Municipal News & Jobs

Kansas Municipal News

Arkansas City Commissioners plan to step away from hospital duties

The South Central Kansas Medical Center is asking the Arkansas City Commission to get out of the hospital governing business.

Medical Center board chair Dan Jurkovich asked the commission Tuesday to draft an ordinance to eventually separate the two boards.

He said it was time to think about how the trustee board should operate in the future.

“I feel there is enough stability that we could get something more formalized that says how our board is going to be,” he said.

(Read more: The Arkansas City Traveler)

Wichita to close different public golf courses weekly to save money

Golfers will have one less public course to play on each week in Wichita.

Auburn Hills Golf Course in west Wichita was closed this week. It’s a part of something new the city is trying called the golf winter rotation.

From now through February, one of the city’s golf courses will close to allow for maintenance and cut expenses.

(Read more: KWCH News)

Olathe adds LGBT protections

Wichitans who live near 37th and Woodlawn are saying “not in my neighborhood” about a proposed event center. Thursday they had a chance ask the Metropolitan Area Planning Commission to stop the development before it begins.

Developers Levi Bond and Jake Hartman want to build what they call a wedding venue on the property along 37th St. The location backs up to natural wetlands and is surrounded by residential neighborhoods.
(Read more: Joco 913 News)

Moundridge Receives Housing Grant

The City of Moundridge has been awarded a housing grant to help construct several new homes. The $281,748 grant from the Kansas Housing Resources Corporation will be used to construct seven homes north of the Meadow View Addition.

$141,748 will go towards helping build streets and install utilities for the expansion of the new subdivision and $140,000 will go towards a home buyer assistance program to be disbursed at closing when the homes are sold.

Kansas rule could lower property tax bills; Lawmakers have ignored it for 15 years

Gov. Laura Kelly wants to provide property tax relief by reactivating a long-dormant subsidy program for Kansas cities and counties.

The Democratic governor’s tax council on Tuesday recommended lawmakers start following a state law they’ve ignored for 15 years at a cost of more than $1.3 billion to local governments. Her office said it would give localities “a strong tool to begin lowering local property taxes.”

Kansas is required to send a share of its sales tax collections to cities and counties each year through a program called the Local Ad Valorem Tax Reduction Fund. But the Legislature has continuously waived the rule since 2004, opting to use the tax dollars as a hedge against the Great Recession and Gov. Sam Brownback’s signature tax cuts.

(Read more: Wichita Eagle)

Utility connection, building permit fees waived for low-income senior housing

Manhattan is waiving more than $90,000 in utility connection and building permit fees for a planned low-income senior living development.

The City Commission approved the waiver for the project in Lee Mill Village Tuesday by 4 to 1 vote with Commissioner Wynn Butler opposing. Manhattan had previously agreed to sell the 19 lots to the Manhattan Area Housing Partnership in January.

The land was bought by the city in 2012 on a tax sale after a previous development struggled to get off the ground. The land has been slow to sell, leaving Manhattan covering the special assessment taxes and collecting no property taxes. As part of the details of the sale, Manhattan will cover one third of outstanding specials — amounting to $190,000.

(Read more: 1350 KMAN)

County to apply for second Healthy Kansas grant

Bourbon County will take advantage of an opportunity for additional grant funds to promote a healthier community.

On Tuesday, Bourbon County Commissioners voted to allow Economic Development Director Jody Hoener to apply for an additional Blue Cross Blue Shield Healthy Communities grant.

(Read more: Fort Scott Tribune)

Goessel mayor leads $2.5M sewer project

Dave Schrag has retired from Marion Die and Fixture after 34 years, but Goessel’s mayor still has plenty on his plate.
Schrag is heading up a $2.5 million project to fix and renovate the city’s sewer lines.

Schrag said the sewer pipes had numerous cracks, which allowed rainwater to run into them, causing a buildup of water in the lagoons.

(Read more: HILLSBORO Star-Journal)

Kansas receiving more than $2.6 million in federal grants to fight crime

The state of Kansas is in for some upgrades thanks to more than $2.6 million in federal grants given to the state to enhance public safety.

U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister said Wednesday the money is part of more than $376 million in awards announced by the Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs.

“We’re working with our state and local agencies to make Kansas safer,” McAllister said. “These grants are designed to give Kansas law enforcement the flexibility to spend the money based on the needs in their own communities.”

(Read more: KSN-TV)

Gov. Laura Kelly’s tax council supports internet, digital tax changes

The advisory council appointed by Gov. Laura Kelly recommended Tuesday adoption of a $32 million tax on internet sales by out-of-state businesses and the imposition of a $30 million sales tax on digital products ranging from books, cloud-based applications as well as magazines, video games and other items.

Former state Sen. Janice Lee and House Minority Leader Tom Sawyer proposed adjustment of state law to compel “marketplace facilitators,” such as Amazon, to mandate collection and payment to the state of sales tax on third-party transactions. Kansas legislators have debated the idea, but remain one of five states without this provision in state statute.

“It’s very much a fairness issue, an equity issue for our Main Street businesses,” said Lee, who is co-chair of the bipartisan council.

Commissioners consider whether to renew Neighborhood Revitalization Program

Marshall County’s Neighborhood Revitalization Program will expire Dec. 31. On Monday, commissioners discussed renewing the program, possibly with changes.

The program gives county residents the opportunity to apply for a three-year county property tax abatement before renovating an existing structure or building a new one. An 80 percent tax rebate is given the first year, 60 percent the second and 30 percent the third.

Commissioner Barb Kickhaefer said the spirit of the program is to revitalize blighted neighborhoods. Commissioner Keith Bramhall agreed and said that new construction in rural areas that receive tax rebates through the program pay for themselves with the long-term taxes paid on the property’s added value.

(Read more: The Marysville Advocate)

Wichita council approves $500 million water plant contract; calls rebid ‘too risky’

Wichita City Council moved forward with plans to build a new water treatment plant Tuesday, awarding a $500 million contract to Wichita Water Partners. The group includes two companies that spent thousands of dollars on Mayor Jeff Longwell’s golf outings and meals before he steered the contract in their favor.

City Council members voted unanimously to award the contract – the biggest single contract in the city’s history – saying they didn’t want to risk losing federal funding for the project and that they weren’t sure if any other companies would bid on the project.

None of the council members mentioned Longwell’s relationships or gifts, which became a key election issue. They did say they have been fielding questions from concerned citizens since The Wichita Eagle reported Longwell’s relationships with some of the water partners in September.

(Read more: Local News |)

It’s no nightclub, but that’s what neighbors fear for planned Wichita event center

If you’re going to the planning commission meeting on Thursday, you’d better get there early if you’d like a seat.

That’s the advice of the planning department, which has been hearing quite a bit from neighbors of a potential event center near 37th and Woodlawn.

“I just thought that this was something that was needed in Wichita,” Jake Hartman says of the business.

(Read more: Wichita Eagle)

Commission, trustee jobs could conflict

Eighteen months ago, Arkansas City commissioners voted to disband the South Central Kansas Medical Center Board of Trustees and take responsibility for the financially-struggling hospital themselves.

The commission essentially fired the trustees they had appointed to govern the medical center and took on dual roles of city commissioner and hospital trustee.

Since then, the medical center’s debt burden has been lowered, and the facility is operating at a profit under a new CEO. But questions linger about conflicting interest and even the legality of elected officials holding both positions.

Unsolicited materials issue will be revisited

Another look at the situation of regulating the placement of written materials on the property of Derby homeowners resulted in the City Council following a recommended action of having the staff report back in six months.

The council examined the situation at its Nov. 12 meeting and was undertaking a second reading of the ordinance at the Nov. 26 meeting.

However, in between that period, there was a meeting with city officials and representatives from the Wichita Eagle and ANS Newspapers. ANS is the entity that places the printed materials in Derby under contract with the Eagle.

Evergy looking to make amends with Wichita homeowners angry about transmission poles

Evergy, formally Westar Energy, looks to make amends with angry homeowners after the utility placed 57 large transmission poles through a northeast Wichita neighborhood.

The company laid out a few alternative options to these large poles to homeowners Tuesday night—but some neighbors and state representatives still aren’t satisfied.

“Our goal this evening was to present a couple different options, that our engineers were able to come up with to people who live in the neighborhood, to residents who have been affected by the project, and really be able to talk about what those options look like, and get feedback that we might be able to incorporate”, said Gina Penzig with Evergy.

(Read more: KWCH News)

Lawrence City Commission to reconsider raising age to buy tobacco products to 21

One of the first actions by the new Lawrence City Commission was to take up a proposal to ban the sale of tobacco and vaping products to people under 21.

The previous commission declined to consider a Tobacco 21 ordinance earlier this year, but two newcomers to the commission, Commissioner Courtney Shipley and Vice Mayor Brad Finkeldei, were sworn in as part of the commission’s meeting Tuesday. Commissioner Lisa Larsen proposed reconsidering the ordinance, and the commission voted 4-1, with Mayor Jennifer Ananda opposing, to put the topic on a future agenda.

Topeka OKs ordinance banning camping in some areas

Topeka’s city government will ban camping in some locations, including downtown Topeka and North Topeka’s NOTO Arts District, while continuing to allow it in others.

The Topeka City Council voted 9-0 Tuesday evening to approve a compromise proposal putting those rules in place.

“Great work,” Deputy Mayor and Councilwoman Sandra Clear said afterward of the considerable effort the council’s public health and safety made receiving input and working with city employees to craft that ordinance.

Salina, Saline County still at impasse over Expo

Last week, the Saline County Board of Commissioners said it wanted to hear from the public before taking action on the Expo Center. This week, the public responded.

The Salina City Commission was offering the county a lease agreement of 25 years with three five-year options on the Expo grounds, which the city owns. The agreement would require the county to invest $5.7 million in the project in the first five years of the lease.

The county was hoping for a full 40-year lease if it was going to invest that much so early and last week drafted a letter to the city stating its intentions to vacate the land in August 2021.

(Read more: News – Salina Journal)

Goddard minors who vape face strict penalties

Goddard minors who pull out a vape for a quick puff will face strict penalties.

On Monday, the Goddard City Council voted in favor of an ordinance that will supersede the state penalty of $25 for a minor in possession of a pod, which can contain liquid with nicotine or THC. Goddard Police Chief Fred Farris, who spearheaded the ordinance, said the state statute mentions E-cigarettes but not the pods and the current penalty doesn’t discourage minors or educate them about the illnesses happening from vaping. Kansas legislators have been talking about amending the law.

(Read more: Local News |)

Official who lied about Garden Plain’s drinking water gets probation, fine

A man who used to serve as Garden Plain’s water system operator will spend a year on probation and pay a $1,000 fine for lying about where he got samples used to test the town’s drinking water quality two winters ago.

Arthur Wolfe, 64, of Norwich, pleaded guilty in September to falsifying bacteriological reports required by the Environmental Protection Agency. An indictment alleged Wolfe collected tap water from the city’s water treatment plant in 2017 and 2018 but claimed on reports that it came from four different homes in Garden Plain.

(Read more: Local News |)

Overland Park approves permit for display of moving lights on City Place building at U.S. 69 and College Blvd.

After months of discussion and negotiation, the developers of City Place got the go ahead to roll moving light displays atop four buildings going up at College Boulevard and U.S. Highway 69.

The Overland Park City Council granted a special use permit for an indefinite time period for the LED light panels that are a part of the design of the office buildings. Developer Ken Block has said he thinks the displays will create a unique sense of place to draw people to the development after business hours. Block and lawyer Curtis Holland said the artistic displays would enhance the College Boulevard corridor, which the city wants to update.
(Read more: Prairie Village Post )

Reno County administrator finalists announced

The director of the Reno County Health Department and Finney County’s county administrator are two of three finalists who will be interviewed Wednesday for the Reno County administrator job.

The third candidate is a former county administrator from Missouri.

The three finalists are Nicholas “Nick” Baldetti, of Hutchinson, Randall Partington, of Garden City, and Dean Brookshier, of Missouri, according to a release from Reno County human resources director Renee Harris.

(Read more: Local – The Hutchinson News)

Attorney General’s Office to Provide KOMA & KORA Training

The Office of Attorney General Derek Schmidt and will provide public training on open meetings and open records on Tuesday, December 17 from 6 p.m.-8 p.m. in Heritage Hall of the Tony’s Pizza Events Center, 800 The Midway.

Employees and members of City and County boards, commissions and committees subject to the Kansas Open Meetings Act (KOMA) and the Kansas Open Records Act (KORA) are welcome and encouraged to attend. The training will be filmed and published on the City of Salina’s YouTube account by December 31.

(Read more: Salina KS News)

Eureka City Council Approved 1% Sales Tax Ordinance

On Monday, November 25, City Council members voted to officially approve a 1 percent sales tax that will be applied toward construction on River Street. Eureka voters approved the tax in November, during the general election. At their meeting, councilmembers approved ordinance #4259 (found on page 10), authorizing the tax levy. Collection of the tax should begin on April 1, 2020. “Very thankful to the citizens for supporting this,” said Mayor Michael Countryman.

(Read more: Eureka Herald RSS)

5-percent increase in water rates approved for Wichita in 2020 to fund new treatment facility

The City Council on Tuesday voted unanimously to approve a 5-percent water and sewer rate increase in 2020 to help fund Wichita’s new water treatment facility.

The rate adjustment, which is expected to gradually increase over the next few years, will fund a small portion of the $553 million total project cost for the Northwest Water Treatment Facility, a project that will replace Wichita’s existing 80-year-old plant.

With the new combined water and sewage rate increase, homeowners are expected to pay between $2 and $7 more each month, while commercial businesses are expected to face about a $28 increase. Industrial customers will average a $2,600 increase each month.

(Read more: KAKE – News)

OP approves $200M in tax incentives for billion-dollar Brookridge project

The long-planned Brookridge redevelopment project won a supermajority approval for more than $200 million in tax incentives during a marathon Overland Park City Council meeting that ran from Monday night into early Tuesday morning.

According to the Shawnee Mission Post, Mayor Carl Gerlach cast the final and deciding vote in favor of the project around 1:15 a.m. Tuesday.

Zoning discussion to focus on county’s southeast corner

The chair of the Reno County Planning Commission agreed Tuesday to have the planning board take up the question of zoning the southeast corner of the county soon and to leave debate about zoning other parts of the county for later.

That after board chairwoman Lisa French was asked to appear before the Reno County Commission to receive the suggestion.

“We hear a lot of support for doing zoning in the southeast part,” French said. “We got hung up on thinking about the whole county, so the direction from you encourages us to deal with that first. It will help us focus on attention on that.”

(Read more: Local – The Hutchinson News)

Labette County forms wind farm board

Labette County commissioners on Monday set the advisory committee that will look into wind farm regulations and also gave the facilitator some direction on getting the group started.

The commission named the members to the wind farm study group by a series of resolutions. They are Sandy Krider, Labette County Public Works director; Rod Landrum, retired executive director of the Labette Health Foundation; Kevin King, a crop insurance agent who lives near Big Hill Lake; Mel Hass, who formerly lived within the footprint of a wind farm in DeKalb County, Illinois, before moving to Labette County; and Lori Whitworth, an attorney who formerly lived in Neosho County, where Apex Clean Energy is building a wind farm, and is familiar with wind energy.

(Read more: Parsons Sun)

Roeland Park council approves city boundary change for the first time since 1959

The Roeland Park city council in November adopted a resolution changing the city boundary for the first time in 60 years.

“Roeland Park just got a little bigger,” Mayor Mike Kelly said.

When a city boundary is changed by the addition or exclusion of land, Kansas state law requires that city to declare, via a resolution, a city boundary before Dec. 31. This year, Roeland Park annexed 1.269 acres of land at the northeast corner of Roe Avenue and Johnson Drive.

Wichita City Council approves more than $100 million in aerospace IRBs

The Wichita City Council on Tuesday approved more than $100 million in industrial revenue bonds for local aerospace companies.

The approved IRBs will help finance the completed construction of a new facility being leased to the city’s largest employer, Spirit AeroSystems Inc., and facility upgrades throughout 2019 for the second-largest employer, Textron Aviation.

IRBs require no taxpayer commitment and the city acts only as a pass-through entity. However, using IRB financing can help developers and companies secure a lower interest rate on projects.

(Read more: Wichita Business Journal)

Manhattan Parks and Rec hopes to begin work on new recreation facilities in 2020

As the Manhattan Parks & Recreation Department looks ahead to 2020, a major focus will be placed on facility improvements, including recreation facilities that will be constructed at the two Manhattan middle schools.

Parks and Rec officials are anticipating a fast moving process for the two recreation centers.

“The two middle school recreation centers that we’re working on jointly with the school district shared-use facilities, they’re in a final-design step right now and we hope to start construction on those in 2020 and have those open and available for the community in 2021,” Eddie Eastes, the director for Manhattan Parks and Rec, said.

(Read more: 1350 KMAN)

‘Reverse Robin Hood syndrome’: Overland Park Council approves $200M tax break deal

Neighbors have fought the deal for more than five years.

But as Monday night’s Overland Park City Council meeting extended into Tuesday, residents learned they finally lost the battle — just barely. After four hours of discussion, the City Council approved a $200 million tax incentive deal for the redevelopment of the Brookridge Golf Course, northeast of Interstate 435 and Antioch Road.

Council members previously voted down the $2 billion development deal, which includes turning a portion of the golf course into luxury apartments, retail and offices.

(Read more: Joco 913 News)

Taxable boom may undermine the case for the muni tax-exemption

There is a small but growing concern among some municipal market participants that the increasing popularity of taxable muni bonds could begin to undermine the community’s traditional argument to protect the tax exemption.

The proliferation of taxable muni deals this year is the result of a combination of factors, most prominently the loss of tax-exempt advance refundings in the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and a low interest rate environment that has narrowed the spread between tax-exempt and taxable bonds. Analysts, lawyers, and lobbyists remain dedicated to the preservation of the tax exemption, but some said that an extended continuation of these conditions could make that struggle harder.

“Our number one concern in the advocacy arena is maintaining the tax exemption,” said Brett Bolton, vice president at Bond Dealers of America.

(Read more: Bond Buyer: Feed)

Johnson County Police Academy will significantly increase recruits’ training on mental health, de-escalation

Starting in 2020, recruits going through the Johnson County Regional Police Academy will receive 21 hours of training on mental health and deescalation — eight hours more than required under Kansas law.

The change, approved by the Johnson County Chiefs and Sheriffs Association last week, comes as local law enforcement agencies are seeing more and more calls involving people experiencing mental health issues.

(Read more: Prairie Village Post)

Lawrence City Commission to consider expanding fast-track incentives program

Lawrence city commissioners will soon decide if they want to expand the city’s fast-track incentives program for industrial projects, allowing a beverage distribution company to apply for incentives under the program.
As part of its meeting Tuesday, the commission will consider expanding the Catalyst incentive program to allow applications from industrial expansion projects in Lawrence VenturePark and on privately owned property within the city. Currently, only industrial expansion projects in East Hills Business Park qualify for the program. New construction for industrial purposes in either business park or anywhere else in the city also qualifies.

Incoming mayor Jennifer Ananda excited for ‘a year of change’

When Jennifer Ananda dropped off her forms to become a Lawrence City Commission candidate in 2017, she said she was literally shaking.
“It’s scary to put yourself out there,” Ananda said. “You’re saying ‘Please tell me that you find me appropriate for this.’ It’s very public and it’s very vulnerable.”
Ananda need not have worried, as she finished second in the election, earning her not only a spot on the commission but a four-year term and the position of vice mayor this year. And come Tuesday, if city commissioners stick with tradition as expected, she is set to become Lawrence’s next mayor.

Arkansas River Compact Administration to Meet December 5 in Colorado

The Arkansas River Compact Administration (ARCA) annual meeting will be held on Thursday, Dec. 5, 2019, at 8:30 a.m. MST at the Otero Junior College Student Center, 2001 San Juan Ave. in La Junta, CO. The meeting agenda is posted on ARCA’s website at https://www.co-ks-arkansasrivercompactadmin.org/.

ARCA administers provisions of the Kansas–Colorado Arkansas River Compact, including operations of the John Martin Reservoir. Topics to be covered at the annual meeting include a review of John Martin Reservoir operations, compliance update, committee reports, and updates from state and federal agencies.

ARCA’s Operations, Administrative and Legal, and Engineering committees will meet on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2019, at 1:00 p.m. MST also at the Otero Junior College Student Center.

(Read more: Rural Messenger)

Pott. County Commission approves final design and specifications for the Public Works Fleet Maintenance Facility; discusses traffic-signal project and purchase of equipment for fire department

Pottawatomie County Commissioners approved the final design and specifications for the Public Works Fleet Maintenance Facility during their meeting Monday.

These were brought to the commission last week but weren’t approved due to some concerns about finances and aspects of the design.

“The first one was where does our current CIP (capital improvement plan) Fund sit financially?” Peter Clark, the public works director for Pottawatomie County, said. “How much money do we have? Where will we be at the end of the year in that fund after some of our projected transfers? And the last question was related to some particular points in the design, specifically about how the CMU wall on the exterior would interact with the foundation relative to moisture penetration.”

Clark says these issues were satisfactorily addressed and the project can now move on to the next phase.

The project will be advertised for construction bids on January 6th during the county commission’s weekly meeting.

(Read more: 1350 KMAN)

Learning center is pathway to diplomas in Kiowa County

The 21st Century Learning Academy in the Kiowa County school system has graduated more than 50 students per year over the past 10 years. These students have been high school seniors or adults, but they are 50 people who might otherwise never had the chance to earn a diploma.

Student enrollment tends to change from day to day because of open enrollment allowed throughout the school year, Brian Deterding, USD 422 principal said that students enroll, drop, and graduate on a fairly regular basis.

Students in the virtual school fall into 1 of 3 categories. Charter students are sixth- to 12th-grade students that are younger than 19. Learning Academy students are adult students. Credit recovery students are students who attend another school, but they are taking a class in order to try to regain a credit for failing a class in their own school.

(Read more: Leavenworth Times)

Meet and greet for Reno County administrator candidates set for Wednesday

The Reno County Commissioners on Wednesday will interview candidates for county administrator to replace Gary Meagher, who is retiring as administrator at the end of the year.

The public is invited to a meet and greet reception for the candidates from 6 to 7 p.m. in the Crystal Ballroom, 3 W. Ave B.

Candidate details will be announced Tuesday, according to Reno County human resources director Renee Harris.

(Read more: Local – The Hutchinson News)

Shawnee County Commission OKs hiring of crime data analyst after hearing from burglary victim

Soon after creating a new job for a sheriff’s office employee who will use data to combat crime, Shawnee County commissioners heard Monday from one of their department heads who was personally violated by burglaries committed last week as she slept.

“I’m standing before you not just as an employee but as a citizen of Shawnee County and, most importantly, as a mother,” said human resources director Angela Lewis.

Last Wednesday night, she said, “someone broke into our home while we were sleeping and stole my car and my purse and burglarized our home.”

Lewis indicated the garage door opener from her car was used to gain entry into her home.

Topeka to share details about proposed utility rate increases

Topeka’s city government will share information about proposed increase in utility rates the city assesses during a public meeting from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library, 1515 S.W. 10th Ave.

The city’s utilities government asked the city’s mayor and council last month to raise utility rates each year from 2021 through 2025 to cope with what it describes as a “crisis” the city faces because of its aging utility infrastructure.

The mayor and council are being asked to later consider raising rates each year in 2021, 2022 and 2023 by 9% for water, 9% for stormwater runoff and 1% for wastewater, or sewer, services; and in both 2024 and 2025 by 8% for water, 8% for stormwater and 1% for wastewater.

Cities Target Alcohol Licensing As a Way to Fight Crime

Over the past few decades, numerous studies have found that alcohol consumption is associated with a significant portion of homicides. Often, these murders and other violent crimes happen in the vicinity of alcohol outlets, leading cities to take on zoning and licensing ordinances as a means of controlling crime.
A new report from CityHealth, a policy research organization, grades the nation’s 40 largest cities on their efforts to reduce the density of liquor outlets, impose operating conditions on alcohol retailers, and become more deliberate in their processes granting and renewing alcohol licenses.
Eight cities, including Chicago, Boston, and Las Vegas, received a gold medal, meaning they have a policy that applies to all alcohol sales, addresses public safety, and authorizes the city to close an alcohol retailer. Another eight cities, including San Francisco, Memphis, and Nashville, received a silver medal, meaning they had a law that applies only to some alcohol sales, such as policies that apply only to new retailers. The remaining 24 cities did not have such policies in place.
(Read more: Route Fifty – All Content)

Topeka City Council to consider compromise for camping ban

A Topeka City Council committee met eight times over 18 months to deliberate over a proposal that initially would have banned camping on public property, including sidewalks, and on private property without the owner’s written consent. After a conversation that came to include members of the local homeless community, committee members Sylvia Ortiz, Karen Hiller and Mike Padilla voted 3-0 last month to recommend the council approve a compromise version of that measure.

(Read more: Local Government – The Topeka Capital-Journal)