Research continues into Emporia’s future direction. Last fall, the city and Tunica County, Mississippi, were approved to split $250,000 in funding through the US Department of Agriculture’s Rural Placemaking Innovation Challenge. The early public work has already seen a round of input meetings and is into a short 10-minute survey available at rpa2023.com/emporia. City leaders and the city’s partner, Atlas Community Studios, say the survey — along with last month’s public input sessions — will develop a snapshot now to help the city later. Source: KVOE Emporia Radio

Chase County leadership is now awaiting word on potential grant funding to assist in the construction of a new multi-million dollar fire department headquarters in Strong City. According to Chase County Commission Chairman Tony Hazelton, the recent public input hearing held this past Wednesday gave commissioners a lot to think about as the process unfolds. Hazelton says the main focus at this time is securing Community Development Block Grant Funding through the state to help offset a portion of the estimated cost of construction. Source: KVOE Emporia Radio

Though National Public Safety Telecommunicator Week has wrapped up for the year, Emporia Police Chief Ed Owens says telecommunications officers are deserving of recognition and praise year-round. During a recent appearance on KVOE’s Talk of Emporia Owens spoke to the relationship between local dispatchers and law enforcement officers saying it is extremely important to ensure everyone involved in an emergency situation comes out safe. He echoed comments from Lyon County Emergency Communications Center Director Roxanne Van Gundy from last week saying “It takes a special person to do what they do.” Much like the men and women on the front lines, [...]

Mark Detter says he sees a lot of potential, which is why he moved back to Kansas to become Emporia’s next assistant city manager. Detter tells KVOE News Emporia is in a solid economic position, in large part because of its manufacturing base. Detter also sees Emporia’s educational base and events as attractions for people wanting to spend time here. Detter has been serving as the city manager in Valdez, Alaska, but he also has been a prior city administrator in Rose Hill and Andover — bedroom communities for the Wichita area. He says his experience in those settings will help him [...]

A special seminar Tuesday afternoon sought to help local landlords and tenants find common ground when it comes to rental agreements and everything that goes with it. The City of Emporia welcomed Housing and Credit Counseling Inc. Tenant and Landlord Program Manager Abigail Panecatl who presented the informational seminar. Panecatl says the focus of the tenant and landlord program is to ensure both individuals are adequately informed as to the responsibilities that fall to them when entering into a rental agreement. Source: KVOE Emporia Radio