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Municipal News & Jobs

Municipal News & Jobs2026-08-07T10:07:18-05:00

Kansas Municipal News

Community recreation center construction nearing completion in Manhattan

The series of recreation buildings being built in Manhattan are almost complete. Collaborations have been made with Douglass, Anthony, and Eisenhower middle schools to build recreation centers that are open to both the middle school students and the residents of Manhattan. Wyatt Thompson, Manhattan Parks and Recreation Assistant Director, says all three projects are moving right along. He adds that the Douglass Center is starting to feel complete. They installed the basketball goals last week,” Thompson says. “So when you walk in, it looks different with paint on the walls and the goals there. You can really now tell that it is indeed, going to be a rec center and that gymnasium space just really changed when they put the goal up.”
Source: 1350 KMAN

KDHE announces clarifications on new COVID quarantine periods

After receiving further clarification from CDC on the shortened quarantine periods, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) is issuing more information concerning the shortened quarantine periods counties may opt in to. The clarifications are regarding the date quarantine periods may end. For the 7-day period with a test, the quarantine period will end after the full seven days, on Day 8. For the 10-day period without a test, the quarantine period will end after the full 10 days, on Day 11. Individuals should check with their local health departments regarding the quarantine recommendations specific to their county.
Source: Atchison Globe Now

Butler County reopens historic courthouse building

Butler County has reopened its Historic Courthouse building after closing it to public access for two weeks. The building was closed November 23rd because of a number of COVID-19 illnesses and staff shortages resulting from close contact quarantines of employees. The building reopened Monday morning and visitors are asked to continue to wear masks and follow social distancing.  They are also urged to continue good hygiene practices with hand washing or the use of hand sanitizer. Butler County Commission meetings will now be open to the public, but the meetings are still available by livestream through the county’s web site.
Source: Country 101.3 KFDI

Kansas ambulance agencies slammed by COVID-19 suffer staff shortages, heavy patient load

In the words of a Kansas ambulance service director, surging demand from COVID-19 patients and a shortage of EMS personnel to handle calls “is about to get critical.” Another responding to a statewide EMS survey said this of the pandemic in Kansas: “Very concerned if there are serious trauma events or patients with critical time-sensitive illness, there will be no options for these patients to receive critically needed care.” And, one more piece of insight: “I am concerned that we will be in situations very soon where we will not be able to find a receiving hospital for our patients.”
Source: Kansas Reflector

Sedgwick County commissioners receive an update on COVID-19 testing and vaccine distribution

Sedgwick County commissioners on Tuesday were updated on plans for COVID-19 testing and vaccines. The commissioners were informed the Edgemoor drive-thru testing will be demobilized by Dec. 31. Instead, a new site will open later this month at 21st and Ridge at the Sedgwick County Extension Office. The new site will be in the 4-H hall where there will be a mix of appointment and walkup sampling opportunities. More details will be released soon. Commissioners were also informed that Well Health, an ancillary by the Kansas Department of Health, will be opening four collection sites in the county on Dec. 10. The capacity for tests can reach 2,000 a day through appointments, walkup, and drive-thru. The testing will be saliva and a PCR test. Most results will be released within 48 to 96 hours by a patient portal. For more information, go to gogettested.com/kansas.
Source: KSN-TV

Ottawa County Municipal Court will end all in-person appearances

The Ottawa Municipal Court will cease in-person appearances effective immediately until February 3, 2021. The move was made due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In a statement released by the court on Tuesday, Dec. 8, the court said it will continue to resolve cases during this time by phone or mail. As to outstanding warrants, the court gives discretion to all law enforcement officers that they may execute the warrant and have the person taken into custody, or in the alternative, may obtain from the individual their current address and phone number, provide that information to court staff, and court staff will notify the court, have the warrant withdrawn, and send the individual a notice to appear for a date after February 3, 2021.
Source: KSNT News

Topeka City Council to consider adding additional sales tax to Downtown Ramada

The Topeka City Council will hear a proposal Tuesday night to turn the Downtown Ramada Hotel into a Community Improvement District. This would add an additional two percent sales tax to the hotel. According to city documents, the hotel is looking at starting $4 million worth of improvements. These include things like replacing windows, improving parking lots, replacing sprinkler systems and upgrading elevator controls. The plans also include converting 50 hotel rooms into apartments. City Manager Brent Trout said the hotel’s owners will having their own financing for the project. The sales tax funds would help offset that cost as the money comes in.
Source: KSNT News

Oxford community excited for new family-owned grocery store

The Oxford community will be welcoming a new grocery store in the coming days. The store is located at 417 West main street in Oxford, Kan. “We want to help the community and have our services available to where they can at least not have to drive so far or go out to larger communities,” said Stacie Gilliland, co-owner at Hometown Market. “It kind of boils down to the opportunity to serve the community,” said Beau Gilliland, co-owner at Hometown Market. The store’s soft start date is Wednesday, December 16. Stacie Gilliland said they will offer fresh food items such as produce, meat, dairy, health and beauty items, and much more.
Source: KSN-TV

Some of the biggest names in Wichita bar scene press lawsuit challenging COVID-19 rules

A lawsuit in federal court challenging Sedgwick County’s rules to slow the spreading of COVID-19 lists some of the biggest names in Wichita’s bar and nightlife scene, suing most of the city and county’s top elected and appointed officials. If it succeeds, the suit will essentially take Sedgwick County back to business as it was pre-pandemic, negating county health orders mandating the use of protective face masks in public places, an 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew on bars and restaurants, and any limitations on the size of public gatherings. The suit is partially crowd-funded by “Unmask the Truths,” a Facebook and web-based group of mask opponents raising money to pay lawyer David Miller to challenge the county and city mandates on constitutional grounds.Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle

As virus spreads, Kansas hospital runs out of staff

The radiology technician slept in an RV in the parking lot of his rural Kansas hospital for more than a week because his co-workers were out sick with COVID-19 and no one else was available to take X-rays. A doctor and physician assistant tested positive on the same day in November, briefly leaving the hospital without anyone who could write prescriptions or oversee patient care. The hospital is full, but diverting patients isn’t an option because surrounding medical centers are overwhelmed. The situation at Rush County Memorial Hospital in La Crosse illustrates the depths of the COVID-19 crisis in rural America at a time when the virus is killing more than 2,000 people a day and inundating hospitals.
Source: Wichita Breaking News, Sports & Crime |

Wichita firefighters hose off cancerous chemicals

Imagine getting doused in water in the winter! Wichita firefighters have been hosing off policy meant to save lives. While firefighters risk their lives everyday to stop fires in our community, it’s cancer that is a big risk. Studies show they have a 9% higher chance of getting cancer. “All of our members are well aware of the dangerous things that we are exposed to and accept that risk, but with that being said there are things that we can do to help try to alleviate some of those things and this is certainly one of them,” said Battalion Chief Kelly Ross. Battalion Chief Kelly Ross is talking about the Wichita fire departments new decontamination station.
Source: KSN-TV

Lawrence library now offering laptop and hot spot lending program, as well as expanded internet access

The Lawrence Public Library is now offering laptop and hot spot lending, free internet service for qualifying low-income households and permanent outdoor wireless internet service around the building’s perimeter. A news press release from the library, 707 Vermont St., said the library received the funding for its Digital Equity Project though a federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act grant.
Source: LJWorld.com.

Kansas City, Kansas, police warn against fentanyl use as overdoses double since 2019

The number of suspected overdoses in Kansas City, Kansas, have more than doubled since last year, police said, warning of the potentially fatal effects of fentanyl. In 2019 in Kansas City, Kansas, the city saw 23 overdoses, according to the police department. So far this year, there have been 41 suspected overdoses and nine deaths, Capt. Richard Harris said in a department news release Monday.
Source: KC Star Local News

Remote learning sends kids to alternative classrooms, like the Sedgwick County Zoo

What does a fuzzy cow have to do with successful remote learning? And, how is she helping keep essential workers on the job? The Sedgwick County Zoo knows the answers to those questions. The classrooms at the zoo’s Cargill Learning Center were put to a new use Monday, helping kids log onto their remote learning classes, in an effort to help their parents keep working. Mid-morning, the sounds of children’s laughter and the mooing of a Highland Cow could be heard floating out of the barn at the zoo’s farm. The children were visiting during a scheduled break from their remote learning classes just a short walk away.
Source: KAKE – News

Wichita teachers ratify new union contract after district adds one-time bonus

Wichita Public Schools teachers voted to accept a new union contract proposal from USD 259 after the district offered a one-time bonus to those who weren’t otherwise going to receive a raise during the pandemic. In all, 64.5% of district teachers voted. Of those voting, 67.3% chose to approve the new collective bargaining agreement. All teachers are eligible to vote on the union contract, regardless of whether or not they are union members. Last month, teachers voted overwhelmingly to reject the tentative agreement between the United Teachers of Wichita and the district over concerns about lack of salary increases, teacher workload and building safety in the pandemic.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle

Shawnee County commissioners approve permit for 1 million gallon water tower

A conditional use permit for a 1 million gallon water tower, which local government officials said will accommodate future growth and potentially prevent boil water orders, was approved by the Shawnee County Commission. Commissioners held a virtual public hearing at Monday morning’s meeting, where Braxton Copley, deputy director of the city of Topeka’s utilities department, spoke in favor of the project. “This is a very important project for us,” Copley said. “We only have a single tower of 500,000 gallons (in that area), so having a second tower in a pressure zone is best practice throughout the industry.”
Source: Local News | Topeka Capital-Journal

Shawnee County commissioners extend disaster declaration until summer

Shawnee County will be in a “state of local disaster emergency” until June 30, 2021, after the resolution declaring a state of emergency was extended for the third time. “Given our continued battle with the COVID-19 crisis this will allow us continued access to potential CARES Act funding, or any other potential funding sources, as well as the requisition of additional PPE and other resources that may be needed,” said Errin Mahan, interim director of Shawnee County Emergency Management Department at Monday’s county commissioners meeting.
Source: Local News | Topeka Capital-Journal

Kansas trails receive national designations

Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism’s (KDWPT) Flint Hills Trail and Prairie Spirit Trail state parks recently received America’s highest trails honor when they were designated National Recreational Trails by the National Park Service. Both state park trails are operated by KDWPT’s Parks Division. “This is significant, not only for those parks and our state parks system, but for the state of Kansas,” said Linda Lanterman, KDWPT’s Parks Division director. “This is going to draw valuable attention to two great state parks and all they have to offer. And, ultimately, help the local economies that are developing along those trails. This is a big deal.” The designation brings no monetary prize, but the parks can now use signage that denotes their high quality.
Source: Gardner News

An empty desk and a moment of silence

An empty desk at the front of the Barton County Commission’s courthouse chamber spoke volumes Monday morning. The name plate still read Kenny Schremmer, chairman. It was a tribute to Schremmer, the longtime First District commissioner who died at his home on Thanksgiving Day. “Let’s pause for a prayerful moment of silence for our friend and colleague Kenny Schremmer,” Commissioner Jennifer Schartz said. The room fell silent before the weekly meeting proceeded as normal. As part of the agenda, Schartz was named as commission chairperson, to replace Schremmer. Jim Daily was named chairman pro tem, the post formerly held by Schartz. “He had quite an influence,” Daily said. “He had a real impact on a lot of people.” He served as a leader, not only at the county level, but in the business community as an auctioneer, he said. “We will miss Kenny.”
Source: Great Bend Tribune

Potential cell tower gets poor reception from Derby

During a public hearing at a special meeting of the Derby Planning Commission Dec. 2, feelings of Derby residents were made very clear – as a handful spoke up in opposition to a proposed cell tower near High Park and the neighboring Spring Ridge development. Falling within the urban area of influence, a conditional use application for a communication structure (AT&T cell tower) submitted to the Wichita Metropolitan Area Planning Department was required to come before the Derby Planning Commission – as well as the Metropolitan Area Planning Commission – for review.
Source: Derby Informer | News

Sedgwick County asks Legislature for power to clean up eyesores and stinky nuisances

This could be the year that Sedgwick County gets the authority to go in and clean up neighborhood nuisances that have persisted for years, including an unsightly pile of debris near west Wichita and a stinky house in Oaklawn south of the city. Nuisance abatement is high on this year’s Sedgwick County legislative agenda, an annual wish list of laws and funding policies the county wants to see enacted when the Legislature returns to session next month. While cities have fairly broad authority to force a cleanup of local eyesores and health hazards, that power largely stops at the city limits.
Source: Wichita Breaking News, Sports & Crime |

Thieves target car part as new ‘gold rush’ in Wichita, deputy chief says

Yassine Sadkhi had a customer looking at a used truck last month at his Atlas Motors on South Broadway. At first, the truck wouldn’t start, but when it finally did it made a loud but familiar noise. The catalytic converter had been stolen. The car lot owner said employees checked the lot and found converters missing on two other vehicles as well. He had five stolen last year and 21 have been so far this year, costing the business between $16,000 and $20,000. “All of the businesses, in general, have suffered in a way or another with the pandemic. Dealerships are no exceptions,” he said. “It has been really tough. It’s pretty slow already and then we have to keep going with these costly repairs.”
Source: Wichita Breaking News, Sports & Crime |

Marion council members inspect new electric car charging station

Marion city councilmen got an up-close look at two new charging stations for electric cars Monday. The chargers, at the west edge of the Historic Elgin Hotel parking lot, have already been used for an electric car owned by Kansas Power Pool. The car, in town for the weekend and driven in the Holly Jolly Christmas parade by council member Chris Costello, took only a short time to recharge after it was driven from Wichita to Marion.
Source: Marion County RECORD

Residents create new welcome for The Highlands

Residents of The Highlands finished work last week on a new entrance sign at their small, fledgling city north of Hutchinson. A comment from a Realtor last year, who noted the existing sign didn’t project the image of a new, growing city, spurred the idea, said resident Vickie Nuss. “We needed to send a message that something new was happening in The Highlands,” she said. Having incorporated just two years before with the intent of raising money to repave its streets, however, residents in the town of 314 recognized there wasn’t money in city coffers to design, let alone erect one.
Source: Local – The Hutchinson News

KS hospitals refusing rural COVID transfers

Kansas hospitals are turning away more than 100 transfer patients a month as smaller, local hospitals continue filling up at an alarming rate. In May, at the beginning of the pandemic, the University of Kansas Health System denied 40 transfers and in October it was up to 140, said Jill Chadwick, a KU spokeswoman. “November was expected to trend higher,” she said, adding that those numbers are not yet available. At the KU daily briefing Wednesday, Hays Medical Center reported currently treating 34 COVID-19 patients, which is more than third of the 85 to 90 in-patients the hospital usually averages. Dr. Heather Harris, Hays Medical Center’s medical director, said that nearly all of their COVID-19 in-patients are from rural counties without mask mandates.
Source: The Iola Register

Kansas puts vaccine priority on grocery, meatpacking workers

Gov. Laura Kelly said Friday that Kansas considers meatpacking plant workers and grocery store employees essential workers, putting them just behind health care workers and nursing home residents for coronavirus vaccines. … Kelly said Kansas’ vaccine plan calls for the first shots to go to front-line health care workers with a high risk of coronavirus exposure, including workers in nursing homes, as well as nursing home residents.
Source: KSN-TV

Soda fountain in Cimarron endures

The old-fashioned soda fountain on the corner of U.S. Highway 50 and Main Street has always been a staple in Cimarron, Kans. Generations of kids made the soda fountain the after-school hangout, while generations of adults got together for conversation and coffee. Since the building had been a combination of a soda fountain and pharmacy for over 50 years, the way that most of the locals remember the fountain is as part of Clark Pharmacy. However, in 2019, Mat and Kim Monical, owners of the pharmacy, sold the building and moved their pharmacy across the street. When the building went up for sale last year, some local citizens became concerned about the soda fountain closing.
Source: Leavenworth Times

Ark City miniature Christmas display still on, with limits

The COVID-19 pandemic has created problems around the world, including the North Pole. The North Pole Kansas in Arkansas City, that is. Because of the virus, the traditional display of ceramic buildings at 500 S. Summit St., will be scaled way back this year to allow for social distancing. Kanyon Gingher, who spearheads the annual display, said that the fundraising event began 15 years ago and grown larger every year. The display normally contains more than 650 unique lighted buildings atop more than 50 tables. This year, the display will be reduced to about 200 buildings on 30 tables.
Source: The Arkansas City Traveler

Galena hosts Christmas Parade

A Kansas city is getting in the holiday spirit. Saturday afternoon Galena held a Christmas Parade down Main Street. Local law enforcement agencies, the fire department and other organizations were in the parade. Parade goers say they are happy this event wasn’t canceled.
Source: KSNF/KODE

Governor Directs Flags Be Flown Half-Staff for Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day

In accordance with Executive Order 20-30, and in recognition of National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, December 7, 2020, Governor Laura Kelly has ordered flags throughout the State of Kansas to be flown at half-staff on Monday, December 7, 2020, until sunset. “We will never forget the tragic day of December 7, 1941, when Imperial Japan launched an attack on Pearl Harbor, killing thousands of U.S. personnel and civilians,” Governor Laura Kelly said, “That day changed the trajectory of our nation and the world. We are thankful for all the veterans who have given their lives for the cause of freedom.”

A pandemic, exhaustion and threats: Why dozens of Kansas public health officials are quitting

Nick Baldetti resigned as director of the Reno County Health Department in July. He left to head an effort to establish a school of health at McPherson College. It was a good opportunity, Baldetti said, but he likely would have stayed to see the department through the pandemic if not for the 80-hour work weeks, the hostile political environment and the threats to his family. “I had the local police watching my house because my family was home and I was not,” said Baldetti, who also served as the department’s health officer. “There was a period of time that I had escorts to and from work.” Baldetti, like his counterparts across the state, spent years preparing to deal with a public health crisis like the COVID-19 pandemic. He never imagined that when the moment arrived he would encounter such antagonism for simply doing his job.
Source: KSN-TV

Teachers cover bus routes at Haviland

The number of active COVID-19 cases continues to rise in Kiowa County last week, creating a need for adjustments at the Haviland Grade School as multiple staff members became identified as positive cases. Mark Clodfelter, USD 422 Haviland Grade School superintendent and principal, said the school has had multiple staff members affected by the coronavirus. They had enough substitutes to cover all of their classes, but the district was short on transportation staff …
Source: Leavenworth Times

Siemens Gamesa marks 10 years in Hutchinson

The novel coronavirus scuttled a public open house, but Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy celebrated 10 years of operation at its nacelle and hub assembly facility in Hutchinson on Thursday by serving a barbecue lunch to employees.Since opening, the Hutchinson facility has completed nearly 5,000 nacelles, shipping to 16 U.S. states, as well as Canada, Chile and Peru. Those nacelles could cumulatively generate enough electricity to power more than 3.8 million homes …
Source: Local – The Hutchinson News

Iola library circulates new internet hotspots

Iola Public Library has added a new service: circulating Internet hotspots. The hotspots bring an Internet connection into a home or other location and allow computers or devices to connect to it via wi-fi. There are currently five hotspots available to check out. Later this month, an additional 10 “smart hotspots” should be available. T-Mobile/Sprint is the carrier. Funding for the hotspots comes from a Broadband Partnership Adoption Grant through the Kansas Department of Commerce using CARES Act, or federal coronavirus relief, funds. The regular hotspots are suitable for those who have smartphones, computers, tablets or other devices with wi-fi capability. Those who have no computers or other devices can check out the smart hotspots, since besides bringing the Internet connection, they are themselves a device which can be used.  
Source: The Iola Register

Gov. Kelly announces ‘Stop the Spread. It’s Up to Us, Kansas’ campaign

Governor Laura Kelly and the State of Kansas on Thursday launched a COVID-19 public health campaign called “Stop the Spread. It’s Up to Us, Kansas.” The campaign shares the importance of getting tested, wearing masks and encourages social distancing this holiday season to help stop the spread of the coronavirus. Included in the campaign is a new testing website, GoGetTested.com/Kansas, that quickly identifies free testing locations throughout the state.
Source: KAKE – News

Kansas counties reject new guidance on COVID-19 quarantines

Two northeast Kansas counties on Thursday rejected at least part of the new federal and state guidelines for shortening the time people are quarantined after they’re possibly exposed to COVID-19. New guidance Wednesday from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said people who’ve been exposed to coronavirus and show no symptoms but don’t get tested can end their quarantines after 10 days, instead of 14. The new guidance also says a person without symptoms who tests negative can end a quarantine after seven days. … Public health officials in Wyandotte County announced that the Kansas City-area county is sticking with 14-day quarantines for people who’ve been potentially exposed to coronavirus…Shawnee County will allow people without COVID-19 symptoms who’ve not been tested to shorten their quarantines to 10 days, Dr. Gianfranco Pezzino, the county’s health officer, said Thursday. But he said it will not allow people who’ve tested negative to leave quarantine after seven days.
Source: KAKE – News

A postal headache in Longton, Kansas

You could call it a living mailroom nightmare that includes a crumbling building, missing bills and pandemic fears. The postal headache is the talk of the town in Longton, Kansas. But they’re not mailing it in because they can’t. The Post Office is locked up tight. “Did the city get any warning that this was going to happen?” KAKE News asked. “No, we did not. Just the note on the door,” explained Longton city clerk Bonnie Foged. Most folks told KAKE News that they first they heard of the Longton Post Office closure when they found a sign on the boarded-up front door.
Source: KAKE – News

Broadband access to rural communities

Governor Laura Kelly today announced the introduction of the new Broadband Acceleration Grant Program to expand broadband access to rural and underserved communities across the state. This year marks the first time in Kansas history that there has been a concerted, statewide, bipartisan effort to fund increased broadband access. Over the next ten years, the program seeks to invest $85 million toward bridging the digital divide in Kansas thanks to broadband modernization funding provided through the Kansas Department of Transportation’s Eisenhower Legacy Transportation Program (IKE).
Source: Gardner News

75,000 Kansans to get COVID-19 vaccinations by month’s end, Gov. Kelly announces

An estimated 75,000 Kansans will be vaccinated for COVID-19 by the end of the month, Gov. Laura Kelly announced Wednesday afternoon. Kelly said that Kansas is expecting its initial shipments of vaccines by mid-December from two pharmaceutical companies — Pfizer and Moderna. Overall, Kelly said she expects 150,000 doses to arrive in Kansas through December. Each patient will get two doses for fullest effect, which means the state will be able to vaccinate 75,000 people.
Source: Wichita Eagle.

Topeka officials project long-term savings if zoo transitions governance

City officials said Tuesday night that transitioning zoo governance from the city to a nonprofit group shifts risk away from the city government, which can have long-term savings. The city and zoo have been discussing transition governance to the non-profit group Friends of the Zoo for years, but conversations have intensified recently. The zoo’s budget in 2019 was $2.6 million and is 2.3% of the city’s total budget, according to the director of the finance department Jessica Lamendola. She said when city departments budgets are that small they might not get prioritized with funding, and transitioning the zoo to a nonprofit model could benefit the zoo.
Source: Local News | Topeka Capital-Journal

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