Municipal News & Jobs

Kansas Municipal News

2020 budget process hits busy period

t’s summer and that means the heat is turning up both outside and on the city’s budget 2020 timeline, which has a Aug. 25 deadline. While the process had its start back in mid-January with a review of the upcoming year’s budget priorities and goals, it really gets going during the next several months.

In that regard, a three-hour budget workshop was held June 4 at the City Council chambers with the city’s department heads presenting their recommendations to the council.

Most of the items were small in comparison to the city’s overall budget but they did provide members an insight into what is happening in the departments and what their managers believe to be their priorities.

(Read more: Derby News | derbyinformer.com)

Sedgwick County to collect household hazardous waste

Sedgwick County residents can dispose of hazardous waste from their homes at an upcoming county waste collection event in Derby.

The collection will take place from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, June 22 at Calvary Baptist Church, 1636 E. Patriot Ave.

Disposable items include paint, batteries, motor oil, pool chemicals, fluorescent lights, and household cleaners.

(Read more: Derby News | derbyinformer.com)

USD 308 approves classified, administrative pay

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The USD 308 School Board in Hutchinson Monday approved pay scale increases for both classified and administrative staff members.

Pay for licensed staff will be set during negotiations later this summer with NEA-Hutchinson.

Under the proposal adopted by the board, the classified and administrative pay schedules will provide an average increase in pay of 4.5%. The proposal does not impact the salary of incoming superintendent Mike Folks because the superintendent is not on the salary matrix.

(Read more: Hutch Post)

Haven school board agrees to sell Partridge school building

HAVEN, Kan. — The Haven USD 312 School Board gave approval to sell the Partridge Elementary School building during Monday’s meeting.

After several months of negotiations, the board agreed to sell the vacant school to Plainview Church for $100,000. The church has agreed to purchase the building and placed $5,000 upfront with the desire to move into its new home by the end of the calendar year. If that doesn’t happen, the church can put up another $5,000 in earnest money and extend the deadline until May of 2020. District Superintendent Clark Wedel said he fully expects the church to have everything in place by the end of the year.

(Read more: Hutch Post)

County finds protest petition on NextEra project valid

The Reno County Commission accepted a determination Tuesday that it will require a unanimous decision by their board to approve a permit for NextEra Energy’s proposed wind farm in Reno County.

That after a consultant and county staff established that owners of close to half the property abutting land that would house turbines for the proposed wind farm had filed a successful protest petition on the project.

The commission vote on NextEra’s conditional use permit application remains set for a special meeting 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the Fox Theatre.

(Read more: Local – The Hutchinson News)

Topeka city council delays vote on water division pay increase, second shift

A lengthy hearing and discussion during Tuesday’s city council meeting led council members to delay voting on a proposed wage issue involving Topeka’s water division until next week.

The motion to delay passed on a 7-2 vote with Councilmen Michael Lesser and Mike Padilla voting no.

The three resolutions up for discussion and a vote included implementing the proposed 2 to 10 p.m. second shift for the water division, pay raises over a three-year period totaling 11.5 percent and arranging for those raises to occur retroactively as part of their first pay period for 2019.

(Read more: Local – The Topeka Capital-Journal)

Maize High flips the switch on huge solar project

On Tuesday, a Sedgwick County school, Maize High School, set live a solar power system capable of producing enough energy in one day to power the school for a month.

The 720 solar panel, 240 kw (kilowatt) system is the largest privately-owned system in Kansas, said Stan Bergkamp, physics and chemistry teacher, and the instigator of the project. The system is 400 feet long and 75 wide and stands in an empty field adjacent to the high school.

Bergkamp said the threat of climate change was one of the driving forces for pursuing the project.

(Read more: Local News |)

500 e-scooters hit a speed bump at Wichita City Hall when e-commuters question plan

As a rental company announced plans to put 500 electric scooters on Wichita streets, the City Council delayed allowing that while it tries to allay the concerns of scooter commuters.

Zagster, the company that provides the rental bikes to Bike Share ICT, and its partner, Spin, had expected to have the e-scooters on the streets of central Wichita by the end of this month.

They announced they would deploy the scooters as soon as the city finalizes an ordinance setting rules for their use. But that deployment, and hiring for 30 part-time jobs, is now on hold.

(Read more: Local News |)

Summer Books on the Bus program underway

The USD 457 Books on the Bus program, better known as B.O.B., is visiting various sites in Garden City, Monday through Thursday through July 25.

B.O.B. is a traveling bus that brings books to various locations in Garden City during the summer Mondays through Thursdays in June and July. The goal of B.O.B. is to increase reading skills by getting books into the hands of children.

The Kids Meals on Wheels Bus will be accompanying B.O.B. at a number of sites during the summer. Sack lunches will be provided for those 18 and younger as part of the Summer Food Service Program. All meals must be eaten on site. Adults wishing to eat with their child can purchase a lunch for $4.

(Read more: Greater Garden City » Feed)

Abilene names Foltz interim manager

Jane Foltz, director of Abilene Parks and Recreation, was named Abilene’s interim city manager at the regular meeting of the Abilene City Commission on Monday.
Foltz has been director of parks and recreation since 2001.
…

“Right now we have a lot of things on the table,” Foltz said after the meeting. “We have a lot of projects and we have to keep moving forward. I am going to visit with staff and we are going to get a priority list assembled.”

Lawrence Parks and Rec board concerned about proposal to charge entrance fees at rec centers

The Lawrence Parks and Recreation Advisory Board expressed concern that a proposal to charge entrance fees at the city’s recreation centers would negatively affect low-income residents and agreed to further study equity issues.

At their meeting Monday, board members reviewed the Parks and Recreation Department’s 2020 budget proposal to charge entrance and other fees, as well as other expenditure cuts proposed by the department. The department is projecting an approximately $675,000 budget gap in its recreation fund, and in addition to fee increases is also proposing closing the Community Building for drop-in recreation and instituting a fee at the South Park wading pool, among other changes.

Barton County to pave the way to new voting location

The Great Bend Township in Barton County currently votes at the Science and Math building at Barton Community College. The area assigned for use at the college will not work with the new voting equipment. Barton County Election Officer Donna Zimmerman says the area provided by the college is a hallway setup and with tables now used for paper ballots or ExpressVote machines, the voting location needs more space.

Zimmerman recommended using the Barton County Sheriff’s Firing Range.

“It would require a change of the college to go down the hall a little into a classroom and it’s already a bit of walk to get into the college,” Zimmerman said. “Talking with Barton County Sheriff Brian Bellendir and County Administrator Phil Hathcock, we thought that using the firing range might be an alternative plan.”

(Read more: Great Bend Post)

USD 313 seeks approval of new teachers contract

BUHLER, Kan. — The Buhler USD 313 School Board will take action on a new collective bargaining agreement with the teachers union during Monday’s regular meeting.

Action on the new contract comes after it was voted on and approved by teachers. If approved, the contract would run the standard one year. The board will go into executive session before returning for a vote.

Also tonight, the board will hear a report on the random drug testing program at the high school and go over state assessment scores. The board will also go into executive session regarding the sale or purchase of property in the district.

Tonight’s meeting of the Buhler USD 313 School Board begins at 6 p.m. at the Burkholder Administration Center in Buhler.

(Read more: Hutch Post)

Assessed valuation has gone up in Geary County

Geary County officials have received good news on assessed valuation. It has gone up!

County Clerk Rebecca Nordyke said Monday that the numbers in the entire county are up about $4 million compared to one year ago at this time. “The residential and some of the commercial property has gone up.”

Nordyke added that the county also went up about $1.4 million in state asssessed utilities. “This is really good news because over the past couple of years we’ve actually been losing value so to have some increases is good for us.” That could potentially produce more tax revenue but Nordyke noted that would depend on what the county commission does with the 2020 budgets.

She has advised the commission to be conservative in their budget planning for 2020 by dropping $1 million from their estimates due to anticipated appraised value appeals to the State Board of Tax Appeals by a pair of lodging establishments and one church.

(Read more: Junction City Post)

Some USD 308 workers to get about 4.5 percent raises

The Hutchinson USD 308 school board Monday approved new salary schedules for administrative and classified positions that will hike the district’s costs next school year by about 4.5 percent over the current year.

The district and the bargaining unit for teachers are still negotiating a contract for 2018-2019. Teachers probably can expect average salary increases of at least 4.5 percent next year, based on the district’s pattern of trying to align pay increases.

Administrative positions include principals and administrators at district headquarters. Classified employees include paraprofessionals, custodians, food service, and maintenance workers.

(Read more: Local – The Hutchinson News)

USD 309 pursues bond issue, grants superintendent Johnson a sabbatical

The Nickerson-South Hutchinson Unified School District 309 school board returned to the bond issue topic Monday night, voting 4-3 to stick with a $29.9 million, one-question ballot to improve all the schools.

Voting yes were: Jason Ontjes, Mike Apfel, Valorie Garcia and Brian Teichmann. Voting no: USD 309 Board of Education president Dan Schweizer, Brent Engelland and Tammy Davis.

Schweizer and Engelland objected to the size of the bond issue and favored a two-question ballot. Davis wanted the ballot broken into two questions.

Also on Monday night, the USD 309 school board unanimously voted to allow superintendent Dawn Johnson a sabbatical.

(Read more: Local – The Hutchinson News)

Elevation continues to fall at Tuttle, high water advisory lifted

The high water advisory in place in areas downstream from Tuttle Creek Lake — including the Berry Streets and Dix Addition in Northview — has been lifted, but residents are advised to stay aware of the situation.

Lake elevation has steadily declined since the end of May, recorded at a level of 1129.48 feet above sea level as of 4:30 p.m. Monday, June 10th. As a result, the Army Corps of Engineers have reduced releases steadily to a level of 12,000 cubic feet per second with the anticipation of further reductions of 3,000 cfs at the end of the week.

The immediate goal is to increase capacity by reducing the levels at Tuttle down to 1128 feet, noted as the trigger point for emergency preparedness measures in areas that have seen or could see flooding if conditions worsened.

“We’re not out of the woods yet,” Pat Collins, Emergency Manager for Riley County said. “Any large amount of rain can impact the Tuttle Creek Lake level.”

(Read more: 1350 KMAN)

Great Bend school bond issue is in the hands of the voters

The USD 428 Board of Education moved ahead with sending a nearly $42 million school bond issue to the voters after passing the finalized proposal at Monday’s meeting. The outcome will be determined by registered voters within the Great Bend school district through a mail-in ballot sent to citizens later this summer.

USD 428 Superintendent Khris Thexton says the process to finalize a master plan started in February 2018 with gathering ideas, naming a steering committee, hiring SJCF Architecture, and conducting several community meetings to gather information from the voters.

“The resolution lets the voters decide if they approve of this bond or if they do not,” Thexton said. “We want to get it in front of the community. The steering committee has put a lot of time and effort into it.”

(Read more: Great Bend Post)

USD 309 Nickerson School Board to consider bonds

The Nickerson USD 309 School Board will seek approval of a resolution tonight that will officially kick off efforts to pass a major facilities improvement bond issue.

The board recently approved a $29.9 million bond proposal for improvements to district schools. The bonds would be financed for 25 years. The decision to proceed with the bond issue comes following more than a year of planning and a recent survey that showed positive feedback from district patrons.

Superintendent Dr. Dawn Johnson says they will start a campaign to convince voters in the district to approve the bond issue.

(Read more: Hutch Post)

This Might Be The Last Summer Garden City Swimmers Enjoy Their Enormous Pool

Every summer since 1922, locals and tourists have flocked to Garden City’s Big Pool. Once promoted as “the world’s largest outdoor free concrete municipal swimming pool,” it holds around 2 million gallons of water. “Holds” might now be an overstatement.
The Big Pool leaks. A lot.
Around 200,000 gallons of water from the pool seep into the ground per day — even after renovations that replaced pipes and sealed cracks in the concrete.
Even for a pool of its size, the water loss is “excessive,” according to Fred Jones, Garden City’s water resource manager. “It’s kinda to the point where we feel like it’s probably nearing the end of its service life.”

Kansas A to Z: ‘J’ is for Little Jerusalem Badlands State Park, south of Oakley

The anticipated opening of the Little Jerusalem Badlands State Park this year in western Kansas highlights the state’s 2019 travel season.

Kelli Hilliard, public relations and travel development manager for the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism, said the state park is expected to open sometime this summer.

Located south of Oakley, Little Jerusalem encompasses a mile-long valley of 100-foot-tall spires and cliffs rising from the western Kansas prairie. The park includes the state’s largest Niobrara Chalk formations.

“A lot of people have heard about it,” Hilliard said. “But unless you had a private tour, you couldn’t get in and see it.”

That all changes this summer.

(Read more: Newton Kansan)

City considers adding limited second shift for water division workers

Topeka’s mayor and city council plan Tuesday to consider a proposed resolution aimed at greatly reducing the number of hours in overtime the city pays to water division employees who respond to scenes of water main breaks.

The measure would arrange for some water division employees to work a “second shift” lasting from 2 to 10 p.m. in January, February, June, July, August and September, months that historically see a lot of water main breaks that require employees to work overtime.

The mayor and council will hear public comments and consider the proposal when they meet at 6 p.m. Tuesday in their chambers at 214 S.E. 8th.

Young but experienced, Wall settles in as manager

In his first month on the job, Winfield City Manager Taggart Wall said he has been most impressed by the employees.

“I watched them deal with three floods in a row. They were on call 24/7, and didn’t complain about anyone asking for help. It’s the best display of teamwork,” Wall said.

Wall, a Winfield native and Winfield High School graduate, started as city manager on May 13. He served on the city commission from 2009 to 2013, while a student at Southwestern College. After graduating from Southwestern, Wall earned a masters of public administration from Wichita State University. He worked as a management intern for the City of Arkansas City for two years, before taking a job as city manager of Sterling, a job he held for over five years.

County to consider sponsorship naming rights for Expocentre

A proposed contract that would provide sponsoring naming rights for the Kansas Expocentre to an unspecified entity is among measures local elected officials plan to take up this coming week.

The Shawnee County Commission will meet at 9 a.m. Monday and 9 a.m. Thursday in its chambers in Room B-11 of the County Courthouse, 200 S.E. 7th, while the Topeka City Council will meet at 6 p.m. Tuesday in its chambers at 214 S.E. 8th.

Commissioners plan Monday to recognize Capitol Federal Savings and the Capitol Federal Foundation for contributing $25,000 to become the title sponsor for this year’s annual Spirit of Kansas celebration and fireworks display at Lake Shawnee.

Airport leasing at near capacity

There is good news for the Newton City Commission and Harvey County Commission — the Newton City/County Airport buildings are almost at capacity.

“All but two of our buildings are currently under contract,” said Brian Palmer, director of the airport.

Longtime tenant Hesston College is considering expansion, and Park Aerospace is expanding — waiting on an approval from the FAA to break ground on a larger facility. Longtime tenant Avcon is renewing leases right now — drafts of the lease agreement should be in front of the commissions for review next week.

(Read more: Newton Kansan)

New airport terminal project stalled

GARDEN CITY — Plans to build a new terminal at Garden City Regional Airport have been put on hold following news that the airport did not receive a Federal Aviation Administration grant meant to pay for the bulk of the project.

Last fall, the airport requested $20 million from the FAA Supplemental Appropriation Program, a new addition to the administration’s Airport Improvement Program. The $20 million would cover most of a proposed $26.85 million terminal construction project, which would replace the current facility where it stands with a new one, updated, upgraded and more spacious. The City of Garden City would still need to finance the remaining $6.85 million.

(Read more: Newton Kansan)

Shawnee may need $140 million in next decade to repair or replace aging stormwater pipelines

Shawnee’s aging stormwater infrastructure is becoming a widespread problem, with the city needing as much as $140 million over the next 10 years to repair or replace drainage pipes that are on the brink of failure.

Public works staff demonstrated this need in a presentation to the Shawnee council in early April. Staff have doubled efforts in the past two years to video inspect pipeline and get a full grasp on the scope of the city’s pipeline network. What they’ve found: More than 220 pipes are expected to fail in the next three to five years, costing anywhere between $11.2 and $14 million.

Watershed dams help reduce flooding

The Delaware Watershed Joint District No. 10 was chartered by the State in 1957 after much work by the local people. However, it wasn’t until 1977 that funds became available in the state of Kansas to assist in construction costs of watershed dams. From then until recent times the Delaware Watershed built watershed reservoirs to protect the land downstream from flooding and the drainage area from erosion.

(Read more: Sabetha Herald)

Lenexa planning to pull federal funds from renovating community, senior centers to upgrade Old Town streetlights

The city of Lenexa has an excess amount of federal funding to make community development improvements — and less than two months to spend it.

So city staff has proposed reallocating some of those funds previously earmarked for renovations to the community and senior centers and instead use it to make infrastructure improvements in Old Town.

In total, the city has about $232,000 of federal Community Development Block Grant funds to spend by Aug. 2. If it doesn’t, the city must explain to the housing and urban development department why it hasn’t spent the money, and then work to spend the funds by August 2020.

Wellington City Manager Shane Shields said estimated flood damage and repair to city-own property is right now at $140,108.07

Sumner Newscow report — Wellington City Manager Shane Shields wrote in the June 7 City of Wellington newsletter, the initial estimate of flood damage and repair to city-owned property, turned into the Sumner County Emergency Management was $140,108.07.

“This is only an estimate and there will be additional expense to add after all the repairs are done,” Shields wrote.

According to data collected by the K-State Water Data Library, Wellington received 23.03 inches of rain according to the gauge at the Wellington C0-0p and 21.8 on three miles west of Wellington – both are records.

(Read more: Sumner NewsCow)

State leaders coming to Ark City for community input on early childhood programs

Leaders from across the state’s early childhood system will be in Arkansas City collecting feedback as part of a series of Community Engagement Sessions being held across Kansas.

Sessions are being held now through the end of July.

The Kansas Children’s Cabinet and Trust Fund, the Kansas Department for Children and Families, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, the Kansas State Department of Education, and early childhood partners are seeking information from Kansans to develop a statewide strategic plan for early childhood.

(Read more: The Arkansas City Traveler)

Both sides of wind project make pitches

ERIE – Opponents and supporters of the proposed Neosho Ridge Wind project made their pitches Thursday evening before commissioners, who later approved agreements on the plan.

Most of the people who addressed the commission during the public comment portion spoke against the project; two were in favor and one urged the commission to put it to a vote.

“The only good thing they can say about this is money,” Kim Norris said. She also said people critical of the plan have not been treated fairly.

“We’ve been painted as these radicals,” she said. “It’s all on us.”

(Read more: The Chanute Tribune)

Boom in electric scooters nationwide leads to more injuries, fatalities

Andrew Hardy was crossing the street on an electric scooter in downtown Los Angeles when a car struck him at 50 miles per hour and flung him 15 feet in the air before he smacked his head on the pavement and fell unconscious.

The 26-year-old snapped two bones in each leg, broke a thighbone, shattered a kneecap, punctured a lung and fractured three vertebrae in his neck, in addition to sustaining a head injury.

“My brother thought I was dead,” said Hardy, who wasn’t wearing a helmet.

Doctors told Hardy he’d likely be paralyzed for life. Five months later, he has learned to walk again. But he says he’ll never ride another scooter.

“These scooters should not be available to the public,” Hardy said. “Those things are like a death wish.”

Robot reports for duty with Pratt County law enforcement

A new robot is on duty at the Pratt County Sheriff’s Office and is ready to provide a safe alternative in dangerous situations. The new Transcend Tactical robot can go in areas unsafe to send people because of dangerous surroundings or dangerous people. Water and food can be strapped onto the unit and delivered to someone that might be trapped in a collapsed building, said Pratt County Sheriff Jimmy White.

McPherson’s early days detailed at public library

The City of McPherson can lay claim to a long and colorful history ever since its founding in 1872, but how exactly was it founded? And why? Myths and misinformation about early McPherson history have taken on a life of their own over the years and have obscured the facts.

On Monday, June 10, at 6:30 p.m. at the McPherson Public Library, Steve Read and Jennie Hall will take you back in time for a front row seat to view the founding and raucous early days of the city in a program titled “The Founding of McPherson: What Really Happened.”

Kansas A to Z: ‘H’ is for Boot Hill Museum

Boot Hill Cemetery, in which its museum rests, started in 1872 as an unofficial burial ground for various drifters who died in Dodge City. Most of these people died suddenly, with "their boots on" giving the name "Boot Hill" to the cemetery. None of these people had the money required for a proper burial; many were know only by their given name and no official records were kept of the burials.

Over 800 biking enthusiasts to visit Hays Monday; Moundridge city administrator Randy Frazer among them

It has been 17 years since riders from the annual Biking Across Kansas tour stopped in Hays, taking in the sights and sounds of the city.

Even then it was only a portion of the amount of riders.

This time, the full group of over 800 biking enthusiasts will take up residence for a night in the city as the tour rolls into the area Monday.

“Hays is welcoming Biking Across Kansas with the red carpet,” said Stefanie Weaver, BAK executive director.

“We will just feel like we are being treated like kings and queens when we come to Hays,” she said.

(Read more: Hays Post)

Newton to consider housing incentives

The initial incentive program would have the city set aside $100,000 to act as a safety net for licensed builders.

A builder participating in the program would be reimbursed for the interest the builder paid on the construction loan for the building between the time the city cleared the building for occupancy until the time it sold for a maximum of $10,000.

The housing study, as well as the group, stated that newly constructed homes stay on the market longer in Newton than in surrounding markets, discouraging builders from taking an additional risk in Newton.

“We looked at it from what’s the incentive to get the builder to put in a house,” Ron Lang, who was a part of the housing work group, said of the program. “If it should sit on the market for six months, how would that risk be offset for the builder?”

(Read more: Newton Now)

Wind farm decision delayed

After two lengthy evenings of testimony on the merits of a wind farm proposal — and reasons not to permit it — county planning and zoning commissioners tabled any decision until they meet again Monday evening.Each of the two nights of testimony lasted 31/2 hours. More than 100 people testified, including officials with National Renewable Solutions, developers of the Expedition Wind project.The planning commission is considering the company’s application for a conditional-use permit.Many objectors rehashed the same concerns they had voiced at an earlier public hearing as well as at county commission meetings. They were balanced by a nearly equal number of supporters.
Some objectors made no bones about their stance.“Only over my cold, dead body will those things cast a shadow on the ground that I walk on,” said Peabody farmer Randy Eitzen.

(Read more: PEABODY Gazette-Bulletin)

Barbed wire fence spat may have citywide result

A dispute between neighbors over a barbed wire fence may result in the removal of all barbed wire fencing in the city limits.

During the May 28 Marysville City Council meeting, Karen and Terry Hughes, Marysville, defended their right to keep their barbed wire fence despite repeated requests from neighbor Jill Friedrichs to have it removed.

Terry Hughes, who is a City Council member, said he had rectified the problem by removing the barbed wire fence adjacent to Friedrichs’ property. Friedrichs said she was not satisfied and she wanted all of the Hughes’ barbed wire fence removed because according to a city ordinance barbed wire fence is not allowed in town.

(Read more: The Marysville Advocate)

Nickerson smallest city to host Rural Prosperity forum

Nickerson, with a population just slightly over 1,000, will be one of only two cities that is not a county seat and/or has a college that has been selected for a forum on Kansas Lt. Gov. Lynn Rogers’ Rural Prosperity Tour.The other exception is Sabetha in northeast Kansas, but Sabetha has more than double the population of Nickerson.The 12-city listening tour forums will open with Nickerson’s event, scheduled to start at 6 p.m. Monday, June 17…

(Read more: News – The Hutchinson News)

“Taste of Kansas” Event to be Held in Chanute

MANHATTAN, Kan. — From the Land of Kansas brings to you its second annual agriculture experience dinner: “Taste of Kansas.” The dinner will allow guests to experience the diverse tastes of food grown, raised or produced in Kansas; meet Kansas agriculture producers and business owners; and enjoy a relaxing evening as they celebrate and appreciate Kansas.

The event will take place on Saturday, August 3, at Summit Hill Gardens Event Center, located outside of Chanute. Summit Hill Gardens Event Center is a family-owned event center founded by sisters-in-law Patsy Smeed and Gretchen Brant in 2016. The venue is filled with rich Kansas history and includes a native schoolhouse built on the property in 1874 along with bountiful gardens and a barn with Kansas class and charm.

The post “Taste of Kansas” Event to be Held in Chanute appeared first on Rural Messenger.

(Read more: Rural Messenger)

Shawnee firefighters battle fire at Mill Valley High School

SHAWNEE, Kan. —

Shawnee firefighters battled a fire Thursday night at Mill Valley High School.

Fire crews were called about 9:30 p.m. to the 5900 block of Monticello Road.

The school district said in a tweet that the “fire was contained to outside/exterior, where demolition is underway for expansion.”

The fire is out. No injuries have been reported.

(Read more: KMBC.com)

Watershed structures and conservation practices help reduce flooding damages

Extreme rainfall events of May brought severe flooding and property damage to many residents in central and eastern Kansas. Floodwaters also caused traffic disruptions, including the closure of northbound lanes on the Kansas Turnpike. USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service employees have been surveying the damage from the record-setting rainfall events.

Despite the lowland flooding damage, NRCS engineers and conservationists determined if it hadn’t been for the flood control structures installed by watershed district sponsors, flooding damages could have been much worse. NRCS models estimate that the federally assisted watershed dams built in Kansas helped prevent over $7 million in flooding damages from the May 6-8 storms, and $18.3 million for the May 20-21 storms.

New airport terminal project stalled

Plans to build a new terminal at Garden City Regional Airport have been put on hold following news that the airport did not receive a Federal Aviation Administration grant meant to pay for the bulk of the project.

Last fall, the airport requested $20 million from the FAA Supplemental Appropriation Program, a new addition to the administration’s Airport Improvement Program. The $20 million would cover most of a proposed $26.85 million terminal construction project, which would replace the current facility where it stands with a new one, updated, upgraded and more spacious. The City of Garden City would still need to finance the remaining $6.85 million.