Municipal News & Jobs

Kansas Municipal News

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.

Horton city official says hospital will close Tuesday afternoon

The Horton city administrator says he expects the town’s struggling hospital and clinic will close Tuesday afternoon.The closing of Horton Community Hospital would follow weeks of speculation about the viability of the facility, which employs 40-50 in the small northeast Kansas town. Staff at Horton Community Hospital haven’t been paid since Feb. 15, said John Calhoon, the acting city administrator and chief of police.

Pottawatomie County, Wamego to discuss commerce route agreement

Pottawatomie County and Wamego City Commissioners will meet in joint session next Monday to come to terms on an agreement to help fund the industrial commerce route around the southeast portion of Wamego. Both the city and the county agreed last year to commit up to $750,000 each for the project — the local match required by the $4.35 million grant from the Kansas Department of Transportation to fund construction. The industrial commerce route project will create a truck bypass around Wamego by widening Valley Street, Balderson Boulevard south of Military Trail Road, and Military Trail Road east to the south entrance of the Wamego Industrial Park. A companion project — widening K-99 south of Wamego — would mitigate truck access from Wamego’s industrial area to Interstate 70 and, at the same time, divert heavy truck traffic from the downtown area.

(Read more: Hiawatha World Online)

City of Topeka reports patching nearly two-thirds the number of potholes as its 2018 total

Topeka’s city government by late February had already repaired two-thirds as many potholes as it did in all of last year. The city had patched 8,395 potholes as of Feb. 26, city media relations coordinator Molly Hadfield said Tuesday. In comparison, the city patched 12,275 potholes in 2018 and 23,302 in 2017, she confirmed. Hadfield attributed the plethora of potholes to Topeka having seen a harsh winter characterized by considerable precipitation. Topeka has recorded 27.1 inches of snow so far this winter compared to 19.6 inches in the previous three winters combined, according to the National Weather Service. “Because of the multiple rain, snow and ice events, damage to city streets has been more severe,” the city said on its website. “Damage occurs during and after the freeze-thaw cycle.”

Reno County Commission adopts policy eliminating public comment when it considers zoning changes

The Reno County Commission adopted a policy Tuesday that halts public comment at the county commission on zoning and land use issues when the planning commission conducts a public hearing. Instead, the commission will base any decision on zoning changes strictly on recommendations from the planning commission and county staff, as well as any forwarded information the planning board received when it conducted public hearings required by state law. The policy, which includes two exceptions, was prompted by the anticipation of a pending conditional use permit sought by NextEra Energy for a wind farm in southeast Reno County. The policy, however, will apply to all future applications for zoning amendments or conditional use permits.

(Read more: News – The Hutchinson News)

Hays looks at design for second waterline under I-70 to north

There is only one 16-inch line providing water to properties north of Interstate 70 in Hays. The city is planning to build another 12-inch water main for redundancy. There were only a few businesses to be served in the area when the 500,000 gallon water tower was built and city water was extended north of I-70 in 1993. Since then, many businesses vital to the economy and daily needs of Hays residents and the surrounding area have located north of I-70, and more new businesses are planned.

“The economic impact of being without water service north of I-70 for any length of time would be significant,” said John Braun, project manager. “A failure of the current water main could have catastrophic consequences in case of fire.”

(Read more: Hays Post)

Butler County participates in review of Hazard Mitigation Plan

Butler County and 10 other counties in South Central Kansas are participating in a project with the State of Kansas to update the Region G Multi-Hazard, Multi-Jurisdictional Mitigation Plan that is expiring on May 30, 2019. The purpose of the plan is look at local hazards and historical disasters and identify ways to lessen or eliminate the impact of future disasters. In addition to having an approved Hazard Mitigation Plan, it makes participating areas eligible to apply for funds under FEMA’s grant program.

(Read more: Augusta Gazette)

Sabetha Planning Commission tables decision on extraterritorial jurisdiction expansion

The Sabetha Planning Commission postponed a decision regarding the proposed expansion of the City of Sabetha’s extraterritorial jurisdiction. This comes after the Thursday, March 7, public hearing on the matter, during which members of the Planning Commission heard public comment from 15 individuals.

Earlier this year, the Sabetha City Commission prohibited commercial wind generation facilities within its extraterritorial zoning jurisdiction, which at that time extended approximately 1-1/2 miles from the City’s contiguous city limits. This prohibition was recommended following a hearing by the Sabetha Planning Commission. At the Planning Commission’s meeting on that topic, members of the public asked if the extraterritorial zoning jurisdiction’s border could extend farther than it does currently. They were informed that it could, but this would require a change to the City’s Comprehensive Plan, in which the current extraterritorial zoning jurisdiction is specified.

(Read more: Sabetha Herald)

Wichita plans to take steps to ensure e-scooter safety

Wichita could be the next city across the United States to have electric scooters on its streets. City officials are speaking out about safety initiatives after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently launched an investigation in the rise of e-scooter injuries. “Some of the bad issues that have popped up over the last couple of years for scooters is the fact that they’ve just come into cities, and then dealt with the problems afterwards,” said Wichita Transit director Mike Tann. Transit officials want to take a proactive approach when it comes to rider safety. “We’re looking at every opportunity and every example to make sure we hone this down to something that’s both workable and acceptable,” Tann said.

(Read more: Top Stories | KSNW)

City of Manhattan to administer 2019 survey

How do you like Manhattan? You might get a chance to let city officials know as they roll out the 2019 Community Survey. City administration will be randomly sampling about 5,000 households to receive an invitation to participate in the survey — which will ask residents their thoughts about quality of life in the city and how satisfied they are with city services. The survey will be distributed via email, though 1,000 households with no listed email will receive a mailed postcard with the link and residents can also request a paper copy. Surveys will be sent out March 18th, responses will be kept confidential.

(Read more: 1350 KMAN)

Wichita working to ensure drainage system ready for floods

How is the city working to tackle those drainage issues – and how can you help? Areas like 1st and Bleckley have been problems for years. That area is near Hyde Elementary and Robinson Middle School. The drainage system is meant to help with heavy rain, but people in the area say they still deal with significant flooding. The city says money for drainage projects on Bleckley will be allocated during this year’s budget discussions. They say it takes time to come up with funding for a project as large as the one on Bleckley.

(Read more: KWCH News)

Kansas tax on groceries among highest in nation. Why that’s not changing anytime soon

Kansas would still tax food more than just about anywhere else in the United States, even if a proposed reduction before the Legislature becomes law.

For all the talk among lawmakers this year about taking a bite out of the cost of groceries, the plan closest to passing amounts to a nibble. Annual savings for many families would likely add up to less than $100 — $1.92-per-week.

A proposal to cut the food sales tax rate from 6.5 percent to 5.5 percent sits in Senate Bill 22, a large, highly-controversial measure that makes numerous changes to the state’s tax code. The House approved the bill last week; the Senate could vote anytime to send it to Gov. Laura Kelly.

A really close neighbor: Affordable housing board interested in allowing two homes to be built on single city lot

Members of the city’s affordable housing board want to allow two homes to be built on one lot as long as at least one is designated as an affordable home or rental.

As part of its meeting Monday, the Affordable Housing Advisory Board reviewed a preliminary draft of changes to the city’s land use code that would allow two homes to be built on a single lot under certain conditions. One of the homes would have to be permanently designated as affordable housing and both homes would need to meet existing design standards for residential neighborhoods.

Planning Director Scott McCullough explained that keeping the design requirements in place is important for emergency access and would help preserve the character and look of neighborhoods. He said each unit would also have to meet existing off-street parking requirements.

Read more: LJWorld.com.

Lawrence City Commission to review city manager applicants

The Lawrence City Commission will hold a two-hour executive session instead of its regularly scheduled meeting Tuesday. The session will last approximately two hours and will be used to discuss applicants for the city manager position.

There are no other items on the commission’s agenda.

City Manager Tom Markus announced in September that he planned to retire, and has since said he will leave his position around June. The city hired California-based search firm Ralph Andersen & Associates to conduct a national search for Markus’ replacement.

Read more: LJWorld.com.

Huge Islamic center planned for south Overland Park. Neighbors aren’t happy

A plan for the Islamic Center of Kansas to construct a multi-faceted religious facility for Muslims from both sides of the state line gained preliminary approval from Overland Park planning commissioners Monday.

But its location near West 163rd Terrace and Roe Avenue — between Blue Valley Middle School and the Cottages at the Wilderness subdivision — has galvanized neighbors who say the size and scope of the proposed 110,876-square-foot facility make it a bad fit for the area.

“It was understood to be the kind of religious facility that could find a home within a neighborhood,” said attorney Doug Patterson, who spoke on behalf of roughly 50 residents of the adjacent subdivisions who attended Monday’s meeting.

McPherson City Commission tries new meeting time

The McPherson City Commission will try something new in April. They will be holding their meetings at 5:30 p.m. rather than 8:30 a.m. in an effort to be more accessible to the community. The April 1 meeting will be at 8:30 a.m., but following that, the rest of the meetings in the month will be held in the evening. All will be held on Mondays and in the normal meeting place at the Municipal Building, 400 E. Kansas Ave. in the East Board Room. All meetings are open to the public.

(Read more: McPherson Sentinel)

New proposed transit: Round trips from Salina to Manhattan for $4

A new transit could be coming to Salina that will make traveling to Manhattan and other communities more cost efficient. “I go to Manhattan probably every weekend, especially in the Fall,” Kansas State Salina student Joseph Morse said. “I buy a football pass and hang with friends.” But he said those weekend trips can be pricey. “It’s not fun paying for gas all the time,” Morse said. Later this year, the North Central Kansas Coordinated Transit, along with the Kansas Department of Transportation and other partners said there could be another travel option. “We’re working on getting a route that goes from Salina to Manhattan,” Claire Mullen with the North Central Kansas Coordinated Transit said. “Monday through Friday, possibly four round trips a day.”

(Read more: Top Stories | KSNW)