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Shawnee collaborating with Johnson County, MARC, Lenexa on 75th Street beautification project

info2019-01-30T11:03:39-06:00January 30th, 2019|

Shawnee is collaborating with Johnson County and the Mid-America Regional Council to make improvements on 75th Street. The city council in its Monday meeting unanimously agreed to accept County Assisted Road System (CARS) funds from Johnson County on the city street improvement project. The total funding reimbursement makes up 50 percent of all construction and engineering costs, but not exceeding $1.4 million. The $3 million project will make street improvements to 75th Street from Quivira Road to Switzer Road. Shawnee anticipates contributing $1.2 million of city funds for the project, with plans to receive $400,000 in outside funds from the Westbrooke [...]

Olathe homeless shelter’s plans for new space on hold as city sorts out permitting

info2019-01-30T10:59:15-06:00January 30th, 2019|

An Olathe nonprofit is working hard to make sure no one freezes to death in extreme winter weather. Project 1020 was hoping to move into a permanent new home this season, but that's now on hold. There are rows of cots and warm blankets to welcome guests every night during the brutally cold winter months at Branches Church in Olathe. It's the temporary home for the Project 1020 homeless shelter. "There are homeless people in Johnson County whether we want to admit it or not. They're here and they need help and they need some place to stay," said Barb McEver, [...]

Chanute hears contract on city-owned industrial building cancelled

info2019-01-30T10:46:56-06:00January 30th, 2019|

The buyer of an industrial building on Cherry Street has cancelled its contract with the city, the city manager told Chanute city commissioners Monday evening. City Manager Jeff Cantrell said no commission action was required other than to accept the cancellation, and commissioners gave a consensus to do that at Monday’s meeting. Cantrell told the commission as part of his report that the city has little way to enforce the contract, and an inspection provision gives the buyer the ability to cancel. Commissioners voted in December to sell the vacant industrial building at 615 W. Cherry as is for $300,000 cash [...]

🎥 Ellis Co. Commission: ‘Growth comes down to two things: Jobs and Water’

info2019-01-30T10:44:26-06:00January 30th, 2019|

Jobs and water. That’s what Ellis County commissioners believe are the two most important factors affecting business and population growth in the county. “We’ve been constantly growing, sometimes small steps at a time,” said Dean Haselhorst, commission chairman. “We have a lot to offer here in Ellis County. “Water supply is always a big thing in western Kansas. I know the city of Hays has been working to address that issue. But for us to attract industry, we need water. And for growth, we need water also.” (Read more: Hays Post)

Is it ‘game on’ for OP sports arena? Competition heats up with rival Olathe plan

info2019-01-29T12:41:24-06:00January 29th, 2019|

A proposal for a $195 million arena, multisport and retail complex in south Overland Park has received the green light to seek state tax incentives, setting up a possible down-to-the-wire competition with a rival Olathe plan. After a three-hour discussion, the Overland Park City Council voted 10-2 Monday night in favor of the Price Brothers plan to request $63 million in state tax incentives, in the form of STAR bonds, to enhance its Bluhawk development southwest of U.S. Highway 69 and 159th Street. With further approvals from the Kansas Commerce Secretary and the City Council, the STAR bonds would help finance [...]

What is microtransit? To get around JoCo for little money, it could be a solution

info2019-01-29T12:40:42-06:00January 29th, 2019|

Johnson County will spend $250,000 over the next six months on an Uber-like transit experiment, trying to find a better alternative to large buses carrying small numbers of passengers. The county is paying for a “microtransit” pilot project serving parts of Overland Park, Mission, Shawnee and Lenexa that will allow passengers to summon a ride on a small van to desired destinations, via a smart phone app. It’s an on-demand service that’s somewhat akin to Uber or Lyft, although this program involves a “shared ride.” It connects up to 12 passengers at one time who start out in nearby locations and [...]

ACLU-Dodge City voting site legal case ending

info2019-01-29T12:40:08-06:00January 29th, 2019|

The legal fight over voting locations for Dodge City voters is ending. On Monday, the Wichita-based attorney for Ford County Clerk Deborah Cox wrote in a court filing in U.S. District Court that Cox did not oppose the motion of plaintiffs to dismiss the lawsuit without prejudice. Last week, Cox announced “a concrete, specific plan to open two polling locations for the City of Dodge City, both of which are accessible to the public,” ... (Read more: Local - The Hutchinson News)

Lawrence to host workshops to gather input on Downtown Master Plan

info2019-01-29T12:32:20-06:00January 29th, 2019|

Residents who want to weigh in on the master plan that will shape downtown Lawrence for the next 15 to 20 years will soon have an opportunity to do so. As part of the development of the master plan, the city will be hosting a series of workshops the week of Feb. 4, according to a city news release. The workshops will be broken into three groups: one for downtown and adjacent neighborhoods; one communitywide meeting; and one for downtown business owners and developers. The new master plan will replace guidelines that have not been updated in 20 years and will [...]

Barton County Commissioners approve construction of equipment storage shed

info2019-01-29T11:49:55-06:00January 29th, 2019|

Barton County Commissioners Monday approved the construction of a 40′ x 50′ pole barn at the Ellinwood sand pit. The board approved the low bid of $18,728 from Lyle Bryant Construction from Ellinwood, one of four bids that were received for the project. County Works Director Darren Williams explained the need for the structure. Commissioner Jennifer Schartz was in agreement with Williams that the county needed to protect its investment of expensive equipment at the location. The contract calls for construction to be complete no later that March 31 of this year. The money for the project will come out of [...]

Shawnee opens fourth fire station, signifying growth west of I-435

info2019-01-29T11:48:18-06:00January 29th, 2019|

Shawnee city staff and residents last week celebrated the grand opening of the city’s fourth fire station — a testament to the city’s growth west of I-435. “This new station — starting this morning at 7 o’clock — will provide an improvement in response time to nearly 6,000 homes and 17,000 residents,” said Fire Chief John Mattox at the grand opening ceremony Thursday afternoon. “So, from the men and women of the Shawnee Fire Department, a heartfelt thank you to the community and to our governing body for your support.” Located at 5300 Woodsonia Drive, Fire Station 74 is a 9,220-square-foot [...]

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