Westar Energy announced a contribution of more than $1 million in Wichita Community Foundation funds for grants and scholarships to benefit local students.
This comes after the company received community criticism last September for placing large transmission poles in a northeast Wichita neighborhood.
Wednesday, Westar announced it's establishing a $1.25 million fund at the Wichita Community Foundation to serve residents in the area. The company is also opening a $250,000 scholarship program. The move is in response to those large power line poles installed last fall.
Westar says the poles will help provide more electricity to areas including Wichita State University and Wesley Medical Center, but neighbors in the area of 11th and Minnesota say the poles have engulfed their property and have risked their home's property values.
Wichita City Council member Brandon Johnson says as generous as Westar's contributions are, community members believe it's not enough.
"I am appreciative that Westar sought to right its wrong of miscommunication and deterioration of a neighborhood by the transmission line upgrade that resulted in 57 massive 105-foot steel poles, some with diameters of more than 10 feet with this investment," Johnson says. "I think that, if done right,' these funds can make a small, but meaningful impact in certain areas. I'd be remised, however, if I did not express that this simply is not enough. I have already expressed this sentiment to Westar representatives and my fellow committee members."