Kansas Municipal News
Commerce study critical of incentives offered in Rural Opportunity Zones
A new report from the Kansas Department of Commerce concludes a state program that provides cash incentives for those who move to rural areas failed to influence relocations or curb systemic population declines across the state.
Commerce secretary David Toland told lawmakers in hearings this week that rural communities would be better served by offering a menu of region-specific incentives that have yet to be identified.
Kansas between 2012 and 2018 spent about $12 million on the Rural Opportunity Zones program. More than 2,000 individuals received either income tax credits or student loan assistance.
(Read more: Local – The Topeka Capital-Journal)
Wichita street projects for 2020 total $215M, mayor says
The city of Wichita has 16 street and bridge projects — either underway or planned — for the coming year that total more than $215 million.
Wichita Mayor Brandon Whipple highlighted some of the projects during his first briefing for media.
He showed slides of the Kellogg and Webb bridge with new aesthetic lighting. The LED lights will include different colors for each season, he said, as well as designs for holidays such as an American flag for Memorial Day. The same lighting will be installed for the Greenwich bridge, he said.
Wichita Mayor Brandon Whipple talks about street projects for 2020
The inauguration of Brandon Whipple as Wichita’s 102nd mayor marks a new era in local politics.
A lot of questions are on the table as the 37-year-old Democrat assumes the “non-partisan” position at the helm of City Hall.
But one big question stands out: How the hell did this relatively unknown, brash, outspoken, non-traditional politician displace an incumbent mayor who was backed by all the traditional power centers in local politics?
(Read more: Local News |)
Gardner’s plans to annex Hillsdale Water Plant in Miami County stalls
Last September, the Gardner City Council adopted a Consent for Annexation for the Hillsdale Water Treatment plant, located at 22705 South Moonlight Rd., in Miami County.
The Gardner City Council voted to start the process of annexing the city’s water treatment plant during a Sept. 3 meeting. At that time, Ryan Denk, city attorney, told council members that because the property was owned by the city, it did not have to go before the Miami County Commissioners and could be approved by the city council at the next meeting.
Miami County commissioners apparently disagreed, and the property has yet to be annexed by the City of Gardner. It will next be considered Jan. 15.
According to posted minutes from the Gardner Sept. 16 meeting, “Attorney Denk said no, the initial communication with Miami County was that an island annexation has to go before the county commissioners, except on city-owned land. If it’s city-owned property, we approve a consent or petition to ourselves. At the next meeting, you’ll approve an ordinance, and per Kansas Statute KSA 12 5282, an ordinance is all that’s needed, not county commission approval.”
Miami County Commissioners had a different interpretation.
According to an article in the Miami County Republic, Rob Roberts, Miami County commission chair, asked Denk, “How do you folks explain the fact that you began building your project prior to even receiving any oversight from the county and prior to us even having your annexation request?” Roberts asked. “Is it because you just simply don’t want to be under the county’s jurisdiction?”
Denk replied that the annexation petition was filed before the work began
(Read more: Gardner News)
‘Long time coming:’ After 15 years, a building rises at Mission Gateway in JoCo
For the first time in 15 years, something new is rising from the dirt and weeds of the long-vacant site of the former Mission Mall in Johnson County.
After years of false starts, construction is well underway at the Mission Gateway development — a $225 million project that’s highly visible for commuters along Shawnee Mission Parkway, just west of Roe Avenue. It will include a massive entertainment complex, food hall, apartments, offices and shops.
“It’s been a long time coming, that’s for certain,” Mission Councilman Ken Davis said. “I am glad that we’ve persisted and we’ve kept our relationship with the developer on track. He has stuck with it, and we’re grateful for that. I think it’s going to be a real benefit for the city.”
(Read more: KC Star Local News)
Power restored in Hays after outages amid falling ice
The power has been restored in Hays Friday evening.
The city of Hays, as well as other parts of Ellis County, had been affected by a power outage Friday. Officials say that falling ice caused some of the breakers in the area to blow.
The Midwest Energy Inc. outage viewer said about 500 customers in the area had been affected.
(Read more: KSN-TV)
Topeka City Council may undo previously approved move to outsource
Topeka’s governing body has three new members as it prepares Tuesday to consider rescinding the action it took last month aimed at outsourcing the city’s program that provides grant funding to social service agencies.
The governing body, which consists of the nine city council members and Mayor Michelle De La Isla, plans to meet at 6 p.m. in its chambers at 214 S.E. 8th. The Shawnee County Commission won’t meet Monday because of the Martin Luther King holiday.
New Topeka City Councilwoman Christina Valdivia-Alcala proposed last week that the city’s governing body rescind the action it took Dec. 17 in a 7-2 vote to authorize city staff members to solicit proposals from anyone interested in operating the program through which the city provides grant funding to social service agencies. Votes from six governing body members would be needed to undo that.
(Read more: Local – The Topeka Capital-Journal)
4.4 magnitude earthquake shakes ground near Hutchinson. Did you feel it?
A 4.6 magnitude earthquake shook the ground near South Hutchinson Sunday afternoon, geologists said.
The U.S. Geological Survey reported the earthquake at around 1:08 p.m. about a mile west to southwest of the town in Reno County. The USGS initially recorded the quake as a 4.4 magnitude, but the Kansas Geological Survey later reported it was a 4.6 magnitude.
Geologists ask those who felt the ground shake to report it online. A USGS map shows the quake was felt in Wichita, Dodge City, Hays, Kansas City, Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Lincoln and elsewhere.
(Read more: Local News |)
Roeland Park looks to move forward on historical markers, Roe House replica in 2020
The Roeland Park city council this month set plans to work toward completion of two unfinished projects from its 2019 agenda: the Roe House replica at Nall Park and historical markers regarding the Roe family as well as the city’s general history.
“There’s a few items that were budgeted for and that staff and the governing body has undertaken, but for a myriad of reasons, were not accomplished in 2019,” Mayor Mike Kelly said.
The goal of the historical markers is to honor and recognize the Roe family, after whom the city is named. Councilmember Jennifer Hill, who was tasked with overseeing the initiative, said that although there are plenty of ideas, she and the others working on the project want to ensure the final product hasn’t been neglected.
(Read more: Prairie Village Post – Neighborhood news and events for Prairie Village, Fairway, Mission Hills)
Recycling report tops Pratt County meeting
The Pratt County Recycling Center continues to reduce the total amount of waste going into the Pratt County Landfill. Jason Winkel, county landfill manager, said the average ton per day of 14.9 tons at the landfill in 2019 was down one ton from 15.9 tons per day in 2018. The total intake for 2019 was 10,497 tons and that was down 521.58 tons from the previous year. Winkel presented recycle center and landfill stats to the Pratt County Commissioners at their regular Monday meeting. Commissioner Glenna Borho was absent from the meeting.
At the recycling center for 2019, plastic totals were up 1.7 tons, glass up 4.9 tons, aluminum up 1.3 tons and tin up 2.8 tons. Newspapers were down 11.0 tons, chipboard up 22.2 tons, office pack down 9.5 tons, magazines up 6.12 tons, phone books up 3.5 tons and cardboard down 5.5 tons. The total fiber intake for 2019 was up 5.9 ton from 2018.
While many bring their cardboard to the recycling center, the center also has a cardboard route covering 12 businesses and that route brought in 27.3 tons of material.
(Read more: Pratt, KS – Pratt Tribune)
Property Taxes Sink Farmland Owners
Policymakers in Nebraska, Iowa and other agriculture-intensive Midwestern states prioritize property tax cuts, Loughead said. “But real, lasting property tax reform is difficult to accomplish, so these debates can take years to play out.”
Nebraska also would use excess state revenue to increase state aid to K-12 education so school districts are less reliant on property taxes. In his budget address this week, Republican Gov. Pete Ricketts recommended putting roughly $500 million over the next three years toward property tax credit relief by controlling local and state spending. Ricketts increased the property tax credit relief fund by more than 20% last year.
(Read more: Route Fifty – All Content)
Mysterious drone sightings reported in Marshall County
At least two sets of drones flying in formation were reported in Marshall County in the past week. They’re among several reports of groups of drones flying in Nebraska, northern Kansas and northeast Colorado in December and January.
Marshall County Sheriff Dan Hargrave said Monday that a caller reported a set of drones over a farm about a half mile south of Bremen about 1:30 a.m. Saturday.
Hargrave said no action was taken. Marshall County Undersheriff Tim Ackerman said Tuesday that the agency didn’t report it to the Federal Aviation Administration because they were waiting to see whether more reports were made.
(Read more: The Marysville Advocate)
Riley County losing out on $661,000 in revenue since mortgage tax phase out
Riley County lost out on $661,000 in tax revenue in 2019 mortgage registration fees after the Kansas legislature voted in 2014 to begin a five-year phase out of fees, said Debbie Regester, the county’s register of deeds.
“I guess I’m the only register of deeds in the state of Kansas that still continues to gripe about this or bring it to the board,” Regester said. “In counties that are much larger than ours, I can’t even imagine how much revenue they’ve lost.”
In 2018, the last year of the tax’s phaseout, the county collected $200,792 in mortgage registration tax fees. No tax was collected in 2019, but Regester said that if the 0.026% mortgage registration tax were still in place, the county would have collected $661,000.
(Read more: DerbyInformer.com – news,news/)
JoCo program focuses on jobs for people with disabilities
A Johnson County agency has set two meetings for families interested in finding community employment for loved ones with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
The discussion will focus on Project SEARCH, which is for individuals 18 and over. Operated by Johnson County Developmental Supports, the program places people in a host business, where they participate, in three internship rotations and learn marketable, transferable skills.
“The goal of the program is employment for each intern — defined as a minimum of 16 hours per week in a competitive, integrated setting, earning a prevailing wage or higher,” the county said in a news release. The program will begin its seventh year in August.
(Read more: Joco 913 News)
City of Wichita launches interactive map for snow plow tracking
Condition of roads in south central Kansas are changing with the wintry mix making its way into the metro area. With the rain, ice, and snow expected overnight Thursday, it could create possible slick spots and make travel tricky.
The City of Wichita now has a new interactive web page that allows citizens to track the location of the City’s snow plows.
(Read more: KSN-TV)
Sales tax on Netflix? State budget proposal could add to your bill
The state budget presented to lawmakers by Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly comes with a recommendation to add a sales tax on online services where you can watch your favorite movies, play your favorite video games and listen to your favorite music.
The tax on “all sales of digital property and subscription services,” includes music and video games you download and streaming services including Netflix, Hulu, Disney+ Amazon Prime, etc…
The added sales tax to “all sales of digital property” would take effect July 1, the proposed budget says.
(Read more: KWCH News)
Council members and activists react to proposed Riverfront plan without Century II
The final plans for the Arkansas riverfront are out and they do not include century two. Tuesday night the Riverfront Legacy Master Plan Coalition unveiled its vision for the riverfront. Some are upset it gets rid of the iconic round blue roof building in downtown.
A variety of Wichita city council members say they have been receiving a number of calls in regards to the proposal. Council member, Brandon Johnson say if he had to vote today he would be in favor of the master plan. “Our performing arts community and city deserve to have world class performing arts. Our citizens have demanded more interactive green space by the river that also allows them to engage the river more and this gives us convention space that will attract better opportunities for our citizens,” said Johnson.
(Read more: KSN-TV)
After current tech showed reliability issues, Mission moves to replace police body cameras
The Mission city council on Wednesday approved the expenditure of just over $175,000 to replace the police department’s aging in-car video and body camera equipment.
A loss of man hours and equipment failure led the department to look for a replacement system, according to city documents. As previously reported, the body cameras Mission police officers have been using aren’t “high quality” and weren’t functional in some situations. Police Chief Ben Hadley had said the current body cameras, which are now about six or seven years old, would fall off in the middle of a sprint or physical confrontation.
(Read more: Prairie Village Post – Neighborhood news and events for Prairie Village, Fairway, Mission Hills)
Municipal Bond Trends for January 16, 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.
Hesston’s wastewater operator thrives in isolation at wastewater plant
Kyle Headrick likes being left all alone to oversee operations of Hesston’s wastewater treatment plant.
“I’m not a huge people person, so I thought I would enjoy it out here,” he said.
Kirk Matz asked Headrick if he was interested in working for the city in early 1989. The former master plumber said he was if he could get a job at the wastewater treatment plant after Bill Nitzsche retired. After about seven years of working for the water department, Headrick switched departments.
Headrick spends his days keeping track of effluent, bacteria levels and inflows and dewatering sludge, among other chores. He said he rarely heard feedback because most sewage problems happened with the collection system, such as sewer backups.
“Most people don’t even know this is here, I don’t think,” he said about the plant at 7119 N. Hesston Road.
(Read more: Harvey County Now)
Jayhawk Wind Farm Project causing concerns in Bourbon County
Tensions heighten with Bourbon County residents as they go before commissioners to voice their concern with the Jayhawk Wind Farm Project.
This afternoon, commissioners held a forum along with representatives from Jayhawk Wind to hear how the turbines could affect the community.
Kim Simons lives in the county and isn’t happy about the possibility of a turbine being on her property.
She says she’s afraid the turbines won’t benefit those whose land they’re on.
And, she adds she doesn’t want her tax dollars going to something that might not benefit the community.
(Read more: KSNF/KODE – FourStatesHomepage.com)
Boeing 737 Max production halt in Wichita ‘was not our fault,’ county commissioner says
The new chairman of the Sedgwick County Commission said the economic issues in Wichita from the suspension of the Boeing 737 Max are “not our fault,” adding that he expects a long-term recovery “will be right around the corner.”
Pete Meitzner, who was chosen as the commission chairman on Wednesday, told reporters at a news conference that the county can “get through” mass layoffs at the largest employer in the state’s largest city.
”This is not good news, but we have experienced real economic downturn that resulted in far more numbers of people losing their jobs,” Meitzner said. “This was not our fault. The Max was not our fault, but we are suffering from it. But the rest of the country is still economically going, so we can get through this.”
(Read more: Local News |)
Bagwell wants city to ease approach toward property owners
Incoming Hutchinson City Councilmember Sara Bagwell will take office next week, and her message to the Hutchinson Housing Commission resonated with some members.
On Wednesday afternoon, Bagwell urged a change in the city’s approach toward owners of properties not compliant with city code. After she and incoming City Councilmember Steve Garza left the commission session and after the commission dealt with its regular meeting agenda, commissioners returned to the earlier discussion.
Housing Commissioner Aubrey Patterson agreed with changing the tone and look of the official letter to property owners to make it friendlier and less threatening, but doesn’t want to change the city’s standards. Others concurred with Patterson. Fellow Commissioner Roy Little said he was shocked when he first saw the letter, saying it “was written by lawyers.”
(Read more: Local – The Hutchinson News)
$1 billion plan replaces Century II, transforms Wichita’s downtown riverfront
The future of downtown Wichita’s Riverfront and how much that future will cost comes into focus.
Tuesday night, the Riverfront Legacy Master Plan Coalition’s design team revealed a plan that includes a new performing arts and convention center and tears down Century II.
The design team expects the project for to cost just north of $1 billion (somewhere between $1.1 billion and $1.2 billion). With the expected cost, the team revealed where this cost will be covered.
(Read more: KWCH News)
Lindsborg pursues RHID to jumpstart new housing market
The City of Lindsborg is in the process of establishing a Rural Housing Incentive District (RHID) for a new housing development called Stockholm Estates that will break ground this spring.
The Stockholm Estates subdivision, with 150 planned lots, will be located on the east side of Lindsborg to the west of Elmwood Cemetery between Wells Fargo Rd and E. Saline St.
RHIDs allow cities of less than 60,000 population to use tax dollars to reimburse developers for the cost of installing new infrastructure. These districts are eligible for residential uses only and can only be used for the addition of public infrastructure projects.
(Read more: McPherson Weekly News » Feed)
Goessel Schools closed Thursday and Friday due to widespread illness
The Goessel school district (USD 411) closes for the rest of the week and cancels activities through the weekend “due to high numbers of ill students.”
Superintendent John Fast tells Eyewitness News the district is dealing with Influenza A, B and what’s commonly known as the “stomach flu.” He says 61 out of 291 students are sick.
Fast says the district called in the Marion County Health Department for an on-site consultation. After that, the district felt it was best to keep kids home.
(Read more: KWCH News)
City of Wichita seeks public input to improve transit
When it comes to getting around your community, Wichita’s leadership seeks input for improvement.
A survey conducted by Wichita Transit, in coordination with the Wichita Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (WAMPO) aims to identify local interests “in an effort to better align routes, bus stops, and amenities with ridership patterns and regional priorities for walkability.”
A public open house and mobile meetings are set from noon to 3 p.m., and 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday at the Wichita Transit Center, 214 South Topeka Street.
(Read more: KWCH News)
Wichita Police Department sees record number of women in latest recruiting class
A dozen woman will soon start on a new career path and in that process, set a new record for the Wichita Police Department. The department says this group of future female officers is the most women it’s ever had in a recruiting class.
“it’s our time to shine,” WPD recruit Vanessa Campos says.
She says she’s pursuing a career with the department to give back to the community where she grew up. She says she decided that joining Wichita’s police force is the best way for her to help keep her city safe.
Wichita Police Sgt. Jeremy Vogel says adding diversity to the force can make the department more successful in keeping the community safe.
(Read more: KWCH News)
Coming Soon to Pittsburg: New Schlanger Park Attraction
Pittsburg city commissioners dive right into the first meeting of 2020 by giving the green light on a new project at Schlanger Park that is sure to make a splash.
The city recently was awarded a grant through the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism called the “Land and Water Conservation Fund.”
That funding will go to a project that will remodel the old swimming pool at Schlanger Pakr into a splash pad.
It was the city commission who officially accepted the grant Monday night.
But the Parks and Rec Department announced that thanks to the Everybody Plays Committee along various city staff, contractors, and donors across the community, the grant had been matched.
(Read more: KSNF/KODE – FourStatesHomepage.com)
Municipal Bond Trends for January 15, 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.
Shawnee launches hotline for odor complaints about landfill
The city of Shawnee has launched a new hotline phone number for people to call if they have a complaint about odor from the landfill. …
This makes a slight change to the Citizen Service Request system that the city has in place for addressing issues. Previously, the city had taken odor complaints linked to the landfill through an online system or through the city’s Shawnee Connect app.
Julie Breithaupt, communications manager for Shawnee, said the reason behind the change is to allow landfill management to address odor concerns more quickly and efficiently.
(Read more: Shawnee Mission Post – Community news and events for northeast Johnson County)
Understanding Electric Franchise Agreements
Join the National League of Cities and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory to learn more about what franchise agreements are, how to prepare for a new agreement, and how they can be used to help meet your energy objectives.
And stay tuned for part two of this series, where we will investigate how cities have integrated renewable energy objectives into their agreements with lessons learned for other cities with similar goals.
(Read more: nlc.org/contents/rss-feed)
Riley County commissioners begin process for new planning and development director
The Riley County Commission has started the process to find a new planning and development director, after learning Monday that current director Monty Wedel plans to retire in September.
Human Resources Manager Cindy Volanti says a summary was used in the past for previous department head hiring processes. They will advertise the position on various websites, which Volanti says won’t cost too much. The price ranges from around $1,000 to $1,500.
As for the timeline to fill the position, Volanti says the job posting will be online for a whole month from April 1 to May 1, conducting primary interviews in May before moving onto secondary interviews. If those candidates do not meet their requirements, they will post the listing again for another month.
(Read more: 1350 KMAN)
Manhattan working on updated bike, pedestrian system plan
Manhattan planners are envisioning a future with improved bicycle and pedestrian routes, including additional bikeways and protected cycletracks alongside city streets.
City commissioners Tuesday discussed an update to the Bicycle and Pedestrian Systems Plan, which lays out potential future projects to improve biking and walking around Manhattan. The previous plan was adopted in 1998.
City administration created the plan, with input from Kansas State University, USD 383, RCPD, the Chamber and area developers. Feedback was also sought from stakeholders such as Downtown Manhattan, Inc. and the Aggieville Business Association as well as the Rotary Club. Manhattan paid $40,000 to formulate the plan, leveraging a nearly $150,000 KDOT grant to assist as well. Funds for various projects will be sourced from the 2017 voter-approved Parks and Recreation sales tax, the City-University fund and an assortment of federal and state grants. In recent years, Manhattan has been able to leverage $1.6 million from $270,000 of city investment for trail projects.
(Read more: 1350 KMAN)
Public Hearing Set for El Dorado CID
During Monday night’s City of El Dorado Commission meeting, the Commission decided to set a public hearing for the establishment of a Community Improvement District (CID) Sales Tax in the amount of 2% for the Super 8 by Wyndham located at 2530 W Central Avenue in El Dorado.
The purpose of the CID is to finance the costs of refurbishing the motel.
The estimated costs to acquire, improve, remove, renovate, reconstruct, maintain and/or extend the proposed project is $1,850,000. The City will retain an on-going administrative service fee from the proceeds of the Sales Tax, in an amount equal to 5% of the total eligible costs of the Project, as the administrator of the district.
(Read more: andoveramerican.com)
Sunflower Electric abandons proposed Kansas coal power plant
Sunflower Electric Power Corp. has abandoned its proposed coal-fired power plant in southwest Kansas after nearly 15 years of pushing for the project, handing a huge victory to environmentalists who opposed the plan from the start.
The utility said in a news release Wednesday that it will allow the air permit for the Holcomb expansion project to expire on March 27.
Sunflower Electric already operates one plant near Holcomb and had proposed building an adjacent $2.2 billion, 895-megawatt facility.
Sunflower Electric and development partner, Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, together invested more than $100 million in the now-abandoned project.
(Read more: KSN-TV)
Kansas park system absorbing $11M hit from 2019 flooding
The top Kansas parks administrator said Wednesday torrential rains that produced sustained flooding lat year had an estimated $11 million cumulative impact on budgets of the agency responsible for oversight of the state’s recreational parks system.
Brad Loveless, secretary of the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism, said the agency would proceed with repairs in 2020 and continue the application process for Federal Emergency Management Agency disaster reimbursements. The state experienced flooding conditions for more than 250 days, especially in eastern Kansas, that limited visitor access and usage at the two dozen parks scattered across Kansas, he said.
“Cumulatively, we estimated the impact to be about $11 million on our budget,” Loveless said. “The great majority is in repairs.”
(Read more: News – Salina Journal)
Kansas won’t be ready to implement voting freedom law for 2020 elections
Secretary of State Scott Schwab predicted Tuesday regulations necessary to implement a state law allowing Kansans to vote at the polling station of their choice won’t be completed in time for the August or November elections in 2020.
Schwab told members of the Senate’s election committee that technical considerations, including cellphone coverage problems, in the state’s 105 counties made the process of drafting rules complex. The program won’t be finalized until 2021, he said.
The voting reform bill signed last year by Gov. Laura Kelly was inspired by a proposal from Sedgwick County officials.
(Read more: News – Salina Journal)
Newton petitioned to file anti-discrimination ordinance
Newton resident Christina Murphy asked the Newton City Commission to consider passing an ordinance that would prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity or expression.
Christina Murphy, who is transgendered, said she has never been discriminated against but knows others who have been.
“It’s more about discrimination, whether it be housing or jobs or going into a restaurant,” she said. “Equality is about individuals and being proud; the individuals having pride of being who they are; whether they be cis gender transgender, male, female, LGBT, it makes no difference. Everyone is a human being, and they all deserve to be treated equally.
(Read more: Harvey County Now)
City raises sanitation fees
Visual inspection of loads of recycling brought to the Harvey County sorting facility have been rejected after changes to the contract between Waste Connections and Harvey County — and that has affected Newton sanitation services.
The contractual change went into effect Jan. 1, allowing Waste Connections to reject loads with more than 10% contamination, issue fines to haulers and suspend dumping privileges for 30 days when loads are rejected.
According to Harvey County, all the loads from Newton on Monday were rejected. Found in the recycling containers were shoes, extension cords, an office chair and soiled diapers.
(Read more: Newton Kansan)
City to see optional recycling, possible senior housing
The City of Newton will move forward in offering optional recycling with a slight rate increase.
As has been reported in the recent months, following the collapse of the U.S. recycling market and requirements from China to have less contaminated recycling, the county changed its ordinance and contract with its recycling service provider.
Recycling is no longer mandatory in Harvey County. Recycling loads turned into Waste Connections, which provides recycling services, must have 10 percent or fewer of contaminants. More contaminated loads are rejected, fined, and the recycling truck will be blocked from dumping recyclables for a month.
(Read more: Harvey County Now)
Hillsboro City Council discusses special vehicles again
The Hillsboro City Council again met with a packed room thanks to the special purpose vehicle ordinance being on the agenda for the Jan. 7 meeting.
Hillsboro Police Chief Dan Kinning spoke about his concerns with the council allowing golf carts to not have safety lights.
“I firmly believe there should be minimal light requirements during the day, such as brake lights and turn signals. As one of those responsible for the overall safety of the community, I believe this could be a serious safety issue. Allowing these vehicles to be operated, even during daylight hours, without basic safety equipment would create a safety hazard. It makes it difficult to determine whether a vehicle is stopping or to determine which direction they plan to travel at an intersection. My concern is not only for those operating the carts but for those sharing the roadway with them. I have done some research on lighting costs. There are several options available. They begin at around $50 for an aftermarket kit,” said Kinning.
(Read more: Hillsboro Free Press)
Sunflower Electric’s Holcomb expansion project canceled
Sunflower Electric Power Corporation announced Wednesday that the utility will no longer pursue the Holcomb Expansion Project. The corporation will allow the project’s air permit to expire on March 27.
Sunflower and Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, which provides wholesale generation and transmission services to its member distribution electric cooperatives, began working together in 2005 to add coal-based units to Sunflower’s Holcomb Station. Both utilities had a need for additional capacity.
“Fifteen years ago, the price of natural gas was high, and wind generation was in its infancy,” Stuart Lowry, president and CEO of Sunflower, said in a news release. “At that time, the expansion of Holcomb Station emerged as the best way to meet our members’ long-term needs for generating reliable, affordable energy.”
(Read more: News – The Garden City Telegram)
Bond data back to the Black Death shows lower and even negative rates could be here to stay
More than 700 years of history show that the times as they are now, at least in regard to interest rates, aren’t quite so different as we’re led to believe, according to research that goes back to the Black Death plague of the 14th century.
In fact, the low interest rate climate has been more rule than exception and indicative that even negative interest rates shouldn’t be considered a major aberration, and may stay there — permanently.
Read more: CNBC.
‘Mysterious’ drones pass through Washington County
The mysterious drones that have made headlines in Nebraska and Colorado since mid-December finally made their way through Washington County, according to reports. Washington County Sheriff Justin Cordry said the drones were reported the night of Jan. 7 in the Morrowville area. The department issued a press release the next day.
…
Cordry said reports of the drones have been similar throughout the sightings, and the drones have “unique characteristics.” He said the drones, which fly at night, have six-foot wingspans, stay in the air for long periods of time and are often spotted in groups of 6 to 20. The drones were reported in the Jefferson County, Neb., area a few days before being spotted in the Morrowville area.
Read more: Washington News.