Mayor Greg Fast asked Chief Beer if he has any suggestions on how to get people to voluntarily comply. Cutting down trees and hauling them away can be an expensive undertaking, so Beer said fire officials have researched grants to help offset the costs. He suggested a “chipper day” with a third party contracted to run limbs and brush that individuals have put out by the curb through a chipper, but many grants are limited to property bordered by federal lands, and only state lands surround Hutchinson. Councilmember Goss said it makes sense for the city to fund a chipper project if it will save homes in the community. Fast reassured residents that “We are not going to make people take out trees, and they shouldn’t be afraid to get the fire department involved.” City ordinances do not indicate clearance around things like backyard fire pits or chimineas, and problems ensue when fires are burned near wood fences or dry leaves.
Source: Hutch News

As the line between what is art and what is advertising becomes somewhat blurred, Salina is looking to revamp and change city code on signs. As part of this process, the city hosted a listening session Thursday evening to hear from members of the public about signs in Salina and brought in Wendy Moeller … One of the biggest challenges in adopting codes on signage is dealing with case law in the United States. Moeller said in just the past decade new decisions have come from various courts. “There’s been a couple of Supreme Court cases that have made a lot of problems for sign regulations across every community,” Moeller said. … “(The decisions from courts say) communities like Salina really need to step away from regulating signage based on the message,” Moeller said.
Source: Salina Journal

Park City is cracking down on so-called “chronic nuisance” properties in the city. The city council on Feb. 13 unanimously voted to create an ordinance that would give city staff an additional way of dealing with properties that generate excessive police calls. Properties where two or more “trigger events” occur within a compliance period can now be dubbed chronic nuisances under the new policy. A property can also become a chronic nuisance if a non-self-defense-related shooting occurs or if a search warrant is executed there. The ordinance says the compliance period is six months for residential properties and 30 days for commercial properties or multi-family units. The ordinance lists 16 broad examples of “trigger events” police might respond to that could lead to properties being dubbed chronic nuisances.
Source: Ark Valley News

At the City of Hays Feb. 13, 2024 Press Briefing, Water Conservation Specialist Holly Dickman reviewed the City’s ongoing efforts to encourage water conservation through the Showerhead & Aerator Program and five rebate programs for residents who invest in water efficiency both indoors and out. “City of Hays water customers can stop by City Hall, the Finance office, anytime to pick up high efficiency showerheads for free or for cost and we also have faucet aerators available at all times,” Water Conservation Specialist Dickman said. Faucet aerators are free. Six different types of shower heads are offered. Three models are free with exchange of old shower head and the other 3 are just $5.00 with exchange of old shower head.
Source: Hays Daily News

The City of LeRoy, Kansas (the City), passed a resolution and order for a citizen to remove a vicious dog from the city limits as a nuisance abatement. The resolution required service of the abatement order to the dog’s owners by the Chief of Police, Daniel C. Frazier. He refused to serve the order, claiming it was an unlawful order. The City terminated Frazier’s employment for insubordination. Frazier brings this appeal against the City, arguing that the City’s decision to terminate his employment as the Chief of Police was arbitrary or capricious, outside the scope of its authority, and unsupported by substantial competent evidence. After reviewing the arguments and record, we find the district court’s decision that the City’s decision to terminate him was proper. Thus, we affirm.
Source: Frazier v City of LeRoy