Commission authorizes up to $66.9 million in bonds for sanitary sewer and capital projects, citing EPA consent decree

The Unified Government commission approved a package of financing actions May 21 that authorize bonds to fund sanitary sewer projects required under an EPA consent decree and a set of city general-fund capital projects.

Shelley Knievin, the unified government's chief financial officer, told commissioners the measures designate the specific sanitary sewer projects to receive bond proceeds, authorize issuance of the bonds and set the bond terms. Knievin said the package consolidates financing — roughly $55.5 million for sanitary sewer work and $10 million for general city projects — into a single issuance to reduce transaction costs, for a combined authorization of up to about $66.9 million.

Knievin emphasized the sanitary-sewer projects are supported by the enterprise fund and repaid by ratepayers, and that the financing aligns with the rates and CIP previously approved. "These are projects that ... are also legally required to be done as part of our EPA consent decree," she said.

Commissioners debated the total amounts and funding sources. Commissioner Bynum asked for confirmation that the $10 million general-project portion would be paid by City of KCK residents via property tax; staff confirmed that allocation. The commission approved the CIP amendment and the bond authorizations in separate votes; each vote recorded a 6–1 result with Commissioner Stites opposed.

The actions allow the administration to proceed with issuance and finalize bond documents; bond counsel was identified in staff remarks as Gilmore and Bell. The funding supports sewer improvements tied to consent-decree compliance and several identified capital projects listed in the CIP.