Municipal News & Jobs

Kansas Municipal News

New police chief named for Olathe

Mike Butaud, who has been acting police chief in Olathe since June 1, has been tapped to stay in the position permanently.

He has spent his entire career with the Olathe Police Department and replaces Chief Steven Menke, who retired in April.

“Olathe is one of America’s safest cities for a number of reasons, but none more so than the men and women who serve in the Olathe Police Department,” City Manager Michael Wilkes said in a news release.

(Read more: Joco 913 News)

Central Kansas Community Foundation hands out funds to area agencies

Four area organizations have been awarded funds from The Central Kansas Community Foundation (CKCF) as part of the Kids FUNd program. The program is funded from proceeds from the L. Marie Haun Charitable Fund for Children.

The four area organizations included in the grant are:

*Harvey County DV/SA Task Force, Inc., Building Better Lives for Children and Youth, Newton

*Heart to Heart Child Advocacy Center, H2HCAC Stewards of Children, Newton

*Mirror Inc., STAND (formally known as Youth as Resources), Harvey County

*CASA A Voice for Children, Inc., Conversations with CASA, Harvey and McPherson Counties

(Read more: Hutch Post)

KDHE pilots treatment to reduce blue-green algae in public lakes

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment initiated, on July 23, a project to treat the Milford Gathering Pond, located near the outlet of Milford Reservoir in Geary County, with a hydrogen peroxide-based algaecide. This project is part of the KDHE’s efforts to investigate and demonstrate in-lake treatment options to reduce the frequency and duration of Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) events on public lakes. The Milford Gathering Pond has been on a Public Health Advisory Warning due to HABs since June 27.

The Milford Gathering Pond has a surface area of about 100 acres. The current application is directed at a 75-acre portion of this pond, with a treatment depth of 3 feet, totaling 225 acre-feet of treated lake water. The work is being conducted by a State of Kansas contractor, utilizing an EPA-registered aquatic algaecide and precision application equipment, to complete a targeted treatment for control of cyanobacteria (blue-green algae). Peroxide-based algaecides can provide rapid, targeted in-lake management of HABs. Effects on desirable plants, fish and other aquatic life are negligible, and there are no water use restrictions after its application. Samples are being collected both before and after the application, to evaluate the performance of the treatment. The effectiveness of the treatment will be carefully evaluated as the state continues to pilot affordable and feasible tools to reduce HABs in Kansas.

(Read more: Hays Post)

Is Wichita water treatment facility failing? City leaders address concern

Wichita Mayor Jeff Longwell Thursday addressed concerns over the city’s aging water treatment facility.

This follows a new report that the facility could fail at any moment. Wichita’s director of public works made those statements. In his report, the public works director says the aging water treatment facility keeps him up at night and every hour it is running, it could fail.

(Read more: KWCH News)

City thanks Kentner for 15 years of helping Garden City grow

In a room full of city employees and local developers, Garden City bid farewell to longtime Neighborhood and Development Services director Kaleb Kentner, a department head who has guided local city planning and growth for the past 15 years.

“You were undoubtedly a critical contributor to the physical and economic expansion over the last decade,” said Garden City city manager Matt Allen. “There may be a city manager that could have handled it without you, but that city manager certainly isn’t me.”

Topeka Metro to create community task force to discuss future of bike sharing program

Topeka Metro announced Wednesday morning it plans to create a community task force for the Topeka Metro Bikes program that is on the verge of being discontinued.The Topeka Metro board approved a community task force at its July meeting that will be used to review the bike program and its viability, according to a news release from Keri Renner, Topeka Metro’s director of marketing and communications.Renner said board members have received input from community members who don’t […]

Wichita is ripping out some brick crosswalks and replacing them with stamped concrete

Some crosswalks in Wichita are getting a face-lift costing the city money and time now, but will save them thousands in the future.

The bricks at the intersection of Meridian and McCormick have been laid for nearly 20 years. But the city hopes with the new project, the crosswalks will last much longer.

Steve Degenhardt is the Wichita Construction Manager and he says the city will, “replace the brick crosswalks that have become deteriorated over time. Going back with colored and stamped concrete that will mirror the brick pattern but also provide a lot more durability than the bricks will.”

(Read more: KAKE – News)

Hays gets $1M KDOT grant for S. Vine Street reconstruction

The city of Hays is among 23 Kansas towns selected for grants from the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) for projects to improve intersections and roads.

Norton, Colby and Phillipsburg will also receive KDOT grants.

KDOT’s City Connecting Link Improvement Program (CCLIP) funds improvements to state highways that extend through cities.

John Braun, project manager for the city of Hays, says the Hays award of $1 million will be used for reconstruction of south Vine Street/Highway 183 in state fiscal year 2021 – a $4 million dollar project.

“This will start south of 13th Street – about where McDonald’s is – south through the intersection with the Highway 40 Bypass.

(Read more: Hays Post)

Winfield schools tax rate stable

Taxpayers in the Winfield school district would pay the same property tax rate under the district’s proposed 2019-2020 budget.

The mill levy would stay flat at 50.981, the same as the 2018-2019 levy, which is a little lower than the previous year of 50.995.

The assessed valuation is $119,636,073, up from 2018-2019.

The owner of a $150,000 house in the Winfield school district would pay $960 in real estate tax to the school district, including $81 for the Winfield Recreation Commission.

(Read more: The Arkansas City Traveler)

USD 378 eyeing $15 million maintenance bond for November ballot

Residents in Riley, Leonardville and surrounding areas of Riley County in the USD378 school district boundaries could see a $15 million school bond issue on this upcoming November ballot.

The Riley County Schools Board of Education passed a bond resolution at its most recent meeting, with the next step to get the question on this upcoming ballot being a meeting in August with the Kansas Board of Education for approval. Superintendent Cliff Williams told KMAN on Wednesday’s In Focus that the intent of the bond is to provide funds for maintenance and capital improvements at its two buildings.

(Read more: 1350 KMAN)

KDOT asks for county’s concerns, questions

Bourbon County Commissioners met Tuesday with Kansas Department of Transportation District 5 officials who said they were on a “listening tour.”

During the conversation, county officials reported problem areas on state highways, asked about the completion date for the entire U.S. Highway 69 expansion project and learned about a new cost share program.

(Read more: Fort Scott Tribune)

For 3rd year in a row, this JoCo city is ranked nation’s best place to raise a family

What do Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and Overland Park, Kansas, have in common?

They are each six-time champions.

For the fifth straight year, and sixth overall, Overland Park was the “Best Place to Raise a Family” in the United States, according to Wallethub.

The personal finance website annually compares the 150 largest U.S. cities, as well as the two most populous cities in each state, for a total of 182. It crunches the numbers based on 47 metrics.

(Read more: Joco 913 News)

USD 475 updates information on the new JCHS project

The USD 475 Board of Education took action during a recent working meeting to accept the presentation of the new Junction City High School Guaranteed Maximum Price in two steps.

“Documents are currently out to industry for proposal development but we’re seeing some requests for clarification regarding the electrical portion of the project,” stated David Wild, Chief Operations Officer.

(Read more: Junction City Post)

KDOT project sending $18 million to fix city roads across Kansas

Some towns across the state are getting an investment for busy roads.

The state Department of Transportation announced that $18 million will be heading to 22 cities.

The program will fund improvements to state highways that run through a city. It will run next year and the year following.

(Read more: KSN-TV)

City raises age to 21 for tobacco purchasers

The age to purchase tobacco in Sabetha City limits has been raised to 21. This comes following a unanimous vote at the Sabetha City Commission meeting at 6 p.m. Monday, July 22.

Mayor Doug Clark, along with Commissioners Nick Aberle, Norm Schmitt, Maridel Wittmer and Julie Burenheide all voted in favor of raising the age to 21 after learning that the City of Topeka was successful in passing a similar ordinance just last month.

Others present for the meeting were City Administrator Doug Allen, Assistant City Administrator Bill Shroyer and guest Bob Ruddick.

The post City raises age to 21 for tobacco purchasers appeared first on The Sabetha Herald.

(Read more: Sabetha Herald)

City of Pittsburg to receive “Inspire – Create – Innovate” Community Award from League of Kansas Municipalities

The City of Pittsburg will receive the League of Kansas Municipalities Inspire – Create – Innovate Community Award at this year’s League Annual Conference in Overland Park on October 13 – 14. Pittsburg’s Weir City Zinc Works & North Walnut Street Project will receive the award for the infrastructure category.

(Read more: City of Pittsburg)

The Big Pool in Garden City to close for renovations

The Big Pool in Garden City is closing in the summer of 2021 for renovations that are supposed to fix the problems the pool has dealt with for years.

The pool will be open the rest of the 2019 summer season as well as for 2020. However, it is set to close in 2021 for a complete new look. Residents have been coming to this pool since it opened in 1922, and one that has lived in Garden City since 1958 said it’s going to be hard to leave behind.

(Read more: KAKE – News)

Officials hint at how Wichita will use program aimed at reducing violent crime

Doubling down on efforts to fight violence, Wichita Police Department and U.S. Department of Justice officials announced the launch of the National Public Safety Partnership, a local-federal initiative aimed at reducing crime.

The police and justice departments aren’t sure yet what exactly they will do with the program in Wichita. It’s too early to say given the partnership’s approach of tailoring itself to the needs of a participating community.

But officials who spoke about the launch at a press conference Tuesday at Wichita City Hall gave a few hints about what might come.

(Read more: Local News |)

Fifth-grade students draft unique plans for proposed site of controversial downtown Lawrence apartments

After city leaders rejected a controversial proposal to build a five-story apartment and retail building downtown, some local elementary students were so inspired to come up with alternative plans that they’ve spent their summer working on them.

In May, the Lawrence City Commission rejected the proposal from Chicago-based developer Core Spaces to build the Hub on Campus at the northeast corner of 11th and Massachusetts streets in downtown Lawrence. Following the decision, Madeline Herrera asked her fifth grade class at Deerfield Elementary, as part of a project-based learning method, what they might build instead.

Geary County Commission works to trim the budget proposals down

Geary County Commission Chairman Charles Stimatze

The Geary County Commission has been busy trimming budget requests down as they prepare the 2020 county spending plan.

Commission Chairman Charles Stimatze aid they still have to cut $14,064 to get under the property tax lid. “Try to get it down to where we don’t raise it period, about 1.265 mills.”

(Read more: Junction City Post)

USD 489 extends contract with developer to buy Washington school

The Hays USD 489 school board approved a contract extension Monday night for a developer who wants to buy the Washington school building.

Overland Property Group presented an addendum to its contract to allow it to reapply for tax credits to turn the school into low-income apartments.

The school is being vacated by the Early Childhood Connections, which is moving to the Oak Park complex next week.

(Read more: Hays Post)

Greenwood County Fair 2019 Underway

The annual Greenwood County Fair is just days away and many pre-fair events have been held, including the dog show, shooting sports, horse show and archery. The annual fashion revue will be this Wednesday, July 24, at 7 p.m. at the Madison High School.

(Read more: Eureka Herald RSS)

NW Kansas communities receive KDHE solid waste reduction grants

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment’s Bureau of Waste Management has announced the recipients of solid waste reduction grants. These annual solid waste grants are awarded to cities, counties and private entities across the state. The grants total nearly $390,000 for 2020 and establish recycling and composting programs that will divert recyclable material from landfills.

In northwest Kansas, grants were awarded for projects Colby, Smith Center, Atwood and Oakley.

The Solid Waste reduction grants go toward funding waste reduction education, recycling and composting. This year’s 20 individual solid waste reduction grants range from $1,275 to $83,211.23. The grants are funded through a $1/ton waste disposal fee.

(Read more: Hays Post)

Kansas schools get new immunization requirements

he new school year will be here soon, and the Wichita school district is making some changes to its immunization requirements. Any student who does not follow the new rules, won’t be allowed in school.

Children in schools have been required to be immunized for decades. But this year, the requirements are changing. Julia Kuepefer immunizes her daughter and she is happy about the new rules, “I’m all for it. I think it’s a really good idea. I want to protect my daughter any way, the best that i can.”

(Read more: KAKE – News)

USD 309 hires Stroh as interim leader

Nickerson-South Hutchinson USD 309′s school board hired a former Hutchinson USD 308 administrator to serve as interim superintendent for 11 months.

Jeanne Stroh was the director of elementary education and an assistant superintendent for the Hutchinson school district when she worked for the district from 2009 to 2013. In 2013, she left to become superintendent of Ottawa USD 290. She retired from that post at the end of June 2018.

The Kansas Association of School Boards assists school districts seeking superintendents, and Stroh put her name in with the association for possible interim assignments.

(Read more: News – The Hutchinson News)

Labette County approves property tax rebate plan

Property outside of the cities in Labette County soon will be eligible for a tax rebate program after action taken on Monday.

The Labette County Commission voted 2-1 to approve a neighborhood revitalization plan for all areas in the county except those within the corporate limits of any city, the footprint of the Great Plains Industrial Park and the federal zone surrounding Big Hill Lake. The plan as drafted by Brian Johnson, county counselor, also would exclude the 3-mile zone around Parsons, but that area likely be included in the final version. As of late Monday afternoon, Johnson hadn’t spoken to Ross Albertini, city of Parsons attorney, about the plan.

Albertini said the county likely didn’t want to duplicate coverage of the city’s neighborhood revitalization plans, but none of the city’s plans cover the 3-mile zone. The city only enforces its zoning ordinance in the extraterritorial area.

The commissioners voted to adopt the plan with a few changes, which may include addition of the 3-mile zone.

(Read more: Parsons Sun)

County inadvertently lists $4.8 million in capital assets twice

About $4.8 million worth of Shawnee County’s capital assets were inadvertently recorded twice in a listing created last year, an auditor told county commissioners Monday.

The error was corrected after it was identified, and procedures were put in place to keep it from happening again, said Kristen Hughes, audit senior manager for Kansas City, Mo.-based RSM.

The county’s public works department, clerk’s office and audit-finance department were all involved with the mistake, which commission chairman Bob Archer said didn’t affect Shawnee County financially.

AG Derek Schmidt: States reach $600 million settlement with Equifax for data breach affecting more than 1.1 million Kansans

Kansas and 49 other states and jurisdictions have reached a settlement with Equifax as the result of an investigation into a massive 2017 data breach that exposed the personal information of more than 1.1 million Kansans, Attorney General Derek Schmidt announced today.

The investigation found that Equifax’s failure to maintain a reasonable security system enabled hackers to penetrate its systems, exposing the data of 56 percent of American adults—the largest-ever breach of consumer data. The state attorneys general secured a settlement with Equifax that includes a Consumer Restitution Fund of up to $425 million, a $175 million payment to the states, and injunctive relief, which also includes a significant financial commitment.

Cities to receive $18 million for road improvement projects

More than 20 projects aimed at improving intersections and roads in Kansas cities have been selected for funding through the Kansas Department of Transportation’s City Connecting Link Improvement Program (CCLIP), which funds improvements to state highways that extend through cities.

The cities will receive a combined total of approximately $18 million in funding under the CCLIP for these 23 projects. This total includes $7 million in state fiscal year 2021 and $11 million in state fiscal year 2022.

“KDOT was able to add $5 million into the CCLIP because of the additional $50 million that the Governor provided as a one-time transfer from the State General Fund,” said Deputy Secretary Lindsey Douglas. “Communities then provided an additional $6.5 million in matching funds to create a total of $11.5 million beyond the initial plan to expand the amount invested in various projects.”

(Read more: Kansas Transportation)

Lawrence denies that it acted unlawfully when rejecting Hub apartment project

The City of Lawrence is denying claims that it acted unlawfully when it rejected a proposal to build a five-story apartment and retail building in downtown Lawrence.

In May, the Lawrence City Commission unanimously denied a certificate of appropriateness to Chicago-based developer Core Spaces to build the Hub on Campus at the northeast corner of 11th and Massachusetts streets in downtown Lawrence and determined the project did not meet downtown design guidelines. Following the denial, the developer and property owners sued the city.

Pittsburg Downtown Advisory Board offers graffiti vandalism reward

Several sightings of graffiti or tagging have been popping up in the Pittsburg area, the Pittsburg Downtown Advisory Board is offering a reward to combat graffiti vandalism. According to a release from the Pittsburg Police Department, the vandalism occurring is in and around the downtown business district. The Downtown Advisory Board is offering a $500 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons […]

(Read more: Pittsburg Morning Sun)

Cities to receive $18 million for road improvement projects

More than 20 projects aimed at improving intersections and roads in Kansas cities have been selected for funding through the Kansas Department of Transportation’s City Connecting Link Improvement Program (CCLIP), which funds improvements to state highways that extend through cities.

The cities will receive a combined total of approximately $18 million in funding under the CCLIP for these 23 projects. This total includes $7 million in state fiscal year 2021 and
$11 million in state fiscal year 2022.

“KDOT was able to add $5 million into the CCLIP because of the additional $50 million that the Governor provided as a one-time transfer from the State General Fund,” said Deputy Secretary Lindsey Douglas. “Communities then provided an additional $6.5 million in matching funds to create a total of $11.5 million beyond the initial plan to expand the amount invested in various projects.”

“This is a popular program with communities and allows them an opportunity to receive funding that improves safety, capacity and operational needs as well as increase economic development in their region,” said Julie Lorenz, Kansas Secretary of Transportation.

Under the CCLIP, a city is required to contribute up to 25 percent of the project cost based on its population, though some cities contribute significantly more. Cities under 2,500 in population aren’t required to provide a match. Projects in this program may fall into one of three different categories including Surface Preservation (SP), Pavement Restoration (PR) or Geometric Improvement (GI).

SP projects involve maintenance work such as resurfacing and are funded up to
$300,000 per project. PR projects typically involve full-depth pavement replacement without changes to the overall geometric characteristics and may also address drainage issues. GI projects address geometric issues such as adding turn lanes, improving intersections or modifying the lane configuration to address capacity. The PR and GI categories are funded up to $1 million per project.

For the state fiscal year 2021, the city, category and amount awarded include:

Concordia	Pavement Restoration	$1,000,000
Gardner	Pavement Restoration	$1,000,000
Hays	Pavement Restoration	$1,000,000
Independence	Pavement Restoration	$1,000,000
Norton	Geometric Improvement	$1,000,000
Pratt	Pavement Restoration	$1,000,000
Winfield	Pavement Restoration	$1,000,000

For the state fiscal year 2022, the city, category and amount awarded include:

Cimarron	Pavement Restoration	$800,000
Colby	Surface Preservation	$300,000
Dodge City	Geometric Improvement	$1,000,000
Ellsworth	Geometric Improvement	$600,000
Emporia	Geometric Improvement	$600,000
Garden City	Pavement Restoration	$1,000,000
Gardner	Pavement Restoration	$1,000,000
Garnett	Pavement Restoration	$1,000,000
Herington	Surface Preservation	$300,000
Lyons	Surface Preservation	$300,000
McLouth	Pavement Restoration	$500,000
McPherson	Geometric Improvement	$1,000,000
Minneola	Geometric Improvement	$1,000,000
Newton	Surface Preservation	$300,000
Phillipsburg	Pavement Restoration	$1,000,000
Yates Center	Pavement Restoration	$300,000

County commissioners seek SWKAA representatives

The Ford County Commissioners are soliciting volunteers to represent the county’s older population on the South West Kansas Area Agency On Aging’s Sub-Region Council.

The purpose of the council is to assist SWKAAA in determining the needs of senior citizens in Ford County and southwest Kansas, and to help them develop a coordinated and comprehensive plan to address those needs with the funding that has been provided.

The type of individual we are looking for can be a businessperson in the community, someone in the health profession, a home health care provider, caregiver, or a retired individual, who would have some knowledge of the needs of older people in the county.

CEO of Wichita-based restaurant management company will join Kansas Board of Regents

The Senate has confirmed Gov. Laura Kelly’s three appointments to the Kansas Board of Regents, including the CEO of a Wichita restaurant business.

Jon Rolph, president and CEO of Thrive Restaurant Group, formerly known as Sasnak Management, will be joined by Shellaine “Shelly” Kiblinger of Cherryvale, and Cheryl Harrison-Lee of Gardner.

Kiblinger is superintendent of Cherryvale Public Schools and holds degrees from Kansas State University and Pittsburg State University, the Board of Regents said in a news release. Harrison-Lee most recently served as Gardner city administrator and holds degrees from the University of Florida and the University of South Carolina. Rolph earned his degree at Baylor University.

(Read more: Local News |)

Wichita has a role in NASA’s next giant leap

Jim Bridenstine, administrator of NASA, says that as the country celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Apollo moon landing, that it’s also time to be looking forward to the next 50 years.

And Wichita, he says, can play a role in NASA’s plans on not just other planets — but on this planet as well.

Bridenstine was in Wichita on Monday for an event at the National Center for Aviation Training, organized by Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) in collaboration with Wichita State University, the school’s National Institute for Aviation Research and WSU Tech.

(Read more: Wichita Business Journal)

County may incur $10 million in new debt for parks and rec

Shawnee County commissioners took no action Monday after discussing whether the county should incur $10 million in new debt to finance new construction in parks and recreation, including developing a proposed “Family Park” south of S.W. 21st and Urish Road.

Commission Chairman Bob Archer spoke in favor, saying southwest Shawnee County is currently a “parks and recreation desert.”

Commissioner Bill Riphahn suggested he could also support the move.

“You have to keep growing, or your city doesn’t grow,” he said.

Google considering big data center project in KC with initial $600 million investment

International technology giant Google is considering an expansive data center project in Kansas City, North, with an initial investment of $600 million.

The Port Authority of Kansas City’s Board of Commissioners on Monday voted to approve bond documents for what had been called Project Shale, but is in fact Google’s latest data center project in the Midwest.

Tech giants like Google and Facebook have built data centers in states like Iowa and Nebraska to take advantage of cheaper land, alternative energy sources and central locations to house servers and other data components to support their far-flung web operations.

Chris Payne, Heartland Park file suit against Shawnee County clerk

Shelby Development LLC, owned by Heartland Motorsports Park owner Chris Payne, filed a lawsuit this past Friday in Shawnee County District Court against Shawnee County clerk Cynthia Beck.

The 14-page suit, which lists Beck as defendant, includes three counts of alleged violations of the Kansas Open Records Act by Shawnee County pertaining to 2016 and 2017 appraisals for Heartland Motorsports Park, formerly Heartland Park Topeka.

Count I of the petition pertains to alleged Kansas Open Records Act violations related to an April 2017 KORA request while Count II pertains to a March 2018 request and Count III to a February 2019 request.

The suit alleges that the county didn’t provide timely access to all records requested by the plaintiff, that some requested records weren’t disclosed and that some records were improperly closed, both by means of complete closure and selective closure.

Auburn-Washburn school board hears proposal to allow chicks in classrooms

The Auburn-Washburn Unified School District 437 Board of Education meeting on Monday featured an unusual topic.

“Let’s talk about chickens,” Ann Matthews, executive director of teaching and learning, told the board.

Matthews wanted the board to revisit an old policy that prohibits teachers from bringing baby chicks into the classroom.

The policy was created, Matthews said, during the peak of the bird flu epidemic and has never been reconsidered.

Mother expresses gratitude for Backpack for Kids; deadline to register Monday

When Wendy’s 7-year-old daughter gets her new backpack and school supplies every summer, she is super excited.

“She get’s so excited,” her mother said. “Her eyes light up.”

Wendy is brought to tears. She tears up because she is humbled by the gift.

Volunteers pack items for the Backpack for Kids program. Donations are still need. See a list below.

Wendy’s daughter is one of about 650 children who annually receive new backpacks and school supplies from the Backpack for Kids program, which is sponsored by First Call for Help.

The deadline to register for the program is Monday.

Students entering grades pre-K through high school, who reside and attend school in Ellis County, are eligible to receive a free backpack filled with school supplies and a hygiene bag through the program.

Register for a backpack online at http://firstcallelliscounty.com/Backpacks-for-Kids or call 785-623-2800 to reserve one over the phone.

(Read more: Hays Post)

Early voting for local election primaries to start Monday morning

Starting at 8 a.m. Monday morning, Sedgwick County voters can cast their votes for local election primaries.

There will be two races on the ballot for voters in Wichita including the race for a new mayor and an open spot on the Wichita School District School Board.

Voters in Sedgwick County can head to the main election office downtown from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. through Friday, and again next week. Voters will need to have an ID with them to vote.

(Read more: KAKE – News)

Recommendation calls for senior centers to lose funding

The Papan’s Landing, LULAC and East Topeka senior centers each received more than $13,000 in social services funding this year from the City of Topeka, as did Community Action’s Latino Family Development program.

But none of those would get any money next year under a recommendation the city’s mayor and council plan to consider this week outlining specifically how the city would allocate $434,904 in available funding to social service agencies.

Some in the community have spoken critically of that, with city council candidate Christina Valdivia-Alcala telling the council’s social services grant committee this past week that the city would be “cutting out the knees from underneath senior citizens” if it chose not to financially support the senior centers.

Shawnee Mission brings on first-ever coordinator of diversity, equity and inclusion

For the past several years, a group of Shawnee Mission parents have been urging the administration to improve diversity and inclusion efforts across the school district. On July 1, a new staff member joined the district with the task of addressing just that.

Tyrone Bates, Ed.D., is the school district’s first ever coordinator of diversity, equity and inclusion.

Bates comes to Shawnee Mission with nearly two decades of experience as a classroom teacher and administrator. He spent the bulk of his career as a teacher and building administrator in Kansas City, Kan., Public Schools, and spent a year as the principal of the African-Centered College Preparatory Academy in Kansas City Public Schools. The past three years, he was the principal of Banneker Elementary in KCKPS.

Attorney General charges former Kan. county clerk with felony misuse of public funds

The Kansas Attorney General’s office has charged the former Marshall County Clerk with felony misuse of public funds, according to Attorney General Derek Schmidt.

The charges were filed against Sonya L. Stohs, 44, of Marysville, late Tuesday in Marshall County District Court, Attorney General Derek Schmidt said. The complaint alleges from May 2013 to April 2019, Stohs used funds belonging to Marshall County to pay for various personal items, in excess of $100,000. Stohs surrendered to law enforcement this morning at the Marshall County Jail and entered her first appearance this afternoon in Marshall County District Court.

The investigation in this case was conducted by the Kansas Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Secret Service. Schmidt’s office is prosecuting the case at the request of the Marshall County Attorney.

All criminal charges are merely accusations. Individuals are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

(Read more: The Salina Post)

U.S. 281 temporarily closing for repairs

The Kansas Department of Transportation will temporarily close a portion of U.S. 281 north of the city of Russell starting Monday, July 22.

The highway will be closed to through traffic between Shoreline Road and Land Road, or from milepost 146 to 149, for crews to make partial repairs to a slide area that has affected the roadway. KDOT expects to reopen the road to one-lane traffic controlled by a traffic signal by the end of the week, weather permitting. The traffic signal configuration will remain in place until further repairs can be made and be removed once the additional work is completed.

(Read more: Great Bend Post)