Downtown Hutchinson gained more than 50 new businesses in the last five years, filling the storefronts that had been empty for decades. The growth exceeded the Hutchinson/Reno County Chamber of Commerce, downtown business owners and residents’ expectations — but there is still more than an estimated 140,000 square feet of open retail, restaurant and commercial space on Main Street. According to Reno County’s property records, the estimated value of these empty properties that are owned by private residents is $1.4 million, while businesses own another $1.6 million in empty storefronts. Source: Hutch News

The city of Topeka wants to hear your voice in the search for a new city manager. A survey has been shared to the city website where residents can answer questions and guide the governing body on what qualifications they want to see in the next city manager. The governing body was to begin to preview the responses Friday, and the survey will end on May 13. Source: CJonline

The City of Lawrence is seeking feedback from community members on two proposed changes to the city’s governmental structure, as city leaders consider adding a question to the November election ballot. One of those changes would see a nonpartisan mayor elected directly to a four-year term, a change from the current arrangement where the commission chooses one of its own members each year to serve a one-year term as mayor. The other would create six voting districts in Lawrence, bumping the size of the commission up from five to six members, each serving staggered four-year terms. Source: LJWorld.com

Following a vote of approval from the Douglas County Commission on Wednesday night, regulations for possible future solar farms in the county are now official. ... those regulations set specific limits for elements like the maximum size of a solar farm — 1,000 acres — and how far they must be set back from roads, homes and other structures. With the commission’s approval, solar energy firms and others wishing to develop solar farms here will be able to file applications for conditional use permits. Source: LJWorld.com

Major changes are being considered at the state's pension fund, ones that could impact its fiscal outlook and relations with the Legislature — even as lawmakers voted to add $1 billion to its coffers. The KPERS Board of Trustees is weighing a controversial decision to reduce the estimated profit generated by the pension fund's investments, a metric dubbed the assumed rate of return. Kansas currently projects its investments will bring in 7.75% each year. Officials voted to reduce the assumed rate of return in 2016, dropping it from 8% previously. But even with that move, Kansas has the highest assumed rate [...]