When newcomers visit Wichita, many inevitably bring up the affordable cost of living, especially in regard to housing. For most Americans, rent and mortgage payments are the largest monthly expense they accrue. And research shows that affordable housing positively impacts education, health and economic outcomes of communities at-large. But keeping housing affordable for residents while maintaining and improving spaces requires a delicate balance. This is especially important now, as Wichita finds itself in the thick of a housing boom with listings selling at an unprecedented pace. Source: Chung Report.

Johnson County’s health order requiring masks and social distancing in businesses has become a “strong recommendation,” which carries no enforcement but still encourages employers and organizations to follow federal COVID-19 guidelines. On Thursday, the Johnson County Commission voted 5-1 on a resolution that points residents and employers toward the Centers for Disease Control for best practices on mask wearing and social distancing. Assistant County Manager Joe Connor said the resolution puts the commission on record as backing public health experts while leaving flexibility for changes in federal guidelines that may come as more Americans become vaccinated and cases drop. Source: Shawnee [...]

Motorized scooters like those in downtown Kansas City are back on the drawing board in Overland Park after a two-year hiatus. A city council committee Wednesday agreed that the city should pursue a pilot project for a scooter share program that could start as early as this summer. The committee asked city staff to move forward with the details after a brief discussion Wednesday night. Source: Shawnee Post.

The downtown Shawnee core is now a public common consumption area, which means drinking establishments can more easily host outdoor events and serve alcohol in patio settings. After a brief discussion, the Shawnee City Council on Monday unanimously approved the move creating a public common consumption area within the downtown core at Johnson Drive and Nieman Road. The area covers four square blocks bounded by King Street to the west, West 58th Street to the north, Bluejacket Avenue to the east, and West 59th Street to the south. Source: Shawnee Post.

Each year, the Kansas Geological Survey (KGS) and the Division of Water Resources (DWR) measure more than 1,400 wells to track the drops in groundwater levels. Throughout 2020, experts recorded an average groundwater decline of nearly one foot across the Kansas portion of the High-Plains Aquifer. The High Plains Aquifer is one of the world’s largest groundwater resources. It stretches across parts of eight states from South Dakota to Texas and is a significant part in growing billions of dollars of crops each year. The Ogallala portion is the largest in Kansas and perhaps of the most concern. Source: KSN.

A communications company wants to sign a franchise agreement with the city of Parsons to allow for underground fiber optic cable on city right of way. The city commission will consider an ordinance during a regular Monday evening meeting that would allow Cox Communication Kansas LLC to install an advanced fiber optic network in town. During a Thursday work session, City Attorney Ross Albertini said the non-exclusive franchise agreement is based on one the commission approved about five years ago for Fibernet with a “few minor tweaks.” Source: Parsons Sun.

Tourism — which is about using the assets we have to bring new dollars into our state — is key to growing the Kansas economy. ... Every new resident and business developer is first a visitor to our state. Kansas Tourism and local partners create a great first impression for all new arrivals. Working as a team, Tourism and dedicated partners inspire exploration and personify Kansas ideals and values, which all help visitors fall in love with Kansas. Source: CJonline.com.

Many municipalities were in danger of financial ruin from sky-high natural gas bills after extreme cold temperatures swept through Kansas in February and caused rolling blackouts. The high prices were caused by the unprecedented demand for energy during the freezing weather, combined with the limited supply due to the freeze taking down critical energy infrastructure. State government itself also wasn't spared, as the governor's office early last week requested lawmakers go through the state budget to find money for higher energy costs it faced. 'We're spending a lot of dollars out of state general funds here on an emergency situation,' said [...]

The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) local relief funds that will go to cities should be released no later than May 10, 2021, creating a short amount of time for smaller cities to get ready to receive the funds. Cities, towns and villages with fewer than 50,000 residents, referred to in the law as nonentitlement units of local government, will receive their money as a pass through from the state. States will receive their money no later than May 10, and then states have 30 days to pass the money through cities, towns and villages with fewer than 50,000 residents. The [...]

A task force of Lawrence residents that has been reconsidering the city’s form of government has come out in favor of having a directly elected mayor. As part of its meeting Thursday evening, the City Government Study Task Force voted 7-0, with a few members absent, to recommend that the city consider changing to a directly elected mayor who serves a four-year term. Currently, the City Commission chooses one of its own members to serve a one-year term as mayor each year — by tradition, commissioners choose based on whoever received the most votes in the most recent election, though there [...]