Kansas Municipal News
Wichita school district uses near $1 million in grant money for safety improvements
A new year for Wichita Public Schools accompanies changes coming with children’s safety in mind. The district is using a grant from The State of Kansas to pay for improvements.
The grant will pay for some pricier, high-tech upgrades, but it’s some low-tech upgrades administrators say, could make a big difference. Some of the grant money went to pay for things like deadbolts and corresponding stickers the number each and every door in a school from the inside and out.
Wichita Public Schools Director of Safety Services Terri Moses says soon, virtually every classroom door in the district will lock from the inside.
(Read more: KWCH News)
Commissioners approve construction bid for new Salina police training facility
After nearly an hour of listening to recommendations, testimonies and thoughts from local citizens and former and local law enforcement officials, the Salina City Commission on Monday unanimously approved to award Wichita-based Compton Construction the bid for construction of a new Regional Law Enforcement Training Center.
Commissioner Melissa Hodges was not at Monday’s meeting.
“This has been quite a long process, but I’m ecstatic that it’s done, and ecstatic that the commissioners saw the need for this training facility that will benefit both my officers and the community, greatly,” said Salina Police Chief Brad Nelson. “I couldn’t be any happier.”
(Read more: News – Salina Journal)
If you think JoCo’s I-35 construction traffic is bad now, just wait till next spring
The traffic headache on Interstate 35 in Johnson County should get better in a matter of months, when the southbound ramp to Overland Parkway/U.S. 69 reopens. But commuters can prepare for a migraine this spring.
The ramp closed this month for a $3.7 million bridge repair project, which should be completed by December, according to the Kansas Department of Transportation. The construction is sending some 72,000 vehicles on a detour each day.
But I-35 drivers won’t get too much of a break after that project is completed.
(Read more: Joco 913 News)
As gleaming new courthouse rises, JoCo wants to know what to do with the old space
As Johnson County celebrates a construction milestone by placing the final steel beam on top of its new courthouse, officials are preparing to answer the county’s next lingering question: What to do with the old space?
The new $193 million, seven-story facility is expected to open to the public in January 2021.
It will replace the county’s current, deteriorating courthouse, which will be demolished soon after the new one opens. Starting next month, residents can comment on what they’d like to see done with that lot on Kansas Avenue in Olathe, said Brad Reinhardt, director of facilities management.
(Read more: Joco 913 News)
Backers of lawsuit against Neosho County wind farm waiting on legal process
Forty-five landowners, some of whom live in the project footprint, filed suit against Neosho Ridge Wind LLC in July in Neosho County District Court. The civil suit states the project “will constitute a nuisance with respect to the plaintiffs and their property interests. It will be an annoyance and a use of property which gives offense to or endangers the life or health or obstructs the reasonable and comfortable use and enjoyment of the property of the plaintiffs.”
The project opponents say they aren’t necessarily against wind energy, but they do oppose the project in what they think is an area too heavily populated for the windmills that will tower over 600 feet tall.
(Read more: www.chanute.com – RSS Results in news,news/* of type article)
Victoria seeks logo design for water tower
As the city of Victoria gets ready for a new water tower and water system upgrades, a contest to submit a new logo to potentially be placed on the new tower is set to end Friday.
“It is open to anybody,” said Mary Pfeifer, city clerk. “We thought it would be fun to get some different ideas, some new ideas.”
“The tower is a spherical tower and examples can be seen by looking online,” the contest announcement said. “The winning design will be awarded a $50 Visa gift card.”
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Submission can be made in person to the Victoria City Hall or emailed to victoria@ruraltel.net.
(Read more: Hays Post)
Wichita to put more police on the streets, create new central substation
Wichita’s hitting the gas pedal on a plan to expand the Police Department and create a new bureau to better patrol the burgeoning central area of the city.
On Tuesday, the City Council approved an annual budget that shifts $1 million from a lawsuit liability fund to get the process going.
City Manager Robert Layton said it represents a “heavy emphasis on public safety in our operating budget and CIP.”
(Read more: Local News |)
Barron Theater marquee lights restored in Pratt
As dusk crept over the city of Pratt last Monday, sparkling new lights on the historic marquee were flipped on at the Barron Theatre by longtime supporter Sheryl White. "We had a Pratt Pilot’s Club meeting here, so I turned them on for that," White said. "It was so beautiful to see them shining in all their glory."The Barron lights, original in the late 20s to early 30s, were in sad shape before fundraising efforts and special groups joined forces to rebirth them.
(Read more: News – The Garden City Telegram)
Garden City forms census committee
Nearly a decade ago, a growing Garden City entered into a years-long challenge process with the United State Census Bureau, arguing that the agency had miscounted the city’s population by thousands.Today, with doubled-down efforts, area census jobs and an expanding group of representatives from the city’s institutions and communities, local leaders are fully focused on one goal: ensuring a miscount doesn’t happen again.
(Read more: News – The Garden City Telegram)
Lawrence City Commission to discuss proposal to charge for disposable plastic and paper bags
City leaders will soon discuss a proposal to charge people for disposable grocery and shopping bags in an effort to reduce waste.
As part of its study session Tuesday, the Lawrence City Commission will discuss the Sustainability Advisory Board’s recommendation that the city develop an ordinance that would charge a 16-cent fee per bag upon checkout for both single-use plastic and paper bags, but would exempt some types of bags. Exempted bags would include those used to carry raw meat, seafood and bulk items, such as fruits, vegetables and nuts.
As currently proposed, the fee would apply to grocers and retailers, but Lawrence-Douglas County Sustainability Director Jasmin Moore, who is the staff liaison to the board, previously told the Journal-World that further discussion would occur regarding what businesses would be included.
Read more: LJWorld.com.
Midwestern states brace for long-term flood fight as damages, costs continue to mount
After devastating flooding this year, Iowa put $15 million into a special fund to help local governments recover and guard against future floods. Missouri allotted more money to fight rising waters, including $2 million to help buy a moveable floodwall for a historic Mississippi River town that’s faced flooding in all but one of the past 20 years.
In Arkansas, Gov. Asa Hutchinson announced $10 million to repair damaged levees while creating a task force to study a system that in some places has fallen into disrepair though years of neglect.
(Read more: fox4kc.com | FOX 4 – WDAF)
USDA Inspector General: Moving Research Offices From DC To KC Isn’t Quite Legal
Critics of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s decision to move two of its research agencies from Washington, D.C., to the Kansas City area got more ammunition this week.
The most recent development: A report from the USDA’s inspector general that finds some flaws with how the department has executed its plan.
The USDA wants to move two of its agencies from Washington, D.C. to Kansas City.
Last September, U.S. Reps. Eleanor Holmes Norton of Washington, D.C. and Steny Hoyer, both Democrats, sent a letter asking the inspector general to determine whether the move was legal.
(Read more: Great Bend Post)
Hoisington to discuss continuation of half-cent sales tax
The City of Hoisington has implemented a half-cent sales tax since 2005. That tax is scheduled to sunset in September 2020. Hoisington City Manager Jonathan Mitchell says there will be discussion at the city council meeting August 12 to continue the tax.
The tax is currently marked to help fund street repairs, but the thought is to broaden the tax’s use.
“We’ve had a lot of discussion in the community about what are some other needs for Hoisington?” said Mitchell. “A lot of those deal with quality of life.”
(Read more: Great Bend Post)
Interview with USD 428 Superintendent on school bond
USD 428 Superintendent Khris Thexton came by the Eagle Media Center Friday, August 9. Below is the interview with Thexton discussing the upcoming school bond issue that will send out mail-in ballots August 20.
(Read more: Great Bend Post)
Historic church rebuilds after lightning strikes the building
After a long nine months, members of a Catholic church in Andale are counting their blessings as their doors have re-opened.
Sunday morning, members of the St. Joseph Catholic Church piled into the historic building and filled the pews.
“It’s our spiritual centerpiece,” says Tony Lane, a long-time congregation member.
But last summer the place of worship in southern Kansas was empty, lightning struck the building and devastated the community’s only church.
(Read more: KAKE – News)
Kansas man celebrates 106th birthday
“We just feel really blessed. We don’t know what God’s plan is for him, but you know we have to wait and see,” said Shirley Koerner, daughter.
Christiansan says his secret to living such a long life is staying busy.
“Yeah, I still mow my own lawn. I had to quit driving. I still get along pretty good,” said Christiansan.
Christiansan had five generations of family members at the celebration.
(Read more: KWCH News)
Plan to boost voter turnout in Kansas didn’t turn out as planned
A law aimed at increasing voter turnout by moving local elections from the spring to the fall got its first real test in Tuesday’s election for Wichita mayor — and results were mixed at best.
In the 2015 mayoral primary, the last spring election, turnout was a fairly dismal 9.8 percent. This time around, it was only slightly better when a flurry of late-arriving mail ballots inched it up to an even 10 percent.
Sedgwick County Election Commissioner Tabitha Lehman said things had seemed to be going better and she was surprised when the turnout ended up being almost exactly the same as four years ago.
(Read more: Local News |)
How low can they go? Municipal bond yields inch down toward record levels
Issuers and buyers will both be watching the direction yields take this week as the 30-year municipal bond slips beneath the 2% threshold and 10-year heads toward record-low territory.
On Monday, the 10-year general obligation on Refinitiv Municipal Market Data’s AAA scale fell to 1.31%, two basis points away from the record low while the 30-year muni yield dropped to 1.97%, four basis points above the record low. The record low yield for the 10-year on MMD’s scale is 1.29%, which was set on June 27, 2016; the record low on the 30-year AAA GO is 1.93%, hit on July 6, 2016.
Writing in a weekly Court Street Group Research market commentary, George Friedlander noted the recent drop in bond yields was due to several factors, such as geo-political factors like Sino-U.S. trade tensions and the weakening of economies around the world.
(Read more: Bond Buyer: Feed)
Riley County begins search for new health department director following Green’s resignation
Riley County Health Department Director Jennifer Green announced her resignation to the commission recently. She’s seen in this 2017 KMAN file photo
During the Riley County commission meeting last Thursday, Riley County Health Department Director Jennifer put in her resignation as director.
The commissioners on Monday discussed who would be on the committee to find Green’s replacement. They were told a member of an outside entity to the county would like to have a say in who they pick, but County Clerk Rich Vargo suggested staying in the county.
(Read more: 1350 KMAN)
Fined in Mulvane? Pay some of it with school supplies
August ticket-getters in Mulvane will be able to cover a portion of their fines by donating school supplies.
Public Safety Director Gordon Fell proposed the supplies-for-fines program after reading of a similar effort by the Shawnee Municipal Court. Mulvane council members approved it at their Aug. 5 meeting.
“Not only does it help on the fines they owe but it also helps parents [and] students in the community,” Fell said in a memo to the council.
(Read more: Area | derbyinformer.com)