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Kansas Attorney General Opinion 2018-18: County counselor duties in civil matters

info2018-12-14T09:07:45-06:00December 14th, 2018|

When a board of county commissioners appoints a county counselor, all duties in civil matters, otherwise required by law of the county attorney, pass to the county counselor, including the filing of child in need of care petitions. The duties of the county attorney are defined by statute: “[I]t shall be the duty of the county attorney to appear in any court having jurisdiction within the county and prosecute or defend on behalf of the people all actions and proceedings, civil or criminal, in which the state or the county is a party or interested.”1 Among the civil proceedings for which [...]

Johnson Co. works to address neighborhood concerns ahead of Medical Examiner’s building groundbreaking

info2018-12-14T06:42:33-06:00December 14th, 2018|

The county's set to break ground on a brand new $21 million medical examiner's building Thursday, but not before handling a last minute hurdle from concerned neighbors. County leaders and representatives from the city are meeting in Olathe Wednesday night, hoping to work out a solution to concerns about the construction just brought to light. Just off 119th and Sunset is the area the county will be building the medical examiner's office. The site backs up to the Northwood Trails subdivision. A large wooded area was a buffer between the construction and the neighborhood, until this week. Scott Green's daughter took [...]

Joint Economic Development Organization approves funding for downtown Topeka plaza, NOTO parking

info2018-12-14T06:40:32-06:00December 14th, 2018|

The Joint Economic Development Organization on Wednesday cleared the way for completion of a public plaza in downtown Topeka, granting more than a million dollars to the project and sparking debate on how countywide sales tax funds are distributed. In a 4-3 vote, JEDO members approved recommendations made by a panel of community volunteers to award $2 million in economic development money to four projects out of 16 applicants. One of those projects will invest $644,000 in the NOTO Arts District, assisting in efforts to add parking and establish Redbud Park. Mayor Michelle De La Isla rebuffed criticism over pouring the [...]

Shawnee County planning director Barry Beagle resigns

info2018-12-14T06:38:55-06:00December 14th, 2018|

After 15 years as Shawnee County’s planning director, Barry Beagle is leaving to take a job elsewhere. Shawnee County Commissioners Kevin Cook, Shelly Buhler and Bob Archer voted 3-0 Thursday to accept Beagle’s resignation, which takes effect Dec. 28. Cook wished Beagle, 62, the best in his future endeavors, while Buhler thanked him for his professionalism and dedication to Shawnee County. “It’s a tough job,” she said of the planning director’s position. Beagle, who didn’t attend Thursday’s meeting, told commissioners of his planned resignation in a memo dated Monday. “It has been a privilege and honor serving as the Planning Director [...]

New county EMS director returns to roots

info2018-12-14T06:33:53-06:00December 14th, 2018|

For the second time since Nov. 14, Marion County has named a new EMS director, this time one with local ties. Travis Parmley comes to the position from Great Bend, but he is originally a resident of Florence. “I’ve been impressed with what’s going on in Marion County,” he said. “I have a lot of friends and family there, so I still have a vested interest in the growth and sustainability of Marion County.” An alumnus from Marion High School’s class of ’98, Parmley got his start as a cadet with the Florence Fire Department. “That’s where I started,” he said. [...]

Sedgwick County pushes for change to allow residents to vote at any site

info2018-12-14T06:32:41-06:00December 14th, 2018|

Voting next year could get easier as Sedgwick County commissioners encourage the state legislature to change the rules when it comes to where you can vote. Currently, voting locations are decided by where registered voters live. Sedgwick County commissioners now encourage lawmakers to allow Kansans to vote at any location within their county on Election Day. "I think that is extremely convenient. It is very important for us to exercise our civil right to vote," Wichita resident Julie Sullivan says. Sedgwick County already has the technology for such a change. "Our voting machines that our taxpayers paid $7 million for just [...]

Topeka online utilities payment system safe for use after cyberattack that may have affected up to 10,000 people

info2018-12-14T06:30:08-06:00December 14th, 2018|

Topeka’s online utilities payment processing payment system is now safe for use by the public after a cyberattack that is now known to have occurred Nov. 1, a city spokeswoman said Thursday. However, that doesn’t change the possibility that as many as 10,000 Topekans may have been affected, said media relations coordinator Molly Hadfield. The city announced Monday that it had been notified of the breach Friday afternoon by its utility billing payment system software vendor, Central Square. Central Square has turned over the information to a forensics investigator, Hadfield said. City staff members worked with the software vendor on Friday [...]

Florence native leads Marion county planning department

info2018-12-14T06:29:14-06:00December 14th, 2018|

A job as administrative assistant at a power plant north of Great Bend prepared Sharon Omstead Box for her current role as Marion County Planning and Zoning director. She moved back to her hometown of Florence in 2013. Her mother, Connie Omstead, lives there. “Working at the power plant was one of my favorite jobs,” Box said, “but I wanted to be close to family, so I moved back.” After a short stint with Marion County Special Education Cooperative at OASIS in Florence, she was hired as assistant planning and zoning director. Emma Tajchman retired in September, and Box became interim [...]

Bomb threat hoax extends across Kansas

info2018-12-14T08:57:13-06:00December 14th, 2018|

Wichita Police say even though they got multiple calls about bomb threats across Wichita on Wednesday, the threats do not appear to be serious."All I can tell you is that we've received phone calls to 911 to reference threats that were made. Bomb threats that were made," said Paul Cruz with Wichita Police. "And at this point we have determined these threats have been unfounded."In Marion County the Hillsboro Community Hospital got a threat. Reno County Sheriff, Randy Henderson says Hutchinson Police are dealing with a bomb threat.The common thread in the calls to 911 include emails where a threat is made. [...]

Manhattan holds off on assessing a 2 percent developer fee for benefit districts

info2018-12-13T07:51:50-06:00December 13th, 2018|

The Manhattan City Commission isn’t ready to proceed with assessing a 2 percent developer fee for benefit districts. The commission discussed the proposed fee Tuesday during a work session. Commissioners didn’t necessarily reject the premise of a fee, but they didn’t show urgency adopting it either.... This year’s retreat led to the goal of providing “options and financial considerations regarding special assessments and options to reduce risk.” Developers can petition the city to establish a benefit district for public infrastructure. A special assessment is added to each lot’s property tax for either the developer or homeowner to pay for the city’s [...]

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