Town Topics

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Submit your questions to the city of Edgerton.

The work along 1st Street is part of a project from Kansas Gas to upgrade the main line that runs through town.

Edgerton’s mill levy rate has dropped more than 25% in the last decade. Here’s more information that may help explain what’s going on.

This image shows a chart of Edgerton's mill levy, which has dropped more than 25% since 2010. In 2010, the mill levy rate was 42.0893. In 2021, it is 30.381. Below the bar chart is a pie chart that shows Edgerton makes up about 20% of your total property tax bill. The rest of your property taxes are split between other jurisdictions, including the County, Gardner Edgerton USD 231, Fire District #1 and others. Below that chart is a box showing "increasing services" The City of Edgerton is increasing services even while dropping the mill levy. We now have a full-time deputy, full-time animal control and codes enforcement, more community events, new recreation programs, railroad quiet zones and more trails, plus increased investment in capital improvement programs. Finally, at the bottom of the infographic, a blue box shows that home values are increasing, which is why property taxes continue to climb. The average Edgerton home value rose 42.3% between 2010-2020. The City alone cannot offset the annual increase in valuation without severely impacting services.

No, Edgerton is not a billion dollars in debt.  That misleading rumor concerns Industrial Revenue Bonds (IRBs).

IRBs are an economic development tool to provide certain benefits to vertical construction on new development that can include property tax abatements. IRBs are NOT General Obligation Bonds (GO Bonds) and are NOT the responsibility of the City or its residents to pay back.  IRBs ARE NOT CITY DEBT.

The property owners that are issued IRBs are required to make their bond payments or they lose their tax abatements, so it is in the best interest of the property owner to make those payments on time. Every January, the City must certify to the County that the property owners are meeting their obligations in order to continue to receive the tax abatement. The City must also report the balances on its IRBs to the County every June.

 

The City of Edgerton adopted the 2018 suite of construction codes published by the International Code Council (ICC), the leading global source of model codes and standards and building safety solutions. This set of comprehensive codes and building standards includes the 2018 International Codes listed below. Most of Johnson County adopted the 2018 ICC suite in 2019.

2018 International Building Code

2018 International Residential Code

2018 International Fuel Gas Code

2018 International Plumbing Code

2018 International Mechanical Code

2018 International Existing Building Code

2018 International Fire Code

2018 International Energy Conservation Code

2017 National Electric Code

Population size does not determine building code and safety requirements in the state of Kansas.  Learn more about Edgerton’s codes here.

No, this rumor is entirely false. The City has been actively recruiting housing developers for years. In 2019, Mayor Roberts and James Oltman, the President of ElevateEdgerton!, our economic development partners, appeared on KCUR radio and in several news stories to talk about the city’s struggle with low housing inventory and to recruit builders to this area.  So far negotiations with developers have not been successful due to a variety of factors, including large lot sizes, rising costs of construction materials and cost of infrastructure development.  Most developers are looking for smaller parcels to test the market, but a majority of available and buildable parcels around Edgerton are much larger and require significant investment to connect to our water and sewer systems.  The City of Edgerton desires to increase our population and show more people how amazing this community truly is.

We have a handy checklist to help you decide if you need a building permit! Download the checklist here. Permits are required whenever you make significant or structural changes to your property, especially anything involving mechanical, plumbing, or electrical. If you have any questions, please contact City Hall at 913.893.6231 and ask for Community Development.

The City of Edgerton does not currently offer any incentives or programs to assist in relocation expenses for new residents.

The City’s economic development partner, ElevateEdgerton!, recently announced a new grant program to help current residents beautify their properties. The application period opens March 1, 2022.

The City does not keep an active list of landlords.

Yes! Electric bicycles and scooters are allowed on any street under 35mph, excluding truck routes.

An infographic with people on electric bikes and scooters. Below it says: Where can i ride? Any road that is 30mph or less in Edgerton city limits. When can i ride? Anytime between sunrise and sunset. Who's allowed? Anyone over the age of 14. But no extra passengers.

The City does not currently offer any telecommunication utilities, like broadband or fiber internet services. We also do not control any private business decisions, but we do support efforts to expand high-speed internet services to rural areas of the state of Kansas.  To see what type of high speed internet service is available at your property, check out the FCC’s Broadband Map.

The City of Edgerton has already invested nearly $33 million in revenues from Logistics Park Kansas City (LPKC) in several projects bettering our community and significantly improving the quality of life for our citizens. Every other year, the City conducts a citizen survey that is sent to every household in Edgerton. That survey provides citizens the opportunity to rank their top priorities for investment by the City. Since 2013, those priorities have remained constant: investment in street infrastructure, existing parks and park equipment and new trails and sidewalks to increase connectivity in our community.

The City of Edgerton has been able to complete a myriad of projects to benefit the residential community that would have otherwise been impossible or would have taken years to complete.  Those projects include, but are not limited to:

  • Big Bull Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant (2013)
  • Railroad Quiet Zones along Nelson and 207th Street (2014)
  • Manor Park Renovation (2016)
  • 3rd Street Infrastructure Upgrades (2017)
  • Nelson Street Improvements-East 5th to East 6th (2017)
  • 8th Street Sidewalk (2017)
  • 4th and Nelson Intersection Improvements (2018)
  • Martin Creek Trail and Pedestrian Crossing into Big Bull Creek Park (2019)
  • Residential Street Reconstruction (2019)
  • 1st and Meriwood Stormwater Improvements (2020)
  • Stormwater Master Plan (2020)
  • Wastewater Master Plan (2020)
  • U.S. 56 Trail (2020)

Currently, construction is underway on a $15 million public safety infrastructure improvement project.  The 207th Street Grade Separation is fully funded by new revenue generated by LPKC and a $1 million CARS grant from Johnson County. This project would not be possible without funding available from the revenues from development of LPKC. Later this year, work will begin on another park renovation at Glendell Acres.  New landscaping, playground equipment and sidewalks are planned.  This project is also funded by LPKC.  Check out some of the pictures of the projects below.

 

Trash is normally picked up on Wednesday in Edgerton.  The City contracts with Gardner Disposal for trash, recycling, and yard waste collection services.  You can find out more by going to their website.

Residents that would like to sign up for any additional services needed such as additional carts (trash or recycle), house-side collection, etc. should contact City Hall (913) 893-6231 during regular business hours. More information is available here.

 

No. When the City issues an industrial revenue bond with property tax abatement for a project, the developer must make annual payments-in-lieu-of-tax (PILOT). These PILOTs are distributed to all taxing jurisdictions in the same proportion as regular property taxes, including to the City of Edgerton. The City of Edgerton annual PILOT payment goes into the general fund just like regular property taxes for the Edgerton City Council to allocate during the annual budget process.

 

Since the opening of LPKC, these PILOT payments have been used to increase services to the residential community such as increasing the city’s street and park maintenance; adding new recreation programming (like princess tea party and art classes); and adding new community events like Summer Movie Nights and Summer Kickoff Block Party, which is happening in Downtown Edgerton this weekend.

A bulldozer knocks down the former "cop shop" near the library in downtown EdgertonA new community gathering space, called The Greenspace, is still in the works.  In 2019, the City tore down two buildings surrounding the downtown greenspace: a vacant home and the former “cop shop” near the library. After taking public feedback from the public about what design options they would most like to see, the City has hired a design firm to create plans for the new building.

Updates on The Greenspace can be found on the Construction Projects page of this website.

The City of Edgerton does require a permit to install a new pool.  There are certain rules you will need to follow, including distance from property lines and fencing. Check out edgertonks.org/pools for full details.

No.  City Hall is not moving anywhere.  City Hall has been in the Grange Hall building since the 1960s. The City of Edgerton has never considered moving City Hall away from downtown Edgerton.

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