Kansas Municipal News
City of Abilene seeks input concerning municipal building
The City of Abilene is seeking public input concerning the future of the Dwight D. Eisenhower Municipal Building.
In a post on its Facebook page, the city is asking citizens for feedback. According to Abilene’s website, the city is “undertaking a review of the Dwight D. Eisenhower Municipal Building to determine a plan for the future of the public facilities located in the current facility.”
“Many aspects of the building are no longer adequate to meet the public service needs of the departments that use the building. The gymnasium/auditorium is deteriorating and would require extensive rehabilitation to return it to a respectable condition,” the website states.
The oldest part of the building is approximately 85 years old.
Departments housed in the building include administration, community development, police, and fire.
(Read more: The Salina Post)
Hospital Committee moves forward on helping hospital with financial issues
Another step in helping the Hiawatha Community Hospital with its financial crisis was taken Monday when a joint committee voted to recommend to local governments an approval for a half-cent county wide sales tax and pursue a bond issue for $2 million.
The joint committee was formed in January and made up of representatives of Hiawatha, Horton and Brown County Commissions, along with a representative of the HCH Board of Trustees. The vote to take this step in helping the hospital with its financial issues came after discussion pertaining to recommendations made by the committee to the hospital board. The committee had made several recommendations at a previous meeting that included specifics about the financial needs of the hospital, along with details about financing a bond through a half cent countywide sales over a 10-year period – which would require a special vote of the county’s registered voters.
(Read more: Hiawatha World Online)
City hears final word on hospital joint-commission
The joint-County and City advisory commission met prior to Monday night’s Hiawatha City Commission meeting, and City Administrator Mike Nichols, who is the chairman of the joint-commission, brought a final update to the City. Nichols stated that the group had made their recommendations to the hospital, and at this point, the commission’s job appears to be done. One of the sticking points from prior meetings seemed to be resolved, as the hospital said they would work toward an affiliation with a regional healthcare provider, and if that did not come to pass, they would seek out a healthcare management firm to assist with finances. The commission had put finding a healthcare management firm to the hospital as a condition of the sales tax proposal, but was satisfied with the suggestion of a regional provider affiliation. Representatives of the hospital, said Nichols, now needs to go before the County Commission to request placing a half percent sales tax on a special election ballot.
(Read more: Hiawatha World Online)
Hiawatha City Commission hears tree inventory report
A representative from the Kansas Forest Service was present at Monday evening’s Hiawatha City Commission meeting, and had some suggestions for sweeping change on the city’s tree population.
Kim Bomberger inventoried and rated the trees along Hiawatha’s city streets, and found that 37percent of the city’s trees are sugar maples, and 16 percent are silver maples, while it is suggested that one species of tree make up no more than ten percent of any city’s tree population. Bomberger suggested planting no more maples outside of strategic and highly visible areas, to prevent the opportunity for disease or infestation from destroying a large percentage of trees at one time. She also suggested that the city take back management on the trees from homeowners, annual pruning, and proactively removing ash trees that are in poor condition to stay ahead of the ash bore problem that is spreading throughout the state.
(Read more: Hiawatha World Online)
Olathe Council says no to LGBTQ ordinance. Advocates unhappy with weak resolution
The Olathe City Council on Tuesday approved a resolution affirming the city’s opposition to many forms of discrimination, including on the basis of a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity. But that vote was not welcome by members of the LGBTQ community.
The measure, which passed on a 4-2 vote, came after a number of meetings where members of the community have asked the council for a full ordinance banning discrimination in housing, employment and receiving public services from stores, restaurants and other businesses.
Many of those advocates criticized the resolution Tuesday, noting that it lacks a means of enforcement. Around 20 people spoke about the issue after the vote. The room was filled with residents there to hear about that issue and various other council matters.
(Read more: Joco 913 News)
Junction City approves license fee for trash haulers for hire
The Junction City Commission has approved a five percent license fee for non-city trash haulers, effective July 1st.
City Manager Allen Dinkel said they will have to pay the fee based on five percent of gross revenues on a monthly basis to the city. It will be similar to franchise fees paid by telephone, cable t-v, electric and natural gas suppliers. The City trash service also returns any profits that are realized back into the City general fund as well.
(Read more: Junction City Post)
Lenexa adopts resolution supporting push for LGBTQ legal protections at state and federal level
Lenexa city leaders on Tuesday approved a measure voicing their support for statewide and federal adoption of a legal protections for LGBTQ+ individuals.
Rather than moving forward with a city-level non-discrimination ordinance, as other cities in northeast Johnson County have done, the Lenexa council voted 7-0 to adopt a resolution to amend Lenexa’s state and federal legislative policies to include language from those non-discrimination ordinances. The updated platform is intended to show the city’s support for creating state and federal legal protections for sexual orientation and gender identity.
(Read more: Prairie Village Post – Neighborhood news and events for Prairie Village, Fairway, Mission Hills)
Town hall audience in Marysville favors using excess pool funds for rec projects
A show of hands at a town hall meeting Monday indicated that a majority of the 50 people attending would favor using some of the $2 million in excess swimming pool sales tax funds for other recreational projects as long as the pool was maintained.
Several ideas of projects were brought up at the combination town hall meeting and Chamber After Hours organized by Marysville Chamber of Commerce.
Marysville High School tennis coach Mary Kessinger-Wassom said that for 25 years she has been asking the city to build functional tennis courts and now she wonders if the city will bulldoze the courts because they have fallen into disrepair.
Mayor Carla Grund said she wanted the city to build a trail around the entire town to connect to and promote the new Blue River Rail Trail, which is expected to be extended into the north part of town this summer.
City Clerk Cindy Holle reminded everyone that the pool sales tax was also supposed to pay for future maintenance and operating costs that will be required to keep the pool open.
(Read more: The Marysville Advocate)
Upgraded water metering system approved in Derby
A $2.3 million contract to install and support what is called the Advanced Metering Infrastructure system was approved by the City Council at its Feb. 26 meeting.
The price includes materials, software, communication infrastructure, training and hosting fees for the first year. Bonds were issued in December 2018 in the amount of $2.7 million to finance the project.
The company provides system information for the utility and for the customer in the form of a web-based online portal, according to Robert Mendoza, director of public works. “This portal enables customers to view and actively participate in their own water usage management and conservation efforts,” he said in his report to the council.
The system works using wireless technology.
As designed, it will provide tools for constant water use monitoring and leak identification.
(Read more: Derby News | derbyinformer.com)
City wants community’s input on future of L.W. Clapp Golf Course
The city of Wichita is inviting the public to discuss the future of L.W. Clapp Golf Course at a series of community engagement meetings.
The first Clapp Transformation Committee meeting is Wednesday from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Water Center (101 E. Pawnee).
The committee was formed to help determine what should happen to the golf course after much back and forth about its future.
“The thing that people need to realize, is that we cannot sustain five city golf courses. We just can’t. With that being said, golf is on a decline a little bit and we’re just bleeding money right now so it’s best people understand that. I know we don’t want to lose the golf course, and we don’t, but we just can’t sustain five city golf courses,” said George Theoharis, Clapp Transformation Committee member.
(Read more: KWCH News)
What is a Sedgwick County commissioner worth?
On Jan. 13, Pete Meitzner abandoned his City Council office and crossed the street to take office as a Sedgwick County Commissioner. It is a short walk across Central Avenue, but a very big step financially for Meitzner.
His salary as a City Council member was about $40,000. Across the street, he will make $98,304 a year as a Sedgwick County Commissioner, more than doubling his annual salary on the City Council.
Meitzner is joined on the County Commission by newcomer Lacey Cruse, a fresh face on the local government scene. Although Cruse has zero experience in local government, she may well be the most valuable commissioner to take office that day. She is unpolluted by the past shenanigans of the current commission. She has no close ties to any of the other commissioners, and that sets her apart from her fellow commissioners. But does she merit a salary of nearly $100,000 a year? This isn’t an individual criticism of either Meitzner or Cruse. They deserve the same respect and recognition of any elected public official. But their election provides a timely opportunity for a discussion of compensation of our local elected officials.
Why are county commissioners paid so much more than City Council members? Under their best behavior, county commissioners don’t appear to provide twice the value of a Wichita City Council member (or Derby, Andover, Maize or Valley Center, for that matter).
(Read more: Wichita Eagle)
Park City unveils new flag
Park City debuted its new flag to city residents at a ceremony on Feb. 16.
According to the Ark Valley News, the city council voted 7-1 to match $11,775 in Convention and Tourism funds for a new city flag. A selection committee was also formed at the time. Gardner Design of Wichita researched the city and met with community members before developing the flag. The center of the flag is formed by an intersection of horizontal and vertical lines, representing I-135 and K-96, the two major roadways providing access to Park City.
A dark blue and green leaf overlaps the center of the flag, representing the city’s parks and the potential for growth. At the center of the leaf is a star, which is meant to symbolize hope and imagination.
A line splitting the flag into eastern and western halves represents how the city is split into two school districts by I-135. A general wave effect throughout the design is meant to display unity.
(Read more: Area | derbyinformer.com)
City pursues new street light policy
Parsons city commissioners will consider a new policy that would allow residents to pay half of the cost for a street light when a request is made for the placement of a light.
The commissioners on Monday directed city staff to establish a policy for consideration at their next regular meeting on March 18.
The issue came up as the commission was discussing a request from Robert Montee for a street light near his property on a dead end in the 3700 block of Morgan Avenue. Montee said there are suspicious vehicles sometimes parked at the dead end.
The city has an unwritten policy to place street lights at intersections only, but commissioners can stray from the policy for special requests such as Montee’s.
Commissioner Kevin Cruse said he favored Montee’s request but that the city needs to be diligent about why and where it places street lights. Although Westar Energy charges the city only about $10 per light per month, Cruse noted that the total for all lights around town adds up to around $150,000 a year, an amount equal to about three mills in property tax.
Commissioner Peter Cook said he wasn’t opposed to the placing a light near Montee’s property, but residents should pay for half of the cost of a light when they request special placement.
(Read more: Parsons Sun)
Montgomery County sheriff served court summons after KBI investigation
Montgomery County Sheriff Robert Dierks last week was served a summons to appear in court following an investigation by KBI agents concerning a DUI arrest last year.
The KBI says Dierks will appear in court Wednesday on one count of interference with a law enforcement officer and one count of intimidation of a witness.
The charges are related to a Jan. 27, 2018 DUI arrest in Montgomery County, the KBI says.
(Read more: KWCH News)
Records from police shooting of Overland Park teen sought in lawsuit against city, DA
A lawsuit has been filed on behalf of an Overland Park resident who said he was denied access to several public records in connection to a police shooting that killed a teenager in 2018.
The lawsuit, filed in Johnson County District Court Wednesday, names the city of Overland Park and District Attorney Stephen Howe as defendants.
According to the suit, Mark Schmid began requesting documents last May under the Kansas Open Records Act in regard to the shooting of 17-year-old John Albers.
Schmid lives in Overland Park. He’s also part of JOCO United and a member of Albers’ extended family by marriage. Albers was killed in January 2018 outside his family’s home in the 9300 block of West 149th Terrace as he was backing out of the garage in his family’s minivan.
Schmid’s records requests started a few months after the police shooting of Albers and after the district attorney ruled the officer was justified in firing into the moving minivan, saying he had reasonable fear his life was in danger.
The officer, Clayton Jenison, resigned after the shooting.
“The lawsuit was filed in order to give my client, and by extension the public, the opportunity to challenge or verify the reasons the government gave in deciding not to bring charges against the officer who killed John Albers and in deciding to allow the officer to resign without any otherwise negative employment consequences,” said Max Kautsch, the Lawrence-based attorney representing Schmid.
(Read more: KC Star Local News)
Wichitans may be zipping around on rented electric scooters by summer
Starting this summer, Wichitans may be able to zip around downtown and WSU on rented electric scooters.
City officials hope to use the time before then to craft regulations to prevent issues experienced in other cities.
City transit staff are working with companies interested in placing electric scooters around the city, where people could rent one through a phone app, similar to Bike Share ICT. Officials say the locations will primarily target downtown and the Wichita State University campus. “I think there’s a lot of excitement about the potential that they could bring downtown,” said Wichita City Council member Brandon Johnson.
Johnson joined council member Becky Tuttle and Wichita Transit director Mike Tann at a demonstration Wednesday afternoon. Nathan Huber, director of mobility partnerships at Gotcha, a ride-share company, provided a demonstration scooter for people to test ride.
“Scooters are kind of taking over,” Huber said. “It started with pedal bikes, and it’s moving toward scooters. As Michael (Tann) can attest to, the buzz on scooters is out of this world.”
(Read more: Local News |)
Long-time Fort Scott city attorney resigns
Longtime Fort Scott City Attorney Bob Farmer announced his plans to resign from the position at Tuesday’s meeting of the Fort Scott City Commission.
During the comments portion of the meeting, Farmer said he is “tendering my resignation” effective March 30, and read from a letter he sent to commissioners and City Manager Dave Martin. The letter is dated March 5.
(Read more: Fort Scott Tribune)
Residents protest plan to sell land
A proposal by city officials to sell a parcel in Stone Creek Addition that was to be used for a small park has run into opposition. A number of community residents showed up at the Feb. 26 City Council meeting to show their opposition to the move.
The 1.77-acre lot, known as Reserve S, was intended to be a neighborhood park, but the city’s approach to parks has shifted during the years to larger parks and officials say the land is no longer needed for that use.
However, Stone Creek resident Kaci Link said the potential of a park was one of the reasons why her family, including three small boys, picked the neighborhood, which is north of Patriot.
“It’s a great area,” she said.
But it would “have been good to have known that the land could be sold.”
(Read more: DerbyInformer.com – news,news/)
Reno County Commission eyes disallowing public comment when considering planning recommendations
The Reno County Commission spent nearly an hour Tuesday discussing how it would approach receiving recommendations on NextEra Energy’s application for a permit for the Pretty Prairie Wind Farm.
A majority of the commission indicated support for taking no further public comment on the issue, relying solely on the recommendation of the Reno County Planning Commission and any evidence submitted to that board during the April 4 public hearing, now set to begin at 3 p.m. at the Atrium Hotel and Conference Center.
The commission, however, pressed by Commissioner Ron Hirst, left the door open to potentially considering “new information” not known when the planning commission makes its decision. That would follow a hybrid policy developed by the Wichita County Commission.
County Counselor Joe O’Sullivan was asked to draft a formal policy the board will take up in the future, likely next week. The policy would apply to all zoning applications, but the NextEra conditional use permit would be the first issue addressed by it.
A proponent of wind farm restrictions asked for clarification on what will be received by the Planning Commission and what will be forwarded to the County Commission.
In particular, Amy Brown advised the commission, residents would like to be able to offer audio-visual presentations during the public hearing and have experts in other states or countries testify by Skype.
(Read more: News – The Hutchinson News)
Barton County establishes weight limits on bridges
The Kansas Department of Transportation distributed the results of the bridge load rating project last fall. As a result of the load rating, the Barton County Commission passed a resolution the following December to establish weight limits on seven bridges in the county.
Commissioners passed a new resolution Monday to include an eighth bridge with weight limits.
Barton County Engineer Barry McManaman says the weight limit signs on the road before the bridge helps with the county’s liability if an overweight truck has an accident on the bridge.
(Read more: Great Bend Post)
Saline County agrees to spend $115,00 on aerial photography
The Saline County Commission approved aerial photography, road work and other purchases Tuesday morning.
The commission agreed to spend $115,600 for the first of two aerial photography flights. Chairman Bob Vidricksen said the photos are used by the Road and Bridge Department, County Appraiser’s Office, and Weeds Department.
Geographic Information Systems Coordinator Judy Palenske said there has been much growth and development in Saline County since the last aerial photos were taken in 2017.
(Read more: News – Salina Journal)
City waits to vote on $1 an acre land sale
If you build it they will come. But at what cost?
The cost of four acres of land surrounding the new Wichita baseball stadium? $4.
At least that’s the plan. Some are frustrated with the concept.
“It seems we are being held hostage,” said Todd Ramsey, Wichita resident. “Like we really don’t have an option at this point and that’s frustrating.”
Ramsey was one of about a half dozen who asked the city to slow down on Tuesday and get public input on a land sale surrounding the new baseball stadium.
(Read more: Top Stories | KSNW)
Reno County Commission ready to sunset half-cent sales tax
Although no final decision was made at Tuesday’s Reno County Commission meeting, commissioners appear to be on track to sunset the bonds that were used to build the Reno County Correctional Facility, improve the Reno County Jail Annex and improve security at the courthouse.
The county expects to save $879,400 in interest and maybe have as much as $1 million from the sales tax collected that won’t need to be spent on the project.
Former County Commissioner Dan Deming, who was very much involved in getting the jail bond issue approved, says he’s happy with the outcome.
(Read more: Hutch Post)
Communication happening between Topeka city government, homeless community
Positive communication is taking place between Topeka’s city government and the local homeless community, people from both agreed at Tuesday’s city council meeting.
“We’re learning from them and they’re learning from us, and that’s what it’s all about,” said Councilwoman Sylvia Ortiz.
Five members of the public — including three homeless people and one former homeless man — spoke at Tuesday’s meeting, where no action was taken on a proposal put forth last May that would ban camping on public property.
Local homeless residents have expressed concerns about that measure. It now goes back to the council’s public health and safety committee, where Ortiz is chairwoman. Ortiz said Tuesday she felt pleased that homeless people — and others who want to help the homeless — were getting involved. Still, she said she wanted the committee to take its time in deciding what to bring before the council.
“We’re still trying to figure out what will work for us,” she said. “This isn’t going to be a quick turnaround.”
(Read more: Local – The Topeka Capital-Journal)
Ellis County budget crunch squeezes criminal prosecutions
A backlog of drug cases in Ellis County will only get worse, due to a shortage of prosecutors in the Ellis County Attorney’s office.
With regret, the Ellis County Commission Monday evening denied a request from County Attorney Tom Drees to add a fifth full-time attorney to his office.
“I believe what Tom says is absolutely accurate. I believe he could sure use another attorney,” said Commissioner Butch Schlyer during the commission’s regular meeting on Monday evening.
Then he addressed Drees.
“I think since you were on the agenda the first time, it’s been impressed upon me even more that the county’s financial situation is just really, really bad,” Schlyer said. “Your timing on this is just atrocious.”
Drees in late February asked the commissioners to upgrade an existing part-time position to full-time, a $35,000 expense. Voicing support at that same meeting were law enforcement and court services professionals who echoed the need.
After being denied Monday evening, Drees acknowledged some cases aren’t getting prosecuted, sometimes when the clock runs out on time to file them.
(Read more: News – The Hays Daily News)
Mission Hills continues discussion on non-discrimination ordinance
Mission Hills continued its discussion on crafting a non-discrimination ordinance Monday, with much of the conversation focused on comparing language already passed by neighboring communities. Mission, Prairie Village, Merriam, and Roeland Park have already passed NDOs- which grant legal protections for LGBTQ+ residents and employees. The ordinances apply to employers of commercial property and rental housing, while providing exemptions for religious institutions and private entities.
Mission Hills is in a unique situation as the city does not have multi-family rentals or commercial property, as its neighboring communities do.Mission Hills’ legal counsel Anna Krstulic noted a key difference was that Prairie Village’s NDO impacts any employer with one or more employees, whereas other communities’ ordinances apply to businesses with four or more employees.
(Read more: Prairie Village Post – Neighborhood news and events for Prairie Village, Fairway, Mission Hills)
Wichita City Council moves forward with developers downtown plan for medical school
The Wichita City Council voted 7-0 Tuesday to move forward with a request from property owner Sudha Tokala that would help advance her plans for a potential downtown medical school.
Special assessments total $12 million that are related to multiple buildings that Tokala owns downtown as part of the city’s facade improvement and asbestos remediation program.
That request now moves to a March 19 public hearing to set the maximum amount of the assessments.
The agreement covers the former Finney State Office building, which are two buildings joined together at 230 E. William and 130 S. Market; Sutton Place at 209 E. William; Broadway Plaza at 105 S. Broadway; and the former Henry’s department store building at 124 S. Broadway.
(Read more: Wichita Business Journal)
Saline County rejects road reclassification following concerns
The Saline County Commission unanimously rejected a proposal Tuesday morning to reclassify 16 county roads from gravel to earth after several residents that would be affected by the changes contacted staff to discuss ways the roads are used.
Two weeks ago, the county commission tabled the proposed road reclassifications and directed staff to contact residents who would be impacted by the changes.
Road and Bridge Administrator Darren Fishel said he received calls from several property owners who said the roads are used to transport cattle, mail, and equipment, and to travel to a cell tower and between farms.
The proposed changes also included reclassifying one road from earth to gravel. Fishel said the proposed changes would save the county $10,000 to $15,000 per year.
(Read more: News – Salina Journal)
Sunday liquor sales draw much conversation in South Hutch
The South Hutchinson City Council refused to fast-track any decision on Sunday liquor sales during Monday’s meeting despite the efforts of a few in attendance that wanted the matter passed immediately.
Greg Dovel, who is opening a liquor and smoke shop in the city, wanted the council to pass Sunday liquor sales last night. New Police Chief Dean Harcrow said Monday that he would rather have the council take time to think about the matter before taking any action — Dovel agreed.
Dovel said he had seen petitions being circulated against Sunday liquor sales and suggested Mayor Luke Herren was behind the effort. He also said Herren told local media that the matter would come up for a public vote. In fact, Herren told Hutch Post that the matter would come up for public vote if it gained enough traction.
Such a vote would have to come by petition or action by the council. Even if the council were to pass an ordinance for Sunday liquor sales, a petition could still be mounted for, or against, the matter. It would be voted on by the public. Dovel and those in favor stressed to the council that the city is losing revenue by not having Sunday liquor sales. Those in favor were hoping to fast-track the matter instead of waiting what could be several months for action or a vote.
(Read more: Hutch Post)
Growth continues at Water District # 7 Johnson County
The start of 2019 appears to be as fast-paced as 2018. The Water District continues to move forward with projects in 2019, that were identified in previous years, that hopefully will provide water service to areas without service. The District serves urban and residential areas in southwest Johnson County, northwest Miami County, and areas along the Johnson/Douglas County line. The District continues to experience commercial growth in its service area primarily within the Logistics Park Kansas City (LPKC) in Edgerton, KS; however, it also experienced the addition of an apartment complex (Blackhawk Apartments) in Spring Hill, KS.
The residential growth was strong again in 2018 with the addition of nearly 60 residential services throughout the District’s service area that stretches from the City of De Soto, on the north, to Hillsdale Reservoir on the south. There appears to be several residential subdivisions being planned throughout the District’s service area near De Soto, Spring Hill & Olathe, that will make additional lots available for potential property owners.
Commercial growth continued as well in 2018 with 2019 activities moving forward as well. The Exceligence Project in Gardner has added another commercial user to the Water District’s system. Projects at LPKC are strong and involve the Water District and the expansion of its facilities to accommodate that growth. It is exciting to see this growth and the energy that it brings to the Edgerton community. 2018 proved to be a busy and productive year for Water District #7. 2019 will be equally busy with work securing long-term water supply contracts and keeping up with the commercial business and residential activity that is occurring in the service areas of Water District #7.
(Read more: Gardner News)
How Wichita draws water from Equus Beds sparks criticism
A lot of discussion and a potential showdown with the city of Wichita could come during Tuesday’s annual meeting of the Equus Beds Groundwater Management District in Halstead.
A proposal from Wichita to take water directly from river sources rather than use that water to recharge the water table is up for action. It’s part of an agreement made by the city and the district several years ago. Equus Beds manager Tim Boese says the board is recommending rejecting the proposal.
“In their proposal, it would just be getting a credit when the aquifer is in a fuller state . . . instead of injecting it (surface water into the aquifer), they would take it to town, then get more appropriations to use later on,” Boese said. “We think that’s in direct conflict with the current statutes and regulations that we have in place in Kansas.”
(Read more: Hutch Post)
New acting chief named at Larned State hospital
Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services Acting Secretary Laura Howard announced today she has appointed Lesia Dipman to serve as Acting Superintendent of Larned State Hospital.
Dipman has served the State of Kansas for 34 years, starting her career at LSH in 1984 where she has worked in various positions, from food services to the nursing department, and multiple departments, from the State Security Hospital to the adolescent unit to the youth center. She attended Fort Hays State University and Kansas State University and earned a bachelor’s degree in social work from KSU in 1994. By 2004, she was promoted to Director of Social Services at the hospital, and a year later earned a master’s degree in social work from Newman University in Wichita.
In 2006, Dipman transferred to the State Security Program at LSH as the Administrative Program Director, her most recent position before being named acting superintendent by KDADS Acting Secretary Howard. Dipman replaces Bill Rein, who served as superintendent at the hospital from June 2016 until January this year.
(Read more: Great Bend Post)
Land could be “transferred” from city to new baseball team
The City Council will decide Tuesday whether to sell land worth more than $800,000 to the team owners for development.
One of the team’s owners, Lou Schwechheimer, told the Associated Press that the development around the ballpark should spur economic growth elsewhere in Wichita.
The deal calls for the transfer to cost considerably less than the value – just $24 for the footprint being given. Until now, that stipulation was left secret. Mayor Jeff Longwell said it was because of Minor League Baseball rules. Managers of existing business near the site of the new stadium said they’re not opposed to the idea but are disappointed in the lack of specifics of the entire project.
“We’re not getting information,” said John White, manager at The New Stadium, a bar which sits blocks away from the new stadium site. “It’s hard to get information about what they’re going to do.”
(Read more: KAKE – News)
Greenwood County Hospital Requests Financial Assistance To Help Until Sales Tax Funds Are Available
Greenwood County Commissioners heard a request at their meeting this week from Greenwood County Hospital representatives in need of funding to help with a Medicare payback. GWCH board member Pam Brown explained that the new half-cent sales tax for the hospital will not go into effect until April and will likely not be available to the hospital until June. When budgeting, board members were under the impression that the tax would take effect in January, as that’s what commissioners had indicated prior to verifying with the state. With the hospital no longer receiving the three-mills from the county and not having the extra sales tax dollars yet, Brown and hospital CEO Sandy Dickerson requested $105,000 from commissioners. According to the request, “We owe Medicare roughly $176,000 on the cost report, you may not be aware the hospital gets paid based on our costs and we have done several cost-saving measures this past year that impacted that – kind of a double-edged sword.”
(Read more: Eureka Herald RSS)
Sports success at Eureka HS rallies town continuing to recover from tornado
Less than a year since a tornado tore down homes and injured people in Eureka, the town comes together around high school sports. Eureka won the 3A state wrestling tournament late last month and this weekend, sends its boys’ and girls’ basketball teams to State.
The athletes are using last year’s tornado as motivation to succeed, not an excuse to let down.
Two weeks ago, Eureka wrestler Kolby Beitz says more than 100 people from the community made the long trek to Hays to support the team.
The wrestling team championship was the first sports title for Eureka in school history. The Tornadoes are looking to add to its history with both basketball teams competing at State this weekend in Hutchinson.
(Read more: KWCH News)
Clearwater weighs options for future of EMS services
The City of Clearwater met Tuesday night with residents to discuss the future of its EMS services.
The public gathering comes a little more than one month since a late-January meeting at which city officials discussed how volunteers are hard to come by and took a look at its options to keep those services running while meeting state regulations.
Clearwater has a pair of options to tackle the issue. First, it can add four paid positions, a director and three full-time paramedics. Adding these positions would come at an addition to taxpayer costs in the city.
The city could also rely solely on Sedgwick County EMS. It would cost the county about $500,000 to cover EMS service for Clearwater, Sedgwick County Public Information Officer Kate Flavin said in January.
The City of Clearwater is set to make a final decision on the future of its EMS services on March 12.
(Read more: KWCH News)
Metallica helps Wichita’s Intrust Bank Arena break all-time attendance record
Intrust Bank Arena set a new record on Monday with the help of a thrash metal band that’s been around for 37 years.
Metallica’s Monday-night crowd of 15,690 was the biggest the downtown arena has seen in its nine year-history, and it busted the previous record held by country legend George Strait, who drew 14,680 fans in 2014.
The only way to get crowds that big at Wichita’s arena is to play a show in-the-round, meaning that the stage is in the center of the floor and every seat is available. That’s what Metallica did for its first show in Wichita since it played the Kansas Coliseum in 2004, and the band filled every seat and then some. The show was a sell out, arena officials said.
(Read more: Local News |)
Legislators chew on food sales tax
It is not often that three legislators representing two different branches of state government, and two political parties, can agree on something. But Saturday morning there was agreement from the Harvey County delegation on one issue — sales tax on food.
New Governor Laura Kelly was elected after making lowering the sales tax on food a campaign issue. However, her first budget does not contain lowering that tax.
“If there is one thing that Senator (Carolyn) McGinn (R-Sedgwick), (Rep.) Tim (Hodge) (D-North Newton) and I all agree on is that we can do better with food sales tax,” said Rep. Steven Owens (R-Hesston) during a legislative breakfast March 2 in Newton. “There is no question. It was not in the governor’s budget, and so be it. Hopefully we can make some headway on that.”
Hodge has twice campaigned on the issue, and has supported an amendment to a tax bill this year that would reduce the sales tax on groceries by one cent. He said March 2 he was disappointed that a reduction of the sales tax on food did not appear in the governor’s budget.
“That is a big disappointment for me,” Hodge said. “I think we get something there this session and if not this session, next session. It needs to happen. We can not put the cost of government on the least of these. It is not right, it is not fair, it is not Christian — choose your adjective. It is not right. … It is as regressive as all get out.”
(Read more: Newton Kansan)
City of Parsons makes tobacco 21 more restrictive
Parsons city commissioners on Monday voted 3-1 to eliminate exemptions in an ordinance that made it illegal for most people under 21 to buy tobacco or vaping liquid.
The change came after the request of convenience store owners to either repeal the tobacco 21 ordinance passed on April 2, 2018, or cut out the exemptions. The ordinance had made exceptions for customers who were in the military and could show military ID and to those who were 18 when the ordinance was approved.
Convenience store representatives said it was too difficult during busy periods such as the lunch rush to determine if a person was grandfathered into the law.
“It makes a place to where human error can happen,” Cami Raschen, an owner of Stockyards Travel Plaza, said.
Without the exemptions, the cashiers just have to punch the birth date of a customer into the cash register, which then will either allow or disallow the sale based on the person’s age.
Commissioners Kevin Cruse and Peter Cook had said they were in favor of repealing the law altogether, but Commissioners Tom Shaw and Bill Hogelin were set against a repeal. Cruse eventually voted in favor of the changes, saying he only did so only to make it easier on the stores. He said he would continue to push for a repeal of tobacco 21.
(Read more: Parsons Sun)
South Hutchinson City Council to discuss Sunday liquor sales
The South Hutchinson City Council is meeting Monday evening with several topics up for discussion.
The council will begin talking about Sunday liquor sales. According to Mayor Luke Herren, the matter came up for discussion after a new retail liquor business opened and inquired about possible Sunday sales.
Herren says the matter is up for discussion only and says, if the issue gains enough traction, it could come before the public for a vote.
(Read more: Hutch Post)
Finney County commission enters into MOU for tax abatement for Livestock Nutrition Center
The Finney County Commission on Monday agreed to enter into a memorandum of understanding regarding a 10-year, 20-percent tax abatement for a new agricultural business set to bring 15 jobs to Finney County over its first two years.
Livestock Nutrition Center, LLC, a livestock feed company currently located in five states, requested the tax abatement. The Garden City location at 3680 Jones Ave., an old feed mill that has been shut down for over a year, will mark the company’s second location in the state and only one in western Kansas.
Lona DuVall, president and CEO of the Finney County Economic Development Corp., said the new company could be beneficial for local farmers and cattle feed yards alike.
“Anything that we can do to add additional value to the grain crops that our farmers are growing here is going to be a good thing,” she said after Monday’s commission meeting. “The more opportunities we have to enhance the feed quality, the better it’s going to be for everybody involved.”
(Read more: News – The Garden City Telegram)
Michael O’Donnell Found Not Guilty On 21 Wire Fraud Charges; Jury Hung On Remaining Counts
Sedgwick County Commissioner and former state Sen. Michael O’Donnell was found not guilty in federal court today of 21 counts of wire fraud related to campaign payments.
O’Donnell said he was “relieved” with the verdict. After several hours of deliberation, the jury said it couldn’t come to an agreement on five other charges, including two for wire fraud and three for money laundering.Judge Eric Melgren said it’s up to prosecutors to decide whether they want to retry O’Donnell on those charges. U.S. Attorney for Kansas Stephen McAllister said in a statement after the verdict was announced that his office is “evaluating whether to take the case to trial again” for the five charges the jury couldn’t agree on.
O’Donnell, a Republican, was charged with 26 counts last year after federal investigators looked into his campaign finance reports. Prosecutors said O’Donnell misused $10,500 in campaign contributions, paying his friends who were doing little or no work on his campaigns for state Senate and county commission.
Geary County Commission shuts down CVB Advisory Committee
There will no longer be a Geary County Convention and Visitor’s Bureau Advisory Committee. The Geary County Commission adopted a resolution on a 3-0 vote Monday to dissolve the committee.
Commissioner Keith Ascher said the issue was discussed with members of the Advisory Committee who were supportive of the idea and that CVB Director Michelle Stimatze was also asked about it. “And she thought it was appropriate, so we took action today ( Monday ) to dissolve that committee. So now it ( CVB ) will strictly be in the hands of the county commissioners, which makes more sense.” Ascher added it does streamline things and removes a layer of bureaucracy.
Ascher stated he thought it probably allows the director to do more of what she needs to be doing. ” I think her goal in place of a committee is that she would have monthly meetings with hotelers. It wouldn’t be as formal but she would get input from them trying to increase some of our conventions, conferences and reunions…just all across the board.”
(Read more: Junction City Post)
Lawmakers considering bill to remove transportation spending from tax lid
A joint legislative task force report on transportation has a lot of promising recommendations for the county, the director of Douglas County Public Works says.
The report released in January made recommendations to guide development of a new state transportation plan and reflected findings from a series of hearings the Joint Legislative Transportation Vision Task Force conducted last fall and summer. The task force’s top recommendations are that the state stop raiding the Kansas Department of Transportation’s state highway fund for revenue to cover other state needs and that the state finish the 21 projects outlined in the 2011 state transportation plan.
With the recognition that local needs outpace available revenue, the task force report also makes a number of recommendations about sharing state highway fund revenue with local governments and suggests the Legislature remove any funding obstacle that hinders local government from spending money to make needed improvements.
Read more: LJWorld.com
Winfield could test out solar power
Installation of a small solar panel project will be up for approval Monday night by Winfield City Commissioners.
The project is a partnership between the city, the Kansas Power Pool and solar farm designer ZeMac, LLC. The KPP will pay $25,000 toward the solar project. The City of Winfield will pay about $30,000 for its share, utilities director Gus Collins said.
The project was first presented to commissioners at a November work session. If approved, the next step is to order the solar panels. Those would take around six weeks to arrive, Collins said.
The panels will be located in front and a little west of the East 12th Avenue power plant.
Collins said the city is “looking forward to the educational and informational aspect” of the project.
Although small, the panel project would be an opportunity for staff to learn about solar operations, as well as provide the community with information and education about solar power, Collins stated in a memo last year.
(Read more: The Arkansas City Traveler)