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Salina considers several multi-million dollar projects

info2019-05-15T07:38:04-05:00May 15th, 2019|

Two Salina City commissioners expressed support for considering whether to increase taxes following a extensive presentation on the city’s finances Monday evening. Salina’s sales tax revenue is down 3.78 percent this year compared to 2018, and the commission is in the process of considering several multimillion dollar projects with a total price tag of $37.8 million. City Manager Mike Schrage said the commission could still take on some of the projects if they are willing to raise taxes. “I realize we have a long history of not raising the mill rate at all, or very incrementally,” he said. “But if you [...]

Newton, North Newton talking after emergency sewer usage

info2019-05-15T07:36:06-05:00May 15th, 2019|

North Newton was born as a city after a fight with Newton over sanitary sewer, and it seems like the sewage struggle has never really gone away. However, there is an opportunity now — according to Newton City Staff — to negotiate a way to create a new agreement, after North Newton found themselves in a desperate situation during last week’s flooding event. Hesston, apparently, shut down a pipeline between Hesston and North Newton. North Newton proceeded to pump into the Newton system. “We learned about this as they were doing it,” said Bob Myers, city manager for the city of [...]

Barton County Commissioners release budgeted funds for early childhood intervention program

info2019-05-15T07:27:43-05:00May 15th, 2019|

Barton County Commissioners Monday released $15,000 of budgeted funds that were allocated in the 2019 operating budget that were earmarked for Sunflower Diversified Service’s Early Childhood Intervention Program. Sunflower Executive Director Jon Prescott requested the funds be released for the program that he says is doing great work in the community as the program continues to grow as needs arise. Commissioner Jennifer Schartz says it’s not hard to include Sunflower in the county budget each year. Commissioner Jennifer Schartz says it’s not hard to include Sunflower in the county budget each year. The Early Childhood Intervention Program provides individualized services to [...]

Reno County Commission approves 75 percent tax abatement for business expansion

info2019-05-15T06:58:15-05:00May 15th, 2019|

The Reno County Commission voted Tuesday to grant a Medora-area manufacturer a partial tax abatement on a nearly $1 million expansion at its plant that will add new office space and a projected 10 new jobs. Ada Enterprises, doing business as Wifco Steel, had sought a 100 percent, 10-year abatement of property taxes for the planned $845,000 project. The deal approved by the commission – a 75 percent reduction for 10 years – was a compromise of its members, who were split on whether to grant the full request or declining property tax break. The company plans to build new stand-alone [...]

Salina, Saline County reach agreement on land annexation

info2019-05-15T06:56:25-05:00May 15th, 2019|

The Salina and Saline County commissions both have approved an agreement to resolve concerns related to Salina’s pending annexation of land for a future water treatment facility. The commissions demonstrated an ability to work together, despite an often strained relationship in the past. The dispute was resolved, without a lawsuit, in only two months. The county commission approved the agreement two weeks ago, and the city commission approved the agreement on Monday. Deputy County Administrator Hannah Stambaugh said she was glad the city and county could reach an agreement to allow the city to build the facility. “I am glad we [...]

Haysville approves agreement with KDHE on groundwater contamination cleanup

info2019-05-15T06:53:34-05:00May 15th, 2019|

The Haysville City Council has voted to approve an agreement with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) and Via Fone, the owners of a laundromat at 412 W. Grand Avenue, as part of continued remediation efforts related to groundwater contamination due to dry cleaning chemicals. According to the City of Haysville, the agreement allows the city to purchase the property with funding provided by KDHE. The city reports that the existing building will be demolished and KDHE will then oversee excavating and removing the contaminated soil in the area and replacing it with clean dirt. (Read more: Top Stories [...]

Wichita City Council approvals help advance major downtown projects

info2019-05-15T06:51:59-05:00May 15th, 2019|

The Wichita City Council on Tuesday approved measures related to two potential projects that those behind them think will play a significant role in reshaping the city’s downtown core. The Council unanimously approved a memorandum of understanding with developer Sudha Tokala’s Douglas Market Development LLC that helps advance her plans for a downtown medical school and an associated campus that will include a student housing building, a 119-room hotel and a culinary school and event center. Tokala’s plans were given their most public detail yet in previously released city documents, which describe an estimated $75 million in redevelopment costs of five [...]

Wichita Riverside neighborhood celebrates victory over cell tower plan

info2019-05-15T06:49:45-05:00May 15th, 2019|

The Wichita City Council chopped down another plan for a cell tower in Riverside on Tuesday. The proposed 80-foot tower at Woodland and 18th marked the second attempt to gain approval for a facility that T-Mobile says is necessary to keep up with expanding demand for smartphone mobile data services. The public wasn’t allowed to speak during council consideration of the tower, but neighbors were celebrating at an impromptu news conference right after the meeting. They say a cell tower would harm the aesthetic atmosphere and property values of their older neighborhood and there’s no place in Riverside where one would [...]

Ellis Co. commissioners support sales tax, but split on how much

info2019-05-15T06:48:43-05:00May 15th, 2019|

Ellis County commissioners agreed at their meeting Monday night they are interested in pursuing a countywide sales tax to help make up shortfalls in the county’s budget. However, the commissioners disagreed about what form that tax should take. The county is facing a budget gap of about $467,000 for 2020 with escalating deficits during the next four years. County Administration Phillip Smith-Hanes said several variables still need to be calculated into the budget, including potential increases in health care expenses, changes in the assessed valuation, and the final allocations to outside agencies. The county has already discussed decreasing the percentage it [...]

Wichita City Council approves purchase of 4 electric buses

info2019-05-15T06:46:27-05:00May 15th, 2019|

The Wichita City Council Tuesday (May 14) gives the green light for the city to purchase four electric buses. Wichita Transit Director Mike Tann says he expects the buses' deliver to happen in October. Partnered with electric-bus designer and manufacturer, Proterra, Wichita successfully obtained federal funding to cover costs for the buses, expected to hit the city's streets later this year. The approval to purchase four electric buses follows an ongoing effort toward transit improvements in Wichita. (Read more: KWCH News)

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