Wichita advances water and sewer infrastructure amid warnings over state bond legislation

Wichita advances water and sewer infrastructure amid warnings over state bond legislationThe city council approved special assessments to fund water, sanitary sewer, and stormwater improvements for new commercial and residential developments, but the City Manager cautioned that a proposed state bill could penalize the city's infrastructure bonding capacity.

Council approved petitions for water, sanitary sewer, and stormwater drain improvements across three new developments, fully funded by special assessments.

The City Manager warned that pending state legislation could create a penalty against the city's assessed value and taxation based on its high bond amounts for infrastructure.

The Board of Bids and Contracts advanced a $66,500 contract for flood control pump station repairs and a $402,992 purchase of a high-pressure sewer cleaner truck.

Consent agenda approvals included land acquisition for the Maple Water Pump Station and multiple easements for the Bleckley Drive Drainage Improvement Project.

The Wichita City Council approved a series of water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure improvements on April 7 to support new residential and commercial developments, though city leadership raised concerns about pending state legislation that could threaten the financing mechanism for future projects. Paul Gunzelman of Public Works and Utilities presented petitions for public improvements covering three developments: Eastside Community Church Third Addition, Midland Baptist Church Third Addition, and Trinity Pointe Second Addition. The projects will provide essential water distribution, sanitary sewer collection, and stormwater drainage infrastructure. The improvements are backed by 100 percent of the improvement districts and will be financed entirely through special assessments. Following the presentation, the council discussed a bill currently before the Kansas governor that could impact how these special assessment bonds are treated. The City Manager warned that the proposed legislation could act as a penalty against the city's financial standing. "When you factor in assessed value and bond capacity, the fact that we are bonding this infrastructure for these developments, it can work against us in terms of how much money we have already expended in bond capacity," the City Manager stated. Staff plans to provide the council with a full analysis of the legislation's impact on the city's infrastructure liabilities depending on the governor's final action. Beyond the development petitions, the council approved several other water and wastewater capital expenditures. Through the Board of Bids and Contracts, the city awarded a $66,500 contract to Wildcat Construction Company for repairs to the Wichita Valley Center flood control project, specifically targeting pump stations 2 and 11, as well as the Old Lawrence Road flapgate. The board also approved the $402,992 purchase of a high-pressure sewer cleaner truck from Elliott Equipment Company. Additionally, the council's consent agenda included several property acquisitions to support ongoing water and drainage capital projects. This included a partial property acquisition for the Maple Water Pump Station project in District IV, alongside more than ten permanent and temporary construction easements across South and North Bleckley Drive to facilitate the Bleckley Drive Drainage Improvement Project in District I.