The Centralia City Council passed a resolution for a redevelopment agreement with Freight Car Locomotive Experts (FCLE) at Monday night’s meeting, giving the business a ten-year loan with a five percent monthly rate to support the purchase of machinery, equipment, and inventory as the business grows. Council members agreed that supporting the growth of this industrial business was in the city’s best interests. President and CEO of FCLE James Danielwicz was at the meeting and thanked the council for their support, optimistic that the business will be able to draw in new employees with the help of the loan. The agreement will be converted into the USDA IRP Loan Program upon award to the City of Centralia.
There was a large turnout for this council meeting as well as a lengthy public comment. Dave Boswell and members of the Raccoon Lake Association talked to the council about the issue of allowing duck hunting on Raccoon Lake. Hunting there has been illegal for years due to proximity to residences within Centralia city limits. Arguments were made by Boswell for and by the Association against changing the rule, but no action was taken or planned by the council.
Also discussed during public comment were electric bills and the city’s opt-out electric aggregation agreement with Homefield Energy, as well as a recommendation by Mary Jones of the Centralia Tourism Commission to reallocate funds from Celebrate Centralia and Summer Market to the printing and advertising portion of the tourism budget.
The council approved a resolution for Gonzalez Companies, LLC to perform preliminary engineering and engineering inspection services for the 2025 motor fuel tax street maintenance program. A resolution was also approved for the purchase of a 2022 Dodge Durango from the Kansas Highway Patrol for $34,500.