Public urges consistent treatment as county declines Coffeyville revitalization expansion

Chair opened a packet of correspondence that included a letter from the Coffeyville city commission and a letter from the Coffeyville Area Chamber of Commerce asking the county to reconsider its decision not to participate in Coffeyville’s expanded neighborhood revitalization program. The Coffeyville letter said similar requests previously approved for Independence suggest the county should “evaluate communities under the same standards.”

Ryan York, introduced to the board as a participant on the neighborhood revitalization program, told commissioners the county’s earlier, broader approach to revitalization was later validated by state law changes. “Do you know that they changed the law last year, 10 years later? Now you can do blanket areas,” York said, urging commissioners to avoid picking winners and losers and to treat commercial, agricultural and residential properties consistently. He repeated a preference for countywide alignment and suggested working through the Montgomery County Action Council to coordinate plans among cities, schools and the county.

County staff explained Coffeyville is operating under multiple revitalization plans with staggered expirations; Melody (staff) tracks those sections and said the final piece of Coffeyville’s plan runs to 2030. Commissioners noted the presented Coffeyville update included a zoning addition and a different rebate schedule (the existing schedule was described as 100% for five years, then reductions; the new plan was characterized as 100% for five years and 50% for the subsequent five years). The board said it is reviewing differences and looking for clarity on consistent standards before deciding whether to participate in future expansions.

The public correspondence and comments left the board with a clear request to articulate the standards that guide participation decisions. No formal action was taken at this meeting on expanding county participation in Coffeyville’s plan; commissioners instructed staff to continue reviewing the materials and to return with clarifications.