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City of Hays hears support request for StonePost Lofts at former Washington school

info2019-02-25T08:36:03-06:00February 25th, 2019|

Overland Property Group, Leawood, plans to redevelop the former Washington Elementary School, 305 Main, and construct income-qualified housing. As part of the process to apply for federal tax credits through the Kansas Housing Resources Corp., the must request a Resolution of Support from the local governing body. City Manager Toby Dougherty told city commissioners during their Thursday night work session “this is something that has been done previously by commissions for all the StonePost developments either planned, or the ones that were pursued but not constructed.” StonePost Lofts would consist of up to 20 units with 1, 2 and 3 bedrooms [...]

New Kansas alcohol laws to take effect in April

info2019-02-25T09:59:18-06:00February 25th, 2019|

Starting April 1, new Kansas alcohol laws will go into effect, meaning stronger beer will be available in grocery and convenience stores. Mike Thornbrugh, with QuikTrip, has already been through alcohol law changes in other states. "Oklahoma went October 1st, Colorado went January 1st, and now Kansas," says Thornbrugh. Unlike Oklahoma, wine will not be available in grocery or convenience stores in Kansas. "Kansas, we wish it was a little better. We'll work on it. For now, it will be capped at 6 percent," says Thornbrugh. For years, shoppers have been asking for the choice to buy their alcohol in places [...]

Engineering firm gives input on wind project

info2019-02-25T08:33:14-06:00February 25th, 2019|

An engineering firm that coordinates agreements between windmill generator developers and counties gave a presentation to Neosho County Commissioners Thursday evening about its services and what to expect with the proposed Neosho Ridge Wind project. Tanner Yost with Kirkham Michael engineering gave a presentation with handouts about the development of road use agreements, agreements for payments in lieu of taxes, decommissioning agreements, and escrow security for any road damage. Yost discussed items that the road agreements would cover, such as inspection before, during and after construction, fee reimbursement, hauling for rock, gravel and other materials, as well as the windmill components [...]

Counties benefits from law regarding inmate health costs

info2019-02-25T06:54:16-06:00February 25th, 2019|

The county is benefiting from a new law that changes what cities and counties are paying for inmate health costs. Sheriff Chuck Dunn provided a report to commissioners on the Kansas County Jail Savings on Inmate Health Care Costs. In May of 2006 House Bill 2893 was signed into law and provides that Kansas County and City Jails are able to pay Medicaid rates for inmates who require health care at an offsite healthcare facilities and providers, such as hospitals, physician offices, clinics, and rehabilitation facilities. In 2018 there were 3,279 claims for medical treatment for inmates in the State of [...]

Park City flag’s symbols have meaning

info2019-02-22T09:43:02-06:00February 22nd, 2019|

City leaders hope Park City's new flag will be a symbol that unites its citizens. Park City held a ceremony to debut the flag Feb. 16. Last March, the city council voted 7-1 to match Convention and Tourism funds of $11,775 for a new city flag. A selection committee was also established. Staff was impressed with other logos and flags in the area and thought it would be a good time to give Park City's logo a facelift. Former City Administrator Jack Whitson said at the time that flags give communities something to rally around and can even help spur economic [...]

Dodge City manager offers blueprint for dealing with rural Kansas housing shortage

info2019-02-22T09:16:38-06:00February 22nd, 2019|

City Manager Cherise Tieben’s firm belief housing construction was a market-driven segment of the economy didn’t survive a 2007 meeting with exasperated Dodge City bankers, developers, realtors and employers. She learned from the group the southwest Kansas community’s housing stock was profoundly inadequate and the private sector was incapable of keeping pace. Teachers were residing in colleagues’ basements. Employers placed hires in hotels for up to six months. Families paid a premium for deplorable rentals. Bank financing was scarce. Most homes on the market were overpriced. A study showed the city would require 950 housing units by 2013, but banks were [...]

Wind energy advocates say proposed restrictions are attempt to end Kansas developments

info2019-02-22T09:14:50-06:00February 22nd, 2019|

Alan Albers is tired of being characterized as a terrible ogre whose enthusiasm for wind turbines is selfish and greedy. He rejects claims that low-frequency sounds produced by wind farms have adverse health effects and believes proposed legislation to restrict wind farm development would trample the rights of property owners who welcome payments that augment declining farm revenue. Albers said he owns land in Kingman and Pratt counties and that his extended family has provided space for 21 wind towers. “The idea that I or they would put people in jeopardy for wealth is totally offensive,” Albers said. “You can find [...]

After a year without air-conditioning, Cowley County courthouse can finally chill out

info2019-02-22T09:12:57-06:00February 22nd, 2019|

If everything goes as planned, things will cool down at the Cowley County Courthouse this spring. County commissioners approved 2-0 a motion to purchase a chiller from Winfield Heating and Plumbing for $259,000. The courthouse has been without air conditioning for more than a year. Commissioner Alan Groom abstained from voting to avoid the appearance of conflict of interest because he often does welding on Winfield Heating and Plumbing’s projects, said county administrator Lukas Goff. The bid price includes installation of an outside chiller and electricity and plumbing for it. Included in that price is $75,000 that could go toward a [...]

Reno County receives funding for road safety

info2019-02-22T09:10:52-06:00February 22nd, 2019|

Projects in four counties, including Reno County, will receive funding to improve safety on rural roads as part of the Kansas Department of Transportation’s High-Risk Rural Roads program. Officials say projects in this program fall into one of two categories — systemic or site specific. Projects in the systemic category are 100 percent federally funded and aren’t required to provide a match. Site specific projects are 90 percent federally funded and a county contributes up to 10 percent of the project cost. Reno County and three other counties fall under the systemic category. Reno County will receive $378,000 for upgraded signing [...]

Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office reunites stolen property to rightful owners

info2019-02-22T09:10:05-06:00February 22nd, 2019|

From trail cameras to tires to power tools, the Sedgwick County Sheriff's Office put several stolen items on display on Thursday in hopes of returning them to their rightful owners. The sheriff's office recovered the items from a series of burglaries. In all, the stolen goods total about $100,000. "You'll find that some of these cases have been completed, and we just have their property. And in others, we have no idea what case it might be on. That's why we're asking the public to come out and help us get this property back to them," said Lt. Tim Myers. Joey [...]

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