The first council meeting of June came with a wide variety of agenda items. The meeting began with the council approving previous meeting minutes and agendas, as well as approving a financial audit presented from the Loyd Group. The meeting continued with Haven resident Nikolas White, who requested a hearing after receiving a citation in regard to the length of his lawn. White told the council he had plans of growing a pollinator-friendly yard. “The idea is to turn the entire lawn into a pollinator-friendly ecosystem with a mix of vegetables, flowers and grasses all working together in a symbiotic relationship,” [...]

Public commenters urged the Lawrence City Commission to adopt a temporary moratorium on data center development while the city studies the issue and creates permanent regulations. About 50 people attended Tuesday’s public comment period, with some overflowing into the City Hall lobby. Several speakers said a moratorium would protect residents from unwanted developments near neighborhoods and farmland. Some expressed concern that large-scale data centers could strain water and electricity supplies, increase noise and light pollution and alter the character of surrounding land.  Read more: The Lawrence Times

Lawrence city commissioners on Tuesday selected Majed Al-Ghafry to serve as the next city manager following contract negotiations led by city staff. Mayor Brad Finkeldei said Al-Ghafry’s background and experience fit the bill for Lawrence’s city manager position. “Beyond his education, his experiences in public works, economic development and management of large and complex projects in multiple cities will serve Lawrence well in the coming years as we move into what I call the execution phase of our planned growth,” Finkeldei said. Vice Mayor Mike Courtney echoed Finkeldei’s sentiments. Read more: The Lawrence Times

City commissioners approved changes to the city’s dog ordinance in a 4-1 vote, replacing breed-specific regulations with a behavior-based framework. All commissioners were present for the vote and Mike Skidmore cast the opposing vote. Ottawa City Attorney Blaine Finch presented the proposed changes, outlining both the reasoning behind the updates and the structure of the revised ordinance. Read more: The Ottawa Herald

U.S. Rep. Derek Schmidt provided three tips at a townhall. Schmidt advises communities that data center developers should not require tax abatements. Data centers should source their power from new or supplemental sources to avoid raising local utility costs. Modern data centers can be designed as closed systems that do not consume large amounts of water. Read more: CJonline

Tornado Alley since the early 1950s has dissected the central Great Plains, including the states of Nebraska, central Oklahoma, northwestern Texas and Kansas. Read more: CJonline

To count the acreage in a unit of real property held by tenants in common towards a zoning protest petition under K.S.A. 12-757(f)(1), all tenants in common must sign the petition. Read the opinion: Prairiewood Holdings, LLC v. Board Of Riley County Commissioners

Nearly 400 cyclists will travel 550 miles across Kansas over eight days, starting Saturday. Read more: View the Biking Across Kansas Map

The farm would generate enough energy to power more than 30,000 homes, according to the developer. Read more: KSN-TV

Beltline Energy representative Ryan Sanders told the crowd that because of regulations the company would not use local aquifers for their main source of water. Beltline is trying to secure land and gain local government approval in Pottawatomie County for a large-scale data center that would represent a $15 billion investment for the region. One of the options for water use Beltline is exploring is the use of trucks to both truck water into the facility and take water waste out. Read more: themercury.com