Kansas Municipal News
Ellis County Commission could look to sales tax for budget relief
As Ellis County officials wrestle with the potential for some difficult budget decisions in the coming years, commissioner support for a county-wide sales tax continues to gain traction.
At Monday’s county commission meeting, all three commissioners expressed interest in bringing a county-wide sales tax to the voters.
The county’s major source of revenue is property tax based on assessed valuation and a sales tax would serve as an alternative funding source. Any proposed sales tax would need to be approved by the voters.
County sales tax can be set in quarter-cent increments up to 1 percent.
County Administrator Phillip Smith-Hanes said Monday, based on tax collections in 2017, a quarter-cent sales tax would have generated about $1.55 million. Commissioner Butch Schlyer said he believes the county needs to do something.
“Following the next couple of budgets that we are going to be doing and the public sees the draconian cuts we’re going to be making, there might be more appetite for a sales tax with the voting public,” Schlyer said, “because it’s going to get bad before it gets any better.”
(Read more: Hays Post)
Nearly 4,000 votes cast in selection of next Topeka flag
Almost 4,000 votes were cast over a weeklong period in the selection process for Topeka’s next city flag, said Matt Lara, public relations manager for the Greater Topeka Partnership.
The winner will be unveiled April 18 at the annual State of the Community event at the Ramada Hotel and Convention Center, 420 S.E. 6th, he said.
The Topeka City Council will then consider adopting the winning design, said Molly Hadfield, media relations director for Topeka’s city government.
The city was pleased with the number of votes cast, Hadfield said.
She said 4,000 people is more than the city usually hears from when it seeks input on matters of public concern.
(Read more: Political – The Topeka Capital-Journal)
City and Hutch Rec face challenges finding summer workforce
It is becoming more and more of a task for the city parks department to find part-time summer help to deal with the usual maintenance needed during the warmer weather. Justin Combs says the parks department is working to fill the 30 to 45 part-time positions needed each year. It’s getting harder to do. “Every year it seems like we struggle just to find folks willing to work,” Combs said. The jobs pay between $8 and $11 per hour. They include mowing, gardening and forestry, and marking and keeping care of ball diamonds.
Likewise, Hutch Rec is also looking for summer help, especially when it comes to the Salt City Splash. “As always, we’re always still looking for lifeguards,” Ted Nelson, superintendent of aquatics and wellness, said. “It’s a hard one to get. We’re not unlike other communities.” Nelson said that most teens do not want to go through the effort and expense of getting a lifeguard certification.
(Read more: Hutch Post)
Dispute over wind farm proposal turns hostile: Cattle let out to escape ahead of zoning board meeting
As the county board of zoning appeals prepares to consider a conditional use permit for a proposed wind farm April 25, relations between landowners in the 22,000-acre area the wind farm would span between Florence, Peabody and Aulne are tense. Many landowners near the proposed wind farm have raised objections – so many the county held its March 11 meeting at Marion Community Center. That meeting, attended by more than 100 people, lasted five hours with comments from both supporters and opponents of the wind farm.
(Read more: Marion County RECORD)
Marion County Commission talks trash after contaminated soil found
Contaminated soil found during construction of a new county transfer station will cost the county $24,060 more than originally anticipated for the project.
Refuse director Bud Druse alerted county commissioners to diesel contamination in February. At that time, no one knew how the problem would be resolved.
Now that Kansas Department of Health and Environment has assessed the contamination, it recommends the soil, which was excavated and piled southeast of the transfer station, be turned weekly to aerate it until the diesel fuel is cleared.
[MORE]
(Read more: Marion County RECORD)
City to host dancing event for 150th
Derby residents are invited to join the city for a night of dancing and fun.
The Derby Dance-a-long is a first-time event for people of all ages. It represents one of many celebratory occasions for Derby’s 150th anniversary this year.
Kristy Bansemer, communications director for the City of Derby, said the event will be similar to dances held twice a month at the Derby Senior Center.
The dance will be purely for fun and will not include contests, she said. Some form of refreshments will be available.
Dancing will last from 7 to 9:30 p.m. April 30 at The Venue at Madison Avenue Central Park, 512 E. Madison Ave.
Entry is $3, which helps pay for the live band.
(Read more: Derby News | derbyinformer.com)
Topeka council members show backing for ‘city-driven’ TIF districts
Four Topeka city councilmen said Tuesday evening they could support the city government’s seeking to use tax-increment financing to attract development to specific places where developers currently show no interest, such as White Lakes Center….
City manager Brent Trout asked the council for input about the concept of a city-driven TIF during the council’s weekly meeting, where members discussed available economic development incentives and how the city might take advantage of them.
Kansas statute allows government entities to create TIF districts at the request of developers to help offset development costs. Such districts are often driven by developers, who pay off costs over a period of up to 20 years using the increase in property tax and sales tax revenues generated by the properties involved.
State law also allows government entities to create TIF districts to try to attract developers.
Trout said Tuesday the city could identify blighted areas where it would like to see development, then establish TIF districts there “so that if someone was interested all they would have to do is bring to us a TIF plan for the redevelopment that they would like to do in that particular area.”
Read more: CJonline.com.
Commissioners disagree on jail options
Saline County Commissioners Jim Weese and Bob Vidricksen expressed different preferences Tuesday morning regarding how the county should respond to overcrowding at the Saline County Jail, following a presentation by consultant Jim Robertson Monday morning.
Weese said he would like to remodel the current Saline County Jail after taking additional steps to reduce the number of inmates locked up by the county, possibly by reducing the amount of time inmates spend in jail. Weese said he looks forward to receiving public input on the topic.
“I want to be reassured that the only solution is making more beds available,” he said. “Can we do other things to shorten this time to get our numbers down so they are manageable? Maybe a remodel with a smaller addition. I don’t know. I heard the report yesterday, but I can’t turn around today and say let’s build us a new jail. I’m just not there.”
“It’s important that whatever we do is the right solution for the long run,” Weese added.
(Read more: News – Salina Journal)
County Commission OKs grant application for Community Correction operations
The Reno County Commission on Tuesday approved the local Community Corrections office applying for a pair of state grants worth nearly $1 million to support its adult supervision and behavioral health programs. The primary grant, for just under $730,000, seeks about a 2.3 percent increase over current fiscal year funding, Community Corrections director Randy Regehr told the commission.
“This grant funds our adult supervision program,” Regehr said. ”(The Kansas Department of Corrections) is asking for a 3 percent improvement in our success rate last year. We ended the year at 80 percent (success), so we’ll try to reach 83 percent next year.
“One way we’re working to achieve that goal is improved contact between officer and clients, and to increase the amount of coaching for officers. We have a couple of good officers who will lead that up.”
Another area they will seek to improve, Regehr said, is ensuring clients are “connected to the right interventions. There are two things under that: improving how we refer to in-house cognitive behavior groups and our referral process for drug court.”
(Read more: News – The Hutchinson News)
City manager’s first ‘Out and About with Trout’ event to be Monday
Members of the public will be able to meet in person with Topeka City Manager Brent Trout when he makes himself available for the first time Monday as part of a “mobile office” called “Out and About With Trout.”
Trout’s first mobile office will take place from 1 to 4 p.m. at Juli’s Coffee and Bistro, 110 S.E. 8th Ave.
Trout, who’s been Topeka’s city manager since October 2017, said he plans to make himself available once a quarter to interact with citizens and hear their concerns outside of City Hall.
Residents may schedule a 15-minute meeting by calling City Hall in advance at (785) 368-3725. Open time slots will be available for anyone wanting to drop in.
Four time slots remained available for sign up Tuesday, while additional time will be available for people who want to stop in without signing up, said Molly Hadfield, the city’s media relations coordinator.
(Read more: Political – The Topeka Capital-Journal)
Salina Airport Authority submits funding request to county for marketing; City approves their request
Tim Rogers, executive director of the Salina Airport Authority, submitted a request for $60,000 from the Saline County Commission for air service marketing Tuesday morning.
The Salina City Commission approved $60,000 for the Salina Airport Authority on Monday afternoon. The airport is asking for an additional $60,000 from the county commission and has budgeted $73,500 to pay for marketing costs.
Other governments have agreed to help supply funds for the same purpose, Rogers said.
“Your support would be greatly appreciated,” he said. “I really value the partnership we have had this past year and the chance to bring really truly transformative transportation options to citizens of our community, county, and our region.”
(Read more: News – Salina Journal)
Sabetha approves extraterritorial jurisdiction expansion
At the Sabetha City Commission meeting Monday, April 8, the commissioners – Mayor Doug Clark, Maridel Wittmer, Nick Aberle, Norm Schmitt and Julie Burenheide – approved Ordinance No. 1538, expanding Sabetha’s extraterritorial district.
This comes following a recommendation of the city’s Planning Commission to approve this expansion.
The new the extraterritorial zoning jurisdiction is now at the legal maximum distance, which is three miles from any property legally considered to be within Sabetha’s city limits — including Sabetha City Lake and Pony Creek Lake. In the cases in which the three-mile distance comes within three miles of another incorporated city’s potential three-mile jurisdiction, the City of Sabetha has only gone half the distance.
Since the City of Sabetha did not previously include property surrounding the two city-owned lakes as extraterritorial zoning jurisdiction, the new jurisdiction has expanded the city’s jurisdiction four-fold.
(Read more: Sabetha Herald)
Chanute City Commissioners talk ballfields, cereal malt beverage ordinance
Chanute city commissioners discussed ballfield and recreation center agreements during their comments after Monday evening’s meeting.
City staff and the Chanute Recreation Commission are negotiating use agreements for the recreation center and for the ballfields in Santa Fe Park in preparation to renovate the ballfields.
Commissioner Phil Chaney said he has not seen much action yet, and he wants to have a commitment from the CRC that the facilities will be put to use. City Manager Jeff Cantrell said there seems to be a tug-of-war over which facility would be addressed first.
(Read more: The Chanute Tribune)
Wichita council sends controversial cell tower proposal back to planning commission
The Wichita City Council has voted unanimously to return a proposal that would place an 80-foot wireless communication tower at 18th and Woodland to the Metropolitan Area Planning Commission for further consideration. The vote Tuesday comes after more than 81% of surrounding property owners signed a protest petition against the T-Mobile tower.
North Riverside Neighborhood Association President Claire Willenberg told The Eagle the vote was disappointing because the council didn’t flat out refuse to approve a conditional use permit that would allow construction of the tower behind a vehicle repair shop on the northwest corner of the intersection.
But she also said it’s a positive move because residents will have another chance to argue their case to MAPC.
“Core neighborhoods — the older neighborhoods — really struggle to maintain a livable, vibrant community. … We work continuously trying to improve the visual environment,” Willenberg said, adding that some residents aren’t convinced they need the added data capacity the T-Mobile tower would bring to the area.
She thinks a smaller tower like other carriers use around town would be sufficient.
(Read more: Wichita Eagle)
Mission Hills council weighs options for opposing LGBTQ+ discrimination
Mission Hills continued to wrestle with how to best apply non-discrimination language providing legal protections to LGBTQ+ individuals during this week’s council meeting. While governing body members generally agreed they support the spirit of having a non-discrimination ordinance, several questioned the necessity of an NDO in Mission Hills, as the city does not have commercial employers or multi-family rentals.
“We may end up without much of an ordinance because we have very little we manage,” said councilmember Bill Bruning.
(Read more: Prairie Village Post – Neighborhood news and events for Prairie Village, Fairway, Mission Hills)
Ellis County seeks city buy-in for countywide sales tax
Ellis County is looking at a countywide sales tax to fix its budget crisis.
But the question is whether it would share the money with cities in Ellis County.
That was the debate among the three Ellis County Commissioners at their regular meeting Monday evening, asking whether voters will approve a tax the county doesn’t share among the cities.
If shared, that would more than halve the amount of money the county gets from the tax.
But County Commissioner Dean Haselhorst was firm the county must share, when it comes to the cities.
“I’m not going to single out we’re going to take it all,” Haselhorst said. “Because I think that’s going to crash, quicker than you can imagine. If we’re going to say Ellis County is going to keep it all, it’s going to crash …. Because why would Victoria vote for it? Why would Ellis vote for it? Why would the city of Hays vote for it?”
(Read more: News – The Hays Daily News)
“This is the people’s ballpark”: Baseball team owner, city leaders react to new design renderings
From the dugouts to the footings for the grand stands, the new baseball stadium is starting to take shape. The city released new renderings that show more detail of what the stadium will look like, as well as the developments that will surround it.
“This is the people’s ballpark,” said Lou Schwechheimer, owner of Wichita Baseball 2020.
The latest renderings feature art, the way people will be given directions around the park and even what the stadium will look like at night.
These renderings are the most detailed so far.
“This is literally being designed as we build it,” Schwechheimer said. “That gives the public a little more chance.”
Input from the public is something city officials and the team owners said they’re paying close attention to, especially the concern about the success of the surrounding development around the stadium.
“I think there’s a little more work to be done,” said James Clendenin, city council member. “I think they realize that. The great thing about these renderings is they’re starting to reflect the feedback we’ve been getting.”
(Read more: Top Stories | KSNW)
Local sustainability leader says Lawrence needs to take bold action on climate issues
The local sustainability director told city leaders Tuesday that ambitious climate action is needed on the global, national and local levels, and that the city needs a plan to mitigate and adapt to climate change.
Lawrence-Douglas County Sustainability Director Jasmin Moore told city commissioners at their study session that local governments are already dealing with more frequent flooding and extreme heat, and that the city needs a plan for the years to come to deal with those and other climate-related issues.
“What are we doing to adapt to those changing conditions?” Moore said. “The status quo is pretty risky at this point, and so (we should be) thinking about how we can continue to move forward.”
Read more: LJWorld.com.
Governor approves SB 105 authorizing cities to determine start date of officials by resolution
From the legislative summary:
Start Dates for Terms of Certain Local Offices; SB 105
SB 105 authorizes a city to determine the start date of a regular term of office for a city officer by resolution of the city. In law regarding city elections, the bill requires the start date be on or after December 1 following certification of the election and no later than the second Monday in January following certification of the election. If the city does not establish an alternative date, the bill specifies such term will begin on the second Monday in January.
In law regarding terms of office, the bill adds a municipal officer to all state, district, county, and township officers as those whose regular terms of office shall begin on the second Monday in January except as otherwise provided by law.
H/T: LKM.
Kansas liquor laws changed April 1. Here’s how several Shawnee Mission area cities updated local ordinances as a result
After Kansas legislators changed state laws to allow grocery stores and convenience stores to sell stronger beer, several cities in northeast Johnson County have been changing their codes to reflect the change.
Grocery and convenience stores are now permitted to sell beer with an alcoholic content up to 6 percent by volume under the law signed by Gov. Sam Brownback in April 2017. Those stores were previously only able to sell beer with an alcoholic content up to 3.2 percent by weight.
The new state laws will also permit drinking establishments to serve alcoholic liquor between 6 a.m. and 2 a.m. Previously, liquor could only be served between 9 a.m. and 2 a.m. Additionally, the state law change also allows liquor stores to sell related items such as mixers, ice, lottery tickets and cigars, without requiring them to keep liquor separate from non-alcoholic products.
Here’s a breakdown of code changes by city:
(Read more: Shawnee Mission Post – Community news and events for northeast Johnson County)
County commissioners approve hiring of solid waste director
Shawnee County is officially in the market for a solid waste director.
At Monday morning’s meeting, which lasted about 25 minutes, Shawnee County Commissioners Bob Archer, Kevin Cook and Bill Riphahn voted 3-0 to approve the hiring of a person to oversee the county’s solid waste division, which provides trash and recycling services for individuals in Topeka and throughout the county.
The change in job description would separate the position that currently is held by Curt Niehaus, who is serving as director of both Shawnee County Public Works and Shawnee County Solid Waste.
Commissioners had delayed a vote on the recommended job change from their March 28 meeting after Cook requested additional information on the financial aspects of the job split.
Angela Lewis, Shawnee County’s human resources director, said at Monday’s meeting that the solid waste job would pay a minimum salary in the range of $80,000.
(Read more: Local Government – The Topeka Capital-Journal)
New hospital to open in Derby
A new hospital will soon open in Derby, which has become an emerging market for health care in the past few years.
The $40 million, 31-bed Rock Regional Hospital, which staff began occupying in February, is still awaiting state inspections and clearance by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment to start accepting patients, according to hospital CEO Jason Eitutis.
Located across from Derby North Middle School and just north of Field Station: Dinosaurs, the hospital is part of a new 15-acre medical campus at 3251 N. Rock Road being developed by CBC Real Estate Group from Kansas City, Mo.
Rock Medical Assets — made up of the developers, local investors and private capital firms — owns the for-profit hospital as well as an ambulatory center it bought from Derby Family Medicine in 2018. Ascension Via Christi became a 25% owner in the hospital when it signed an agreement in late October with Rock Medical Assets.
(Read more: Local News |)
Sedg. Co. Sheriff unveils new vehicle for community events
The Sedgwick County Sheriff has unveiled a new look for one of his department’s patrol cars.
This vehicle will be for special community events, like DARE programs and parades.
It features the Sheriff’s Office logos, along with images like the Keeper of the Plains and wheat fields.
The department says it’s been working on this project for about five months.
They hope the new look will help them with recruiting, too.
(Read more: KWCH News)
Does your council/board eat at meetings? One school district looking to make meetings more efficient
Haven USD schools have been planning this year for the redesign of their delivery of education in 2019-2020. That spurred Haven school board member Jessica Schmidt to consider how the school board could redesign its meetings to condense the agenda and possibly provide snacks in addition to mints. The Haven board meeting starts at 6 a.m.
School districts across Kansas responded to an inquiry from USD 312. A number said they are able to keep the meeting under two hours or within two and a half hours.
On the food question, responses ranged widely.
Brewster USD 314: A local grocery store puts together a brown sack meal for everyone who requests one.Southern Lyon County USD 252 supplies anything from pizza to sandwiches for board members and occasionally the superintendent grills something.
Galena USD 499 orders dinner for board members to eat before the start of the meeting.
Skyline USD 438′s food service prepares a small sheet cake or dessert.
Attica USD 511 board members used to have snacks but with members on a health kick, that’s been reduced to coffee and water.
(Read more: Local – The Hutchinson News)
Geary USD 475 reaches settlement on price of land in eminent domain case
Geary USD 475 has reached a settlement with Rick Munson on the price of the land obtained by the school district for the new Junction City High School project.
The Board of Education approved a settlement of a case that had been pending in Geary County District Court. BOE President Tom Brungardt said the two sides had proposed two different prices. “The court had said pay this amount, which we did. We paid a certain amount, but Mr. Munson appealed so that was the basis of the court case.” The case would not have delayed construction of the new high school because the district had already obtained the land through an eminent domain process. Brungardt believes because the case had not gone on into the court process that will save the school district a lot of money in legal fees.
(Read more: Junction City Post)
Parking patrol officer sees her role as an ambassador for downtown Lawrence, despite some undiplomatic words thrown her way
Some people don’t hold back their feelings when they catch Tanya Green slipping a yellow parking ticket under the windshield wiper of their vehicle.
As one of Lawrence’s parking patrol officers, Green has had some nasty words hurled at her while checking the meters around downtown.
“Have you ever watched the show ‘Parking Wars?’” Green asked, referring to reruns of a reality TV show about Philadelphia Parking Authority employees. “We don’t boot tires or tow cars away, but we get the verbiage.”
Green walks right past meters with one minute left. But if the time has actually run out, she stops and writes a ticket. She shows no favoritism. Even her son has received a yellow envelope.
Read more: LJWorld.com.
Lawrence City Commission to discuss city’s progress on reducing emissions, other environmental goals
Recent changes have helped Lawrence significantly reduce its greenhouse gas emissions, and city leaders will soon discuss what else can be done to reduce the city’s impact on the environment.
As part of its work session Tuesday, the Lawrence City Commission will receive an update on the city’s climate protection and sustainability goals. The commission adopted a Climate Protection Plan in 2009, which included the goal of reducing communitywide greenhouse gas emissions by 30 percent by 2020 and by 50 percent by 2030.
Sustainability Director Jasmin Moore said that since the baseline year of 2005, greenhouse gas emissions from City of Lawrence operations have dropped by about 17 percent. The community as a whole — which includes the privately owned landfill used by the city — has reduced emissions by 26 percent.
Read more: LJWorld.com.
City manager finalists outline plans, answer questions from Lawrence residents
In their first meeting with the public, the two finalists for Lawrence city manager were greeted with a full crowd and a variety of questions, ranging in topic from economic incentives to the city’s role in arts and culture.
About 150 people filled the meeting room at the Carnegie Building on Sunday for the event, where city manager finalists Susan Sherman and Craig Owens gave presentations that included their plans for the first 100 days in Lawrence. After their presentations, each finalist answered questions from the public for 30 minutes.
Lawrence resident Paul DeGeorge, who co-owns Wonder Fair, said he thought some people are frustrated with how development incentives have been used, and asked both finalists how they would approach economic development to ensure that both the opportunities and the benefits are distributed more equally.
Read more: LJWorld.com.
Ellis County to hear by end of month on Hansen grant for busy road corridor
Ellis County Administrator Phillip Smith-Hanes says “Keep your fingers crossed,” as county and business leaders wait to find out if Dane G. Hansen Foundation will fund a $2.2 million grant request from Ellis County.
The grant, if approved, would transform busy 230th Avenue north of Hays from a dangerously steep and narrow hilly rock road, bustling with semi-tractor trailer rigs, to a well-engineered two-lane paved route with shoulders, referred to as the Northwest Business Corridor.
Ellis County submitted its grant application in March.
“Typically they have a 30-day turnaround when they make their decisions, so we’re hoping to hear something this month,” said Smith-Hanes.
Rep. Barb Wasinger, who represents Ellis County’s 111th District in the state House of Representatives, announced Thursday that the Kansas Department of Transportation has pledged to match $1 million in funding for the corridor, contingent on approval of the Hansen Foundation grant.
(Read more: News – The Hays Daily News)
Augusta and El Dorado are recipients of Waste Tire Recycling Grants
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment’s (KDHE) Bureau of Waste Management has announced the recipients of waste tire recycling grants. These annual solid waste grants are awarded to municipalities and school districts across the state. The grants total nearly $379,000 for 2019.
The City of Augusta was awarded the largest grant in the state for 2019. A $75,000 grant will replace the mulch with “pour-in-place” rubber ADA safety surfacing at the Downtown Dalton Palmer Memorial Playground.
In addition to the safety surface at the park, private donors have raised $6,000 in cash and materials to construct two more parklets adjacent to the playground.
El Dorado USD 490 was also named a recipient with a $8,000 grant for the purchase of loose fill rubber mulch totaling 9,800 square feet to top off the existing surface at Skelly Elementary Playground that is now going into its sixth year of usage.
(Read more: El Dorado Times)
Couple sue city over century-old tunnel under Lawrence neighborhood
After discovering a century-old tunnel directly under their house, a Lawrence couple have filed a lawsuit demanding that the city either relocate the tunnel — which is still used for storm water drainage — or pay them for damages.
The 6-by-6 foot, arched brick drainage tunnel was constructed in 1911 in response to a typhoid outbreak and follows the course of a ravine that once ran from Mount Oread to the Kansas River. More than 100 years later, when Sarah Merriman and Donna Geisler bought their house at 812 Ohio St., they had no idea that the tunnel ran corner-to-corner under the home.
As the Journal-World reported last year, the couple asked the city to relocate the tunnel, but the city declined due to the significant cost of doing so. In response, Merriman and Geisler recently filed a lawsuit against the city, saying the city is trespassing on their property and asking that the city award them at least $75,000 in damages and either relocate the tunnel or purchase the property from them.
Read more: LJWorld.com.
Wind arguments at Neosho county continue to be heated
Debate over a proposed electrical generation project got even more heated at the Neosho County Commission meeting Thursday.
The residency of former Commissioner Jennifer Orr, who resigned March 28, continued to be an issue and some opponents criticized the Chanute Tribune, Parsons Sun and the reporter individually.
Discussion continued on the Neosho Ridge project, a wind-powered electrical generation area on 44,000 acres in southwest Neosho County with 139 electrical generator towers.
Critic Kim Norris said project opponents have been portrayed as bullies by developer Apex Clean Energy, Commissioner David Bideau, former Commissioner Jennifer Orr and news coverage.
“I am mad that a corrupt company may succeed in Neosho County,” Norris said. She said Apex will say and do anything.
“Greed is the one and only reason to build them,” Norris said.
She speculated that Bideau would get campaign funding from Apex to run for higher office.
“What are you getting out of this?” she asked.
(Read more: The Chanute Tribune – news,news/)
Hays assistant city manager heading to Salina
Jacob Wood has been named the city of Salina’s new deputy city manager.
City Manager Mike Schrage announced Friday that he has appointed Jacob Wood as the new deputy city manager. Wood was selected from a pool of 60 candidates from across the country.
Wood will begin his new role at the end of April.
“We received a terrific number of applicants for the deputy city manager position which is certainly beneficial, but also makes selection of a finalist much more difficult,” Schrage said.
Wood has served as assistant city manager for the City of Hays, Kan., since 2015. Prior to Hays, he was the city administrator in Oakley, Kan.
A native of Bennington, Wood is returning to the City of Salina where he previously held positions as a city management intern and interim manager of the Bicentennial Center.
(Read more: Hays Post)
City crews working to remove sand from streets
Spring time for life-long motorcyclist and General Manager of Bikers Edge Powersports Glen McGowen is the perfect time to bring out the bike.
“This is when everybody’s really starting to bring out the bikes and take a ride, the warm weather brings a lot of them out,” said McGowen.
But the sand on the roads could steal they joy out of a joy ride.
“The amount of rubber touching the ground is minimal it’s very small and it doesn’t take very much underneath it to actually get it to actually slide out from under you,” said McGowen.
The sand becomes a road hazard for motorcyclist and bicycle riders alike.
“I’ve had at least three already this year that have come in for that very thing where they’ve gone into a corner and it slide out from under them,” said McGowen.
It’s the leftovers from the 14,000 tons of sand the city says it placed on the streets this winter to treat the roads.
The city is working to fix that. The city says it has three shifts of street sweepers currently cleaning the roads in the neighborhoods. At the end of April, the city says it will temporarily redirect the first shift sweepers from residential to arterial streets like Central and Rock Road.
(Read more: Top Stories | KSNW)
Johnson County implements watershed program
A new stormwater management program that will see the county divided into six watersheds is being implemented by Johnson County.
In a presentation to Edgerton City Council March 28, Lee Kellenberger, Johnson County water resource manager, said unlike in the past when county dollars for stormwater systems improvements would be distributed to individual cities and townships, the new program will be based on a plan that targets particular watersheds.
The six watersheds are: Brush/Turkey Creek, Indian Creek, Upper Blue Valley, Marais Des Cygnes River, Captain/Kill creek and Cedar/ Mill creek.
Edgerton, Gardner and Spring Hill will all be within the Marais Des Cygnes River watershed.
“In the past cities and communities would do projects individually with the county. Now you band together with other jurisdictions within the watershed,” he said.
The county’s watershed management program was started in 1990 after the Kansas Legislature enabled counties to adopt 1/10th of one percent sales tax to fund stormwater projects. Johnson County is the only county in the state that has established a stormwater management program under the guidelines and more than $300 million have been disbursed.
(Read more: Gardner News)
El Dorado hears proposal on amending Failure to Appear code
The City Commission heard a proposal for a municipal code amendment regarding “Failure to Appear” and the option of providing community service, in lieu of fines, at the meeting on March 18th. The Commission asked staff to revisit the community service portion. Police Chief Zieman spoke to the Commission on the topic of the community service and informed them that it is required to be offered as an option, per the insurance company. Should someone be charged with “Failure to Appear,” there is the possibility of $500 fine, 6 months imprisonment or both. The City Attorney and Prosecutor are working on a new amendment for community service and it will be brought back to the Commission at a later date. The amendment pertaining to the Municipal Court “Failure to Appear” was approved.
(Read more: andoveramerican.com)
Sedgwick County moves forward with $6.8 million jail expansion
Things have gotten pretty cramped these days in the district attorney’s office.
“I’m completely out of space here,” said District Attorney Marc Bennett. “I could not hire another attorney unless I doubled up and put two attorneys in one office. We literally converted a bathroom into an evidence locker.”
Help’s on the way.
To clear space for prosecutors in the congested courthouse, the Sedgwick County Commission this week approved borrowing $6.82 million to expand and renovate space in the county jail.
The project will allow the sheriff’s office to transfer about 40 of its employees to the jail, which is next door.
And that in turn will free more than 9,300 square feet that can be remodeled for use by the district attorney’s staff.
“The biggest problem that we’ve got is space in this facility and this is going to help open up some of that space,” said Commission Chairman David Dennis. “We appreciate how rapidly this is coming together because I know a lot of people are needing this space.”
(Read more: Politics & Government News |)
‘We’ll be stronger in the end’: How one Kansas town dealt with losing its hospital
Nearly 90 rural hospitals across the country have closed their doors since 2010; another 355 are considered at risk for shuttering, beset by low patient volume, staffing issues or inadequate Medicare reimbursements. Fort Scott joins Independence, Oswego and Horton as Kansas communities where residents feel vulnerable and on-edge.
Places like Fort Scott, a town of 8,000 in Bourbon County, about 90 minutes south of Kansas City, are at the center of the debate in Kansas over the expansion of Medicaid now allowed by federal law. Kansas is one of 14 states that has yet to grow the program, which provides health coverage to low-income individuals and the disabled.
Under federal law, states that broaden Medicaid eligibility to up to 138 percent of the federal poverty line ($34,600 for a family of four) will receive extra money to help cover the costs, estimated for Kansas at somewhere between $34 million and $47 million a year.
(Read more: Government & Politics News |)
Proposed birth center in Winfield moved to location better suited for licensing requirements
A new location has been chosen for a planned birthing center in Winfield due to licensing requirements, the nurse-midwife behind the project said Wednesday.
Tarena Sisk, a nurse-midwife practicing in Winfield, had previously hoped to start a freestanding birth center at the former Iron Gate Inn at 1203 E. Ninth Ave.
However, licensing requirements from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment say all birthing rooms must be on the ground floor, something that would be hard to do in the multi-story home, also called the Baden House after its first owners.
Sisk has made an offer to buy a former group home owned by the Easter Seals-Capper Foundation at 1726 Chicago Ave., contingent on financing. This house is already ADA compliant and would meet licensing requirements, Sisk said.
Sisk and the current owner of the Iron Gate Inn petitioned the Winfield planning commission in February for a zoning change, which was granted Monday. She also has a Kickstarter campaign, trying to raise $25,000 to go toward the birth center. Having more money to put toward closing will make a big difference, Sisk said.
(Read more: The Arkansas City Traveler)
Horton Commission moves EMS into Armory
The Horton City Commission met for their final March meeting, and discussed the outcomes of moving the city’s EMS services into the Armory offices.
NEK-CAP would like to renew their lease for another five years, which will be discussed at a later meeting, but the move would remove HHS, Faith & Fun and Keith Olsen from the Armory, with the EMS group taking two offices to manage their activities. Interim City Administrator John Calhoon mentioned that scheduling and security would need to be discussed further with ambulance service now housed there.
(Read more: Hiawatha World Online)
Property owners give more feedback on proposed wind farm in Reno County
The Reno County Planning Commission Thursday heard public input on a proposed wind farm for land in the southeast part of the county.
The Thursday afternoon-into-Thursday-night meeting provided numerous people on both sides of the argument opportunities to make their opinions heard on why a wind farm should or should not come to Reno County.
NextEra Energy Resources is the company making the proposal for an 80-turbine farm east of Pretty Prairie. NextEra says the farm would add jobs and bring millions of dollars into the local community to go toward schools, roads and first responders. It says wind energy is safe and there are no negative health effects.
Aaron Andra who lives in the proposed area for the wind farm says its benefits outweigh potential risks.
“We’ve had a pretty bad farm economy, and having a payment that’s guaranteed every single year helps with financing at the bank and puts food on the table for our families,” he says.
Others who spoke Thursday night oppose the plans, expressing concerns about the turbines’ location to homes, the impact on property values, the noise and potential health issues.
(Read more: KWCH News)
Emporia City Commission lends support for i6 eco devo grant
The Emporia City Commission pledged its support for an economic development grant during an action session Wednesday afternoon.
The i6 Economic Development Grant is a program of the Economic Development Administration that was identified by Commissioner Rob Gilligan as an opportunity to bring more tech-based jobs and entrepreneurial opportunities to Emporia.
The $750,000 grant requires matching funds. The city has tentatively pledged $225,000 over three years toward the grant.
Mayor Jon Geitz said the goal was not to take away from the work that Emporia Main Street or the Regional Development Association already do in attracting businesses to the region, but rather to build on those successes.
“It is part of our economic development program,” he said. “Main Street does a very good job with entrepreneurship. Obviously, we don’t have much of a tech industry; this is an industry where we could maybe partner with ValuNet and utilize the ValuNet network. It’s something that’s thinking outside the box of the city’s economic development efforts.”
(Read more: Emporia Gazette)
On split vote, Ellis will apply for state grant for new swimming pool
A public hearing regarding construction of a new municipal swimming pool was conducted by the Ellis City Council Monday evening prior to the regular council meeting.
The Kansas Dept. of Commerce is offering a special round of grant funding for small city swimming pools.
A new pool for Ellis is projected to costs $1.85 million. The city can apply for a maximum $1 million state grant with a local match of $850,000.
It was a 3-2 vote later in the meeting on a resolution for Ellis to apply for the Community Development Block Grant funds.
(Read more: Hays Post)
Lawrence City Commission to consider study to evaluate trash rates; rates expected to change
Lawrence city commissioners will soon decide whether to hire a consultant to study the city’s solid waste service and the collection rates charged to Lawrence residents.
Currently, residential customers pay $18.80 per month for trash and recycling collection, and commercial customers pay a wide range of fees based on the size of container and number of pickups per month, according to the city’s fee schedule. However, it has been several years since the last cost analysis, and Solid Waste Division Manager Kathy Richardson said the city doesn’t know at this point whether the current rates are covering the city’s costs.
“The current trash rates were developed years ago based on cost of service, and that includes everything from the trucks and personnel to the containers and so forth, including the landfill fee,” Richardson said. “So there are a lot of different components that go into that.”
Read more: LJWorld.com.
KDOT pledges $1 million match for Ellis County Northwest Business Corridor
The Kansas Department of Transportation has pledged to match $1 million in funding for road improvements in Ellis County’s Northwest Business Corridor, contingent on approval of a grant the county has made to the Dane G. Hansen Foundation, Logan. Rep. Barb Wasinger (R-Hays), 111th District, brought together a coalition of federal, state, county and city leaders in February to see the road first-hand, tour businesses whose operations are affected by the road, and asked all parties to work together for a solution. “I’d like to thank Congressman Marshall, Commerce Secretary Toland and Deputy Transportation Secretary Douglas, as well as Senator Billinger, Representative Rahjes, and our county and city commissioners for their work on this project,” Wasinger said.
“Commitment of these funds from the state, along with previously approved Ellis County funding, are moving this project forward. We’re hopeful the Dane G. Hansen Foundation will favorably consider the county’s grant application, and help make these improvements a reality.”
(Read more: Hays Post)