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Towanda schedules sales-tax workshop as city pursues water grants and loan requirements
Summary
City staff set a July 30 workshop to prepare a sales-tax measure for the November ballot and said state loan/grant programs require a Water Conservation Plan; JEO is surveying the water system to inform project design.
Towanda city staff on July 9 told the council they plan to seek voter approval of a sales-tax measure to help pay for water-system improvements and scheduled a public workshop for July 30, 2025, to draft the proposal before the county filing deadline of August 21, 2025.
City Administrator Andy Newbrey said the city will work with engineering consultant JEO to develop the project plan and that JEO crews are conducting a system-wide survey, which the firm estimated will take about six weeks. Newbrey told the council he wants a workshop before the next regular meeting so the measure can be finalized and submitted to the county by the August 21 deadline.
Staff also updated council members on funding pathways: pursuing the Kansas Water Office grant (Water Project Fund) and possible assistance through the Kansas State Revolving Loan Fund. Newbrey said the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) requires a Water Conservation Plan as part of certain state loan/grant processes and that KDHE provided a template the city must follow.
Council members did not vote on the sales-tax proposal at the July 9 meeting; they set a workshop date to prepare materials and proposed ballot language ahead of the filing deadline.
Next steps recorded in the minutes include the July 30 workshop at 6:30 p.m., continued coordination with JEO on the water-system survey and project planning, and completion of the KDHE Water Conservation Plan template as required for loan/grant eligibility.
