Revitalization program on agenda

The Fort Scott City Commission is scheduled to meet today to consider a resolution to set a public hearing date for the new Neighborhood Revitalization Program, and applying for a $250,000 housing grant from the Kansas Housing Resources Corp.

The meeting, set for 3:45 p.m., in the City Commission Meeting Room, 123 S. Main St., will be held to approve the publication of a resolution to set a public hearing for 6:15 p.m., July 17, for the Neighborhood Revitalization Program. The commission will consider adoption of the plan at that hearing, city documents said.

The Neighborhood Revitalization Program provides tax rebates for commercial and residential property owners who make significant improvements to their property.

"If a property owner decided to rehab or build new on their property, if they increase the assessed value at least 15 percent, they are eligible for the program and get a rebate," Economic Development Manager Macy Cullison said.

Some changes have been made to the new program, which had been suspended for a year and was reworked due to declining interest, Cullison said.

"We found the old program wasn't getting a lot of use," she said. "We had no more than one or two applications a year. We wanted to make a little bit more incentive where the more you do, the more of a rebate you get."

Eligible property owners received a flat rebate under the previous program, which had been in place for at least 10 years.

With the new program, "the more you increase the value, the bigger rebate you get," Cullison said.

The new program includes a variable rebate depending on several factors such as the state of the property before the improvements and the amount the assessed value is increased, she said.

Also under the new program, residential and commercial property have been "separated out," and the established area in the plan has increased to include the entire area inside the contiguous city limits, Cullison said.

"The commercial has a different system than residential in determining the amount of rebate," she said.

The program involves all four local taxing entities -- USD 234, the city of Fort Scott, Bourbon County and Fort Scott Community College. All the boards and commissions representing those entities must approve the plan before it goes into effect.

A state statute requires that a public hearing be held before the plan is approved, Cullison said.

The proposed Neighborhood Revitalization Plan and a description of the boundaries of the proposed Neighborhood Revitalization Area are available for inspection between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. in the office of the City Clerk, 123 S. Main St., and the Fort Scott Public Library, 201 S. National Ave.

At the conclusion of the public hearing, the city commission will consider findings necessary for the adoption of the proposed revitalization plan and the established revitalization area, documents said.

The commission is also scheduled today to discuss and consider applying for a $250,000 grant from the KHRC to rehabilitate blighted homes in Fort Scott. The grant requires a 25 percent match from the city that can be either in-kind services or cash, Assistant City Manager Susan Brown said.

The budget work session that that was scheduled to follow the special meeting at 4 p.m. has been canceled, a news release said.

Questions can be directed to City Hall at (620) 223-0550.