Valley Center, KS 67147 Center, Valley Main W. 120 • 210 Box P.O. The Bel Aire VALLEY CENTER, KS VALLEY Permit No. 10 PRSRT. STD. PRSRT. U.S. Postage 67147 PAID Vol. 8, No.B 8 reezeSEPTEMBER 2013 Complimentary copy LeadersBy Matt Heilman pleasedThe 2014 budget callswith for a property budget affords2014 the city the opportunity budgetproving the 2014 budget,” Mayor David tax mill levy of 45.754 mills, down from to tackle improvements that have been Austin said. “It’s exciting to say this Property tax In a scene that starkly contrasted 46.162 mills in 2013. on the city’s wish list for several years. with a tax decrease. At the same time, what took place a couple of years ago, The final budget comes without a Besides street repairs, the additional we’re taking care of all our employees mill levy the Bel Aire City Council voiced excite- need for cuts to personnel or services. improvements the city hopes to tackle and we’re taking care of capital expens- ment with the passage of its spending The city implemented a combination of next year include the purchase of two es that are so far overdue.” decreases with plan for the upcoming year. At its Aug. cuts and a tax increase in 2012 to set up new police vehicles, resurfacing of Also on Aug. 20, the council: 20 meeting, the council unanimously better budget seasons over the last two the Bel Aire Park tennis court, improve- •Approved an appropriations ordinance in the city’s new amount of $276,654.67. passed the 2014 budget that actually years. ments to the baseball fields at the Bel •Held a public hearing on the proposed as- calls for a slight decrease in the city’s Bel Aire has also seen progress on Aire rec center and the replacement of a sessments for public improvements on certain spending plan portion of the property tax mill levy the development front and is steadily city-owned mower. from the 2013 mark. chipping away at its land debt. The 2014 “There’s a lot of excitement in ap- See BUDGET, Page 2 Homes in Elk Creek subdivision expanding City offers incentives By Matt Heilman The Bel Aire City Council took action at its Aug. 6 meeting that essentially cements an agree- ment with a group of builders to spur progress on construction in the upscale Elk Creek addition near 45th North and Rock Road. Earlier this summer, the council learned that a group of four builders called Elk Creek Four LLC planned to purchase 48 lots that had been turned over to the bank last year. The bank took ownership of the lots after the developer in Elk Creek claimed bankruptcy in the housing addition where single-family homes sale in the $300,000 to $500,000 price range. Matt Heilman On Aug. 6, Lasher said Elk Creek Four LLC had been able to purchase the 48 unfinished lots from For several months, the public has heard that Century Manufacturing’s time standing alone in the Sunflower the bank on Aug. 2. The purchase clears the way Commerce Park is coming to an end. This month, city leaders further discussed what is likely to follow within the for the group of builders to get to work on filling next year. out Elk Creek with more single-family homes in the $350,000 price range. As somewhat of an incentive to help the build- ers get a start with continued single-family home construction in Elk Creek the city has agreed to cover two years’ worth of infrastructure improve- ments on the 48 lots issued in special assessments with the formal understanding that the city will be reimbursed for the effort. On Aug. 6, the council approved an ordinance Interest is building to create a Community Improvement District that only includes the 48 lots ready for new construc- ByCity’s Matt Heilman Sunflower Commercetion of 53rd North and Greenwich. Park attractingThe master plan attention for the Sunflower tion. The creation of a CID clears the way for the Lasher said he couldn’t disclose the Commerce Park also calls for the addi- city to either borrow money or use reserves to pay Slowly, but surely, the City of Bel identity of the company other than to con- tion of a rail spur, a line that dead ends off off two years’ worth of special assessments and get Aire is seeing results from its aggressive firm that it supplies materials to concrete the main track where large manufactured refunded by the builders at the end of two years. marketing efforts in the 800-acre Sun- companies. He described the business as items can be loaded directly onto train By then, Lasher said most if not all of the 48 flower Commerce Park. For now, Century “a national company” with facilities in cars. vacant lots should be filled with new, single-family Manufacturing is the only tenant operating Kansas and across the United States. The rail access is pivotal to the Sun- homes. on the property that stretches from Webb Lasher said the rail access is what’s flower Commerce Park’s growth, Lasher Usually, Community Improvement Districts are Road to Greenwich along 53rd North, but driving the company to Bel Aire and the has said. utilized to pay for infrastructure in commercial more construction is on the horizon. company hopes to begin operating in the Earlier this summer, contract negotia- developments. However, the laws associated with Following an Aug. 13 Bel Aire City Sunflower Commerce Park within a year. tions began with Wichita’s Shuttle Aero- the formation of a CID do not limit its application Council special meeting, City Manager Ty For that to happen, he said the city space to build on about 12 acres south of to commercial development, Lasher said last month Lasher announced that negotiations have would work with the company and Union 53rd North and Webb Road. when the council approved a petition in support of started with a company interested in build- Pacific to get railroad siding installed A “worldwide distribution business,” creating the district. ing on about 12 acres of the property along along the main line of track to use for the Union Pacific rail line at the intersec- shipping. See BUSINESS, Page 2 See HOMES, Page 2 ByIt Matt Heilmanpays totoo can save participate in the program. water $3,000 in the program. under per cycle pernew cubic foot a specific program alleviate the need for watering. For Participating cities in the Water Con- Park City and Kechi offer the washer uses, smart irrigation control- more information on drought-resis- Recent rainfall has alleviated local servation Rebate Program include same water conservation incentives lers labeled WaterSense and up to a tant landscaping, the city advises drought conditions, but cities are still Valley Center, Park City, Bel Aire offered in the City of Wichita. While $75 rebate for rain barrels that are 50 residents to contact the Sedgwick encouraging residents to be conser- and Kechi. part of the same program, Bel Aire gallons or larger. County Extension Education Center vative with their water use. In June, Valley Center has been awarded has adopted its own incentives with Bel Aire offers its residents a at 660-0100. the City of Wichita implemented a $10,000 to participate in the program the $6,000 it was allocated. $5 one-time rebate for each new Bel Aire residents that utilize $1 million rebate program that offers and offers the same incentives imple- The incentives implemented by showerhead that uses two gallons or drought-resistant landscaping in their incentives for conserving water. mented in the City of Wichita. Park Wichita and offered in Valley Center, less per minute, $50 for new water lawns are eligible to receive free With the program, $1 million is City, which gets most of its water Park City and Kechi include up to a efficient clothes washers that use less hats. allotted for rebates on clothes wash- from the Chisholm Creek Utility Au- $100 rebate for low-flow toilets that than 15 gallons per load and dish- The city that is a wholesale cus- ers, dishwashers, low-flow toilets, thority and utilizes Wichita water as use 1.28 gallons of water or less per washers that use less than 5.8 gallons tomer with both the CCUA and the irrigation controllers and rain barrels. a backup source, has been awarded flush, high efficiency dishwashers per load and $20 for each low-flow City of Wichita encourages its resi- Part of that $1 million has been $4,000 to participate in the program. that use less than 4.25 gallons of wa- toilet. dents to limit watering their lawns to distributed to smaller cities that are Bel Aire has been awarded $6,000 ter per cycle, high efficiency clothes Bel Aire also is encouraging Wichita water customers so they to participate with Kechi accepting washers that use 4.5 gallons or less drought resistant landscaping to help See WATER, Page 2 PAGE 2 SEPTEMBER 2013 • BEL AIRE BREEZE Mayor’s corner Give By David Austin The end of summer is here and the kids are headed soccer back to school. In Bel Aire we celebrated the end of the summer by closing the Bel Aire city pool with a well-at- team a tended dog day at the pool. I got to take my granddog, Lucky, and we enjoyed meeting other dogs and their Give the new team a chance. humans. chanceIt’s unfortunate that the second I am not sure who enjoyed version of the Wichita Wings the day more — myself franchise folded after two short or Lucky.