Kansas Municipal News
A few Kansas jails are finally allowing medical care for opioid addiction
A recent decision to let people continue treatment for drug addiction while in the Sedgwick County Jail in Wichita reflects a significant shift in thinking at Kansas sheriffs’ offices that is gaining momentum. Sedgwick officials no longer take people off of their prescriptions for medications such as buprenorphine when booked into jail. No one keeps a tally of how many Kansas jails allow incarcerated people with opioid or alcohol addictions to receive the combination of medication and counseling that can help them. But nationally, only a fraction of jails do so, researchers say. Sedgwick’s joins at least a few other Kansas jails that do so, including Crawford County’s in southeast Kansas.
Source: KCUR News
Minutes show Fed ready to raise rates, shrink balance sheet soon
The Federal Reserve on Wednesday released the minutes from its Jan. 25-26 meeting. Following the meeting, the policymaking Federal Open Market Committee said it would not raise interest rates yet but strongly indicated a hike is on the way as soon as March. In addition, the committee set out procedures for how it will start unwinding its nearly $9 trillion balance sheet, which consists largely of bonds it has purchased in an effort to drive down rates and stimulate growth. Since the meeting, fresh inflation readings have shown prices rising at the fastest pace in 40 years. The Fed targets inflation to average around 2%, and officials have conceded that policy needs to get tighter to bring prices down.
Source: CNBC – Bonds
City Council taking steps to address vacant properties in Topeka
City officials are moving forward with taking action over those vacant properties around the city. With Tuesday’s vote, the City of Topeka is adopting updated standards for building code enforcement. It is now in line with two sets of standards called the “International Energy Conservation Code” and the “International Existing Building Code”. The vote comes as city officials are looking to address the number of vacant house fires in Topeka. Monday, a fire broke out at an abandoned home near 16th and Clay in Central Topeka. That fire marks 690 vacant or under renovated house fires in 20 years, according to a Topeka Fire Department Official.
Source: KSNT News
Bill seeks to reduce excessive record fees
A Kansas Senate panel considered Monday how best to proceed with amending the state’s open records act to increase transparency without triggering unintended consequences and placing an undue burden on municipalities. Senate Bill 386 would limit fees for copying and providing records, including the cost of staff time, under the Kansas Open Records Act to the lowest hourly rate of the person qualified to provide the records. The bill would also ensure no fee is charged if a search determines the record does not exist. It would also give the record custodian the discretion to waive any fee should it be in the public interest to do so. Emily Bradbury, executive director of the Kansas Press Association, pointed to a 2020 incident following a series of personnel firings in Frontenac where the city attorney wanted to charge $3,500 for records without explanation of how he arrived at that figure.
Source: The Arkansas City Traveler
Community health needs discussed
A meeting was held Tuesday to discuss tactics and available resources for implementing the Community Health Improvement Plan, which is a list of the Cowley County’s most pressing needs paired with potential resources to address them. “We want to take all the insights, information and feedback and put it to use in the community,” said William Newton Hospital marketing director Sarah Johnson, who facilitated the Zoom discussion. The top community health needs, identified in earlier planning meetings, include behavioral/mental health, drug/substance abuse, suicide, poverty, affordable housing, child care, awareness of healthcare services, lack of health resources, obesity, preventative health and wellness, lack of “owning health” and lack of health insurance.
Source: The Arkansas City Traveler
Chanute to expand fiber through three new areas
Chanute city commissioners authorized the next expansion phase of the city’s fiber optic broadband utility at Monday evening’s meeting. But the project won’t begin until Oct. 1 because of the anticipated waiting time for materials and supplies. If City Manager Todd Newman had waited until the fall to authorize the work during the winter of 2022-23, he said, the expansion might not have begun until the fall of 2023. City officials have ordered transformers and expect it will take 70 weeks for them to arrive. The project will expand fiber through three areas … Officials expect the project to cost $600,000 and to sign up 840 customers, which would bring in an anticipated $189,000 in revenue annually. The construction costs will be paid from the fiber utility’s revenues.
Source: The Chanute Tribune
Man explains desire to expend Pottawatomie County Commission
“I wanted you to hear from me why I’m doing that,” Doug Kern said. If Kern’s petition is successful, the expansion would be added to the November ballot. Kern said expanding the board will allow board members to have conversations outside a formal meeting without violating open meeting law. He said expanding the board to five would remedy that. “I think there are times and issues that might need some discussion outside the scope of the public ear. And that’s my motivation,” he said. “I have no desire to be a county commissioner, so I’m not trying to expand it to five so I can run or some crazy thing. It’s not a referendum on whether I think you’re doing a good job. It’s simply that I would like our commissioners to be able to call another commissioner on the phone or go to lunch and talk.”
Source: themercury.com
County commits $125,000 to dam project
The Chase County Commission committed $125,000 for the Cottonwood Falls dam repair project Monday morning, after a discussion with Bruce Boettcher of BG Consultants and Pat Larkin, representing the city of Cottonwood Falls. The dam has been a cause of concern since 2013 when deterioration became visible on the outside walls. It has been monitored over the past nine years. The dam, which was originally constructed of wood in the 1860s, and later replaced with limestone and concrete in 1906.
Source: Emporia Gazette
Townships frustrated with drivers blowing donuts at rural intersections
Township officials in Harvey County have seen an increased amount of reckless driving causing damage to rural roads, and they say it’s time for it to stop. “It’s like every time you grade the roads, somebody comes and does donuts in the intersection and makes it almost impossible for people to go through safely,” Jeff Stein, grader operator for Sedgwick Township, said. “So then you’ve got to go back out and grade it again. It ends up not being a cheap deal.” Stein said the problem with donuts in intersections has gotten worse in the past six months.
Source: Harvey County Now
Sedgwick’s new superintendent will focus on student and community relationships
Sedgwick’s board of education made it official Monday evening by naming Greg Lehr as the next superintendent for USD 439. Lehr is a Valley Center graduate where he now serves as the Valley Center Intermediate School Principal. He’s in his twelfth year as principal. He began his education career as a high school history teacher after earning his bachelor’s degree in Secondary Education from Kansas State University in 2001. Lehr said he earned his master’s degree in school leadership from Baker University to become a better teacher but while taking the classes he became interested in becoming a principal.
Source: Harvey County Now
Hutchinson Fire Chief calls for updated fire mitigation plan
After several fires swept through parts of Hutchinson Tuesday, Hutchinson Fire Department Chief Steven Beer says the department will work with the Reno County Commission to adopt, or update policies as needed. “When a burn ban goes in effect, or a burn day, instead of being used during a declaration, an emergency declaration, it needs to be used for the whole entire month,” Chief Beer said. Although Chief Beer says he does not wish to preclude farmers and ranchers from burning their pastures as needed, he says Reno County is in desperate need of stricter zoning requirements and control burn requirements.
Source: KSN-TV
2021 cold anniversary: How Kansas towns, schools handled sky-high gas bills
With a year passing since freezing temperatures caused an energy crisis in Kansas, KSNT’s Capitol Bureau revisited towns and school districts hit hard by bills that came in the aftermath. The cold snap in February 2021 hit the majority of the state, with as many as 100,000 Evergy customers going without power during rolling blackouts at peak. Kansas saw two days of controlled outages because electricity providers were facing generating issues from the cold, and the effects trickled out. Schools closed, homes had to plan for staying warm with no power, and cities like Manhattan lost critical infrastructure like traffic lights. Alongside electrical grid strain, the state saw extraordinary demand for natural gas. During the cold crisis, the Kansas Corporation Commission told state gas companies to do everything they could to keep supplying the utility to customers, defer the charges, and then develop a plan to allow customers to pay the unusually high costs over time.
Source: KSN-TV
Will Topeka and Hutch get license plates? Kansas cities split on bill
Hutchinson drivers could soon see their city flag on license plates, but a similar provision for Topeka hit a bump in the road when city officials opposed a bill from Kansas lawmakers. House Bill 2633 would authorize both cities to use their flags as a logo on license plates, similar to the Wichita flag. Royalty payments of between $25 and $100 would go to the cities, with funds earmarked to support parks and recreation in Hutchinson and the zoo in Topeka. The Hutchinson plan enjoys support from lawmakers and city officials, but the Topeka plan faces opposition.
Source: CJonline
‘Day in the life’ event gives Pittsburg fire department recruits real-world experience
Pittsburg Fire Department hosts ‘Day in the Life’ course to show students what it’s like to be a firefighter. Members of the Pittsburg Fire Department serve as the instructors for the academy, working with each recruit during the ‘Day in the Life’ training. … “Recruits will be presented with problems that the class will have to solve, experience teamwork in a dynamic emergency atmosphere, and prepare for their first shift with their platoon,” says Deputy Fire Chief Tom Vacca. “The academy works to prepare them for a structure fire 10 minutes into their first shift. They will learn how to be a productive member of the team and to make split-second decisions during an emergency with life safety in the balance.”
Source: KOAMKOAM
KSDE approves Redesign Project Launch for Columbus High School
This month, the Kansas State Board of Education approved nine schools in seven districts to be a part of the “Kansas can redesign project plan” for the current school year. One of those schools approved–was Columbus high school. “The approval from the state board, we’re very appreciative because it’s validation that we’re doing things the correct way,” said Columbus High School Principal, Dan Grundy. The program, which invites schools from all over the state to apply, has the goal to find ways to best meet the needs, of all students. “We looked at our master schedule that’s been completely redesigned to where teachers can choose whether or not they have 90 or 45-minute classes, the same amount of time on the week, but it’s just structured differently to meet students needs and whatever is best for that type of instruction,” said Columbus High School counselor, Nicki Strickland.
Source: KOAMKOAM
FLY MHK: Manhattan City Commission to see final plans for $47.2 million runway project
The Manhattan City Commission is taking a look at the final plans for a $47.2 million runway reconstruction project at the Manhattan Regional Airport. … The City of Manhattan is expected to pay $4.4 million for the runway. More than 90 percent of the project is being funded by the federal government. The Federal Aviation Administration is paying for 100 feet of the 150 feet wide runway with other federal grants covering the rest. Airport Director Brandon Keazer said it was important to maintain that 150 feet because of the charter aircraft that are used by Kansas State University and Fort Riley.
Source: KSNT News
Municipal Bond Trends for February 15, 2022
The interest rate table above illustrates recent changes in a sample of MBIS “investment grade” yields. Every issuer’s credit is different. For rates that may be applicable to your municipality, contact our Municipal Bond Advisors, Larry Kleeman and Beth Warren.
Four months after unanimous rejection, OP planners recommend revised Lux Senior Living proposal
In a complete reversal from an October rejection, the Overland Park Planning Commission unanimously agreed Monday to recommend approval of a rezoning request to create The Lux Senior Living, an apartment complex for active adults over 55, at the northwest corner of 137th Street and Quivira Road. Developers Vijay and Nevin Dewar, through Park 289 LLC, are requesting roughly six acres of land be rezoned from a Planned Apartment District (RP-5) to Planned High-Rise Apartment (RP-6). The property was zoned RP-5 in 1999, but has not been developed. The current zoning would allow for the construction of up to three buildings with a total of 104 units. Following a public hearing in October, the Planning Commission voiced concerns about the overall height of the project not fitting into the nearby single-family neighborhood. In November, the City Council sent the proposal back to the Planning Commission to allow the developer time to adjust the plan based on neighbors’ concerns.
Source: Kansas City Business Journal – The Business Journals
School district outlines plan to spend final $2 million of bond funds
With a majority of the Derby school bond projects having been completed, Burke Jones, Derby Public Schools Director of Operations proposed some additional projects to the Board of Education. Those ideas centered on how to spend the remaining $2 million of school bond money. At the Feb. 7 meeting, Jones told board members the $2 million are reserves that were held back to be available in the event any unforeseen expenses may have occurred with previous projects. “We have about $2 million in the bond funds remaining. Some of the projects we have been discussing in the last two years, we can now talk about,” Jones said.
Source: Derby Informer | News
Pottawatomie County moves forward to force clean up of property near St. George
Pottawatomie County commissioners are submitting paperwork to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment toward cleaning up some waste build up on a property near St. George. County Sanitarian Scott Schwinn told commissioners Monday he’s received complaints about the property and says efforts to have the property owners clean up the debris have been unsuccessful. “Ultimately, they declined to clean it up. The county is going to be on the hook for cleaning it up and we will be reimbursed up to $10,000 for that,” he said. Anything above that $10,000 threshold will be the county’s responsibility.
Source: 1350 KMAN
U.S. 10-year yield rises above 2% after Bullard says Fed needs to act faster to fight inflation
U.S. Treasury yields were steady on Monday with investors evaluated safe-haven assets amid the escalated geopolitical tensions between Russia and Ukraine. The yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note was flat at 1.961% at around 8 a.m. ET. The benchmark 10-year rate hit the 2% level last week following the hottest inflation reading in four decades. The yield on the 30-year Treasury bond, meanwhile, was steady at 2.261%. Yields move inversely to prices and a basis point equals 0.01%. Yields were lower earlier but came back following comments from Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov to Vladimir Putin that appeared to suggest Russia would continue talks with EU and NATO over Ukraine.
Source: CNBC – Bonds
A new wave of major Kansas City area school districts dropping COVID mask mandates
A new wave of school districts throughout the Kansas City metro this week dropped mask mandates as COVID-19 cases fall. They include the Blue Valley and Shawnee Mission districts in Johnson County and the Independence and North Kansas City districts in Missouri. The decisions come as school officials expect both the Johnson County Board of Commissioners and the City Council of Kansas City to let their school mask orders expire. In Johnson County, the board at its meeting on Thursday is expected to consider whether to end its health order mandating masks in all schools that serve students as old as sixth grade. The Gardner Edgerton school district last week already decided to drop its mask mandate in all schools, starting on Monday.
Source: Joco 913 News
Wildfires fanned by high winds force evacuations in Reno, Butler counties
Grass wildfires in both Reno and Butler county have triggered evacuations as authorities work to contain the spread, according to social media posts. Butler County Emergency Communications says there is fire in the area of northwest Highway 196 and northwest 10th. They are asking people to avoid the area. In Reno County, the Hutchinson Fire Department is working a large grass fire in the area east of Hutchinson south of 30th Street and Obee. Traffic is being blocked on 30th to allow fire crews to fight and contain the spread. People are advised to evacuate the area.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
Former water plant site eyed for development
Two separate entities have expressed interest in the vacant lot at 513 W. Washington Ave., the former site of the Arkansas City water treatment plant. During a city commission work session Friday, City Manager Randy Frazer said that he had been approached by local contractor Brandon Jellings about the possibility of putting up housing on that site. Cowley College President Dennis Rittle had also expressed interest. Frazer said that he recently met with Jellings to tour the property and explain a few of its drawbacks. Old water tanks and other types of debris had been buried on site after demolition.
Source: The Arkansas City Traveler
Park board OKs private management of Wichita’s public golf system; council vote to come
Wichita is one step closer to privatizing management of its public golf courses after back-to-back profitable years. The city’s park board on Monday gave its stamp of approval to a five-year agreement that would shift management of the city’s golf system to an out-of-state private company. Wichita city government would retain ownership of its four golf courses and pay Kemper Sports Management $200,000 a year to manage them. The city would be responsible for any losses.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
Iola schools to be converted into apartments
Iola got a sweetheart deal on Valentine’s Day, as school board members learned a Kansas City company wants to convert all three of its elementary schools into housing, an investment worth about $20 million. At a meeting Monday, school board members voted to pursue an agreement with BNIM, an architecture and design firm based in Kansas City, Mo. Under the deal, BNIM would partner with two other entities to secure financing including tax credits for low-income housing and historic preservation. They would remodel all three elementary schools in three phases: Jefferson and McKinley Elementary schools would be renovated to create 39 apartments in the first phase; Lincoln would be converted into 22 apartments in the second phase; In the third phase, they would build single-family homes, duplexes and possibly quad-plexes on land surrounding the schools, such as areas currently used for parking lots or playgrounds.
Source: The Iola Register
Dawn Johnson named superintendent of Hutchinson Schools
The USD 308 Board of Education voted in Dawn Johnson, Ph.D., as Hutchinson Public Schools’ new superintendent upon the retirement of current superintendent, Mike Folks…. “While a global search was possible, the Board is confident it found the most qualified candidate in Dr. Johnson. Her understanding of the Kansas education landscape, her expertise and experience in multiple areas of administration and teaching are proven qualities. We look forward to working with Dr. Johnson as our next USD 308 Superintendent,” said Board President Greg Meredith. Johnson has more than 30 years of experience in education. She earned her doctorate in education from Wichita State University and holds two master’s degrees. Before coming to USD 308, Johnson served as principal in USD 444 Little River/Windom for six years and superintendent of USD 309 Nickerson/South Hutchinson from 2016-2021. Earlier in her career, Johnson taught high school English.
Source: Hutch News
Municipal Bond Trends for February 14, 2022
The interest rate table above illustrates recent changes in a sample of MBIS “investment grade” yields. Every issuer’s credit is different. For rates that may be applicable to your municipality, contact our Municipal Bond Advisors, Larry Kleeman and Beth Warren.
Counties press for expanded use of pandemic funds
County leaders should keep the heat on the House to pass a bill that allows for more flexibility with pandemic relief funds. That was the message Texas Republican Sen. John Cornyn delivered Monday to the National Association of Counties during its 2022 legislative conference in Washington. Cornyn is one of several D.C. lawmakers and officials to appear at the conference, with President Joe Biden set to speak Tuesday. U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg joined Monday to highlight ways that federal dollars in the $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act can flow more quickly to counties.
Source: The Bond Buyer
Total crimes in Paola dropped substantially in 2021
The Paola Police Department has released its year-end statistics for 2021, and the total reported criminal offenses decreased from 585 in 2020 to 421 in 2021. That’s a decrease of 28 percent in total crimes. The police department announced more good news in its year-end report, as the overall crime clearance rate increased from 69 to 77 percent, which is well above the national average.
Source: Local News | republic-online.com
Hundreds of small Midwestern towns passed on federal COVID money rather than fight red tape
The question caught Mark Gentert off guard. Had the village of Holstein, Nebraska, gotten its COVID relief money from the federal government yet? What COVID relief money? After all, it’s a town of just 200 people. “So I contacted my clerk and she said she hadn’t gotten the paperwork in and we lost our shot at it,” said Gentert, who was Holstein’s chairman at the time. “And I’m like ‘Oh, really?’” The town had missed out on a little over $42,000. It’s a problem many small towns ran into when the federal government offered almost $20 billion to small communities for pandemic recovery. With tiny populations and limited resources, many towns found the money to be more of a headache than a lifeline and decided to not pursue the funds.
Source: KCUR News
Elkhart has Super Bowl watch party for Kansas coach
Did you know that Darrin Simmons, the assistant head coach and special teams coordinator for the Cincinnati Bengals, is from the small town of Elkhart, Kansas? Some Elkhart residents say the Cincinnati Bengals special teams coach had an amazing ride this year getting to the Super Bowl. “Sometimes, when people leave a small town, they tend to forget where they came from,” said Mica Nave, as she organized a Super Bowl watch party in Elkhart on Sunday. “And this is one guy that, Elkhart is his home. He’s proud to say that, and he’s never forgotten where he came from.”
Source: KSN-TV
No more overdue fines? Wichita Public Library board considers eliminating them
Roughly 44,000 Wichita Public Library card-holders are blocked from checking out books because they owe more than $10 in fees. The library’s board of directors is considering a proposal that would do away with overdue fines on books and other items in a move aimed at making city libraries more equitable. Library Director Jaime Prothro said she thinks wiping out library debt, which has become a nationwide trend, would encourage wayward readers to revisit the library collection without stress or shame.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
How will Wichita recruit and select its next police chief? Community input promised
Wichita City Manager Robert Layton is ultimately responsible for hiring the city’s next police chief. He already has basic ideal-candidate criteria in mind. But he says what the community wants will also shape his opinion. With current Police Chief Gordon Ramsay out on March 1, the city is gearing up to find his replacement. The last time Wichita searched for a police chief, in 2014, finding the right person for the job took over a year.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
Lawrence school board consensus: No school closures this year
The Lawrence school board, partway through a Monday evening budget work session, decided to take school closures off the table. Board members gave a general consensus that at this time, and with the school closures that have been proposed, no schools should be closed as soon as the 2022-23 school year. Though some board members said they might consider closures down the road, but not with the tight timeline in which they would need to make those decisions to go into effect for the fall. The district faces a $3.2 to $3.85 million budget shortfall. School district committee members, staff and board members have been working for months to determine how to make cuts to reach a balanced budget by July 1.
Source: The Lawrence Times
Fed’s Bullard says the central bank’s ‘credibility is on the line,’ needs to ‘front-load’ rate hikes
St. Louis Federal Reserve President James Bullard made his case for a rapid move higher in interest rates, saying Monday that the central bank needs to react to accelerating inflation. “I do think we need to front-load more of our planned removal of accommodation than we would have previously. We’ve been surprised to the upside on inflation. This is a lot of inflation,” Bullard told CNBC’s Steve Liesman during a “Squawk Box” interview. “Our credibility is on the line here and we do have to react to the data,” he added. “However, I do think we can do it in a way that’s organized and not disruptive to markets.”
Source: CNBC – Bonds
Broadband leaders tout initiatives, programs
Kansas state broadband leaders say federal and state funding established last year to improve connectivity across the state helped support nearly 100 projects, and they are optimistic additional funds are on the way. During the pandemic, the SPARK task force earmarked $60 million in CARES Act funding for two broadband grant programs related to the pandemic response. Connectivity Emergency Response Grants totaling $50 million are funding a total of 65 projects across the state and 25 Broadband Partnership Adoption Grants totaling $10 million helped facilitate internet access for low-income households, defraying internet subscription costs, funded hot spots, and provided devices to eligible households. Stanley Adams, who leads the broadband development office at the Kansas Department of Commerce, said the programs are having a positive impact on communities.
Source: The Iola Register
Riley County appraiser analyst says home values up 7% from 2021
A Riley County appraiser analyst says the average home valuation has increased more than 7% in the last year. Allen Todd spoke to Riley County commissioners on Monday to discuss the local real estate market. He told The Mercury the average valuation for existing single family homes in Riley County increased 7.21% between 2021 and 2022. He said the increase in Manhattan is 7.43%. Meanwhile, the average valuation for single-family homes in Riley County is $229,682. The average in Manhattan is $244,865.
Source: themercury.com
South Hutchinson warns drivers to slow down
With continuing concerns about the safety of the U.S. 50 interchange in South Hutchinson, the city council this week agreed with a city manager recommendation that speeds in the area “be more aggressively enforced.” City Manager Joseph Turner also told the council Monday that he’s planning an “exhaustive review” of police, fire and municipal court operations, with the intent of offering future recommendations. The council previously identified public safety as one of its top issues to address in the community, Turner said, thus the review.
Source: Hutch News
When Kansas police use license plate readers, should data collected be public record?
Kansas crime-fighters are using license plate readers to collect vehicle data, and they want lawmakers to block the release of that data to the public. Law enforcement organizations argue the bill would protect data privacy, but they also indicate the issue came to a head as part of a desire to avoid filling open records requests. “It will protect this license plate data from the open records requests,” lobbyist Ed Klumpp said of the proposed legislation. “And it will protect that data and protect the people whose data we have.” Klumpp requested Senate Bill 434 on behalf of the Kansas Association of Chiefs of Police, Kansas Sheriffs Association and Kansas Peace Officers Association. He told the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday that law enforcement want to protect citizens from crime. Senators passed the bill out of committee favorably on Friday.
Source: CJonline
JOCO Commission, De Soto discuss Sunflower Ammunition Plant
Johnson County Board of Commissioners approved the City of DeSoto’s request for creating a TIF District on the former Sunflower Ammunition Plant property.
The vote passed 5 to 2 with commissioners Michael Ashcraft and Charlotte O’Hara dissenting. Ashcraft said he was struggling with the proposed TIF district only containing 6,000 of the 9,000 acre property and wanted to know how it will impact future cleanup and regrowth of the site. Ed Eilert, county chairman, said the 6,000 acres of the property were in the city limits of DeSoto, but they didn’t have authority over the other 3,000 acres. “The Army is still active, and we have to wait the Army’s action,” he said. “It will stay within the county.”
Source: Gardner News
USD 231 names interim superintendent
James A. Sutton was approved as the new interim superintendent for Gardner-Edgerton School District USD 231 at the February 7 school board meeting. Sutton will serve as the interim superintendent effective immediately until June 30, 2022. The unanimous decision by board members was made after over an hour of executive session. “I am nothing but excited about coming to USD 231 and assisting the rest of the fiscal year helping out to do what I can,” he said. Sutton said he had listened to quite a few different perspectives where the district was currently at and planning on going. “As mentioned there are so many parallels in my 28 years as super as to what the needs of the district are,” he said. “I’m impressed how resolved the board is on working together when it is ripe for polarization.”
Source: Gardner News
Sales tax collection continues to climb in Hillsboro
The Hillsboro City Council heard in their meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 1 that sales tax is continuing the strong upward trend from 2021. “Sales tax collection in 2022 has started off 25% higher than January 2021. In total we received $75,552.83 in January for sales in December 2021,” said Hillsboro City Administrator Matt Stiles. Stiles gave the council an update on the proposed shipping container housing on 3rd Street. The council heard public concerns about the project at the Jan. 18 council meeting. The project was referred back to the Planning Commission for further discussion.
Source: Hillsboro Free Press
Dept. of Southeast Kansas is granting millions of dollars to improve the communities
Across Kansas, rural communities will soon be receiving some help with their infrastructure, and for some this couldn’t have come at a better time. “It’s something we’ve been looking at for a while. We’ve been working on it for some time trying to figure out,” said Mickey Pyle, Mayor of Girard. 40 communities across Kansas were announced as the recipients of the 2022 Community Development Block Grants. “The Department of Commerce in Kansas has grant money they give out. A lot of its infrastructure or improvements in the city.” $17.6 million will be helping the state improve public safety, infrastructure, and economic opportunity. Over 2-million of that will be going towards southeast Kansas.
Source: KSNF/KODE
What Wichita City Council members, mayor are looking for in next police chief
Here are the qualities, background and priorities the Wichita City Council members who answered a five-question survey from The Wichita Eagle say the city’s new police chief should have. The city has already solicited proposals from consulting firm, paving the way for a national search to begin after current chief Gordon Ramsay leaves on March 1. What background and qualities do you think Wichita’s next police chief should have? Obviously, we’re looking for someone who has really the dedication and the professional experience to take on such a key a role. And in addition to a stellar resume of education and professional experience, really it’s going to be important to find someone who has that community policing mentality and also a track record of building bridges within the community that go both ways.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle