info2018-12-19T07:43:51-06:00December 19th, 2018|
When Congress passed the tax overhaul last December, some worried that it would ultimately hurt the way governments finance major infrastructure projects by making the municipal bond process more expensive. In some ways, it has. But there have also been some pleasant surprises. Overall, 2018 has been a good year for governments issuing bonds. (Read more: GOVERNING)
info2018-12-19T07:11:02-06:00December 19th, 2018|
An American Civil Liberties Union survey has found that county-level election officials in Kansas reject the notion that voter fraud is either a major or minor concern. The report released Friday contradicts claims of widespread voter fraud by Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach. Election officials in 85 of the state's 105 counties partially or completed responded. Sixty-six of them said voter fraud was "not a problem at all." None deemed it a "significant problem." Cowley County Clerk Karen Madison said she does not recall receiving the survey, but indicated that voter fraud hasn’t been a problem in Cowley County. She [...]
info2018-12-19T07:07:55-06:00December 19th, 2018|
People in Wichita Monday met to discuss proposed changes for a Trap, Neuter (or spay) and Release (TNR) program for feral cats in the city. A proposed ordinance would allow people to register with the city and maintain cat colonies once feral cats are trapped and spayed or neutered. Under the proposed rules, caregivers would be allowed to maintain eight cats in one colony. Wichita's Animal Control Advisory Board held the meeting Monday to discuss proposed changes with the public. The board says it wants to find a balance with people who are enthusiastic about the program and those who don't [...]
info2018-12-19T07:25:29-06:00December 19th, 2018|
The Douglas County Commission on Wednesday will consider a proposal that would add three new psychiatrists to the county health system in 2019. The proposal would have the county subsidize the cost of hiring three new psychiatrists at a cost of $350,000, said Bob Tryanski, county director of behavioral health projects. The positions would be funded from the $1.9 million the County Commission allocated in the 2019 budget for behavioral health initiatives. The proposal is a modification of a $900,000 line item that County Commissioners approved for the 2018 budget, which was to have added four new positions through the hiring [...]
info2018-12-18T10:58:36-06:00December 18th, 2018|
The Kansas Department of Health Environment (KDHE) Capacity Development Program, in partnership with Wichita State Environmental Finance Center (EFC ), Ranson Financial and Kansas Municipal Utilities (KMU), encourages representatives from your utility to attend an upcoming rate setting and financial planning training. The session provides participants with an understanding on major considerations when setting rates; rate structure options and pricing objectives; financial planning considerations; and strategies for communicating rate information to your board and community. The training will provide classroom instruction as well as interactive participant exercises and discussion. Training is approved for 1 CMC Experience or 1 MMC Advanced Education [...]
info2018-12-18T10:48:49-06:00December 18th, 2018|
As Lawrence continues to grow by about 1,000 residents per year, not everyone agrees with proposed development policies that would favor infill development over expanding the city’s borders. Plan 2040, the proposed comprehensive plan for Lawrence and Douglas County, lays out policies that will shape how the city grows for the next 20 years. Under the current plan, land bordering the city is open for annexation into the city limits, but the new plan prioritizes development within the city’s borders and puts more restrictions and requirements on annexations. Read more: LJWorld.com.
info2018-12-18T08:59:05-06:00December 18th, 2018|
More than half of the people on Wichita’s new police review board have failed to meet a city requirement, but they may not be removed if the City Council changes the rules. The city formed the Citizen’s Review Board in part to increase transparency with the Wichita Police Department and improve community relations. People on the board are required to go through the department’s Citizens Police Academy within a year of appointment. But fewer than half of the 13 appointees to the board have done so as the January deadline approaches. The City Council on Tuesday will hear a proposal to [...]
info2018-12-18T08:57:55-06:00December 18th, 2018|
Roeland Park has asked Mission to consider redrawing its city limits to de-annex a half-acre piece of land divided by Johnson Drive. The land currently within Mission’s limits would connect the property on the north side of the street to the rest of Roeland Park. Mayor Mike Kelly and city administrator Keith Moody of Roeland Park discussed the city’s request at the Mission community development committee meeting Wednesday. City limits are often drawn along major dividing lines, such as streets and waterways. After the Kansas Department of Transportation realigned the northeast corner of Johnson Drive at Roe Boulevard, it created a [...]
info2018-12-18T08:57:14-06:00December 18th, 2018|
The Sumner County Commissioners voted unanimously to change the Planning Commission wording in its regulations that will return the board to its original ‘advisory” role when it comes to issuing Conditional Use Permits. The commissioners voted to strike the word “and” from the regulation language, after it was interpreted by Judge William Mott in Sumner County District Court to read that in order for Conditional Use permits to be issued it must get the approval of both the planning commission and the Board of Commissioners. A Conditional Use permit allows a property owner to use his land in a way not [...]
info2018-12-18T08:56:25-06:00December 18th, 2018|
The last piece of the deal to save the Starlite Drive-In is about to fall into place. The Wichita City Council is poised to lend the operator $200,000 to purchase new digital projectors, the key to reopening the Starlite in late February. Money to fund the loan will come from a $1 million allocation to the south Wichita council district of Councilman James Clendenin. Each council member was allocated that amount for district improvements when the council sold the city-owned Hyatt Hotel in 2016. Clendenin said he has no doubt the five-year, 1 percent interest loan will get paid back. Starlite [...]
