Kansas Municipal News
Kansas imposes burn ban for 16 counties for the month of April
City of Wichita officials want to remind residents that open burning in certain areas of the state, including Wichita, is restricted during the month of April.
This burn ban is imposed in 16 counties through the month of April. Restricted activities include burning trees and brush from land clearing, crop residues, construction debris, yard waste, and the use of backyard chimineas and fire pits.
The following counties are included in the ban: Butler, Chase, Chautauqua, Cowley, Elk, Geary, Greenwood, Johnson, Lyon, Marion, Morris, Pottawatomie, Riley, Sedgwick, Wabaunsee and Wyandotte.
(Read more: KAKE – News)
Reno county officials say damage to wall at Harding Memorial will be repaired
County officials are aware of damage to the rock wall on the President Harding Memorial west of town and plan to make repairs, said Public Works Director Dave McComb.
County officials first discovered the extensive damage to the southeast corner of the wall on March 13, McComb said. There were no reports to law enforcement, however, about an accident there.
“We are familiar with it, but we don’t know what happened,” McComb said. “We are going to contact someone to get bids to go in and fix it, but it might be a little while before it’s done.”
The wall is within the county’s right-of-way on West Fourth Avenue, so the county is responsible for maintaining it, McComb said.
(Read more: News – The Hutchinson News)
Lawrence City Commission to consider settlement in housing discrimination lawsuit involving emotional-support dog
City leaders will soon review a proposed settlement in a housing discrimination lawsuit against local landlords that requires the landlords to attend a seminar on housing laws and make a donation to a local nonprofit.
The lawsuit, brought against the landlords by the City of Lawrence in 2016, claims that the landlords discriminated against a prospective tenant based on his use of an emotional-support dog. The Lawrence City Commission, as part of its meeting Tuesday, will consider approving a settlement agreement resolving the lawsuit.
The city claims that the landlords, Lyndon and Kathi Mullis, of KanMar Management, discriminated against Christopher Evans — whom the city identified in the lawsuit as a veteran with a mental disability — based on his disability and his use of an emotional-support dog. At issue was whether the landlords violated a local ordinance and federal fair housing law when they allegedly turned Evans away based on their pet policy for Ashbury Townhomes, 925 E. 14th St. The landlords denied the city’s claim and alleged in return that the city failed to establish that Evans has a disability covered by the Fair Housing Act and other housing discrimination regulations, among other claims.
Read more: LJWorld.com.
Shawnee County interim sheriff doesn’t think transition will be difficult
Phil Blume, Shawnee County’s incoming interim sheriff, doesn’t think his office’s deputies will have much trouble adjusting to the abrupt change in leadership they’re about to experience.
“This is probably more of an adjustment for me than anyone else,” Blume said Friday. “People have their job duties and assignments, and that’s not going to change. We’re going to push forward and continue our operations as we have.”
Blume, 54, will become interim sheriff next Wednesday after Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly announced Thursday that Herman Jones, Shawnee County’s sheriff since 2012, will replace Col. Mark Bruce as head of the Kansas Highway Patrol.
Jones, 60, takes over that agency in the wake of the resignations of Bruce and his second-in-command, Lt. Col. Randy Moon.
Jones had been among the two finalists for the KHP superintendent’s job in 2015, when then-Gov. Sam Brownback chose Bruce.
(Read more: Local – The Topeka Capital-Journal)
Committee continues to examine Topeka camping ban proposal
In just over a month, 19 people who were living on the streets in Topeka have gained housing, it was announced at Friday’s public health and safety committee meeting.
On Feb. 25, the city of Topeka adopted a Housing First approach, which provides housing without other barriers, said Corrie Wright, the city’s director of housing services.
“This is something amazing,” she said.
Although participants aren’t required to participate in such services as mental health or substance abuse treatment, they are doing so, Wright said.
Michal Enloe was one of three people who received keys to their apartments Friday.
“It was awesome,” he said.
The city in June first proposed a ban on camping, which was the major topic discussed at the meeting.
(Read more: Local Government – The Topeka Capital-Journal)
Wichita is the only major city in the region not to get ‘Hamilton’ tour. Here’s why.
Back in 2017, theater-loving Wichitans got their hopes up.
The massively popular Broadway show, “Hamilton,” was expanding its national tour and cities like Kansas City and Denver were among the first regional markets to secure the show.
Mark Edelman, then-president of Theater League — which brings traveling Broadway shows to cities across the country — told The Eagle at the time he was “optimistic” the musical would come to Wichita eventually. “I’m sure the season will come — not soon — but I’m sure the season will come when ‘Hamilton’ plays Century II,” he told The Eagle then.
Emphasis on “not soon.”
Four times in the past three years, a major touring Broadway show — in this case, “Hamilton” — has decided to skip Wichita, and officials are pointing the finger at Century II.
(Read more: Wichita Eagle)
Pratt County Veterans Memorial Lake drainage begins next week; will repair inlet and outlet valves
The first steps to repair damage to the inlet and outlet valves at the Pratt County Veterans Memorial Lake will involve lowering the Ninnescah River and draining the lake.
Doug Freund, county road and bridge supervisor, said Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism is scheduled to start drawing down the Ninnescah River on Monday, April 1 in preparation to drain the lake that is scheduled to start on Tuesday, April 9.
Staff from KDWPT will use electro shock and seine nets to remove as many game fish from the lake as possible.
Start time for repairs on the inlet and outlet valves will depend on when the water reaches the necessary level and when the company doing the repairs can begin.
(Read more: Pratt, KS – Pratt Tribune)
Parsons to streamline nuisance process
The city of Parsons will streamline its nuisance abatement process if commissioners approve an ordinance Monday evening.
During a regular meeting, the commission will consider an ordinance that would amend the current nuisance code, simplifying the abatement process by changing notification rules.
The ordinance would make notice requirements consistent with state law while also allowing the city manager to hear appeals instead of the city commission. It also would modify the mowing fee the city charges. Under the current ordinance, when people have created a nuisance such as storing inoperable vehicles in their yards or leaving an abundance of trash or debris laying around, the city must send a certified letter or pay a personal visit each time. Oftentimes, certified letters are never claimed or are rejected, and the city has to wait until the postal service tries to deliver it a couple more times before moving on in the process. Under the new ordinance, the city could forgo a certified letter or personal visit if a letter was refused or undeliverable within the last two years. The new ordinance also would eliminate the need for a commission resolution to grant the authority to tow a vehicle.
Gartner said the city now must wait 30 to 60 days to tow inoperable vehicles, but under the new rules, the city could tow some after only 10 days. The new ordinance also should cut down on the time the city must wait before mowing tall grass and billing the property owner.
(Read more: Parsons Sun)
Safety changes made to Clearwater intersection
Clearwater community members say they already feel safer at the intersection of 71st and 135th.
“You can just see the amount of traffic that has slowed tremendously. People don’t go flying by you at the streak of lightning. It’s a lot slower pace now,” says Casey Richwine, who lives in the area.
That’s because the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s office has increased the number of deputies patrolling the area. Several weeks ago, two cars collided at the intersection, leaving 9 people injured.The community went straight to county leaders after, asking for safety changes to be made.
“This community is asking for something. They’re not asking us to move a mountain. Something as simple as rumble strips,” says County Commissioner, Michael O’Donnell.
The county listened, immediately making changes.
(Read more: KAKE – News)
Greenwood County Sales Tax to increase Monday
Purchases in Greenwood County will cost a bit more as of Mondy as the sales tax will increase by .5 percent.
The half-percent sales tax increase, passed in last November’s election, is designated to the Greenwood County Hospital to pay off its accounts receivable. This is in addition to a 1 percent county sales tax that is currently in place for GWCH, making the total county sales tax 1.5 percent.
The state sales tax is 6.5 percent. With the additional half-percent added, most locations in Greenwood County will now pay 8 percent sales tax on purchases. The City of Eureka has its own sales tax of 2 percent. With the full 1.5 percent county tax, its sales tax will increase to a total of 10 percent on purchases. The City of Severy has a 1 percent city sales tax, making its total tax 9 percent as of Monday.
(Read more: Emporia Gazette)
KBI arrests Geary County Sheriff for alleged felony theft, again
The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) arrested Anthony J. “Tony” Wolf, 44, the Geary County Sheriff, just after 2 p.m. Friday at the Geary County Sheriff’s Office, 826 N. Franklin St. in Junction City. According to a KBI media release, Wolf was arrested for two new counts of felony theft. The charge alleges Wolf used county funds to purchase items that were then sold for personal profit, or maintained for personal use. On Friday he appeared at a pre-trial conference regarding the charges he was previously arrested for on Oct. 18 that accuse Wolf of giving a county-owned firearm as a gift to a third party, and for misuse of public funds. The misuse of public funds allegation asserts Wolf used public dollars in a manner not authorized by law.
(Read more: Hutch Post)
Brown County Commission moves forward on amended resolution for countywide sales tax
The Brown County Commission voted Friday to move forward on an amended resolution pertaining to a special election for a proposed half-cent sales tax to benefit the Hiawatha Community Hospital.
The vote came after much discussion between the commissioners and members of the Hospital Joint Advisory Committee, along with John Broberg, interim CEO of the Hiawatha Community Hospital.
The language of the Resolution NO. 19-0, which the commission unanimously approved, reads as follows:
(Read more: Hiawatha World Online)
Merriam creates operations supervisor position for facilities in preparation for opening of community center
The Merriam City Council voted unanimously to create a new position within the city’s Public Works department during Monday’s city council meeting.
The newly created position is for a Facility Operations Supervisor who will oversee citywide building maintenance.
“Recognizing that staffing levels will drastically change with the new community center, it is important to maintain efficient operations,” Parks & Recreation Director Anna Slocum told the council. “The maintenance needs of the new community center will be considerably different from that of the existing facility.”
The vacant facility maintenance position was part of the Parks & Recreation Department. The Facility Operations Supervisor position will become part of the Public Works department.
(Read more: Prairie Village Post – Neighborhood news and events for Prairie Village, Fairway, Mission Hills)
Lenexa developer wins incentives for new headquarters
Lenexa has agreed to issue $19 million in industrial revenue bonds and to offer a property tax abatement to help finance a new headquarters for Oddo Development at 105th Street and Lackman Road.
The company plans to build a 92,000-square-foot office/warehouse facility — it’s third relocated headquarters — down the street from its current headquarters, the Shawnee Mission Post reports. As part of the incentives, Oddo will be required to invest $15 million in the project and be a dues-paying member of the Lenexa Chamber of Commerce, among other requirements.
(Read more: Kansas City Business News)
Lawrence City Commission to consider increasing community input for downtown master plan
After Lawrence city commissioners criticized the process, commissioners will soon consider increasing the amount of community input gathered for the development of the Downtown Master Plan.
As part of its meeting Tuesday, the commission will consider revising and expanding the community engagement component of the development of the plan. The proposed changes would add $37,070 to the $110,000 contract for Houseal Lavigne Associates, the consultant helping the city to draft the plan, according to city staff memo to the commission.
The proposed expansion to the community input component calls for adding outreach activities for youth and college-aged community members and a mechanism for community groups to host their own workshops to gather input, according to the memo.
Read more: LJWorld.com.
Law allowing Kansas grocery stores to sell full-strength beer takes effect today
As of Monday, employees at grocery stores across the state will be stocking shelves with a product they’ve never been allowed to sell before — full-strength beer.
Elsewhere, liquor stores will also begin to stock shelves with new nonalcoholic products, although some liquor store owners say the changes are a bit of a mixed bag.
On Monday, a law that was passed by the Kansas Legislature in 2017 will go into effect and allow grocers and convenience stores to sell beer with an alcohol content of up to 6 percent alcohol by volume, or ABV. Under previous law, they could only sell beer with up to 3.2 percent ABV.
“It can’t come soon enough,” said Sheila Lowrie, a spokeswoman for Dillons Food Stores, which has four stores in Lawrence.
Read more: LJWorld.com.
Richard LaMunyon founded the “Law Enforcement Torch Run” in Wichita in 1981 — it has since grown into the largest fund-raising entity in the history of Special Olympics!
Richard LaMunyon (current Maize city administrator and former Wichita Police Chief) founded the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics in 1981 in Wichita. That first year, five officers ran five miles with five Kansas Special Olympics Athletes and $300 was raised.
Chief LaMunyon helped the fundraiser expand statewide, nationwide and worldwide when he approached the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) in 1982. And, in 1983, Chief LaMunyon approached International Special Olympics founder, Eunice Kennedy Shriver, for Law Enforcement to become a “funding” partner.
Fast forward to the present (2019)
- The Law Enforcement Touch Run movement is the largest fund-raising entity in the history of Special Olympics
1981 = “5” Wichita Police Officers
2018 = “110,000” Officers - Every state in the US and 45 other Countries around the world.
1981 = $300 (One Torch Run program – Wichita Police Department)
2017 = $58,000,000 (120 Law Enforcement Torch Run programs)
The end of 2021 goal is to have raised $1 Billion (40th year anniversary)
Chief LaMunyon recently attended the 2019 Special Olympic World Games in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, and he participated in Torch Run Final Leg…
Impressed by Lawrence’s sense of community, city manager finalists hope to make a difference
Both candidates for the position of Lawrence city manager said the city’s sense of community appeals to them and that they intend to improve on it if they’re hired.
The city announced Wednesday that the two finalists are Susan Sherman and Craig Owens. Sherman, originally from Ada, Ohio, is currently the assistant city manager for Olathe. Owens, originally from Overland Park, is the city manager of Clayton, Mo.
Both Sherman and Owens are graduates of the University of Kansas Master of Public Administration program and are International City/County Management Association Credentialed Managers.
Read more: LJWorld.com.
Oswego clinic to open Monday
The temporary Labette Health Oswego Clinic and Express Care will open Monday at 608 Commercial in Oswego, the former home of Sonic Drive-in.
Clinic hours will be 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays. Labette Health is still working on a permanent location for future health care in Oswego and also is working with Chetopa for a clinic site.
The clinic site will have seven staff, two providers, two medical assistants, two clinic coordinators and a housekeeper. The two providers will be Amy Smith and Cindi Major. Both are certified advanced practice registered nurses.
Labette Health’s clinic will offer primary care and express care, lab draws and electrocardiograms. The temporary site will have 2,016 square feet with four exam rooms and one procedure room.
The hospital will make an announcement soon about a permanent location in Oswego and its plans.
Labette also is working to open a medical clinic in Chetopa.
(Read more: Parsons Sun)
Healthier Lyon County proposes sidewalk improvements
Emporia City Commissioners are closer to considering a resolution to improve some city sidewalks, bike paths and sharrows as part of a Healthier Lyon County initiative.
Healthier Lyon County Grant Director Daphne Mertens told city commissioners that $100,000 was available for the project during Wednesday’s study session. The money is part of Healthier Lyon County’s $500,000 Blue Cross Blue Shield Pathways grant that was awarded in 2017. Mertens said city commissioners had turned over discussions on the initiative to the Multi-Use-Path Planning Board to identify possible locations where enhanced or added sidewalks would be the most beneficial to residents. The board determined sidewalk infrastructure was needed in front of Dillon’s, 902 E. 12th Ave., and at Good’s Cash Saver, 2703 West U.S. Highway 50.
“The sidewalk infrastructure there will allow residents to walk safely to Dillons and walk home from Dillons, as well as to allow some access for ESU students who live in the central part of town,” she said.
Good’s was identified during a healthy grocery store assessment as part of the grant, and at that time there was no public transportation delivering customers to that location to shop. The absence of sidewalks, bike lanes and sharrows was also identified as a challenge for the area.
(Read more: Emporia Gazette)
Joint Hospital Advisory Committee votes no to Sabetha’s request; revises sales tax resolution to include Horton
The Joint Hospital Advisory Committee voted “NO” to a request from Sabetha Community Hospital for a portion of a half-cent sales tax designated for Hiawatha Community Hospital and healthcare in Brown County.
This vote came Thursday during a noon meeting of the committee — which was formed in January to help the Hiawatha Community Hospital find a solution to its financial issues — after much discussion and a presentation by Lora Key, CEO of Sabetha Community Hospital.
The bottom line was the committee members felt that the sales tax should go toward facilities maintained in Brown County. They pointed out that Sabetha Community Hospital receives around $350,000 in sales tax from Nemaha County — a move that came in 2015 when voters there approved a half-cent sales tax. The sales tax was split with 55 percent of revenue going to the hospital in Seneca and 45 percent going to Sabetha’s hospital, determined by the sales tax collected. “Should Brown County sales tax revenue be used for a facility outside of Brown County?” Brown County Kevin Hill asked. “That’s what we should look at.”
Key said Sabetha Community Hospital serves a portion of Brown County residents with in-patient and out-patient care and provides care to 22 Home Health patients here. Hiawatha Community Hospital interim CEO John Broberg said Hiawatha Community Hospital also serves Sabetha patients in both the clinics and the hospital and collaborates with the neighboring community on providing referrals to specialists there. He said he wants to continue working together.
Hiawatha Mayor Bill Collins said he was against splitting the money up and sending it outside of the county.
(Read more: Hiawatha World Online)
Leavenworth County Commission approves disaster declaration
When they met Wednesday, Leavenworth County commissioners approved a resolution for a local disaster declaration resulting from flooding from the Missouri River.
Commission Chairman Doug Smith had signed a disaster declaration document over the weekend, according to Kim Buchanan, deputy director of Leavenworth County Emergency Management.
But Buchanan said she wanted to bring the matter to the entire County Commission for approval.
Buchanan said the Leavenworth area has been under a flood warning since March 13. According to Chuck Magaha, Leavenworth County Emergency Management director, the local declaration will allow the county to be included in a state disaster declaration and possibly a federal declaration.
The county could qualify for federal assistance to help local government entities recoup losses that have resulted from the flood. But Buchanan said two thresholds have to be met in order for the county to qualify. She said the losses of governmental entities in the county would have to total at least $288,000, and losses statewide would have to total about $4.2 million.
(Read more: Leavenworth Times)
Sedgwick County hosts public forum on solar, wind energy
Kansas is no stranger to alternative energy, with several wind farms popping up across the state in recent years.
A public forum is scheduled tonight for residents to provide input on wind and solar energy systems in the county.
In Reno County, at the border of Sedgwick County, county officials said around 80 turbines will soon pop up.
Officials looked around Sedgwick County, and found several leases for solar and wind energy developments.
Following this news, Sedgwick County Commissioners voted in February to temporarily ban wind and solar energy developments in the county.
“We put a moratorium on any kind of solar or wind energy program until we can figure out what the rules and regulations are…how we’re going to zone this type of property,” explained Dennis.
The county does not have any regulations currently.
The public forum is the first part in deciding whether or not to allow alternative energy in the county.
“It’s something that a lot of people are very passionate about right now and we want to make sure we want to have their input before we make any decisions,” Dennis said. “We’re going to do what’s right for Sedgwick County.”
(Read more: Top Stories | KSNW)
City of Lawrence announces two finalists for city manager position
The City of Lawrence has announced final candidates for the position of city manager.
The two finalists are Susan Sherman and Craig Owens, according to a news release from the city Wednesday. Sherman is currently the assistant city manager for Olathe. Owens is the city manager of Clayton, Mo.
Mayor Lisa Larsen said that all the candidates selected for interviews were strong candidates, but that Sherman and Owens stood out due to the depth of their city management service.
“They have been in city management for many, many years and their duties have just increased over their time in service,” Larsen said. “And they’re real well known in their industry and well respected, from everything that we could see.”
Read more: LJWorld.com.
Crawford County commission approves cyber insurance contract renewal
An insurance representative for a company that provides cybercrime insurance to the Crawford County government gave a presentation at the March 26 county commission meeting highlighting that in the time since the county first purchased its cyber insurance policy last year, it has already had an incident that was covered by the policy.
“It was a phishing incident,” said Chris Bohrer of Wood-Dulohery Insurance, Inc., “where they had gotten in and gotten ahold of some information and locked up some different things.”
The Federal Trade Commission’s consumer information website describes phishing as “when a scammer uses fraudulent emails or texts, or copycat websites to get you to share valuable personal information – such as account numbers, Social Security numbers, or your login IDs and passwords,” that scammers then use to steal a victim’s money or identity.
Bohrer said County Counselor Jim Emerson and the county’s information technology employees handled the incident properly.
“The problem that you have though is you’re fighting the entire world,” he said, when it comes to cybercrime.
(Read more: Pittsburg, KS – Morning Sun)
Newton makes minor change to beer rules
The Newton City commission amended city code to allow for the sale of stronger beer at retailers to reflect changes made by the state legislature that will allow stronger beer to be sold in stores April 1.
SB 13 amended state law in relation to cereal malt beverages, allowing grocery stores and other retailers to sell stronger beer, 6.0 percent alcohol — all but eliminating the sale of “grocery store” beer, which contains 3.2 percent alcohol. Current cereal malt beverage retailers affected by the change include Dillons, Walgreens, Casey’s, Walmart, Kwik Shop, Dillons Fuel Center, Newell Truck Plaza and Happy LLC. “The current city code mirrors state code, however, the city can be more restrictive if they choose to do so,” City Attorney Chris Towle said.
However, the commission chose to not make any major changes to the code aside from allowing the sale of beer with 6.0 percent alcohol.
(Read more: Newton Kansan)
City of Manhattan to continue exploring rental inspection ordinance
More than a dozen people spoke in favor of creating a mandatory rental inspection ordinance in the City of Manhattan during Tuesday’s City Commission meeting. A majority of the commission was in favor of city staff further exploring a mandatory inspection program, but no ordinance was passed.
Since Manhattan’s rental registration program began in 2017, more than 13,000 rental properties have been filed with the city. Though the program does not require any mandatory code inspections, Manhattan Assistant Fire Chief Brad Claussen says they’ve performed about 99 per year since 2011 — when Manhattan’s mandatory inspection program was rescinded.
Commissioner Jerred McKee brought the topic forward and says he’s been working with renters and landlords for more than a year on the issue. He didn’t endorse any specific elements for a policy, but advocated the city look at the Lawrence model to build from.
(Read more: 1350 KMAN)
Henson named new Spring Hill police chief
Cindy Henson was appointed Spring Hill’s new chief of police during the Spring Hill City Council meeting March 15.
“It is my privilege to nominate Cindy Henson to the position of chief of police in the city of Spring Hill, Kansas, and give these officers the leadership they deserve,” Mayor Steven Ellis said.
Henson was selected from a pool of more than 15 applicants, which was ultimately refined to five top candidates, according to a city news release. “Cindy Henson is the right person for the right job at the right time in the right town,” City Administrator Jim Hendershot said.
Henson currently serves as a major with the Overland Park Police Department, where she’s worked for 27 years. She will begin her duties with the Spring Hill Police Department on April 8.
(Read more: The Miami County Republic)
Reno County approves contract to review road signage in eastern third of county
The Reno County Commission this week approved an agreement with an area engineer to examine road signage in the eastern third of the county to ensure proper signage is in place
The estimated $378,000 project will look at some 238 miles of paved “collector roads” east of K-14 highway and be funded entirely by KDOT under a special “high-risk rural roads” signage program.
(Read more: News – The Hutchinson News)
Miami County approves revised fire agreement with City of Osawatomie
Miami County commissioners Wednesday, March 20, approved a revised agreement with the city of Osawatomie for rural fire and emergency services.
The county, which contracts with the city of Osawatomie for rural fire service, took over management of Fire District No. 1 in January after dissolving the district’s fire board.
The revised agreement reflects the management change, Fiscal Services Director Steve Lyman said in a report to commissioners. The other revision in the agreement, Lyman said, is that the city of Osawatomie will pay firefighters directly for their rural fire calls. The city would then submit a monthly bill for reimbursement by the county. Lyman said the financial terms of the agreement are not changing, and Osawatomie firefighters would continue to be paid the same amount for their rural fire calls.
Before, the Osawatomie Fire Department submitted bills for rural fire calls to the fire district board for payment.
(Read more: The Miami County Republic)
Miami County approves two-year contract with administrator
Shane Krull has to be a good juggler.
The Miami County administrator has several projects in the air that should be resolved in the coming months.
Miami County commissioners voted 4-0 to approve a two-year employment contract with Krull, who began his 15th year as county administrator in December 2018. The new contract goes into effect April 1 and runs through March 31, 2021. The two-year contract is the customary length for the administrator’s position, Commissioner Rob Roberts said after the vote.
“Hopefully it will continue many more years after,” Roberts said of Krull serving the county.
(Read more: The Miami County Republic)
KDHE issues health advisory, safety tips for Flint Hills burning season
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment is reminding Kansans that March and April are a time when large areas of the state’s Flint Hills rangeland are burned. These burns help preserve the tallgrass prairie, control invasive species such as eastern red cedar and sumac, and provide better forage for cattle. Prescribed burning minimizes risk of wildfires and is effective in managing rangeland resources. Smoke from the burns can influence the air quality of downwind areas. The use of smoke management techniques is vital to reduce impacts.
KDHE activated the Kansas smoke modeling tool on March 1, prior to widespread burning in the Flint Hills. The computer models use fire data and current weather conditions to predict the potential contribution of smoke to downwind air quality problems. On average there are approximately 2.3 million acres burned in the Flint Hills of Kansas and Oklahoma each year.
“We encourage ranchers and land managers to take advantage of this smoke modeling resource to spread out their burns more effectively and mitigate potential air quality impacts,” said Douglas Watson, meteorologist at the KDHE Bureau of Air. “For burns to be safe and effective, weather and rangeland conditions must be ideal. Many landowners will burn at the same time when such conditions are met. Air pollutants from the burns can affect persons in the Flint Hills and can be carried long distances to more populated areas.”
Goessel to get new sign
The Goessel city council met on March 18 and discussed the Goessel sign near K-15 that identifies the city. The council had already been discussing replacing that sign for several months and had considered various options. They had obtained pictures and prices.
Council members have acknowledged that the current sign served the city well for many years. But it has faded and is no longer sturdy. It leaned over during the recent bad weather, and the lighting was damaged. The sign was surrounded by water from recent rain. The water had to subside before public works director Karen Dalke could get to the sign to straighten it temporarily. Now it needs to be replaced. The council made a decision on a specific sign. It will be rock with the word Goessel in large letters and 1895, the year it was established, in smaller numbers. The sign itself will be from 2DOGS Concrete Designs, LLC of Potwin, Kansas, at a cost of $8,925. Additional costs will include concrete work and lighting.
(Read more: Hillsboro Free Press)
New gas pipeline to cut through Sedgwick County
A 187-mile pipeline is being planned to cross Sedgwick County carrying volatile gas liquids, including propane and butane, from Kansas to Oklahoma.
County officials were briefed Wednesday about the plan by representatives of the Williams Companies Inc., a Tulsa-based energy giant with holdings in natural gas transportation and processing.
The pipeline will be called the Bluestem and will run from the town of Conway in McPherson County to Kingfisher County, Okla. The line will mostly run across farmland, but will pass through the city of Cheney.
It will carry 225,000 barrels a day of pressurized gas liquids that are by-products of natural gas production, said Jay Vincent, a contractor for Williams who met with the Sedgwick County commissioners on Wednesday.
The county will have to issue permits for the pipeline to cross county roads. Commissioners asked several safety-related questions about depth and leak prevention.
(Read more: Wichita Eagle)
City of Leavenworth may enter into agreement with Department of Corrections for signs
The city of Leavenworth may contract with a Kansas Department of Corrections agency to create new street signs.
City commissioners voted Tuesday to authorize City Manager Paul Kramer to enter into a sign fabrication agreement with KDOC.
If the agreement is approved, the city would rely on Kansas Correctional Industries to produce signs that identify street names.
KCI provides inmate-produced goods and services to state and local government entities and other qualified organizations, according to the agency’s website.
Leavenworth Public Works Director Mike McDonald said the city government would not cease its in-house sign-making operations. But he said contracting with KDOC will help meet a goal of improving signage throughout the community.
(Read more: Leavenworth Times)
City of Hutchinson has new human relations officer, planning director
The City of Hutchinson has filled two vacant positions.
City Manager John Deardoff announced today Datjaeda Moore has been selected as the city’s new human relations officer. Under the supervision of the city manager, Moore will be responsible for administering the Human Relations Ordinance pertaining to anti-discrimination in housing, employment and public accommodations in cooperation with the Human Relations Commission. The city also has a new planning director. Expected to start in May, Ryan Hvitlok comes to the city with more than 10 years of municipal and regional planning experience, most recently as city planner for Fergus Falls, Minn. He holds a master’s degree in urban and regional planning from Minnesota State University, as well as bachelor’s degrees in political science and sociology from Winthrop University.
(Read more: Hutch Post)
Derby Planning Commission approves school’s site plan
he plan for the city’s newest school received a green light to proceed from the Derby Planning Commission.
After a review, the governing body approved Stone Creek Elementary School’s site plan at its March 21 meeting.
Stacy Christie, architect with Schaefer Johnson Cox Frey Architecture, which designed the school, was pleased with the way the design turned out. Stone Creek has an innovative approach and has two wings – one for kindergarten through second grade and one for third through fifth grade – as well as learning hubs, breakout spaces and resource classrooms, among other features allowing teachers to educate in a collaborative manner.
The school will feature natural light, flexible seating, “smart” drop-off and pickup lanes, storage, and a community room for classes for parents and staff. Security also is a major feature, Christie said, and reduces lines of sight inside. Access points are limited and there will only be one daytime access area.
There’s also a lot of flexible space, she said.
The plan is for the building itself to “stand for a long time,” but the interior may be able to be adjusted due to changing wants and demands. Walls will be able to come down, if needed, Christie said.
(Read more: DerbyInformer.com – news,news/)
Project Wichita takes next step with high-profile advancement team
Project Wichita this week announced a group of recognizable local leaders who will act as its advancement team to help drive progress on the issues identified by the new initiative.
That team will include two of Project Wichita’s co-chairs, Aaron Bastian, president of Fidelity Bank, and Juston White, executive director of the Boys & Girls Clubs of South Central Kansas.
Joining them will be Jeff Fluhr, president of Greater Wichita Partnership; Susie Santo, president and CEO of Visit Wichita; Ronn McMahon, president and CEO of the Greater Wichita YMCA; and Shelly Prichard, president of the Wichita Community Foundation.
The Greater Wichita Partnership’s Evan Rosell, who is helping lead Project Wichita, announced the group publicly for the first time Tuesday at the WBJ’s Wichita Employer Summit.
(Read more: Wichita Business Journal)
Andover modifies pit bull ban for annexed residents
The Andover City Council says people who are annexed into the city can be pit bull owners, but keeping the pets comes with compliance regarding the city’s laws.
Last month, Eyewitness News told you about some of those rules. Requirements annexed pit bull owners must meet include paying a $50 fee, microchipping the dog and muzzling the pit bulls when they’re off of their owners’ property. The owner must also have a minimum of $100,000 in liability insurance and must put up a sign indicating that a “dangerous” dog is on their property.
Pit bulls have been banned in Andover since 2001, but the city faced a challenge with a newly annexed neighborhood. This is where the Andover City Council took action Tuesday night.
The ban for the rest of the city remains in effect.
(Read more: KWCH News)
Pretty Prairie voters say yes to city sales tax
Voters in Pretty Prairie passed a proposed one-percent city sales tax for maintenance of streets, related utilities, and the infrastructure under the streets, in a special election Tuesday.
The unofficial tally was: Yes 76; No 23.
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Pretty Prairie, with a population of about 654 residents, does not have a local sales tax. The one-percent tax, to start this year, will be in addition to the state’s 6.5 percent sales tax and Reno County’s 1.5 percent sales tax, making the new overall sales tax rate 9 percent. The city sales tax will sunset after ten years.
(Read more: News – The Hutchinson News)
Finalists for Lawrence’s next city manager to be announced this week; community meeting to follow
Final candidates for the position of city manager will be announced this week, and an event to allow residents to weigh in on the finalists will occur soon.
The Lawrence City Commission conducted the first round of in-person interviews for city manager with a pool of six candidates in closed session Saturday. Mayor Lisa Larsen said at the commission’s most recent meeting that the commission planned to select two or three finalists from the interview pool who will be publicly announced Wednesday.
Larsen said the finalists would be invited back to participate in additional in-person interviews and meetings with the community.
Specifically, Larsen said that as part of the second round of interviews, finalists are tentatively scheduled to hold community meetings on April 7. As part of the meetings, Larsen said each finalist would give a 30-minute presentation and then answer questions from the community for approximately 30 minutes. The event will be recorded on video, and Larsen said residents would be able to submit their thoughts about the candidates to the commission.
Read more: LJWorld.com.
Crawford County Commission looks for ways to reduce unexpected Highway 69 costs
After hearing last week from the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) that Crawford County could have to quickly come up with roughly $1 million to facilitate construction on the Highway 69 project in the Franklin area, the Crawford County Commission discussed the issue further at its March 26 meeting.
Commissioner Jeremy Johnson said he had talked to Rep. Monica Murnan (D-Pittsburg), the Kansas Dept. of Commerce, and the office of Lt. Governor Lynn Rogers about getting outside funding to cover the cost, but so far had heard of “no definite action” to assist the county in paying the expense. There might be a way, however, to get it partly covered retroactively “because a million dollars is a lot on short notice,” Johnson said.
Commissioner Bruce Blair said he had also reached out to some local state representatives, adding that he didn’t know if $1 million was an accurate estimate of the Highway 69 project expense, which has to do with the right of way where the highway is being constructed and a sewer district in the Franklin area that the county is responsible for.
(Read more: State News – Morning Sun)
Will developers make big bucks replacing Century II? School board member wants answers
A Wichita school board member on Tuesday took on the head of a committee that wants to replace Century II, asking if developers are the ones who stand to gain the most if the city goes forward with building a new performing arts center.
“There’s a lot of emotion in the city right now of distrust,” said school board member Ernestine Krehbiel. “Who is this for? Is there some developer that’s going to make a big buck on this?”
She said the prospect of replacing the iconic blue-roofed building “almost feels like a double-cross” because the city hasn’t kept up its maintenance, which in turn has led to high cost estimates to renovate it instead of building new. “It’s the city’s problem that it hasn’t been maintained and that’s another one of those frustrations,” Krehbiel said.
Mary Beth Jarvis, president of Wichita Festivals and chair of the Century II Advisory Committee, said she couldn’t fault City Hall for the shape the center is in.
She said investing in it would be like making major improvements to a house you’re not sure you want to live in — and it’s been that way for the past eight to 10 years.
“If you don’t know whether you’re going to move next year, I mean you throw a coat of paint on it, as they’ve done,” she said
(Read more: Local News |)
Sabetha officials ask for portion of Brown County sales tax
Officials from Sabetha Community Hospital and the City of Sabetha were on hand at the Brown County Commission meeting Monday morning, March 25, to ask that the commissioners amend a resolution calling the question for a 10-year, 1/2 percent sales tax question to support healthcare services in Brown County. Lora Key, Sabetha Community Hospital’s CEO, presented a formal request to commissioners, asking that they amend the resolution to include Sabetha’s hospital.
“As the CEO of a critical access provider in a small community, I want to see Hiawatha and Horton [hospitals] be successful,” Key said. “It is my desire and the desire of my hospital board that these hospitals be successful, but we also ask that you look at those dollars that are from Sabetha retail sales.”
Two weeks ago, the Brown County commissioners approved Resolution 19-07, calling the question to an election on May 21. At that time, the stated use for the generated funds would be to first pay industrial revenue bonds obtained through the City of Hiawatha for $2 million, then subsequently be directed to Hiawatha Community Hospital as general tax support for the hospital. If approved, the sales tax would be implemented on Oct. 1. This decision by the county commissioners came after months of meetings of a joint advisory committee that included officials from the Hiawatha hospital, as well as Brown County and the cities of Hiawatha and Horton. The committee, which did not include any City of Sabetha or Sabetha Community Hospital representatives, was formed after the urgent situation at Hiawatha’s hospital was brought to light.
Last week, Norm Schmitt — a Sabetha City Commission member, and member of the SCH Board of Directors — made the same informal request, but at that meeting, the matter died due to the lack of a motion.
(Read more: Sabetha Herald)
Barton County Planning Commission announce possible changes to zoning regulations
While getting the County Commissions approval for the three members to the Planning Commission Monday, Environmental Manager Judy Goreham also told them of some updates that are in the works for zoning regulations. A public hearing will be held concerning the changes before the issue is brought back before Commissioners.
The Planning Commissions focus is to plan for proper growth and development in Barton County through enacting planning and zoning laws for protection of public health, safety and welfare.
(Read more: Great Bend Post)