BonnerSprings.com

Bonner Springs Mayor Clausie Smith

Edwardsville Mayor Heinz Rodgers

The year ahead holds some promising developments for Bonner Springs and Edwardsville. Including some new developments.

The planned 510-unit, $50 million Raintree apartment complex at 94th Street is moving forward, with the letting of bids for the site's runoff detention pond set for this month and 10 subdivisions in Bonner Springs either under construction, about to begin construction or awaiting approval for rezoning or final plat.

Both Edwardsville Mayor Heinz Rodgers and interim City Administrator Mike Webb said the main goal for the city was to improve its financial situation. Whether or not the city succeeded in achieving a positive fund balance in its 2007 budget will be known when its audit is completed by Cochran, Head, Vick & Co., which Webb said he hoped would be done by the end of March.

Infrastructure improvements for Edwardsville are in the works as well. The widening of Woodend Road, from Ninth Street to the Federal Express warehouse, will include a left turning lane and should improve traffic as well as attract more businesses to the industrial park, Webb said. The roadwork should begin by summer, Webb said.

Both the mayor and Webb were reluctant to speculate on what might be done with the revenue from the Golden Gaming casino proposed for Edwardsville if the project were to be approved by the Gaming Facility Review Board. That decision won't be made until the end of May. The Lottery Commission forwards its picks to the board on March 28.

"I'm not one to count my chickens before they hatch," Rodgers said.

But whichever casino proposal is eventually chosen, the interlocal agreement signed by Edwardsville, Bonner Springs and Kansas City, Kan., means at the minimum Edwardsville - as well as Bonner Springs - would be guaranteed a minimum percentage of the revenue, which Webb said was estimated at about $500,000. That would make a big difference for Edwardsville, which has a budget of about $4 million.

If the Golden Gaming development becomes a reality, the city will see revenues three to four times its total budget, Webb said. Whichever proposal is approved, the revenues probably won't be seen until 2010 or 2011, Webb said.

Another change coming for Edwardsville is having a full-time, permanent city administrator for the first time since City Administrator Doug Spangler left under a cloud of controversy in April. Webb and the city are working out the final details on an agreement for him to become the full-time city administrator; the City Council will vote on the agreement at its Jan. 14 meeting.

Also, next month Rodgers hopes to inaugurate a new tradition for the city: a town hall meeting, where the mayor will give a "state of the city" address. The event, in early February, will offer residents a chance to voice their concerns, Rodgers said. The date for the event hasn't been set.

Lastly, Rodgers said he was working with neighboring municipalities on "planned growth : specifically on the north end and east end."

The purpose, Rodgers said, was "trying to keep (development) in harmony with the area, not just unique to our town."

To that end, Rodgers said, "we are very active participants in the Mid-America Regional Council," for which he sits on the board of directors.

Bonner Springs is looking forward to a good year on the economic development front.

"We're looking at another good year with a lot of new businesses," said Marcia Ashford, director of economic development for the city.

In 2007 the city saw 24 new businesses open, bringing the total number of licensed businesses in town to 310.

In housing construction the city beat regional growth rates in construction permits, with a total of 58 through November, and 10 new developments are on the way.

Cedar Springs Phase II, at 137th and Morse, the Cottages of Cedar Springs, at Leigh Drive and 137th Street, Lei Valley Phase II, at 138th and Kansas Avenue, Lei Valley III, at 138th Street and Kansas Avenue, and Tiblow Townhomes, at the corner of Warner and Spring, are all under construction. Five building permits have been issued for Cedar Ridge I, north of Kansas Avenue, east of 134th Street and west of Schubert Drive, the final plat has been approved for Bluegrass Meadows, at Bluegrass Drive and Insley Avenue, and the Johnson Ridge subdivision, at Warner and Spring, is pending a rezoning approval from City Council.

The biggest, most visible project for the city will be its new library, for which the ground was broken just last month.

Infrastructure improvements for Bonner Springs will include the widening of Kump Road from Nettleton Avenue to 138th Street, which is set to begin this spring. Front Street will see several improvements, including storm-water drainage, sidewalks and lighting, as well as landscaping on its south side.

Other projects coming this year are the Wolf Creek Sanitary Sewer, Riverview Crossing street improvements, with a new 131st Street connecting Canaan Center Drive and Riverview, south frontage road improvements and right turn lane onto Kansas highway 7, phase two of the walking trail from the Aquatic Center to Kansas Avenue, a new entrance for the cemetery, and the replacement of Woodend Bridge.

Mayor Clausie Smith was typically upbeat about the coming year for Bonner.

"I just think next year going to be one of those exciting years." Smith said. "Of course the new library will be finished : We're also working on at least a couple of economic development packages that will hopefully come to fruition."

Smith said the library should bring more people to visit Bonner Springs.

"This library draws for the whole area," Smith said. "Certainly from Leavenworth and Wyandotte County. It's just one of many things that brings people to Bonner Springs : We hope people spend their money and leave a little sales tax."

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