Kansas Municipal News
Will Shawnee get a community center with pools, gyms, more? Ballots go out this week
Drive by the yard signs and flyers in Shawnee neighborhoods or read online community forums and you’ll find a city divided this spring.
The issue? An upcoming mail-in election about a proposed community center.
On one side, a “Vote Yes” group — yes to a proposed plan to raise property taxes to pay for building a 68,000-square-foot community center with indoor swimming pools, gyms, a track, a half-mile outdoor walking loop that links to the Clear Creek Trail and other amenities.
And in opposition: “Vote No” citizens who have decried the center as a waste of taxpayer dollars, questioned its ability to be self-sustaining and called on the city to shift dollars to other needs, such as roads or stormwater management.
The heated debate over the center that would be built on vacant, city-owned land near 61st and Woodland Drive draws closer to the end this week when Shawnee voters receive ballots that will determine its fate.
(Read more: Joco 913 News)
Merriam residents discuss future of historic Irene B. French Community Center
Merriam residents want to preserve the history of the Irene B. French Community Center. But what exactly that looks like for the future remains to be seen.
Now that construction of the city’s new community center at Vavra Park is underway, the city of Merriam and residents are turning their attention to the current facility at 5701 Merriam Drive. The city formed a committee of residents, business owners and city leaders to lead discussions and look into options for the building’s future. Originally built in 1911 with multiple additions over the past century, the historic building was formerly the home of a few schools, including Johnson County Community College and Kansas City Christian School, before the city bought it and converted it into the French center.
At a public meeting Monday evening, residents first heard from consultant Vicki Noteis with Collins Noteis & Associates of Kansas City, Mo., on the condition of the facility and what’s financially at stake depending on the route the city takes.
(Read more: Shawnee Mission Post – Community news and events for northeast Johnson County)
Wind farm opponents hire lawyers, plan to sue
Opponents of a proposed wind farm that would span from Florence to Aulne to north of Peabody have hired two lawyers in an effort to stop potential development.
Both lawyers were present to observe Monday’s county commission meeting, but neither Newton lawyer Jim Gillmore nor Overland Park lawyer Robert Titus spoke during the meeting.
Their presence was predicted two weeks ago when rural Peabody farmer Randy Eitzen warned commissioners lawsuits “will be filed from different angles” if the county granted a conditional use permit for National Renewable Solutions’ 100-tower Expedition Wind Farm project.
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(Read more: HILLSBORO Star-Journal)
Six Hays municipal water wells to be rehabbed; city commission to consider bids
Six of the 37 wells that produce water for the city of Hays need to be rehabilitated.
Groundwater contains bacteria and minerals which cause well plugging. Screens, gravel pack and formations may become blocked, reducing the amount of water that can be pumped to the surface.
Water Resources employees maintain productivity of the wells by acidizing them, but as City Manager Toby Dougherty explains, periodic professional rehabilitation is necessary to maintain peak efficiency.
“Maintenance only goes so far and there are times you have to do a complete rehabilitation on those wells,” Dougherty explains. “This keeps them operating as efficiently as possible which is especially important when we get into times of drought.”
(Read more: Hays Post)
Despite opposition Marion County Commission approves wind farm proposal
The Marion County Commission met with opposition from landowners who asked for another week to review a newly proposed resolution on road rights-of-way by Expedition Natural Renewal Solutions that was presented at a special meeting on April 29.
Despite the strong resistance by constituents, the commission voted 2-1 to approve the resolution. Commissioner Dianne Novak was the dissenting vote.The resolution addresses inclusion of Marion County road rights-of-way within the land area of the proposed wind energy conversion system for Expedition, said Commission chair Kent Becker.
It further stated that wind energy conversion systems, including the transmission lines would be within a road right-of-way, and the CUP application must include road rights-of-way and mandatory notification to the landowners within 1,000 feet of road right-of-way.
As the meeting was about to conclude, Novak told (County Clerk) Tina Spencer she wouldn’t sign the resolution, adding that “if (the wind farm) is a good deal today, it will be a good deal tomorrow.”Spencer said this is the first time a commissioner has refused to sign a resolution, and she needed to talk to Brad Jantz, county counselor, on what to do next.
(Read more: Hillsboro Free Press)
Federal Reserve on Wednesday held interest rates steady — sees no strong case for hiking or cutting rates
The U.S. Federal Reserve on Wednesday held interest rates steady and signaled little appetite to adjust them any time soon, taking heart in continued job gains and economic growth and the likelihood that weak inflation will edge higher.
“We think our policy stance is appropriate at the moment; we don’t see a strong case for moving it in either direction,” Fed Chairman Jerome Powell said in a press conference following the end of the central bank’s latest two-day policy meeting.
Read more: Reuters.
Riley County commission approves corrections grants
The Riley County commissioners approved grants for both juvenile and adult corrections services. These grants came from the Kansas Department of Corrections’ $3 million pool.
The funds total approximately $780,000 and will be used for the fiscal year 2020. The funds will be used to focus on three key areas for adult services. These areas are assessing cognitive behavioral health courses, looking at staff’s use of effective practices, and evaluating clients’ risk-need assessment scores.
Community Corrections Director Shelly Williams says the allocations for fiscal year 2020 for adult services is projected to be approximately $336,000. This will be a 3.2% reduction from last year. Since the department offers both juvenile and adult services, they are able to share some of the administrative costs as well as some of their other duties.
The money from the grants will also be used to fill some positions, which in the past has been around 4 full time equivalents.
(Read more: 1350 KMAN)
Harvey County Commissioners question county’s juvenile expenses
Harvey County spends more on juvenile justice per case than McPherson County even though the two share a court district.
During a review of the community corrections comprehensive plan for the district on Monday, Commission Chairman George “Chip” Westfall asked Community Corrections Director Janet Cagle why Harvey paid more for juvenile offenders than most other counties. Specifically, he said when commissioners went to out-of-town conferences, Commissioner Randy Hague typically asked commissioners from other counties what they were spending.
“The answer I’ve been getting is that really it’s the county attorney that’s driving the costs for juveniles,” Hague said. “Ours is more strict than some of the surrounding counties.”
Westfall asked Cagle if the county could get state funding for some of the expenses.
Cagle said ankle monitors would reduce some of the expense. Instead of the county spending $150 per day to house a juvenile at detention center, he or she could remain at home.
Westfall asked why McPherson County didn’t seem to have the expenses that Harvey had. Cagle said juvenile intake was up to the county attorney, who determined if a youth was an offender or a child in need of care. A county attorney also could send a juvenile into a diversion program. “Man, our taxes could go down if everybody behaved,” Hague said.
(Read more: Newton Now)
Newton’s neighbors see strong Sundays selling alcohol, for now
With Newton City Commission poised to start allowing Sunday sales, sellers of spirits in nearby communities figure they’ll lose some business.
Steve Rizza, owner of Rizza Retail Liquor in Halstead, said he was certain he would lose some business but not enough to discontinue being open on Sundays.
“I wondered about that because Newton is apparently contemplating it,” he said. “I would say 30 to 40 percent are outside my usual customer base, and that’s just a rough estimate. I certainly see faces I’ve never seen before on Sunday.”
Rizza said some of those who drove over to Halstead to buy alcohol on Sunday might continue doing so. He’s been open on Sundays since the beginning of the year, and he said opening on Sundays had been worth it.
“People kind of look at it to go for a drive on Sunday, so I might see some the same people,” he said.
At a previous city commission meeting, Newton Assistant City Manager Kelly McElroy provide an estimate that Newton residents spent $2.7 million on Sunday alcohol purchases a year.
In Walton, six miles from Newton, Hilltop Convenient Store owner Twila Van Russum said beer has been flying off the shelves.
“Sunday has always been our biggest day, but our sales have picked up, too, because of the beer change,” Van Rossum said.
(Read more: Newton Now)
Ellis Co. Commission presented with maintenance challenges on road tour
Members of the Ellis County Commission toured approximately 50 of the nearly 1,500 miles of Ellis County roads Monday as part of their annual road tour.
Along the way, commissioners and members of the Public Works Department took a look at bridges in need of repair, areas that have been flooded or washed out due to recent rains, and the condition of the asphalt on Feedlot Road — one of the key routes of the Northwest Business Corridor.
Ellis County Public Works Director Bill Ring said Monday the annual road tour is something that has been going on for several years and is an opportunity for the commissioners to see first-hand some of the infrastructure issues Public Works crews see on a daily basis. It is also a public meeting, which allows all three commissioners to take part in the tour together.
(Read more: Hays Post)
Ballots on property tax hike to fund Shawnee community center are hitting mailboxes. Here’s what voters need to know
Ballots for the mail-in election on a proposed property tax increase to pay for a proposed community center in Shawnee are hitting mailboxes starting today.
Registered voters in Shawnee will decide if the city will issue up to $38 million in general obligation bonds — covered by a property tax increase — to pay for building and maintaining a community center at West 61st Street and Woodland Drive. If Shawnee voters approve the ballot measure, the city will finance the costs for the community center through the issuance of bonds for a 20-year period. That means the city would pay about $2.7 million annually to cover the $38 million principal cost for construction plus interest. With interest included, the total cost for the project would be about $54 million.
If voters approve the measure, Shawnee property owners would see an increase of 2.919 mills to the city’s property tax rate. That would bring the total mill levy up to 29.536.
As a point of comparison, the current mill levy in neighboring Lenexa, which has a slightly smaller population than Shawnee but a higher total assessed property value, is 29.909.
(Read more: Prairie Village Post – Neighborhood news and events for Prairie Village, Fairway, Mission Hills)
Petition circulating to draft ordinance that prohibits transport of animals in the back of trucks
A Manhattan woman is hoping to push city commissioners to draft an ordinance to prohibit the transfer of live animals in the back of trucks.
Keleigh Schettler became concerned after noticing in March 2018 a tow truck with a dog chained to it driving down Fort Riley Blvd. According to Schettler the chain was long enough that, if the dog fell, it would have easily been strangled.
In addition to the danger it poses for the animal, Schettler says there’s also a risk to drivers. Schettler approached the city commission last fall but got no response at the time, partly due to what she said was bad timing following the Wildcat Creek flood event. She decided to start a petition on change.org that within a week has already garnered more than 400 signatures.
Schettler says her proposed ordinance would be similar to that of ordinances in Lawrence, Lenexa and Wichita and would be flexible in its wording with the intent to get support from everyone in the community.
(Read more: 1350 KMAN)
KDOT announces Kansas airport improvement projects
Forty-one projects totaling a combined award of $5 million have been granted for the Kansas Airport Improvement Program (KAIP) funding for planning, constructing or rehabilitating public use general aviation airports.
The aviation industry represents $20.6 billion economic impact and employs more than 92,000 Kansans. In addition, 94 percent of the state’s population is within 30 minutes of air ambulance operations.
“We are proud of the collaboration between our department and airport sponsors to increase safety, enhance economic development and support the transportation needs of Kansans,” said Secretary of Transportation Julie Lorenz.
The KAIP program requires airport sponsors to share in project costs by paying a portion of the total project. The KDOT Division of Aviation, which manages the program, considered 119 project applications this year with a combined total value of more than $29 million.
(Read more: Kansas Transportation)
Equifest of Kansas moving to Salina in 2020
After being hosted four years in Topeka, Equifest of Kansas is moving to Salina in 2020.
Justin Staten, Kansas Horse Council executive director, said there are several reasons for the move, including impending construction at the Kansas Expocentre. Other reasons include rising costs and declining cash sponsorships, according to a news release from KHC.
“We have enjoyed four years in Topeka and become well acquainted with many leaders in Shawnee County and we appreciated the support received,” Staten said.
Equifest of Kansas was held in Topeka from 2016 to 2019.
A $48 million project is set to begin May 1 to renovate the 32-year-old Kansas Expocentre. The project is expected to be completed May 4, 2021.
Equifest will be held March 6-8, 2020, at Tony’s Pizza Event Center and Saline County Livestock Expo Center.
Staten said the venues in Salina offer wider green space, are centrally located at the junction of two major highways and are served by an airport that United Airlines flies in and out of daily.
(Read more: Local – The Topeka Capital-Journal)
Parsons seeks StormReady designation
The city of Parsons is preparing to be a StormReady community, a designation that could reduce fatalities and injuries in storms by sharing clear and timely details of storm or flood events.
Parsons Police Sgt. Jason Ludwig said he is about midway through the application process with the National Weather Service, which has a 32-page guide for seeking a StormReady designation.
Since the program’s inception in Oklahoma in 1999, over 2,000 counties, cities, towns, universities, Indian nations, commercial sites, government facilities and military installations have been recognized as StormReady. The program recognizes emergency management programs that meet the StormReady guidelines, demonstrating preparedness for hazardous weather and flooding. StormReady ensures jurisdictions have a standard level of emergency planning and communication capabilities. An effective StormReady Program is essential for NWS to fulfill its mission of protecting life and property.
The weather service approved seven communities and 35 Kansas counties as StormReady. Neosho County Community College in Chanute is a StormReady college, the only entity in 12 Southeast Kansas counties with the designation, according to the NWS website.
(Read more: Parsons Sun)
Frontenac, Arma schools included in Apollo Redesign Project
Two local school districts will be taking part in Apollo, the fourth phase of the Kansas Can School Redesign Project.
Forty-one schools representing 19 districts across Kansas will take part in Apollo, including local schools, Frontenac Junior High, Frank Layden Elementary and Northeast High School.
According to the Kansas Department of Education website, the Kansans Can School Redesign Project, “was announced in 2017 in support of Kansas’ vision for education” created in 2015 based on community and business feedback across the state. The principals at each of the schools said they are excited for the school redesign opportunity.
“We want to put our kids in the best possible situation and the redesign gives us that opportunity,” Martin said. “It’s the first thing in probably 30 years that education really is education and teacher driven.
“We’re really excited to be a part of that, something that will really make a difference in the lives of our kids.”
(Read more: Pittsburg Morning Sun)
Reno County commissioners divided on tax abatement for local company
Reno County commissioners made no decision on whether to grant 10 years tax abatement for Wifco Steel to build a new office building on its property. The plan is to build the 5,400-square-foot office building then tear down the current office space and add space for additional manufacturing. The plan would include adding at least 10 more employees in 2020 with an additional payroll of $250,000.
However, the commissioners cannot agree on how long the abatement should last. Commissioner Ron Sellers called it unfair to other taxpayers and wanted the abatement to be less than 100%.
Commissioner Ron Hirst says he’s leaning more toward eight years of abatement, while Commission Chair Bob Bush seemed to be in favor of the 10-year tax abatement. “In the long term, it will benefit the county,” Bush said.
Wifco plans to spend $845,000 on the project.
(Read more: Hutch Post)
Recycling supporters address Crawford county commission
Several local residents showed up at Tuesday’s Crawford County Commission meeting to speak in support of Southeast Kansas Recycling, Inc., which recently requested funding from the county to keep its operations up and running.
Bert Patrick, of Pittsburg, said that recycling reduces the amount of trash that has to go into the landfill.
“The bulk of those items that we do take to the Recycling Center are non-biodegradable, and those items as a consequence are just going to be in that landfill for decades and decades,” Patrick said, “and long-term we don’t know the actual effect that that does have in terms of contaminating the soil or in terms of affecting the water table.”
Patrick added that the Southeast Kansas Recycling Center provides employment for some county residents. It’s “not a huge number of people, you know, who actually work there, but it does provide some employment for them,” he said. Jim Brumfield of Pittsburg said that recycling locally has an impact on the broader environment.
“I’m not going to go into a lot of examples about what’s happening in the world, but I do think that this is a global effort which it is part of my duty to contribute to, it’s not just a habit,” Brumfield said.
“I would be in favor of a tax, a small tax to help sustain this effort,” he added.
(Read more: Pittsburg Morning Sun)
City cleans storm drains to stop street flooding
Miguel Rivas has worked for the City of Wichita for close to 15 years. So it doesn’t take him and his co-workers any time to clean out clogged storm drains.
Once they are dispatched to a drain, they use water to blast the clog free. Then, they take a giant vacuum to suck out the debris, usually consisting of leaves and sticks.
In about 30 mintues they have the drain open and move on to the next clogged drain.
(Read more: Top Stories | KSNW)
Reno County sets tentative hearing date to take up NextEra permit
The Reno County Commission has tentatively set a special meeting for May 21 to take up the NextEra Energy application for a conditional use permit for its proposed wind farm in southeastern Reno County.
The meeting will start at 6:30 p.m. at the Atrium Hotel and Conference Center, 1400 N. Lorraine.
No public comment is expected to be taken during the meeting, though county staff will present a report to the commission on whether any new information “that could not have been known” at the time of earlier Reno County Planning Commission public hearings has been presented for consideration.
The County Commission, meanwhile, continues to be flooded with emails and phone calls that, under the commission’s own rules set up earlier this year, the commissioner’s cannot consider when making their decision on the permit.
Development opponent Amy Brown asked the commission about the issue after reading in The News Tuesday morning about the commissioners receiving emails and phone calls in favor of the project after the Planning Commission had voted to recommend denying the permit.
“We need a point of clarification on how we should or should not proceed moving forward,” Brown said. “We’re asking whether the commission is accepting emails and phone calls at this point.”
(Read more: News – The Hutchinson News)
City to reconsider communications tower permit
A proposal to put up a 100-foot communications tower at 513/519 S.W. Taylor remains alive, despite Topeka’s mayor and city council’s having voted 6-4 on April 2 to reject it.
The mayor and council did not appropriately dispose of the matter because votes from seven members are required to overturn a recommendation by the Topeka Planning Commission, which recommended they approve the measure, Topeka attorney Glenda Cafer — representing AT&T — noted April 24 in a letter to Topeka City Attorney Lisa Robertson.
The mayor and council are consequently scheduled to consider reconsidering the matter when they meet at 6 p.m. May 7 in their chambers at 214 S.E. 8th, according to the agenda for that meeting made public last week by the city. City Planning Director Bill Fiander had recommended the mayor and council approve the permits for the properties on Fairlawn and S.E. 29th but deny the one on S.W. Taylor. He said the latter area was economically distressed and the tower’s presence could discourage investment there.
(Read more: News – The Topeka Capital-Journal)
Small tornado damages Paola church, causes cemetery damage
The National Weather Service says a tornado near the eastern Kansas town of Paola was a small one, but it was still enough to cause damage.
The Kansas City Star reports that the twister with winds estimated at 80 mph to 85 mph was reported at 4:10 a.m. Monday just south of Paola. Jason Leighton of the National Weather Service says it was an EF-0, 15 yards wide, and lasted three minutes.
The tornado damaged the roof of Trinity Lutheran Church and toppled headstones in a nearby cemetery. It also bent a flag pole. No injuries were reported.
(Read more: Top Stories | KSNW)
City of Topeka to consider approving $50,000 claim for backhoe damage to house
Topeka’s mayor and city council next week will consider voting to pay an insurance company $50,000 to settle a claim arising from extensive damage a city backhoe allegedly did in April 2018 to a house at 1111 S.E. 33rd Terrace.
Topeka city attorney Lisa Robertson’s office recommends the mayor and city council vote to pay the claim, according to the preliminary agenda for that meeting, which will begin at 6 p.m. May 7 in the council chambers at 214 S.E. 8th. hawnee County appraisal records indicate the house at 1111 S.E. 33rd Terrace has been owned since June 2013 by John and Tina Larson, with the property having an appraised value of $40,100.
The claim, submitted Jan. 11 to the city, asked specifically for damages totaling $62,569.46. On claims seeking more than $10,000, the city attorney’s office is required to make a recommendation to the city council on whether to grant or deny them. If no effort is made to initiate payment, such claims are considered denied at the end of the 120-day period.
(Read more: Local Government – The Topeka Capital-Journal)
Lawrence and firefighter union prepare for ‘lively debate’ on pay, staffing as part of contract negotiations
Discussions between city and firefighter union representatives will include wage increases, overtime pay and longevity bonuses, and both sides are preparing for a “lively debate.”
The current contract covers firefighters, fire engineers and fire lieutenants in the Lawrence-Douglas County Fire Medical Department, and it expires at the end of this year. Representatives for the city and the association of Lawrence Professional Firefighters, Local 1596, agreed to open contract negotiations, and the first meeting was held Monday at City Hall.
Read more: LJWorld.com.
Salina changes how they test and handle sewage sludge
Salina Utilities Director Martha Tasker said city staff has changed how they test and handle sewage sludge, a byproduct generated by the Salina Wastewater Treatment Plant.
This was done after the Environmental Protection Agency determined the city had broken a federal regulation regarding the amount of molybdenum the sludge can contain before it can be applied to farmland. Under the new procedures, no sewage sludge leaves the wastewater treatment plant until staff verify that it complies with federal regulations. City staff are also testing the sludge more frequently and taking multiple samples to ensure the results are representative of the entire batch. Tasker said staff are in the process of determining the source of molybdenum that makes its way to the wastewater plant.
According to Tasker, EPA officials say no remediation of the soil or groundwater is required.
(Read more: News – Salina Journal)
Journalism Class Provides News For Town Without Newspaper
As the media landscape continues to change across the country, more communities are finding themselves in news deserts, without the coverage where they once had thriving newspapers. Meanwhile, journalism students are looking to learn their craft and gain real-world experience. In Kansas, one community is close enough to campus for the two to partner to provide coverage and lessons in today’s media realities.
University of Kansas students from the William Allen White School of Journalism & Mass Communications are providing news coverage for Eudora, a city of roughly 6,300 residents about 10 miles from campus. The project began as a way to give students social media experience with a professional client and has grown into a news site providing coverage of events, local businesses, sports teams, schools and people. While the project is part of a class, students said it’s meant more than turning in an assignment for a grade. Riley Wilson, a reporting student, said the idea of covering Eudora reminded her of her hometown of Wamego.
“I think small towns have a lot of interesting aspects that people don’t know about because there’s not good news circulation, and I think small towns are really interesting and have good stories to tell,” Wilson said. “The experience of writing for the Eudora Times is the first time a story I wrote has been seen by people other than my professor. What I like most about the project is really just talking to the people of Eudora. They’ve all been so excited to talk and tell their story. It really is fun every time I go to Eudora to do a story.”
(Read more: “eudoratimes” – Google News)
Shawnee Chamber of Commerce board issues unanimous endorsement of property tax increase for new community center
A week before ballots on a property tax increase to fund the project hit Shawnee residents’ mailboxes, the Shawnee Chamber of Commerce’s board of directors has come out with an endorsement in favor of the community center proposed for 61st Street and Woodland.
The board voted unanimously in favor of endorsing a yes vote on the property tax increase at a meeting on Thursday.
“As stated in the Shawnee Chamber Strategic Plan, we support economic development initiatives that demonstrate investments in our community which includes public amenities that enhance quality of life,” said chamber board chair Heidi Thummel, who works for the engineering and architecture firm GBA. “Thus when brought before the full Board of Directors we determined it was imperative to support a project of this nature. A positive vote is an investment in healthier Shawnee families.”
(Read more: Prairie Village Post – Neighborhood news and events for Prairie Village, Fairway, Mission Hills)
Hill’s expansion approved by Shawnee County Commission
Changing demographics and sales trends in recent years have shown a move to people owning smaller dogs, and Topeka-based Hill’s Pet Nutrition is aiming to stay up with the changes.
To that end, Hill’s requested and was granted approval Monday from the Shawnee County Commission for a new 23,000-square-foot research building at its location at 1035 N.E. 43rd.
All three commissioners — Bob Archer, Kevin Cook and Bill Riphahn — voted in favor of the project.
The building will house up to 80 small dogs of 20 pounds or less, Gary Semjenow, facilities director at Hill’s Pet Nutrition, said at Monday morning’s meeting.
While the building will be considered a “research facility,” Semjenow said, it will mainly test the types of foods smaller dogs prefer. Hill’s officials said the flavor, shape and size of the dog food would be among areas of focus.
(Read more: Political – The Topeka Capital-Journal)
City leaders address recent incidents in which Topeka was in national media spotlight
The national media spotlight hasn’t been kind to Topeka the past two weekends, but city officials tried Monday to reassure a grieving community that is still trying to process the loss of 23-year-old Washburn University football player Dwane Simmons.
Simmons’ shooting death and the injury to recent New York Giants draft pick and former WU player Corey Ballentine early Sunday morning in central Topeka came only eight days after a Topeka Zoo worker was attacked and seriously injured by a tiger. The incidents were splashed everywhere — from websites belonging to the Washington Post and New York Times to broadcasts produced by the likes of CNN, CBS and ESPN.
In just over a week, Topeka made plenty of headlines — but for all the wrong reasons. Mayor Michelle De La Isla conceded as much Monday morning during her monthly news briefing at City Hall.
“I regret very much that for the last two weeks the media has been looking at Topeka at the national level with regard to what happened,” she said. ”(Those) are two very small incidents compared to all the great things that are happening in our community.”
(Read more: Local – The Topeka Capital-Journal)
Sedgwick County launches new career website
Sedgwick County unveiled a new website for job vacancies, directing candidates to apply for careers at https://careers.sedgwickcounty.org/.
The new website has additional functionality to assist the County with attracting and communicating with potential employees. The site interacts with major job websites, including LinkedIn and Indeed. Users may apply using their tablets or mobile devices. The website replaces the 19-year-old www.HRePartners.com.
The new site is part of an overall recruitment campaign for Sedgwick County. Strategic Communications has created digital ads to share careers across the organization, with special consideration for positions with historically high turnover, or positions that require specialized training.
The campaign highlights several career paths with Sedgwick County and the Sedgwick County Zoo including corrections officers, dieticians, maintenance employees, IT specialists, and zoo keepers.
(Read more: Top Stories | KSNW)
Community art project gets started in Pratt
The first step in Pratt’s next big art project got under way Thursday when two dozen Pratt High School students piled into Kerry Thieme’s art room and presented their right arms for casting.
The ultimate goal of this project is to create a bronze sphere made up of arm casts of students and community members. The final sculpture will be from five to six feet tall with a location yet to be decided, said artist Tim Joseph.
The Vernon Filley Art Museum is sponsoring this activity and writing the grants to pay for the project, said museum director Brittany Novotny, who helped with the silicone rubber preparation process. Novotny said they will use grant money to pay for the project. Donations are also being accepted for the project. The donations are tax deductible.
(Read more: Pratt, KS – Pratt Tribune)
Wamego Tulip Festival held as city kicks off spring
This year’s 32nd annual Wamego Tulip festival marked the third year helping organize for Wamego Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Daryn Soldan. He’s been attending since he was a child. Tulip Festival Volunteer Sarah Pacheco, who was at the information booth during the event, says a lot of hours go into helping vendors set up the Friday before. Although the work is hard, Pacheco said it’s worth it to see all the happy, familiar faces. Wamego Mayor Tom Beem says the Tulip Festival is important to the town and it’s fun to show off a little.
(Read more: 1350 KMAN)
USDA Accepting Applications to Fund Rural Broadband Services
Technology usage generally requires a robust broadband connection that many communities in rural America currently lack. The Agriculture Department hopes to strengthen and expand those weak broadband services and infrastructures through the recently established loan and grant-based ReConnect Rural Broadband Pilot Program. The funds will support the development of modern broadband infrastructure in places with insufficient internet service, which the agency defines as “connection speeds of less than 10 megabits per second download and 1 megabit per second upload.”
Agriculture is making at least $600 million available in rural broadband projects through this first round of funding. The agency will turn appropriations from Congress into $200 million in grants, $200 million in loan and grant combinations and $200 million in low interest loans.
The deadlines for each of the funding packages span between late-May and mid-July. Telecommunications companies, rural electric cooperatives and utilities, internet service providers and municipalities are encouraged to apply.
(Read more: Route Fifty – All Content)
Crawford County told to quickly relocate sewer line for Highway 69 expansion project
The Crawford County Commission approved a $36,000 contract with Earle’s Engineering and Inspection, Inc. at its Friday meeting for the first phase of a project to relocate a sewer line in the Franklin area to facilitate work by the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) on the Highway 69 expansion project. “It basically sets out the scope, covers meetings,” said County Counselor Jim Emerson, “they’ll do three sets of final drawings to give to KDOT and really that’s all their role is, is for the design phase, to make sure that that’s in a format acceptable to KDOT, and then KDOT will take it from there on the bidding phase and inspection, so we did not include that in the contract.”
The commission was informed by KDOT in March that Crawford County would be responsible for the sewer line relocation work, which could cost somewhere around $1 million and has to be done relatively quickly. “Well, this is going to be an interesting process to be a part of and watch,” said Commissioner Tom Moody.
(Read more: Pittsburg Morning Sun)
Neosho County urged to make decisions on wind project
Possibly growing weary of weekly Thursday night meetings and months of discussion, supporters have started calling for decisions to be made soon on the proposed Neosho Ridge Wind energy project.
At least one concerned southern Neosho County resident, however, told county commissioners they still haven’t received enough information from Apex Clean Energy to make any decisions on the project.
“There’s so much information that you’ve asked for, but you’re not getting it, and they’re not even apologizing for not getting it,” Bryan Coover said.
Coover’s comments came during the commission’s regular meeting, which followed a special session earlier in the day during which commissioners spoke with Wichita attorney Patricia Blankenship. It was the second consecutive week the commission consulted with Blankenship about setbacks and other requirements that could be included in agreements with Apex for the Neosho Ridge project. The meeting with Blankenship called for attorney-client privilege for a total of three hours and 15 minutes.
During the regular meeting, Coover said the county needs engineering reports for the project so that an outside expert can read and interpret them before the commission can make important decisions.
That information should include sound maps, Coover said. He doubts Apex’s comparison of the sound of one of the 600-foot turbines to the sound of a refrigerator.
“Nobody really believes a wind turbine really makes the same noise as a refrigerator,” Coover said. “I want to be able to sleep in my house at night and not have to move. I don’t think that’s too much to ask.”
(Read more: The Chanute Tribune)
Butler County Commission denies CUP for AT&T
Citing the vagueness of “substantial evidence” the Board of Butler County Commissioners voted to deny a request for a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) on Property Located at 4819 SW Santa Fe Lake Rd. Towanda. On Feb. 26 the Board of County Commissioners discussed the application and felt the request should be remanded back to the Planning Commission for further discussion after receiving a Letter from Legal Counsel representing AT&T. The Commissioners stated they had received calls from residents who were concerned with the Tower and felt the request should be denied based up on aesthetics, potential health effects associated with radiation and reduction of property values.
On April 2 the Planning Commission re-visited the case. The evaluation of the request included input from Legal Counsel, Huelskamp from AT&T and included a response from Terry Huelskamp, Legal Counsel for Butler County. After hearing what Terry had to say it was determined in was in the best interest of the County to approve the request based upon the fact that the reasons for denial would not be considered “substantial evidence”. After being advised by County Attorney Huelskamp on the requirement of law for “substantial evidence” needed to deny the request, Commissioner Masterson stated, “substantial evidence is pretty vague…so I feel we have received substantial evidence.” The request was denied.
(Read more: Augusta Gazette)
Airplane operator sues city over alleged maintenance issues at Lawrence Municipal Airport
An airplane operator at the Lawrence Municipal Airport is suing the city of Lawrence, claiming that the city hasn’t properly kept up some airport infrastructure and that disrepair damaged one of the company’s airplanes.
Great Planes Inc., which operates an airplane hangar and offices at the airport on space leased from the city, recently filed the lawsuit in Douglas County District Court. The lawsuit alleges that the city breached its contract with Great Planes, and it is seeking damages of about $19,000, plus interest and legal fees.
Read more: LJWorld.com.
Harvey County Commissioners agree to make changes to Prairie View board
The Board of Harvey County Commissioners will change the process for how it makes appointments to the Harvey County Community Mental Health Center Advisory Committee.
Instead of appointing every member to the advisory committee, commissioners agreed that they appoint one county representative and possibly another at-large member.
County Administrator Anthony Swartzendruber said he arranged for Jessie Kaye, Prairie View Mental Health Center president and CEO, to come to the meeting to answer commissioners’ questions.
Prairie View’s board of directors recommended changes to its guidelines that set terms for one year with no term limit. Advisory committee officers also would be replaced with a facilitator, and the committee no longer would be limited to seven members.
However, the suggested changes would conflict with a policy adopted by the commission in 1997 that set terms for all commission appointments at three years. A committee or board member, regardless to which organization one is appointed, is limited to three consecutive terms.
(Read more: Newton Now)
Overland Park man says city didn’t offer nearly enough to take his land. Court agrees
An Overland Park homeowner didn’t think the city was paying him nearly enough to take a chunk of his land and decades-old trees for a road-widening project.
A court agreed with him.
Appraisers appointed by a Johnson County judge determined this month that Scott Hamblin should get $19,000 — more than twice the $9,200 the city initially offered.
The differing amounts should prompt concerns about whether the city “low-balled” residents when it condemned property for the road project, said Hamblin, who lives with his family east of 177th Street and Quivira Road.
“At this point, I’m more concerned about the city talking about what happened here,” Hamblin told The Star. “Why did this happen and how it’s not going to happen to everybody else.”
His attorney, Michelle Burns, also said the “low offer” called into question the city’s appraisal process.
City spokeswoman Meg Ralph said the city’s original offer was based on an independent appraiser’s determination of fair market value of the property.
(Read more: Government & Politics News |)
New Overland Park fire station will increase coverage, help Blue Valley develop fire program
To help fill in a coverage gap in booming southwest Overland Park, the fire department is building a new station at 179th and Quivira.
Overland Park Fire Station 48 will be located on the Blue Valley Southwest High School campus, offering some unique learning opportunities for students down the line.
Construction on the station will start in 2021, with an opening date in 2022.
The Overland Park Fire Department held a public meeting Thursday afternoon to give community members information about the new station. They also talked to people about an upcoming fire science program.
“Obviously the proximity of the location itself has opened some opportunities that we are pretty excited about,” said Kristi McNerlin, a spokesperson for the Blue Valley School District. “In 2020 we are looking at a fire science program, and that’s in partnership with the Overland Park Fire Department.”
The Overland Park Fire Chief Bryan Dehner said he’s excited about the new opportunity.
(Read more: fox4kc.com | FOX 4 – WDAF)
County rejects proposal to buy cabanas for aquatic center
The Shawnee County Commission rejected a proposal Thursday to spend nearly $59,000 to acquire and install 11 pool cabanas at the county’s Midwest Health Aquatic Center, 2201 S.W. Urish Road.
Commissioners Bob Archer, Bill Riphahn and Kevin Cook voted 3-0 to disapprove the measure after Tim Laurent, deputy director of the county’s parks and recreation department, said that department was re-evaluating the proposed move and looking at alternatives.
Commissioners deferred action April 18 on that department’s request that they award a bid to Playscape Recreation LLC to provide and install the 11 pool cabanas at the aquatic center at a cost of $58,971.
Archer suggested April 18 that the facility lacks the room for that many cabanas, adding that the county could find better ways to spend that much money on parks and recreation.
“I don’t think this is Miami Beach,” he said.
(Read more: Local Government – The Topeka Capital-Journal)
Lindsborg featured on Vacation Rental Show
What does Lindsborg, Kansas have in common with Bali, Montevideo and Lisbon? The Vacation Rental Show with Matt Landau, sponsored by Booking.com.
Now in its second season, Lindsborg is one of ten exceptional locations from exotic locales around the world that are featured online. In each episode, a vacation rental owner warmly welcomes Landau, who is a passionate advocate for this hospitality alternative, to the best people and places each destination has to offer.
“In the world of vacation rentals, being featured on this show is a really big deal,” said Jum Prugh. “Owners and guests from around the world will go onto the show’s YouTube channel and discover that Lindsborg and central Kansas are fantastic travel destinations.”
Prugh owns three vacation rentals in downtown Lindsborg. Each is a spacious studio apartment with a living area for relaxing, fully equipped kitchen for preparing meals, a large bathroom, onsite laundry and private parking. Two of the vacation rentals have their own elevator! A fourth vacation rental will be completed this summer. Information and pictures can be found on the website below or on Airbnb.
Regarding Lindsborg, Landau wonders, “How does a place in the middle of nowhere effectively put itself on the map?” The answer? “By being truly exceptional.”
(Read more: McPherson Sentinel)
Halstead Cemetery doesn’t keep beautiful by itself
Once a year in March, the cemetery association meets to discuss what it can do to improve the Halstead Cemetery.
Although the board consists of four officers and three trustees, it’s mostly an informal group that focuses on the beautification of the cemetery.
City Administrator Ethan Reimer attended the most recent meeting to see what the city might be able to do as far as cost sharing.
The challenge is that the city keeps up the general maintenance of the cemetery, while the association works on the appearance, which Reimer admits are overlapping interests.
“We talked about getting more formalized, what falls under their purview and what ours is,” Reimer said.
(Read more: Newton Now)
Lyon County to discuss communications tower Thursday
The Lyon County Commission will again Thursday consider a recommended approval of a cell phone tower that has stirred controversy among landowners.
The application is for an agriculture conditional-use permit for a communications tower from AT&T and Network Real Estate. The tower would be built on a 100-foot-by-100-foot piece of land in the 400 block of Road 190 — about three miles west of Emporia.
Lyon County Planning and Appeals Board members said the tower would meet code regulations for agricultural land use and recommended approval a second time earlier this month. The planning board originally voted in favor of recommending approval at its Feb. 13 meeting. At its meeting on April 2 the Lyon County Commission instructed the board to gather more information after a valid protest had been filed — with 20 percent of landowners within 1,000 feet of the structure voicing their opinion against the tower.
Landowners in the area who are against the 180-foot tower being built cite loss of property value as their main cause for concern.
(Read more: Emporia Gazette)
Video visits coming to Harvey County Jail
The Harvey County Jail is making technological changes that will affect the everyday lives of those in the jail — whether they are awaiting court appearances in Harvey County or are federal inmates housed under contract.
Some of those changes aren’t huge — such as the company handling the jail commissary and phone system. But those changes led to one that is big.
Upgraded technology will lead to the availability of video visitation kiosks.
“It will allow the inmate to video visit with their kids on Father’s Day or video visit their kids on their kids’ birthdays,” said Sheriff Chad Gay. “It is one of those things that will help us keep out of fights with them. It is a morale issue. It is a motivator. It is something to keep them motivated or occupied.”
(Read more: Newton Kansan)