A petition was filed Friday to the Saline County Clerk’s Office in response to several actions taken by the Salina City Commission during the COVID-19 pandemic. The petition was described by Kevin Korb, who filed it in the clerk’s office, as an effort to rein in some of the mandates put in place by the commission that the signers feel violated citizens’ rights. The petition asked if an ordinance should be put in place that will limit “the power of the city commission to impose restrictions on businesses and citizens related to a state of emergency at the county or state [...]

The South Hutchinson City Council on Monday approved changes to the city’s nuisance codes with the intent of making it easier to enforce violations involving tall grass and junk vehicles. With the changes, the city plans to ramp up enforcement beginning in August, said City Administrator Joseph Turner. “Code enforcement is one of the best investments a community can make to protect property values and improve public safety,” Turner stated in a release. “Blight and other nuisances invite meth heads and other degenerates to steal catalytic converters, commit property crimes and victimize our hardworking taxpayers.” Source: Hutch News.

In an escalation of a dispute with Reno County over who should replace a deteriorating bridge on Scott Boulevard, South Hutchinson’s new city administrator announced on Friday plans to close Avenue F for 90 days. In a news release sent out late Friday afternoon, Joseph Turner said the closure, which will start Aug. 2, is to allow the replacement of a leaking water line. The street will remain open to residents and vendors providing goods and services to them, such as mail, delivery, and refuse services, the release stated, but closed to through traffic. Source: Hutch News.

A single item is on the Aug. 3 election ballot – whether or not to continue the county-wide 1⁄ 4 cent sales tax. It is not, however, a sales tax increase. Robert Reece, Finney County administrator, said the sales tax was originally passed back in 1995 for the construction and improvement of the grandstands at the Finney County Fairgrounds. It was renewed in 1997 to fund improvements to the Law Enforcement Center and was renewed again in 2014 for the Community Service Center and the Juvenile Detention Center. The bond issue for the 2014 renewal will retire in the middle of [...]

The City of Lawrence has enlisted the eager assistance of goats to help weed a city park. The Parks and Recreation Department is using about 50 goats in Prairie Park, 2730 Harper St., to assist with eradicating honeysuckle, which is an invasive plant. The program is intended to be a natural alternative to using herbicides. Source: LJWorld.com.