Kansas Municipal News
Sedgwick schools and rec commission discuss working together
USD 439 and the Sedgwick Recreation Commission have agreed to consolidate their effort in offering a wellness center to the community but they still have obstacles to overcome in making it a reality. Superintendent Greg Lehr said the district plans to have the outdoor track, the indoor walking track, the new gymnasium, and the cardio/fitness room available for use by anyone living inside the district’s parameters. He said they don’t plan to make the heavy weight room available to the public but could consider its use on a case-by-case basis. Lehr said construction was scheduled to be done in mid-September and hopefully they could start making the areas available to the public in October. “This is a community space,” Lehr said. “We want people to come in and use it. We want them to see what we do on a daily basis. Not everybody understands that.” Interested parties will have to pass a background check, signs waivers, and agree to the state rules. Source: Harvey County Now
Next Newton mural revealed installation set for summer
A character by the name of Jack Pumpkinhead was featured in at least one of the Oz books by L. Frank Baum. Many people don’t know about his appearance in the book “Jack Pumpkinhead of Oz” because he wasn’t in the movie. That is Oz book No. 23. The people of Newton will become more acquainted with the character because he’s one of five characters featured on the Newton Arts & Murals Project’s next mural, the Meadowlark Mural, which will be on the back of the freestanding mural near the Main Street railroad track crossing and the north Old Mill parking lot. The figures will be 9.5 feet tall, said Andrea Braker, who is on the Newton Murals & Arts Project Board, the group installing and creating the mural. The project also is fully funded.
Source: Harvey County Now
Panasonic’s EV-battery plant will energize De Soto’s attraction of more companies
Build a $4 billion Panasonic electric-vehicle battery factory, and other companies will look to come to come to town, too. De Soto officials said the city recently saw its first visit from a Japanese company that could support Panasonic’s facility as a direct supplier — one of five that may be allotted different incentives through state legislation passed last year. State officials anticipate the 4,000-job Panasonic plant will create another 4,000 jobs for suppliers and local businesses. Beyond the plant, other unrelated companies will look to capitalize on Panasonic-induced changes around De Soto, such as $165 million in new infrastructure planned to serve the surrounding Astra Enterprise Park, and workforce development programs that local colleges are developing. De Soto’s pitches to site selectors have centered on the region’s 70,000-person construction, architecture and engineering workforce, plus abundant land on multiple properties, City Administrator Mike Brungardt said.
Source: Kansas City Business Journal
City of Liberal collects supplies for Texas tornado victims
Just hours after a tornado ripped through the town of Perryton, Texas, the town of Liberal decided to help the victims. The tornado killed three people, injured many more, and destroyed as many as 200 homes in Perryton on Thursday. On Friday, the Liberal Police Department began collecting supplies for the survivors.
Source: KSN-TV
Plan to run towering power poles along scenic trail in northeast Wichita faces pushback
Northeast Wichita is preparing for another round of towering power poles that some residents worry will disfigure a scenic bike trail and lower their property values when they are installed in 2025. The 60-year-old transmission line between Evergy’s Wichita State and Mossman substations needs to be replaced, but the plan for running new poles along the Redbud Trail between Maple Grove Cemetery and MacDonald Golf Course has stirred controversy. The other option Evergy presented was replacing existing power poles on a 2-mile route along Volutsia and 16th Street with significantly larger poles. City staff working with the company ultimately settled on the Redbud Trail route, determining that “due to the necessary size of the new poles, the proposed project would result in significant negative impact” on neighborhoods along the existing route.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
Neighbors voice concerns about JoCo-backed housing project
Confusion over the recent approval of federal money for an affordable housing project in Olathe brought a crowd of commenters to the county commission Thursday, many of them complaining about a lack of transparency and conflicting information. The comments prompted commissioners to briefly reconsider their approval from last week of the Habitat Olathe Pathway proposal, which calls for a neighborhood of affordably priced homes at 159th Street and Blackbob Road built by Habitat for Humanity.
Source: Prairie Village Post
Kansas Wins Nearly $43M to Build Key Infrastructure for High-Speed Internet
Governor Laura Kelly announced today that the National Telecommunications Information and Administration (NTIA) has awarded the Kansas Office of Broadband Development (KOBD) nearly $43 million to develop infrastructure key to expanding affordable high-speed internet to remote and underserved communities. The open-access “middle mile” infrastructure will connect local Internet networks, primarily in rural areas, to major, high-capacity national and regional networks. … The grant will fund a 682-mile fiber optic network to connect Liberal to Garden City, Pratt to Wichita, Kismet to Minneola, Wichita to Pittsburg, and Pittsburg to Overland Park…. More information about the Enabling Middle Mile Broadband Infrastructure Program is available at Middle Mile (kansascommerce.gov). Additional details about federal broadband efforts are available at AffordableConnectivity.gov and InternetforAll.gov.
Source: Kansas Department of Commerce
New acting Topeka city manager has spent 43 years overseeing Kansas municipal governments
Richard Nienstedt had enjoyed not having to work since he retired March 31 as city manager of Ottawa. He and his wife, Rita, visited Hot Springs, Arkansas, and took a trip along the former Route 66 highway from Galena in southeast Kansas to Shamrock in north Texas. Still, Nienstedt — who has 43 years experience as a city manager in Kansas — said he feels honored and pleased to have been hired last week to serve as Topeka’s acting city manager. “When this opportunity presented itself, I thought, ‘Who wouldn’t want to go to their state’s capital city and have some impact on that?'” he told The Capital-Journal in an interview Tuesday.
Source: CJonline
Reno County Health Department hosting child care provider orientation classes
The Reno County Health Department (RCHD) is hosting child care provider orientation classes, as child care providers are needed in the area. “Child care providers play an important role in nurturing the growth and development of our youngest and most vulnerable residents,” Reno County says. Reno County says the class is a great opportunity to meet the surveyor, learn Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) regulations and ask questions about providing child care.
Source: KSN-TV
Ellinwood City Administrator discusses 40+ years of service to the city
Ellinwood City Administrator Chris Komarek has always had a thing for lights and sirens. Both his grandfather and his father served as fire chief; Komarek finished up a 40-year stint with 26 years as chief himself in September 2021. But, as with many small towns, Ellinwood’s fire department is voluntary, so there are plenty of other hats to wear in the community. As administrator for the past seven years, Komarek has worn his share of various headwear over going on four-and-a-half decades of city service. “I like to think I have the city’s interest at heart,” he said. “This city has been my life. It’s my 43rd year, but honestly I’m proud of that time. “There’s a lot of things that have been made better, but there’s still a lot I want to get accomplished.”
Source: Great Bend Tribune
New Superintendent hired after busy month for South Brown County School District
The South Brown County School Board met seven times over the course of the month of May after the resignation of Superintendent Jason Cline. The district has hired Dr. Rebecca Kramer as the district’s new superintendent starting July 1st, 2023. A 28-year educator, Kramer most recently served as the Executive Director of Teaching and Learning at the Seaman Public School District in Topeka. Dr. Kramer, who graduated from Jefferson West High School, received her Bachelor’s degree in Education and Masters in Educational Leadership from Washburn University, moving on to earn her Educational Doctorate in Educational Leadership from the University of Kansas.
Source: hiawathaworldonline.com
Kansas Office of Broadband seeking help with online speed test
Kansas Office of Broadband needs your help to identify gaps in internet coverage across the state. They need to know where you have connection, as well as what speeds you’re experiencing. Let’s make sure our communities have the resources they need to thrive in the 21st century. Head over to broadbandks.com to take a quick speed test and survey to help figure out where we need upgrades. It only takes a few minutes and it’s a big help. Join in helping the Kansas Office of Broadband bridge the digital divide and ensure reliable broadband internet for everyone. Take a few minutes to complete their online speed test and survey at www.broadbandks.com.
Small Kansas airports fighting to get SkyWest Charter
SkyWest submitted an application to the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) almost a year ago requesting commuter authority. “We are pleading with the DOT to take action and allow SWC to serve the airports in our region,” Corey Keller, the director of public works for Dodge City. The Department of Transportation has not approved that application yet. Small Kansas airports such as Dodge City, Salina, Hays and Liberal say getting this application approved is crucial to their airports and communities. Keller says without SkyWest Charter (SWC), the next steps are unclear. “If SkyWest charter is not approved, there’s the possibility of, you know, no air service, so going to rebid looking for other airlines, and there’s just not a lot out there right now that can provide a good, reliable, safe service. So, the biggest impact is the possibility of losing a good air carrier like we have right now,” Keller said.
Source: KSN-TV
Ozawkie celebrates its unusual heritage
Ozawkie, Kansas, celebrated its heritage this weekend. The small town put on its third annual festival that recognizes the original town of Ozawkie. The town was moved to its current spot after Kansas decided to make the Perry Lake dam in 1965. The festival included food vendors, face painting, games, old memorabilia from the original town and a special performance by Topeka High School’s marching band. The festival also gave local businesses a chance to sell their products.
Source: KSNT 27 News
Washunga Days set for this weekend in Council Grove
Council Grove will be the center stage for Washunga Days Friday and Saturday. The event will take place along the Neosho Riverwalk. Even with activities going into full force on Friday, there’s a free community event that’ll kick things off Thursday according to event organizer Jesse Knight.
Source: KVOE Emporia Radio
Split Shawnee council agrees to put parks and pipes sales tax up for renewal vote
Shawnee voters will be asked to renew the city’s special sales taxes during the upcoming general election this November. After a prolonged back and forth Monday night, the Shawnee City Council voted 4-3 to renew the 1/8-cent sales sales tax, often referred to as the “parks and pipes” tax. Previously, the council seemed poised to pursue a new tax in lieu of a renewal. Such a step — had the council opted to take it — would have allowed the city to use revenue from the sales tax for some parks operations in some situations.
Source: Prairie Village Post
Marshall County to get updated 911 system
Marshall County is preparing to switch to the Kansas 911 Coordinating Council’s New Generation Call Handling System. Michelle Reinhart, a terminal access coordinator for the Marshall County Sheriff’s Department, led the discussion about the new system at Monday’s county commissioners’ meeting. … Marshall County is the one of the last two counties in the state to join the system. “We are excited,” Reinhart said. “It’s $18,000 a year. It will come out of 911 monies. We will never replace another piece of equipment. We will never update mapping again.” An automatically updated statewide map will enable dispatchers to locate 911 callers more quickly. Additional location-gathering tools are included in the system.
Source: The Marysville Advocate
Sedgwick County firefighters take additional steps to protect both themselves and drivers
A new digital alert system is protecting firefighters and drivers alike. Sedgwick County firefighters have begun using HAAS Alert Service’s Safety Cloud to not only protect themselves but also to protect drivers. The digital alert system lets drivers know 30 seconds ahead of time when there is an emergency situation ahead. “Digital alerts are found to be 90 percent effective in reducing collisions compared to just lights and sirens,” said Vice President of Communications for HAAS Alert Brock Aun. According to Aun, most firefighters said they would rather go into a burning building than stop on the side of the road. “They can control a fire but they can’t control drivers,” he said.
Source: KAKE – News
Local businesses in Pittsburg brace for economic impact as students leave for summer
Perla Garcia, owner of a local business by Pittsburg State, would have felt the impacts of students not being in town if it wasn’t for one thing – she sells ice cream. While the students are her main clients, the frozen goods keep her busy when the warmer temperatures come around. But summer doesn’t work in every business’s favor. With only 20% of the 5,600 Pittsburg State students being local, businesses in the city need to find strategies for when the non-local students leave. The Kelce Business and Economic Research Center estimates that there’s a decline of more than 22.8 million dollars in student spending during the summer, in Pittsburg. Knowing that, business owners adopt different strategies to minimize the economic impact — from selling seasonal items like ice cream to changing their business hours.
Source: KOAM News
Pittsburg commission asked to rescind support of US-69
During the public comments segment at the beginning of Tuesday evening’s city commission meeting in Pittsburg, a half-dozen residents came forward to plead their case and ask the commission to rescind its 2001 support of a new US-69 bypass along the route proposed by the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT). The proposed new route, known as the West Alignment, has been a heated topic in Crawford County in recent weeks. Beginning a few miles north of Arma, the new bypass would run roughly parallel to 200th Street to US-400. Access to this bypass would be limited. The current kerfuffle was sparked by a $13 million grant from the federal government to be used in improving US-69 secured by Senator Jerry Moran. KDOT has begun to move forward on one of the key access points to the new bypass, extending US-160 west two miles from its current junction with US-69 near the state park in Frontenac. This extension runs through newly constructed homes and runs dangerously close to the small community of Capaldo. Concerns that this road will sit for 20 years, largely unused, while KDOT comes up with the $1 billion to finish the project have earned this extension the sobriquet of the “highway to nowhere.”
Source: Morning Sun