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Built in 1964, Marion’s odd-looking water plant is still going strong. Blocky, made of large bricks, and painted a stark light blue by a former operator in the early ’80s, it strongly resembles a giant ice cube. Compared to the industrial and fierce-looking Hillsboro plant, Marion’s is quainter, easier to digest. Read more: Marion County RECORD

Marion City Council members reviewed a proposed ordinance Monday that would set standards for customers with renewable energy systems. The ordinance says the city would pay for excess energy produced by a customer’s generator, but it doesn’t specify the rate. Instead, the customer would be paid the average monthly cost of electricity the city purchased wholesale from Kansas Power Pool. Read more: Marion County RECORD

New PVC pipes soon will replace Peabody’s antiquated cast-iron mains, improving water quality significantly, Darin Neufeld, vice president of EBH Engineering, told city council members Monday. “We’ve got problems in parts of town with chlorine residual and color,” Neufeld said. Peabody’s old pipes will be abandoned underground, Mayor Catherine Weems said. Read more: Marion County RECORD

A new study estimates that a lack of investment in utility-level battery storage could increase prices by as much as 80% in the power grid of which Kansas is a part. Read more: CJonline

It wasn’t patrons the BOE heard from at its Monday meeting, but Hesston students and their parents. Multiple Hesston parents, students, and state senator Stephen Owens addressed the Board of Education. Their parents and students asked that the BOE not end a cooperative agreement that allowed their children to participate in Newton sports. Read more: Harvey County Now

The public will have its official say about a battery energy storage system (BESS) in town in November. Halstead’s city council voted 4-1 Monday evening to place a petition on the ballot submitted by Halstead resident Kevin Henderson with 331 signatures of registered voters. The council had a choice of either putting the petition to a vote by the people or passing it themselves. Read more: Harvey County Now

Lawrence’s Parks and Recreation Advisory Board voted 4-3 to make a stronger statement to the city commission against a proposal to implement fees for residents to use Lawrence’s recreation centers. The city’s rec centers are currently admission-free. Parks and Rec staff members presented a new proposal Monday for lower fees than what they’d previously proposed, which would’ve charged adult residents $25 per month to use Sports Pavilion Lawrence and the East Lawrence and Holcom Park recreation centers. The new proposal would instead charge adults $12 per month to have access to use all three of the rec centers. There would be [...]

A melange of shadow boxes with seed heads, pressed flowers, prints and faerie doors is on display at the Lawrence Public Library to foster wonder and enthusiasm for native plants and ecosystem diversity. The installation, created by regional artist Lisa Nelick, can be viewed along the self-check wall at the library as part of their public art display program. Read more: The Lawrence Times

As Lawrence city commissioners prepare to vote on a massive tax incentive package for KU’s Gateway Project, residents near the site said a required community input process was not completed, and an expert said STAR bonds can be a gamble for municipalities. Still, KU is continuing work on the project and is seeking $86 million in public funding. The city commission at its meeting Tuesday will discuss and vote on the incentives package. Approval of the plan will require at least a 4-1 supermajority vote.  Read more: The Lawrence Times

The feline and canine shopkeeps of Mass Street businesses have long attracted customers like flies to honey, but it would appear that downtown now shares an unofficial, more odorous mammalian mascot: a skunk. The creatures appear to be striped skunks, or Mephitis mephitis. The adults — sometimes with kits toddling in tow — have been reported nosing around, and caught red-handed on security cameras, scampering past Jody’s Market.  Read more: The Lawrence Times