Kansas Municipal News
Marion County recycling slated to be taken to Fort Riley
The possibility of once again being paid a rebate for recyclable materials has led county commissioners to send the county’s recyclables to Fort Riley.
A recycle center in South Hutchinson, which the county has been using for years, stopped paying for materials, based on the prices they get for materials.
“We’ve been cut off for the last year,” county recycling director Bud Druse said. “Prices are down.” Chris Otto, director of recycling at the military base, told county commissioners Monday that Fort Riley’s recycling operation will accept recyclable materials from the county on a trial basis. After a couple of months, Fort Riley will know what they will pay the county, Otto said. But they shouldn’t hold their breath. “It takes the Army a long time to write a check,” he said.
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(Read more: PEABODY Gazette-Bulletin)
Decision time as Hutch Rec digests GreenPlay’s report
Now that the city and Hutch Rec have the full study from GreenPlay, it’s time for a lot of decisions to be made about what the report means for the city’s parks and recreation facilities.
“The 130-plus page plan will be made available online at the Hutch Rec website,” Tony Finlay, director of Hutch Rec, said. The study will then go before the Hutch Rec Board for approval before it moves on to the Hutchinson City Council for action. That is expected in May.
Finlay says any such study ultimately comes down to the dollars that can be invested. “It comes down to funding. The community has told us through numerous plans that sidewalks, trails (and) neighborhood parks are what they want to see in the community,” Finlay said. “So now it’s just to prioritize those things.”
(Read more: Hutch Post)
Reno County Commission could keep plans for proposed wind farm alive
Multiple heated meetings over the past several weeks culminated Tuesday night with the Reno County Planning Commission recommending not to grant a conditional use permit to Next Era Energy to build a wind farm in the southeast part of the county near Cheney Lake.
The recommendation is intended to help the Reno County Commission with its final decision on whether or not to give the proposed wind farm the green light. However, the county has the final say and commissioners don’t have to follow the planning commission’s recommendation.
Tuesday night’s decision by the planning commission was a win for some against the wind farm, but the deal isn’t dead.
Reno County Commissioner Ron Hirst says the commission now has three options it can take regarding the proposed wind farm.
(Read more: KWCH News)
Great Bend Fire and Police awaiting the arrival of new drones
The Great Bend Police and Fire Departments are anxiously awaiting the arrival of their new drones that will be implemented in both departments in the near future.
According to Great Bend Fire Chief Luke McCormick, the new drones will be arriving any day now and will be an important tool for both Police and Fire. Last year, the Great Bend City Council authorized funds to purchase drones for both departments. In early January, McCormick and firefighter Mike Smith along with Great Bend Police Chief David Bailey and Detective Heather Smith attended and passed the certification test that was taken after an FAA course at Fort Hays State University.
The Barton County Sheriff’s Office is already utilizing a drone, a law enforcement tool that Brian Bellendir says has been extremely helpful with missing persons.
(Read more: Great Bend Post)
Miami County jail to house some Wyandotte County prisoners
Miami County Detention Center will soon be taking in inmates from Wyandotte County.
Miami County Sheriff Frank Kelly told county commissioners during their April 17 study session that Wyandotte County was interested in sending 20 prisoners initially, as soon as the agreement is approved by Miami County commissioners. Commissioners approved the agreement that afternoon at their regular meeting.
Wyandotte County’s sheriff and administrator have already signed the agreement. Kelly said the jail has had more than 60 inmates in the past. The detention center’s capacity is 96 inmates, but Kelly said the rule of thumb is not to let the jail’s population exceed 85 percent of its capacity in order to provide room for additional Miami County inmates.
The county will receive $45 per day for each inmate from Wyandotte County.
(Read more: The Miami County Republic)
City of Leavenworth discusses stormwater fees
When they met last week, Leavenworth city commissioners reached a consensus to revisit the fee structure for a stormwater system maintenance program.
But when they met again Tuesday, Commissioner Nancy Bauder proposed forgoing any additional study of the issue and reducing one of the fees charged for the program.
“We’ve studied it,” Bauder said. “How much more do we need to study it?”
In the end, commissioners reached consensuses to review a fee charged to property owners for each unit in apartment buildings and take a separate look at the rest of the fee structure.
Commissioners approved annual fees for the stormwater maintenance program last year. The fees are charged to property owners in the city and appear on annual property tax bills.
Currently, the city charges an annual fee of $84 per year for each single family residential home. The city also charges $84 for each unit in apartment complexes. Fees for commercial properties range from $162 to $3,125 per year depending on the size of buildings. Fees for industrial properties range from $337 to $3,125 depending on the size of buildings.
(Read more: Leavenworth Times)
Town hall meeting highlights different opinions on new Saline County jail
Local residents expressed wildly different visions for their criminal justice system during a town hall meeting Tuesday evening.
Some people supported additional resources for inmates to address substance abuse and mental health problems. Others wanted jail to be a harsher punishment to deter inmates from committing additional crimes. Several people opposed building a new jail.
Saline County officials held the town hall to receive feedback on whether the Saline County Commission should build additional jail capacity for inmates in Saline County. The commission is considering four options, one of which is building a new jail. About 30 people attended the meeting.
During the fall of 2011, Saline County officials began transporting inmates to other county jails because the Saline County Jail was already full. Every year since then, Saline County has paid other counties to house its inmates. In 2018, Saline County spent $1.1 million dollars on these expenses.
(Read more: News – Salina Journal)
Haysville groundwater contamination update
Since 2017 the state has known the groundwater off 412 Grand street in Haysville was contaminated with cleaning chemicals considered toxic.
Some in Haysville are asking when the cleanup begins. This week the Kansas Department of Health and Environment says it has a plan.
“KDHE anticipates excavating as much soil contamination as possible. Remediation funding has been allocated for the site,” said Kristi Pankratz with KDHE Communications. “Remedial design engineers will also evaluate the use of other options to clean up any remaining contamination after the excavation.”
KDHE has also been working on studying the site. That includes looking into possible vapor intrusion to see if toxic chemicals in the groundwater are seeping into the soil and air. KDHE found no evidence of toxic levels of vapor intrusion.
While KDHE also plans to work at reducing a groundwater plume of contamination, some residents say they have waited a long time for action.
“These contaminants leaked into the groundwater many, many years ago,” said Lott. “In my opinion I don’t think enough has been done. The water hasn’t been cleaned. The ground/soil hasn’t been cleaned.”
(Read more: Top Stories | KSNW)
Residents come together to brainstorm ideas to create more affordable housing in Douglas County
…several local experts on homelessness and affordable housing shared ideas on how to address an issue that has become a concern in Lawrence. The panel included Ron Gaches, chair of the City of Lawrence’s affordable housing advisory board, as well as representatives from KU, Bert Nash Community Mental Health Center, the Lawrence Home Builders Association and other local organizations.
Last year, the City of Lawrence hired BBC Research & Consulting to complete a housing market analysis that found about 5,300 Lawrence renters were cost-burdened, defined as those who spend more than 30% of their income on rent and utilities. The study also found that about 2,300 renters earning between about $35,000 and $75,000 would like to purchase a home, but few affordable homes are available.
Read more: LJWorld.com.
Lawrence’s 23rd Street construction project leads to land dispute with homeowner, lawsuits
The ongoing project to widen a portion of 23rd Street has the city at odds with a homeowner along the roadway.
The city is widening 23rd Street between Louisiana and Massachusetts streets to install a center turn lane, requiring the city to acquire easements from several property owners, including the owner of a home at 23rd and Vermont streets who has since filed a lawsuit against the city. The project required easements from 12 properties totaling about 7,500 square feet, and the disputed land is the only unresolved easement, according to a city memo.
City memos state that the property at 23rd and Vermont streets is not platted and therefore required an in-depth review of property records to determine the property’s lot lines. At the center of the dispute is whether the city right-of-way extends 30 or 33 feet from the center of the road, and the homeowner and the city both claim to have documents indicating different locations for the property line.
Read more: LJWorld.com.
Curb-side recycling could be coming to Barton County in the near future
Currently there is no curb-side recycling offered in Barton County but Sunflower Diversified Services hopes to change that in the future.
Executive Director Jon Prescott updated Barton County Commissioners Monday on the organizations activities over the past year after Sunflower received a $15,000 recycling grant from the county in 2018.
Prescott told the board that they are very interested in providing curb-side recycling in the future after the Barton County Young Professionals organization survey showed there was very high interest in curb-side service. He says of the 278 surveys that were sent out, there was a 96.8% response rate that indicated they were interested.
(Read more: Great Bend Post)
Salina unlikely to ban plastic shopping bags
It appears unlikely Salina will ban the sale of plastic shopping bags.
During a study session on Monday, three city commissioners, Karl Ryan, Mike Hoppock, and Melissa Hodges, expressed opposition to further exploring the proposal at this time. Further consideration of the plastic bag ban would require city staff to spend less time on other priorities, which concerned commissioners who support putting the proposal on hold.
Two commissioners, Joe Hay Jr. and Trent Davis, expressed support for continuing to consider banning plastic shopping bags.
Hay passionately advocated for the ban, which he said would benefit the environment. Hay estimates Salina residents use 60 to 70 million plastic shopping bags every year.
“That number is mind blowing,” He said. “Look at the plastic bags at the landfill. That’s not Christmas decorations on that fence, that’s a lot of plastic bags. We have a big windstorm in town and they’re everywhere”
“I know there is a lot of important stuff to do out there,” Hay added. “But I think this is just as important as any of the other stuff we’ve got to.”
(Read more: News – Salina Journal)
Riley County commission approves letter to be sent to state concerning Senate Bill that would cancel Local Ad Valorem Funds and County/City revenue sharing for local highway projects
The Riley County commissioners approved a letter to be sent to the state in regards to Senate Bill 190 on Monday.
County Counselor Clancy Holeman says the county specifically has an issue with Section 3 Three of the bill. This would cancel the Local Ad Valorem Funds (LAVRF) and County City Revenue Sharing (CCRS) statutes for local highway projects.
During the Joint City/County/County meeting on April 18th, the commissioners discussed writing a letter to the state. Holeman drafted the letter and presented it to the commissioners. The letter is to show the objection the commissioners have and get the support from other government entities on their side. Chairman Ron Wells was very vocal about the the subject saying he was not happy the way the state is heading.
“The direction the state is going, it’s not going to get better. They’re going to continue taking money and dumping more and more responsibility on cities and counties,” said Wells.
(Read more: 1350 KMAN)
Beer garden to expand at Marion county fair
The Hillsboro City Council approved the plans to have a larger beer garden at the Marion County fair this summer in their meeting on Tuesday, April 16.
Brent Unruh explained that last year was the first year for a beer garden at the fair and it went well.
“We didn’t have a single issue with the alcohol. It was the cleanest spot in the arena,” said Unruh.
Several of the council members chimed in that they had heard positive feedback about the garden as well.
Unruh asked permission to hold the beer garden again with a few modifications.They first asked if the space where beer consumers could be expanded.
“Some people like me would like to take a beer back and sit with their family rather than be confined to an area where they buy it. We’d like to open up the East side to beer sales only and we would block it off and inspect the area.”
They also asked if they could sell more than three beers.
(Read more: Hillsboro Free Press)
Marion County Firefighters given praise following burn project
Marion County commissioners heard from local firefighters at Monday’s meeting and how their task force scored high marks as part of a burn project at Quivira Boy Scout Ranch in Sedan.
Lester Kaiser, Lincolnville fire chief, said as volunteers they were graded on their performance with the highest marks given for attitude.
In addition, Erik Johnson, whose home unit is the Colorado River Fire Rescue stated the Marion County firefighters were prompt in arriving and in duty areas.
“The crew boss for the students advised me that the task force of personnel were engaged in their work. They integrated well with the crew and learned new techniques to improve their own response duties,” he said.
Johnson said: “I recommend the Marion County task force for future assignments and deployments. (It was) a pleasure to work with the staff.”
(Read more: Hillsboro Free Press)
Garden City Rec Commission breaks ground on O’Brate Gymnastics Center
Nearly two years after the Garden City Recreation Commission bought GC Gymnastics Center on VFW Road, GCRC Superintendent Aaron Stewart on Monday stood before the organization’s board, coaches and stakeholders to break ground on a newer, larger facility.
“We knew we needed a new facility basically within a month of being in the current facility, but it was hard to see this one coming,” Stewart said, referring to the nearly 12,000-square-foot building behind him compared to the much smaller, cramped and outdated gymnastics facility on VFW Road.
Construction for the more than $1.34 million renovation project will continue throughout 2019 and is expected to wrap up no later than the end of January 2020, Stewart said. The grand opening of the new O’Brate Gymnastics Center, located at 909 Fulton St., is scheduled for Feb. 1, 2020, he said.
(Read more: News – The Garden City Telegram)
Reno County Planning Commission will not recommend permit for wind farm
The Reno County Planning Commission voted 4-3 against recommending a conditional use permit for NextEra Wind Energy to build a wind farm in the southeast part of Reno County. The sticking point was over setbacks with most not able to agree on what the setbacks should be. Some ideas included a mile from the property line to 2,000 feet from the foundation of a non-participating landowner.
After the vote to deny recommending the conditional use permit, the planning commission voted 4-3 to send the recommendation to the Reno County Commission for consideration. The commission can go against this recommendation, agree with it and deny the conditional use permit, or send it back to the planning commission for further consideration or study.
(Read more: Hutch Post)
Chanute hears plans about solar-voltaic project
Chanute city commissioners discussed solar energy with energy officials and the neighbor of a proposed project Monday evening.
The commission met with Brandon Sack of Westar Clean Energy Development and Scott Shreve of consultants Energy Management Group about a proposed solar-voltaic project to be built near the city’s south energy plant on south Plummer.
The commission also heard from neighboring resident Kathy Wicker.
Commissioners said after the discussion that they wanted to talk about it more, and Mayor Sam Budreau said the consensus seemed to be to bring it back to the table.
Westar has proposed working with the city on the 8.89 kilowatt solar power project to provide electricity to Ash Grove. The project would be on the city’s property, and the city would have the option to purchase the project after seven years.
(Read more: The Chanute Tribune)
Schlitterbahn Water Park, part of $80 million Star Bond district in KC, has uncertain future
The future of Schlitterbahn Water Park is uncertain as summer approaches.
There are questions about whether the park will open for the 2019 season. The water park tore down the Verruckt waterslide after the 2016 death of Caleb Schwab, 10. The rest of the park’s rides remain.
Schlitterbahn’s corporate website still lists the KCK location, but there is no place to apply for 2019 jobs at the park.
Mayor David Alvey believes the facility will come back as a water park.
“It’s a good site. It’s a good working park. I believe it will come back — not sure when or how, but I believe it’s going to,” Alvey said.
Permits from the Kansas Department of Labor for the park’s remaining 11 rides are still active until late June, and in some cases, late July.
The rides are inspected by private contractors. Kansas audited those ride inspections in May. No other state inspections are set at this time.
Schlitterbahn is part of an $80 million financial incentive package for the area, which used Kansas STAR bonds.
“You know, there is so much other economic activity tied into that STAR bond district, I think it’s a temporary decline, but nothing that is going to put the STAR bonds in jeopardy,” Alvey said.
(Read more: KMBC)
Hays looks at draft Parks Improvement Plan
At the suggestion of Hays city commissioners, a policy has been drafted for determining priorities in park improvements as well as how matching funds from outside entities are considered.
The draft includes a new park amenities schedule created with the assistance of Jeff Boyle, director of parks. The total cost is approximately $3.35 million.
“We would anticipate updating that every year with high, medium and low priority projects,” City Manager Toby Dougherty told the commission last week. It would be adopted as part of the annual budget of the Parks Department after review by the commission.
(Read more: Hays Post)
McPherson superintendent addresses backlash with new online curriculum
A Kansas superintendent makes efforts to clear things up about a learning program which has received backlash from some parents and students. This comes after The New York Times released an article about several Kansas districts using it. The new curriculum, called Summit Learning, is centered around an online program in which students complete assignments online and then demonstrate what they’ve learned in the classroom. McPherson school district superintendent Gordon Mohn explains the curriculum is designed for students to learn and progress at their own speed. A piece in the New York Times highlighted multiple parents against the Summit Learning program, some of which even pulled their children from the district altogether. Mohn says Summit Learning is part of a district-redesign process and certain grades are selected to use the web-based curriculum aimed to make individualized instruction for each student.
“I think the (New York Times) article was accurate in (that) we have some people who are very passionately opposed to what we are doing. We recognize that,” Mohn says.
(Read more: KWCH News)
Some cities stop chalking tires after court rules practice unconstitutional in 4 states
Marking tires to enforce parking rules is like entering property without a search warrant, a federal court said Monday as it declared the practice unconstitutional in Michigan and three other states.
Alison Taylor had received more than a dozen $15 tickets for exceeding the two-hour parking limit in Saginaw. The city marks tires with chalk to keep track of how long a vehicle is parked. Her lawyer argued that a parking patrol officer violated the Fourth Amendment right against unreasonable searches.
A three-judge panel of the appeals court agreed.
The purpose of marking tires was to “raise revenue,” not to protect the public against a safety risk, the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said.
“The city does not demonstrate, in law or logic, that the need to deter drivers from exceeding the time permitted for parking — before they have even done so — is sufficient to justify a warrantless search under the community caretaker rationale,” the court said.
The decision sets a new standard for Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky and Tennessee, the states covered by the 6th Circuit. The court overturned an opinion by U.S. District Judge Thomas Ludington, who had called the legal theory “unorthodox” and dismissed the case in favor of Saginaw.
Read more: LJWorld.com.
Lawrence City Commission selects Craig Owens as city manager
The current city manager of Clayton, Mo., will soon take over as Lawrence’s top nonelected official.
At a special meeting Monday, the Lawrence City Commission announced that Craig Owens had been selected as the city’s next city manager. Reading a prepared statement, Mayor Lisa Larsen said that the commission was impressed with Owens’ 25 years of progressive experience in city management, which includes serving in several states and other community involvement.
“Craig will be a great asset to our community, and I look forward to working with him as we continue to work toward creating a better city for all of our community members,” Larsen said.
Read more: LJWorld.com.
Greenwood County Commissioners approve junk property code to prevent junk properties in previously incorporated towns
Monday, Greenwood County commissioners approved the health and welfare code aimed at preventing junk-properties
from cluttering previously incorporated towns. After discussing the idea of this code multiple times over the years, it was brought
back to the attention of the commissioners several weeks ago when residents of Neal filled the room to ask them to revisit the code
once again. Frank McCollum explained, “I think you should have more than one person that can file a complaint against somebody. Everybody has enemies out there.” Chuck Spradlin commented on the complaint and review process, as at least one commissioner will be responsible for visiting the site of each complaint before taking action. Spradlin explained, “If someone turned in something trivial, we would have to interpret that.” After discussing the drafted code last week and opening it to the public for comment, commissioners approved the code this week, with several minor grammatical changes. Commissioners plan to sign the corrected code next week
and publish the document in the county newspapers.
(Read more: Eureka Herald RSS)
Kansas cracks down on nursing home operators with shaky finances
The state of Kansas had to take over 22 financially struggling nursing homes last year — the most anyone connected to the industry could remember.
Officials with the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services said they had no choice. Nursing home managers — most of them from out of state — had fallen behind on bills for basics like food and utilities, putting residents’ health and safety at risk.
Now the Republican-controlled Legislature and Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly have come together on a plan to keep it from happening again.
Lawmakers this month passed a bill requested by the Kelly administration that will require much more financial information from people who apply for licenses to operate nursing homes.
“It gives us a better opportunity to maybe know in advance if somebody coming in is maybe in financial difficulties,” said Rep. Brenda Landwehr, a Wichita Republican who chairs the House Health and Human Services Committee. “It’s never going to solve it (completely) but there should be fewer we have to take over in the future.”
Fifteen of the 22 homes the state had to take over last year were run by Skyline Health, a company owned by a family of investors and headquartered above a pizza parlor in New Jersey.
(Read more: KC Breaking News, Sports & Crime |)
Neighborhood group in Emporia hosts annual fish fry to fund community improvements
The sounds of laughter and the tell-tale sizzle of fried fish could be heard during the Emporia Eastside Community Group’s annual fish fry fundraiser Saturday at the Emporia Recreation Center.
The group raised $900.
Founded in 1998, members of the Emporia Eastside Community Group have dedicated their time to making sure their neighborhoods are friendly, safe and enjoyable. Members range from lifelong Emporians to those who came to the area from Pennsylvania, New York, California and more. The group uses the money raised to fund its scholarship programs, the Memorial Day Community barbecue, purchasing equipment for the Eastside Memorial Park and helping out with other community events throughout the year.
“We still provide the Memorial Day barbecue for the community and we supply all of the meats and drinks and entertainment and just ask that everyone brings a covered dish,” Slappy said. “In the winter, we put together a Christmas basket for seniors. What this does is help us to continue to fund those things instead of having to use money that’s stored in the Emporia Community Foundation.”
(Read more: Emporia Gazette)
Commissioners OK issuing $13 million in industrial revenue bonds for retail development
Shawnee County commissioners on Monday morning approved by a 3-0 vote a resolution to issue about $13 million in taxable industrial revenue bonds for a shopping development in west Topeka.
The industrial revenue bonds would be used by Equity Investment Group Wanamaker LLC for its proposed $31.4 million project to redevelop retail properties it owns at the southeast corner of S.W. 17th and Wanamaker Road. A building formerly occupied by a Kmart store is located on the property.
Bob Perry, the county’s bond counsel, told commissioners the issuance of the industrial revenue bonds would generate “substantial” ad valorem taxes for the city and county.
He said the resolution acknowledges EIG’s request for the bonds expresses the commission’s intent to issue the bonds. Perry said he would begin negotiating terms of the agreement in the next few weeks.
“EIG is buying its own bonds, so we don’t have to worry about selling bonds to third-party investors,” Perry said. “Reduces everybody’s risk.”
(Read more: Political – The Topeka Capital-Journal)
Salina city leaders explore possibility of plastic bag ban
Salina city leaders are exploring the possibility of a ban on plastic shopping bags.
City staff was briefing commissioners Monday on other communities with bans and what it would take to gather public input on such a policy.
Salina City Commissioner Joe Hay proposed the ban. He told KAKE-TV earlier this year that the city should be a leader in the state. He says the bags fly like kites and blanket fences and trees after a wind storm.
California and Hawaii already ban disposable plastic bags. So do many cities including Chicago, Seattle and more than a dozen local communities in New York state.
(Read more: Great Bend Post)
Challenging claims: a look at NextEra’s economic impact
A pro-wind group out of Lenexa this weekend purchased a full-page color ad in The Hutchinson News claiming NextEra Energy’s proposed Reno County wind farm would add more than $130 million to the county economy, including $50 million in land payments for local farmers. NextEra made a similar claim in a half-page ad in The News on March 31.
The claims in both ads are based on an economic impact study by a fellow at the Docking Institute of Public Affairs at Fort Hays State University.
Opponents of the 80-plus turbine wind farm, however, challenged the numbers during public hearings earlier this month on NextEra’s application for a conditional use permit.
A separate cost-benefits study by the Center for Economic Development and Business Research at Wichita State University came to a different, much smaller conclusion, though that analysis did not include all the same data.
There are also questions The News has asked NextEra about the employment levels it has promised — a key element of each study — but that NextEra officials declined to respond to until after the hearing process is over.
(Read more: News – The Hutchinson News)
Hutch USD’s bus costs to surge
Hutchinson USD 308′s cost for contracting a school bus service provider will accelerate next year.
Three vendors submitted sealed bids for a new five-year contract. The current provider, Durham School Services, won the contract Monday night by offering the lowest price, which still will be nearly 18 percent higher than the 2018-19 price structure.
The price offered by Apple Bus Co. would have brought a 25 percent increase, and First Student Inc.’s price would have meant a 50 percent increase. The five-year grand total for Durham’s bid amounted to $7,018,238.
USD 308 uses school buses to transport special needs students, elementary students living east of K-61, and students being shuttled between the two middle schools. Buses also transport students to sports events and activities, as well as field trips. USD 308 Director of Operations Randy Norwood said all school buses are required to have the same safety features. He had no complaints with Durham’s service.
(Read more: News – The Hutchinson News)
Lawrence school board likely won’t support metal detectors in schools
District staff is still researching some potential security measures to improve school safety, but some board members have already made it clear that staff shouldn’t waste too much time on metal detectors.
Ron May, director of operations, gave the board a presentation on safety and security at its Monday meeting. He outlined several initiatives in progress and provided some updates.
Many in the Lawrence community have been paying heightened attention to safety of school buildings, particularly at Lawrence High School, in the wake of several weapons- and threat-related incidents over the past few months. Specifically, in the span of two weeks in February, two students were reportedly caught carrying loaded guns at the school, and another was reportedly caught with a Taser.
In response, the district held two community conversations on public safety at which attendees were asked to provide input and suggestions to improve security. One that came up repeatedly was installing metal detectors, and/or having students carry clear backpacks.
Read more: LJWorld.com.
Submissions sought for art installation at new Lawrence police headquarters
The Lawrence Cultural Arts Commission is looking for professional artists to develop a public art installation as part of the new Lawrence Police Department headquarters site.
Individual artists or teams of artists have until midnight June 3 to submit a resume and samples of their work, according to a news release from Porter Arneill, director of communications and creative resources with the city of Lawrence. The public art project is in collaboration with the Lawrence Police and Parks & Recreation departments and has a total budget of $325,000.
Read more: LJWorld.com.
Small-Town Life: Why It’s Good For Business
If you’re on the white picket fence about whether to relocate your business to a smaller, more rural locale, let these four small towns prove that bigger isn’t always better. We asked economic development leaders from Dodge City, Kansas; Kiowa, Kansas; Moundridge, Kansas; and Vandalia, Illinois, why small-town life is good for business. Here’s what we learned.
“One of the great things about living in a small town is the connectivity of businesses and residents; we can really bring partnerships together,” says JoAnn Knight, executive director of the Dodge City/Ford County Development Corporation. Dodge City hosts a population of fewer than 28,000 but has dealt with housing shortages with aplomb, pairing businesses with local universities to build and flip homes. The program benefits not just residents and contractors but new businesses looking to relocate in Dodge City and create jobs.
Read more: Global Trade.
City of Hays considers disbanding several advisory boards
The Hays City Commission Thursday will consider disbanding several of the volunteer boards that advise the commission.
Mayor Henry Schwaller IV requested the city review its boards at the commission’s work session Thursday at City Hall.
Schwaller explained that city staff spend a lot of time managing the committees, that the committees very often don’t have any pressing matters to handle or discuss, and that it’s hard to find people to volunteer for the boards, many of them created by the city, but sometimes even those required by Kansas law.
“I really appreciate you bringing this up,” said City Commissioner James Meier, who said that during his time as mayor he struggled to find appointees. “It’s very hard to get people to be appointed to these. Even the ones that are state statute.”
The commission will formally decide whether to disband several committees at its regular meeting Thursday.
Hays City Manager Toby Dougherty said last Thursday that there are certain times of the year when the city of Hays staff get valuable input from the Fort Hays Municipal Golf Course Advisory Board. But there’s no need for a standing advisory committee like the one that currently exists, he said. Instead, it would be easy for the city to call special meetings to get feedback about tournament schedules, or priority needs at the golf course, Dougherty said.
“We could easily handle that in a couple meetings that everyone’s invited to participate in,” he said.
Schwaller said the city is lucky to have people that volunteer to serve.
(Read more: News – The Hays Daily News)
City says tiger that attacked zookeeper at Topeka Zoo will not be euthanized
Police are investigating a report of a person attacked by a tiger at the Topeka Zoo.
The attack was reported around 9:30 a.m. Saturday at the Zoo near SW 6th Avenue and SW Gage Boulevard.
According to the City of Topeka, a female zookeeper was in the same area as a male tiger, named Sanjiv, when he attacked.
The zookeeper was taken to the hospital and was alert and awake when she was transported. The zoo was shut down for about 45 minutes and has since reopened.
Zoo Director Brendan Wiley said the male Sumatran tiger simply reacted the way that is normal for a tiger to do and there is absolutely no consideration of euthanizing the tiger.
The zoo said a complete investigation will be conducted over the next several days that will review all policies and procedures around tiger management at the zoo.
(Read more: fox4kc.com | FOX 4 – WDAF)
County officials to discuss industrial revenue bonds, possible merger
Industrial revenue bonds and a possible merger of county departments are among items that will be on the agenda when the Shawnee County Commission meets Monday. Commissioners plan Monday to consider expressing their intent to issue $13 million worth of industrial revenue bonds.
The IRBs would help Fort Wayne, Ind.-based Equality Investment Group Wanamaker, LLC, carry out its proposed $31.4 million project to redevelop retail properties it owns at the southeast corner of S.W. 17th and Wanamaker Road, including the site of the former Kmart at 1740 S.W. Wanamaker. Commissioners on Monday will also accept public comment on a proposal sponsored by Archer that would Monday will consolidate the county’s corrections and community corrections departments under the control of the corrections department.
The corrections department, headed by Brian Cole, oversees operations of the Shawnee County Jail and the county’s Juvenile Detention Center and Corrections Annex.
Rebecca Cartmill heads the community corrections department, which oversees offenders taking part in an intensive form of probation. She is retiring, Archer said this past week.
Community corrections was part of the corrections department until commissioners made it a separate department in 2000. The corrections department had 233 employees and the community corrections department had 25 employees as of April 1.
(Read more: Political – The Topeka Capital-Journal)
Greenwood County Hospital CEO addresses open records concerns
At a recent Greenwood County Hospital board meeting, CEO Sandra Dickerson addressed comments made by County Commission Counselor Paul Dean concerning issues regarding public information.
Dickerson and Board President Pam Brown were present at a recent county commission meeting when Dean spoke to them, “specifically about the hospital’s financial information and that it wasn’t being shared when requested,” she said, adding, “Paul was specifically referring to open records requests.”
She referred to Dean’s quote in the paper that said, “I’m just here to tell you that no, that’s incorrect. If anybody on the board wants that information, anybody at the hospital who’s an employee of the hospital, that information is public record.”
“I want to clarify for this board that no open records request had been made,” Dickerson told the board. “In fact, at the time of his statement to us, there hadn’t been an open records request since I started working at the hospital in July 2017. I am not sure where the information came from, though in his comment he did point out ‘anyone on the board’ or ‘anybody at the hospital who’s an employee.’
(Read more: Emporia Gazette)
Cowley County files injunction to abnegate phony filings
Cowley County Counselor Mark Krusor has filed an injunction against a man who has brought numerous unfounded claims against the county and other local entities in an attempt to stop his actions.
The man, Mark Drake, has filed claims against the county and RCB Bank alleging that they owe him money from his father’s trust, of which he is a beneficiary. The claims have been filed with the Cowley County Register of Deeds Office.
Drake’s accusations include that the bank is cheating him out of money from the trust, that the county has not honored his claims against the bank, and that the county, bank and others owe him money. In his filings, Drake calls the trust “phony and fraudulent.”
Krusor said Drake’s claims list a McPherson mailing address. A Winfield phone number listed for Drake was disconnected. Other attempts to contact him were unsuccessful.
Krusor said a state statute, K.S.A. 58-4301, allows such claims to be dismissed rapidly when there is no basis for them, such as the ones being filed by Drake. Krusor updated county commissioners on the latest dismissals at their April 16 meeting. The injunction is an attempt to prevent Drake from filing any more claims against the county or RCB Bank.
It is not the first time Drake has taken issue with the county.’
(Read more: www.ctnewsonline.com – RSS Results)
City of Manhattan Flag Contest Finalists to be Presented in May
A total of 122 designs were submitted for the Manhattan City Flag Contest by the March 29 deadline. The City of Manhattan’s Arts and Humanities Advisory Board is currently reviewing the artwork and will select three to five finalists based on the Five Principals of Flag Design, as outlined by the American Vexillogical Society https://nava.org/good-flag-bad-flag/.
In early to mid-May, the final designs will be presented to the public for a one-week voting period through the City’s website www.cityofmhk.com and in person at City Hall 1101 Poyntz Avenue.
(Read more: Manhattan – News Flash)
Roeland Park to be honored with gold-level Cities for All Ages designation
Roeland Park’s plans to improve R Park with features for residents of all ages and abilities has earned it the highest level of recognition through the First Suburbs Coalition’s Communities for All Ages program.
Both Roeland Park, which earned the program’s gold level designation, and Olathe, which earned bronze, will be honored at the coalition’s meeting this morning. Roeland Park earned the gold level award for its work on the R Park phased-improvement plan, which will bring new permanent restrooms, art, greenspace, shade structures and accessible infrastructure to the park.
(Read more: Prairie Village Post – Neighborhood news and events for Prairie Village, Fairway, Mission Hills)
Mega-utility poles a lightning rod of controversy in Wichita neighborhood
Pained words of Pastor William Vann inside Iasis Christian Center competed against industrial clamor of electric transmission line crews operating heavy trucks in the front yard.
Timing of the mid-April intrusion was ironic, because Vann was in a meeting with a Wichita City Council member, a Kansas House member, several local residents and a reporter to discuss the controversial power-pole modernization project initiated by Westar Energy — now known as Evergy — in a low-income residential neighborhood of northeast Wichita.
The church stands amid dozens of metal transmission poles that soar 105 feet above the ground, dwarfing wood poles typical of older neighborhoods without buried lines. Size and location of the double-deck poles fueled anger among residents convinced such giants would never be deployed in an affluent part of the city. Some were planted in front yards a stone’s throw from entrance doors.
Vann wasn’t alone in accusing Westar of engaging in a bait-and-switch approach to placing the poles on private property. He agreed to a new pole in front of the church, but was unaware of actual dimensions. He was recently informed Westar intended to add a transformer in the easement next to the street.
(Read more: Leavenworth Times)
Lawrence City Commission to announce next city manager today
Lawrence Mayor Lisa Larsen will announce the next city manager during a special City Commission meeting Monday.
After a national search, the city has narrowed the candidates to two finalists: Susan Sherman, who is currently the assistant city manager for Olathe, and Craig Owens, city manager of Clayton, Mo. Both spoke and answered audience questions during a public meeting on April 7.
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The commission will meet at 2 p.m. Monday at City Hall, 6 E. Sixth St.
Read more: LJWorld.com.
Newton to consider allowing Sunday alcohol sales
Newton might be soon join every other nearby town in allowing Sunday alcohol sales.
At its upcoming Tuesday meeting, the City of Newton Commission will review and discuss changing the ordinance that prohibits Sunday sales.
The review follows a recent change in its alcohol laws to comply with state laws allowing full-strength beer to be sold in grocery stores.
Murray Anderson, owner of Anderson Retail Liquor, 200 E 12th St, said he had approached members of the commission to ask for the possible change.
He said the increase in surrounding communities allowing the sales, as well as the convenience store in nearby Walton, made him to decide to come forward with the request.
“We need to be on the same playing field as all the towns around us and not send our customers six miles out of town for a six pack on Sunday,” he said. Anderson noted that Newton is one of the few communities in the area now prohibiting Sunday Sales. Halstead recently changed city ordinance to allow the sales. McPherson, following a vote, will allow the sales. Walton, Sedgwick, Valley Center, Park City, Wichita all allow Sunday sales.
(Read more: Newton Now)
Sedgwick County picks new fire chief; points toward merger with Wichita Fire Department
In a move that could help clear the way for eventual consolidation of the Wichita and Sedgwick County fire departments, veteran fireman Doug Williams has been selected as the new chief of County Fire District No. 1, county officials said Friday.
Williams, the division chief of operations for the fire district, had been serving as interim fire chief since the Dec. 21 retirement of Chief Tavis Leake.
“He (Williams) has the backing of the fire men and women and that’s what’s critical right now,” said County Commission Chairman David Dennis. A recent survey of firefighters’ attitudes about their jobs showed “morale is amazing right now,” Dennis said.
He said Williams also gets along well with Wichita city officials, including Fire Chief Tammy Snow and would be a good leader of department consolidation.
“We’ve been informally talking consolidation for the last year or so,” said Dennis. “We need to get that more than informal.”
(Read more: Wichita Eagle)
Lawrence investigating reason for clog at recently completed $74 million sewer plant
The city’s recently completed $74 million sewage treatment plant has clogged, requiring the city to haul sludge to another plant in order to temporarily clear the plant’s basins and make repairs. Though the plant is fully operational again, city staff says it’s continuing to investigate what caused the clog.
As part of its meeting Tuesday, the Lawrence City Commission received a report on a payment of $253,800 to Honeybee L.C. for emergency sludge hauling at the Wakarusa Wastewater Treatment Plant. The sludge hauling was necessary to clean out and repair the plant’s aerated sludge diffusers, according to a city staff memo to the commission.
Read more: LJWorld.com.