. We are not in anyway Dickinson County. That
way we all benefit.”
duplicating any other
Stickney said she is
organization,” Stickney
pleased to see how
explained. “It’s merely a
matter of the development dedicated the various
communities are toward
of the support services
some of these organizaeconomic development.
tions might need to make Recently, she was a guest
it easier for them to do
during a meeting of
what they need and meet Enterprise’s ED group.
their goals.
“For as small as they are,
with limited resources,
“I don’t want to go out
and the tell communithey have got a whole
Tax Tip:
lot going on. I watched
them come up with great
ideas. They’re organized,
they’re committed,
they’re hardworking,”
Stickney said, explaining that’s one of the good
things about the DCEDC
board with members from
each community. “With
a board member at the
table, they can bring their
ideas and their communities’ ideas to us.”
Although she’s an advocate for every Dickinson
County city, Stickney said
she’s not afraid to use
the name “Abilene” as
a drawing card because
of its incredible history
and then open the door
and talk about the other
towns.
“Abilene immediately
pinpoints us. It gives us
our position on the map.
Once I get them (prospective businesses) here, I
can say, “Wait until you
see this great little town
out this way,” Stickney
said with a smile.
“Being an economic
development director is
very much like being a
salesperson for Dickinson
County. I need a hook
to get them here and
sometimes the hook is the
word ‘Abilene.’ If I can
get them that far, I can
usually get them out into
the county,” she said.
wants the organization to play.
“People can designate some funding
for a special project in their name or to
honor someone else,” Stickney said.
“For instance, perhaps an entrepreneur
made his fortune in a particular business and would like to help someone
with a similar dream do the same. He
(the donor) could donate some funding
and earmark it as a special program for
STAR BONDS
Continued from Page 2
That likely is one idea
the ad hoc committee
will discuss.
If the committee
decides one or more
projects could attract
visitors to Abilene, it
then would need to
determine the scope
of a desirable project
and just how feasible it
would be, Dillner said.
Key elements of tourist and entertainment
venues include upscale
restaurants and hotels,
he pointed out, so
those would likely be a
part of any proposal.
Site location, securing a developer and
funding also would be
factors the committee
would need to consider.
EDC would
become
involved
At their meeting in
January, members of
the Abilene Economic
Development Council
were briefed about
Bonds and TIFs to
keep them up to date
on city action to possibly undertake a project
that would use those
financing incentives to
Tax Time is
bring a new tourism
project to town.
Dillner explained
that he wanted to keep
them informed about
what the ad hoc committee studying the
feasibility of such a
project, especially as it
relates to their responsibilities should a
project be selected.
If a project is determined to be feasible,
the EDC would be
involved in determining the boundaries of
a STAR Bond district
and whether a TIF district could be overlaid
on the same area to
create an additional
funding source.
Besides the
STAR Bond
project
Other than a possible
STAR Bond-eligible
project being talked
about, Dillner told
the EDC that the city
had been approached
by developers of two
potential projects that
could benefit from
establishment of a TIF
district.
“No project is currently being considered,” Dillner said. Actions are being taken
by the city now so that
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it would “have a step
up” if a future project
would be presented.
The EDC already
has a starting point in
the form of Resolution 101104, which
established the city’s
policy and procedures
for redevelopment
district projects. The
resolution came about
in 2004 when efforts
were being made to
move and improve Old
Abilene Town, Dillner
said.
For various reasons
the project did not
move forward even after the policy and procedures were adopted
by the city commission. Dillner suggested
that the EDC should
review that resolution
so that it could be more
applicable today. For
example, it does not
include any language
relating to collection of
city sales taxes or franchise fees and the fees
outlined in it would
probably need to be
adjusted to fit today’s
needs.
“We may bring some
amendments (to the
EDC) to update the
policy, just to tweak
it to reflect what is
needed now,” Dillner
said.
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Stickney said the idea of donating
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fairly common in many areas, but may
be a relatively new concept for Dickinson County. “Lots of times, economic
development and business organizations
in communities aren’t structured that
way,” Stickney explained. “Community
foundations often take on that goal.”
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Friday, February 26, 2016
www.abilene-rc.com
City uses several enhancements
Economic Developin close proximity to
ment Council which
one another without
has a Business Investdisturbing each other,
lthough it’s not
ment Program.
but city zoning regs rea major part
quire the be located in
That program is goof Abilene’s
specific zones because
ing
into
its
third
year.
economic development
of use of the land is the
Money
available
for
efforts, the city’s comdetermining factor.
prehensive plan can be EDC use has been used
Abilene has some obused to provide instant to give local businesses
grants
to
make
stacles
regarding ecoup-to-date information
improvements
to
their
nomic
development,
wanted by a potential
buildings or operations
Dillner said. “One of
developer, according
or
to
new
businesses
the challenges is it’s
to City Manager David
trying
to
get
started
in
easy to look at Abilene
Dillner.
town.
and say, ‘We’re not
It describes Abilene’s
Going
into
2016,
growing, but in the
demographics — inmembers
of
the
EDC
Midwest growth ha
formation about the
talked
a
lot
about
the
snot been occurring
population, local wage
program
offering
no
as we would like,’” he
scales, local busiinterest
loans
instead
said.
nesses and industry,
of
outright
grants.
That
“But, we are putting
descriptions of public
way
the
council’s
fund
together
work that
facilities and other data
would
be
replenished
need
to
be
done in
that might be useful
without
having
to
budpreparation for when
to a business wanting
get
new
amounts
every
something comes
to relocate in or near
year.
No
definite
decialong,” Dillner said.
Abilene.
sion has been made,
Sites adjacent to
The last update was
however, on just how
Russell
Stover would
done in 2006, Dillner
the money will be used
be
good
for industry
said, and a lot has
this year.
because the infrastrucchanged in the 10 years
The EDC also had
ture is already there
since. “Alco is no lonconsidered
in
October
and there is immediger here, for instance,
2015
a
proposal
to
ate access to Interstate
and we’ve had a new
70,” he said.
census since 2006,” he help downtown businesses get money to
pointed out. So, one
One drawback is the
make
improvements
of the tasks Dillner aslack of empty buildsigned the new director to the facades of their
ings, Dillner said. “In
of community develop- stores. The EDC was
this environment, no
ment, Daniel Shea, was being asked to help
one wants to build a
Abilene Neighborhood Revitalization districts
businesses make an
to update the plan.
spec building,” Dillner
application to the
NPR districts are
development. Using
to “form-based zonThe comprehensive
said, reiterating the
North Central Regional those that generally
zoning strategies is a
ing.” That takes more
plan is more than just
importance of having
Planning Commission
are older, somewhat
way to keep similar
into consideration the
figures and descripbuildings ready for ocfor a $5,000 no interblighted or in general
land uses congruent
look and design of the
tions, however. The
cupancy.
est loan to make façade need of improvements, and to separate disbuilding than what the
plan gives an overview
Orscheln’s warehouse
improvements.
Dillner said. Home
similar land uses, Dill- building is being used
of where the city has
would
be a definite
James Holland, exowners living in those
ner said. Zoning regs
for, he said.
been and where it’s goplus,
but
“they haven’t
districts can apply for a keep heavy industry
For example,
ing, Dillner said. A part ecutive director of the
decided what they’re
Abilene Area Chamtax rebate on improve- and residential areas
Abilene’s zoning regs
of it also lays out the
going to do with it,” he
ber of Commerce,
ments that add at least
separated by arrangnow require anyone
city’s strategy about
added.
brought the program
$25,000 in assessed
ing “buffering” zones
wanting to set up a
growth and gives its
“We have a lot of
to the attention of the
value to the property.
to transition from one
bread and breakfast in
plan for implementagreat
sites on which
EDC. When the EDC
Those rebates vary in
zone to another.
their home in a resition of whatever goals
to
build,”
Dillner said,
tabled a decision on
amounts from disThe city’s zoning regs dential area to apply
have been set for the
“but is the owner ready
getting involved with
trict to district but the
are based on the use of for a Conditional Use
future, he added.
to sell and at a fair
the program, Holland
rebates can generally
the land, Dillner said.
Permit, he said. But,
A lot of factors play
market value?”
regrouped and the
be claimed for up to 10 So, heavy industry
on the outside the bed
into successful ecoDespite the challengchamber is now work- years.
can’t be located in a
and breakfast looks
nomic development,
ing with the NCRPC
es,
Dillner assures that
That means the prop- residential zone. A new like any other home in
and the comprehensive
by trying to find
“people
are interested
erty owner doesn’t pay way of looking at zon- the neighborhood and
plan is just one, Dillner
downtown businesses
property taxes on the
ing may be worth con- what takes place inside in Abilene. He says
said.
interested in the loans. incremental increase
that based on actual
sideration in Abilene
the bed and breakfast
Abilene has represenThe city’s Neighborin property value
in the future, he said,
doesn’t negatively im- inquiries, at least two
tation on the board of
hood Revitalization
of which were made
gained because of the
although it is not being pact the neighbors.
directors for the DickProgram plays a small
very recently but about
improvements
made,
pursued
by
city
staff
at
Many
of
today’s
inson County Economrole in economic dewhich he was not at
Dillner
explained.
present.
businesses and manuic Development Corpovelopment by offering
Zoning regulations
He was referring
facturers could operate liberty to discuss.
ration, so it has a voice
homeowners a finanare another way in
in what is being done
cial incentive to reinwhich the city works
to attract new developvest in their property.
to facilitate economic
ment to the county.
It recently agreed
to add $25,000 to an
incentives fund that
the DCEDC can use to
help attract new developers.
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Realtor - 785-280-0628
Realtor - 785-280-9919
Realtor - 785-479-0306
The 2016 budget
Diane
Landers
Lady
Diane
Landers StewSusan
SusanWatt
WattBroker Katie
Katie
Lady
Diane
Landers
Susan
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Katie
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Etherington,
includes about $55,000
Realtor
785-280-0628
Realtor
785-280-9919
Realtor
785-479-0306
Realtor
785-280-0628
Realtor
785-280-9919
Realtor
785-479-0306
Realtor - 785-280-0628 Realtor - 785-280-9919 Realtor - 785-479-0306
for economic deCALL FOR A NO-OBLIGATION FREE
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velopment. The city
QUOTE.
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commission hasn’t
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
Brian J Tajchman Agency, Inc.
designated how the



104 Nw 3rd St

remaining $30,000 will
Abilene, KS 67410
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
be used to enhance
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(785) 263-2512
economic development. The city has an
By Mike Heronemus
[email protected]
A
Call
Callusustotosee
seethe
thefine
fineAbilene
Abilenehomes
homes
that
thatwe
wehave
havelistedlistedLet Us Find Your New Home!
INSURE CAREFULLY,
DREAM FEARLESSLY.
American Family Mutual Insurance Company,
American Family Insurance Company,
6000 American Parkway, Madison WI 53783
006441—Rev. 11/15 © 2015
Mike Wilson has been a custoM hoMe builder since 1974,
Quality WorkManship, unMatched expertise,
We Will help you design and build your perfect hoMe
With high Quality features for coMfortable living.
Custom Homes • Commercial • Additions • Remodeling
211 northWest 15th st abilene ks 67410
785-263-7348
mikewilsonbuilders.com
[email protected]
See what iS new in abilene:
www.AbileneKansas.org