Kansas Municipal News
Axtell grocery store meeting slated Feb. 16
A community meeting to discuss the possibilities of a new grocery store in Axtell is set for 7 p.m. Feb. 16 at the Axtell American Legion. Topics will include a recap of the work completed to date, a vision of the community steering committee and discussion of investor opportunities. … A grocery store steering committee consists of members from Axtell Economic Development Corporation and members from the Axtell community. The committee was formed to gather information on how to get another grocery store in Axtell.
Source: The Marysville Advocate
Small voter turnout imposes 1/2 cent countywide sales tax to build new Osage County jail
Osage County voters approved a countywide 1/2 cent sales tax in Tuesday’s election, which is proposed to pay for design, construction, and furnishing costs, and the first years’ payments on a 35-year bond, for a $20 million detention center and law enforcement center. With a vote of 1,149 yes votes to 505 no votes, the sales tax will go into effect July 1, 2022, to pay for the construction and startup costs of the proposed $20,295,000 facility.
Source: Osage County News
Municipal Bond Trends for February 8, 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.
Amy Finch is Atchison’s Next City Manager
The City Commission is pleased to announce Amy Finch as Atchison’s next City Manager. The one-year contract hiring Ms. Finch was approved at the February 7th City Commission meeting and she is expected to begin her duties on April 4, 2022. Finch, originally from Ottawa, Kansas, is coming to Atchison from her current position as City Administrator for Crookston, Minnesota. Finch is a graduate of Ottawa University and has a Master’s in Public Administration from Wichita State University. “It is my honor to serve as Atchison’s next City Manager and be part of the team that has achieved so much success and continued momentum,” said Finch. “I am happy to get back home to Kansas after spending some time in Minnesota. We will work hard to achieve a smooth transition and keep moving forward. I look forward to meeting the citizens of Atchison over the next few months.“
Source: City of Atchison
Sensory overload: Overstimulated people can check out room in OP Convention Center
Going to a trade show or convention can be fun and exciting, but for many people, the environment can also be overwhelming. That’s why the Overland Park Convention Center recently installed a sensory room to help. The room opened Jan. 21. A sensory room usually is more quiet and has different lighting, along with various fidget activities that can help stem issues people have when their senses are overstimulated. People with autism, PTSD, attention deficit disorder, dementia and other conditions can experience this in places that are crowded, noisy and have bright lighting.
Source: Joco 913 News
Ark City Downtown Visioning
More than 50 people showed up at the Burford Theatre on Saturday to voice ideas for the revitalization of downtown Arkansas City. The brainstorming session was conducted by students and instructors from Kansas State University and the South Dakota State University. After a brief introduction, the participants broke up into several small group sessions to exchange ideas. The students, who are majoring in landscape architecture, interior and graphic design, served as facilitators and will use those suggestions and their own observations to create visual renderings that illustrate future possibilities.
Source: The Arkansas City Traveler
Local hospitals say capacity crisis has eased
Officials at both local hospitals in Cowley County said their capacity issues have improved since late January, when they appealed to the public for help alleviating packed emergency and ICU departments. Sarah Johnson, spokesperson for William Newton Hospital in Winfield, said officials have seen a drop in COVID activity and the facility’s capacity problems had diminished, at least for this week. “We are seeing significant improvements,” Johnson said. As of Monday, the hospital had no COVID-positive inpatients. There was one COVID-related death last week, Johnson said, and a patient is recovering in the hospital after a COVID infection.
Source: Cowley CourierTraveler
Scooter and e-bike company Bird will flock to Overland Park this spring
A flock of electric scooters and bicycles will offer Overland Park residents a new way to fly around town starting as soon as early March. The popular scooter and bikeshare company Bird inked a two-year deal with the city this week to offer a fleet of its small, electric shared vehicles across Overland Park as a trendy alternative for residents hoping to zip around town without a car. The scooters and electric bikes are fun to ride, but city officials also hope they can offer residents or students without a car the opportunity to get around town more easily and cheaply, while also reducing at least some traffic and its associated pollution.
Source: Joco 913 News
USD 232 school board may urge county to lift mask mandate for K-6 schools
As COVID-19 cases trend downward in Johnson County, USD 232 school board members in De Soto may ask the county to lift a public health order mandating masks be worn in all school buildings serving students up to and including 6th grade. At the school board’s meeting Monday night, most board members expressed interest in each writing letters to the Johnson County Board of County Commissioners asking them to remove the school mask requirement for younger grades. The board of county commissioners is set to revisit the mask order at its regular meeting on Thursday, Feb. 17.
Source: Prairie Village Post
Douglas County Considering New Mask Mandate
The Douglas County Commission will consider a new emergency public health order during its meeting Wednesday. The new order would require individuals to wear face coverings at indoor gatherings in which 500 or more individuals are in attendance in a single space. That would include concerts, sporting events, trade shows, or conventions. Local health officers are recommending the new order specific to large crowds to help prevent spread of COVID-19 in Douglas County where cases and hospitalizations continue to be high, putting a strain on staffing in schools and the healthcare system. If approved, the public health order would start Thursday, and remain in effect until March 9th unless otherwise rescinded or modified by County Commissioners.
Source: WIBW News Now
Municipal Bond Trends for February 7, 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.
Seven hikes? Fast-rising wages could cause the Fed to raise interest rates even higher this year
Too much of a good thing, in the form of rapidly rising wages, is expected to push Federal Reserve interest rate hikes at an even faster pace. Average hourly earnings jumped 0.7% in January and are now running at a 5.7% pace over the past 12 months, according to Labor Department data released Friday. Excepting a two-month period during the early days of the pandemic, that is by a wide margin the fastest-ever move in data going back to March 2007. While that has come as welcome news to workers, it’s posed a further quandary for the Fed, which increasingly is being seen as falling behind in terms of policy and having to catch up to inflation that is running at its fastest pace in nearly 40 years.
Source: CNBC – Bonds
How Butler County was impacted by the early Feb. 2022 winter storm
The last few days have been cold and snowy in south-central Kansas and it has left a small impact on the communities. Schools, services, and businesses were closed, then the roadways have felt like an adventure. The good news is that the winter storm has passed and some good weather is on the way. We could return into the 40s and 50s, then have sunny conditions, but here is what the winter storm caused through Wednesday, Feb. 2 through Friday, Feb. 4.
Source: Andover American
The history behind the brick roads in Fort Scott
In 1952, Fort Scott was referred to as the city of brick streets because it had more brick streets per capita than any other city in the US. These bricks are a source of pride for the community, and they’re something people have been fighting to protect for decades. “We are a historic community, they provide an ambiance, a look that a lot of cities don’t have,” says Matthew Wells, Fort Scott City Commissioner, “We bill ourselves as historic Fort Scott, Kansas, and the brick streets only enhance that.” … Work on them began back in the 1880’s using a unique clay native to the area.
Source: KSNF/KODE
Neighbors raise concern over Shawnee County sand extraction operation
A Topeka-based company will now be able to operate a sand dredging pit near a local township. On Monday, Shawnee County commissioners held a public hearing regarding plans for a sand extraction operation site in Tecumseh. At the meeting, people voiced their concerns over the proposed project that will allow sand extraction. … Those from the area expressed worry about potential air and noise pollution, road erosion, and traffic concerns. Following the public hearing, commissioners made a handful of amendments to the proposal, including updates to requested fencing and limiting hours of operation. Planning Department Director Randy Anderson noted if negative issues come to the commission through Public Works or the Township, an investigation will be done. That information will be brought to the commissioners for action.
Source: KSNT News
FedEx Ground distribution center comes to Pittsburg
FedEx is building a new distribution center in Pittsburg, Kansas. The City of Pittsburg and Pittsburg Area Chamber of Commerce made the announcement today. Officials expect the center to open this fall. Crews are building the 250,000 square-foot FedEx Ground facility next to Kansas Crossing Casino. The new distribution facility is slated to open in October of 2022. “The new FedEx Ground distribution center is a tremendous development for Pittsburg, the region and our state,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “I am so grateful for the collaboration between the Kansas Department of Commerce and the Kansas Department of Transportation in support of FedEx Ground’s fast-moving investment plans. Completion of the four-lane U.S. 69 highway expansion to Pittsburg was a critical part of this business investment and growth of our economic development capacity in Southeast Kansas and our state.”
Source: KOAMKOAM
Neosho County Community College receives grant from the USDA
The Neosho County Community College has received a $745,000 grant from the USDA. They were one of several agencies in Kansas to receive a grant, but they received the most money for their project, which is the new Mitchell Career and Technology Center. President Brian Inbody says it will open the door to several new opportunities. “It’ll bring up to eight new programs to the area, on day one it’ll have six programs located there, aerostructures, for building airplane parts, industrial maintenance technology for installing equipment in factories, welding, construction, electrical and HVAC.”
Source: KOAMKOAM
Sunflower Electric plans large solar project in Russell County
On Monday morning, Sunflower Electric Power Corporation filed an application for a solar project in Russell County. The Sunflower Electric Solar @ Russell project would be a 20-megawatt solar farm located on 240 acres three miles east of Russell in north-central Kansas. … The project would be Sunflower’s second solar development. The company already has the 20-MW Johnson Corner Solar Project in Stanton County in southwest Kansas. It has been in operation since April 2020. Sunflower says the Johnson Corner Solar Project is the largest operating solar facility in the state. The Russell project would match its size with approximately 75,000 solar panels on single-axis tracking.
Source: KSN-TV
Kansas bill would allow firework sales year-round
Kansas lawmakers are considering a bill that would allow firework sales year-round, a move that could help small businesses and the state’s coffers collect more revenue. … Kyle Hamilton, an assistant revisor of statutes, said current law authorizes the State Fire Marshal to designate the annual firework season through rules and regulations. The existing season is June 27 and ends July 5. The bill “would override that current regulation,” Hamilton said. “The new language would define firework season for seasonal retailers as June 15 through July 6, and for annual retailers as Jan. 1 through Dec. 31.” … The bill also allows cities and counties to prohibit all fireworks sales. They also can establish a fireworks season different from the dates that would be codified in state statute.
Source: CJonline
Hutchinson’s Crisis Team is making a difference
Most people would do anything to avoid a crisis. Officer Trevor Nobbs runs toward them. Nobbs, 28, serves as the Hutchinson Police Department’s representative on a Crisis Response Team, responding to calls when officers believe a person is suffering from a mental health crisis. He works with Shanon Brandon of Mirror Inc., and Rebeca Sandoval, a private clinical social worker. While it has only been in operation for nine months, the team has had a measurable impact in Hutchinson and on the department, said Hutchinson Police Chief Jeff Hooper, who presented a report on the team’s first nine months of operation to the Hutchinson City Council last week.
Source: Hutch News
Saline County using technology to help track its snow-removal
After snow fell across much of the country this week, people were able to see if roads in Saline County were cleared by county crews before they ventured outdoors. In October of 2021, Saline County Road and Bridge installed technology that tracks the location of its snow-removal fleet. With the new technology comes the use of SnowPaths, a fleet-tracking tool that can be useful for residents hoping to know what the status of roads may be. “It allows for the citizens to see where our snowplows and motor graders have been during snow-removal events,” said Darren Fishel, the county road and bridge administrator. “That way, they can judge whether their road has been cleared or not.”
Source: Salina Journal
Economic Outlook presenters upbeat for Reno County despite challenges
Presenters at an Economic Outlook Conference in Hutchinson Wednesday described as “bullish” and “optimistic” the short-term outlook for Reno County and the region, thanks in part to nearly full employment and pent-up demand. While there are no quick fixes to many of the challenges that local businesses and the community seem to perpetually deal with in attracting or expanding businesses – including housing and childcare – the community continues working to figure out how to handle with them. But finding workers — one of the problems most oft-cited by local employers and which recently has become acute — is something business owners need to “look in the mirror” to address, said Hutchinson / Reno County Chamber of Commerce President Debra Teufel.
Source: Hutch News
Kansas’ largest pizza manufacturer is expanding, bringing hundreds of jobs and boosting state economy
One of Salina’s largest industries is expanding. Along with bringing more jobs to central Kansas, this expansion will have a ripple effect throughout the Sunflower State. Schwan’s Company buys flour from Kansas mills, sausage from Tyson in Hutchinson and packaging supplies from a vendor in the Kansas City, Kansas area. By increasing the company’s footprint in Salina, they are increasing goods that they already buy from vendors in Kansas. The pizza’s coming out of the Salina plant, Tony’s and Red Barron, are ranked second in the U.S. frozen-pizza market and first for school pizza.
Source: Salina Journal
Court to decide if law protects officer who aimed at dog but shot girl
The Kansas Supreme Court will rule whether the state’s “stand-your-ground” law protects a fired Wichita police officer who claimed self-defense immunity after shooting a girl when aiming for a dog. The ruling is likely to have wide ramifications, both for potential prosecutions in police use-of-force cases and for any situation where a shooter can claim they feared for their safety. Lower court rulings in favor of the officer have already been used as reasons not to charge other law enforcement officers in use-of-force cases.
Source: CJonline
Municipal Bond Trends for February 4, 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.
Sunflower Ammo redevelopment plan survives challenge from Johnson County leader
The latest plans to redevelop the former Sunflower Army Ammunition Plant into a massive new industrial business center survived a challenge this week from one Johnson County leader critical of a major tax incentive component of the project. The vote by a majority of the Board of County Commissioners on Thursday to support the project effectively clears the path for a series of construction and tax incentive plans to advance this spring, which officials hope will bring the first substantial construction at the contaminated former U.S. Army site since it made rocket propellant during the war in Vietnam. The new plans, led by the city of De Soto and the Sunflower Redevelopment company, envision bringing 10 million square feet of new industrial and light manufacturing space to thousands of acres on the site that are poised to receive their final environmental cleanup certifications this year.
Source: KC Star Local News
Fed could hike at all seven remaining meetings this year, Summers says
Former U.S. Treasury Secretary Lawrence Summers said investors need to brace for the Federal Reserve to potentially raise interest rates at all seven remaining policy meetings this year and even for it to hike by more than a quarter point in one go. “Markets have to be prepared for a rate hike in every meeting and they have to be prepared for the possibility that, as the inflation process continues, we might need to have meetings with more than a single 25 basis point rate hike,” Summers told Bloomberg Television Friday. The Fed is “behind the curve” and anyone not open to considering that policy makers will boost rates at consecutive meetings through year-end is “underestimating the range of possibilities,” said Summers, a Harvard University professor and paid contributor to Bloomberg.
Source: The Bond Buyer
City Administrator reflects on Humboldt gas crisis as anniversary approaches
The fallout from a crippling ice storm last February had far-reaching ramifications for the city of Humboldt. As a result of wind chill warnings and stress to natural utility lines, Kansas Governor Laura Kelly declared a State of Disaster Emergency last Feb. 14. Eight days later, the Humboldt City Council declared a State of Financial Emergency. The city’s bill for the month of February soared to $1.6 million, dwarfing its monthly projected budget of $35,000 – as well as the $375,000 annual budget. The Kansas legislature ultimately passed legislation bailing out a number of municipalities that experienced the gas price crunch. Had it not been for the legislation, Humboldt was eying imminent bankruptcy. The $1.5 million loan received from the state is to be paid over a 10-year period at a fixed .25 percent interest rate, and has increased gas rates by approximately $2 per unit. Humboldt City Administrator Cole Herder said that the winter snowstorm that swept through this week did not remotely compare to the drastic events of last February. Even if the city had not been slammed by the 2021 ice storm, Herder said citizens would still be faced with rising gas bills.
Source: Derby Informer
Labette Co. leaders look to restore economic recovery to pre-covid conditions
It’s a time of economic recovery across Kansas. But while some have returned to pre-pandemic conditions, others haven’t. It’s getting close in Labette County, and now officials are looking at the final steps to continue the comeback. “Reports show that Parsons and Labette County are right, almost where we were pre-COVID,” said Jim Zaleski, Parsons Economic Development Director. While unemployment may have jumped to almost 9% in Labette County at the start of the pandemic, it’s almost back to normal, now sitting at around three and a half percent according to Wichita State University.
Source: KSNF/KODE
New plans for Mission Gateway aim to restart long-troubled project from ‘square one’
A new plan aims to jump start the long-troubled Mission Gateway development a month after it missed a critical construction milestone, forcing its developers back to “some version of square one” almost 16 years after the project first began. Should Mission city leaders agree to pursue the newest iteration of the long-running redevelopment plan this spring, developer Tom Valenti suggested construction could resume as soon as the beginning of 2023 — almost three years after work stopped on the property. But city officials frustrated by years of false starts appeared to remain skeptical during Valenti’s first pitch of the new version of the project this week.
Source: KC Star Local News
Riley County appraiser says home values could increase 10% to 14%
Riley County appraisers say single-family homes in Manhattan and immediate surrounding areas could see a 10% to 14% increase in their taxable property values this year. Riley County Appraiser Greg McHenry told The Mercury on Friday about the potential level of increases. He said the housing supply is not meeting the demand in Manhattan, and residents are willing to pay more for a home. McHenry on Thursday updated the county commission on the local real estate market. County appraisers annually provides new valuations for all properties.
Source: themercury.com
USD 383 looking for input on budget plan for $7.25 million federal grant
USD 383 is seeking public input on a budget plan for millions of dollars of federal funding coming to the district. The Manhattan-Ogden school district was allocated over $7.25 million by Congress in March of 2021 intended to help elementary and secondary schools respond to the COVID-19 pandemic in various ways. This is the third round of Elementary and Secondary School Emergency (ESSER III) funds distributed since 2020, provided this time as part of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). USD 383 previously received over $812,000 through the CARES Act and over $3.2 million as part of the CRRSA Act. “The ESSER III award is a substantial amount of money that we’re working on trying to get feedback from community to build a budget plan for those moneys,” USD 383 Director of Business Services Lew Faust said on KMAN’s In Focus Friday.
Source: 1350 KMAN
Kansas provides $2M for electric vehicle charging stations
Kansas has awarded $2 million in grants to the operators of travel centers on Interstate 70 and the Kansas Turnpike to install charging stations for electric vehicles. The state Department of Transportation announced grants Friday for stations in seven locations. The grants are financed with funds from legal settlements with German automaker Volkswagen Corp. over its admission in 2015 that diesel-engine cars were programmed to turn on emissions controls during government lab tests and turn them off while on the road. The department said the grants were designed to put charging stations along the state’s most-traveled highways.
Source: Andover American
Hillsboro experienced a record-breaking sales tax numbers
Hillsboro experienced a record-breaking tax income with December’s sales tax, according to Hillsboro City Administrator Matt Stiles in the Hillsboro City Council meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 4. Stiles said they do not know the exact reasons for the month’s collections of $872,024.52, which was 23 percent higher than 2020 and 47 percent than the rolling five-year average. “There could be any number of reasons. Car sales were high, and we also have new businesses doing well with The Building Center and bomgaars,” said Stiles. Mayor Lou Thurston added, “And frankly all of our businesses do a really good job and work hard so it could be a combination of it all.”
Source: Hillsboro Free Press
JCDHE works with City of Mission to improve recycling, decrease contamination
Johnson County Department of Health and Environment is partnering with the City of Mission and GFL Environmental (trash and recycling hauler) to provide recycling education to reduce contamination and improve recycling habits as part of the “Recycle Right” campaign. On Monday, Feb. 7, JCDHE’s recycling specialists will be walking through neighborhoods in Mission, assessing the contents of recycle bins. If non-recyclable items are found, feedback offering tips on ways to improve their recycling will be left on the bin. The first area to be observed will be the part of the city that has a Monday recycling collection.
Source: Johnson County Kansas |
Lenexa police officer helps deliver baby
Police find themselves in all kinds of emergency situations. Even so, what happened on Interstate 35 early Thursday morning is something a Lenexa police officer will likely always remember. Officers responded to a QuikTrip at I-35 and 95th Street around 12:15 a.m. When they arrived they found a woman in labor. Her husband had been driving her to the hospital, but they weren’t going to make it before the baby arrived. A 15-year veteran of the police force helped the woman deliver the baby in the family’s car before paramedics arrived. “And units responding to 95 and Lenexa Drive, your baby has been delivered,” dispatchers were heard saying on audio shared through Broadcastify. Mom and baby are now resting at a hospital and Lenexa police said they are doing well.
Source: KSN-TV
Osawatomie reestablishes tourism committee
A big box store may not be in Osawatomie’s future. But city officials agreed tourism can play a larger role in driving Osawatomie’s economy. With that in mind, the city has reestablished the Osawatomie Tourism Committee in part to promote signature events designed to draw people to the community. The city is seeking applicants for the newly reformed tourism committee, which was originally established in 2013 but has been dormant for some time. The city is accepting applications through Wednesday, Feb. 9. See the city’s website www.osawtomieks.org for more information and details about how to apply.
Source: Local News | republic-online.com
Chanute tourism board continues work on proposed mini golf course
Members of the Chanute Chamber Tourism Committee discussed proposals for a downtown mural and miniature golf course at Friday’s monthly meeting. The discussion continued plans to apply for grant funding for a miniature golf course along the hike-bike path near the Chanute Public Library and the Martin and Osa Johnson Safari Museum. The Chanute City Commission has approved $13,200 for design work on the course, to be paid from the Transient Guest Tax fund. The deadline is March 11 to apply for Tourism Attraction Sub-grants for Kansas program funding. New member Nancy Isaac, who is a city appointment to the committee, said she went through the miniature golf course on the grounds of the Nelson-Atkins Art Museum in Kansas City and later contacted a Kansas City builder who referred her to an architect who was involved in that project. Two potential contractors on the project visited Chanute in November.
Source: The Chanute Tribune
Two Columbus students start composting programs in Cherokee County
Two Columbus High School seniors who aren’t afraid of getting their hands dirty to protect the environment have helped launch an effort to implement composting programs on campus and throughout Cherokee County. Emily Welch, 17, and Casey Soper, 18, have been composting at home with small containers since the onset of the pandemic, but they felt like they needed to step it up a notch. Now, they’re encouraging others to do the same. “Last year, I did a majority of the greenhouse work for my ag class,” said Welch. “I had started putting the plant scraps into a bucket and thought why don’t I just turn this into soil? Then, I did that, but with food scraps, there’s more nutrients. With this composter, we’ll be able to use the soil in the school’s greenhouse.”
Source: www.joplinglobe.com
Scott City ‘port’ will expand rail import, export opportunities for region
Why would Scott City be the destination for fertilizer from Russia and grain from North Dakota? The bigger question, asks Michael Deines, is, “Why not?” The local businessman and his partner, Woodrow Fanning, have a shared vision of making Scott City a regional trade hub with construction of additional railroad and warehouse facilities over the next year. Those plans are quickly moving from the drawing board to reality. “Even as we speak, our first shipment of fertilizer is being loaded in Russia,” Deines said on Tuesday afternoon. After being off-loaded in Texas, about 45 days from now that shipment will be arriving in Scott City. This is just the beginning, says Deines, who says this project has been in the works for six years.
Source: Scott County Record
Cities open to hiring non-residents to fill jobs
Arkansas City commissioners unanimously approved an ordinance this week that will allow the city to employ outside residents. City Attorney Larry Schwartz said the ordinance will exempt the city from a state statute that requires individuals appointed to a city office to live within a two-mile radius of the city. “We are asking and recommending that you do away with that requirement,” he said. “We live in a different time and a different space.” Winfield City Manager Taggert Wall said Thursday that Winfield has the same exemption in place and does have several nonresident employees.
Source: Cowley CourierTraveler
Andover helps KDOT clear icy roads on US-400
Drivers who take US-400 on a daily basis say conditions on the road are the worst they’ve seen in years, and the Andover police chief said the department has responded to a jack-knifed semi, slide-offs and other crashes. “We’ve had about 12 cars that have either been an accident or have gone off the road,” said Chief Buck Buchanan…. The highway is maintained by the Kansas Department of Transportation. A spokesman said five trucks are assigned to that area, but those crews have other highways to get to as well. … The city of Andover posted this on social media: “While the highway is technically not our responsibility to maintain, we know our friends at KDOT are spread thin & short on drivers! At the request of @AndoverKSPD, we will focus on the portion of US 54/400 that falls within our city limits to get it in better shape!” Its crews were planning to step in and help get the highway in better shape.
Source: KSN-TV
Cherokee Co. program brings citizens necessities during hard times
Local law enforcement is braving the roadways to help out the community. The Cherokee County Sheriff’s office is offering free grocery and prescription pickup. Also known as “Cherokee County Cares,” the program started as a response to the lockdowns at the beginning of the pandemic. The department then formed partnerships with local pharmacies and grocery stores to help people get what they need.
Source: KSNF/KODE
Lawrence City Commission extends fast-track economic incentives program for business parks, other industrial property
Crediting it for helping spur recent additions at the city’s business parks, Lawrence city leaders have extended a fast-track economic incentives program. As part of its meeting Tuesday, the Lawrence City Commission voted unanimously to authorize an extension of the Catalyst Incentive Program for another three years, until April 1, 2025. … Under the program’s shortened review and approval process, companies bypass the city’s regular economic incentives policy requirements and the commission approves incentives directly. When the program was introduced, city staff and local economic development leaders argued that the city’s usual economic incentives policy could not accommodate companies that wanted to construct an industrial building “on speculation” before tenants were identified and job information was known.
Source: LJWorld.com
Lawrence plans to take legal action against what it considers a potentially unlicensed strip club
The City of Lawrence is preparing to take legal action against a local business that the city believes is operating without the license required for a sexually oriented entertainment business. Following an executive session Tuesday evening, the Lawrence City Commission voted unanimously to direct the city attorney to file the appropriate court documents to take action against Lawrence Entertainment LLC, doing business as Allstars, and related parties.
Source: LJWorld.com