Kansas Municipal News
As Lenexa’s Schreck prepares to retire, he looks ahead to Johnson County development
During the past 40 years, Blake Schreck watched downtown Kansas City grow from boarded-up storefronts and chained-up doors into the city we know today. He remembers the regional concerns about whether Kansas City would rise to the likes of other successful Midwest cities in the 1980s. But back then, Johnson County fueled the metro’s growth and often kept the region afloat, which “caused some friction” with Kansas City, he said. “Johnson County has stayed true to what it had: the quality of life, education, infrastructure and safe neighborhoods,” Schreck said. “And it still does.”
Source: Kansas City Business Journal
Remodeled downtown park to tell the story of Wichita sit-in, which sparked a movement
For three weeks in the summer of 1958, young protesters sat defiantly at the lunch counter of Wichita’s Dockum Drug Store, waiting to be served. “As far as we were concerned, it was the right thing to do,” said Galyn Vesey, now 85. “All we wanted was to purchase food and drink just like anybody else.” Wichita’s NAACP Youth Council staged the first successful student-led sit-in of the civil rights movement, leading the drug store chain to desegregate all of its Kansas lunch counters 19 months before the better known Woolworth’s sit-ins in Greensboro, North Carolina.
Source: Wichita Eagle
Rail strike again looms, putting chlorine shipments at risk
After averting a strike between railroad operators and labor union representatives in September, another potential strike is again threatening to put water utility supply chains at risk. According to the unions, a strike could begin as early as Dec. 9. Prior to the agreement in September, leading water sector organizations urged Congress to intervene in the strike, noting that chlorine shipments via rail could be affected. As NACWA noted in September, however, that as long as a possibility of a strike remains, chlorine would likely not be shipped by rail.
Source: Water Finance & Management
WPD collecting donations for local shelters
Wichita police are collecting donations to provide gifts for kids staying at local domestic violence shelters. Toys and other gift items can be dropped off on December 5, at the Patrol West station, at 5803 W Central. That is on Central just west of I-235. Gift idea include arts and crafts supplies, dolls or action figures, pajamas, and remote control toys. Gift items for teens are also needed, including things like earbuds and gift cards.
Source: 101.3 KFDI
Coin toss determines Grant Township clerk race in Riley County
A coin flip was held at Monday’s Riley County Commission meeting to break a tie in the election of the Grant Township Clerk. Travis Shanahan, the current clerk finished with 19 votes in the Nov. 8 election. So did Riley County resident Larry Noble. Riley County Clerk Rich Vargo explains that a coin toss, while rare in local elections, has happened before. Vargo pulled out a large coin, tossed it into the air, as Shanahan called it.
Source: 1350 KMAN
Overland Park single-family development could add 1,170 homes on city’s southern edge
Overland Park will consider a smaller — but still huge — development at the city’s southern edge that could add 1,169 single-family houses on 506 acres. Originally, in 2012, an affiliate of a Philadelphia-based company proposed 1,808 homes on about 570 acres, plus 7,000 square feet of retail. That plan never came to fruition, but the single-family zoning for the acreage stuck. Southern Meadows LLC, an affiliate of Overland Park-based Lambie Homes LLC, now plans to develop the area near 191st Street and State Line Road.
Source: Kansas City Business Journal
Former Halstead Hospital up for auction
The former Halstead Hospital and other attached parcels of land and property are on the auction block. The hospital itself closed in 2002, with numerous attempts to reopen its doors over the years. … Since 2005, nine hospitals in Kansas, many of them serving rural, poor communities, have closed or have converted to no longer offer inpatient services. Several still operate clinics or offer emergency services. The auction includes Halstead Hospital, the former Halstead Motel, an apartment complex, and a residential home.
Source: KSN-TV
Overland Park weighs more public financing for Mission Farms West apartments
Developers of Mission Farms West want the city to increase public financing for the next phase of construction for the mixed-use development near Mission Road and Interstate 435. The Overland Park Finance, Administration and Economic Development Committee has already voted to recommend issuing $27 million worth of economic development revenue bonds – tripling the original $9 million previously approved by the city. The bonds are a financing measure that will allow the developer, Mission Farms West Development LLC, to claim sales tax exemptions on construction materials, equipment, labor and furnishings for the project.
Source: Prairie Village Post
Panasonic rolls out plans for $4 billion EV plant in De Soto, Kansas
City leaders in De Soto are getting a glimpse at what Panasonic’s $4 billion electric vehicle battery plant may look like. Tentative plans for the new facility show a two-story, U-shaped building to be constructed near the southwest corner of West 103rd Street and Dual Drive. Alison Hoagland, principal at Mackenzie, said once completed, raw materials will enter the facility through a central point with production lines filling both wings of the building.
Source: fox4kc.com | FOX 4 – WDAF
Fed officials see smaller rate hikes coming ‘soon,’ minutes show
Federal Reserve officials earlier this month agreed that smaller interest rate increases should happen soon as they evaluate the impact policy is having on the economy, meeting minutes released Wednesday indicated. Reflecting statements that multiple officials have made over the past several weeks, the meeting summary pointed to small rate hikes coming. Markets widely expect the rate-setting Federal Open Market Committee to step down to a 0.5 percentage point increase in December, following four straight 0.75 percentage point hikes. Though hinting that smaller moves were ahead, officials said they still see little signs of inflation abating. However, some committee members expressed concern about risks to the financial system should the Fed continue to press forward at the same aggressive pace.
Source: CNBC – Bonds
City leaders consider adding new Kansas Turnpike interchange
Topeka City leaders are are moving forward with plans to give Topeka commuters more options on the Kansas Turnpike. Topeka City Council is pairing up with the Kansas Turnpike Authority to create a concept study to add an interchange to the turnpike near 29th and California Ave. This project is estimated to cost around $20 million. At their last meeting, Topeka City Council approved paying $125,000 to the Kansas Turnpike Authority to help fund the study. This would be one of two interchanges proposed for the Topeka area.
Source: KSNT 27 News
More Prairie Village residents could get city property tax relief
More Prairie Village residents may soon be eligible for property tax relief offered by the city. Catch up quick: The City Council Committee of the Whole on Monday unanimously approved raising income thresholds connected to the city’s property tax rebate program, making households with higher incomes potentially eligible. The program reimburses residents for the city’s portion of their property tax bill, which amounts to about 16% of residents’ annual bill in Prairie Village.
Source: Prairie Village Post
An inside look at the North Lawrence camp for people experiencing homelessness
As the Lawrence community considers different strategies for a citywide response to the homelessness crisis, residents of a temporary campsite are living through the reality of the situation day to day. Lawrence city leaders have been getting heat from community members ranging from business owners to housing advocates to local residents, both housed and unhoused, sharing numerous concerns about safety issues within and surrounding the camp. Some are advocating for more resources to be put into the camp’s management, to help support Jenn Wolsey, homeless programs coordinator for the city’s Homeless Initiatives Division, who has been running the site. Others believe the city should be putting the funding for the temporary campsite toward a more permanent housing solution altogether. Wolsey said in a recent interview that the ultimate goal is to help those experiencing homelessness to find housing, but it could take years for the city to have enough affordable housing stock in place. “So in the short term, we do have to focus on the emergency service part just to keep people alive to get to that point,” she said.
Source: The Lawrence Times
Home ownership program fills slate of applications
All 10 requests have been filled for the Washington County Home Ownership Pilot Loan/ Grant Program. The final spot was filled Nov. 3 with a home in Clifton. Because all 10 spots will have loans that will be closed by the Dec. 31 deadline, there will not be a queue established in Washington. Washington County received $125,000 to be split among 10 homes purchased in the county this year. The first two homes received their $12,500 allocation on June 20.
Source: www.backroadsnews.com/rss.xml
County administrator search continues
The Unified Government continues to move ahead with a search for a county administrator. According to Bill Johnson, Board of Public Utilities manager, who is co-chair of the UG search task force, meetings were held last week with a new search firm, gv HR. The other task force chair is Bonner Springs Mayor Jeff Harrington. Johnson spoke at the UG Commission meeting Nov. 17. Cheryl Harrison-Lee was appointed the interim UG county administrator after former UG administrator Doug Bach retired Jan. 6. Bach had served as administrator since 2014 and was deputy county administrator from 2003 to 2014.
Source: Wyandotte Daily
Panasonic gives De Soto first look at site plan for $4B electric-vehicle battery plant
With site selection, incentives and more streamlined zoning lined up for its $4 billion electric-vehicle battery plant, Panasonic Energy Co. Ltd. soon will ask De Soto to approve a doozy of a development plan, one piece at a time. The company anticipates submitting its first of three phased pieces — a preliminary site and mass-grading plan — for the city’s Planning Commission to review in late December. The factory’s architectural elevations then could follow in January, culminating with final plans for grading, landscaping, signage and lighting in April.
Source: Kansas City Business Journal – The Business Journals
Topeka Metro set to launch on-demand transportation
The Topeka Metro is gearing up to launch a new microtransit on-demand service in the southeast area of Topeka early next year. The new service is called “Metro On-Demand.” MOD will let customers request curb-to-curb transportation in specific areas. Passengers will also be able to request a ride that would arrive in 15 minutes. “As we continue to look for new ways to improve, we believe the more personalized nature of microtransit will be a great addition to our service,” said Bob Nugent, Topeka Metro general manager. “Microtransit has been around for a while and has proven to be a more expedient and cost-effective way for folks to travel to where they need to go.”
Source: KSNT 27 News
County to move forward on sales tax direction
Since voters approved a measure to lower the countywide 1 cent sales to .75 percent to fund solid waste and joint communications, county leaders took action to clarify and ensure a solid path forward. Vice Chairman Casey Quinn brought the issue to the forefront Nov. 22 when she told fellow commissioner she thought it best to repeal Resolution 2014-1390 sooner than later in preparation the new sales tax rate becomes effective April 1, 2023. goes into effect. Quinn expressed her concern the document currently in effect would only be one be replaced by a new one without thought and communication with the public.
Source: Atchison Globe Now
Area eco devo agency staying busy for city
In an update to the Great Bend City Council Monday night, Bob Wetmore, co-director of Dodge City-based Great Plains Development Inc., said his agency continues to work for the community as he outlined the services GPD provides. This is a non-profit economic development agency that works with cities and counties by helping with loans to them as well as entrepreneurs.
Source: Great Bend Tribune
Speaker tells of historic preservation efforts
Randy Greeves, a recently appointed Historic Preservation Officer for the Unified Government, was the speaker at the annual meeting of the Wyandotte County Historical Society Sunday, Nov. 20, at the Wyandotte County Museum. About 40 persons attended. Greeves explained that the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 sets federal policy for the preservation of our heritage. The law allows federal, state and local governments to operate and cooperate in historic preservation efforts.
Source: Wyandotte Daily