Municipal News & Jobs

Kansas Municipal News

Mission, Roeland Park agree to annexation arrangement for land at Johnson Drive and Roe

Following a public hearing this week, the Mission city council approved the de-annexation of .7 acres the northeast corner of Johnson Drive and Roe Avenue. City Administrator Laura Smith said discussion of annexation and de-annexation between Mission and Roeland Park has been ongoing since 2018. Roeland Park leaders will still need to formally consider the annexation proposal.

Roeland Park sold the lot to Sunflower Medical Group in July 2019, and SMG intends to build a medical office building on the space. City limits of Mission and Roeland intersect in that particular corner, and the two cities have been discussing the benefits of annexation and de-annexation, Smith said.

(Read more: Shawnee Mission Post)

Halstead overrun with cats, humane society spaying and neutering

Feral cats are running rampant in Halstead and residents are fed up with the problem.

“I know I see cats everywhere…There are a lot of cats here in Halstead,” says Ethan Harvey, who lives in Halstead.

So many, Harvey says he has to watch out for them anytime he walks the streets.

Cynthia Sutcliffe works for Caring Hands Humane Society and says the cats are Halstead’s biggest problem, so she decided to tackle it.

(Read more: KAKE – News)

City of Lawrence moves excessive-force lawsuit against police department to federal court

The City of Lawrence has moved an excessive-force case involving its police department to federal court and requested that the case go to trial.

Last month, a motorist who was shot by police after a traffic stop turned violent filed a lawsuit in Douglas County District Court claiming that police used excessive force against him and that the city failed to properly train its officers. On Wednesday, attorneys representing the city moved the case to the United States District Court of Kansas City, Kan., and requested a trial by jury.

Read more: LJWorld.com.

‘Affordable’ Housing An Elusive Target Impacting Community Growth

Ask anyone involved in economic development or any employer what is the number one factor that drives community growth and one item will almost always be at the top of that list – housing.

Make that affordable housing.

That’s not an issue unique to just Scott City, but nearly every small community in Western Kansas and for that matter across the state.

Scott County Development Committee Director Katie Eisenhour feels that Scott City has done far better than most communities to fill the need for more housing.

Students in Eureka skip classes to help beautify their town

Hundreds of kids cut class this week in Eureka, Kansas but it was all for a good cause.

The students teamed up with community members for a local initiative to beautify the town. The school partnered with Myreka for the fifth year in a row. It’s an initiative that has been working on cleaning up main street and other areas of town. The goal is to make Eureka more attractive to residents and encourage growth in the community.

Source: Fox Kansas.

Residents share ideas for future of downtown Lawrence, including more housing, green space and river access

Lawrence residents at a meeting Wednesday envisioned a future downtown that included additional housing, more green space and improved access to the Kansas River.

The next phase of the development of Lawrence’s Downtown Master Plan began Wednesday evening with a workshop at the Douglas County Fairgrounds, where residents were asked how downtown should look and function in the years to come. The new master plan will cover downtown land use and development for the next 15 to 20 years, including issues such as building heights, parking, transportation, infrastructure, beautification and streetscapes.

Read more: LJWorld.com.

Baldwin City to host 62nd annual Maple Leaf Festival this weekend

Baldwin City has spent the last week putting on its festival face.

Crews have been placing orange “no parking” placards along downtown streets, as well as portable toilets and ready-to-assemble barricades at key intersections. They’ve marked off the sites for the hundreds of vendors whose wares will be for sale to the more than 30,000 expected visitors Saturday and Sunday to the annual Maple Leaf Festival.

Founded in 1958, Maple Leaf has grown to be one of the largest fall festivals in the state.

Read more: LJWorld.com.

City of Pittsburg officials see positive outcome in switching health plans

A local city is reaping the benefits of a self-funded employee health plan.

A spokesperson with the company that offers the City of Pittsburg employee health insurance plan, IMA, recently gave city commissioners an update on the plan that went into place back in 2015. She says employee premiums haven’t increased in five years and claims are currently running 24 percent lower than expected.

City manager Daron Hall says that’s a far cry from the situation they were in before the city switched providers.

New electronic-voting machines unveiled to local government officials

Local voters will be seeing new voting machines at polling places this year.

New electronic-voting machines were unveiled to local government officials during a meeting Thursday afternoon.

The old machines have been replaced simply because the technology being used needed to be updated.

“We started those (the previous voting machines) in 2006,” Rich Vargo, the clerk for Riley County, said. “Their life cycle was projected to be eight years, so we got an extra four years out of them. They had gone beyond their life cycle. And of course with anything new (technology-wise), there’s newer security measures.”

Each machine costed a little over $3,000 with a total of over $1 million spent on the new technology.

(Read more: 1350 KMAN)

DA asks Wichita Mayor Jeff Longwell to report past gifts; won’t file charges

Sedgwick County District Attorney Marc Bennett is not filing charges against Wichita Mayor Jeff Longwell. But he is asking him to report past gifts he received from a company that’s helping design Wichita’s new water treatment plant.

Bennett’s investigation into Longwell’s gifts started after an Eagle story said that Longwell steered what could become the largest contract in the city’s history to his friends and golf partners.

Those friends and their companies spent hundreds of dollars entertaining the mayor.

(Read more: Politics & Government News |)

Douglas County no longer will prosecute simple marijuana cases

Responding in part to what he described as changing societal attitudes, Douglas County District Attorney Charles Branson announced Thursday his office no longer will prosecute simple marijuana offenses.

According to a news release, Branson said he made the decision after examining policies in several cities including Lawrence, Wichita and Kansas City, Mo.

“I do not feel it is fair or just for Douglas County to criminally charge citizens with something they can do with virtually no penalty in the city of Lawrence and other surrounding communities,” Branson said.

Wells launches write-in campaign for Wichita mayor

Lyndy Wells, third-place finisher in the August primary, announced his write-in candidacy Thursday for the upcoming mayoral election.

And he’s convinced he can win, he said.

“I am confident that I can win this. Otherwise, I would not do it. And I have been counseled by friends and supporters who have said don’t do this,” he said at a news conference Thursday afternoon in front of the Historic Sedgwick County Courthouse.

(Read more: Local News |)

A new life found: Five siblings came to Newton on an ‘Orphan Train’

Don Schroeder had quite a story to tell this week at Newton Public Library, one he told in front of a standing-room-only crowd.

His father, John A. Lingenfelter, was one of five children who were treated at Bethel Deaconess Hospital in May of 1919. Those five children, four girls and one boy, came to Newton on an “Orphan Train.”

“These are stories I have heard all of my life,” Schroeder said.

Hutch trail system to expand

Hutchinson’s trail system will add a link.

…

According to a memo by City Director of Parks and Facilities Justin Combs, the new concrete trail will extend approximately a thousand feet from the playground to the east, on the south side of East 43rd Avenue. It will continue under K-61 and end at the driveway of 3103 E. 43rd Ave.

(Read more: Local – The Hutchinson News)

Wichita middle school technology teacher receives national award

Wichita Public Schools announces a national award for a middle school technology teacher.

Stephen Smith, a technology teacher at Allison Traditional Magnet Middle School will receive a Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST), the district says.

The National Science Foundation administers the award on behalf of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.

The Wichita school district says the award “recognizes outstanding teachers for their contributions to the teaching and learning of science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and/or computer science.”

Smith’s recognition include’s a citation signed by President Donald Trump and a $10,000 award from the National Science Foundation. Smith will travel to Washington, D.c. to accept the award.

(Read more: KWCH News)

USD 428 trying to get bond information out to everyone

After Terry Wiggers with SJCF Architecture passed along survey results from what voters liked and disliked about a failed $44.87 million school bond, many of the USD 428 Board of Education members were surprised that some residents were not aware of the bond issue details.

Several comments from the online survey at greatbendschools.net mentioned they were not educated on the purpose of the bond. With 55-percent of the vote against the first bond question, the district and SJCF will be tasked with figuring out how to get information to everyone, and not just those following on social media, reading the newspaper, or listening on the radio.

(Read more: Great Bend Post)

Fort Scott city officials visit Nation’s Capitol to encourage legislators to invest in community

Fort Scott city staff visit the Nation’s Capitol encouraging legislators to invest in the community.

The Community Development Director, Robert Uhler says the trip was to raise awareness about the Southeast Kansas town at both a state and federal level.

He met multiple federal legislators, including senators Jerry Moran and Pat Roberts, and state representatives Steve Watkins and Roger Marshal. Uhler pushed for more funding towards the many historical sites in the region, in hopes of keeping Fort Scott’s history alive.

City of Fort Scott applies for development grant to promote city expansion

The city is looking get a Community Development Block Grant. It’s given to communities across the state of Kansas to enhance livability by providing financial, technical or business assistance.

If the city gets the grant they plan to use it for a new 100-foot ladder truck for the fire department. Fort Scott’s expansion is bringing taller buildings to the area. That means fire fighters need to be able to reach higher than before.

“We have more apartments downtown now, downtown buildings. We’ve had a developer in that’s bought some buildings and working on another one now, there’s primarily apartment,” explained Fort Scott Fire Chief Paul Ballou. “A truck like this would make it much safer if we could get it if we have to go in there and rescue someone.”

Hospital debt wiped clean; use-tax issue appears resolved

South Central Kansas Medical Center’s staff can breathe easier now that a $1,313.005 debt to the city has been officially removed from the books.

Arkansas City Commissioners passed a resolution Tuesday canceling all the hospitals debt obligations to the city for funds it borrowed in the past few years to meet bond payments and other costs.

The resolution was put into place after the city acknowledged it had kept compensating use tax revenue instead of giving it to the hospital.

(Read more: The Arkansas City Traveler)

City turns down proposal from rural electric cooperative

The Wellington City Council, during its Oct. 15 meeting, voted to deny a rural electric cooperative’s proposal for a franchise agreement with the city in which the coop would supply utilities to territory recently annexed by the city.

The property, annexed in August, is at the southeast corner of U.S. 160 and Seneca Road, lying east of the railroad. This property is platted into two lots – Lot 1, zoned for commercial use and Lot 2, zoned as heavy industrial. Verbio North America Corp. (VNA), a biofuel producer, plans to build on Lot 2, but currently, the entire property is on bare ground with no services.

The property lies entirely within the service territory of the rural utility supplier, Sumner-Cowley Electric Cooperative (SCEC).

Manhattan to allow women to go topless, with restrictions

Women are now legally allowed to go topless in Manhattan, with some restrictions.

The Manhattan City Commission on Tuesday unanimously decided to amend the city code to allow females to go topless. However, property owners and businesses may still require all patrons to wear shirts.

The Manhattan Mercury reports City Attorney Katie Jackson recommended the change to avoid potential lawsuits. She said the code could be changed again later.

(Read more: KSN-TV)

Kansas Bicycle Map Photo Contest

Kansas is home to many incredible views and opportunities to see some of the greatest sunsets in the world, but have you ever seen Kansas up close while riding a bike? If you have or if you plan to in the near future, we want to see what you see when you travel Kansas on two wheels! Our first Kansas Bicycle Photo contest is currently underway, and we need to hear from you!

Comprehensive Transportation Planning Manager Matthew Messina said that the best thing about biking in Kansas is that the state has plenty to offer, whether you’re a commuter, a recreational rider or even a racer.

“Kansas has a wide range of terrain and scenic landscapes that help make biking fun and enjoyable every time you ride,” Messina said.

(Read more: Kansas Transportation)

Pittsburg firefighters attend specialized disaster training session

Several members of the Pittsburg Fire Department have returned from their annual training session as members of a special response team. The first responders are part of Task Force 4, which responds to natural disasters that occur in the southeast corner of Kansas.

“We did a lot of wide area search and it helps us familiarize ourselves with our GPS’s, so we can mark our way points, track victim locations, and then we did a lot of shoring,” explained firefighter Cody Hobbs. “We did some breach and break and then we did some confined space searches.”

The session took place in Salina at a location called “Crisis City.” Task force members house different types of equipment needed to respond to disasters at various fire stations throughout Southeast Kansas.

Rates & Financial Planning Workshop (Osawatomie) on October 23

The Kansas Department of Health Environment (KDHE) Capacity Development Program, in partnership with Wichita State Environmental Finance Center (EFC), Ranson Financial and Kansas Municipal Utilities (KMU), encourages representatives from your utility to attend an upcoming rate setting and financial planning training.The session provides participants with an understanding on major considerations when setting rates; rate structure options and pricing objectives; financial planning considerations; and strategies for communicating rate information to your board and community. The training will provide classroom instruction as well as interactive participant exercises and discussion.

Learn more and register here.

Lawrence City Commission approves density bonus that allows lots to be divided for affordable housing projects

City leaders have approved a proposal that allows two houses to be built on one lot as long as both homes are affordable.

As part of its meeting Tuesday, the Lawrence City Commission voted unanimously to approve a text amendment to the city’s land development code that codifies the so-called density bonus. In response to concerns that the Brook Creek Neighborhood brought to the Lawrence-Douglas County Metropolitan Planning Commission in August, the amendment states that only lots of a certain size can be divided for such purposes and a permit will be required for the smallest lots.

Read more: LJWorld.com.

Gove County District Court Finds GMD 4 LEMA Constitutional

A district court in western Kansas has ruled that the chief engineer of the Kansas Department of Agriculture Division of Water Resources acted properly in approving a water management tool proposed by the Northwest Kansas Groundwater Management District No. 4 (GMD 4) to aid in local conservation efforts to extend the life of the Ogallala Aquifer. On October 15, 2019, the Gove County District Court upheld the adoption of a Local Enhanced Management Area (LEMA) in much of the district.

The case, Friesen v. Barfield, was filed under the Kansas Judicial Review Act after two public hearings were held by Chief Engineer David Barfield who then approved adoption of the LEMA. The case was brought by multiple petitioners who are required under the LEMA plan to reduce the amount of groundwater withdrawn over the next five years. Petitioners challenged whether the reductions in water use can be made without those cuts being based on priority (date the water right was approved) and generally challenged the lawfulness of any cuts or use of a LEMA.

(Read more: Rural Messenger)

Sedgwick County gives additional $2.6 million for jail to address uptick in violent offenders

Violent crime in the past couple of years has overloaded the Sedgwick County Jail and put the inmate population at its highest in a decade.

To help remedy the problem, Sedgwick County Commissioners on Wednesday approved a $2.6 million injection into the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office budget to sustain the jail through 2019. Sheriff Jeff Easter said the department has been paying to keep roughly 200 inmates out of county at any given time. He said the renovations at the jail, expected to be completed March 2020, would add 63 beds.

Easter said 70% of inmates have an addiction problem, with methamphetamine being the largest problem.

(Read more: Local News |)

Statistics no way to ‘rate’ city’s police departments

Sexual battery and many other intimidation crimes are not listed in Kansas Bureau of Investigation’s annual crime index — an omission that law enforcement in Marion County say makes it difficult to get an accurate picture of crime in their towns.
“There are certain things I wish were in there that aren’t,” said Hillsboro police chief Dan Kinning. “I wish things like simple battery and that showed up, especially if they’re domestic violence.”
KBI issues a separate report for sexual battery and other crimes not listed in its annual index — but the report only includes statistics for the entire state, not for its communities.

(Read more: Marion County RECORD)

Garden City mayor, manager reflect on past year

Garden City Mayor Dan Fankhauser and City Manager Matt Allen spoke before Garden City Area Chamber of Commerce members Wednesday morning, reflecting on the city’s recent accomplishments and plans for the future. Fankhauser reviewed the past year in and around Garden City, from the fire that damaged the Tyson Fresh Meats plant in Holcomb and city staff’s preparations ahead of the 2020 census. Two longtime city staff members retired from the city this year …

Commissioners consider bike path agreement

The Sedgwick County Board of County Commissioners was expected to approve the Hike and Bike path between Mulvane and Derby at its Wednesday meeting, which came after press time Monday.

The agreement requires the county to provide about $57,000 for the pathway, which represents a third of the local funding. The bulk of funding was covered by federal dollars through the Wichita Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (WAMPO).

The project has been bid out to the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT).

(Read more: Derby News | derbyinformer.com)

Derby historical landmarks make their debut

An official ribbon cutting on Wednesday in front of the Derby Historical Museum marked the unveiling of seven historical landmark displays in Derby. The landmarks are a part of the 150-year sesquicentennial celebration going on this year.

The landmarks are displayed on or near areas in Derby that have historic meaning to the community and commemorate Derby’s origin as a farming town that valued family and faith.

One landmark in Garrett Park tells the story of Alexander and Margaret Garrett, Derby’s first settlers. Most all of the landmarks, including the Garrett marker, use photos, text and locator maps to tell the story of Derby in its early years.

(Read more: Derby News | derbyinformer.com)

City of Hays hires new assistant city manager

Collin Bielser has been appointed as the new assistant city manager for the City of Hays, City Manager Toby Dougherty announced in a news release Wednesday.

Bielser was selected for the position out of 100 candidates after a lengthy and extensive national search. He will assume his duties Jan. 6.

Bielser comes to the City of Hays from Fairbury, Neb., where he has served as the city administrator since July 2015. Prior to Fairbury, Bielser worked for the City of Baldwin City and the City of Eudora. He is a native Kansan, growing up in Colby.

Bielser graduated from the University of Kansas with a master’s degree in public administration and a master’s urban planning.

(Read more: Hays Post)

Extreme floods unearth ancient bear skull in south-central Kansas

A mid-August kayak trip down the Arkansas River in south-central Kansas took a fascinating turn for sisters Ashley and Erin Watt when they happened upon a massive skull protruding from a sandbar. It was partially buried nose down, but they immediately knew the shape was unique. When they pulled it from the sand and saw the large teeth of a carnivore, they knew they had something special.

With a little research, Ashley and Erin determined they had likely found a bear skull. They shared their exciting discovery in a Facebook post, which caught the eyes of local Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism (KDWPT) game warden Chris Stout. Stout shared the photos with colleagues, and they eventually reached Sternberg Museum of Natural History paleontologists Dr. Reese Barrick and Mike Everhart who provided insight into the significance of the finding.

While Barrick and Everhart quickly verified the sisters’ suspicions that this was a bear skull, the large size – approximately 16 inches long by 8.5 inches wide – and fossilized appearance left them questioning whether this was a modern grizzly or a more primitive species from the past. The skull is believed to have been deposited into the Ark River sands – an excellent substrate for preservation – and maintained there until it was displaced by this year’s historic floods.

(Read more: Hays Post)

Smith-Hanes: Saline County was ‘right opportunity at the right time’

After serving as the Ellis County administrator for more than three years and helping to guide the county through several major projects, Phillip Smith-Hanes has been named the Saline County administrator.

Smith-Hanes, who was hired in December 2015 and began working in Ellis County in March 2016, said Tuesday he is excited for the opportunity.

“It’s a larger community closer to where I grew up, but I’m sad to be leaving Ellis County,” said Smith-Hanes, who grew up in Marion County. “Ellis County’s been very good to me.

“I wasn’t out there looking for a new job,” he added. “This is just something that popped up that was kind of the right opportunity at the right time.”

(Read more: Hays Post)

City of Hugoton receives Centennial Award from KMEA and Gary Rowden is awarded Distinguished Service Award

The City of Hugoton was recognized for 100 years of providing a quality electric service to their community. The City was presented with the Centennial Award from the Kansas Municipal
Energy Agency at their annual awards banquet October 3, 2019 in Wichita.
The Centennial Award is given out each year to honor Community Visionaries who founded the City’s Electric Utility.

Kansas Municipal Energy Agency is a member driven joint action agency with the mission of providing municipal utilities reliable and economical energy to serve their communities.
Hugoton was represented by Gary Rowden, Electric System Supervisor who accepted the award.
The City of Hugoton is a member of KMEA. Hugoton, in Stevens County in Southwest Kansas, has a population of approximately 3,900.

(Read more: Hugoton Hermes News)

Commissioners approve $2.6 million to Sheriff’s Office

The Sedgwick County Detention Center has a problem that finally reached a financial breaking point. The Sheriff’s office said the costs to operate the facility reached new highs that couldn’t be sustained under the current budget.

“This is a spike, this is not a normal trend we’ve been seeing,” Sheriff Jeff Easter said. “Crime in general is up because of methamphetamine. That drives those folks to commit those crimes.”

Commissioners approved an additional $2.6 million to help fund the department, because Easter’s deputies are overseeing the welfare of a lot more inmates now.

(Read more: KAKE – News)

Wellington chef going for world cooking prize

Self-proclaimed foodie Mike Castaneda is going to represent Kansas and Wellington this week in the Food World Championship in Dallas.

Castaneda is one of three Kansans who qualified for the competition. One of those competitors is his brother-in-law Steve Madrigal, who runs Pop’s Catering in Wichita.

The food category they will have to cook in is seafood — not Castaneda’s primary style of cooking, but he feels confident about it.

If he wins first place in the seafood category, Castaneda will win $10,000 and advance to the “final table” in which he will prepare his own dish. The top prize is $100,000.

(Read more: Leavenworth Times)

Firm to help find Hutch’s next city manager

The search for a search firm to help the Hutchinson City Council search for the next city manager has ended.

The council chose Strategic Government Resources, with offices throughout the country, after inviting six firms to submit a proposal. The service contract cost is not to exceed $26,500.

City Manager John Deardoff announced this summer he plans to retire in spring 2020. The city’s goal is to have the next city manager hired by March 1.

(Read more: Local – The Hutchinson News)

County Commissioner says new medical examiner facility will meet important need

By this time next year, the county is scheduled to be operating its first ever medical examiner facility. What does this mean for Johnson County? We will have better resources and efficiencies to perform autopsies and death investigations. Public safety will be enhanced because this state-of-the art facility will use best practices and current technology for collecting evidence, optimizing our response to homicides, suspicious deaths and overdose cases. Additionally, our public health teams will be able to access real-time information to identify trends or emerging diseases.

Johnson County had long studied the need for our own resource to do this type of work. Currently, we outsource investigations for suspicious deaths to a privately-owned lab in Wyandotte County. In 2016, the county completed a study and determined we had grown to the point of needing a coroner facility. Through further study and discussion, we determined the county would move forward with a medical examiner instead of a coroner facility, allowing a greater expanse of services to be performed. It was further determined we would provide an accredited facility by meeting scientific requirements of the National Association of Medical Examiners (N.A.M.E.). In November 2016, Johnson County voters approved a 10-year, ¼ cent public safety sales tax to build a new medical examiner facility and a new courthouse.

Council votes to make the City of Wellington the primary electrical supplier for VNA plant

The Wellington City Council denied a franchise agreement with Sumner-Cowley Electric Cooperative to serve the area that has been annexed by the city for the proposed VNA plant.

Instead, the council unanimously approved that electricity will be provided by the city of Wellington. Kip Etter and Jennifer Heersche were not present for the meeting.

The plant, if built, will be located at the southeast corner of U.S. 160 and Seneca Road. The entire parcel was annexed into the city of Wellington on August 6, 2019. VNA is proposing to build a biofuel industrial complex that will convert wheat straw into compressed natural gas.

(Read more: Sumner NewsCow)

Wind farm proposed for south-central Marshall County

A NextEra Energy wind farm is proposed for construction possibly as early as next year in south-central Marshall County.

NextEra Energy project manager Mark Trumbauer and project director Casey Moye met with county commissioners Barb Kickhaefer and Keith Bramhall and county counselor Jason Brinegar Monday. …

Marshall County Partnership for Growth director Ellen Barber also attended. Trumbauer said NextEra Energy has been working with Barber to make sure people know the Florida-based company is considering building in the area.

(Read more: The Marysville Advocate)

City of Merriam Wins State Award from League of Kansas Municipalities

The City of Merriam received a state award in honor of several community grant programs offered to its residents.

The League of Kansas Municipalities on Oct. 14 honored the City with its Inspire – Create – Innovate Community Awards for economic development during its annual conference in Overland Park. The award celebrates recent “innovations, programs, community projects, and acknowledge overall excellence in local government.”

The League said it recognized Merriam for its three grant programs that help spur economic development. Those grants include the Exterior Home Improvement Grant, Block Party Grant, and Neighborhood Island Grant.

(Read more: Merriam, KS news)

Douglas County Commission approves new city-county comprehensive plan

The Douglas County Commission signed off on the implementation of a new city-county comprehensive plan on Wednesday after a discussion about the wording of one of the plan’s provisions.

While considering the plan, which outlines how the city and county will consider growth and development in the future, the commissioners said they were confused by a provision about land requirements for development in the county.

Read more: LJWorld.com.

Valley Center population, schools and businesses growing

While some small towns in Kansas are shrinking, some are bursting with opportunity.

It has a lot do with the community pride.

Valley Center saw a more than seven percent population increase from 2010 to 2018.

And with that has come more businesses and an expanding school district.

…

New business is growing too.

That goes for businesses like the Cottage Market on Main Street that opened two years ago.

(Read more: KSN-TV)

Ellis Co. administrator will take top job with Saline County

At Tuesday morning’s Saline County commissioners meeting, commissioners approved a contract with Phillip Smith-Hanes, current Ellis County administrator, to serve as the new Saline County administrator.

Smith-Hanes comes to Saline County after a career of more than 23 years that has spanned both city and county governments in two different states. He has served as a county administrator since December 2009, first in California and for the last 3-plus years in Ellis County.

(Read more: The Salina Post)