South Wichita will soon have a new place for weddings, family parties and other gatherings. The City Council is poised to give final approval Tuesday to funding for a $1.4 million, four-season facility at O.J. Watson Park that will hold parties of about 100-120. “We need more nice stuff down south,” said Mayor Brandon Whipple, who lives in the area.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
Some people are questioning a Kansas law that allows the secretary of state to appoint election commissioners in the state’s most-populated counties. The questions come after Secretary of State Scott Schwab fired Sedgwick County’s election commissioner for accessing a voter database when working from home while undergoing treatment for cancer. Critics question why voters can’t choose the person who oversees elections in Sedgwick, Shawnee, Johnson and Wyandotte counties just as they do in 101 other counties in the state. Schwab’s spokeswoman Katie Koupal said the current system “maintains the delicate balance of protecting local election officials from potential conflicts of interest while also holding them accountable” to county leaders who set their budgets.
Source: KSN-TV
After a tumultuous year marked by a global pandemic, civil unrest and social upheaval, artists are crafting messages of peace through a new community art project in Lenexa. The city is launching the Peace Pole Community Art Project Exhibit this month and is calling on artists to design a “peace pole” to inspire hope this year. The city has partnered with local rotary clubs and the Lenexa Arts Council to launch the project. Susanne Neely, recreation supervisor, said the project first came about when the Lenexa Rotary Club and the Rotary Club of Western Johnson County approached the city with interest in erecting a peace pole somewhere in the city as part of the clubs’ mission.
Source: Prairie Village Post
Cities would not be able to ban natural gas as an energy source under a bill being considered in the Kansas Senate. Environmental organizations say the bill could slow a transition to renewable energy, while supporters say measure would help keep Kansas electric rates low. “I understand that cities that might want to go all-electric, but I think they should have a choice and I’m going to fight for that here,” said Senator Robert Olson, a Republican from Olathe. “I think natural gas is clean energy and I think we’ve gotten so wacko in this state. We are one of the greenest states in the country.” The bill is similar to proposed legislation in Missouri and Indiana, as more cities across the nation commit to green energy initiatives. The initiatives vary widely, from San Francisco which ruled that all new homes, offices and restaurants must be electric-powered to a coalition of Kansas City suburbs who committed to using clean energy for city services.
Source: Atchison Globe Now
A transparency bill that would hold local elected officials accountable for increasing property taxes is working its way through the Kansas House. The Kansas Senate voted 34-1 in favor of the “Truth in Taxation” bill, which would require local government bodies to inform the public about any property tax revenue increases regardless if the increase is a result of a millage hike. Gov. Laura Kelly vetoed a similar bill during the last session and because of COVID-19, lawmakers didn’t have time to attempt an override.
Source: Atchison Globe Now
It was a proud moment for the City of Great Bend during the City County meeting Monday night at the Events Center. Mackenzie Mitchell, development and communications coordinator with the Golden Belt Community Foundation, presented a sign and check to City Administrator Kendal Francis. This marked the city’s earning the Most Generous City Award from the foundation’s eighth-annual Giving Tuesday held Dec. 1. “This is very exciting,” Mitchell said. You guys do have a generous community.” This was the second year for the Most Generous City award, which was calculated with gift totals by zip code per capita. Great Bend received a grant of $1,000 to an organization or project in that community. Francis said they plan to use the funding for the Police Youth Academy.
Source: Great Bend Tribune
Johnson County is moving forward with Phase 2 of its COVID-19 vaccination plan. “It’s about getting the vaccine into the arms into as many people as possible,” said Dr. Sanmi Areola, director of Johnson County Department of Health and Environment. The county will start vaccinating people 65 years and older, and K-12 special education teachers—who could get their shot this week. “Our special education teachers and students tend to be quarantined because of the students’ inability to mask and mask well,” said Elizabeth Holzschuh, director of epidemiology, at Johnson County Department of Health and Environment.
Source: KMBC.com
The latest federal appropriations bill includes language that could enable some struggling rural Kansas hospitals to develop a new service delivery model that Kansas health experts say might save them. Adoption of the new model, however, will require both community buy-in and enabling state legislation. Several Kansas health care agencies have been working for more than five years on developing an approach similar to the proposed model, which would provide an emergency room, as well as outpatient and post-acute services, but no in-patient hospital care. …The recent federal legislation creates a new “Rural Emergency Hospital” designation, which closely aligns with the one that was being developed in Kansas called a Primary Health Center. It allows such facilities to begin operating in January 2023.
Source: Hutch News.
Today Governor Laura Kelly, Lt. Governor David Toland, and Treasurer Lynn Rogers announced the release of the Office of Rural Prosperity’s (ORP) 2020 Annual Report. The report outlines ORP’s policy priorities and the office’s ongoing projects, including rural infrastructure and broadband, childcare and early education, housing, and community and workforce development. “The Office of Rural Prosperity has been an important tool to address economic issues facing rural communities, businesses, and Kansans,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “We know that more work must be done to encourage community and economic development across our state, and this report provides a roadmap to continue investing in and supporting rural Kansans.”
Source: Kansas Department of Commerce
The Lincoln County Health Department will administer about 2,000 doses of Pfizer coronavirus vaccine Friday at a mass vaccination event. Appointments are required to attend the event, and they will be offered only to qualified individuals who are already on the county’s pre-registration list. The health department will contact qualified individuals on the list to make an appointment and provide information about the event location; residents do not need to contact the health department. Qualified individuals are those in Phases 1A, Phase 1B-Tier 1 and Phase 1B-Tier 2. Click here to see when you are eligible to receive the vaccine.
Source: The Chanute Tribune
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