Kansas Municipal News
Dodge City closes City Hall to public after employee tests positive for COVID-19
Administration for the City of Dodge City Thursday reports City Hall is closed to public access until further notice after an employee at City Hall tests positive for COVID-19. “We were notified this morning that one of our employees within City Hall has tested positive for COVID-19 and is now self-isolating,” says City Manager Nick Hernandez. “We have also closed City Hall until further notice while additional testing and monitoring of employees takes place.” Dodge City reports other employees who had contact with the city employee who tested positive for the virus were sent for testing and instructed to self quarantine until cleared by health officials.
(Read more: KWCH News)
Wichita faces deficit due to COVID-19, seeks public input on where to cut
Due to revenue and tax loss from the coronavirus pandemic, the city of Wichita is facing a budget shortfall. According to Mayor Brandon Whipple, the city needs to cut roughly $11 million from this year budget and possibly as much as $16 million from next year’s. “There is no more good decisions, there are just less bad decisions” said Whipple. Wichita residents hope these cuts are not too short sighted. “We just need to have a long term vision on what is important for the Wichita economy” said Connor Hakes.
(Read more: KAKE – News)
Fairway to consider updating public comment policy at future city council meeting
The Fairway City Council Monday evening decided to table updating its public comment policy after several suggested changes from city councilmembers and input from citizens. … The draft presented to the city council included the following adjustments:
(Read more: Prairie Village Post)
Johnson County board approves plan to invest in contact tracing, testing supplies, epidemiology staff for COVID-19
After many reassurances about data privacy and government oversight, the Johnson County Commission approved a $4.1 million expansion of its public health department budget to pay for contact tracing, testing supplies and more epidemiology staff. Some commissioners, who said they were leery of certain aspects of the health department’s request, also asked for and received a pledge that the increased research on the spread of COVID-19 would be fact-based and apolitical. Officials said this year’s extra spending should be eligible for federal reimbursement under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act. After this year, the commission will review ongoing expenses for future budgets.
(Read more: Prairie Village Post)
Wichita police plan to ban kneeling on necks of handcuffed subjects, more policy changes
Wichita police plan to ban kneeling on necks of subjects who have been handcuffed, as well as several other policy changes protesters have called for. A document provided by the Wichita Police Department to the Citizen’s Review Board on Thursday listed several proposed changes to the use of force policy, which has not been updated in seven years. In addition to the ban on neck-kneeling for handcuffed subjects, the draft includes a duty to intervene for officers witnessing unethical behavior, a requirement to provide medical aid after deadly force is used and a general prohibition on shooting at vehicles. Those and other changes were added at the police chief’s request, according to the document.
(Read more: Local News |)
KDHE rolls out COVID-19 testing strategy
After months of an evolving testing strategy, Kansas has released a statewide strategy that will utilize four types of testing facilities, two methods of testing and the ability to more quickly identify a positive COVID-19 case. Kansas Department of Health and Environment Lee Norman said Thursday during a news conference the strategy will allow for a more rapid deployment force and the ability to test an entire facility such as a skilled nursing home or correctional facility. One of the testing strategy’s goals is to test two percent of the state’s population or conduct 60,000 tests a month.
(Read more: State Government – The Topeka Capital-Journal)
Dodge City receives funds for meal programs
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES) funds continue to be distributed to Kansas communities. The city of Dodge City recently received $132,000 in funding to be used for meal programs and such economic development initiatives as job retention for low- to moderate-income people.The funding received by the city was through Community Development Response Supplemental funds of the CARES Act, which aims to assist with nutritional programs.
(Read more: News – Dodge City Daily Globe – Dodge City, KS)
Ruling: Jury to decide case against former Leavenworth police officer who fatally shot man in 2017
A former Leavenworth police officer who fatally shot a man in a vehicle in 2017 cannot claim legal immunity, a ruling that leaves it to a jury to decide whether his actions were justified as self defense. Leavenworth County Judge Michael Gibbens found that the force used by then-Officer Matthew Harrington was not statutorily justified as self defense, clearing the way for the involuntary manslaughter case to proceed, The Kansas City Star reported. Harrington was indicted in August 2018 for the death of Antonio Garcia Jr., who was shot multiple times while sitting in an SUV. Harrington was fired for violating policy. The judge ruled in May that a “reasonable person” would not believe use of force was necessary or that the SUV Garcia was in could be considered a weapon.
Read more: LJWorld.com.
Appeals court: rules for city tour guides unconstitutional
A federal appeals court has ruled that a South Carolina city’s rules requiring tour guides to memorize facts about the city is unconstitutional. The unanimous ruling Thursday from the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond upholds an earlier ruling from a lower court. A libertarian legal group, the Institute for Justice in Arlington, Virginia, filed the lawsuit on behalf of several would-be tour guides. The group argued it was an unconstitutional restriction on free speech to require tour guides to receive a license to talk to tourists about the city.
(Read more: Politics & Government News |)
Lifeline Program offers relief to those struggling to keep phone service
Low income and recently unemployed Kansans may qualify for phone service discounts of up to $17.02 per month with the Lifeline program. Currently more than 10 million low-income Americans, including 35,000 Kansans, are benefiting from Lifeline discounts on home and wireless phones as well as broadband. At a time when many Americans may be unemployed or facing other circumstances that make them eligible for the program for the first time, the Kansas Corporation Commission is joining utility regulators nationwide in increasing awareness of the Lifeline program.
(Read more: Fort Scott Tribune)
USDA Ensures All Kids Can Get Free Meals This Summer as Nation Reopens
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue has announced a nationwide extension of another key flexibility for USDA’s child nutrition programs. This waiver allows local partners, who have been working overtime serving meals to kids during the health crisis, the ability to continue serving free meals to all children – regardless of where they live – for the remainder of the summer. This action is part of USDA’s ongoing commitment to making it as easy as possible for local program operators to get food to children impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
(Read more: Fort Scott Tribune)
Pittsburg commission approves funding for CHCSEK residency program facilities
The Pittsburg City Commission this week approved a grant of up to $600,000 — 10 percent of an estimated $6 million total cost — to be paid upon completion of a project to expand Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas’ facilities to accommodate its new family practice residency program. In making his case to commission, Jason Wesco, executive vice president of CHCSEK, said the organization’s goal is to provide access to healthcare, but that goal goes beyond just being a health clinic.
(Read more: Education – Morning Sun)
Individual KS districts to decide how school will look when fall semester begins
he Kansas State Board of Education Wednesday held a virtual meeting to discuss how Fall 2020 could look for schools across the state. The biggest takeaway from that meeting is that the board is going to let each individual district decide what the fall semester will look like for them. The board will be recommending guidelines as it has hundreds of educators and health officials working together.
(Read more: KWCH News)
National Guard working in Johnson County to package 4 million meals for food insecure Kansans
Social distancing requirements have made it difficult for a variety of businesses and programs to operate — including meal packaging efforts for food insecure individuals. As COVID-19 stay-at-home orders progressed volunteer groups began cancelling meal packaging events with The Outreach Program, a national nonprofit aiming to address hunger. This created a supply issue for food banks that still needed access to shelf-stable goods. Then, the Kansas National Guard stepped in. Rick McNary, vice president of strategic partnerships at The Outreach Program, received a call from the Kansas Division of Emergency Management, which was willing to fund production costs. KDEM informed McNary that the National Guard could be used as volunteers, since they were deployed and didn’t have to comply with social distancing guidelines as soldiers. Now, the guardsmen have packaged three million meals — currently working on the fourth million — for food insecure Kansans.
(Read more: Shawnee Mission Post)
10-year Treasury yield drops below 0.7% on fears of a second coronavirus wave
Treasury yields dropped on Thursday as rising fears of a second wave of the virus and a cautious economic outlook from the Federal Reserve drove investors to safe-haven bonds. The yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note plunged 6 basis points to 0.681%, hitting the lowest level since June 3. The yield on the 30-year bond fell 7 basis points to 1.440%. Yields move inversely to prices. The coronavirus pandemic remains on investors’ radar, with confirmed infections in the U.S. now exceeding 2 million and several areas of the country reporting spikes following the reopening of their economies.
(Read more: CNBC – Bonds)
Near-zero rates here to stay; “Dot plot” expects no rate changes for 3 years
The Summary of Economic Projections, released Wednesday, shows Federal Open Market Committee members expect the fed funds rate target to remain at zero lower bound through next year, with all but two participants expecting no rates hikes in 2022 as well. One member expects rates to jump a full point in 2022, while the other outlier sees rates climbing 25 basis points in 2022. Over the longer run, most members see rates at 2.5%, with others ranging from 2.0% to 3.0%. And in his post-meeting press conference, Fed Chair Jerome Powell said, “We are not even thinking about thinking about raising rates.”
(Read more: The Bond Buyer)
Shawnee to consider extending sidewalk for outdoor seating downtown during COVID-19 pandemic
Shawnee will consider allowing restaurants and bars to have temporary outdoor seating along Johnson Drive downtown. To accommodate downtown businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic, Shawnee city staff on Monday proposed a plan similar to what Leawood now offers for the food and drink service industry: Extended outdoor seating. Shawnee’s plan would include parklets. Parklets are sidewalk extensions — decks built in parallel parking spaces adjacent to restaurants and bars — where guests could sit, dine, wait or recreate. Shawnee proposes allowing parklets in parallel parking spaces on Johnson Drive. The decks must allow stormwater to drain, so they can be elevated to curb level. The parklets must also be accessible.
(Read more: Prairie Village Post)
Shawnee to provide lease assistance for Drastic Measures, a new cocktail bar coming downtown
The Shawnee City Council on Monday agreed to help pay rent for a new cocktail bar coming to downtown. The owners of Drastic Measures, a spirits and cocktail bar coming to 5817 Nieman Road, requested lease assistance for the first three years of business as they get their feet on the ground….The city’s lease contribution comes from the Shawnee Entrepreneurial and Economic Development program, which supports private efforts to reinvest and redevelop the downtown area and Nieman Road corridor, according to a city memo.
(Read more: Prairie Village Post)
Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. building new COVID-19 sample collection manufacturing facility in Lenexa
Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., a biotechnology company with offices in Lenexa, is building a new facility in the city to ramp up manufacturing of products for COVID-19 sample collection and transportation. Planning of the new $40 million manufacturing facility is underway, thanks to a contract the company received from the U.S. government last month to provide highly specialized viral transport media.
(Read more: Prairie Village Post)
Spirit to furlough hourly employees on 737 Max program in Wichita as Boeing stops work
Most Spirit AeroSystems hourly employees in Wichita directly associated with production work and support functions for the 737 program will be furloughed beginning Monday, according to Spirit. The furloughs are in response to Boeing’s directive to Spirit to stop producing 737 Max ship sets, Spirit officials said. It will affect around 900 people at the company. Spirit will implement the furloughs for the Wichita employees through July 6 for a total of 21 days, said Keturah Austin, senior manager for corporate communications at Spirit.
(Read more: Local News |)
Municipal Bond Trends for June 10, 2020
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.
Wyandotte County DA announces plans for new unit to investigate police misconduct
The Wyandotte County District Attorney’s Office on Wednesday announced plans to create an independent arm to investigate accusations of excessive force or misconduct by police officers. During a news conference, District Attorney Mark Dupree said his office hopes to add three investigators to probe complaints reported by the public, which residents will be able to submit through email and a hotline in English and Spanish. “If we are to really bring about systematic change, we must change the systems that have allowed the act of a few bad to go unseen and unchanged,” Dupree told reporters.
(Read more: Local News |)
Sedgwick County seeing slow increase in COVID-19 cases since reopening
Sedgwick County continues to see a slow increase in COVID-19 cases since reopening in late May. Health officials warn that those that do choose to go out, shouldn’t let their guards down. Sedgwick County Health Officer Dr. Garold Minns says because of the virus’s two-week incubation period, it’s hard to say for sure why the rise in cases is happening in the county. In Wichita, some continue to follow recommended guidelines from the federal and state levels, wearing masks and social distancing. Others say the feel safe without those precautions as long as they’re not considered high risk.
(Read more: KWCH News)
County tax burden rates lowest in region
Marion County has the lowest combined tax burden of any surrounding county, according a new analysis by financial technology company SmartAsset. Combined impact of income, sales, property, and fuel taxes are reflected in the analysis, released this past week. Overall, Marion County ranked 42nd lowest among the state’s 103 counties.
(Read more: Marion County RECORD)
March makes impact in McPherson
“No justice, no peace” was among many chants shouted in the McPherson community during its first-ever Black Lives Matter march on Saturday afternoon. Even with a high temperature of 98 degrees, an estimation of 400 people in different age groups all united in McPherson College and walked two miles to Lakeside Park with their signs, making their voices around the community heard while being escorted by the McPherson Police Department. For Molly Anderson, a McPherson native and one of the head organizers of this march, it was an overall success and she was pleased with the turnout and how peaceful the protest was. She believed the message was finally delivered.
(Read more: Leavenworth Times)
McPherson awarded $132,000 in grant funds to help with COVID-19 relief
McPherson was one of 66 Kansas counties and cities to receive Community Development Block Grants to support COVID-19 response. City Administrator Nick Gregory announced Monday that McPherson was awarded a total of $132,000 to help small businesses. “The City of McPherson received word that they were selected to receive a 2020 Small Cities Community Development Block Grant, CDBG-CV grant, in the amount of $132,000.00 to assist McPherson businesses with eligible working capital costs associated with economic recovery from the COVID-19 Pandemic,” Gregory said. “The original application was for $300,000, but we are extremely grateful for the funds awarded to the city.” A preliminary inquiry identified 22 local businesses in need of funds who were potentially eligible.
(Read more: McPherson Weekly News » Feed)
Manhattan city leaders hope sidewalk sales, outdoor seating will help struggling businesses
The Manhattan City Commission recently passed a new ordinance that could result in more sidewalk sales and outdoor seating areas at restaurants. The new ordinance allows businesses to apply for a permit to expand into publicly owned areas, like sidewalks and streets. The permit will allow businesses to expand outside from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. each day. The permits will expire on October 31. Deputy City Manager Jason Hilgers said he hopes the new ordinance will help both businesses and nervous consumers.
(Read more: KSNT News)
ESU President addresses budget shortfalls, plans for fall semester
Emporia State University President Allison Garrett said school leadership had cut 20 positions — including four current employees — and would be looking at more budget cuts as the university is facing a $2.2 million shortfall heading into the fall 2020 semester, during a Tuesday morning town hall. The forum addressed faculty- and student-submitted questions concerning the virus’ effect on the school’s budget, as well as covering initial reopening plans for the fall semester. “I know that you all are aware that Emporia State, like other institutions, is facing some budget challenges,” Garrett said. “I shared that with you back in early January and asked [faculty and staff] to be mindful how [they are] spending money during the rest of the fiscal year. I want to say ‘thank you,’ because you’ve certainly done that. We also recently shared that we had a need to identify $2.2 million dollars worth of budget savings.”
(Read more: Emporia Gazette)
GCCC faces almost $500,000 impact to its 2020-21 budget
Garden City Community College says it is facing a significant fiscal impact due to rising costs in maintaining its liability insurance coverage. The Board of Trustees members met Tuesday. GCCC President Dr. Ryan Ruda told them the school’s annual premium and deductible would be increasing by approximately $494,000 compared to last year. He said GCCC must pay an annual premium of $325,000 and budget for the deductible of $250,000 in the fiscal year ahead. This compares to a 2019-20 premium and deductible of $30,549 and $50,000, respectively, according to the GCCC president.
(Read more: KSN-TV)
Local businesses excited about tribal casino in Park City
In late 2019, J.R. Sartain took over ownership of 81 speedway, right before a global pandemic. … he’s hoping the addition of a tribal casino about a mile east will help business thrive. … Sartain already has plans to partner with the casino. … The city administrator’s office tells us the addition to the community is essential for growth. “So anytime that we can work with developers, bring jobs, bring other opportunities for our citizens, we’re just really excited about that,” says Dana Walden, Park City Assist. City Administrator.
(Read more: KAKE – News)
Wichita gamblers could have two casinos within 20 minutes next year
Wichita gamblers could have two casinos within 20 minutes next year if everything goes as planned for the Wyandotte Nation of Oklahoma. Billy Friend, chief of the Wyandotte Nation, said construction crews could break ground on a casino in Park City by the end of the summer and gamblers could be working the slots by 2021. The new casino would be the anchor of a massive redevelopment of 100-plus acres at the failed Wild West World amusement park near Interstate 135 and East 77th Street North, about 10 miles north of downtown Wichita.
(Read more: Local News |)
Wyandotte Nation expects Park City casino within a year
You could see slot machines as soon as next year in Park City. “In a perfect setting we would like to be breaking ground in the next 90 to 120 days,” said Wyandotte Nation Chief Billy Friend. “And within a year maybe having our first phase open.” This month the Assistant Secretary of Indian Affairs approved 10.2 acres of land into Trust for the Wyandotte Nation in Park City. This allows up to Class 2 gaming on the property as Native American Trust land. The slot machines will be those Class 2 type machines that are bingo games, but look and act like Vegas Style slot machines.
(Read more: KSN-TV)
Treasury yield comeback is real, and the 10-year could hit 1.5% within months, Wells Fargo says
Wells Fargo Securities’ Michael Schumacher sees the Treasury yield rally picking up momentum. With the Federal Reserve policy meeting on interest rates underway, the benchmark 10-year Treasury Note yield is edging closer to striking 1%. “We think in the next month, maybe two on the outside, you’ll see the 10-year top 1% and it should be comfortably above that level by the end of the year,” the firm’s head of macro strategy told CNBC’s “Trading Nation” on Tuesday. Over just the past week, the 10-year yield has surged 21%. On Tuesday, it closed at 0.824%. Due to the improving economic backdrop, Schumacher believes yields have quite a bit more room to go.
(Read more: CNBC – Bonds)
Municipal Bond Trends for June 9, 2020
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.
Zoo faces pandemic challenges, including replacing Zoobilee with Zoobilee To Go
The Sedgwick County Zoo, the state’s top attraction, has taken a triple hit from the coronavirus pandemic. “It’s taken a very drastic hit,” said executive director Jeff Ettling. The zoo’s operating budget is down $1.5 million; it had to halt the final phase of its renovation fundraising campaign with $1.7 million still to go; and now it’s canceling its signature fundraiser, the popular Zoobilee event, which raises more than $1 million each September. Yet Ettling is optimistic. Part of it is his nature, he said, and part of it is the way his staff is rallying with ideas. “There’s nothing crazy,” Ettling said he’s told his employees while brainstorming. One result: Zoobilee To Go, a virtual fundraiser instead of the traditional one at the zoo, which usually has more than 3,000 people standing shoulder-to-shoulder while in line for food or dancing at various music stages.
(Read more: Carrie Rengers: Business Columns & Blogs |)
Kansas school funding could see cuts tied to pandemic
Kansas school districts are trying to budget for some pretty big unknowns right now. No one knows if it will even be safe to have students in schools in August, and everyone’s worried about the $650 million hole COVID-19 blew in the state’s budget. Administrators are worried that if the state’s economy doesn’t rebound soon, they’ll have to make deep cuts in the middle of next school year. “There’s not a superintendent that isn’t preparing for something like that,” said Glen Suppes, the superintendent of the Smoky Valley Public Schools in Lindsborg. “We continue to hear optimism from (state education) Commissioner Randy Watson, and that schools are a priority for the governor. But I’m anxious to see how the tax revenues are going to come in.”
(Read more: Atchison Globe Now)
Derby receives funding to help businesses
After an application made following a May 26 city council meeting, the city of Derby recently learned (as of June 2) it will be receiving $132,000 in Community Development Block Grant Coronavirus Response Supplement funds through the Kansas Department of Commerce. CDBG-CV funds were made available at the state level through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Derby was one of 66 Kansas cities and counties to be awarded funding. The funds are intended to help local businesses reopen amidst the coronavirus pandemic. Based on employment members, maximum allotments would be capped at $30,000 or $50,000 for each individual business as long as they meet the necessary criteria – though Deputy City Manager Kiel Mangus said the amounts given out by the city will depend on the volume of requests.
(Read more: DerbyInformer.com – news,news/)
Marion County receives large grant to help local businesses
The Marion County Board of Commissioners met on Monday, June 8. All were in attendance at the courthouse. The meeting opened with the usual updates on COVID-19. Health Department Administrator Diedre Serene stated that there are no new cases which has been the situation for several weeks now. She suggested that for now, the weekly COVID-19 updates be suspended as Marion County seems to have accomplished the goal of flattening the curve and stopping the spread of the virus. Serene asked that everyone remember to be safe and follow the same suggestions she has been giving along the way such as proper handwashing and social distancing. “Please stay home if you are not feeling well,” said Serene.
(Read more: Hillsboro Free Press)
Shawnee Mission expects to have plans in place for educating students amid pandemic this fall by next month
The Shawnee Mission School District has tasked a group of staff members with devising a range of plans to accommodate students this coming fall — either in person or virtually — as schools across the state wade through the uncertainty caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. In a report to the board of education Monday, Superintendent Mike Fulton said the district will be relying on guidance from the state, which is expected to be released no later than July 10, before finalizing its approach for the start of the 2020-21 school year. Fulton noted that district parents and teachers had provided ample feedback about their experiences with remote learning after buildings closed in March, and that “there are some things if we’re in a virtual world that we need to do better.”
(Read more: Prairie Village Post)
Proposal to address teacher workload issues would require property tax increase for Shawnee Mission patrons
The Shawnee Mission Board of Education will need to decide by next month whether to put a new bond issue before area voters this fall — a move that, if approved, would allow the reallocation of some expenses and open up funding to hire dozens of additional secondary teachers, a key step to addressing the workload issues that dominated this year’s contentious contract negotiations. But the move would require a tax increase for district patrons, and wouldn’t lead to substantial workload reductions for a couple of years. Superintendent Mike Fulton on Monday presented the board with the results of a study by the group tasked with addressing the strategic plan goals of reducing secondary teachers’ daily class load from six sections to five, as is standard in neighboring districts. To achieve that goal, the district would need to hire 39 new high school teachers at a projected cost of $2.9 million and 22 new middle school teachers at a projected cost of $1.7 million.
(Read more: Shawnee Mission Post)
Social media challenge aimed at keeping summer interns in Wichita’s talent pipeline
Since 2018, the Greater Wichita Partnership and W/A Community of Young Professionals have partnered to host a kickoff event during Riverfest to welcome interns working in Wichita for the summer. The gathering would typically attract about 300 interns, and give them a chance to network and participate in an iconic Wichita tradition. But with Riverfest canceled and the threat of Covid-19 still lingering this summer, the two organizations decided to pivot. On Thursday, they will launch a six-week social media challenge encouraging interns to experience the region’s locations and landmarks.
(Read more: Wichita Business Journal)
Tribal casino may be build on land near Wichita. It could cost Kansas millions in taxes.
Federal officials have cleared the path for a tribal casino to be built on land just north of Wichita, setting up a potential showdown between the state of Kansas, Sedgwick County and the Wyandotte Nation of Oklahoma. The Wyandotte and others — including casino magnate Phil Ruffin and former Wichita Mayor Bob Knight — have been fighting to open a casino in Park City for decades, but legal challenges and voters have thwarted legal gambling in Sedgwick County. The proposed casino would open just south of the Kansas Coliseum and the Greyhound Park race track, both now closed, in the area that was previously Wild West World, a failed amusement park that filed for bankruptcy two months after opening in 2007. The Kansas Attorney General’s Office has repeatedly warned that opening a casino in Sedgwick County is illegal.
(Read more: Local News |)
Municipal Bond Trends for June 8, 2020
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.
Lawrence City Commission to consider agreement to power city buildings with wind energy
City leaders will soon consider an agreement that would allow nearly all of the energy that powers city buildings to come from renewable sources. As part of its meeting Tuesday, the Lawrence City Commission will consider entering into a 20-year agreement with Evergy Energy, formerly Westar Energy, for 8 megawatts of renewable energy annually. The energy would be generated from the Ponderosa Wind Farm in Beaver County, Okla., and is projected to save the city about $100,000 per year.
Read more: LJWorld.com.
After 3 decades, Douglas County Public Works director to retire; he ‘really cared about the safety of the traveling public’
A longtime Douglas County public servant who has overseen some of the county’s unsung improvements will soon retire. Public Works Director Keith Browning, 66, will leave the position later this month after having served the county for 31 years over two stints, where he has overseen the maintenance and improvement of the county’s hundreds of miles of rural roads and related infrastructure. Browning, who has been the director for the department’s last 22 years, has also overseen much larger projects, including the reconstruction of the Lone Star Lake spillway and rehabilitation of the bridge over the Kansas River in Lecompton, he told the Journal-World in a recent interview.
Read more: LJWorld.com.