Kansas Municipal News
Hundreds gather in Abilene for D-Day’s 75th
By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY
Salina PostABILENE — Hundreds of people, including more than 60 World War II veterans, Rosie the Riveters, and labor camp survivors were in Abilene on Thursday morning to mark the 75th anniversary of D-Day.
The ceremony was on the grounds of the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library, Museum, and Boyhood Home, in front of the statue of Eisenhower. It was an appropriate location as Eisenhower, who was the Supreme Allied Commander during World War II, on June 6, 1944, led the Allied Forces in the D-Day invasion of Normandy, France. The invasion, code-named Operation OVERLORD, has been called the greatest invasion in human history and led to the downfall of Adolph Hitler and his Nazi strangle hold on Europe.
(Read more: Little Apple Post)
Fort Riley ceremony honors sacrifice of Big Red One soldiers in D-Day invasion
Troops stationed at Fort Riley joined the rest of the free world Thursday in celebration of the 75th anniversary of the daring D-Day invasion that led to victory over Nazi Germany in World War II.
The Fort Riley-based First Infantry Division, also known as the Big Red One, led the assault on German forces on Omaha Beach on June 6, 1944. Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower, the Abilene, Kan., native, future president and supreme commander of Allied forces, conceived the invasion.
Six World War II veterans attended the ceremony at Fort Riley, which included a recitation of names of the 316 1st Infantry soldiers who died on D-Day. The ceremony was punctuated by a 21-gun salute.
(Read more: Newton Kansan)
What should Wichita do with streets downtown? This week’s events could help decide
Wichita city officials want a long-term plan for downtown streets, and this week the public is being asked what they want to see.
The consultants hired to develop the Downtown Streets Conceptual Plan are hosting “pop up” workshops Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 5 to 8 p.m. at the Riverfest Food Court. They’re asking members of the public to offer comment and rank a list of priorities, including whether the city should focus on making streets safer and more convenient or promote downtown neighborhoods to attract downtown development and young talent.
(Read more: Local News |)
JoCo won’t expand precinct access to voters this fall. As for 2020? ‘We’ll do our best’
It’s not that he’s against the idea of opening up easier voting access to polls, says Johnson County Election Commissioner Ronnie Metsker. It’s just that a new Kansas law allowing people to vote at any precinct comes with a pile of technical challenges that will make it impossible to implement by this fall, he said.
As for 2020? “We’ll do our best.”
Election Commissioner Ronnie Metsker said Johnson County voters will not be able to cast ballots at any precinct this fall, citing technical challenges…. since the law was signed, county officials have struggled with how to deal with it. Standing in the way are problems with Wi-Fi signals at polling places, yet-unwritten regulations from the state and the added time it will take to provide all electronic and paper ballots at every site.
(Read more: Shawnee Mission Post – Community news and events for northeast Johnson County)
Sedgwick County collecting flood damage reports from residents
Residents who live anywhere in the county and suffered flood damage to your home or business are asked to call the United Way of the Plains at 2-1-1 to make a brief report.
Emergency management officials need the information to determine the extent of the damage across the county.
…
The county says it will use the information it gathers to determine the extent of damage for possible additional resources. That’s something Wichita-area homeowner Don Payne says is much needed.
(Read more: KWCH News)
Atchison talks skatepark plan’s future
A plan to bring a state-of-the-art skating area to Reisner Park hasn’t seen nearly as much fundraising success as had been hoped for, and the City of Atchison is discussing how to adapt.
While a conversation held on Monday evening involving members of the City of Atchison governing body and professional staff hasn’t yet produced any concrete steps to change things up, officials agreed that the city’s hopes to have seen major progress on fundraising by the Skate High With Hope Foundation by the end of this year don’t seem likely to be be achieved.
(Read more: Atchison Globe Now)
School board president raises concerns with Derby Hills retention pond
The proposed location of a new retention pond at Derby Hills Elementary would be a safety risk because of its proximity to a playground, the president of the school board said at a recent meeting.
“People will say ‘it won’t happen,’ but I’m here to tell you, it will happen,” Tina Prunier said of the potential for children to drown. “I have a major concern with it being close to the playground.”
Board members were discussing the schematic design of a bond project at Derby Hills when Prunier raised her concerns at the May 28 meeting.Joe Dessenberger, director of finance and operations for Derby Public Schools, and Mitch Binns, a regional manager for McCownGordon — the construction company managing all bond projects for the district — assured Prunier that they would take a second look at the pond’s location.
(Read more: Derby News | derbyinformer.com)
Wichita approves electric scooter pilot program
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Electric scooters could be headed to Wichita soon.
The city council approved a pilot program Tuesday. Companies that want to rent out scooters in Wichita will have to pay for the privilege through an administration fee of $500 to $1,000 and 15 cents for each ride rented. Officials say the money will go to a city fund to establish and maintain bike paths.
Nathan Huber of Gotcha scooters says the company will evaluate the new ordinance and decide soon whether to move into Wichita.
The ordinance also requires scooter operators to be 18 or older and go no faster than 15 mph. Scooters also would be barred from sidewalks or streets where the speed limit for cars is 40 mph or more.
(Read more: Great Bend Post)
Regulators OK acquisition of massive Kan. wind power project
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Missouri utility regulators have approved the acquisition of a large wind energy project by a Chicago firm.
The decision Wednesday by the state Public Service Commission was a necessary step for Invenergy to buy the rights to construct the proposed Grain Belt Express power line.
The project initiated by Houston-based Clean Line Energy Partners would carry Kansas wind energy on a 780-mile path across Missouri and Illinois before hooking into an electric grid in Indiana that serves eastern states.
Missouri regulators earlier this year reversed their previous denials and gave the green light to the project. Missouri legislators then tried but failed to prohibit eminent domain for the project.
But the project still needs regulatory approval in Illinois, where an appeals court last year overturned the state’s previous approval.
(Read more: Hays Post)
Hays Public Library seeking input at stakeholder meetings
The Hays Public Library will host two stakeholder sessions to solicit input from the community to consider future services and events at the library.
Both sessions will be held on Monday, June 10. The first will begin at 1:30 p.m., the other will begin at 6 p.m.. The sessions are scheduled to last 90 minutes.
Brandon Hines, library director, said the sessions are an effort to develop ideas for ways the library can continue to develop as a community center.Brandon Hines
“When I was hired on, we had a lot of projects we had already begun or had been discussed. They were teed-up and ready to go, so we set up a one-year plan to execute on quite a few of these,” Hines said. “We are kind of getting to the point now where we are wrapping those up so we need to transition to that next phase, and we know that we need to get some outside input.”
Some of the completed projects include a new digital sign located on 13th and Main, and the new RFID checkout system.
(Read more: Hays Post)
This Lenexa project is so popular, developers are expanding before they break ground
A new project in Lenexa City Center hasn’t made it past the planning stages, but demand is already so high the developers proposed a $960,000 expansion.
The development, called The Yard, will be an L-shaped building devoted to offices and restaurants overlooking a large patio — the reason for the project’s name — that will feature a fire pit, pickleball courts and outdoor seating. The plan also includes indoor parking.
The Lenexa City Council unanimously approved the expansion Tuesday night, allowing another 11,600 square feet of office space on an additional floor, and more parking spaces in the garage and on the street.
(Read more: Joco 913 News)
Study suggests combining sewer plants at Yoder, HABIT
After the Reno County Commission heard a report Tuesday, the board directed staff to pursue combining sewer treatment systems at Yoder and HABIT, the former air base west of Yoder that houses businesses.
That, despite the estimated $1.8 million price tag — at least $250,000 higher than just making necessary changes at each site — came on the belief doing so would be cheaper in the long run.
Public Works Director Dave McComb offered no timeline when he’ll bring the issues back to the commission, though the county is under some pressure from state health officials to improve the facilities.
(Read more: News – The Hutchinson News)
A look at some of Olathe’s upcoming road projects
In a recent newsletter, the city of Olathe outlined some of the major road projects being worked on now or in the upcoming months.
“Work is focused on the most congested intersections for improved traffic flow, decreased delays and reduced emissions,” the city said. “Traffic signal coordination complements construction projects for reduced traffic delays.”
The projects:
▪ Santa Fe Street and Ridgeview Road: Utility relocation is underway and the intersection will be improved with two left turn and two through lanes at each quadrant; dedicated right turn lanes for northbound, southbound and eastbound traffic, and a shared through/right turn lane for westbound traffic. Recent resident surveys have found that this intersection is the top priority for upgrades, the city said.Read more here: https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/community/joco-913/olathe-southwest-joco/article231238108.html#storylink=cpy
(Read more: Joco 913 News)
Gardner wants input on downtown green space
The city of Gardner has posted a survey to obtain the community’s views on two proposed civic greens or small parks in the downtown area.
Among other things, the survey asks whether people prefer active parks or quiet ones, and whether active parks should be geared more to festivals and events or to sports and recreation.
The questionnaire will help the city craft its Gardner Destination Downtown plan, focusing on an eight-block area from Center Street to Sycamore Street, between Washington and Warren streets.
Read more here: https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/community/joco-913/olathe-southwest-joco/article231240023.html#storylink=cpy
(Read more: Joco 913 News)
Topekans invited to help paint police mural
The public is invited to take part June 15 and 16 in a "Community Paint Weekend" in which the initial strokes will be drawn on a mural designed to illustrate the Topeka Police Department’s history and the manner in which it is intertwined with the community.The police department and ARTSConnect are teaming up to create the mural, named "The Common Ground."
(Read more: Local – The Topeka Capital-Journal)
Kansas A to Z: ‘F’ is for Frontier Army Museum
The Frontier Army Museum on Fort Leavenworth features thousands of pieces of military artifacts and Leavenworth history.Megan Hunter, museum specialist at the facility, said one of the most popular exhibits is the Lincoln carriage.Hunter said it is the same carriage used by Abraham Lincoln during his December 1859 visit to Leavenworth. An extensive exhibit is the one featuring the Lewis and Clark Expedition.
(Read more: News – Butler County Times Gazette)
Lawrence City Commission reviews potential changes to sidewalk policy; residents ask city to pay for repairs
Several Lawrence residents voiced their objections Tuesday to a city policy that requires property owners to pay for repairs to sidewalks adjacent to their properties.
As part of its meeting Tuesday, the Lawrence City Commission received an update from city staff about the implementation of the sidewalk maintenance policy adopted last year. The policy requires property owners to fix sidewalks that run adjacent to their homes or businesses that the city deems hazardous. Several residents from northwest Lawrence, where the program has been initiated, have voiced concerns and asked that the program be halted.
Read more: LJWorld.com.
Trans Am cyclists will enter Kansas soon
Participants in the Trans American Bike Race left Astoria, Ore., Sunday morning and are expected to cross through Kansas as early as Friday. Riders in this event will enter Kansas from Colorado on K-96 highway and will likely be traveling individually rather than in groups. The Trans Am route will take riders through Kansas communities, including Leoti, Scott City, Rush Center, Larned, Hutchinson, Newton, Eureka, Chanute, Girard and Pittsburg.The Trans American Bike Race is […]
(Read more: Local – The Hutchinson News)
Take a Walk and Listen to Merriam’s Interactive History Tour
Merriam is home to a fascinating history. The best way to explore our local history is with the help of a personal tour guide. The Otocast App is the perfect travel companion to do just that! Whether you’ve lived here all your life and want to learn more about your City’s history or you’re visiting for the weekend and want something different to see and do, the Merriam Interactive History Tour is a great activity for both residents and visitors.
Fueled by mobile technology, geo-mapping, and a unique array of historic sites, Merriam’s interactive tour focuses on pivotal moments in history, citing significant locations and attractions across the City. From the well-known Shawnee Friends Mission area to the former Walker School, the tour spans the life of Merriam from pre-settlement to the late 1940s.
(Read more: Merriam, KS news)
County seeks info from residents on flood damage
Reno County officials are asking residents in the county who suffered damage from flooding to fill out a damage report that can be included in applications for potential state and federal aid.
Emergency Management Director Adam Weishaar said they would attempt to get a form on the county’s website, renogov.org, by the end of Tuesday for people to print and fill out.
Officials with Emergency Management, the county appraiser’s office, and planning and zoning are working jointly to create the form so information each agency needs will be collected at one time.
(Read more: News – The Hutchinson News)
Ellis County OKs fireworks in rural areas
It’ll be OK to shoot fireworks in the rural areas of Ellis County over the July 4 holiday.
Fireworks will be allowed Tuesday, July 2, Wednesday, July 3, and Thursday, July 4., from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.
“In the past we’ve chosen the same dates as the city of Hays just to kind of help eliminate confusion and keep us the same as the city,” said Emergency Preparedness Director Darin Myers, speaking Monday evening during the regular meeting of the Ellis County Commission at the Ellis County Administrative Center, 718 Main St.
Other jurisdictions allowing fireworks, so far, are the city of Ellis, as well as Trego, Rush, Rooks and Russell counties.
(Read more: News – The Hays Daily News)
Two USD 409 educators earn special honors
The recent induction of two USD 409 educators into the Kansas Teacher Hall of Fame has set a precedent for a statewide honor.
Class of 2019 Inductees Dr. Susan Myers, outgoing superintendent of Atchison Public Schools and Tricia Regan, longtime Atchison Elementary School kindergarten teacher, represent the first time two educators were recognized from the same school district in the Hall of Fame since its establishment in 1977. The distinction was publicly announced in April.
Museum Coordinator Mary Lou Doris, a Hall of Fame volunteer, confirmed Myers and Regan’s induction marks the first time two educators from the same town have been inducted the same year. Doris has consistently served the institution for 30 years.
(Read more: Atchison Globe Now)
The city passes a new $20 million dollar aquatic plan
WICHITA, Kan. (KAKE) –
Wichita public swimming pools that were at risk of closing will undergo improvements. The city council passed the new aquatics plan today, costing about 20 million dollars.
McAdams pools, one of the many pools over 50-years-old in Wichita is one pool with the city’s new plan this pool that will get some much needed updates. City council members say this decision will make a lasting impact for generations to come.
(Read more: KAKE – News)
Wichita’s Eisenhower airport receives second grant, bringing total to over $15 million
Eisenhower National Airport has received two federal grants totaling over $15 million.
The city of Wichita announced Tuesday that the Wichita Airport Authority has received an $8.6 million Federal Aviation Administration grant for work on the longest runway at Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport, or ICT.
“Preserving and extending the life of one of our most important infrastructure assets — our longest runway — is necessary if we are to continue to attract larger and heavier commercial aircraft,” said Brad Christopher, assistant director of airports, in a news release. “This infrastructure is also critical to our important aircraft manufacturing tenant stakeholders — Bombardier and Textron.”
(Read more: Wichita Eagle)
Jones Development plans 60-acre industrial business park in Olathe
A new industrial business park could be coming to Olathe.
Dubbed the Olathe Commerce Center, the project would sit on about 66 acres of green space at Dennis Avenue and South Grant Street, with access to nearby Kansas Highway 7 and Interstate 35.
A subsidiary of Kansas City-based Jones Development Co. will develop the property, starting with a 21,400-square-foot warehouse. Cushman & Wakefield is the broker. Jones Development did not respond to a request for comment.
(Read more: Kansas City Business News)
Boil water advisory issued for Conway Springs
CONWAY SPRINGS, Kan. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment issues a boil water advisory for the city of Conway Springs in Sumner County.
KDHE says the advisory is necessary because of a line break resulting in a loss of pressure in the city’s water system.
“Failure to maintain adequate pressure may result in a loss of chlorine residuals and bacterial contamination,” KDHE says.
The advisory took effect Tuesday (June 4) and will remain in effect until the issue concerning the broken line is resolved.
During a boil water advisory, customers should observe the following precautions until further notice:
(Read more: KWCH News)
Commissioners approve bonds to cover cost of fire station renovation
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Reno County Commission Tuesday approved the bonds for the renovation of the Reno/Harvey County Joint Fire District 2 building in Buhler.
The renovation was completed last summer for an estimated cost of $318,685. The fire district used $100,000 from its equipment fund as upfront money, meaning the county now has to issue bonds for the rest. The bonds will be financed with bonds over a 15-year period.
The funding will go through Commerce Bank with an interest rate of 3.32%. County Administrator Gary Meagher says it would come to about a one mill increase for those who live in that district.
(Read more: Hutch Post)
State revenue beats estimates by $77M in May, up $158M for fiscal year
Kansas tax collections for May exceeded revised estimates by $77.1 million, adding to a state general fund cushion for the fiscal year that ends July 1.
Numbers provided by the Kansas Department of Revenue show individual income tax collections were $278 million in May, about $68 million above estimates and nearly $7 million more than the same month last year. Retail sales and use taxes added to the surplus.
However, corporate income tax collections dropped to $11 million, about $9 million below a forecast that mirrored last year’s collections.
(Read more: News – Kiowa County Signal – Kiowa County, KS)
Governments Rethink Their ‘Moral Obligation’ to Municipal Bondholders
When a government defaults on debt, it’s usually because it can’t afford the payment — not because it doesn’t want to make the payment.
But that’s changing.
In Missouri, a judge ruled last week that Platte County, home to Kansas City, was completely within its rights when it opted six months ago to not pay a $765,000 bond payment due for a long-struggling shopping development. In his decision, Circuit Court Judge James Van Amburg noted there was “no promise or requirement” for the county to pay the debt on the Zona Rosa retail center, even if the county auditor’s proposed budget included a line item for the payment (which was the case last year).
The ruling validates a trend in the post-recession era — at least in Missouri — of municipal governments placing their obligations to taxpayers ahead of what they may owe to bondholders.
(Read more: GOVERNING.com)
Wichita City Council to discuss electric scooter rules
The Wichita City Council plans to discuss proposed rules and regulations surrounding electric scooters coming to the city.
Wichitans could be zooming around Wichita as soon as August, but there are a few more steps before they roll out.
This includes changes in the ordinance, since electric scooters do not fall within the definition of a vehicle, motor vehicle or bicycle under current city law.
In June 2018, elected officials were contacted by electric scooter companies interested in bringing scooters to town.
Read more: KAKE.
Lawrence City Commission to consider homeless shelter’s request for additional $252,000
City leaders will soon consider whether to provide the local homeless shelter an additional $252,000 to help the shelter meet shortfalls in its budget.
As part of its meeting Tuesday, the Lawrence City Commission will consider the Lawrence Community Shelter’s additional funding request and receive an outside review of the shelter’s financial situation. The shelter is requesting an additional $252,000 from the city and $148,000 from Douglas County for 2019, which if approved would bring the city and county funding for the shelter to $715,000 for the year, according to a city staff memo to the commission.
Read more: LJWorld.com.
Bike-share company makes request to bring electric scooters to Lawrence, relax parking requirements
The bike-share company currently operating in Lawrence is requesting the city’s permission to add electric scooters to its fleet of rentable vehicles and to lift parking restrictions.
More specifically, VeoRide Inc. is requesting that the city allow it to rent out 150 electric scooters and permit its customers to park bikes and scooters outside currently designated bike racks, according to VeoRide’s request. In addition, the company is asking the city to accept VeoRide as the “exclusive vendor” in Lawrence. The Lawrence City Commission is scheduled to receive the request as part of its meeting Tuesday.
Read more: LJWorld.com.
33 Kansas counties now eligible for federal disaster relief
Fifteen more Kansas counties have been added to the list of counties eligible for emergency disaster assistance.
Gov. Laura Kelly announced Saturday that 33 of the state’s 105 counties are covered by the federal declaration in response to damage from recent tornadoes.
The designation makes the counties eligible for federal support and resources in addition to state and local help to rebuild from the storm damage.
Counties added to federal list include Allen, Doniphan, Dickinson, Douglas, Geary, Jefferson, Leavenworth, Linn, Lyon, Marshall, Morris, Pottawatomie, Riley, Salina and Wabaunsee.
The 18 counties included in the original federal declaration were Anderson, Butler, Chautauqua, Cherokee, Coffey, Cowley, Crawford, Elk, Franklin, Greenwood, Harvey, Montgomery, Neosho, Osage, Reno, Sumner, Wilson and Woodson.
(Read more: KAKE – News)
Tornado damage exceeds $26 million
A tornado that ripped through southern Leavenworth County damaged more homes than initially reported. And preliminary figures for property damage exceed $26 million, according to an emergency management official.
The tornado, which first touched down in neighboring Douglas County, entered southwestern Leavenworth County on Tuesday evening. The tornado then traveled northeast across southern Leavenworth County.
Only minor injuries were reported in Leavenworth County.
Representatives of the Leavenworth County Appraiser’s Office had completed damage assessments by Friday.
It is now believed that 129 homes were impacted by the tornado in Leavenworth County. Forty-five of those homes were completely destroyed. Forty-six residences had what is considered significant damage and 38 homes had minor damage, according to Chuck Magaha, director of Leavenworth County Emergency Management.
(Read more: Leavenworth Times)
Watershed holds back floodwaters
Residents of Newton and Sedgwick have the Sand Creek Watershed to thank for keeping water out of their homes as parts of Harvey County has received as much as 15 inches of rain in the past month.
The Sand Creek Watershed is made up of 10 dam sites built between 1976 and 2000.
“There are nine north of town and one between Newton and Sedgwick,” explained SCWD Board President Tom Cowan.
The Sand Creek Watershed drains 64,134 acres — nearly 55,000 acres in Harvey County and the rest within the borders of Marion County.
“They’re pretty impressive structures,” said SCWD Board Vice President Emil Schmidt. ”…It just prevents this flood of water from hitting Newton all at once.”
(Read more: Newton Kansan)
Solid waste group pushes for lower rates at transfer station
The Labette County Solid Waste Management Committee on Thursday night voted on a number of points its members want to see in a contract for operating a trash transfer station south of Parsons.
The 15-year contract with Waste Corporation of Kansas was signed in January 2005 and expires in January 2020. The tipping fee for cities that bring trash to the station is $44.37 a ton. Trash is collected at the station, pushed into trailers and trucked to WCK’s Oak Grove Landfill at Arcadia, about 60 miles away.
Committee members discussed the dump fee, the length of the contract, hours of operation and charges for smaller loads by citizens cleaning out garages or getting rid of furniture.WCK is interested in a long-term contract so it can amortize the costs for improvements at the site, which is at the city’s old landfill. The company would like to build a pipeline to the city’s wastewater treatment facility for liquid waste from cleaning out the station. Leachate from the trash and water from the cleaning process is collected and trucked to the wastewater plant. The pipeline would simplify this process and save money in the long run.
(Read more: Parsons Sun)
Upcoming school finance decision will likely not change 2019-2020 school year, says KASB advocate
No matter what the Kansas Supreme Court ultimately decides about whether or not the inflation adjustment to the school finance formula is enough, the budget for the upcoming fall is pretty much a done deal, according to an advocate with the Kansas Association of School Boards.
“Even the plaintiffs, who are still saying that the Legislature didn’t get where they needed to be, are really satisfied with funding for next year,” said Mark Tallman with KASB. “I think there’s a pretty widespread belief that districts can be pretty confident of what they have next year. The issue is whether the Court will say that more needs to be done in future years.”
KASB, for its part, would like to see some certainty for a more extended period.
“At a minimum, we hope that schools will now face four years of solid increases in funding that should allow them to get back some of the losses over the past decade and really make some investments in new areas,” said Tallman.
The final decision should be coming this month.
(Read more: WIBW News Now)
Water and wiring problems resurface at Pratt County jail
Old water problems at the Pratt County Law Enforcement Center building and wiring issues were again brought to the attention of Pratt County commissioners on May 28. Sheriff Jimmy White took the commissioners on a two hour tour of the Law Enforcement Center, showing them that there was much that needed to be done to solve water leakage problems and improve the cabling system within the building. Shawn Harding, senior associate and architect for HMN Architects also toured the building to determine what needs to be done.
Dedicated tubing for the miles of communication that runs through the building is needed. It needs to have its own channeling so it can be replaced when needed rather than having it zip tied to other pipes in the building, White said.
As it stands now, the police and sheriffs offices can’t send emails to each other so something has to be done.
The communications room and the police evidence room both need modification and the roof, walls and windows need work to prevent water leakage.
(Read more: News – PrattTribune – Pratt, KS)
Salina annexes land for Water Treatment Facility
Three months of negotiations between Salina and Saline County came to an amicable conclusion Monday when the Salina City Commission annexed about 42 acres of land into city limits for the future location of a new water treatment facility.
In March, Salina officials requested permission from Saline County to annex the land, which the city already owned, into city limits. The land is located at the southeast corner of East Water Well Road and South Ohio Street. Salina Zoning Administrator Dean Andrew said annexing the property would allow Salina firefighters and police to respond to the location in the event of an emergency.
Later that month, Saline County Road and Bridge Administrator Darren Fishel told the county commission that the city’s planned use for the property would lead to additional maintenance costs for East Water Well Road, which is owned by Saline County.
(Read more: News – Salina Journal)
911 misdials make up 20 percent of calls in Sedgwick County
Did you dial 911 by accident? It is common in Sedgwick County. In fact at one point, it made up 20 percent of all its 911 calls.
KSN found out as it was just getting better, calls are back on the rise.
All calls begin with 911 what’s the location of your emergency? Then often, dispatches hear silence, movement and sometimes dial tones.
Elora Forshee is the director for Sedgwick County Emergency Communications.
“Maybe they put their phone in their purse or pocket. They haven’t locked it down yet, so they’re dialing buttons.”
She tells KSN that the county averages more 5,854 a month. It is up slightly from last year.
(Read more: Top Stories | KSNW)
Fed’s Bullard Says Rate Cut May Be Needed ‘Soon’
The Federal Reserve may need to cut interest rates soon to prop up inflation and counter downside economic risks from an escalating trade war, St. Louis Fed President James Bullard said.
“A downward policy rate adjustment may be warranted soon to help re-center inflation and inflation expectations at target and also to provide some insurance in case of a sharper-than-expected slowdown,” Bullard said Monday in remarks prepared for a talk in Chicago. “The direct effects of trade restrictions on the U.S. economy are relatively small, but the effects through global financial markets may be larger.”
Bullard’s comments mark the first time a Fed official has publicly suggested the need for a rate cut since the central bank put rates on hold in January when it pledged to be “patient” as it weighed headwinds from slower global growth and the fallout from the trade war.
(Read more: Bloomberg)
More discussion coming on possible change in Great Bend’s relationship with the Chamber
Much discussion was had Monday night at the Great Bend City Council meeting on whether or not the relationship between the City of Great Bend and the Great Bend Chamber of Commerce, and whether or not economic development needs to be handled differently in the future. Based on talks from a strategic planning session the City Council had, a four-person committee was formed to create a plan of action to change the format of economic development within the city and the Chamber’s involvement.
The topic was not originally on the agenda, but an amendment was approved to add the item to the agenda at the beginning of the meeting.
Great Bend Chamber Board Chair AJ Crest caught wind of the possible agenda item and urged the council not to vote on the committee’s recommendation until the Chamber could provide their input on the matter.
“We’re under a contract with the City, but essentially it’s a partnership,” Crest said. “At this point, every conversation that has been had has excluded a partner.”
Crest sent out an email to Chamber members just after 3 p.m. Monday requesting their attendance at the meeting because of the impact the change could have on their business. Several Chamber members attended the meeting, including a few that spoke, asking for more information about the recommended plan from the committee before it was voted on.
(Read more: Great Bend Post)
Hutchinson City Council to consider Leisure Development agreement
The Hutchinson City Council will take action on an agreement with a development firm for a new convention center during Tuesday’s meeting.
Any decision comes after Leisure Development Group requested the city work exclusively with them to put the project together. A decision on the agreement was put off until a convention study could be completed. Results of that study were released Friday.
The agreement states that the city will work exclusively with Leisure on the project for a duration of six months. The intent of the agreement is to provide some assurances that the city intends to enter into a development agreement with Leisure Development for the project. The term of the agreement shall not extend beyond six months from the formal execution date.
The study showed a need for a 120-bed hotel with at least 20,000 square feet of convention space. If after six months nothing can be agreed upon, then both parties walk away and the city is back to square one. If all goes as hoped, Leisure Development will build the new convention center. The study showed that the center should be located along the K-61 corridor, but the location could be anywhere in the city.
Tuesday’s meeting of the Hutchinson City Council begins at 9 a.m. in the Hutchinson city offices.
(Read more: Hutch Post)
Hutch waits to fully assess damage to parks and trails from flood
The flooding continues in Carey Park with the water table high enough to create lakes in normally dry areas.
The zoo is still inundated with water and Parks Director Justin Combs says the water actually came up over the last day or so. A number of animals are still out of their normal holding areas and water continues to be pumped out of the gift shop basement.
At the golf course, five holes near the levee are still unplayable because of ground seepage. Combs says damage to the course will likely be felt well into the summer. “With the grass being underwater for so long it’s likely we’re going to see the grass die,” Combs said. “In the area where the turf is still alive, we’ll still see a lot of fungus issues and weeds.”
(Read more: Hutch Post)
Wichita police join federal partnership to fight rise in violent crimes
WICHITA, Kan. With a violent crime rate U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister says is “significantly above the national average,” a local and federal partnership aims to make Wichita safer.
McAllister announced Monday that the Wichita Police Department was approved to receive special training and technical assistance from the National Safety Partnership.
The Wichita Police Department reports an increase in violent crime over the past three years. The department says shootings have been steadily increasing since 2014 and Wichita saw an increase of 31 percent in shootings from 2016 to 2018
(Read more: KWCH News)