(KMZA)--The Seneca City Council has approved changes to the city's sidewalk improvement program.

City Superintendent Brian Rusche appeared before the Council at their December 17th meeting to request that the amount of reimbursements available with the 50/50 cost-share program be increased due to rising costs.

Currently, the maximum amount of reimbursements available is $3,400 per property, and the city has $17,000 in funding set aside for the program.

Following discussion, the Council voted to increase the maximum amount of reimbursements to $4,700 per property, with up to $405 in ADA compliant ramp reimbursements, and to adjust the funding set aside each year for the program to $23,500.

The program is not only for sidewalk improvements but also curb and gutter improvements.

The Council also approved a change to the structure demolition reimbursement program.

Currently, the program allows a maximum reimbursement of $5,000 per person per year. The change will make that per physical address per year.

Its hoped that places less limit on property owners who possess multiple properties and possibly stimulates construction of much needed housing.

In other business, the Council took action on the final two pieces of the new ballfield project.

The Council voted to go with Musco Lighting to provide the lighting for the ballfield, and to not include the bullpens at this time.  That would save more than $59,000 on the total cost of the project

In addition, the Council voted to give City Administrator Steve Brooks authority to proceed with drawing up a contract with AHRS Construction for the project. The contract will be brought back to the Council for review and approval.