Gage Park board reports reserves, new commitments; commissioners hear update

The Shawnee County Board of County Commissioners heard a presentation Thursday from the Gage Park Improvement Authority reporting financial reviews, new project commitments and a reserve balance, and later recessed into an executive session on personnel wages that produced no action.

James Martin, vice chairman of the Gage Park Improvement Authority and a county appointee to the board, told commissioners the authority is meeting monthly and has issued its second annual report. "We average a little under $762,000 a month that come in to be distributed" to the three beneficiary entities, Martin said, and the authority retains a five-percent distribution. He said that five-percent share averages about $37,000 per month, or roughly $444,000 a year.

The report explained the authority’s recent steps to strengthen financial controls and plan for future spending. The board completed an external financial review covering 2023 and 2024 after issuing an RFP; Martin said the reviewer issued no management letter or negative findings. The authority also issued an RFP for a firm to handle monthly financial management so bookkeeping and distributions will continue if board membership changes.

Martin listed several specific commitments the authority has made or is preparing to fund: a $150,000 allocation for predesign and supplemental design services for a new shelter house near the carousel site; a commitment to help the Kansas Children’s Discovery Center address stormwater work tied to its project (amount not specified); an annual $40,000 contribution to the "Gage Park for All" reduced-fee program for the zoo and the Discovery Center; at least $110,000 pledged toward a new electronic signboard at Tenth and Gage (final approval and permitting remain pending); and up to $20,000 in matching funds for improvements around the war memorial. Martin also said the authority maintains a reserve of about $250,000 that it does not plan to tap except for a park emergency.

The authority is pursuing two memoranda of understanding with the City of Topeka: one to relocate fiber-optic cable that currently lies in areas the zoo will develop, and another MOU with the city covering closed-circuit-video inspection work of sanitary sewer lines under park property. Martin said crews were conducting the sewer CCTV inspection at the time of the presentation and that results were expected within a month or two.

Stormwater planning and drainage constraints were a recurrent topic. Martin said the authority is discussing cost-sharing with Parks and Rec and the zoo on a targeted drainage study focused on the West Lake and zoo-outlet areas; he cautioned that stormwater rules and permit requirements limit future development options in parts of the park and could affect planned projects. He also noted other planning topics under consideration, including site work for a proposed Helen Hawker Performance Center, assessment of the park's mini-train system and potential extensions toward the Discovery Center, and broader conversations about a park-wide security approach.

On procedure, Commissioner Aaron Mays moved that the commission go into executive session "for personnel matters of nonelected personnel, specifically, we're discussing wages today." Commissioner Kevin Cook seconded the motion; the three commissioners voted 3-0 in favor. The commission returned from executive session without taking action and adjourned.

Martin closed by saying the authority is intentionally conservative in drawing down accumulated funds, especially given uncertainty in future sales-tax receipts and the authority’s monthly distribution role. "We're watching the economic situation and watching the cash flow out a couple years in advance," he said.