Marboeuf donates Cinema Circle building for use as United Village childcare

Dodge City Mayor Jeff Reinert, Vice Mayor Daniel Pogue and Commissioners Michael Burns, Chuck Taylor and Rick Sowers were present at the July 7 city commission meeting.The Childcare Coalition of Dodge City secured funding from the Kansas Children's Cabinet and Trust Fund to support the development of a childcare center that will be located at United Village.Local developer Ric Marboeuf donated the former Cinema Circle building, 106 Kinkead St., and the land on which it will be relocated, at a value of nearly $200,000. The 7,500 square foot building is 20-feet tall and is an empty shell.The ground floor will be repurposed into the Full Circle Childcare Center and will be divided into four rooms that can serve 68 children per shift. The building will be owned by the coalition with the Dodge City/Ford County Economic Development Corporation as the trustee. The coalition will operate the childcare facility. Cargill has pledged financial support for the center and several local businesses have voiced their intent to support the center, too, corporation director Joann Knight told the commission.If it is not sustainable, the coalition will liquidate the building and the city will receive the proceeds from that sale.A sprinkler system, windows and an elevator will be installed. The cost estimates to move the building, including the foundation and parking lot, are a little over $1 million. Dana Williamson of Williamson Architecture has estimated the construction costs to be between $2.5 million and $3 million, which includes the moving of the building, new foundations, sitework, and building renovation costs for the main level renovations. The local Kansas Department of Health and Environment licensing specialist is aiding in the design as well. The grant funding from the state will be used to purchase the building from Marboeuf for the relocation costs. Taylor thanked Marboeuf for his donation. A public hearing was held regarding the issuance of Industrial Revenue Bonds for the GLo Best Western at the casino project by 16 Tons LLC. No one from the public came forth. The commission voted to approve the issuance to developer Bill Cunningham.Fire Chief Bradley Hines presented the purchase and installation of equipment for the new Dodge City Fire Department Rescue Truck. The commission approved with a 5-0 vote.Finance Director Nicole May presented the notice of Revenue Neutral Rate (RNR) intent to exceed the RNR for the 2026 budget. The commission approved with a 5-0 vote. Ford County Clerk Debbie Cox calculated the RNR rate for the city is 33.478. May said the anticipated rate for the 2026 budget is 36.223. There will be a public hearing before the budget is adopted.