Kansas Municipal News
Halstead Planning Commission nears final draft of BESS regulations
The Halstead Planning Commission worked through the zoning regulation draft for battery energy storage systems (BESS) during its regular meeting Monday evening, just a few days after Concurrent, a Texas-based company leasing land in the city’s industrial park, held a public forum to answer questions regarding their plan to open a BESS facility in town. Planning Commission Chairman Tessa Wending asked if they adequately addressed mitigating the risk from a potential explosion because it’s such a big risk.
Source: Harvey County Now
New Assistant County Manager Darron Leiker begins work at Johnson County Government
Today, Darron Leiker joins the Johnson County Government leadership team as a new Assistant County Manager. That role was vacated in December 2024 with the retirement of Joe Connor. Leiker comes to Johnson County from the City of Wichita Falls, Texas, where he served nearly 23 years. He began as Assistant City Manager in 2002 and became City Manager in September 2005, serving for 19 years. In that role he oversaw approximately 15 departments and 1,240 FTEs, prepared an annual budget of more than $233 million (FY 2024) and implemented the policies and goals of a seven-member governing body.
Source: Johnson County Kansas |
Gardner voters renew half-cent sales tax paying for road projects
Gardner voters have approved renewing a half-cent sales tax for the city’s Pavement Management Program. On Tuesday, Feb. 11, nearly 68% of voters who cast mail-in ballots approved the sales tax renewal, according to unofficial results from the Johnson County Election Office. Overall, turnout for the special election was 17%, according to unofficial final tallies. The renewed sales tax takes effect Jan. 1, 2026, and will continue for another decade. Mayor Todd Winters said the passage of the sales tax renewal will allow the city to maintain and improve roads, sidewalks and trails for years to come.
Source: Johnson County Post
See the tax rebates, home improvement grants on offer in your Johnson County city
As property taxes continue to rise along with home values in Johnson County, residents may be looking for any way they can to save money. Many local cities in Johnson County, as well as the county itself, offer a variety of rebate programs aimed at helping homeowners pay their annual property tax bills, as well as make repairs and renovations. Many of these programs are aimed at certain populations, including low-income homeowners, seniors and disabled veterans. But other rebates are open to a wider segment of homeowners looking for assistance in paying for everything from replacing windows and installing solar panels to planting trees and signing up for at-home composting.
Source: Johnson County Post
Wichita approves public art plan to fill empty spots downtown
The City of Wichita has approved a plan to once again fill the empty pedestals in Old Town and elsewhere with sculptures. Starting in 2008, the city installed over a dozen pedestals, most of them in Old Town, as part of a sculpture walkabout program. That program ended in 2023. On Tuesday, the Wichita City Council voted 7-0 to approve a $200,000 plan (using funds explicitly earmarked in the budget for art projects) to fill the pedestals with permanent pieces.
Source: KSN-TV
Topeka residents meet, evaluate the city
Topeka residents met Wednesday, Feb 19, to serve on a special city committee that hasn’t been seen in a decade. The Topeka Citizen Government Review Committee is made up of five people all selected by the mayor. The last time this group was put together was 2014. For the next six months, the committee, along with public comment, will examine and evaluate Topeka’s form of government and determine if they have recommendations for change.
Source: KSNT 27 News
Symphony in the Flint Hills will end after 20 years
The Symphony in the Flint Hills announced Wednesday, Feb. 19 that 2025 will be the last year for shows. These annual shows were a way for people to appreciate and learn more about the Flint Hills tallgrass prairie After 20 unforgettable years, the Symphony in the Flint Hills Signature Event will have its Grand Finale on Saturday, June 14, at Evans Family Ranch in Chase County. Join us for one last breathtaking evening of music, prairie skies, and community as we celebrate this milestone event. Along with the Signature Event concert, the Symphony in the Flint Hills hosted a prairie art exhibit and auction. Tickets for the Grand Finale will go on sale at 10 a.m. Saturday, March 1.
Source: KSNT 27 News
Most homeowners in Sedgwick County will see increase in tax appraisal. Here are details
Tax valuations will increase for 87% of homeowners in Sedgwick County this year. The average median increase for residential properties is 9%. Notices will be mailed out March 1. Last year, 60% of residential property owners saw an increase in valuation, with a 10% median increase. Tax appraisal increases are driven by the sales prices of new and existing homes. “Demand is high and the supply of homes is tight, thus prices increase as a result of this continuing imbalance,” county appraiser Mark Clark told county commissioners.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
Are Wichita-area schools running out of snow days? See what Kansas law says
Wichita school districts students have so far had this week off amid snow and bitter cold. School officials canceled classes Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. There was no school Monday because it was President’s Day. So far this year, including Thursday, Wichita students have been off school eight days because of severe weather. Half of those were in January, with the rest in February. So will they — and students from surrounding districts in similar situations — have to make up days?
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
It’s illegal to own a pet raccoon in Kansas. One man is trying to change that
Kansas lawmakers are considering a proposal that would allow Kansans who obtain raccoon ownership permits to keep the animals as pets. For the past four years, Lenexa resident Stephen Kaspar has been feeding and training wild raccoons that wander onto his property. But it’s against Kansas law to own a pet raccoon. That’s why Kaspar is urging state lawmakers to pass a bill that would legalize pet ownership of raccoons. Owners would be required to obtain a raccoon ownership permit, complete educational training and vaccinate their raccoons for rabies and other diseases. They’d have to provide raccoons with their own room or enclosure, a measure Kaspar said is designed to ensure people provide proper care and enrichment to the animals.
Source: The Lawrence Times
Kansas needs qualified computer science teachers. This K-State program delivers — for free
When Josh Weese completed high school nearly 20 years ago, his exposure to computer science had been a short unit on robotics in shop class and some basic HTML coding and word processing in business class. Today, he’s working to bring more robust computer science education to districts large and small all across the state through Kansas State University’s Cyber Pipeline. Weese, a teaching associate professor of computer science in the Carl R. Ice College of Engineering and a Kevin and Jacquie Elmore – Carl and Mary Ice Cornerstone teaching scholar, co-directs the Advancing Learning and Teaching in Computer Science, or ALT+CS, laboratory with Nathan Bean, teaching associate professor of computer science, and Russell Feldhausen, instructor of computer science.
Source: The Sunflower State Radio Network
‘A special building’: Historic hotel in Alma reopens to the public
A hotel originally constructed in the 19th century has new life. Friday marked a grand opening of the two-story Brandt House, 402 Missouri Ave. in downtown Alma. Built in 1887 by Christena and Joseph Brandt, the hotel was named to the National Register of Historic Places in 2008. After going through several ownership groups — and previously named the Alma Hotel — Brandt House’s current owners consist of Alma couples Morgan and Tyler Holloman, as well as Alex and Amanda Gnadt. The four acquired the hotel originally in November 2023 and received $73,400 through the Kansas Department of Commerce’s Attraction Development Grant program.
Source: themercury.com
Commerce Unveils Groundbreaking Overhaul of Community Development Block Grant Program
The Kansas Department of Commerce announced today significant changes to its Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) – Community Facilities program to allow a rolling application process, lower local match requirements and an expanded scope of eligible projects. The revamped CDBG – Community Facilities program opens the door for projects ranging from emergency sirens and ADA upgrades to new libraries and major park developments. Notably, the transition from an annual competition to a rolling application process means that cities and counties can apply for funding year-round, receiving decisions in a matter of weeks rather than waiting months for a single funding cycle. Additionally, the local match requirement has been reduced from its normal 25% to a 10% match for small projects and 20% for large projects.
Source: Kansas Department of Commerce
El Dorado City Manager says Andover water connection is sustainable
With an increase in water rate usage and the previous summer’s drought, the Andover City Mayor, Ronnie Price, has made his voice clear: he no longer wants to buy water from Wichita for Andover residents. Mayor Price says he’d like to avoid future issues like these by connecting Andover to the El Dorado Lake, but is it sustainable? The City Manager of El Dorado, David Dillner, says yes. When looking at water sustainability and how much a lake has in its reservoir, the equation is much more than what meets the eye when looking at the lake from the outside. The lake itself is just the beginning. What is taken into consideration when projecting water sustainability is the water table, watershed, and other factors. The water depth at the lake dam is about 60 feet deep which is why the volume doesn’t move much.
Source: Andover American
De Soto OKs deal with KDOT to realign Lexington interchange, build roads at Astra
As Panasonic prepares to come online at Astra Enterprise Park, city and state leaders are teeing up plans to address a key interchange’s capacity to handle growing traffic. During the past six months, the Kansas Department of Transportation has been negotiating with property owner Sunflower Redevelopment Group to buy about 1,850 feet of railroad track under the Kansas Highway 10 interchange along Lexington Avenue.
Source: Kansas City Business Journal
Some Wichita schools are easing up on recess rules, citing the benefits of ‘risky play’
The scene at Wichita’s Allen Elementary School is pretty typical for a school playground at recess — lots of running, jumping, climbing and screaming. But there’s something different that you might not notice right away. Allen is one of three Wichita elementary schools experimenting with a new kind of recess that eases up on rules and lets kids play more freely. The approach, sometimes called “risky play,” follows research that shows children benefit from climbing high, running fast and testing their physical limits. Wichita decided to try it after some physical education teachers complained that students weren’t getting enough unstructured play time.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
40-year-old woman dies after trying to break up pit bull fight at west Wichita home
A 40-year-old Wichita woman who was attacked while trying to break up a fight between her two pit bulls Saturday died from her injuries Sunday morning, police said. She was identified as Moeshae Thomas, Wichita police spokesperson Aaron Moses said in an email.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
Crews monitor downtown Hutchinson area after gas leak, explosion cause evacuation
Officials will continue to monitor the site of a gas explosion that occurred Saturday in downtown Hutchinson. The Hutchinson Fire Department and Kansas Gas allowed some residents back into their homes after being evacuated Saturday. “Currently there is 18 businesses and 1 residential home without gas service,” the Hutchinson Fire Department said Sunday morning. “Kansas gas will continue to have a large presence in this area for the next couple days… to remedy the situation.”
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
Legislature revisits local regulations on home-based businesses
The Legislature is revisiting a bill that would limit local government’s ability to regulate what is described as a “no-impact” home-based business. The House on Thursday voted 74-49 to approve a bill barring cities and counties from banning “no-impact” home-based businesses but would provide for some regulations.
Source: Sunflower State Journal
Senate moves to expand STAR bonds incentives
The Kansas Senate approved a bill late Wednesday expanding one of the state’s most powerful tax incentives to help save dying malls. The bill would allow sales tax revenue – or STAR – bonds to be used for redevelopment of malls that are at least half empty. It would require a minimum $10 million investment.
Source: Sunflower State Journal