Municipal News & Jobs

Kansas Municipal News

Baby Cakes owner pitches baseball dream, says this is Wichita’s ‘moment in time’

With a New England accent and penchant for colorful detail delivered without taking a breath — at least when he’s in sales-pitch mode — Baby Cakes owner Lou Schwechheimer is in Wichita to sell a dream.

Whether Wichita’s buying is yet to be seen.

In Schwechheimer’s telling, the return of affiliated Minor League Baseball to Wichita means the return of the simple joys of a “magical” ballpark serving a slice of “Americana.” He weaves his own “only-in-America” narrative into the story. “I remember as a kid growing up in the projects,” several of his stories begin.

He talks about playing baseball in the streets from early morning until so late in the day he could no longer see the ball.

“That’s kind of the magic that baseball had for me.”

He says he didn’t go to a professional baseball game until age 12 when he won a newspaper contest for selling the most subscriptions to the Daily News of Newburyport in Massachusetts.

He, his father and a busload of kids went to Fenway Park, where Schwechheimer said they walked up a ramp to a sea of people — more than he’d ever seen in one place — and a burst of color in the form of the famous Green Monster wall high in left field.

“I was in awe of that moment.”

Schwechheimer is equally adept at redirecting a conversation he’d rather not have.

Can he understand widespread criticism that the deal to lure him and his team from New Orleans has not been as transparent as it could or should have been?

“I want what’s best for the city of Wichita. We’re in Wichita because we want to be there.”

That’s what he told New Orleans, too, in 2016 when he purchased the Zephyrs, which he renamed the Baby Cakes.

Another group had tried and failed to move the team to Houston.

“Asked if he was going to keep the Zephyrs in New Orleans, Schwechheimer said, ‘Absolutely,’ ” according to an April 2016 story in the New Orleans Advocate.

Lawrence City Commission to consider lowering fines for marijuana possession

Lawrence city leaders will soon consider whether to move forward with changes that would decrease the city’s penalties for possessing marijuana, which currently amount to hundreds of dollars.

Last month, Lawrence city commissioners expressed support for lowering the fine for the possession of small amounts of marijuana to $1 for first and second convictions. As part of its meeting Tuesday, the commission will consider amending the city ordinance that lays out the penalties for marijuana possession.
Mayor Lisa Larsen told the Journal-World that for her, lowering the fines for marijuana possession is about criminal justice. Larsen noted that studies have shown that people of color are arrested for marijuana possession at much higher rates than white people.

Read more: LJWorld.com.

Lawrence City Commission will discuss budgeting $250K for study to improve city’s stoplight timing

Those frustrated that their commute across Lawrence includes significant time spent behind a stoplight could soon see some relief.

At its meeting Tuesday, the Lawrence City Commission will discuss amending the 2019 budget to include $250,000 for a city-wide traffic signal coordination and timing study that aims to improve travel in the city.
In a memo to the commission, city staff state that the city’s current systems are inadequate and outdated, and that staff believes they do not meet community expectations. Specifically, staff notes that the time it takes to drive across the city and the frequent stops required have been cited as a source of frustration by many residents in citizen surveys, letters to the editor and correspondence with city officials.

Read more: LJWorld.com.

Emporia’s dedicated animal welfare fund paid for dog park

A visitor to the Buck Fund Dog Park recently asked me to provide additional information about the Buck Fund.

They knew the Buck Fund was associated with the dog park but wanted to know more about how community members can support the Buck Fund and what the Buck Fund does for animals. The H. Dale Buck Animal Welfare Memorial Fund, commonly known as the Buck Fund, was named after the brother of Dorothy Matile, who started the fund after her brother died.

The Buck Fund has been involved in many projects related to animal welfare. The Buck Fund donated money for two dog runs at the Emporia Animal Shelter and assists the shelter in transporting animals out of town to shelters.

The Buck Fund did raise the funds necessary to build the dog park located at 2920 West 24th Ave. The land, known as Dryers Park, is owned by the city, but the Buck Fund raised the funds to provide the fencing needed to transform the open area into a safe place for dogs to play and run.

“It’s a city park, but we buy the poop bags,” Kelley said. “Years ago, we raised all the money for the fencing, that’s why we got to name it the Buck Fund Dog Park. We opened in 2006.”

(Read more: Emporia Gazette)

With flooding possible, experts issue reminders to keep your family healthy, safe

While families keep an eye on the Missouri River levels, health experts are offering reminders about possible flood water concerns.

The Johnson County Health Department is stocked up on tetanus shots. They said if you get a cut or have a wound that comes into contact with standing water, and if you haven’t had a tetanus shot in 3-5 years, go see them or call your doctor.

Of course, experts say the best idea is just to stay away from and out of the water.

“Little children are tempted by it,” said Mary Beverly, Johnson County Health Department’s deputy director of health and environment. “They think, ‘Oh that’s something fun to go play in.’ But there could be something sharp in the water. There could be the bacteria, chemicals, all kinds of things — hazards that they could get into and they don’t even realize it.”

(Read more: fox4kc.com | FOX 4 – WDAF)

Owner of Triple-A baseball team: ‘We’re staying in Wichita’

The majority owner of the Triple-A baseball team headed to Wichita says his team is committed to coming in 2020.

“We are here for the long haul. And you heard it here first on Channel 12,” said Lou Schwechheimer.

He sat down with Eyewitness News Monday afternoon ahead of a controversial vote by the Wichita City Council regarding private development for the new baseball stadium which will house the team.

Schwechheimer said a stall in the vote to give four acres of land to that developer will not affect his team’s decision to move to Wichita.

The city moved its council meeting from Tuesday morning to Tuesday evening to allow for citizens to come out and voice their concerns regarding a deal. Schwechheimer says he plans to be there.

“I look forward to meeting folks with questions,” he said. “I look forward to us having a chance to tell a little bit more about our story of how we came here and about our 40+ years previous to coming to Wichita so that people have their questions answered they have a right to know.”

(Read more: KWCH News)

Shawnee County Commission votes 2-1 to fund traffic circles landscaping

After a lengthy discussion, Shawnee County commissioners on Monday morning voted 2-1 to approve $43,000 for a landscaping project that will enhance traffic circle “islands” in the historic Potwin neighborhood of west-central Topeka.

Commissioners Kevin Cook and Bill Riphahn voted for the project, which was awarded to Topeka Landscape. Commission chairman Bob Archer voted against it.

The project, which will include installation of irrigation systems and new vegetation in all eight Potwin traffic circles, will be overseen by Shawnee County Parks and Recreation, which has been responsible for the circles’ upkeep since the city and county parks and recreation departments were consolidated in 2012.

The vote came after Archer questioned Parks and Rec director John Knight about why the county was being tabbed with taking care of the traffic circles, as they were the property of the city of Topeka.

Knight responded by saying the upkeep of the Potwin circles — which serve as roundabouts in the middle of brick streets in the tree-lined neighborhood of Victorian houses — had fallen to the county-run Parks and Rec department as part of an agreement in its consolidation with the city’s parks and recreation department, which took effect Jan. 1, 2012.

Archer said he thought the county being responsible for the maintenance of the Potwin traffic circles “begins a trend that’s not good,” noting that other areas in the county, such as Clarion Woods and Clarion Lakes, also have a number of traffic circles and green space for which homeowners had assumed responsibility.

Department of Commerce announces speaker lineup for Rural Opportunities Conference

Registration is still open for this year’s Kansas Rural Opportunities Conference in Dodge City.

The Kansas Department of Commerce hosts this conference annually to provide useful information about rural Kansas living, as well as to engage in a dialogue with rural Kansans to determine how the Department can bolster its efforts to improve the well-being of rural communities in the state.

The Conference will take place at the Boot Hill Casino & Conference Center in Dodge City on April 2-3.

(Read more: The Salina Post)

Butler County jail employees to receive incentives

PIn response to County Detention Facility financial difficulties, the Commission adopted the “Detention Facility Revenue Incentive Policy” in 2017 to: ”…align the Detention Facility operations with county tax payers by incentivizing the Detention Facility and its staff to focus of housing revenue generating inmates in a safe and efficient way.” The policy goes on to state: “all Detention Facilit(ies) employees will be offered a bonus payment based on the total actual non-tax, fee related Detention Facility revenue that was received in the prior year (budget year) compared to the budgeted amount for the prior year…” Additionally, the policy calls for a calculation each February after the audit is completed. The first year of this policy was applicable to is 2018.
The willingness of jail management to increase revenue inmates was at least partially due to turnover in a few key management positions. No doubt reversing the low revenue numbers of the first quarter took much planning and effort by all jail staff, especially considering the effects of low, although better than before, staffing levels, which resulted in mandatory overtime. Because of these unique circumstances, it was recommended to remunerate the County Jail, in the amount of $20,000,to be distributed per the Detention Facility Revenue Incentive Policy.

(Read more: andoveramerican.com)

City looks to ditch Westar as legislature considers mandating rate study

On Tuesday, as the City of Pittsburg reviews two potential contracts related to a plan to take over electric utility service from private provider Westar, the Kansas House of Representatives has a hearing scheduled for a bill which recently passed the State Senate and which would mandate an independent study of electric utility rates.

“There’s been a lot of pressure on Westar to lower their rates,” Deputy City Manager Jay Byers told the Morning Sun on Friday. But the bill — if passed would require a bipartisan legislative council to select an outside organization to complete an electric utility rate study by 2020 “doesn’t really affect what we’re doing right now,” he added.

Byers pointed out that there are currently 118 public electric utilities in the State of Kansas. According to Kansas Municipal Utilities, an organization representing such providers as well as municipal natural gas, water, wastewater and telecommunications utilities, this means Kansas has the 4th highest number of public power providers of any US state, with 1 in 6 Kansans served by a municipal power utility. The median size of such power providers, however, is a utility serving just 832 customers, while Pittsburg is a city of more than 20,000 people.

(Read more: Pittsburg, KS – Morning Sun)

JoCo leaders plan summit to address the future: A metro area rocked by climate change

When a United Nations report detailed the irreversible and long-lasting effects of global warming, Shawnee Councilwoman Lindsey Constance found herself fixating on the future of her 8-year-old daughter, Lucy.

The Weather Channel had ranked Kansas City fifth of 25 U.S. cities most likely to be affected by climate change. Scientists say more days above 90 degrees, extreme drought and heavier rains are in store for the metropolitan area.

“I flipped in my head to 2030,” said Constance, referring to the year her daughter graduates high school. “To me it was terrifying to think about the fact that we might not have much of a hopeful future.” After an international group of scientists issued the climate report in October, Constance teamed up with the city of Roeland Park and its mayor, Michael Kelly, to rally local leaders around addressing climate change in the Kansas City area.

What started off as a one-time workshop in December for those interested in studying the problem has since transformed into the Metro KC Climate Action Coalition, which received national recognition this month as it prepares to host a Climate Action Summit it hopes will draw up to 1,000 people in September.

Merriam is taking no action on petitions regarding new community center process

The city of Merriam has determined that it will take no action regarding three petitions it received earlier this year from Merriam residents about the city’s process for building the new community center.

The petitions contained a list of requests from a group of Merriam residents regarding design of the new aquatics center, the sale of land in Vavra Park and how money is spent from the city’s I-35 tax increment financing (TIF) district fund. The group who submitted the petitions — the self-named Merriam Concerned Citizens — is made up of Merriam residents who submitted the petitions in January, citing concerns with the new community center process.

City Administrator Chris Engel said that, per state statute, the city is not required to take action on any of the petitions as submitted.

How Southwest Kansas could get the college grads it needs

Check out Dodge City.

A new $12 million waterpark. A shiny new craft brewery — not far from the new whiskey distillery. And, yes, that trendy new downtown cafe.

A nearly $6 million addition to Boot Hill Museum just kicked off last fall. That’s about when Dodge City wrapped up $86 million in renovations and expansions to its schools.

Much of rural Kansas is withering. Not Dodge City. It offers a growing anchor in the state’s southwest, grounded in the meat industry and energized by the thousands of people who work at its slaughterhouses.

But the town’s success story risks hitting a 21st-century ceiling. It lacks a four-year college.

That complicates upward mobility for blue-collar workers, costs the town services it sorely needs and hinders efforts to diversify the local economy.

Some residents leave the region to chase the schooling that leads to higher-paying jobs. Others can’t afford to. Meanwhile, plenty of middle-class jobs in the region go unfilled, such as teaching positions and better-paying health care work.

That’s why community leaders dream of bringing four-year college to this icon of the Old West.

“It’s the only way,” said Joann Knight, head of economic development, “to really address our health care issues and the lack of education out here.”

(Read more: Local – The Hutchinson News)

Hoisington wanting pets vaccinated by March 31

The City of Hoisington recorded 20 bites from dogs or cats in 2018, a number that was three times higher than a year before.

For Hoisington Code Enforcement Officer Dolores Kipper that number is alarming, but could be less alarming if owners take their pets to get vaccinated. Kipper encourages pet owners to get the vaccinations prior to March 31 because after that date the price will double. Those dog and cat owners that do not get their animals vaccinated by March 31 will receive a reminder letter from the City of Hoisington. Kipper says if owners ignore the letters, a citation will follow.

(Read more: Great Bend Post)

Topeka officials consider banning arrow signs

Saying they make the city look bad, Topeka’s planning and development department recommends prohibiting the portable, marquee-type signs seen at various locations in Topeka.

“Please ban the arrow signs,” requested one anonymous respondent to a survey the city recently conducted using the SurveyMonkey website.

Another wrote about those signs: “They have been institutionalized in this community and I HATE them. Boyles Joyland’s sign business was protected for many years and the result is the blight we see today. Is it possible to get the horse back in the barn? I hope so!”

Doing away with those types of signs is among various proposed changes to city sign laws the Topeka Planning Commission will talk about Monday.

Ballpark developments aren’t so promising, economists say. But some cities disagree

As Mayor Jeff Longwell touts everything a baseball park can do for Wichita, he points to several cities where he says new Minor League ballparks successfully spurred development.

Sports economists say that’s not usually what happens.

“In general, the idea that if you build it they will come — and if you build a sports facility and development will spring up around it — is a myth,” said sports economics journalist Neil deMause. Yet there’s no question that there’s thriving development around the ballparks that Longwell uses as his top examples. There is a question, though, if the ballparks can claim credit.

“Politicians have a way of selling what they’re trying to do, and many times they sell that . . . with promises of future benefits,” said Craig Depken, professor of economics at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.

“It’s not the politicians promising,” Longwell said of Wichita. “It’s the developers that are putting their money in.”

Oklahoma City, Charlotte and Durham, N.C., are some of the top places Longwell cites as development success stories when discussing a deal to lure Lou Schwechheimer and his Baby Cakes team from New Orleans.

The deal includes, in part, a $75 million stadium that the city would build where it has already demolished the longtime Lawrence-Dumont Stadium and several acres that the city would sell for $1 an acre to Schwechheimer and an unnamed investment group to develop. Longwell has previously said that without that part of the deal — which is not finalized — the team won’t come.

The city would pay for the ballpark by borrowing money through issuing bonds. It would use a mix of financing tools such as STAR bonds, tax increment financing and a community improvement district, which would allow the city to direct sales and property tax money generated in the area to help pay off the bonds.

“It doesn’t sound to me like a promising project,” said Andrew Zimbalist, an economist at Smith College in Massachusetts.

(Read more: Wichita Eagle)

How Wichita is planning to pay for a new $75 million baseball stadium

Here’s a breakdown of how the new baseball stadium in Wichita will be financed, based on numbers provided by the city on March 14.

(Read more: Local News |)

Dodge City region searching for access to 4-year college

Dodge City officials say the Kansas town’s recent economic growth is endangered by the lack of a four-year college.

The city anchors a 28-county region in western Kansas without a four-year college. In recent years, the city completed $86 million in renovations and expansions to its schools, an addition to the Boot Hill Museum, a new $12 million waterpark and several new businesses.

The Kansas News Service reports city officials believe the lack of a four-year college forces students to leave to pursue higher education. That, in turn, means many middle-class jobs such as teaching or health care go unfilled.

Joann Knight, head of economic development, says the city would welcome a satellite campus for universities based elsewhere that could build on the area’s community college programs.

(Read more: KWCH News)

Pratt County commissioners approve storage containers

In a split vote, Pratt County Commissioners approved the establishment of a combination container storage and RV storage area in the southeast portion of the county.
Several months ago in October 2018, Kelly Nienke, agent for Donna Weigle storage, established an area at 30065 SE 30th Avenue for container storage and RV storage. Some storage containers were placed on the site. However, Nienke did not go through the necessary steps with the Planning and Zoning Committee and the Pratt County Commissioners to establish the facility, said Tim Branscom, Zoning administrator.
Nienke filed with Planning and Zoning Board for special use application to establish the facility for no more than 20 storage containers and no more then 20 RV storage areas. Conditions on the application included a site plan, lighting, no hazardous materials allowed, site must be kept clean, any fuel tanks on RVs would have to be drained, said Nienke who works at the site or within two miles.
As for security, Nienke said he could install cameras at the site.
The containers are used to transport cargo on ships. These containers have been across the ocean once and are in good shape. The RVs cannot be left there permanently, this is just temporary storage. Nienke said he would keep the property mowed
The Board accepted the application and sent it to the Pratt County Commissioners for their approval. Branscom said any change in the number of containers or RVs would require another special use application.

City Council meeting about $1 an acre land sale moved to evening for public feedback

Wichita’s City Council approved moving its Tuesday meeting from the morning to the evening, with the goal of drawing a larger crowd to discuss a proposed $1 an acre sale of city land.

The land sale is being offered as part of a side deal between the city and the owners of the New Orleans Baby Cakes to bring the Triple-A Minor League baseball team to Wichita. The city has already agreed to build the team a new stadium and started construction on that project last month.

But the team won’t come without the land sale, which would allow the team to develop near the stadium, Mayor Jeff Longwell said last week. The meeting is scheduled to start at 6 p.m. on Tuesday in the council chambers on the first floor of City Hall, 455 N. Main. People entering City Hall are required to go through a security checkpoint.

The council usually meets at 9 a.m., when many Wichitans are at work or in school. But Vice Mayor Jeff Blubaugh said that because this issue has ignited so much public interest, he wants to make sure anyone who wants to can attend the meeting.

(Read more: Local News |)

Wichita City Council looking to install sensors to monitor traffic

Next week, the Wichita City Council will move forward with a plan to install sensors on stop lights downtown. Its goal: to shorten the time it takes you to get to work or school.

Starting with the Central Business District, the city is looking to install sensors that monitor traffic. This will allow busier roads to have steady green lights until a sensor picks up a car wanting to cross that street or a pedestrian pushes a crosswalk button.

The city says the sensors require fiber optic cables.This means tearing up more concrete downtown, but what may be a construction headache eventually should lead to a positive outcome, the city says: shortening your morning commute.

(Read more: KWCH News)

Hillsboro Community Hospital declares bankruptcy

The Hillsoboro Community Hospital isn’t closing its doors, but with a financial strain, the hospital this week declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

The Hillsboro Free Press reports from a hospital spokesman that “this action is taken to protect the improvements that have been made and to continue on that pathway.”

The newspaper reports Hillsboro Community Hospital was one of two Empower-owned hospitals to file bankruptcy this week. Horton Community Hospital filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on Thursday, a day after Hillsboro Community Hospital made the move.

(Read more: KWCH News)

More places in Kansas will soon sell full-strength beer. Here’s what that means

In less than a month, you’ll be able to walk into a grocery or convenience store in Kansas and buy full-strength beer.

That may sound simple. But it’s a sweeping change for Kansas, one of the last states to sanction such sales.

The state held tight to Prohibition for decades and has allowed liquor stores to exercise near-total dominance over the retail sale of alcohol since then.

Beginning April 1, liquor stores will lose part of that control. Some fear — and others hope — that the changes won’t stop with strong beer. Legislators changed the law only after years of campaigning by grocery and convenience stores for expanded sales. Liquor stores mounted intense opposition before the sides reached a compromise in 2017.

The law allows convenience and grocery stores to begin selling beer with up to 6 percent alcohol by volume on April 1. Now, the stores can sell beer with 3.2 percent alcohol by weight.

The law also enables liquor stores to sell non-alcoholic products as long as they don’t exceed 20 percent of gross sales, though tobacco and lottery tickets would be excluded from the total.

(Read more: Government & Politics News |)

Commissioners to consider donation for SOS domestic violence assistance group to house all operations in one location

SOS Executive Director Connie Cahoone and Child Advocacy Center Director Lucas Moody updated the Lyon County Commission on the purchase of a new building, capital campaign and renovations during a meeting Thursday morning at the courthouse.

SOS offers services in four separate locations — three of which are rented. They recently purchased 1420 C of E Dr., which currently houses KVOE. Cahoone said the radio station will remain in the building.

The rest of the building will be renovated to house all SOS staff and services.

“This is something that we’ve wanted to do for years,” Cahoone said. “We had a woman come in not too long ago who had a young child on her hip, holding the hand of another one and had tears in her eyes and said, ‘I need to get a protection order.’ I had to look at her and say, ‘I’m sorry, but you’re in the wrong location. We can help you, but you have to go somewhere else.’”

Cahoone said people seeking assistance in domestic violence situations may not always have the strength to get back in the car and go to another location for help. By housing all staff and services under one roof, she said SOS will be able to help more people.

(Read more: Emporia Gazette)

Topeka asked to OK additional sales tax for Wanamaker retail properties

A development company is asking Topeka elected officials to authorize it to levy a sales tax upon customers, in addition to the sales taxes they already pay, to help finance a proposed $31.4 million project to redevelop property that includes the site of a former K mart at 1740 S.W. Wanamaker Road.

Topeka’s governing body plans Tuesday to consider setting an April 9 public hearing at which it would consider establishing a community improvement district, which would levy an additional 1 percent sales tax at the retail properties owned by Fort Wayne, Ind.-based EIG Wanamaker, LLC, at the southeast corner of S.W. 17th and Wanamaker Road. “The project will reposition an aging shopping center to be competitive in an increasingly challenging retail environment by utilizing the most effective and efficient incentive tool for the rejuvenation of outmoded retail property,” said a document in the agenda packet. “The project will fill a vacant K mart space with multiple new tenants.”

A chart in the agenda packet indicated the proposed 1 percent sales tax was expected to bring in revenue from various businesses on the properties involved, including a Pizza Hut, a Hobby Lobby, an AutoZone, a Slumberland and a Bed, Bath & Beyond.

Geary County looking at need for future building security upgrades

Future security upgrade needs for Geary County owned buildings are beginning to come into focus.

A Homeland Security representative recently toured facilities with county officials. Commissioner Ben Bennett said they found that there were some holes in the security. “We’re working now as a county commission to try and fill those holes up. We thought we had them but there are some certain things we needed to be aware of, so we are assessing those. Of course some of them will cost dollars and we have to figure out where those dollars are going to come from.”

Bennett noted that the security upgrade could be a continual process.

(Read more: Junction City Post)

Basehor rejoins Leavenworth County Development Corporation

The city of Basehor has rejoined the Leavenworth County Development Corporation.

The announcement was made Thursday during a monthly meeting of LCDC’s Board of Directors.

The cities of Leavenworth, Lansing, Tonganoxie and Basehor as well as the county government traditionally have provided funding to the economic development organization. But Basehor ended its partnership with LCDC at the end of 2017.

Lloyd Martley Jr., who was the Basehor city administrator at the time, said LCDC focuses heavily on industrial business development. But Basehor does not have an industrial park, and city officials were looking for other types of commercial development.

Steve Jack, LCDC’s executive director, said Thursday that the decision for Basehor to rejoin LCDC came after he had a meeting with Basehor’s new city administrator, Leslee Rivarola.

“We had a really good lunch,” Jack said. “She said, ‘I’m ready to come back.’”

Jack said the Basehor government is paying a $10,775 membership fee. He said fees charged on an annual basis to cities that participate in LCDC are determined by a formula that factors in property valuation and population.

“We’re happy to be representing all four cities again,” Jack said.

(Read more: Leavenworth Times)

River floods, continues to rise in Leavenworth

The Missouri River reached its flood stage early Thursday morning in the Leavenworth area. And the river continues to rise, according to the National Weather Service.

At 3 p.m. Thursday, the river was at a depth of 21.5 feet in the Leavenworth area.

The NWS continues to update the forecast for the river. But a forecast this morning was predicting the river will crest Wednesday of next week at a depth of 29.2 feet. And the river will remain above its flood stage until at least March 24.

The river reaches its minor flood stage for the Leavenworth area at 20 feet. The river reaches its moderate flood stage at 24 feet.

If the forecast holds true, this will be the river’s worst flood in Leavenworth since 2011 when the river reached a depth of 30.8 feet, according to the NWS.

At Leavenworth’s Municipal Service Center, employees were filling sandbags Thursday.

(Read more: Leavenworth Times)

Moundridge Busy With Construction

This Spring and Summer will bring more than blooming flowers and crops in Moundridge, Kansas. The warmer months will bring a wide variety of construction projects to the community totaling over $4 million in private construction activity and nearly 15 million in public construction. Some have already started, but in all, the City is preparing for approximately ten significant public and private construction projects this year.

As Costs Skyrocket, More U.S. Cities Stop Recycling

Recycling, for decades an almost reflexive effort by American households and businesses to reduce waste and help the environment, is collapsing in many parts of the country.
…
With fewer buyers, recycling companies are recouping their lost profits by charging cities more, in some cases four times what they charged last year.
Amid the soaring costs, cities and towns are making hard choices about whether to raise taxes, cut other municipal services or abandon an effort that took hold during the environmental movement of the 1970s.
…
Perhaps counterintuitively, the big winners appear to be the nation’s largest recyclers, like Waste Management and Republic Services, which are also large trash collectors and landfill owners.
Recycling had been one of the least lucrative parts of their business, trailing hauling and landfills. Analysts say many waste companies had historically viewed recycling as a “loss leader,” offering the service largely to win over a municipality’s garbage business.

Idea to change Arkansas City to Etzanoa falling flat

For more than a century, the community 14 miles south of Winfield has been known as Arkansas City. But somebody wants to change the name to Etzanoa, although the idea hasn’t gained much traction.

An online petition through the change.org website, started by the Etzanoa Coalition, has only gathered 13 supporters so far. And people associated with the project of Etzanoa, the name of the large Native American settlement being unearthed east of Ark City along the Walnut River, don’t know who is behind the so-called Etzanoa Coalition, and the petition itself does not provide any clues.

But that hasn’t stopped people from commenting on social media.

(Read more: The Arkansas City Traveler)

City discusses proposed vaping ordinance

Teresa Briggs of Healthier Lyon County came to the city’s Wednesday study session to talk with city commissioners about the possibility of adding vaping to an ordinance that prevents smoking in public places. She also talked about the possibility of boosting the tobacco and vaping age to 21. Vaping, Briggs said, is not covered by the Kansas Clean Air Act, which prevents people from smoking in places of business and other public places. She feels vaping should fall under the same restrictions as smoking.

(Read more: Emporia Gazette)

Wichita leaders say new stadium deal will spur development, despite questions over transparency

Wichita’s city leaders say they’re working to make the process of building a new AAA baseball stadium more transparent. But they say they’ve had to operate by the minor league’s rules and the rules of competition, making public discussion of negotiations difficult. They believe the struggle to balance those different concerns will be worth it for the entire city.
Mayor Jeff Longwell pointed to private development apparently already underway around the stadium, as an example of what a good deal this will be for Wichita… even as he says the city is working to make the entire process more transparent.

“If you look at cities that have been successful, the Charlottes, the Raleighs, the Oklahoma Cities, the Durhams, the Greenvilles, all of those cities have put in new stadiums and they’ve seen development around those stadiums just absolutely take off,” Longwell said Thursday morning.

(Read more: KAKE – News)

Unified Government moves forward with downtown KCK grocery store

The Unified Government of Wyandotte County/Kansas City, Kansas, is one step close to a downtown grocery store. Earlier this week, the Planning Commission approved design plans for the store, which will be owned and built by the Unified Government. It will go to the Board of Commissioners for a vote on March 28. Katherine Carttar, the Unified Government’s director of economic development, told the Kansas City Business Journal that when the designs were presented at community listening sessions, clear trends emerged.

(Read more: Kansas City Business News)

Emporia talks specifics on land

The Emporia City Commission continued its ongoing land bank discussion during a study session Wednesday morning. City Attorney Christina Montgomery presented commissioners with a draft ordinance for the land bank. She said the Community Housing Board had expressed willingness to serve as an advisory board for the land bank. If created, the land bank would take properties that had been abandoned, foreclosed upon or that were otherwise distressed or underutilized with the intent of returning them to productive use and alleviate problems caused by having such properties in the city.

(Read more: Emporia Gazette)

National League of Cities grants Roeland Park $10,000 to help coordinate metro-wide climate change resiliency efforts

In December, Roeland Park Mayor Mike Kelly and Shawnee Councilmember Lindsey Constance organized a workshop at Village Presbyterian Church in Prairie Village that brought more than 120 elected officials from across the Kansas City metro together to discuss how local leaders could work together on strategies for addressing climate change and preparing the area for its effects. More than 120 elected officials from the Kansas City area attended the climate change workshop in December. This week, the National League of Cities announced that it would award a $10,000 grant to Roeland Park to continue efforts to organize a metro-wide response to climate change.

Atchison County works to step up 911 responses

Atchison County Emergency Communications officially took a leap forward into the future to keep in step with the next generation of 911 without missing a beat in the meantime.
Atchison County commissioners unanimously voted during a special meeting on Thursday to enter a contractual agreement with the Mid-America Regional Council for the regional agency to provide 911 services to the Atchison County Communications Center. This means if the contract is approved the county’s joint communications operation will be part of consortium that includes Johnson County, Leavenworth County, Miami County, the Unified Government of Kansas City and the following counties in Missouri: Clay, Jackson, Platte, Ray, as well as City of Excelsior Springs, Missouri, and Cass County Missouri Emergency Services Board. The counties are contiguous with one another and are subject to the terms in accordance to an inter local agreement. If the counties agree to admit Atchison County then membership becomes effective within the current year.

(Read more: Atchison Globe Now)

Troubled northeast Kansas hospital closes after struggle with overdue bills

A northeast Kansas hospital run by an embattled health management company has shut down operations after struggling for months without enough funds to pay its employees or buy medication and food for patients.

The city of Horton’s only medical provider, Horton Community Hospital, closed on Tuesday, the Topeka Capital-Journal reported. Residents will now have to travel 12 miles to Hiawatha for medical care.

The hospital’s chief of staff, Dr. Richard Brown, said the closure didn’t come as a surprise. Hospital workers, who have faced weekslong gaps in pay, had been working with the Kansas Attorney General’s Office and Kansas Department of Health and Environment to find a way to keep the facility open, Brown said.

Read more: LJWorld.com.

City leaders review 24 candidates for new Lawrence city manager; finalists to be announced in coming weeks

City leaders have started to narrow down a field of two dozen candidates for the position of city manager, and three finalists for the city’s top administrative job will be announced in coming weeks.

Instead of its regularly scheduled meeting Tuesday, the Lawrence City Commission held an approximately two-hour executive session to review applications for the city manager position. Following the session, Mayor Lisa Larsen said that 24 people applied, and that the commission had selected six people to continue to the interview stage.

Read more: LJWorld.com.

Gov. Laura Kelly directs agencies to help Horton hospital employees

Gov. Laura Kelly is directing state agencies to assist employees at Horton Community Hospital in the wake of the hospital’s closure. Employees there worked for weeks without pay as the hospital struggled with finances before closing Tuesday afternoon. Kelly’s office said state officials will be in Horton on Thursday to help hospital staff with filings for unemployment benefits and job applications.

“I’m concerned for the community of Horton as they face the serious loss of their local hospital,” Kelly said. “This is becoming a far too frequent occurrence in our state. Local hospitals are key to the health of Kansas families and are often one of the largest employers in a small town. Elected leaders must work together to do more to support our local hospitals.”

Strong wind topples stegosaurus at Derby dinosaur park

A 3,000 pound stegosaurus at Derby’s Field Station: Dinosaurs was no match for a powerful south-central Kansas wind gusting to about 60 mph Wednesday afternoon.
The dinosaur park’s manager says the facility bringing prehistoric creatures to life has some dinosaurs that weigh up to 10 tons, or 20,000 pounds.
“This dinosaur blew over because it has those fins on the back and the wind caught it,” Field Station: Dinosaurs manager Lon Smith says. “Now that it’s on its side, we will turn it and point it into the winds, so it probably wouldn’t happen again.”

(Read more: KWCH News)

Davis recognized for excellence in financial reporting for City of Andover

The certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting has been awarded to the City of Andover by the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA) for its comprehensive annual financial report (CAFR). The Certificate of Achievement is the highest form of recognition for governmental accounting and financial reporting. This attainment represents a significant accomplishment by a government and its management.

An Award of Financial Reporting Achievement has once again been bestowed upon Donna K. Davis, Chief Financial Officer. Davis is the individual responsible for preparing the City of Andover’s award-winning CAFR. The Award was presented to Davis at the Andover City Council meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2019. “I want to extend my thanks for all Ms. Davis does to prepare the CAFR annually. She does an excellent job,” Stated Mayor Ben Lawrence at the February 12 Council Meeting. This is the 39th year in a row the City has received this honor and the 20th year for Davis.

(Read more: El Dorado Times)

Overland Park commission OKs plan for Metcalf pet daycare over objection of neighbors leery of barking

The owner of Two Dogs and a Cat pet care facility believes his second location, planned for 7620 Metcalf Avenue, will offer a service that many new apartment dwellers moving into downtown Overland Park will use. Some neighbors, however, were leery of noise from the 90 dogs that could be there if the business is at capacity during the day. They told city planning commissioners they’d prefer a different location for a place that will include an outdoor play area for the animals.

Five people who have homes or businesses near the area between Floyd Street and Metcalf urged commissioners not to approve a five-year special use permit that would allow pet boarding at the strip mall where John Cavalcanti hopes to expand his business. “Ninety dogs outside barking just doesn’t appeal to me,” said Rob Thomas, a property owner on nearby Floyd Street. “I would ask all of you if you would be okay if 90 dogs were to move into your neighborhood across the street from your house. Would you vote for that?”

Leavenworth City Commissioner approves contract for management of festival

When they met Tuesday, Leavenworth city commissioners approved a contract for a company to manage a new community festival. The new festival, which will be called Camp Leavenworth, is scheduled for Sept. 21-22 in the downtown area. Commissioners voted Tuesday to hire O’Neill Events and Marketing, Kansas City, Missouri, to manage the festival. The firm previously was hired by the city to conduct event research for a possible city-sponsored festival. The company developed a proposal for the theme of the festival, which was presented to commissioners last month. Keli O’Neill Wenzel, president and CEO of O’Neill Events and Marketing, said last month that the festival’s theme will celebrate the city’s sense of freedom and adventure, and it will pay tribute to the community’s ties to the military.

(Read more: Leavenworth Times)

Douglas County leaders: ‘Desire is there just to work together’ with City of Lawrence on Fire Medical chief hire

The Douglas County Commission has renewed hope that the county might have a seat at the table as the city of Lawrence seeks to hire the new chief of Lawrence-Douglas County Fire Medical.

Lawrence City Manager Tom Markus indicated at the City Commission’s March 5 meeting that he did not intend to include a county representative in the hiring process for the next chief of the joint city-county service. County commissioners at their meeting the following day directed Interim County Administrator Sarah Plinsky to draft a formal letter to the city.

Read more: LJWorld.com.