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Kiowa city voters want term limits

info2018-07-12T13:44:50-05:00July 12th, 2018|

In a special election Tuesday in the city of Kiowa, voters resoundingly told their city leaders they favor term limits. Earlier this year, the Kiowas City Council voted to lift term limits first adopted in the 1970s. A petition forced a special election and a “no” vote Tuesday was against the charter ordinance ending term limits. The unofficial tally was 157 voting no and 38 voting yes, according to the Barber County Clerk’s office. There is one provisional ballot. Canvassing of election returns will take place Monday. Councilmembers and the mayor have been limited to two consecutive four-year terms. City Administrator [...]

Leavenworth Commission approves resolution for ballot question

info2018-07-12T13:42:02-05:00July 12th, 2018|

When they met Tuesday, Leavenworth County commissioners approved a resolution to place a question concerning the expansion of the commission on the ballot for the November election. But before the vote, Commissioner Doug Smith questioned comments made to the newspaper by a member of a group supporting the expansion. A group known as Give Me Five collected signatures to have the question added to the November ballot. The question will ask voters if they approve of expanding the County Commission from three commissioners to five. County Clerk Janet Klasinski said the group had to collect at least 2,153 signatures of Leavenworth [...]

Penny Postoak Ferguson named new Johnson County manager

info2018-07-12T13:05:19-05:00July 12th, 2018|

Penny Postoak Ferguson, who has been serving in the role on an interim basis the past six month, was today appointed Johnson County’s new county manager. Postoak Ferguson is a veteran of county government, having started as an assistant county manager overseeing human services here in 2010. In 2012 she was promoted to deputy county manager. She became interim county manager in January following the board of county commissioner’s move not to renew the contract of Hannes Zacharias late last year. Read more: Shawnee Mission Post.

Wichita transit looks to connect services to four neighboring cities

info2018-07-12T13:01:31-05:00July 12th, 2018|

Wichita Transit is conducting a connecting communities study evaluating the demand and support for connected transit service to Andover, Derby, Haysville and Maize. "It's not just about connecting people into Wichita, it's about connecting people to where they want to go," said Wichita Transit Associate Planner Philip Zevenbergen. The city created a comprehensive market analysis in May of 2018. In June, transit employees hosted several community meetings and stakeholder discussions to get an idea of what kind of transportation would be wanted and what would be feasible. On Wednesday, Wichita Transit hosted a transit alternative community meeting in Maize showcasing the [...]

Kansas Commerce launches KansasCentral.com, an Online Business and Economic Development Magazine

info2018-07-12T10:05:53-05:00July 12th, 2018|

The Kansas Department of Commerce announces the launch of a new online magazine loaded with news and feature articles on business and economic development topics in Kansas. KansasCentral.com is aimed to keep Kansans and anyone interested in starting, relocating or expanding a business in Kansas informed of topics and opportunities in the state. “It has been exciting to see so many businesses decide to expand to Kansas or start new operations here in America’s heartland, creating thousands of new jobs,” said Governor Jeff Colyer, M.D. “KansasCentral.com will not only keep everyone informed of breaking news of companies locating in Kansas but [...]

Prairie Village residents focus on teardowns, new construction at first of 3 meetings

info2018-07-11T11:28:28-05:00July 11th, 2018|

When Doug Klein heard that the Prairie Village City Council was considering a new round of guidelines designed to restrict some aspects of residential construction, he worried how they might affect the plans he and his wife had to expand their home. Klein, who lives on a corner lot on 71st Street, said he wants to add a master bedroom, bathroom and two-car garage to his mid-century home. He said reading about the proposed changes online, particularly those controlling the location of garages and minimum amounts of green space, raised concerns. On Monday, he was one of more than 50 people [...]

Wichita City Council approves bonds for Cargill expansion

info2018-07-11T11:25:19-05:00July 11th, 2018|

More than $38 million in industrial revenue bonds has been approved to help pay for Cargill's new biodiesel plant in Wichita. The Wichita Eagle reports that the city council approved the bonds on Tuesday. The plant is part of an $87 million project being built at Cargill's facility. Mayor Jeff Longwell says the city is "thrilled" in the investment in the city. Cargill currently has a soybean processing plant, a grain elevator and truck and rail bulk loadout operation at the site. Cargill facility leader John White says the site has produced vegetable oil, but it will transition to making biodiesel. [...]

Holton City Commission meets library halfway on mill levy request

info2018-07-11T11:24:25-05:00July 11th, 2018|

Members of the Beck-Bookman Library Board of Directors asked the Holton City Commission for extra funds to cover operations costs at the Holton library — funds that would come from a special city property tax levy — for fiscal year 2019. The commission responded by agreeing to meet the library board halfway. During the commission’s Monday, July 2 meeting, commissioners agreed to up the mill levy for the library from five mills to six after library board members asked for an increase of two mills, which would generate about $40,000 to cover operations and maintenance costs at the library. “We hate [...]

Chanute plans energy audit for buildings

info2018-07-11T11:20:30-05:00July 11th, 2018|

Chanute commissioners voted Monday evening to seek an energy audit for municipal buildings. Energy Solutions Professionals from Overland Park was the only one that responded of three companies city officials asked to provide a request for proposals for an investment-grade energy audit. ESP presented a preliminary audit at the April 23 meeting. Utilities Director Larry Gates said it may be difficult for the Memorial Building to have enough energy savings to pay for the needed improvements in efficiency. But he also said the building’s boiler, installed in 1984, is near the end of its useful life. (Read more: The Chanute Tribune [...]

Dumpster fees about to change in Winfield

info2018-07-11T11:19:23-05:00July 11th, 2018|

A new ordinance from the City of Winfield will simplify the fee schedule for rental of trailer dumpsters. The new schedule will have two rates, for residential customers and for commercial customers and contractors. The new fees, which take effect Aug. 1, are $50 for 24 hours or per dump for residential customers, and $100 for 24 hours or per dump for commercial customers and contractors. Community improvements director Patrick Steward didn’t have exact numbers, but said the the four-cubic-yard dumpsters are well-utilized by citizens. There are currently three rates: one for residential demolition materials, one for commercial demolition materials and [...]

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