About info

This author has not yet filled in any details.
So far info has created 23818 blog entries.

New city commissioner hopes to give back to her community

Melanie Watson began her role as city commissioner on Dec. 12 and said she sees it as a way to give back to her community after the support she received while going through a difficult time in her life. Watson was the victim of domestic violence that eventually led to a violent attack from her husband after she filed for divorce. “I knew there would be consequences for me, physically, when I was trying to leave, I remember praying to God asking him not to kill me or disable me to the point I can’t care for my children,” Watson said. Watson was rushed to St. Francis where she said she had to be resuscitated twice along the way and again when she arrived at the hospital. Hospital staff told her family she wasn’t expected to make it through the night. She said that was when support from the community started with supportive calls from people she knew in Newton giving support to her family at the time. Watson stayed at the hospital for two months, and her arm had to be amputated during that time. After returning home she said the trauma had affected her mental state, and her mother moved in. Before going to the hospital, Watson had been working two jobs, but after leaving she was unable to work. Watson said during this time, she felt great support.
Source: Harvey County Now

2024-01-03T13:06:34-06:00January 3, 2024|News|

Longtime Shawnee HR director Liz Barnard retires

After 28 years in public service, the City of Shawnee’s human resources director has retired. Having watched Shawnee grow for almost three decades, Liz Barnard said she’s proud of her time in the city. “It was just a treat to serve the City of Shawnee for so many years,” she said. In Barnard’s tenure, she said she worked with four mayors, 46 councilmembers and more than 500 employees. It all went by in a blur, she said. “They say the days are long, but the years are short or something like that,” she said. “It’s true.” She also said she saw the city expand and evolve. “When I started, we didn’t have Splash Cove. We didn’t have Station 74. We didn’t have the Justice Center,” she said. “Anything west of Pflumm was basically just houses. There was no commercial development. So it’s just been so cool to see the different things that have been accomplished, in large part, to the amazing staff that was there.” Barnard was involved with projects that include the first Mayor’s Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony, the Veterans Day celebration and helping lead the city’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
Source: Johnson County Post

2024-01-03T13:04:59-06:00January 3, 2024|News|

Wichita city council approves new ordinance to stop landlords from retaliatory evictions

Tuesday morning the Wichita City Council approved a new ordinance that allows landlords to be fined up to $2,500 for evicting a tenant when they complain about terrible living conditions. “In this case we have people who reached out over the years that are tired of a lack of response from their landlord and then when the city comes out and inspects a finds a violation and writes them up, they end up getting evicted. Well that’s not right,” said Brandon Johnson, the city council member for district one. Johnson says this is an ongoing issue which is why the city council is approving an ordinance that will fine landlords up to twenty five hundred dollars for evicting someone in retaliation. “I really would like to see in the event of a landlord or slumlord not responding there’s some judgement,” said Johnson. After next Tuesday landlords can be fired for unfairly threatening tenants with eviction. If you have a challenge you can come to city hall, meet with a legal expert, show evidence, and then it goes from there. Any convictions will be posted of the city of Wichita website for all to see. The council says there are already state laws protecting tenants but this is taking it one step further. “There are laws on the book that prohibit landlord retaliation. We’ve just never had a mechanism to actually enforce it so this is what this was,” said Mike Hoheisel, a city council member for district one. Both Johnson and Hoheisel say they’re excited to pass this ordinance and bring more protections to tenants in Wichita but this is just the beginning. “We have a lot more work that we need to do when it comes around evictions and these records,” said Johnson. He thinks when there’s a continuous problem happening in the city it’s up to the council to step up and help.
Source: KAKE – News

2024-01-03T13:02:31-06:00January 3, 2024|News|

Green light: City Council approves ordinance updates needed for new downtown parking plan

A revamped approach to public parking in Wichita’s core has cleared a key step. The City Council on Tuesday approved a pair of ordinance updates necessary for the city to move forward with a long-discussed plan that will include increases to parking fees and meter technology updates in the downtown, Old Town and Delano areas. Local government and economic development officials have said modernizing public parking in the core is an important component for Wichita’s expected downtown growth spurred by a planned $300-million biomedical campus and other major projects. The Council approved the plan itself in March 2023. Among other components, it allows the city to collect parking revenue in new ways, including via smartphone app technology and credit and debit cards. Council member Bryan Frye, who voted in favor of the ordinance updates, said he’s seen other cities with updated parking technology and that it’s “about time” Wichita is doing the same. “As a frequent user of downtown parking, to get with the times and get modern equipment is sorely needed,” he said. “So I’m grateful for that.” Coins will remain a payment option. Handicap parking will not have meters.
Source: Wichita Business Journal

2024-01-03T13:00:43-06:00January 3, 2024|News|

‘Stars are aligning’ for a Kansas water conservation plan, Kelly says

Gov. Laura Kelly said she is planning to spend a significant amount of political capital on water during the upcoming legislative session. The aquifers under several western Kansas towns are depleted beyond the minimum threshold for aquifer density, meaning what remains couldn’t support things like center-pivot irrigation. Other areas are luckier, with an estimated 25 to 100 years of water use. Still, those areas need to change water use to be able to support agriculture long term. Kelly said since the water shortages reached crisis levels, there hasn’t been a politician in the unique position she’s in as a second-term governor who isn’t planning to run for higher office again.
Source: Hutch News

2024-01-03T07:19:12-06:00January 3, 2024|News|

New guide documents historic structures in unincorporated areas of Douglas County — barns, farmsteads, cabins, outhouses and more

The guide is the product of a 12-year study by the county’s Heritage Conservation Council, and it documents around 2,400 historic resources in the unincorporated areas of the county. That includes the grain bin, buggy shed, stone fences and farmhouse on Coffman’s land — but also a diverse mix of other structures throughout the county, from a turn-of-the-century Victorian-style house in Marion Township to a potato barn in Grant Township to a cabin at Lone Star Lake. It’s all part of an effort to bring more attention to these old buildings, keep them in good condition and highlight structures that property owners might not have even known had historic value.
Source: LJWorld

2023-12-31T09:02:55-06:00December 31, 2023|News|

Goessel Council honors long-time council member

The Goessel city council met on Dec. 12, a week earlier than usual, because of a school concert on the regular meeting date. This was the last meeting for long-time council member Dean Snelling. Mayor Evan Esau presented a plaque to Snelling and thanked him for his 10 years on the council. Esau talked about Snelling’s expertise and said, “We’re going to miss you.” No other current council members have been on the council as long as Snelling has been. He has served with the leadership of several different mayors. Turning their attention to another matter, the council welcomed new part-time police officer James Bowlin to the meeting. “I’m excited about being here,” he said, “excited to serve the community.” The council talked with him about a school presence and the need to have police in town at different times. Bowlin said he is willing to do that. He also works in Moundridge, 12-hour shifts. Bowlin is scheduled for a challenge exam in December and then can start his work at Goessel.
Source: Hillsboro Free Press

2023-12-29T12:06:51-06:00December 29, 2023|News|

City approves continued reduced rates for licensed daycares

A continuation of the reduced electrical demand charge program for licensed daycare facilities was approved by the Garden City Commission at their regular meeting on Dec. 19. Mike Muirhead, Garden City Public Utilities Director, said the program was initially approved on Sept. 20, 2022 for licensed childcare facilities within the city that are on the Church and School rate, but the minutes of that meeting did not specify if the program was to be a one-year credit or if it would be an ongoing program and if it was, when the commission would reevaluate its continuance. The program works by reducing $1 from the total electric monthly demand charge for the number of authorized childcare positions per licensed facility, Muirhead said. For example, Little Leaders of GCK Early Learning Center is authorized by the state of Kansas to have 97 childcare positions, so, they receive a $97 credit for each month they were open in 2023. It’s a reduction off of that demand charge. Muirhead said he checked in with the state on Dec. 7 and there were some changes in the number of childcare centers in Garden City and the number of authorized childcare positions for each center this year. This year there were three new facilities, Muirhead said. Dreamz Child Care Center, which has 75 childcare positions; Garden Academy Early Learning Center, which has 97 childcare positions; and the Kansas Childrens Service League, which has 66 childcare positions.
Source: Garden City Telegram

2023-12-29T12:05:48-06:00December 29, 2023|News|

Kansas Tops Nation in Economic Growth Over Fall 2023 

Governor Laura Kelly today celebrated that, according to data released by the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), the Kansas economy grew by 9.7% in the 3rd quarter of 2023 — the fastest rate in the nation. This improves on an already impressive record of economic growth; in the 2nd quarter of 2023, Kansas’ economy grew at the second-fastest rate in the nation at 7.4%. “This data shows that our efforts to support businesses, create a stable economy, and grow our workforce are paying off,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “Now, Kansas is outstripping the entire nation in economic growth and attracting business investment. Last week, I announced Kansas surpassed $18 billion in business investment since I took office in 2019. It’s clear we have the momentum to continue this trajectory of economic success into 2024 and beyond.” The Kelly Administration’s work to support the agriculture, forestry, fishing, and hunting industries helped drive this economic growth. While those industries decreased nationally and in 33 other states, they were leading contributors to growth in Kansas. Kansas also ranked third in the nation for growth in personal income, with personal income growing at 4.9% over the 3rd quarter of 2023. Farming, which decreased nationally and in 41 other states, was the leading contributor to the increased earnings in Kansas. Kansas’ economic growth is measured by the change in its real gross domestic product (GDP), or the market value of goods and services produced in the state. The second quarter of 2023 included April through June; the third quarter included July through September.
Source: Kansas Department of Commerce

2023-12-29T12:04:52-06:00December 29, 2023|News|

New Downton Pavilion Is In the Works For Fort Scott

The Fort Scott Downtown Pavilion is located between Old Fort Blvd. and Stanton Street on North National Avenue and construction is slated for completion in mid-January. A new 70-foot by 150-foot pavilion is in the works for downtown Fort Scott between Old Fort Blvd. and Stanton Street on North National Avenue. The Fort Scott Farmers Market Pavilion, or Fort Scott Downtown Pavilion is part of many additions in “The Gathering Square” in Fort Scott’s vibrant downtown district, according to Fort Scott Mayor Matthew Wells. ‘The farmers market pavilion would aim to be a dynamic community hub,” according to a press release from Wells. “This outdoor pavilion stands in the original location of the first farmer’s market in the community’s history and champions access to fresh produce by hosting the Farmers Market every Tuesday and Saturday from May to October. Beyond the market, the pavilion transforms into a cultural stage.” “The current plan is to make it available to rent, like Riverfront Park, or the (Gunn Park) shelter houses,” Wells said. “The city has first right-of-refusal on any use other than the set times guaranteed to the farmers market.” This gathering space offers Bourbon County’s farmers a direct link to the community, fostering healthier lifestyles with the offering of fresh produce and enhancing local commerce, he said. The pavilion is constructed with sustainability and adaptability in mind, and the design aligns with the International Building Code of 2015, according to the press release. The pavilion committee also envisions music, theater, and community gatherings coming alive in the space. It is adjacent to the newly constructed splash pad and sensory park that was constructed last summer. Also on the horizon is a much-needed public restroom near the site.
Source: Fort Scott Biz

2023-12-29T12:03:33-06:00December 29, 2023|News|
Go to Top