Municipal News & Jobs

Kansas Municipal News

Jana’s Campaign receives $30,000 grant from Sunflower Foundation

Jana’s Campaign announced the week the award of a $30,000 grant from the Sunflower Foundation in Topeka, KS. Resources will be used to further expand and enhance implementation of our gender and relationship violence prevention education programs across the state of Kansas. Our educational programming provides an understanding of the warning signs of unhealthy relationship behaviors to ultimately stop the violence before it starts, teaches leadership to empower those in attendance to continue to be a part of the solution and encourages a strong culture of respect.

The Sunflower Foundation provided this funding through the Social Determinants and Social Needs: Moving Beyond Midstream grant opportunity. The programs selected to receive funding aligned with the mission to advance the collective efforts of state and local nonprofits to address social determinants of health and improve health outcomes for Kansans.

(Read more: Hays Post)

KCC launches investigation into Reno County earthquakes

The Kansas Corporation Commission (KCC) is collecting data and analyzing recent injection well activity in Reno County in an effort to uncover the cause of a series of earthquakes in the Hutchinson area. Amid damage reports and a concern for public safety, the KCC is conducting an investigation and will evaluate whether additional action is needed to safeguard Kansans.

In 2015, the KCC issued an order reducing injection rates in portions of Harper and Sumner counties after the number of earthquakes in that area began to trend upward. In 2016, the Commission issued a second order limiting injection in additional areas of Harper and Sumner as well as parts of Kingman, Sedgwick and Barber counties when earthquake activity there started to rise.

The area currently under study in Reno County focuses primarily on Arbuckle Formation depth wells and involves both Class ll oil and gas industry injection wells regulated by the KCC and Class l wells regulated by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE).

(Read more: Hutch Post)

Volunteers put an added touch to the operations at Hutchinson Regional Medical Center

Many who visit Hutchinson Regional medical Center see them and are in contact with them, but may not know just how much work they put in. It’s the hospital’s Volunteer Auxiliary. The program has 92 volunteers who work in various areas every day. The hours they put in are impressive.

The volunteers have donated 11,500 hours, equivalent to 479 days of time, assisting with the day-to-day operation of five areas of the hospital during Fiscal 2019, which ended on June 30. Bev Nash, the Volunteer Coordinator for the auxiliary, said the volunteers add a caring touch for the families of hospital patients.

(Read more: Hutch Post)

Junction City Police Chief Dan Breci will retire in September

Junction City Police Chief Dan Breci will wrap up a three-year stint as the leader of the JCPD when he retires on Sept. 20. He has worked in law enforcement for 46 years including nearly 20 years with the Junction City Police Department.

Breci feels it’s time step down. “I just turned 65 and it’s time to go and enjoy life. ”

Breci said he plans to travel and visit with family. He called the last three years in the police chief role challenging and rewarding. “It was something that I always wanted to do. I always envisioned myself one day as being a chief of police. I have had a great time dealing with the public in this city.”

(Read more: Junction City Post)

Pool in Ellis unlikely to be ready for next summer’s swim season

After the sudden closure of the Ellis City Pool, the Ellis City Council was hopeful construction on the new pool would begin quickly enough so the pool could open at the start of the swim season next summer, but Lamp Rynearson aquatics group leader, Andy Smith, informed the council Monday that would be unlikely.

“We’re just not in a position to go through all of the steps, in the order that they need to be gone through to get us there,” Smith said.

“It’s unfortunate really that the pool can’t make it one more year,” he said, “but I understand conditions, what they are, is the situation we find ourselves in.”

(Read more: Hays Post)

Volunteers in Policing program aims to make Wichita riverfront friendlier

“I wanted to help them make this community safe,” said Pat Brown, one of nearly a dozen volunteers helping police in a new citizens patrol program.

It’s a pilot program the city rolled out Wednesday afternoon. The Volunteers in Policing participants will act as the eyes and ears of the police department.

While they work with police, they are not police officers. They’re limited to calling for help when needed.

(Read more: KAKE – News)

Sedgwick County Bans Large-scale Commercial Wind Farms

Large-scale commercial wind farms won’t be built in Sedgwick County.

County commissioners voted Wednesday to update the county’s comprehensive plan and zoning code with specific policies for renewable energy systems. The new regulations prohibit wind facilities and allow solar array systems.

Dave Yearout with the Wichita-Sedgwick County Planning Department says existing rural development and numerous airports and landing strips leave no viable space in the county for a commercial wind facility.

(Read more: RSS Feed)

Third wind farm lawsuit filed

Opponents of the proposed Expedition Wind Farm filed a lawsuit against Marion County commissioners Aug. 14 appealing the commission’s approval of a conditional use permit for the project.

The lawsuit, filed by Peabody farmer Randy Eitzen and 72 other opponents, claims approval of the permit “was unreasonable and therefore void.”

Three plaintiffs own land in the county but reside elsewhere. Five live in the county but outside the vicinity of the proposed wind farm.

(Read more: HILLSBORO Star-Journal)

Dodge City Depot Theater Company put on hold

A theater company in Dodge City announced it has run out of funds, putting their employees out of work and the productions on pause.

“They came in and basically told everyone to pack up their stuff and they were officially let go,” said laid off company member Lauren Cossman.

On Monday, the Depot Theater Company’s board announced the changes on Facebook.

(Read more: KSN-TV)

How a 276-person town in Kansas is turning an empty school into a business incubator

The residents of Hanston, Kansas, decided to try something new after school consolidation.
…
Jeff Holste loves his commute.

Every day he drives a quiet road to a high school building in Hanston, a small city in western Kansas surrounded by farm fields in all directions. He climbs the stairs to a former English classroom and opens his computer. He never has to wonder about traffic.

Holste works remotely for a national engineering firm, an arrangement that allows him to raise his kids in the rural farming and hunting community where his wife grew up.

“From here, I can be connected to everywhere in the company,” said Holste, whose young family moved from Colorado Springs, Colorado, several years ago.

Hanover to celebrate 150th

Hanover’s 150th is this Friday and Saturday, Aug. 23-24. The event begins at 6 p.m. on Friday with a beer mile run. A backyard grill out will begin at 6:30 p.m. on Main Street, and a hot dog eating contest will be at 7:30 p.m. An ice cream social will begin at 8 p.m., and there will be DJ music from 6 to 11 p.m.

Source: Washington County News.

KDHE deems Nortonville water clear

The boil water advisory for Nortonville has rescinded, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment announced Tuesday morning.

Laboratory testing samples collected from the city of Nortonville indicated there is no evidence of bacterial contamination and all other conditions that placed the system at risk of contamination have been deemed resolved by KDHE officials.

(Read more: Atchison Globe Now)

Franklin County considers $375K in building repairs

Franklin County commissioners heard proposals to repair several buildings during its Monday study session.

Brandon Sands, maintenance director, laid out plans to fix several items in the historic courthouse, the jail roof and the HVAC system in the district court building. Estimated cost for these items would be around $375,000.

“We talked on several occasions about where our reserve balances are at and our capability to take on some of the projects that are past due,” said Derek Brown, county administrator and counselor. “What we have done is come up with a tentative recommendation to the board. We know we can afford it on an appropriate time line.”

(Read more: andoveramerican.com)

1,040 Kansans ignore school bus stop signs in 1 day

Kansas education officials are expressing concern that many motorists are ignoring a state law that requires them to stop when approaching a stopped school bus that is loading or unloading children.

A recent survey found 1,040 motorists illegally passed school buses in Kansas during a one-day test in April, The Topeka Capital-Journal reported. The survey included only three-fourths of the state’s school districts so the number of violations is likely higher.

Education officials are expected to make recommendations during the next legislative session on ways to reduce the number of school bus violations.

(Read more: Area | derbyinformer.com)

Barton County surplus property sale set for Thursday

Looking to find a deal on automobiles, shop equipment, office equipment and more? Then be sure to attend the Barton County surplus sale and public auction this Thursday at 6:00 p.m. at the county shop at 7^th and Morphy in Great Bend. The county will be selling surplus equipment, abandoned and seized vehicles and more at the annual sale.

There will be eleven vehicles on the sale block, many that were seized during drug busts over the past year. The vehicles include a 1994 Chevrolet Cheyenne pickup, a 2006 Cadillac CTS, a 2007 Suzuki GSX R600, a 2001 Toyota Camry, a 1999 Buick Park Ave, a 2002 Saturn S Series, a 1999 GMC Jimmy, a 2002 Pontiac Grand Am, a 2003 Pontiac Grand Am, a 2003 Honda Accord, a 2008 Chevrolet Silverado and a Motovox minibike.

(Read more: Great Bend Post)

Hays First Care Clinic, Sheridan County to share in $1M grant to Kansas health centers

U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) – member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Related Agencies – today announced that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is awarding $1,259,650 in Quality Improvement Awards to 18 health centers in Kansas. Funded by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), Kansas health centers will use these awards to improve the quality, efficiency and value of the health care they provide.

(Read more: Hays Post)

Reno County Commission discusses county administrator search

The Reno County Commission is still waiting on one search firm to present a proposal to the county for help in finding a replacement for County Administrator Gary Meagher. Meagher announced earlier this summer that he plans to retire later this year.

Meagher told the commission that the deadline is Wednesday. He expects it to come before the commission for consideration next week.

(Read more: Hutch Post)

Hays USD 489’s $52 million budget includes increase in state money

The Hays USD 489 school board approved its 2020 budget Monday night after a brief budget hearing.

The $52 million budget is up from last school year’s budget, which was $43.9 million. The budget includes an increase in state funding and a slight decrease in the mill levy, which Keith Hall, interim director of finance, attributed to an increase in the district’s assessed valuation.

The total mill levy for 2019-20 will be 42.116 mills, which is down from last year’s 42.792 mills. The capital outlay mill levy remains at 8 mills.

(Read more: Hays Post)

KCP&L and Westar Energy will launch a customer education campaign

There will be an effort by KCP&L and Westar Energy to introduce the new brand name for the company, Evergy.

The campaign will highlight the utility’s continued focus on communities it serves, which include Junction City and Manhattan.

Westar Energy and KCP&L merged in June of 2018 to form the parent company, Evergy. Initially the advertising in the campaign will let customers know when the name change is coming, and will also communicate when it becomes effective in October.

(Read more: Junction City Post)

Kansas adds jobs, sees unemployment rate dip to 3.3% in July

Kansas is reporting that it added private-sector jobs in July and saw its unemployment rate drop slightly to 3.3%.

The state Department of Labor says the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate last month declined from 3.4% in June and was the same as the 3.3% recorded in July 2018. The state’s unemployment rate has been below 4% since January 2017.

(Read more: KSN-TV)

Kansas schools, including metro districts, get $5 million in grants to upgrade security

Several area school districts will be a little more prepared for an active shooter this year.

The Kansas State Department of Education doled out $5 million in grants for schools to make safety improvements. School districts were eligible for up to $19.24 per student in matching grants for installing security systems or for securing classroom doors, windows or entrances.

Blue Valley Schools already had taken steps to secure its front doors, but teachers told staff they were worried having to step into the hall to lock classroom doors could put them in harms way.

(Read more: fox4kc.com | FOX 4 – WDAF)

A leaky situation for Great Bend

During the Administrator’s Update at Monday’s Great Bend City Council meeting, City Administrator Kendal Francis addressed water leaks that have been occurring throughout town and were gaining some popularity on social media.

Francis noted he has been aware of the leaks, especially ones just south of 24^th Street, since October 2018. At that time, there were approximately 60 reported leaks, a number that has since grown.

“We dedicated a couple of crews to addressing the water leaks, but a couple of those senior employees were terminated,” said Francis. “We lost some of the staff and capabilities to fix leaks in a timely fashion.”

(Read more: Great Bend Post)

USD 309 bond issue tax impact revealed

The owner of a $100,000 home in Nickerson-South Hutchinson USD 309 would pay an additional $232.88 in annual property taxes to support a school bond issue.

The $29.9-million, 25-year bond issue will go to voters in the Nov. 5 general election. The school district includes the cities of Nickerson, South Hutchinson, Willowbrook, and The Highlands, as well as the western edge of Hutchinson and rural areas.

School board members recently received a report on the additional property tax impact from the estimated 20.25 mill levy increase that would be triggered by the passage of the bond issue.

(Read more: Local – The Hutchinson News)

KDOT reintroduces bridge improvement program

KDOT has reintroduced its Kansas Local Bridge Improvement program.

Through the iniative, if a bridge meets the department’s criteria, it can qualify to be renovated by funds with the grant. Some of qualifications for the grant are that bridge must see 100 vehicles or less a day and the bridge must range between 20 to 50 feet in the length.

Crawford County applied for the grant back in 2014 and received some funding. So, this time around, county leaders plan on doing the same in the hopes to keep area roadways in good condition.

City officials address concerns regarding proposed new flag

Topeka city officials are responding to concerns raised regarding the proposed new city flag. Officials plan to ask the city’s mayor and council in coming weeks to consider adopting it, city manager Brent Trout said Tuesday.

City officials have been working to explain to “those that are doubters” that the new flag has the same purpose as the old one, Trout said Tuesday at his monthly news conference with Mayor Michelle De La Isla.

When asked if those doubters include city council members, Trout said that while he didn’t know if he would call them “doubters,” some council members have asked questions about the proposed change.

Reno County Planning Commission recommends permit for portable building maker

The Reno County Planning Commission voted last week to let a portable storage building company operating in violation of zoning codes several miles south of Hutchinson to continue operating — and to expand.

The board, however, voted to deny a rezoning request from a longtime local commercial construction company allowing it to relocate its business to a site near 43rd and Plum, voicing concerns about potential flooding impacts to a nearby housing subdivision.

The board also was scheduled to open preliminary discussions on potential land use regulations for unzoned portions of the county that might offer protection from specific industries, such as industrial wind.

(Read more: News – The Hutchinson News)

South Hutchinson tax rate flat; election set for Sunday liquor sales

No citizens commented on the proposed 2020 budget for the city of South Hutchinson during a public hearing Monday night, and the council adopted the budget.

It relies on a mill levy of 43.5 mills, which City Clerk Denise McCue described as essentially flat. The current levy is 43.835 mills.

One mill generates $1 in tax revenue for every $1,000 in assessed valuation. The city’s new property tax rate on a house with a market value of $100,000 would result in an annual property tax bill of approximately $500.

(Read more: News – The Hutchinson News)

Major power outage in Ark City halts business, causes heat concerns

About 2,000 electricity customer in Arkansas, including in downtown, were without power starting 1:45 p.m. Monday, according to Westar Energy.

The problem is believed to be at the Paris Park Substation and was affecting a larger portion of the west half of Ark City.

Businesses were closing doors to customers, and traffic lights were not working.

(Read more: The Arkansas City Traveler)

Prairie Village mayor breaks tie to advance proposed drone regulations for final consideration

Mayor Eric Mikkelson broke a tie vote at a Prairie Village city council committee meeting on Monday to send a proposed drone ordinance to the governing body for final consideration in the coming weeks.

Prairie Village has been looking into whether and how to regulate the use of drones over the city since 2017, when a woman hired a drone pilot to fly a banner over the crowd at the Prairie Village Jazz Festival in hopes of reconnecting with a potential lover interest. That incident, which spooked some in the crowd, combined with a handful of reports about drones of unknown origin hovering over residents’ properties, prompted the city council to look into an ordinance to regulate where and how drones can be operated in the city

Dodge City USD 443 honored for nutrition, wellness program

Dodge City USD 443 was among seven schools and organizations honored Tuesday for outstanding practices in child nutrition and wellness programs.

According to the Kansas State Department of Education, this was the third year the Kansans Can 2018-2019 Best Practice Awards were presented during the Kansas State Board of Education meeting in Topeka.

Dodge City USD 443 was honored for its Kansans Can Serve It Safe program.

Osage County Emergency Management to host training and planning workshop

Osage County Emergency Management and the Osage County Local Emergency Planning Committee will host a training, exercise and planning workshop at 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 22, 2019, at the Osage County Emergency Operations Center Meyer Conference Room, 131 W. 14th St., Lyndon, Kan.

The focus of this workshop will be to provide participants the opportunity to develop a coordinated and comprehensive workshop and training calendar, using a capabilities-based planning process, to support the priorities and needs of all emergency responders in Osage County.

Summer tourism breaks Crawford County records

A busy summer in Crawford County has led to a record number of visitors, with June totals surpassing 10,000 room nights in a month for only the second time in history, according to a release from the Crawford County Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB).

“This year’s ‘to date comparison’ is just behind last year, despite a slower first quarter,” the release notes. “But, a busy summer has evened things up.”

CVB Executive Director Devin Gorman said last year’s high tourism numbers made this year’s look a little less impressive in comparison.

(Read more: Pittsburg, KS – Morning Sun)

League of Kansas Municipalities to honor Merriam for community grant program spurring economic development efforts

Three community grants offered by Merriam have caught the attention of the Kansas League of Municipalities.

The league is recognizing Merriam for utilizing its grants to spur economic development in the city. Merriam recently established the community grants to fund resident-led projects to improve the community.

Kate Cooley, conference and marketing coordinator with the League of Kansas Municipalities, said a city’s economic development project is judged based on how effective and measurably successful the project is. Projects must also be adaptable for other cities to replicate and adopt.

Is a new water treatment plant in Derby’s future?

Derby is in early negotiations to build a new water treatment plant within city limits as part of its next water contract with Wichita.

Nothing is official at this point, but a decision will likely be made before 2023, when the city’s current 20-year contract will expire.

City Manager Kathy Sexton said a second treatment plant could provide peace of mind to residents, some of whom are concerned with the conditions of Wichita’s sole treatment plant.

“If we experience a disruption in water service from Wichita, having our own treatment plant for Derby well water would mean we would have a backup supply,” she said.

(Read more: Derby News | derbyinformer.com)

Reno County Clerk seeks USD board seat

Reno County Clerk Donna Patton and former South Hutchinson City Councilmember Larry Meadows are seeking appointment to a vacancy on the Nickerson-South Hutchinson USD 309 Board of Education.

The board will vote on the appointment at its next meeting, Sept. 16.

The two applicants for the seat Tammy Davis held before resigning in July are divided on the $29.9-million bond issue ballot the district will put before voters in November.

(Read more: Local – The Hutchinson News)

Does growth pay for itself?

Does growth pay for itself?

No, it doesn’t sound nearly as fun as finding the answer to the cheeseburger question. But if you care about how much houses will cost in Douglas County in the future, or how high your tax bills will be years from now, it is a really important question.

City commissioners will start debating it at their meeting on Tuesday. Specifically, they will consider approving Plan 2040, which is a new comprehensive plan for the city and the county. Basically, it provides a set of rules for how growth ought to happen in the future. Among the new rules is that the city would seek to limit growth near the edge of the city and instead force as much growth as possible into older, existing parts of the city. A major reason behind this rule is because there are concerns about whether growth — especially housing growth — pays for itself. In other words, does the cost of providing government services to new residents total more than what they are paying in taxes and other government fees?

Read more: LJWorld.com.

Douglas County Commission may create moratorium on rural subdivisions

…commissioners will consider putting a six-month halt to the subdivision of large, rural parcels of land into smaller residential lots.

During the commission’s meeting last week, zoning director Tonya Voigt said there had been a dramatic increase in applications to develop residential property in the rural parts of the county. She asked the commissioners to consider a temporary moratorium on processing of those applications until new zoning regulations are installed.

Voigt told the commission that some rural residents suggested the regulations are too lax and the county needs to make changes to ensure it protects a distinction between rural and urban areas, which is a goal in the county’s comprehensive plan.

Read more: LJWorld.com.

‘Shocking’ increase of residential development in rural parts of Douglas County likely to bring code changes

The rural areas of the county are where the Douglas County community least wants development to occur, but the county’s zoning regulations make it one of the easiest places to be developed, Karen Willey said.

“The processes we have in place are absolutely turned on their heads, in terms of how easy or difficult that process is,” said Willey, who is a county appointee on the Lawrence-Douglas County Planning Commission.

Soon, the county may start to change that with a temporary moratorium that would halt efforts of rural landowners to divide their property into new residential lots.

Read more: LJWorld.com.

Lawrence City Commission to consider new comprehensive plan, including controversial new growth policy

City leaders will soon consider a new growth plan that prioritizes infill development and that some say will make Lawrence housing more expensive.

As part of its meeting Tuesday, the Lawrence City Commission will consider the new comprehensive plan, Plan 2040, which lays out policies that will shape how the city grows for the next 20 years. Plan 2040 prioritizes development within the city’s boundaries and requires developers to meet several requirements to annex land to expand those boundaries.

Proponents of the plan maintain that the city cannot afford to grow in any and all directions, and that growth needs to be focused in certain areas to manage city infrastructure costs and costs to taxpayers.

Read more: LJWorld.com.

Lawrence transit administrator hired away by Topeka

After a decade with the City of Lawrence, Public Transit Administrator Bob Nugent will soon move west to oversee Topeka Metro’s bus service, the organization announced Monday.

Nugent came to Lawrence from Murfreesboro, Tenn., in spring 2009 as the city began to coordinate its bus service with the University of Kansas. During Nugent’s time in Lawrence, the city increased overall ridership by 250%, introduced some hybrid diesel-electric buses to its fleet, added late night service and implemented new mobile tools for riders, according to a press release from Topeka Metro.

He will take over as general manager of Topeka Metro in October, the release said.

Read more: LJWorld.com.

Parking lot at Shawnee City Hall gets electric vehicle charging station

The parking lot at Shawnee City Hall now features an electric vehicle charging station.

Kansas City Power and Light installed the charging station earlier this month. The charging station accommodates two electric vehicles. Costs to use the charging station are assessed to the user and not paid by the city.

Assistant City Manager Caitlin Gard said installation of the charging station came free of charge for the city.

When the city had initially considered installing electric vehicle charging stations in May 2015, there was no user payment platform at the time, Gard said. Because the city would have had to foot the costs for users to charge their vehicles, the council decided to table the issue until a user payment platform was established.

Topeka Metro’s new general manager hopes to bring change to city’s transit

Topeka Metro’s new general manager is crossing county lines to serve in his new position with hopes of bringing change to the city’s transit service.

During an announcement Monday naming Robert Nugent as Topeka Metro’s new chief, Jim Ogle, chair of the Topeka Metro board of directors, said Nugent was chosen because he understands customer service.

“He impressed me and the other members of our board by his thoughtfulness, his intuition, his ability to bring all the tremendous experience he’s gained in transit management over the past many decades and apply it to the questions and concerns we have for the future of Topeka Metro,” Ogle said.

Maize schools want $100M for new schools, pool, auditorium and safety upgrades

Voters in the Maize public school district will take to the polls next week whether or not to approve over $100 million in bonds.

District officials say there is no need to raise taxes for the bonds, which would pay for two new schools, a storm shelter, an indoor pool, an auditorium, elementary school labs, safety upgrades and other projects. The $108.2 million bond election is split into two questions for voters on Aug. 27.

“With zero change to the mill levy, our community can bring about big change for our students,” USD 266 superintendent Chad Higgins said in a statement on the district’s website. “These big changes for students are much-needed: Our district has grown nine percent in the past five school years, adding 600 students to our classrooms and schools. We need more space. We need upgraded safety. We need our students to have continued access to innovative education with many opportunities.”

(Read more: Local News |)

3 Amur tigers born at Kansas zoo

Amur tigers are classified as an endangered species on the IUCN list.

The cubs’ parents, Andrea and Dhenuka, came to Rolling Hills Zoo on a breeding recommendation by the Tiger Species Survival Plan developed by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, of which Rolling Hills Zoo is an accredited member.

This is eleven-year-old Andrea’s third litter. It is 9-year-old Dhenuka’s first litter.

(Read more: KWCH News)

Kansas adds 14,000 private sector jobs in past 12 months

The Kansas economy has added more than 14,000 private sector jobs during the past year, state officials said.

“Preliminary estimates for July show Kansas added 2,500 jobs over the month. Job estimates for June were revised upward by 2,100 jobs,” said Tyle Tenbrink, an economist with the Kansas Department of Labor. “Looking back over the last 12 months, Kansas has posted a notable increase of 14,200 jobs.”

The latest reporting by the state labor department and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics indicated seasonally adjusted unemployment in Kansas fell to 3.3 percent during July. The June rate was 3.4 percent, but the jobless figure in July 2018 was a comparable 3.3 percent.

(Read more: Leavenworth Times)