Kansas Municipal News
Survey will help develop plans for Topeka’s arts and culture sector
What is iconic about Topeka? What are the city’s best-kept secrets? What is special and memorable about Topeka? Those are just a few of the questions ArtsConnect is asking in a recently released arts and culture survey. The survey will help the arts organization develop a plan aimed at offering creative solutions to strategic planning and give artists a seat at the table. … Sarah Fizell, executive director of ArtsConnect, said the creative plan isn’t meant to replace such existing plans as Momentum 2022 or the downtown master plan. Instead, it will complement and offer solutions to ideas within those plans. The arts and culture plan will create a pathway for Topeka’s arts and culture sector to continue growing.
Source: CJonline.com.
Douglas County Commission signals support for rural landowners’ request to divide property into residential lots
The Douglas County Commission is poised to allow two rural landowners to convert their 25 acres into residential lots. During their meeting on Wednesday, the commissioners directed county staff to prepare a resolution that would allow property owners Patrick Halpin and Erin Callahan-Halpin permission to divide the land into up to five residential lots. … To allow for the subdivision, the commissioners would need to rezone the land to “cluster preservation,” a zoning designation that allows nonagricultural residential development. Currently the land consists of two parcels; one is zoned as agricultural, or AG-1, and the other is zoned as transitional agricultural, or AG-2.
Source: LJWorld.com.
Municipal Bond Trends for July 1, 2021
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.
Spring Hill decides against new justice center after seeing price tag
Now that a study has been completed, the Spring Hill mayor says the city cannot afford a new justice center to house the police department and municipal court. City officials had hoped to go to voters for approval. “Unfortunately, the cost came in considerably higher than hoped and makes this project financially impractical at present,” Mayor Steven Ellis said in a letter to residents. The upside, Ellis said, is that the growing city now has an updated report outlining facility needs for law enforcement. When Spring Hill decides it can afford a justice center, he added, it won’t have to start planning from scratch.
Source: Joco 913 News
Labette County commission may face lawsuit over county attorney budget proposal
The Labette County attorney and county commissioners may end up in court over a budgeting disagreement. Labette County commissioners are reviewing budgets with department heads to meet a July 20 deadline to have budgets complete. Labette County Attorney Stephen Jones met with commissioners Tuesday. … Jones created a new position for one of his employees and wrote a job description for it. Because of that promotion, the other three employees in the office will take on different jobs and duties as well. These changes result in pay raises that exceed what commissioners directed. Jones said commissioners have the authority to set his budget. They lack the authority to tell him how to spend that money as long as he lives within dollars given.
Source: Atchison Globe Now
Johnson County housing costs remain a concern — new ‘toolkit’ pushes cities to find solutions
A so-called “housing toolkit” is now available for cities in Johnson County to use in advocating for more affordable residential development within their jurisdictions. The new document, dubbed the Housing for All Toolkit, aims to provide guidance for cities to think about adding more attainable housing, as affordability and the cost of housing remains a major concern among many Johnson County residents. United Community Services of Johnson County, a local nonprofit that facilitated the recent Johnson County Municipalities Community Housing Study, released the housing toolkit earlier this month at its annual Human Services Summit.
Source: Prairie Village Post
Commission approves pay raises for Shawnee County leaders
Shawnee County leaders are getting pay raises. The Board of County Commissioners voted to approve the increases at their meeting Thursday morning. Nine elected officials received a pay increase. That includes: district attorney, sheriff, election commissioner, county clerk, register of deeds, county treasurer, county commission chair, and two county commissioners. Commissioners said they use standards to determine raises. They look at other county salaries, performance, and payment over the next person in charge in the office. “We’re trying to stay within market, we’re trying to make sure that we’re able to attract and keep the key members of our team,” Commission Chair Kevin Cook said.
Source: KSNT News
Live music has been absent from Eskridge’s bandstand for years. That will change July 10 with a celebration.
Eskridge Park’s bandstand in its prime was a place for the community to gather and listen to live music. When the bandstand was constructed in the early 1900s, it was the park’s prominent feature. But for many years, the bandstand was in disrepair. Until now. The Eskridge Park Foundation recently finished refurbishing the bandstand, and the structure will be rededicated later this month. The free event will feature musicians after several years of no live music in the bandstand.
Source: CJonline.com.
Municipal Bond Trends for June 30, 2021
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.
Area’s housing costs remain less than other states
There’s a growing gap here and nationwide between income levels and the median house price but, despite that, the region and state remain an affordable place to buy a house, say local housing professionals. A recent study by QuoteWizard, a division of the Lending Tree LLC mortgage company, found that in Kansas the median income increased by 24.17 percent since 2012, but that the median home price increased by 44.58 percent during that same time. That led to a difference between wage increases and housing costs of $109,966. Not good – but the good news is that it’s not as bad as other areas of the country. In Rhode Island, the difference in increase was 32.41 percent and in Massachusetts, the difference was $404,869 between income and costs.
Source: Parsons Sun
Broadband internet is the new electricity: The expansion of broadband to U.S. homes in focus
“Generations ago, the federal government recognized that without affordable access to electricity, Americans couldn’t fully participate in modern society and the modern economy. Broadband internet is the new electricity,” said U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “It is necessary for Americans to do their jobs, to participate equally in school learning, health care, and to stay connected,” Vilsack said last week during a group announcement by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Federal Communications Commission, and the National Telecommunications, and Information Administration. The three groups have entered an interagency agreement to coordinate the distribution of broadband deployment federal funds. In accordance with the Broadband Interagency Coordination Act, agency leaders pledged that they will consult with each other and share information about the distribution of the FCC’s rural broadband programs; the USDA’s Rural Utilities Services grant/loan programs; and NTIA programs.
Source: Parsons Sun
Mission dog park plan at Broadmoor Park prompts tense debate among residents
The city of Mission is in the midst of a conceptual redesign for Broadmoor Park — and a one-acre dog park included in the plans is sparking debate. At a public meeting Tuesday night about the park’s future, residents got into a tense back and forth about the proposed dog park, which is something the city and some residents have been working to bring to Mission for nearly seven years. … some residents expressed concern about the proximity of a dog park near a playground with children, as well as worries about the need for maintenance, the potential for noise with increased activity, safety and the amount of land being dedicated to a dog park.
Source: Prairie Village Post
Kansas City’s housing crisis forced this couple into Overland Park hotel — and it’s only getting worse
Night after night, Stephanie Murray sits up late in a recliner, searching the internet for help. It’s not her recliner; just one in an Extended Stay America hotel in Overland Park, Kansas. Murray, her husband and two dogs have lived there for 17 months. At $56.72 a day, she needs charitable assistance to pay the room bill. She also needs help finding an apartment that will accept the federal housing voucher she recently received after a five-year wait. “I’m 56 years old, and I feel like I’m 106,” Murray says. The pandemic didn’t introduce housing insecurity into Murray’s life. She’s struggled to find a safe, affordable place since at least the Great Recession of 2008.
Source: Prairie Village Post
Scatter cemetery planned at edge of city limits
Reviewing a conditional use permit for a scatter cemetery near the 79th Street South/127th Street East intersection (east of Derby), the Derby Planning Commission took action to allow the special use at its June meeting. The cemetery would be located at the northwest corner of the intersection, along the northern and western edges of a 40-acre tract land. The cemetery itself would take up roughly five acres of the tract owned by the Sunflower Land Trust. While the land in question is part of Sedgwick County, it falls in Derby’s area of influence, triggering the review by the planning commission.
Source: Derby Informer | News
RCPD, county and city commissioners cut ribbon on new firing range
The director of the Riley County Police Department said he has never fired his weapon in the line of duty in more than 40 years on the job. “For most police officers, that’s the norm,” RCPD director Dennis Butler said, adding knowing when not to shoot is one of the points of the department’s new gun range. Butler made the remark while standing in the new RCPD firing range Wednesday. The police department, along with Riley County and Manhattan city commissioners, held an open house to welcome people to view the new range and take tours of the facility. About 30 people came to the open house to see the site where officers will practice marksmanship and pass the tests required for them to use guns on the job.
Source: themercury.com
New opportunities for the aerospace industry are taking flight in Wichita
New opportunities for the aerospace industry are taking flight in Wichita. On Wednesday, Kansas Senator Jerry Moran toured several facilities with a company that could make a big impact on the economy. Owned by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, the company Blue Origin is an innovative aerospace manufacturer that builds reusable launch vehicles, rocket engines, and is a significant partner with the United States in its efforts to remain a leader in the space domain. The company manufactures New Shepard, a rocket you’ll see take off and go to space on July 20. Blue Origin CEO, Dr. Bob Smith, toured several Wichita aviation businesses, even sending out a proposal to work with a Wichita company.
Source: KSN-TV
NASCAR Drivers Set To Race In Garden City
Two NASCAR drivers will be making an appearance in Garden City. The KansasLand Klash powered by KansasLand Tires is set to take place July 9th at Airport Raceway in Garden City. Airport Raceway, KansasLand Tires, and the Rocky Mountain Midget Racing Association (RMMRA) have teamed up to bring in two NASCAR drivers that night as well. Matt DiBenedetto, driver of the #21 Woodbrothers Ford in the NASCAR Cup Series, and Ryan Ellis, a part-time driver in the NASCAR Xfinity Series will be “slinging” the mud under the lights. The Drivers will race in the RMMRA 600s nonwinged series. The race track will also run a WINGED 600s series that night as well.
Source: Western Kansas News
Run to benefit Marion police dog
A 5K run Sept. 11 in Marion will raise money for a Marion police dog who ate an electric cord. Officer Aaron Slater, Blue’s handler, told city councilmen that not much money was left from a 5K run last year because part of it had to be used to pay for emergency surgery after the Belgian Malinois ate an electric cord in February. A consultation with Spur Ridge Vet Hospital followed by emergency surgery at Kansas State University’s veterinary hospital took a $2,357.67 bite out of funds raised for Blue’s care and needs.
Source: HILLSBORO Star-Journal
Wichita landlords inundated with applications as rental demand surges
“Usually, we’ll get a house leased within a couple of hours after posting it on Facebook marketplace. And I think that in the last year, the longest that a house has sat for us has been three days after posting it,” said Dohm. Dozens of people posting on social media saying they’ve been looking for rental houses for months but keep getting beaten to them. Dohm said while, on the one hand, it’s nice not to have to worry about finding people, it’s also hard that he has to turn so many people away once the lease is signed. “You know, only one of those people are going to be able to rent the house. And I know that the rest of the people are going to have to continue their search in a crazy market, likely not going to be able to find a house in the next month or two,” said Dohm.
Source: KAKE – News
Douglas County Commission to consider rural landowners’ request to divide property into residential lots
The Douglas County Commission at its meeting Wednesday will consider allowing two rural landowners to convert their 25 acres of land into residential lots. According to planning documents provided to the County Commission, property owners Patrick Halpin and Erin Callahan-Halpin are asking for permission to divide the land into up to five residential lots. The land is located at 981 East 1549 Road, roughly 3 miles south of Lawrence. To allow for the subdivision, the commissioners would need to rezone the land to cluster preservation, a zoning designation that allows nonagricultural residential development. Currently the land consists of two parcels; one is zoned as agricultural, or AG-1, and the other is zoned as transitional agricultural, or AG-2.
Source: LJWorld.com.
Municipal Bond Trends for June 29, 2021
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.
Governor Laura Kelly Announces $28 Million Investment, 37 New Jobs in Manhattan
Governor Laura Kelly today congratulated Bev-Hub on its new facility in Manhattan. Bev-Hub, a Wichita-based manufacturer, is investing more than $28 million into the Manhattan community to renovate a former brewery to meet manufacturing demands, creating 37 new jobs. “Bev-Hub’s expansion is proof that Kansas’ pipeline of talented, educated workers and pro-business environment can compete with anyone to recruit dynamic companies,” Governor Kelly said. “We’ll continue supporting and attracting innovative, growing companies like Bev-Hub to strengthen our economy and keep Kansans and their families in our state. Congratulations to Bev-Hub on this exciting announcement.” Bev-Hub assists beverage manufacturers through the co-packing process. Services include processing and testing beverages, canning, labeling, shipping, and storage. Products handled include nitro cold brew, still cold brew, nitro cold brew lattes, cold brew lattes, tea, and water.
Source: Kansas Department of Commerce
New use-of-force policy issued by KCK police weeks before 2 fatal police shootings
The police department in Kansas City, Kansas, issued an updated use-of-force policy in early June, just a few weeks before two deadly police shootings. The policy, effective June 2, says officers are allowed to use deadly force “to insure the safety of themselves and others from imminent death or great bodily harm.” A previous policy was similar, saying lethal force was authorized “to protect life.” On June 20, a chase that began in Kansas City, Missouri, crossed the state line. Police said Dario Dominguez, 25, shot at officers, who returned fire, at 18th Street and Parallel Parkway.
Source: KC Star Local News
Why Managing Federal Aid for Small Towns Could Be a Burden
The shot clock to distribute more than $19 billion in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding to small towns and counties has started and states and municipal organizations are working to ensure these localities gets their share and understand the rules for spending the funds. But not every town wants the money. “When I ask, it’s generally they just don’t have the infrastructure to support the reporting requirements required under the law,” said Emily Brock, director for the Government Finance Officers Association’s Federal Liaison Center. “Which is understandable. They don’t want to be in a position where they [spend it and then] have to give it back.” … states are responsible for distributing funding to the more than 19,000 “non-entitlement units,” or NEUs, with populations smaller than 50,000. Most states didn’t receive that money until this month and are just now pushing it out to their small towns.
Source: Route Fifty – All Content
For assistance in applying for, administering, and complying with the reporting requirements of ARPA funding, please contact Rose Mary Saunders or Crystal Hinnen.
Riley County planning to place sales tax question on November ballot
Riley County Commission John Ford said Monday that the county will put a sales tax proposal on the November ballot to pay for road and bridge improvements. is planning to ask voters in November whether they want a roads and bridges sales tax measure to replace the combined county-city sales tax measure that expires in 2022. “That’ll be up on the horizon and should be on the November ballot,” Ford said at a monthly intergovernmental luncheon. “It would be something that we really, really need to be able to do moving forward.” Formally, the commission would have to approve placing it on the ballot, which it hasn’t done yet.
Source: themercury.com
Insurance pool will save USD 428 more than $36,000
Great Bend USD 428 will save more than $36,000 next year by purchasing its property and casualty insurance from the Kansas Educational Risk Management Pool (KERMP), Superintendent Khris Thexton said. The school board held a special meeting Tuesday morning to approve the policy and make budget transfers and expenditures to wrap up Fiscal Year 2020-2021, when ends today. Only Kansas Association of School Boards members may join KERMP, which was started several years ago by 15 schools. The member-owned consortium is comprised of public K-12 school districts in Kansas, and last week Barton Community College became the first Kansas community college to join. Barton was attracted by lower rates and better deductibles overall. “I like it because it is for schools, by schools,” Thexton told the board. “It’s definitely a benefit for us to be a part of it.”
Source: Great Bend Tribune
Wichita mulls using COVID money to restore grocery access where Save A Lot ducked out
The city of Wichita has begun exploring the potential in using COVID-19 relief money to bring fresh food to northeast and south Wichita neighborhoods suffering from the closures of their Save A Lot grocery stores, the mayor said Tuesday. That may or may not include bringing in another grocery store operator to replace the three Save A Lots that have closed or are closing, said Mayor Brandon Whipple. “Can we use this really bad situation as a way to improve the overall problem of access to food in the short term and also in the long term?” he said. “We’re looking at other options at this moment with local entrepreneurs, folks that already kind of work in delivering food in a variety of different communities to see if there’s another opportunity that could even expand services beyond just grocery stores.”
Source: Wichita Eagle
Little Free Libraries set up around Salina
Little Free Library boxes have been set up at three locations across Salina after the Salina Education Foundation approved a grant to fund nine earlier this year. The Outside the Box grant to create the free libraries offers children the opportunity to pick up books from their local schools during times when the schools are closed, such as the summer or holidays. It also saves children and their parents from having to make the trip to the Salina Public Library.
Source: Salina Journal.
Municipal Bond Trends for June 28, 2021
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.
WPD looking to crack down on violent crime with Operation Triple Beam
After multiple shootings in the last week, Wichita police Chief Gordon Ramsay is hoping a new initiative will help crack down on violent crime. WPD is partnering with the US Marshals Service for Operation Triple Beam. The two-month-long program will focus on bringing in people with warrants for violent crimes, like aggravated assault, homicide or drugs. Police Chief Gordon Ramsay said that the operation allows officers to work overtime in order to focus on outstanding warrants for felony drug and weapon offenses. U.S. Marshalls will assist, using their crews in cities and states surrounding Kansas. The end result will be a reduction in crime.
Source: KAKE – News
Storm cleanup continues in Newton as NWS forecasts more rain in Kansas
Rain chances and the potential for flooding will persist this week as cleanups continue from Friday’s storms. The National Weather Service in Wichita reported “an extremely moist airmass” on Friday erupted with storms along a stationary front. The storms were efficient rainfall producers, leading to 3-4 inches of rain per hour in some areas. Friday’s storms “produced pockets of severe downburst winds with the town of Newton taking the brunt of the wind damage,” NWS Wichita reported. Marion County had the worst flooding, “with numerous evacuations and water rescues,” though southeast Kansas also had serious flooding along the Neosho River.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
Newton got hit hard by weekend storm that damaged schools, dropped trees
The Newton school district and city public works continued digging out Monday from a weekend storm that a government meteorologist described as a giant water balloon pelting the city. The storm, blowing 60-70 mph winds Friday night, littered streets with tree limbs and peeled the roof off the school district’s maintenance and storage building, causing equipment and supplies to be inundated and ruined. The storm also peeled brick facing off a school gym.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
Wichita police finding ways to track catalytic converter thefts
Catalytic converter thefts are at an all time high. Wichita police say just this month over 100 parts have been reported stolen. People can bring in anywhere from $200 to $1,000 per part. The department is looking for ways to put a stop to this multimillion dollar problem. “We’re on par in June for a record number of catalytic converter thefts for this particular month,” says Lieutenant Casey Slaughter with the Wichita Police Department. Police say in 2020 there were 541 total catalytic converter thefts, already in 2021, nearly 600 cases have been reported.
Source: KAKE – News
Rejiggered plans for $695M sports-anchored WyCo development slide into home plate
Homefield LLC has rounded the bases with revised plans for segments of its gargantuan $694.5 million sports-anchored redevelopment of Wyandotte County’s former Schlitterbahn water park. The Unified Government of Wyandotte County/Kansas City, Kansas, on Thursday approved revisions for three of six project areas in the longtime Village East STAR bond district that will support the Homefield project near 94th Street and State Avenue.
Source: Kansas City Business News
Bridging the access gap
A new resource center at the Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library aims to bridge a gap that exists when it comes to accessing popular business and legal information. Meredith Snepp, the library’s business and career librarian, knows not everyone in the community is able to easily look up information online about housing programs, job resources, how to access legal forms and more. “Computer access is so important for anybody who wants to do anything these days,” Snepp said. “(It’s) hard for those people who don’t have those skills, who don’t have that computer access or that time. It impacts the daily aspects of all parts of their lives.”
Source: Salina Journal.
Shawnee County Parks and Recreation Department to advocate for higher season staff wages, including lifeguards
The Shawnee County Parks and Recreation Department will ask for more money in its 2022 budget to raise seasonal staff wages, including lifeguards, as pools and aquatic centers rely on long workweeks from lifeguards. “Something needs to change,” said Seth Campbell, a lifeguard at the Blaisdell pool. “Next year the fear is that there are going to be no returning guards.” The county was 83 lifeguards short of being appropriately staffed weeks before it prepared to open its eight aquatic centers and pools on Memorial Day.
Source: CJonline.com.
Municipal Bond Trends for June 25, 2021
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.
Hutchinson working with MIT to break poverty shackles of the ‘cliff effect’
The Hutchinson Community Foundation frequently hears stories like this from residents who struggle to escape poverty because of the “cliff effect.” That’s when a single parent or couple who receives a modest boost in income loses a disproportionate amount of resources because they no longer qualify for government programs that provide assistance for food, housing, child care, health insurance or tax credits. … Earlier this year, the foundation partnered with students from the MIT Sloan School of Management to study the cliff effect and identify solutions. They worked with area nonprofits, the Hutchinson/Reno County Chamber of Commerce, and the Kansas Department for Children and Families.
Source: Kansas Reflector
A Pittsburg assistance program is helping the community pay for housing
The city of Pittsburg is working to help community members pay for housing. City commissioners, this week, approved the application for the “Tenant Based Rental Assistance Program” grant. It would enable the city to provide $100,000 worth of security deposit assistance over the next 3 years. Eligible households within city limits could receive up to $700 in assistance during the cycle. “All the assistance in the world doesn’t do anything when you can’t get into a unit with a security deposit, most landlords ask the same amount as rent, the first month’s rent, as a security deposit, so this will eliminate barriers, help eliminate barriers in getting into housing.” Says Megan Keener, Pittsburg Housing Office Housing Manager.
Source: KSNF/KODE
Forty-five speakers cite pros, cons of Golden city
In the cool of the evening, John Weaver and his wife sometimes go for a walk up Cedar Niles Road in northern Miami County. Weaver, who lives on Cedar Niles near 215th Street, said occasionally cars park along the road and people take photographs of the sunset. “As we get close, generally they ask ‘how often do you have sunsets like this?’ Of course our answer is ‘most every night.’” Weaver’s focus has been diverted from sunsets in the west to what’s happening just north of the county line, where NorthPoint Development is working with the city of Edgerton to annex and rezone land – most recently 640 acres – for proposed industrial warehouses that serve the Logistics Park Kansas City intermodal facility. He’s concerned about industrial development spilling into Miami County on land currently zoned for rural residential and agriculture use.
Source: Local News | republic-online.com
Manhattan discusses placement of ‘university’ in vision statement
Should Manhattan be called a university town or a town with a university? Manhattan city commissioners on Friday discussed where “university” should go in the city’s vision statement. Here’s the current statement: “A thriving, high-quality university community that offers a variety of opportunities to support the well-being of its people while capitalizing on its small-town feel.” Commissioners discussed possible definitions and descriptions of the city’s vision with consulting firm Planning NEXT, which is helping the Manhattan city government shape priorities. The commission reviewed the CrossroadsMHK strategic plan during a Friday retreat at the new Anthony Recreation Center.
Source: themercury.com
Victor White retires as Wichita’s airport director
Victor White, director of airports for the Wichita Airport Authority, is retiring after more than 46 in the aviation industry. White, whose last day is Friday, took the helm of Wichita’s airports in 2005. During his tenure Col. James Jabara Airport in northeast Wichita saw significant expansion, while the city’s primary airport got a $250 million new terminal and a name change to Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport. He was also at the controls of initiatives that expanded air service out of Wichita and led to record passenger traffic in 2019.
Source: Wichita Business Journal
Genesis says it will double its Goddard ballfields as part of $15M addition
Genesis Health Clubs says it will double its number of baseball fields to 10 as part of a $15 million upgrade to its Goddard Sports Complex project. A news release from the fitness company Friday said the fields are necessary to keep up with a busy schedule of baseball and softball tournaments at the facility just south of Kellogg near 199th Street West. “We couldn’t keep up with the demand,” Genesis owner Rodney Steven II said in a statement. “It’s already the largest all-turf competitive baseball complex in a multi-state area, and we’ve got it packed every weekend with tournaments booked out months in advance and in some cases 1-2 years. So the demand caught us off guard, to say the least.”
Source: Wichita Business Journal
Residents seek new Kansas town to protect rural lifestyle
Residents living on the outskirts of a sprawling industrial park southwest of Kansas City hope that creating their own town will protect their rural lifestyle from encroaching development. Opposition to the massive Logistics Park Kansas City intermodal facility has been brewing for months, but it boiled over after the Edgerton City Council earlier this year agreed to rezone 700 rural acres to make way for more industrial properties south of Interstate 35, the Kansas City Star reported. That’s bringing development closer to the rural homes residents say they bought to be surrounded by fields and pastures — not warehouses and semitrailers. They hope that incorporating their own town of will give them more say over their fates. “Our area is too beautiful, it is too important for the environment, and it’s our right,” said Jennifer Williams, who leads the effort.
Source: The Arkansas City Traveler
Bourbon County to look at feasibility of hospital in Fort Scott
Bourbon County Commissioners have engaged in a cooperative agreement with a Kansas City, Mo.-based health care company to look at the feasibility of bringing a hospital back to Fort Scott and Bourbon County. During a special meeting Friday, commissioners discussed the recent donation of the former Mercy Hospital building to the county, as well as contractual services between Mercy Kansas Communities, Inc., and the different providers for that facility, and an agreement between the commission and Noble Health Corporation for a feasibility study.
Source: Fort Scott Tribune