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The Dodge City Commission approved a special sewer rate for a proposed cheese-processing plant on Monday, helping clear the way for the plant to set up shop in the old Gibson's industrial park east of town.
The city will charge Dodge City Cheese $1,935 for every million gallons of wastewater regardless of flow, as long as the monthly total is less than 15 million gallons. Surcharges for fats, oil and grease and other substances would be added to the rate if the plant exceeds flow and strength limits.
Wastewater from the cheese-processing plant will be shipped to the city's wastewater treatment plant south of town.
If the cheese-processing plant expands, the commission would need to renegotiate the sewage rate structure, which is based on usage of 13.5 million gallons per month.
The special rate is necessary because the plant is expected to generate a lot of wastewater containing a high number of solids and other waste materials, which would exceed the limits established in the city's current wastewater ordinance.
Dodge City Cheese is proposing to pretreat its wastewater to some extent, but it would still not be able to produce wastewater that meets the city's requirements, according to a memo from engineering services director Joe Finley.
Dodge City Cheese currently holds an option to purchase the Gibson's industrial park but has not finalized the purchase yet, Dodge City/Ford County Development Corp. executive director Joann Knight told the Globe on Sunday. She said the resolution establishing the special sewer rate was just one step in making it possible for the company to come to Dodge.
City clerk Nannette Pogue said Tuesday that the city will have to install a wastewater line for the cheese-processing plant after the company finalizes its plans.
In other business, the city commission:
• Approved an interlocal agreement authorizing the Southwest Kansas Coalition — a group made up of Dodge City, Garden City and Liberal — to hire the lobbying firm Jennison Government Services to represent the coalition in Topeka or Washington, D.C.
The three cities will split the cost of the firm's services, which has not been determined yet.
The firm is headed by former Kansas lawmaker Robin Jennison.
• Authorized the city to commit $77,000 for reconstructing the portion of U.S. Highway 400 within the city limits, also known as Trail Street.
The Kansas Department of Transportation was already seeking bids to rebuild the stretch of U.S. 400 starting at the east city limits and proceeding about 15 miles east, according to a memo from Finley. The memo said that since the city was responsible for maintaining the portion of U.S. 400 within the city limits, officials decided to add that piece to KDOT's project.
Reach Eric Swanson at (620) 408-9917 or e-mail him at eric.swanson@dodgeglobe.com.
The Dodge City Commission approved a special sewer rate for a proposed cheese-processing plant on Monday, helping clear the way for the plant to set up shop in the old Gibson's industrial park east of town.
The city will charge Dodge City Cheese $1,935 for every million gallons of wastewater regardless of flow, as long as the monthly total is less than 15 million gallons. Surcharges for fats, oil and grease and other substances would be added to the rate if the plant exceeds flow and strength limits.
Wastewater from the cheese-processing plant will be shipped to the city's wastewater treatment plant south of town.
If the cheese-processing plant expands, the commission would need to renegotiate the sewage rate structure, which is based on usage of 13.5 million gallons per month.
The special rate is necessary because the plant is expected to generate a lot of wastewater containing a high number of solids and other waste materials, which would exceed the limits established in the city's current wastewater ordinance.
Dodge City Cheese is proposing to pretreat its wastewater to some extent, but it would still not be able to produce wastewater that meets the city's requirements, according to a memo from engineering services director Joe Finley.
Dodge City Cheese currently holds an option to purchase the Gibson's industrial park but has not finalized the purchase yet, Dodge City/Ford County Development Corp. executive director Joann Knight told the Globe on Sunday. She said the resolution establishing the special sewer rate was just one step in making it possible for the company to come to Dodge.
City clerk Nannette Pogue said Tuesday that the city will have to install a wastewater line for the cheese-processing plant after the company finalizes its plans.
In other business, the city commission:
• Approved an interlocal agreement authorizing the Southwest Kansas Coalition — a group made up of Dodge City, Garden City and Liberal — to hire the lobbying firm Jennison Government Services to represent the coalition in Topeka or Washington, D.C.
The three cities will split the cost of the firm's services, which has not been determined yet.
The firm is headed by former Kansas lawmaker Robin Jennison.
• Authorized the city to commit $77,000 for reconstructing the portion of U.S. Highway 400 within the city limits, also known as Trail Street.
The Kansas Department of Transportation was already seeking bids to rebuild the stretch of U.S. 400 starting at the east city limits and proceeding about 15 miles east, according to a memo from Finley. The memo said that since the city was responsible for maintaining the portion of U.S. 400 within the city limits, officials decided to add that piece to KDOT's project.
Reach Eric Swanson at (620) 408-9917 or e-mail him at eric.swanson@dodgeglobe.com.
