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Merriam shifts driveway grant to focus on gravel driveways, introduces two-tier cost share
Summary
City staff proposed a revamped driveway grant for 2026 that widens income eligibility to 100% of area median income for full replacements and creates a tiered cost-share for higher-income households; council heard details and asked about implementation but took no formal vote.
MERRIAM, Kan. — City staff told the council the 2026 driveway grant program will concentrate on gravel driveways and use a two-tier structure so more households can participate.
The change is meant to reduce barriers for residents who previously fell outside the program’s 80% area median income (AMI) threshold, Community Involvement Director Brian Dyer said at the Sept. 8 council meeting.
Dyer said the proposal keeps the existing full-replacement model for low- and moderate-income households (tier 1) and adds a tier 2 for households above 100% of AMI: the city would cover the first $10,000 of driveway replacement and the property owner would pay the remainder. “We looked back at the driveways we’ve already done, and the average driveway cost is about $11,000. So $10,000 will get, based on our experience, an average driveway in the city of Merriam,” Dyer said.
Staff said the program will focus solely on gravel driveways in 2026 after a citywide visual survey identified roughly 130 residential gravel driveways; about 40 of those are rental properties. Dyer said the city will continue direct mailing to identified properties, accept applications between October and November, measure and design driveways, and bid the work as a package, mirroring the current process.
Council members asked about participation and implementation details. Council member Hans asked whether some residents simply prefer gravel and would decline the program; Dyer said some indicated they were not interested in replacing a gravel driveway. Council member Kuzmaier asked how tier 2 applicants would be prioritized if funds are insufficient; staff said tier 2 will operate on a first-come, first-served basis after tier 1 priorities are satisfied.
The council allocated $100,000 for the 2026 program in the adopted budget, staff said. Dyer also said staff will provide tier 2 applicants with an estimated total replacement cost before they commit and that no driveway work will begin until any required homeowner payment is received.
Implementation details that staff said remain to be finalized include exact application dates and the payment mechanics for homeowner contributions. City staff also noted the council can modify program rules for future years, including expanding to non-gravel deteriorated driveways or rental properties if desired.
What’s next: staff will finalize application dates and program materials for the 2026 cycle and return with execution-level details if any policy changes are requested by council.
