Municipal News & Jobs

Kansas Municipal 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.

(Read more: Local – The Hutchinson News)

Curran named interim director

Garden City Public Works Director Sam Curran has been named Interim Director for the Garden City Neighborhood and Development Services effective July 26 with the departure of Kaleb Kentner.

City Manager Matt Allen said Curran will serve in the interim administrative capacity as he continues his duties as Director of Public Works until a new Neighborhood and Development Services Director has been named.

“I have a great deal of confidence in Sam as a veteran member of the senior management team,” Allen said. “There is a considerable amount of cross-over in the projects and responsibilities of the Public Works and Neighborhood and Development Services departments. Sam’s office is located adjacent to Neighborhood and Development Services, and he has established great working relationships with the staff that will assist with a smooth transition.

Wichita’s water plant: ‘Every hour that thing is running, it could fail’

Next time water comes out of your tap, don’t take it for granted.
Wichita’s only water treatment plant could fail at any moment.
“It keeps me awake at night . . .” said Alan King, Wichita’s director of public works and utilities. “Every hour that thing is running, it could fail — right as we’re talking, right now.”

Critical infrastructure at the plant is 80 years old and has outlived its useful life. To fully fix it, the city would have to shut it down. There is no backup.

(Read more: Wichita Eagle)

Mulvane council tables proposal for bike share program

At its July 15 meeting, the Mulvane City Council voted to table a proposal to develop a bike share program in the city after a discussion about liability.

After hearing the bike share proposal from Robert Brown at its July 1 meeting, city officials discussed potential liability for injury or damage with the city attorney.

If the city chooses to endorse the program, the attorney’s suggestion is to take out a liability and property damage policy, which would cost about $2,000.

Olpe Fire Department receives $1,000 grant

The Kansas Pipeline Association awarded a $1,000 grant to the Olpe and District No. 1 Fire Department Thursday morning at the fire station.

The funds will be used to purchase emergency response and safety equipment.

“The Olpe Fire Department is going through a needs assessment for personal safety equipment, and we have a number of different items,” Olpe Fire Chief Wade Schmidt said. “We rate them on importance and age to be replaced. That’s what this grant will go toward, to better serve our community and anyone that needs our help and, most importantly, keep our own responders safe.”

(Read more: Emporia Gazette)

City commission commends Hays FD

Hays city commissioners are proud of the Hays Fire Department.

Commissioner Eber Phelps Thursday night suggested a letter of commendation and thanks should be sent from the commission to the city fire department for their recent assistance to the Plainville Fire Department.

HFD took on fire coverage in Plainville to allow its firefighters to attend the funerals of two retired PFD chiefs.

“I thought it was great that we had our firefighters and a truck over there to stand guard on the city of Plainville while they paid tribute to fire chiefs,” Phelps said.

(Read more: Hays Post)

Mechanized Concepts hopes Russell will become a national hub for industrial hemp production with new facility

Thursday afternoon business leaders, along with Kansas Governor Laura Kelly and area legislators joined with representatives from Mechanized Concepts for a ceremonial ribbon cutting for their Russell facility that has the potential to bring hundreds of jobs to the area and springboard Russell to become a regional hub for industrial hemp production.

“To see it come to fruition is really, really exciting,” Kansas governor Laura Kelly told the large crowd that gathered in Cecil Bricker Park for the event.

She said it was her hope legislation allowing industrial hemp production in Kansas would lead to economic development like what is happening in Russell.

(Read more: Hays Post)

UG expands bikeway path in Argentine

Roads in Kansas City, Kan., are about to get more bike-friendly. The Unified Government of Wyandotte County/Kansas City, Kan., has begun planning a bikeway path extension in the Argentine neighborhood. Although a final plan has not been decided on, the UG has budgeted $300,000 for the two-mile loop project. "(This) project came about with the need to provide and encourage our residents and our community to use bicycles as an alternate mode of transportation," Senior Traffic Engineer Lideana Laboy…

Lenexa officially signs off on AdventHealth’s plan for City Center

The Lenexa City Council unanimously approved a development agreement with AdventHealth Shawnee Mission to construct a 200-bed hospital and wellness campus at the burgeoning Lenexa City Center.
The signing of the development agreement was the next step for the project, the Shawnee Mission Post reports. The deal establishes the framework of the scope and incentives for the project at the northwest corner of 87th Street Parkway and Renner Boulevard.

Cities give new OK for Monday spraying in Reno County

Aerial spraying to combat mosquitoes in Reno County is slated for Monday night. Winds prevented spraying on Thursday or Friday or Saturday nights. The postponements triggered the need to gain reapproval from the county’s municipalities for the attempt to spray this week.“Right now we have a number of reapprovals but not all municipalities,” Reno County Health Department Director Nick Baldetti wrote in an email shortly after 4:30 p.m. Sunday.The […]

(Read more: Local – The Hutchinson News)

WPD holds Camp Quality to help children battling cancer focus on being kids

The Wichita Police Department is making sure children battling cancer have a summer they will never forget.

It is all part of Camp Quality. It gives those between the ages of four and 17 an opportunity to take their minds off doctor visits and chemo treatments to just be kids.

One officer has been volunteering for two years.

(Read more: KSN-TV)

Garden City zoo’s panda has quadruplets

Lee Richardson Zoo is happy, and a bit astounded, to announce the birth of four red panda cubs. Ember, the zoo’s 9-year-old female red panda, gave birth to the cubs on July 17. This is Ember’s sixth litter, and her fifth with Charlie, the zoo’s 6-year-old male, as the sire. The adults have been together since 2014.The litter size for red pandas ranges between 1 and 4, but singles or twins occur much more often. Only 1% of the red panda litters […]

Meteorite found in late 40s continues to fascinate visitors to Kiowa County

There isn’t an exact total for a number of pounds of the meteorites found near Brenham, a tiny spot on the map in Kiowa County. But it is believed to be the largest collection discovered in one area in the whole world, and Brenham (halfway between Haviland and Greensburg along US-400/54 highway is where the fourth-largest meteorite of its kind was found by H.O. Stockwell and landowner Bob Peck in 1947. Now known as the Brenham Meteorite, this 1,000-pound […]

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 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.

(Read more: Great Bend Post)

RDA discusses how to promote local tax incentives

The Regional Development Association of East Central Kansas discussed tax incentives during its Friday morning meeting.

Tax abatements can be offered to incentivize businesses to come to Emporia and build here.

RDA President Kent Heermann provided members information about some of what Emporia can offer prospective businesses.

They discussed the wording of some of the information provided to these businesses, which they admitted was a bit one-size-fits-all and which was written roughly 20 years ago.

(Read more: Emporia Gazette)

Are Wichitans following the rules for the new electric scooters?

If you’ve been in downtown Wichita this week, you’ve probably seen one of the new electric scooters that just arrived in town.

They’re pretty easy to spot.

You may have seen a lot of people riding them on the sidewalk, but according to the city ordinance, they can only “operate on bike paths and roadways posted 40 mph or less.”

Timrie Shelby and her daughter, Abbey Morgan, spent the morning enjoying the scooters. They used them to deliver free food to locations all over downtown.

They say riding them on the streets can be a little scary, but you have to pay attention.

(Read more: KWCH News)

Hays Fire Department covers for Plainville during funerals of 2 chief officers

“It’s a task no department ever wants to take on, but it is an honor to help out our brothers and sisters,” the Hays Fire Department posted to Facebook on Thursday.

The fire department says it sent an engine and three firefighters to cover calls for the City of Plainville during the funerals of Retired Chief Keith Mongeau and Retired Assistant Chief Bob Wise.

The covering firefighters allowed the Plainville Fire Department to attend the funerals without the worry of being interrupted by calls.

(Read more: KWCH News)

Partnership in Butler Co., allows Andover firefighters a chance to beat the heat

The heat is taking a toll on everyone including firefighters who overheat on scene.

Many large fire departments have the luxury of a rehab vehicle that can cool firefighters off but some smaller departments have to get creative to get those same benefits.

“It is 100 degrees out here with 110 heat index,” says Mike Roosevelt, Deputy Chief of the Andover Fire Department.

Before they are even out on a call the men and women in andover are filling up on water. But when they do respond, and the heat gets to be too much, butler county steps in.

(Read more: KSN-TV)

Great Bend streets evaluated, staff analyzing a plan for repairs

When the $6 million waterline replacement project was going on, the City of Great Bend realized maps of their streets that outline waterlines, sewer pipes, and other service lines were not correct. In an effort to save time and money the Great Bend City Council moved forward with Professional Engineering Consultants (PEC) developing a digital map of street conditions.

Along with showing the correct locations of service lines, the Geographic Information System (GIS) rated the condition of streets to determine which roads needed repairs the most.

(Read more: Great Bend Post)

Marysville to vote on allowing liquor sales on Sundays

Marysville City Council plans to vote at its July 22 meeting on a proposed ordinance to allow Sunday liquor sales in Marysville.

The council discussed expanding hours at its July 8 meeting after learning that the city’s current ordinance doesn’t comply with state law, which requires cities to have Sunday sales if they allow liquor to be sold on holidays.

Currently Marysville was only allowing sales at liquor stores Monday through Saturday and on Memorial Day, Fourth of July and Labor Day, but not on Sundays.

(Read more: The Marysville Advocate)

New company in Russell hopes to bring 900 jobs to the area

The city of Russell threw a party Thursday for a hemp-based business that could bring up to 900 jobs to the area.

“We are very excited to be here,” said Elizabeth Grover with Mechanized Concepts from Utah.

Russel city and county officials held a ribbon cutting Thursday with Kansas Governor Laura Kelly.

“Im glad we’ve got the research going on now. We will have the hemp development going on,” said Governor Kelly. “And now we have a place to actually to take it to market.”

(Read more: KSN-TV)

Garden City Big Pool stays for 2020 season

The pool currently loses almost $1000 in chemicals and 200,000 gallons of water a day.

Officials say that won’t change for the next swimming season and city commissioners voted to keep the pool open for one more year.

“The commissioners commented that they wanted to give a final goodbye and opportunities for people who don’t live here that maybe once lived here to come back and enjoy the facility one more time,” Assistant City Manager Jennifer Cunningham said.

(Read more: KSN-TV)

Pretty Prairie opts out of aerial mosquito spray

A town in Reno county votes to opt out of an aerial spraying to control mosquitoes in the area.

Pretty Prairie will not be sprayed for mosquitoes tonight. The town voted it down after some citizens voiced concerns.

Reno County is expected to start the operation this evening.

(Read more: KSN-TV)

South Hutch to be included in aerial spraying

The South Hutchinson City Council voted in a special meeting Wednesday to be included in Thursday night’s aerial spraying to kill adult mosquitoes. A blue-and-white twin-engine Piper Aztec was expected to depart about 8:50 p.m. Thursday from Hutchinson Regional Airport and fly over Hutchinson and South Hutchinson first before continuing next to Reno County’s southwest corner. The plane was to reload several times at the […]

(Read more: News – The Hutchinson News)

Southeast Kansas facing mosquito problems following wet weather

In the wake of major storms this year, state officials have been conducting a statewide mosquito surveillance study, and the results are not looking particularly good for Crawford County."With all the flooding we’ve had there’s been an influx of mosquitoes," County Clerk Don Pyle said at Tuesday’s Crawford County Commission meeting.

(Read more: State News – Morning Sun)

USD 383 and Manhattan-Ogden NEA reach tentative agreement on teacher contracts

A tentative agreement has been reached on teacher contracts for the 2019-2020 school year between the Manhattan-Odgen USD 383 school district and the Manhattan-Odgen NEA. The district said in a Thursday release that the tentative agreement was reached July 11. The Board of Education will vote on ratification following a ratification vote by teachers.

The two sides have been in negotiations since April. The new contract includes:

*A 6.5 percent total compensation package increase
*Increase of $1,750 on the base salary, bringing the starting annual salary for a teacher to $41,000
*Allowed steps and movement on salary schedule
*Continued coverage of the health insurance premium
*Changes to the Supplemental Pay schedule
*Return to original contract language concerning National Board Certification
*District Mentoring allocation
*2.5 additional contract days for Special Education teachers
*An additional $1,000 for each District Level Program Special Education teacher

(Read more: 1350 KMAN)

Kansas to begin beer, wine sales at Memorial Stadium

Kansas announced Wednesday that it will begin selling beer and wine at home football games this season, joining a growing number of Big 12 schools to offer alcohol sales at sporting events.

Kansas athletic director Jeff Long said the sales will begin with the season opener Aug. 31 against Indiana State. It is an expansion of a trial program in various venues, including Memorial Stadium, where alcohol has been served in suites and premium seating areas.

Kansas averaged just 20,265 fans at home games last season, which is roughly 40 percent of Memorial Stadium’s capacity of just over 50,000. The average attendance was about half of the next-worst attendance in the league, and often there were far fewer fans by the time the second half began.

(Read more: Great Bend Post)

‘It’s going to change your life’: JoCo’s new $1M playground a sign of the future

On the top of a small hill at Shawnee Mission Park’s new million-dollar playground, children swarm on an elaborate spider web of ropes. Down a wheelchair-friendly ramp to a more shaded area, families swing, slide and clamber over a myriad of structures that spin, bounce or make music.

It’s all designed to be fun — and accessible — for kids of different abilities.

The inclusive playground highlights a growing trend in the Kansas City area of helping kids with special needs get off the sidelines and into the action. The Kansas City Zoo opened such a playground in 2018, the first zoo to do so in the nation. Later that year, Johnson County added one in Stillwell. The playground at Shawnee Mission Park opened earlier this month.

(Read more: KC Star Local News)

Friday night lights could return to Eureka this season

It has been more than a year since an EF3 tornado ripped through Eureka, causing widespread damage.

The high school football team could not play a home game all last season.

But now, there is hope Friday night lights may return soon.

“It’s exciting. It gives us an opportunity to show off what we’ve been working on all summer,” said Cade Larcom, a senior on the football team.

(Read more: KSN-TV)

Electric car charging stations introduced at turnpike service areas

Electric vehicle drivers will be able to travel the entire 236-mile length of the Kansas Turnpike without ever having to exit to recharge their car’s batteries, thanks to the addition of “fast-charging” stations at the Topeka, Lawrence and Towanda service areas.

The announcement came during a news conference Wednesday morning at the turnpike’s Topeka Service Area, located just east of the capital city along Interstate 70.

Gov. Laura Kelly, who spoke at the news conference, called the charging stations “a game changer” for electric vehicle drivers.

(Read more: Leavenworth Times)

Over neighbors’ objections, Overland Park council OKs developer’s affordable housing project rezoning request

Neighbors petitioned against it, but the Overland Park City Council came down on the side of more affordable housing as they approved rezoning for a small plot of land surrounded by older homes a few blocks west of downtown. The alternative, they feared, would have been big “McMansions” akin to ones Prairie Villagers have seen.

Council members unanimously overrode a protest petition from neighbors near 8505 W. 80th Street seeking to block a rezoning that would allow a developer to build four new homes there.

CS, Mulvane EMS services take over Sumner Co. territory

The city of Clearwater’s June 25 decision to discontinue its local ambulance service leaves a 45-square-mile hole in Sumner County’s EMS coverage map.

To fill the gap, Conway Springs EMS and Mulvane EMS are splitting Clearwater’s former territory, for now on an informal basis.

The two services had already been covering for Clearwater for several months, as Clearwater struggled with volunteer availability and tried to keep its service going by hiring some full-time employees.

Musician walking across America and through Emporia

There is no better time than the present.

For Grammy-nominated musician Mike Posner, there’s been something on his bucket list he’s been wanting to accomplish.

Walk across America.

That’s exactly what brought the famous musician to Emporia Tuesday. The singer of songs such as, “I Took A Pill In Ibiza,” “Cooler Than Me” and “Please Don’t Go” made his way through Emporia Tuesday on his way to his destination — Venice Beach, California.

(Read more: Emporia Gazette)

Lawmakers warn USDA its move to Kansas City will decimate research

The U.S. Department of Agriculture plans to grow — not gut — its research capabilities with its move to Kansas City, a top agency official testified Thursday.

Scott Hutchins, the USDA’s deputy under secretary for research, education and economics, laid out the agency’s plans for its move during testimony in front of the U.S. Senate’s agriculture committee. While the hearing was set to discuss implementation of the 2018 Farm Bill, much of the conversation centered on the USDA’s June announcement that it would move more than 500 jobs from Washington, D.C., to Kansas City.

(Read more: Government & Politics News |)

KDHE requires students to get meningitis, hepatitis A vaccines

Public school students will have to be vaccinated this year for meningitis and hepatitis A, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment announced Thursday.

Students entering kindergarten and first grade will need two doses of the hepatitis A vaccine, the department said. Students entering seventh grade need one dose of the meningococcal ACWY vaccine. Students entering their junior year of high school will need the meningococcal ACWY vaccine if not vaccinated before their 16th birthday.

Exemptions are allowed for medical reasons or religious beliefs. The regulations go into effect Aug. 2.

(Read more: News – The Hays Daily News)

‘It’s going to change your life’: JoCo’s new $1M playground a sign of the future

On the top of a small hill at Shawnee Mission Park’s new million-dollar playground, children swarm on an elaborate spider web of ropes. Down a wheelchair-friendly ramp to a more shaded area, families swing, slide and clamber over a myriad of structures that spin, bounce or make music.

It’s all designed to be fun — and accessible — for kids of different abilities.

The inclusive playground highlights a growing trend in the Kansas City area of helping kids with special needs get off the sidelines and into the action. The Kansas City Zoo opened such a playground in 2018, the first zoo to do so in the nation. Later that year, Johnson County added one in Stillwell. The playground at Shawnee Mission Park opened earlier this month.

(Read more: Joco 913 News)

How does Ark City’s water taste? Judges say better than most

Tap water in Ark City was named the best tasting water in the state by the Kansas Rural Water Association this spring.

Four judges at an annual conference in Wichita in March drank water samples from more than 20 communities, giving Ark City top tasting honors.

The association plans to present the award to the city tonight at the City Commission meeting. The honor was highlighted in a July article in The Kansas Lifeline magazine and is posted on the association’s website.

(Read more: The Arkansas City Traveler)

“I went over the bump and lost my breath’: heat damages roads in Wichita and Hays

The extreme heat is affecting roads in our area, including some that have cracked and crumbled as drivers pass by.

“I was thinking, ‘oh my gosh, what in the world was that?” said Shara McMahon, Wichita resident.

McMahon was driving down South Broadway near Haysville when she drover over a giant crack.

“I didn’t even see the bump in the road,” McMahan said. “I just saw that there was a police car there with lights on so of course, you avoid it. I went over the bump and I lost my breath. It was pretty big. I had no idea it was even there.”

(Read more: KSN-TV)

World record attempt: Whitewater Library hosts rocket launch

Gavin Wuthrich spent Tuesday morning helping his daughter Sadie learn to, and practice, launching a small foam rocket powered by a rubber band in a grassy field at Whitewater Park. She would pull it back, then release it, and watch it fly."We thought we would bring the kids out, have a good time, and check it out," Gavin said.At the appointed time, the Wuthrich family lined up with other story time participants to help set a world record.

(Read more: Augusta Gazette)

PANTHER STADIUM OVERHAUL: USD 260, architect reveal schematic designs

The first phase of Panther Stadium renovations was presented to the USD 260 school board on Monday, July 8. The schematic designs were unveiled for discussion with the board, putting July 22 as the approval date to move forward to the next phase of the project.

The schedule provided by McCownGordon Construction gave an estimated start date of Monday, Dec. 2, 2019. The stadium renovations would be completed by Friday, August 28, 2020, and the start of the 2020-21 school year.

Current USD 260 estimates for the Panther Stadium project sit at $6,545,193. That includes the addition of $129,856 in owner contingency funds.

(Read more: Derby News | derbyinformer.com)

USDA: Only 40% of transferred ag researchers will move to Kansas City

The Department of Agriculture says fewer than 40% of the researchers whose jobs are being transferred from Washington, D.C., to Kansas City will make the move to the Midwest.

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue announced in June that the USDA would move more than 550 jobs in two research agencies to Kansas City. A USDA spokesperson told The Star Tuesday that 145 workers will follow their jobs to Kansas City, while 250 will leave the agency, meaning about 37% accepted the transfers.

The USDA says the figures may fluctuate. Employees can change their decision until they are expected to report to Kansas City on Sept. 30.

Members of the Kansas and Missouri congressional delegations and the states’ governors praised the USDA’s move when it was announced, saying the agencies are a good fit for the region. But critics argued that moving them will make it harder for federal policymakers to get objective research that might raise questions about President Donald Trump’s policies.

(Read more: Great Bend Post)

Land Bank has a deal for USD 475 employees

Junction City Commission ( Land Bank Board ) and staff

The Land Bank Board has approved an option for Geary USD 475 employees to purchase a vacant lot. City Manager Allen Dinkel said lots will be offered to employees of the school district. “Not just teachers but employees at $1,000 plus closing costs.”

The Land Bank lots are primarily on the northwest side of the city.

(Read more: Junction City Post)

Wichita Police Department enforcing electric scooter rules

Tuesday was day two of scooter mania in Wichita. The Wichita Police Department is enforcing the rules of the scooters, but say most aren’t following them.
Wichita Police officer, Larry Carlson was on patrol Monday when electric scooters rolled out. He says day two doesn’t look much different than day one.

“It’s day two and it’s madness…I seen at least 15 scooters in operation, and I don’t believe anybody was really legal,” says Carlson.

It didn’t take long to find more rule breakers.

(Read more: KAKE – News)

About 2,000 rides taken in first 24 hours of electric scooters in Wichita

Within the first 24 hours of nearly 500 electric scooters rolling out in downtown Wichita, people took about 2,000 rides.

In the last two days almost 3,000 people downloaded the Spin app,which you need in order to ride one of the city’s new scooters. In just a couple steps, people can unlock the scooters and begin to ride, making new means of transportation convenient and user-friendly.

Riders say there are a a few regulations they’d like the city to reconsider. Among those is the rule that you can’t ride the scooters on sidewalks.

Zagster provided the first few hundred scooters available in downtown Wichita. Two other companies will bring scooters to the city in the near future. Eventually, this means there will be more than 1,000 electric scooters available for rent throughout the city

(Read more: KWCH News)

Reno County administrator announces retirement plan

Reno County Administrator Gary Meagher announced in an email late Tuesday that he plans to retire at the end of the year.

Meagher, 67, has been administrator since June 2009, becoming only the second person to fill the post after the county commission agreed to hire a professional manager in 1999.

He also became the second local municipal manager to announce his retirement this month. Hutchinson city manager John Deardoff revealed his retirement plans on July 9.

(Read more: Local – The Hutchinson News)