Kansas Municipal News
Proposed law would increase the penalty for assaulting sports referees in Kansas
A new proposed bill would put sports officials under similar protections that police officers and judges have against assault and battery in Kansas.
Teon Wilson has been reffing for years, and Wednesday was the Holy War between Kapaun and Bishop Carroll. He said sometimes the games can be a lose-lose.
“No matter what we do, we always get attacked,” said Wilson. “People in the stands feel like it’s just okay to attack refs and say whatever they want, when it shouldn’t be like that.”
(Read more: KAKE – News)
Olathe tops in keeping waste out of landfalls
Olathe says its residents raised their recycling rate last year, diverting 42.41% of waste from landfills. That figure was up from 40.03% in 2018.
By comparison, the city said, the waste diversion rate was 38% for Johnson County as a whole, 27% in Kansas City and 34% nationally. The diversion rate is based on residential recycled material and yard waste kept out of the landfill.
“The focus of our recycling this year has been to cut down on contamination,” Public Works Director Mary Jaeger said in a news release. “Our residents have responded by ensuring the correct waste items are in the correct collection carts.”
(Read more: Joco 913 News)
Lawrence City Commission rejects new rules for Airbnbs and other short-term rentals, asks for more limitations
The debate at City Hall about how to regulate short-term rentals where the property owner lives elsewhere will continue.
As part of its meeting Tuesday, the Lawrence City Commission voted unanimously to reject a set of new rules for whole-home short-term rentals. The commission then asked staff to craft a different proposal with stricter limitations.
The ordinance the commission rejected would have been more permissive than the current regulations, which require a special-use permit for whole-home rentals. It would have instead permitted such rentals as a use by right citywide, but with certain restrictions.
Read more: LJWorld.com.
Municipal Bond Trends for February 19, 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 Advisors.
Manhattan takes step toward housing study, approves bike/ped plan
Manhattan Tuesday took the first step toward conducting a housing market analysis, approved funds for increased costs related to the planned middle school recreation centers and residents showed up in numbers to support the updated bicycle and pedestrian systems plan.
Community members filled the Manhattan City Commission chamber not only to support an updated bicycle and pedestrian systems plan, but to urge commissioners to follow through with it.
The plan updates a circa-1998 predecessor, laying out potential future projects to improve biking and walking around Manhattan. The plan prioritizes projects to be initiated over a 20 year period including installing wayfinding signage on trails and expanding bicycle parking possibilities, finishing the final 6 miles of the Linear Trail loop and creating divided bicycle lanes and two-way cycle tracks.
(Read more: 1350 KMAN)
Mercy donates hospital building, $1 million to Bourbon County
Bourbon County Economic Development Director Jody Hoener announced Tuesday the county will take the lead in creating a health care mall at what once was the Mercy Hospital Fort Scott building.
Hoener said on Monday, the county received a donation agreement from Mercy, which includes the building and $1 million.
(Read more: Fort Scott Tribune)
Are Opportunity Zones providing the opportunities Wichita needs?
“We’re only as strong as our weakest link,” said Brandon Johnson, Wichita City Councilman.
He’s talking about Wichita’s weakest neighborhoods and the plan to get them growing again. But, the help isn’t coming as fast as hoped.
Rundown neighborhoods, food deserts, a lack of jobs are all problems that define some parts of Wichita. Fixing those problems is no easy task. The city has a plan in the works, but is it working?
The goal is to help the entire city do better by growing businesses in the poorest parts of town by using something called Opportunity Zones.
(Read more: KAKE – News)
Most Sedgwick County homeowners to see higher values this year
The Sedgwick County appraiser’s office will be mailing out the annual property value notices on March 1st, and most homeowners will see a higher number.
Appraiser Mark Clark told county commissioners Wednesday that 81 percent of residential properties will be higher this year, with the average increase around six percent. Three percent of residential properties in the county will have a decrease averaging five percent, and 16 percent of residential properties will see no change.
Clark said 53 percent of commercial properties will see an increase with a typical change of seven percent. He said 19 percent will see a decrease averaging five percent, and 28 percent of commercial properties will have no change in value.
(Read more: KFDI 101.3)
City commission lifts pit bull ban in Junction City
The Junction City city commission voted to lift a more than 20-year-old pit bull ban Tuesday night.
Three commissioners voted for the lift and two voted against. There are still parameters for pit bull owners in the city. The dogs must be micro-chipped. One person or one dwelling can only own a maximum of two pit bulls. Plus, you can’t be convicted of a drug felony to own a ‘bully breed’. The dogs must also be spayed or neutered.
Emily Fawcett began pushing for the ban to be lifted about two years ago and was overcome with emotion when the ban was lifted.
(Read more: KSNT News)
More than $20 million awarded to improve safety, infrastructure at 27 KS airports
The U.S. Secretary of Transportation announced Wednesday its commitment to award $20.5 million in airport safety and infrastructure grants to 27 airports in Kansas.
The benefit to Kansas airports is part of a $520.5 million in federal support to airports across the U.S.
The goal is to keep our nation’s airports in good shape and make air travel a better experience for passengers.”
(Read more: KWCH News)
City accepts housing rehabilitation grant
An area of south-central Hutchinson now known as the Creekside neighborhood will be the target of a Community Development Block Grant awarded to the city of Hutchinson last week to upgrade housing.
The $265,600 grant is expected to help rehab 10 properties, half owner-occupied and half rental properties, Ryan Hvitlok, director of Planning and Development, advised the Hutchinson City Council on Tuesday.
To apply for the grant, the city conducted a housing assessment in June 2019 that looked at conditions of housing, helping identify neighborhoods of highest need.
(Read more: Local – The Hutchinson News)
Roeland Park adopts 6-week paid parental leave policy for city employees
The Roeland Park city council on Monday evening unanimously adopted a six-week paid parental leave policy for birth and adoptive mothers as well as spouses and partners.
It’s the first policy in northeast Johnson County to offer spouses and partners the same level, Assistant City Administrator Jennifer Jones-Lacy said. Neighboring cities such as Lenexa, Merriam and Mission have expressed interest in such a policy, Jones-Lacy said.
Shawnee adopted a paid parental leave policy in January 2019 that provides 240 hours of leave to the parent who gives birth and 120 hour of leave to the parent who does not.
(Read more: Prairie Village Post)
Kansas coalition seeks removal of barriers to professional licensing
Retired U.S. Army Col. Chris Croft is convinced a 5-year-old Kansas law removing barriers to occupational licensing, certification and registration for military spouses and service members should be broadened to cover anyone moving to the state.
“We need to do the same for all professionals that want to move to Kansas and become Kansas residents,” he said. “It acknowledges that these professionals don’t lose their skills and experience when they move to Kansas.”
While a coalition of business lobbying organizations endorse the reform, an alphabet soup of professional licensing boards and occupational associations in Kansas raised questions about the concept endorsed by Croft, a Republican House member from Overland Park. The credentialing mandate that would cut time allotted for a licensing agency’s review from two months to 10 days was considered Monday by the Senate Commerce Committee.
(Read more: State Government – The Topeka Capital-Journal)
Study: Incentives help groundwater usage
A study by University of Kansas researchers revealed a five-year, $2.9 million state program offering landowners cash to permanently retire water rights in the High Plains Aquifer was effective in high-priority conservation areas.
Analysis of the Kansas Water Right Transition Assistance Program that was developed to trim groundwater or surface water consumption showed incentives had little influence in creek subbasins or in terms of water taken for drinking purposes. The report examined program effectiveness from 2008–2012.
“Maybe it’s a start, but it’s not something you would expect to stabilize the depletion,” said Tsvetan Tsvetanov, a KU assistant professor of economics. “This is just a drop in the bucket. Essentially what we need is some alternative source of income for those people living out there, aside from irrigation-intensive agriculture.”
(Read more: State Government – The Topeka Capital-Journal)
Firm’s expansion to bring Maize Industrial Park to 100% occupancy five years after opening
A quick five years after opening, the Maize Industrial Park is going to be completely full thanks to Reiloy USA’s expansion plans there.
Reiloy, which specializes in component technology in the plastics industry, currently has a 54,000-square-foot building in the park with 68 employees.
The company is planning to spend more than $20 million on a new building and machinery. With the expansion, Reiloy also expects to hire 39 more employees in the next five years.
(Read more: Carrie Rengers: Business Columns & Blogs |)
Junction City Commission votes to lift pitbull ban
After a vote of 3-2, the Junction City Commission has repealed the city’s longstanding ban on pitbull-type dogs.
There will still be stipulations in place for pitbull owners within the city. Only two pitbulls are allowed per residence and dogs must be chipped, spayed or neutered and registered with the city.
Read more: Junction City Union.
30-year muni yield sets record low at 1.79%
Munis were mixed on Tuesday on the MBIS benchmark scale, with yields falling eight basis points in the 10-year maturity and rising by three basis points in the 30-year maturity. High-grades were also mixed with yields on MBIS AAA scale decreasing by five basis points in the 10-year maturity and increasing by less than one basis point in the 30-year maturity.
On Refinitiv Municipal Market Data’s AAA benchmark scale, the yield in the 10-year GO was two basis points lower to 1.16% and the 30-year GO was down three basis points to 1.79%, setting a new record low. The previous record was set back on Jan. 30 at 1.80%.
Read more: Bond Buyer.
Topeka woman can’t get liquor license because husband works in law enforcement
Denise Selbee-Koch’s small Topeka business focuses on empowering women.
She can’t get a liquor license because of her husband.
Kansas law forbids the spouse of a law enforcement officer from selling liquor, a relic of the state’s Prohibition past. Selbee-Koch, who is married to the police chief in Valley Falls, wants to change that.
She co-owns Dirty Girl Adventures with Jennifer Woerner. The organization specializes in guided outdoors adventure that is accessible for all ages and fitness levels. The goal is to encourage women to get outside.
(Read more: Local – The Topeka Capital-Journal)
Municipal Bond Trends for February 18, 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 Advisors.
City of Topeka to hold budget engagement workshops
Topeka’s city government on Tuesday will hold the first of nine public engagement workshops aimed at giving citizens a chance to learn about the city’s process of crafting its 2021 budget.
The gatherings come at a time when city manager Brent Trout has said he might ask the mayor and city council to vote later this year to raise Topeka’s property tax mill levy for the first time they have voted to do that since August 2013.
The mayor and council are expected in August to consider approving the city’s 2021 budget.
“How would you spend $96.5 million of the city of Topeka’s money?” the city asked Monday in a news release announcing the upcoming workshops.
(Read more: Local – The Topeka Capital-Journal)
Shawnee County property values rise most north of Kansas River
Shawnee County property values recently increased by more in areas north of the Kansas River than in areas south of the river, county appraiser Steve Bauman said Monday.
About 80% of properties in Shawnee County saw a rise in their valuation, with values increasing on average by 4% for residential properties and 3% for commercial properties, Bauman told County Commissioners Bill Riphahn, Kevin Cook and Aaron Mays at their morning meeting.
Bauman showed the commission a graphic illustrating that valuations rose by an average of 4% in most areas north of the Kansas River, compared to 3% in most areas south of the river.
(Read more: Local Government – The Topeka Capital-Journal)
Lawmakers want school districts to perform budget assessments
Kansas lawmakers are looking at bringing more oversight to how schools create their budgets.
The Senate Education Committee discussed a bill Monday that would require school districts to conduct a yearly assessment of student needs. Districts would then use that information to create the annual budget. The goal is that district money will be allocated to areas that would best help students succeed.
“What we as legislators are wanting to do, again, is to circle back and make sure that school districts are very intentional in how they’re spending the money,” explained Senator Molly Baumgardner, (R) Louisburg.
Supporters of the bill say the required assessment would help school districts better serve the needs of at-risk or under-performing students.
(Read more: KSN-TV)
Area lakes among clearest in Kansas
The Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism has announced rankings of the clearest lakes in the state — and several of those at the top of the list are located in the Mined Land Wildlife Areas scattered throughout Crawford and Cherokee counties.
“Aquatic vegetation, underwater structures, and even fish may be visible at these lakes, providing a unique view of what lies beneath the waters’ surface,” the KDWPT press release notes. “From paddleboarders looking for that Instagram-worthy photo, to anglers after the ultimate fishing challenge, Kansas’ clearest lakes should be a part of your 2020 travel plans.”
(Read more: Pittsburg, KS – Morning Sun)
Recycling changes ripple across Harvey County
Following a discussion of recycling policies late last year between Harvey County administration, the county commission and the county’s outside contractor, Waste Connections, changes went into effect at the start of 2020.
With a shrinking market for recyclables and a growing contamination rate among the loads being brought in to the Harvey County Solid Waste transfer station, Waste Connections came before the county commission with two options this past fall — to restructure its contracted hauling rates or eliminate the county’s policy on mandatory recycling.
Harvey County commissioners officially moved to repeal Resolution 2010-8, enforcing mandatory recycling for county residents, in November 2019 and also approved the implementation of a new system with bans and fines to be levied to haulers bringing in recycling loads that exceeded the acceptable contamination rate (10%) for Waste Connections.
(Read more: Local – The Topeka Capital-Journal)
Wichita Mayor Whipple takes Hot Ones challenge; eats fiery wings and says funny stuff
It’s not every day you get to watch the mayor of a large midwestern city snarf down eye-wateringly hot hot wings while being interviewed about his personal life.
But that actually happened Monday night at Newman University, where Wichita Mayor Brandon Whipple joined two other local notables, Miss Kansas Annika Wooten and Newman basketball coach R.J. Allen, in a “Hot Ones” style challenge.
The event, part of Newman’s basketball homecoming week, was a local takeoff on the hit Web series in which celebrities answer interviewer questions while gagging on progressively spicy chicken wings. A television version of the show premiers Thursday on the truTV network.
(Watch: Local News |)
Firefighters who can sew? Shawnee team may get teased but save department time, money
When a firefighter rips his or her uniform, repairing it isn’t quite as simple as ironing on a patch. Although it used to take weeks or months of waiting and thousands of dollars to repair their gear, the firefighters at the John B. Glaser Fire Station in Shawnee can have everything fixed in a few days.
Capt. Andy Fenstermann, who has been a firefighter for Shawnee for seven years, was the first to take on the task of learning to repair firefighting gear. And it’s not quite as simple as many might think. At the time, Fenstermann had pants that needed to be fixed.
“I actually approached the chief with, ‘Hey, can my mom just fix these?’ And he said, ‘No.’ So I did a little bit of research and found that most manufacturers for the gear will teach you how to sew and certify you in fixing your own bunker gear for your department, and they’ll do it for free,” he said.
(Read more: Joco 913 News)
Changes coming to look of Hutchinson water tower – eventually
The City Council on Tuesday agreed to relight the city’s elevated water tower off of Avenue A with spotlights shining up from the ground, rather than atop the tower.
The board, however, couldn’t reach consensus on a paint design for the million-gallon tank which marks the city’s southern entrance and tabled the issue for two weeks.
The city staff presented two design options.
The first is with the entire tower painted in a blue-gray color, with the Hutchinson city flag and the word “Hutchinson” in black across the top half of the tank.
(Read more: Local – The Hutchinson News)
Uniontown High School moving away from standardized testing
The Uniontown Schools Board of Education is receiving an update on a re-design project at the high school.
Uniontown High School wants to move the focus away from standardized testing to prepare juniors and seniors for after high school.
The school will provide break-out sessions for students to learn life skills.
Some of the sessions will discuss filing taxes, buying a car, personal finance, credit card education, surviving the first year of college, and more.
The school district is currently in the planning phase and hopes to completely implement the re-design next school year.
(Read more: KSNF/KODE – FourStatesHomepage.com)
Nine-month long boil water advisory lifted for City of Ozawkie
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment announced it’s rescinded a 9-month long boil water advisory on Tuesday. The advisory was issued on May 11, 2019 due to a flooded well.
People of Ozawkie had to get their drinking water from bottles or from a tank of water brought to the middle of the town.
KDHE said the latest laboratory testing samples collected don’t show any evidence of contamination. The department also said all other conditions that placed the system at risk of contamination are deemed to be resolved.
(Read more: KSNT News)
Kansas secretary of state calls for changes in election offices
The top elections official in Kansas is pushing to make the state’s central voter registration database more secure by changing how counties tap into it. Some local officials are nervous about what they see as a big project in an unusually busy election year.
Secretary of State Scott Schwab has told county election officials that he wants them to use dedicated tablets, laptops or computers not linked to their counties’ networks to access the state’s voter registration database. He is promising to use federal funds to cover the costs. But some county election officials are nervous about such a huge undertaking in an election year.
Sedgwick County election commissioner Tabitha Lehman talked to county commissioners earlier this month about the change, which is expected to be in place before the primary election in August.
(Read more: KFDI 101.3)
KS law could get tougher against drivers using cell phones
Kansas lawmakers could add teeth to laws prohibiting cellphone use while driving.
A bill introduced in Topeka last week would expand what could get you pulled over and how much you could pay.
At Miller’s Towing and Recovery in Wichita, drivers say when it comes to distracted driving, they’ve nearly seen it all. …
For workers like tow-truck drivers, the distracted drivers on the road make an already challenging, stressful job even more perilous.
(Read more: KWCH News)
Northeast Wichita residents ask city to help develop new grocery store
Residents of northeast Wichita and members of the NAACP Youth Council are asking the city to help in finding and developing a grocery store for their area.
Northeast Wichita was identified as a “food desert” by a 2013 study and the Health and Wellness Coalition of Wichita is working on a ten-year food system master plan that will look at improving access to healthy foods. The Coalition is now looking for community input as they develop the plan for presentation to the city council later this year.
Youth Council member Martel Carter told council members that in northeast Wichita there are more liquor stores than grocery stores, and people have to travel farther to find a store with healthy foods.
(Read more: KFDI 101.3)
Artists chosen for project to celebrate Wichita’s 150th birthday
The community organization Together Wichita has chosen artists and teams that will be working to design and paint 13 Keeper of the Plains sculptures as part of a tribute to the city’s 150th birthday.
The project is called Keeper 150, and it will have ten-foot-tall Keeper sculptures that will be placed at city parks. More than 50 artists attended an informational meeting in January and and submissions were accepted through February 3rd.
(Read more: KFDI 101.3)
Columbus voters to decide $14 million bond issue
Voters in the Columbus School District could soon be deciding a $14 million bond issue.
If passed, this project would add four storm shelters to their high school, reorganize students and also shut down Highland Elementary.
Brian Smith, Superintendent, Columbus School District, said, “Really we’re focused on school safety and security and becoming more efficient with the school district going forward.”
(Read more: KSNF/KODE – FourStatesHomepage.com)
Roeland Park to consider city-level move making racially discriminatory HOA language illegal
The Roeland Park city council on Monday evening discussed an amendment to its non-discrimination ordinance that would outlaw discriminatory language in home owners associations covenants.
Although the United States Supreme Court has found racially restrictive covenants unenforceable, many property-related documents “in Roeland Park still contain covenants banning African Americans, Jews and other ethnic groups from ownership or occupancy,” according to city documents. Councilmember Benjamin Dickens, alongside Kelly and the city attorney, spearheaded the effort by bringing the amendment forward with a memorandum.
(Read more: Prairie Village Post)
Expansion of STAR bonds could fund development around KU Medical Center
A Kansas Department of Commerce official told lawmakers Monday that expanding the scope of STAR bonds would allow the agency to approve public funding for a development project around the University of Kansas Medical Center.
Skeptical House Republicans questioned David Soffer, policy director for the commerce department, on legislation that would overhaul and extend the use of Sales Tax Revenue Bonds, a 20-year-old state program aimed at developing tourist attractions. The program is set to expire this year.
Soffer defended the agency’s proposal to add “significant” medical facility and business offices to the list of projects eligible for taxpayer-supported investments. These developments would attract visitors who spend money just like traditional tourist attractions, Soffer said.
(Read more: Local – The Hutchinson News)
Upcoming Trainings & Workshops!
Wednesday, February 22, 2023 |
| Water Rate Checkup Tool Workshop (Junction City) 2/22/2023 Location: Junction City, Kansas Time: 9:00 AM – 3:30 PM |
Kansas Department of Labor rules Shawnee Mission 3-year unilateral contract was impermissible
The Kansas Department of Labor sided with the Shawnee Mission teachers union on Friday, ruling that the school board committed a “prohibited practice” when it imposed a three-year unilateral contract.
The teachers union challenged the legality of the contract, which was approved by the school board on Jan. 30 after negotiations failed. The National Education Association-Shawnee Mission filed an emergency prohibited practice complaint with the labor department claiming the district did not have the authority to issue such a long-term unilateral contract.
The labor department agreed, stating that by imposing a three-year contract, the district denied the union its right to negotiate terms for the coming school years.
(Read more: Joco 913 News)
Senate bill may end tax lid law
The Senate Committee on Assessment and Taxation on Thursday advanced a bill to the full Senate that would effectively end Kansas’ tax lid law but substitute another in its place.
Senate Bill 294, which would take effect Jan. 1, 2021, if passed, advanced from the taxation committee after an hour-long hearing Thursday that involved a number of other bills. …
SB294 is considered a transparency bill but it essentially forces cities and counties and certain other taxing entities to keep budgets even from year to year. Going above a revenue neutral rate, a term added to the bill on Thursday, would require notification of affected property owners and a public hearing. Failure to follow the procedures in the bill, if it becomes law, means the county or city would have to refund to property owners the taxes collected over the revenue neutral rate.
(Read more: Parsons Sun)
Municipal Bond Trends for February 14, 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 Advisors.
KDOT accepting cost share applications for spring 2020
After a highly successful first round of the Kansas Department of Transportation’s Cost Share Program last fall, a second round of applications are now being accepted for spring 2020. Applications will be accepted from Feb. 3 through April 15.
The Cost Share Program is designed to provide financial assistance that leverages state funding with local and private funding for projects related to economic development as well as job growth and retention. It will provide funding to local entities for construction projects that improve safety, increase the total transportation investment and help both rural and urban areas of the state improve their transportation system.
(Read more: Pratt, KS – Pratt Tribune)
OP Mayor Carl Gerlach talks U.S 69 expansion, public-private partnerships at 2020 State of the City
After 60 years of incorporation as a city, Mayor Carl Gerlach said Thursday that he credits Overland Park’s success to a history of intentional leadership.
Hundreds gathered at the Overland Park Convention Center on yesterday afternoon to hear Gerlach deliver the 2020 Overland Park State of the City address. Gerlach mentioned the various factors that led to the city’s recognition on lists as a great place to live, including education, strong community relations and quality of life.
“Awards are nice, but the attributes that lead to them don’t just happen,” Gerlach said. “They require intentional leadership — for us that’s 60 years of intentional leadership. I once heard someone say while other cities are playing checkers, Overland Park plays chess.”
(Read more: Prairie Village Post – Neighborhood news and events for Prairie Village, Fairway, Mission Hills)
Another 13 Keeper statues will be added to city parks in celebration of Wichita’s 150th
A bunch of Keepers are about to join the parade that started in Wichita in 2015.
Together Wichita, a nonprofit made up of businesses that organize and finance projects intended to better the city, will be dispersing 13 10-foot-tall Keepers on Parade sculptures around Wichita as part of a celebration of Wichita’s 150th birthday, which will be marked this summer.
Artists have already been selected to decorate the new sculptures, and each of the city’s six City Council districts will receive two. One will be designed and painted for Mayor Brandon Whipple.
The artists will get the fiberglass sculptures in March and will have until the end of June to finish painting them. Details on their unveiling will be revealed later, said Together Wichita project coordinator Tessa Brungardt.
(Read more: Local News |)
AG Derek Schmidt: City of Frontenac violated KORA with fee request
Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt has notified the City of Frontenac that it violated the Kansas Open Records Act (KORA) when it requested a $3,500 fee in order to furnish copies of public records to a reporter.
In October 2019, a representative of the media filed a KORA complaint with the attorney general’s office alleging, in part, that the city’s $3,500 fee request to furnish public records he requested on September 18 was unreasonable. Upon investigation, the attorney general’s office determined that Frontenac’s fee request was unreasonable and thus violated the KORA because it failed to explain or justify its $3,500 fee request, including why it was seeking $225.00 per hour for any time spent by its outside legal counsel.
“While the city may recover its actual costs in responding to a KORA request, those costs must still be reasonable,” the attorney general’s office wrote in a finding of violation. “An hourly rate of $225.00 per hour for attorney time is per se unreasonable. Outside counsel may charge a governmental entity for its services. However, based on the public policy and purpose of the KORA, it is unreasonable for a public agency to pass those costs onto a requester without a significant reduction in the hourly fee rate.”
(Read more: Kansas Attorney General News Releases)
Kansas elections chief’s security plan causes local unease
The top elections official in Kansas is pushing to make the state’s central voter registration database more secure by changing how counties tap into it.
Some local officials are nervous about what they see as a big project in an unusually busy election year.
Secretary of State Scott Schwab has told county election officials that he wants them to use dedicated tablets, laptops or computers not linked to their counties’ networks to access the state’s voter registration database. He is promising to use federal funds to cover the costs.
But some county election officials are nervous about such a huge undertaking in an election year.
(Read more: KSN-TV)