City of Bel Aire
News Release
City of Bel Aire: Low Cost of Living, High Quality of Life
December 18, 2008
The Wichita Business Journal has released its annual ranking of cities in the Wichita Metropolitan Area. Bel Aire ranked 10th in population and 15th in cost of living index. The Cost of Living Index measures the cost to purchase a standard bundle of goods and services including groceries, housing, utilities, transportation, health care and other goods and compares those costs to the national average score of 100. The chart shows were the major cities in the metro area rank. Low cost of living index combined with the highest median household income of the 25 cities ranked means that Bel Aire citizens have more purchasing power than any other city in the metro area. Bel Aire residents enjoy a high quality of life for a lower cost, making Bel Aire the best value in the Wichita Metropolitan Area.
Living Index Living Index Living Index
City
Cost of
City
Cost of
City
Cost of
1. Derby
81.7
10. Augusta
77.9
19. Towanda
75.9
2. Andover
80.8
11. Valley Center
77.7
20. Douglass
75.8
3. Rose Hill 80.4 12. Wichita 77.7 21. Sedgwick 75.3 4. Maize 79.4 13. Clearwater 77.6 22. Wellington 75.1 5. Goddard 79.1 14. Newton 77.3 23. Conway Springs 75.0 6. Haysville 78.5 15. Bel Aire 77.2 24. Halstead 75.0 7. Mulvane 78.4 16. Belle Plaine 77.0 25.Caldwell 72.2 8.Park City 78.2 17. El Dorado 76.8 9. Hesston 78.0 18. Cheney 76.0 National Average 100.0
Senior Center to Host CPR Class
December 11, 2008
On January 12th, The Bel Aire Senior Center will host a CPR training class from 6:30-9:30 pm. The class will cover adult, child and infant CPR. There is a fee for the class and it will include individual manuals, testing booklets and certificates of completion. The class is being taught by Lifesaver Learning, Inc. and is open to all area residents, but you must pre-register. For more information contact The Center at 744-2451, extension 121.
Sewer Rate Averaging Begins in December
November 24, 2008
The City of Bel Aire moved to a Winter Average Consumption for sewer charges last February. The Winter Average Consumption is the average of the water used during the months of December, January and February. The amount of water that you use during these three months will be used to establish your new monthly sewer rate. Lowering your water use in December, January and February will lower your sewer charge for the rest of the year.
Sewer rates have a base charge of $25.00 for residential
customers. Consumption is billed at a rate of $4.00 per 1000 gallons. In
January of each year the consumption charge increases by 3% for inflation.
Bills issued in February will reflect this increase. Starting on the February
2009 bill, residential customers will have a base charge of $25.00 and a rate
of $4.12 per 1000 gallons.
THE WINTER AVERAGE CONSUMPTION AFFECTS SEWER ONLY. Water will
continued to be billed based on the amount you use each month. Running water in
the winter will not help control your water bill in the summer. Excessive water
used in the winter will result in a larger monthly bill for that month and
could increase your sewer fees for the rest of the year.
Bills you receive in December will not be used to compute
the Winter Average Consumption. Consumption for the month of December can be
found on the bill you will receive at the end of January due to the way that
meters are read and bills are issued. The Winter Average Consumption will be the
average consumption found on your bills that you receive in January, February,
and March. The bill you receive in April
will set the sewer charges that you will pay until your new average is calculated
on your April 2010 bill.
It is possible for sewer consumption and charges shown on
your bill to be higher than your water consumption for a given month. The sewer
charges and consumption are set through the winter average and will remain the
same, regardless of the amount of water used, until a new winter average can be
established. The purpose of this method of billing was to avoid inflated sewer
charges on water used during the summer for lawn watering.
City Officials Announce $1.023 million Land Sale
November 18, 2008
Bel Aire Officials are pleased to announce the sale of approximately 35 acres of industrial land to the Graham-Michaelis Corp. The parcel, located at the corner of 45th and Webb road will be used as an industrial park area. Previously, the City had sold on parcel from that location to Accel Construction for $73,000. The sale to the Graham-Michaelis Corp. shows the remarkable progress and development of Bel Aire despite a weak economy.
Bel Aire Receives Grant for Senior Task Force
November 18, 2008
The City received a grant from the Kansas Health Foundation to move forward with a Senior Task Force project. The $9,500 grant will focus on addressing health issues that face various groups of seniors citywide. The increasing number of people aged 55 and over has presented a new set of challenges that are difficult to address through traditional senior programming. Funds for the grant will help explore these differences and build community capacity to address needs across the community. The Senior Task Force will kick off in early 2009 and run through the entire year.
7651 E Central Park Ave