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Local and regional Kansas airports receive funding for repairs and upkeep

info2023-02-16T00:24:03-06:00February 16th, 2023|

Kansas Governor Laura Kelly today announced that some local and regional airports will receive Kansas Airport Improvement Program funding for repairs and upkeep. Officials with the state say funding is strictly for the planning, constructing, or rehabilitating public-use general aviation airports. "Whether it be airplane manufacturing, a link in the supply chain logistics, or travel, the Kansas aerospace industry is an essential part of our state's economy," Governor Laura Kelly said. "These grants ensure the safety and longevity of Kansas airports, all while contributing to economic growth and job creation." Source: KOAM News

Dogs could come back to Shawnee brewery if bill passes

info2023-02-16T00:14:19-06:00February 16th, 2023|

Dogs could be allowed back inside Transport Brewery in downtown Shawnee if a bill in Topeka backed by a local lawmaker passes. Last summer, state regulators from the Kansas Department of Agriculture prohibited the brewery and others like it from having dogs inside its taproom, deciding the space fits the formal definition of a “food preparation” area. But a bill currently making the rounds in the Kansas House could change that. Source: Prairie Village Post

Cities defeat efforts to restrict planning outside boundaries

info2023-02-16T00:12:41-06:00February 16th, 2023|

Cities on Wednesday defeated legislative efforts to curb their ability to plan for development just outside their boundaries, an authority they said was important for ensuring orderly growth patterns. The House local government committee turned back a bill repealing the ability of municipalities to impose land-use requirements in a three-mile area just outside the city limits. Source: Sunflower State Journal

House panel limits cities ability to regulate vacant property

info2023-02-16T00:11:28-06:00February 16th, 2023|

A House committee on Wednesday morning signed off on a compromise bill that will limit the ability of local governments to regulate vacant and commercial property. The House Local Government Committee agreed to retain the ability of local governments to impose registration requirements on a vacant residential or commercial property in order to keep it from falling into disrepair and blight. However, they could not impose fees or taxes for registering the properties. Source: Sunflower State Journal

Manhattan parks and rec proposes facility fee structure based on peak hours

info2023-02-16T00:09:25-06:00February 16th, 2023|

Manhattan city officials have proposed using peak and non-peak hours in an update of parks and recreation rental fees. City recreation superintendent Chris Curtis told Manhattan city commissioners Tuesday that staffers in his department have been looking at ways to improve the department’s cost recovery model to better utilize department funds. He said there are currently two categories for parks and rec rental fees — commercial and non-commercial. “In practice, we hardly ever charge the commercial rate,” Curtis said, “as it’s hard to identify a customer as commercial or not.” Source: themercury.com

Change of land use primary focus of crypto data center hearing in Jefferson County

info2023-02-15T14:05:02-06:00February 15th, 2023|

A proposal to develop a commercial data center about a mile north of McLouth along the east side K-92 highway will go before the Jefferson County Regional Planning Commission Monday, Feb. 27. ... The request is being made by Crypto Colo Center Corp. (CCC) ... “In short, the applicant is proposing a small scale data center that utilizes metal storage shipping containers to house the computer components needed for the data center. Those containers are proposed to be powered by generators fueled by natural gas that is produced on site,” Dustin Parks, Jefferson County’s community development director, explained. ... In its [...]

Kansas school administrators question bill adding school board members to district payroll

info2023-02-15T13:00:18-06:00February 15th, 2023|

The hypothetical cost of implementing a Kansas House bill enabling local school districts to pay elected board members $20 per hour for a commitment of less than two hours a week would cost taxpayers $2.8 million annually. Adopting the change would break a 50-year precedent in Kansas law that made local school board members volunteers without a salary, but the idea seemed to make sense to Rep. Kristey Williams, chair of the House K-12 Budget Committee. She said during a Tuesday hearing the legislation could serve as a token of appreciation for board members and affirm the value placed on work [...]

Harvey County residents could vote on wind towers

info2023-02-15T12:56:22-06:00February 15th, 2023|

The wind energy regulations adopted by county commissioners in October appear headed to a vote after about two dozen people voiced their disapproval during a marathon Harvey County Commission meeting Tuesday morning that dragged into the afternoon. ... The remainder of the meeting was contentious at times until commissioners agreed to consider a six-month moratorium on wind turbines and also put the issue of renewable energy to a public vote. Planning and Zoning Director Karen Rothe led off the official discussion by telling commissioners that the planning commission had been inundated with people asking them to revisit the 1,000-foot setback requirement [...]

Newton BOE splits over closing, shrinking Walton

info2023-02-15T12:54:27-06:00February 15th, 2023|

On a 4-3 vote, the Newton Board of Education voted to reduce Walton Rural Life Center and Northridge Elementary School to one-section schools, meaning one classroom per grade. The decision followed two previous board discussions, beginning on Jan. 26, about shrinking enrollment leading to a decreased need in space and staff, as well as high turnover in existing staff, blamed on low district pay. “We have to react to the loss of students in the district,” Board Member Matt Treaster said at the meeting. “The first option of doing nothing isn’t an option.” Source: Harvey County Now

Lawrence City Commission approves ordinance changes aimed at helping people find housing

info2023-02-15T12:53:52-06:00February 15th, 2023|

Lawrence city commissioners on Tuesday approved an ordinance change that creates a protected class based on source of income, as well as status as a survivor of domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking or stalking. The change also disallows discrimination based on prospective tenants’ immigration status. It means that landlords will not be able to discriminatorily deny someone housing just because their rent money will come from a housing voucher, settlement, benefit, subsidy, Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing voucher and more. ... Many large, out-of-state landlords have stopped accepting vouchers in Lawrence, Commissioner Brad Finkeldei said — but he said in speaking [...]

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