Municipal News & Jobs

Kansas Municipal News

Southeast Kansas lags behind state unemployment average

The Kansas Department of Labor (KDOL) and the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released preliminary October unemployment rate estimates this week, noting they reached a new low. In southeast Kansas, however, unemployment remains higher than the statewide average.

“Kansans can recognize two important milestones this month. The unemployment rate fell to 3.1 percent in October, the lowest rate in 40 years. April 1979 was the last month the unemployment rate was 3.1 percent,” Kansas Secretary of Labor DelÍa GarcÍa said in a release. “Additionally, October established a record high level in the number of Kansans working.”

While Kansas’ overall unemployment rate may be declining, among 15 counties in the southeast corner of the state — Greenwood, Coffey, Anderson, Linn, Woodson, Allen, Bourbon, Elk, Wilson, Neosho, Crawford, Chautauqua, Montgomery, Labette and Cherokee — the average unemployment rate was closer to 3.5 percent.

(Read more: Leavenworth Times)

State sues trailer park owner for violating drinking water regulations

State health officials have filed a suit in Reno County District Court seeking enforcement action against the owners of Western Acres Mobile Home Park for failing to properly treat the public water supply system in the trailer park northwest of Hutchinson.

The property at 4718 Nickerson Boulevard has been under a “boil water advisory” for more than 15 months as the owner, Justin Whitt, doing business as Premium Management LLC, 322 N. Main, has repeatedly ignored orders from the state.

A Shawnee County judge in June issued a journal entry ordering Whit to comply with a May 2018 Administrative Order from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.

(Read more: Local – The Hutchinson News)

Topeka JUMP, others show support for the city’s SOTO Ride-To-Work Program

Deborah Vance’s son, Marcus, has used Topeka’s SOTO Ride-to-Work Program for almost three months. Because of the program, he’s never missed or been late to a regularly-scheduled shift.

Vance’s son works at the Target Distribution Center in southwest Topeka, but he lives near the Wanamaker corridor. If it weren’t for the SOTO program, he wouldn’t have a way to get to work, as the city’s bus lines don’t run far enough south.

“He has chronic asthma and one kidney, and he’s not able to ride a bike,” Vance said. “So for him to be able to get here through SOTO ensures that he’s able to keep his job.”

County commission to consider move regarding Family Park

The Shawnee County Commission on Monday will consider taking a step toward developing a comprehensive master plan for the Family Park the county plans to create just south of S.W. 21st and Urish Road.

That proposal is among items on the agenda when Commissioners Bill Riphahn, Kevin Cook and Aaron Mays meet at 9 a.m. in their chambers in Room B-11 of the County Courthouse, 200 S.E. 7th.

The Topeka City Council won’t meet this coming Tuesday because it will be the fourth Tuesday of the month, and the council only meets on the first three Tuesdays.

Shawnee County wins suit alleging it failed to accommodate deaf woman

Shawnee County this month emerged victorious in a lawsuit filed against it in 2016 by a deaf woman who alleged the county arrested her without probable cause and failed to accommodate her disability, the county announced this week in a news release.

The lawsuit officially came to a close in the county’s favor with the passing of the Nov. 15 deadline by which plaintiff Carolyn Hans could have appealed a U.S. Court of Appeals ruling in the county’s favor to the U.S. Supreme Court, said Shawnee County counselor Jim Crowl.

Hans — who was born deaf, to deaf parents — in June 2016 filed the nine-count suit alleging various violations of her civil rights, Kansas torts law and the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Wichita Police Department hosts roundtable with criminal justice experts at WSU

Tenasia Taylor, a Southeast High School student, said that since she moved to Wichita four years ago, she has lost at least four friends due to gun violence or in fatal crashes that occurred while friends were fleeing from police.

That, combined with her own hardships, led Taylor to ask for a ride to Saturday’s roundtable discussion put on by the Wichita Police Department. The topic: “What’s Going On and What More Can We Do.”

The lunch was sponsored by Evergy. About 100 people attended the event at Wichita State University’s Eugene M. Hughes Metropolitan Complex. Attendees could talk with 11 pundits in the criminal justice field.

(Read more: Local News |)

Lenexa, Integrated Roadways sign MOU for smart pavement deployment showcase in City Center

Lenexa has taken the first official step with local company Integrated Roadways to embark on the country’s first and largest deployment and showcase of smart pavement technology.

The Lenexa city council on Tuesday unanimously approved a memorandum of understanding with Integrated Roadways that facilitates a public-private partnership for the $8-10 million smart infrastructure installation at five intersections in and around Lenexa City Center, just west of I-435 at 87th Street Parkway and Renner Boulevard.

The MOU allows Integrated Roadways to access the right-of-way for installation and operations of smart pavement at four intersections on Renner Boulevard and one on the western side of City Center.

Block demonstrates CityPlace video panel capabilities ahead of Overland Park vote next month

Motorists on U.S. Highway 69 this week got another preview of some of the visuals that might become part of the skyline if Overland Park grants developer Ken Block’s request for a special use permit on his CityPlace office project.

The WellSky corporate office building at CityPlace, located just west of U.S. 69 several blocks south of the I-435 interchange, features a bank of video panels along its roofline that can be programmed to display any number of visuals. Block Real Estate Services held a demonstration of the LED boards’ capabilities this summer by featuring an animation of an abstract painting by Jeff Hanson, the visually impaired artist from Johnson County. A city committee recommended approval of the special use permit, which is set to go before the council for consideration early next month.

Fairway council adopts non-discrimination ordinance, making it 13th JoCo city to add LGBTQ+ legal protections

The Fairway city council on Thursday adopted a non-discrimination ordinance with legal protections for LGBTQ+ individuals, making it the 13th Johnson County municipality to put such a law on its books.

Fairway has been grappling with the exploration of an ordinance for over a year now. Mayor Melanie Hepperly called a special city council meeting for last night specifically to address the issue. Hepperly said she and the council have done their due diligence over the last year to do what’s best for Fairway. Hepperly said although she believes the protections offered by the NDO would have been better handled at the state or federal level, municipalities had to step up due to a lack of action by those officials.

Lack of county road upkeep by Apex concern

Neosho County Commissioners pressed developers of the Neosho Ridge wind electricity generation project and an engineer Thursday evening on road improvements in the southwest part of the county.

The issue came up Thursday evening from project critic and area resident Dustie Elsworth who said the developer, Apex Clean Energy, is not living up to its road maintenance agreement with the county.

(Read more: The Chanute Tribune)

Officials talk demand transfer losses, dark store theory at conference

Commissioners from as far away as Finney County in southwest Kansas traveled to Manhattan to attend the Riley County Legislative Conference on Thursday, when officials discussed losses in state revenue, the dark store theory and county home rule.

State Rep. Sydney Carlin, D-Manhattan, Sen. Tom Hawk, D-Manhattan, Rep. Ron Highland, R-Wamego, Rep. Suzi Carlson, R-Clay Center, and Rep. Tom Phillips, R-Manhattan, also attended the conference ahead of the state legislative session, which starts in January.

Chair Ron Wells discussed the end of “demand transfers” in Kansas and how it impacts counties. Demand transfers — revenue distributed by the state to counties — are dictated by statute rather than appropriation acts.

(Read more: The Chanute Tribune)

Osawatomie plans holiday festival Dec. 7

Osawatomie’s Small Town Holiday Festival will keep people in the holiday spirit from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Dec. 7 at The Loft on Sixth, City Auditorium and John Brown State Park.

The Loft on Sixth,

425 Sixth St.

10 a.m. to 2 p.m. — Holiday vendors for Christmas shopping; Chamber crafts for kids of all ages; Chamber coloring contest for kindergarten through fifth-grade; lunch items for purchase; drawings for a chance to win a holiday ham from Cow Palace.

(Read more: The Miami County Republic)

New trucks with ‘wing plows’ to make Topeka snow removal quicker

The city of Topeka will remove snow from streets quicker this winter as a result of its purchase of four dump trucks equipped with 8-foot-wide “wing plows” on the right side in addition to 12-foot-wide plows attached in front, city officials said Wednesday.

“This is a very big benefit,” city street operations manager Tony Trower said of having the wing plows. “I think it will serve the city of Topeka very well.”

The purchase increases from 21 to 25 the number of dump trucks and flatbed trucks the city has that can be used to plow streets, said city media relations coordinator Molly Hadfield.

Miami County RWD No. 3 marks 50th anniversary in operation

Water coursing through Miami County Rural Water District No. 3’s veins has done more than sustain the district and its customers for the past five decades. It has nurtured significant growth.
RWD No. 3 is marking its 50th anniversary this month. The water district was formed during the fall of 1969 when the Farmers Home Administration, the credit agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, approved a $425,000 loan and a $45,000 grant for the district on Sept. 25, 1969.

(Read more: The Miami County Republic)

Wichita adds $14 Million federal grant to build multimodal transportation facility in Delano area

Wichita is getting a grant of $14 Million from the US Department of Transportation.

And it could include up to 600 parking spaces for the Delano area near the new baseball stadium.

“It provides a great transportation option at the baseball stadium that will be both placed on a bus line,” said Mayor Jeff Longwell. “It will help us with transit needs, it will help us with all kinds of portability. But it’s going to help us with parking next to the baseball stadium which is fantastic.”

(Read more: KSN-TV)

Judge denies city’s request to dismiss lawsuit over alleged maintenance issues at Lawrence Municipal Airport

A judge has denied a request by the City of Lawrence to dismiss a lawsuit filed by a longtime pilot claiming the city hasn’t properly kept up some airport infrastructure.

Great Planes Inc., which operates an airplane hangar and offices at the airport on space leased from the city, filed the lawsuit last spring in Douglas County District Court. The lawsuit alleges that disrepair of the runway damaged one of the company’s airplanes in 2014. Great Planes claims the city breached its contract with the company, and it is seeking damages of about $19,000, plus interest and legal fees.

Ordinance changes to allow newly elected officials to take office earlier

With a change from the Kansas Legislature this past session, local governments across the state now have the option of deciding if they want elected officials to take office between Dec. 1 to the second Monday of January following the general election. In the past, elected officials had to wait until the second Monday before being sworn into office. In Great Bend, that means missing the first meeting of the year.

City Attorney Bob Suelter says a new resolution will allow elected officials to be sworn in during the first meeting.

“There were no protest petitions so I provided the resolution to new ordinance as you directed to do in September,” said Suelter.

In the past, the old governing body would meet the first Monday of January, the elected officials would be sworn in the following Monday, and then take their seat on the board the third Monday.

(Read more: Great Bend Post)

Wichita police, law enforcement to host community discussion event

The Wichita Police Department will host a community-wide event Saturday, November 23, to hear feedback from citizens about law enforcement.

At the event, “What’s Going On and What More We Can Do”, police officers and other criminal justice leaders will meet with Wichita citizens to discuss community issues like criminal justice reform and the mental health crisis.

“The more we interact with our community and talk about struggles that we face both within the system and that community members face, I think the better off we are,” said Wichita Police Chief Gordon Ramsay.

(Read more: KAKE – News)

Hutchinson police, community gift man with new electric scooter

The Hutchinson community is going above and beyond to help one of its citizens.

Last week, we told you about how Morgan Gibson and Nick Longhofer helped officers get a man home after his electric wheelchair miles away from home.

Well, Wednesday afternoon Gibson, Longhofer, members of the Hutchinson Police Department gifted the man with a brand new electric scooter.

(Read more: KWCH News)

USD 506 touts low high school dropout rate

At November’s regular meeting of the Labette County USD 506 Board of Education, Superintendent John Wyrick presented an overview of the area high school graduation rates.

Wyrick stated Labette County High School is at the top of this list, as well as having the best college and career readiness programs for graduates.

Kansas Report Card 2018-2019 reported the district’s graduation rate, based on an adjusted four-year cohort rate, rose from 95% in 2017 to 97.3% for 2018, far exceeding the overall statewide percentage, though it also showed a trend for improvement.

(Read more: Parsons Sun)

Parsons delays decision on common consumption

City leaders want to give the public a chance to comment on an ordinance that would allow people to carry alcoholic beverages from business to business during special events downtown.

The common consumption ordinance was a late addition to the Parsons City Commission’s regular Monday meeting. The ordinance wasn’t on the agenda issued late Friday afternoon but was approved as an addendum at the meeting at the request of city staff.

The ordinance would designate the common consumption area with boundaries of Central Avenue, 17th Street, Washington Avenue and Broadway Avenue. Main Street is included in the area.

(Read more: Parsons Sun)

USD 232 planning centralized career and technical center, early childhood facility on one site

After years of conversations about finding new ways to get students career ready after graduation, Unified School District 232 is advancing plans to build a dedicated Career & Technical Education Center to better serve the needs of students.

Once complete, the new center will be connected to a new Early Childhood Center as one facility located on district-owned property on the northeast corner of 83rd Street and Mize Boulevard next to Mill Creek Middle.

“We want every student in our school district, when they graduate, to be prepared to go to college, but we also recognize that not every student needs or wants to go to college,” said Alvie Cater, district spokesperson. “What we have to do is a better job of exposing students to a variety of career and job opportunities that are out there where you can make a really good living doing something that interests you and doing something for which you have skills, an aptitude for, an enjoyment for.”

Overland Park councilmembers talk details of possible open mic time at city meetings

Open mic time at Overland Park City Council meetings could end up being limited to 30 minutes at the end of the meeting with participants signing in for a maximum of three minutes apiece, under rules being discussed by a council committee.

The Finance, Administration and Economic Development committee took up the issue Wednesday after hearing a report on how other city and county governing bodies handle open comments.

Overland Park is a rarity among local governments in that it does not have a designated time during council meetings for people to express themselves on any issue. They can talk during designated public hearings, but those comments must be about the agenda item the hearing is for.

Parsons focuses on downtown

Parsons City leaders are working to improve commuter safety in the downtown area.

The city approved an ordinance making it illegal for extra long vehicles to park on main street between 16th St. and Central Ave.

It’s now illegal for any part of the vehicle, it’s load, or equipment to leave less than 20 feet of open space in the main road.

The ordinance does make an exception for loading or unloading less than 5 minutes.

Lawrence Public Library proposes eliminating fines for overdue books

he Lawrence Public Library wants to join a growing list of libraries that have eliminated fines for overdue books and other media.

Library staff recommended this week that the library eliminate overdue fines and charge people only for lost or damaged items. Staff presented the recommendation Monday to the library board, which will vote on the matter at its next meeting. The American Library Association has stated that fines create barriers for low-income people, and the Lawrence library’s executive director, Brad Allen, said the library shared those concerns.

Lawrence to host public meeting regarding proposals to ban or charge for plastic and paper bags

The City of Lawrence is seeking public input on a proposal to ban or charge a fee for single-use plastic and paper bags.

The Lawrence Sustainability Advisory Board previously recommended that the city charge a 16-cent fee for disposable plastic and paper bags, but it has since updated that recommendation to indicate it would also support a ban, as the Journal-World recently reported. The Lawrence City Commission has indicated it is interested in either a fee or a ban.

Topeka leaders reject term limits, approve vacant property registry

Topeka’s mayor and city council voted late Tuesday against giving Topekans a November 2020 ballot question vote on whether to impose term limits upon the mayor and council. In a separate vote, the council established a registration program for owners of properties that are foreclosed, or chronically vacant and underutilized. Each of the 10 members of the city’s governing body — consisting of the mayor and the nine council members — had a vote on the term limits […]

Manhattan removes full ban on smoking, vaping on patios in combined law

Manhattan’s newly combined smoking and vaping ordinance will not completely ban nicotine consumption on bar and restaurant outdoor patios. It passed by 3 to 2 vote.

The City Commission Tuesday changed course on the regulations following outreach from multiple area business owners after having previously passed a first reading of an ordinance that extended the ban to patios and would have applied on golf courses as well. The amended version of the law still prohibits smoking and vaping within 20 feet of access points such as doors and open windows — even on patios — in all Parks and Recreation facilities and outdoor areas, in taxis and ride-share services as well as in tobacco and vape stores.

The ordinance was requested for consideration by the Flint Hills Wellness Coalition and Chair Debbie Nuss says the voter-approved 2009 ordinance had always intended patios would included under the ban. Stan Watt, chairperson for Clean Air Manhattan which created the original smoking ordinance, questioned the negative impact business owners believe would have come of the proposed ban.

(Read more: 1350 KMAN)

Historic Big Boy steam locomotive chugs through Manhattan

Union Pacific’s steam locomotive 4014 is trekking across the country to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Transcontinental Railroad. Ed Dickens is the senior manager of Union Pacific’s Heritage Operations and helped lead restoration on the 7,000 horse power, 135 foot long, 605 ton locomotive.

“Nothing gives a testimony better than someone’s firsthand experience watching this thing go by. We try to tell people to please stay back but people want to be up close. They don’t usually get a good picture because half the time they drop their phones,” Dickens said.

Big Boy No. 4014 traveled the rails from 1941 to 1961 garnering more than one million miles.

“The men and women and all the young children and people of the older generation that remember steam locomotives are fascinated with the story of the Big Boy locomotive, the world’s largest operating steam locomotive,” Dickens said.

(Read more: 1350 KMAN)

Sewer rate hike at Lake Fort Scott on hold

The Fort Scott City Commission Tuesday night tabled a proposed 3 percent increase in rates for sewer customers at Lake Fort Scott.

Commissioners tabled the matter after hearing from lake residents who are concerned about the proposed increase, and remarks from city staff about the reasons for the rate hike.

(Read more: Fort Scott Tribune)

City to handle animals on its own

City Administrator Joe Turner asked the council for feedback as he presented a report on the animal control services for the city and recommended that Sedgwick terminate its contract with the City of Halstead and Animal Control Officer (ACO).

The agreement began about twenty years ago, allowing up to $14,000 annually to be paid to the ACO and $5,000 in annual miscellaneous expenses.

“Over the last few years for a variety of reasons, ACO duties which once included proactive patrolling have transitioned to an as needed, per call basis,” Turner wrote in his report to the council. “Consequently, the cost per call and hour of service have skyrocketed.”

(Read more: Harvey County Now)

USDA invests in Horton water and wastewater infrastructure

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Community Programs Director in Kansas, Dan Fischer, announced that three Kansas communities – including Horton – are receiving $23 million in financing to improve water and wastewater infrastructure. USDA is funding the projects through the Water and Waste Disposal Loan and Grant program.

“USDA provides communities with affordable financing for water and wastewater infrastructure projects that are vital to the health and safety of rural communities,” said Fischer. “It requires a large investment in infrastructure to maintain essential services for rural residents, and USDA is committed to partnering with rural communities to help bring economic opportunities.”

Nationally, USDA Rural Development announced it is investing $635 million in 122 projects to improve water systems and wastewater handling services in rural communities in 42 states.

(Read more: hiawathaworldonline.com)

HCC employees give back to Doniphan County for Thanksgiving

On Nov. 20, Highland Community College employees donated enough food to provide 15 Doniphan County families in need with a Thanksgiving meal.

The effort was spearheaded on campus by a group of employees called The Hamper Committee which includes, Theresa Grossman, Laura Young, Shelley Smith, Pamela Fulbright, Amy Foley and Kristin Woodruff.

‘Anyone But’ rates among top write-ins

Write-in candidates up-ended ballot-listed candidates in three contested races and won several other contests for which no candidate had filed in this month’s election.
But the most interesting write-ins — including “Anyone But” — were not necessarily winners.

Former county commissioner Dan Holub received not only 51 votes from Gale Township and Marion South to finish fourth in the race for 4th District commissioner, won by David Crofoot.

(Read more: HILLSBORO Star-Journal)

Hillsboro Community Hospital sold to its onetime operators

A Wichita bankruptcy court judge Thursday approved the sale of Hillsboro Community Hospital after learning that no objections had been filed to the proposed sale and no qualifying competing bids had been made.

The hospital was sold to a company with officers who formerly operated the hospital under the company name Rural Community Hospitals of America and filed bankruptcy in 2011.

(Read more: HILLSBORO Star-Journal)

County OKs wind farm agreement

After 3½ hours of discussion and pointed questions from county commissioner Dianne Novak Friday, county commissioners approved a development agreement for a wind farm project long the subject of contention.

The agreement was approved by commissioners on a split vote, with Randy Dallke and Kent Becker voting in favor and Novak voting against letting the wind farm proceed.

The approval was granted with a few amendments to the original proposal — one of which was that the wind farm would increase the amount of money it offered to pay the county.

(Read more: HILLSBORO Star-Journal)

City Council approves IRBs for Genzada

The Hutchinson City Council approved an ordinance to issue $6.2 million in industrial revenue bonds for the Genzada project during Tuesday’s meeting.

The city is acting as the funding conduit for the project and is not obligated financially in any way. Genzada is in the process of building its new headquarters in the old Dillons Northgate building at 30th and Plum.

After much discussion, the council also approved a zoning request from Dane Power. Power plans to build a small office complex at 23rd and Brentwood. The proposal was met with numerous questions regarding the remaining vacant land on the property and its future use. Not wanting to delay potential development, the majority of the council denied the wishes of Councilman Steve Dechant to send the matter back to the Planning Commission and approved the request.

(Read more: Hutch Post)

Kansas is third-worst in nation for retirement, report says. Are high taxes to blame?

What does a state do when its taxpayers feel pinched but its government feels deprived?

It has a no-holds-barred debate about needs, wants, limits and priorities — which is precisely what Kansas leaders should do now.

The Sunflower State is enmeshed in an increasingly thorny dilemma: how to reconcile demands for more government spending with an already-high tax burden.

Grant funding rings in for countywide joint communications

The Kansas 911 Coordinating Council recently announced that Atchison County 911 Center has been awarded grant funding to help cover the cost of hardware, software and training associated with the processing and dispatching of the Next Generation 911.

“This upgrade to our NICE voice recording system will allow us to receive updated software along with all new hardware and audio boards,” said Director Kim Pruett, Atchison County 911 Center. “This will also give us the capability of recording Text to 911, which will be coming sometime next year.”

(Read more: Atchison Globe Now)

Wright resigns as Bentley City Clerk, will be missed

The motion to accept City Clerk Lisa Wright’s resignation nearly died for lack of a second last week. That’s how much council members regret seeing her leave.

Wright’s last day with Bentley is this Friday. She’ll be taking on a position as city clerk of Eastborough.

She said she absolutely had good memories from her time working in Bentley.

“I loved it,” she said. “I’m going to definitely miss the people here.”

Wright became city clerk in July 2015.

Numerous people at last Thursday’s council meeting expressed their appreciation of Wright.

(Read more: Harvey County Now)

Crews fight building fire at Rice Co. egg production facility

Authorities are working to determine the cause of a large fire in a building at the Cal-Maine foods 625 Avenue K, in Rice County.

Wednesday fire at Cal-Maine in Rice County photo courtesy Brian Sieker

Fire crews from across the county responded just before 3p.m. Wednesday to battle the fire, according to Rice County Communications. There are no reports of injuries.

(Read more: Hutch Post)

Chicken N Pickle to open ice skating rink in east Wichita

Workers are currently putting the finishing touches on the rink at Chicken N Pickle, located near the corner of 13th St. N. and Greenwich.

Weather permitting, the rink will open this Friday at 3 p.m.

The complex says it will ice day in layers to make up for warmer days.

(Read more: KWCH News)

City of Winfield applying for grant to replace water line

The City of Winfield will apply for a Community Development Block Grant to help fund emergency replacement of a water line along the Walnut River that was exposed after major floods this past spring caused ground erosion.

The filing is a CDBG Urgent Need Application for $185,000 to cover the cost of the project, according to Winfield City Manager Taggart Wall. The total estimated cost is just over $197,000. If the grant is awarded, the remaining cost would be paid by the city., according to a legal notice published Nov. 12 in the CourierTraveler.

(Read more: The Arkansas City Traveler)

USD 230 breaks ground on 2018 bond projects

Spring Hill USD 230 leaders, staff and community members came together for the ceremonial start of the 2018 school bond projects during a groundbreaking ceremony Thursday, Nov. 14, near Spring Hill High School.

School district leaders grabbed shovels and plunged them into the ground, marking the start of construction of the Educational Support Center, set to open in fall 2020; Dayton Creek Elementary School, set to open in fall 2021; and a third middle school similar to Woodland Spring, set to open in fall 2022.

Spring Hill Superintendent Wayne Burke thanked the voters for approving a bond issue in 2016 and again in 2018 to allow the school district to keep up with its growing population.

(Read more: The Miami County Republic)

Labette County at odds over makeup of wind farm board

Labette County commissioners haven’t reached consensus on how to form a board that will review wind farm issues and report to them with recommendations.

The commissioners still are far apart on board membership. After a 30-minute discussion Monday, commissioners agreed to each write outlines or proposals on how the board will be formed, operate and report.

(Read more: Parsons Sun)