Kansas Municipal News
Brown County Commission votes in sales tax resolution for hospital
The Brown County Commission voted 2-1 Monday morning to pass a resolution that would set a special election to implement a half-cent county-wide retailers sales tax for 10 years with proceeds to benefit the Hiawatha Community Hospital to provide health services in the county. The vote came after nearly an hour of discussion by the commissioners, County Attorney Kevin Hill and representatives of the city and hospital. It also comes after a joint advisory committee – working to help the hospital manage its financial crisis – gave its recommendation to help the hospital after almost two months of meetings and conducting research.
(Read more: Hiawatha World Online)
Barton County set to begin first phase of courthouse repairs
After a structural analysis and plenty of discussion, Barton County is ready to proceed with repairs the 100-year old Barton County Courthouse. Commissioners Monday voted 5-0 to accept the bid from Mid-Continent Restoration out of Fort Scott that will address the exterior problems that the building is facing. Administrator Phil Hathcock says a study last year by WDM Architects found that water infiltration around the edge of the roof through deteriorating caulking was causing plaster to pop off walls on the fourth floor. In addition to that, decorative work on the outside of the building was falling off.
(Read more: Great Bend Post)
Counties could share road costs
Labette County commissioners on Monday discussed setting up an agreement with commissioners in Craig County, Oklahoma, for sharing costs on bridge maintenance and inspections on Nation Road. While the bridge does not require replacement now, the Federal Highway Administration requires governing bodies in state border counties to have agreements on file related to the maintenance and inspection of bridges on state lines. The bridge that brought the issue forward is on Nation Road just east of Jackson Road, which is four miles south of Edna on the Oklahoma-Kansas state line.
(Read more: Parsons Sun)
Newly incorporated city, The Highlands, gets good news from Revenue
The Kansas Department of Revenue’s phone call gave the city of The Highlands an unexpected message.
“We had super good news this week,” The Highlands City Councilmember Bonnie Teel told the council at its Thursday night meeting, conducted at Nickerson City Hall. It soon will see a deposit of $853.60 in the city’s account, income from the Reno County sales tax.
Officials for the city launched last year thought The Highlands would not receive its share of Reno County sales tax proceeds until later in 2019 after the city had a state-certified population. Under state law, incorporated cities get a portion of a county’s general sales tax revenues based on a formula using city population and the local mill levy.
(Read more: Local – The Hutchinson News)
Neosho County official objects to often late night meetings
Has the Neosho Ridge Wind project debate itself become hazardous enough to public health for a county official to step in? Not really, but there is something worrisome going on. Actually, the concern expressed by Health Department Administrator Teresa Starr at Thursday evening’s Neosho County Commission meeting was about the late meeting hours devoted to the issue. “We’re staying until two in the morning,” Starr said. “It’s hard for everyone the next day.”
(Read more: The Chanute Tribune)
Council member on downtown Wichita child care: ‘Right now there isn’t much availability’
Finding affordable child care is a challenge according to parents living and working in downtown Wichita. KSN asked people about the need and a city official, who says its been a concern in the area for some time. “I’m trying to cut my driving time down and so driving to a daycare and then driving to work, I don’t want to have to drive too far out of my way,” said Maria Rogers, Wichita. Rogers has been looking at child care options for her daughter. She says the search has been a challenge. The lack of day care downtown is an issue city council member Cindy Claycomb has noticed. She says especially with the growth in the area. “With all the new apartments and people moving downtown, seems like there’s a need for that, but right now there isn’t much availability in the downtown core area,” said Claycomb.
(Read more: Top Stories | KSNW)
Edgerton renews their trash contract
Gardner Disposal Service will continue providing trash service to residents of Edgerton after the Edgerton City Council renewed a $128,000 contract with the company. The company’s $15 per dwelling per month bid was the lowest. City regulations call for the city to pay 50 percent of the cost per dwelling reducing the cost to $7.50 for residents.
Two other companies- Republic and Waste Management- also bid for the business. Scott Peterson, assistant city administrator, told the council that the city has been satisfied with the service offered by Gardner Disposal.“We already work with them, and we have a great relationship,” he said.
(Read more: Gardner News)
Kansas considers relaxing rules on rural ambulance drivers
A proposal before the Kansas Legislature would allow people without medical training to drive ambulances in rural areas.
The bill is in response to a statewide shortage of trained personnel for ambulances in rural areas. One person with medical training — such as a nurse or an EMT — would still be required to be on board ambulances.Supporters cite places like Norton County, in northwest Kansas. The county’s 5,400 residents has six full-time ambulance workers and nine volunteers to respond to all 911 calls and take patients from one hospital to another.
(Read more: KAKE – News)
No slowdown in Hays’ water conservation programs despite abundant rains
Last year was the third wettest year on record for the city of Hays. In 2018, Hays received 37.55 inches of moisture, just a quarter-inch shy of 37.99 inches that fell in 1993 – the second wettest year. Official daily records have been kept by the K-State Agricultural Research Center south of town since 1868. Still, the abundant moisture does not mean an end or even slowdown of the city’s water conservation programs started in 1992.
“We’re in really great shape right now. The seasonal drought outlook is good for us showing no drought at least through April,” said Holly Dickman, Hays’ water conservation specialist. “The soils are very saturated right now.”
(Read more: Hays Post)
City of Gardner may ask for KDOT grant to maintain 56 Highway
Gardner is considering applying for a state grant to fund repairs and maintenance of Highway 56 between Sycamore street and Moonlight Road. Michael Kramer, public works director, told the city council during a meeting March 4 that the road qualifies for Kansas Department of Transportation funding up to $1 million a year with a 10 percent matching contribution by the city. Kramer said the road is maintained by the state including snow removal but added there could be additional funding from the state through the proposed funding mechanism. He said that funds for any such matching grant have not been budgeted in the city’s current fiscal year. Lee Moore, council president, wondered why the state would come back and ask the citizens of Gardner to pay more to maintain a road that is already the responsibility of the state.
(Read more: Gardner News)
Clearwater residents look for change at dangerous intersection
Clearwater community members are fed up after another accident at the intersection of 135th and 71st. Nine people were hurt Wednesday morning after investigators say a driver failed to stop at a stop sign. “Anyone coming to and from town is going to take 135th street,” says Casey Richwine, who drives this stretch of road often.
Community members are hoping changes will come in the form of rumble strips or a stop light. City and county leaders are already working with citizens to make improvements.
(Read more: KAKE – News)
South Hutch pulls out of K-96 corridor group
South Hutchinson, the north anchor city for the K-96 Corridor Development Association, will not pay 2019 membership dues to the nearly 15-year-old association.
“We weren’t sure what we were actually getting out of that membership,” said City Councilmember Mandi Blumanhourst.
The council voted 5-0 Feb. 18 not to renew membership. Dues have been $2,000 annually. The council left the door open to consider rejoining the association in the future.
(Read more: News – The Hutchinson News)
Century II one of many big items on city’s plate, Emerging Leaders say
A baseball stadium under construction and performing arts and convention venues under consideration make for a year to think big at City Hall.
Thursday’s Emerging Leaders roundtable participants all want Wichita to think big in terms of those projects, though they had different confidence levels. What helped them think through the process were two colleagues with careers in the construction business.
Eddie Fahnestock, who’s in business management at Key Construction, and Jeff Mullen, CFO of Dondlinger & Sons Construction, talked about the details and prospects for a performing-arts venue.
A performing-arts venue is one of many big-ticket projects facing the city, and more than what first meets the eye. In addition to the stadium ($75 million), recommended performing-arts venue ($175 million) and recommended convention space, a project not getting as many headlines is a $500-million water treatment facility that’s in the design stage.
(Read more: Wichita Business Journal)
Ellis parks to soon feature community book exchange program
Visitors to three parks in Ellis will soon be able to enjoy a community book exchange program.
City council members Monday approved the provision of materials and installation of the boxes by the Public Works Dept.
Todd Keller of the Washington Grade School PTO presented the idea to the council during their meeting. The PTO helped finance the cost of the materials for the boxes, and a woodshop class constructed the boxes.
(Read more: Hays Post)
Shawnee County breaks from past practice, pays moving expenses for new employee
The Shawnee County Commission broke from past practice Thursday by agreeing to pay moving expenses for Jeremy Myers, the county’s incoming parks operations director.
Commissioners Bob Archer, Bill Riphahn and Kevin Cook voted 3-0 to pay any moving and travel expenses Myers incurs coming to Topeka from Hudsonville, Mich.
The contract involved doesn’t specify a monetary amount. A document in the agenda packet for Thursday’s meeting indicated the county has agreed to pay “the actual reimbursable moving expenses verified by receipts” or “the amount of moving expenses for moving 12,000 pounds of household goods by commercial carrier,” whichever is less.
Cook suggested Thursday’s move might mark the first time the county had agreed to pay a new employee’s moving expenses since he joined the commission in 2013. He said county parks and recreation director John Knight was making arrangements for the county to potentially put in place guidelines it could apply to similar situations.
Archer said he supported Thursday’s move because if the county is going to continue to have a world-class parks and recreation department, it will need to attract people like Myers.
(Read more: News – The Topeka Capital-Journal)
No slowdown in city of Hays water conservation programs despite abundant rains
Last year was the third wettest year on record for the city of Hays.
In 2018, Hays received 37.55 inches of moisture, just a quarter-inch shy of 37.99 inches that fell in 1993 – the second wettest year.
Official daily records have been kept by the K-State Agricultural Research Center south of town since 1868.
Still, the abundant moisture does not mean an end or even slowdown of the city’s water conservation programs started in 1992. “We’re in really great shape right now. The seasonal drought outlook is good for us showing no drought at least through April,” said Holly Dickman, Hays’ water conservation specialist. “The soils are very saturated right now.”
She presented a wrap up of the water conservation programs in 2018 to city commissioners last week and talked about what will be done in 2019.
(Read more: Hays Post)
Kechi re-forms economic development group
The Kechi City Council on Feb. 28 unanimously voted to re-form an Economic Development Committee. It will consist of nine members.
“At our recent retreat, one of the top priorities the council identified was economic development for the city moving forward,” said City Administrator Bob Conger. “Given the current state of affairs in the city, I took the liberty of updating the (committee) policies with the city attorney. They haven’t changed a great deal.”
Kechi had an Economic Development Committee but it had been active since 2004. Some changes were made regarding the composition of the committee on Feb. 28. Previously, each council member was responsible for appointing two Kechi residents to the 10-person committee.
Read more: Ark Valley News.
Shawnee looking to create regulations for microbreweries
One month after Shawnee’s first microbrewery opened up across the street from city hall, the city is looking into creating regulations for breweries and distilleries.
Stephanie Malmborg, deputy community development director told the planning commission on Monday that community development staff is currently researching regulations of those types of businesses by other cities and also looking at best practices from the American Planning Association.
“We’ve found that there’s a lot of interest in those types of uses, and it can be a great entertainment type use in some of our neighborhood commercial and commercial zones,” Malmborg said. “I think it’s important that we find some regulations that open up some possibilities for that type of use in some areas.”
(Read more: Shawnee Mission Post – Community news and events for northeast Johnson County)
Utility solution far more complex than lowering rates
tility rates are artificially inflated to pay for more than the cost of utility services.
That’s the truth that the city has openly acknowledged. And on the surface, the practice isn’t wrong, if the city is up front about it.
For 2019, the city projects $14.83 million in utility revenues and plans to transfer $3.55 million of those revenues into its general fund. That means nearly a quarter out of every dollar that comes in on utility revenues goes in the city’s general fund.
$1.6 million pays for personnel the city says have parts of their job related to utility service but not paid for directly by the separate utility service funds. At $65,000 a person, that would pay for 24 full time employees.
$1.2 million goes to helping keep property taxes down, according to the city manager. It should be noted that we had no difficulty obtaining these numbers from the city office, who have answered all our requests for information in a timely manner.
This information shows why Newton pays higher utility bills than surrounding communities.
(Read more: Newton Now)
Lawrence City Commission denies couple an Airbnb permit, citing incompatibility with neighborhood
City leaders have denied an Overland Park couple a permit to use a house in Lawrence as an Airbnb short-term rental property, citing a protest petition from neighbors and other factors.
The Lawrence City Commission voted 4-1, with Commissioner Matthew Herbert opposing, to deny the permit as part of its meeting this week.
In explaining her vote, Mayor Lisa Larsen cited both the protest petition and the incompatibility of an Airbnb property with the surrounding neighborhood.
Read more: LJWorld.com.
911 bill at statehouse could cost county
A handwritten bill proposed last week by a Wichita state representative could end up costing the county $11,000 in its 911 fund.
“We’re going to take a hit, a very significant hit,” Communications Director Don Gruver told the Harvey County Board of Commissioners on Monday.
State Rep. John Carmichael, a Democrat representing the 92nd District, presented his amendment to House Bill 2084, which would change the proposed fee on phone bills from 60 cents a month to 82 cents. His amendment passed the House on a 64-56 vote.
Gruver said most of the increase would go to the Kansas 911 Coordinating Council, and the county’s share for the phone fees would drop from 60 to 58 cents, which comes to about $11,000. That funding accounts for the county’s entire training budget. The county currently collects 94 percent of the fees, but that number would be reduced under Carmichael’s plan. County Administrator Anthony Swartzendruber said rural counties would see their annual stipends from the state increase from $50,000 to $60,000. The Kansas Association of Counties is lobbying for no county to get a reduction in its Public Safety Answer Points funding because the funding is used for critical local services.
(Read more: Newton Now)
Public meeting scheduled to discuss Garden City’s upcoming U.S. 50/83/400 bypass
The Kansas Department of Transportation will host a public meeting regarding the upcoming U.S. 50/83/400 bypass project in Garden City which is expected to begin on March 18. The meeting will be held on Tuesday, March 12 from 5 – 8 p.m. at the KDOT District Six office at 121 N. Campus Drive in Garden City.
The project is a preservation project which will replace over 3.5 miles of concrete and asphalt on the Garden City bypass beginning at Third Street and continuing to the east and south to the U.S. 50/Fulton Street interchange.
(Read more: Western Kansas 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.
(Read more: News – The Hutchinson News)
Starting a Youth Council
Youth councils or youth advisory boards can provide an effective way to engage youth in city government. Youth councils provide a conduit for youth voice to city leadership, help promote civic engagement and community service, and foster an understanding of how municipal government works.
This strategy guide offers the basics for forming a youth council in your city, as well as examples of the way different cities have configured their councils.
(Read more: www.nlc.org/contents/rss-feed)
Wichita could have disclosed development deal with baseball team sooner, mayor says
Wichita city officials could have told the public sooner about a side deal to help bring a Minor League Baseball team to town, Mayor Jeff Longwell said Thursday. Earlier in the week he said he couldn’t because of league rules.
Over the course of 18 months, the owners of the New Orleans Baby Cakes, led by Lou Schwechheimer, negotiated a deal with city leaders to move to Wichita, but the city had to build a stadium and offer it land to develop around the stadium.
That the move was contingent on the development deal was not made public until Monday, months after Lawrence-Dumont Stadium was torn down and as a new stadium is being built. The existence of the side deal was undisclosed until its details appeared in The Sunday Eagle. The city has said it intended to post the agreement online as part of its meeting agenda packet Friday, but the website was down until Monday.
(Read more: Local News |)
Public invited to meet Gardner administrator finalists
Public can meet Gardner administrator finalists Gardner’s search for a new city administrator has reached a milestone now that the list of applicants has been winnowed to three finalists. Community members are invited to meet the candidates from 5 to 6 p.m. March 11 at City Hall. They are:
Nicholas Edwards, assistant city manager in Lee’s Summit.
James Pruetting, Gardner’s police chief.
Brian Wilson, village administrator of Belleville, Wis.
(Read more: Joco 913 News)
Commission discusses goals during day-long retreat
On Wednesday, the Garden City Commission spent the day in their annual goal-setting retreat at the Finnup Center, discussing a myriad of issues and progress on previous goals with an eye toward fining tuning the whole thing into what will eventually be shaped into the city’s roadmap for the next 18 months.
The city uses the retreat and goal setting session to assist the commission in its work on the annual budget. Work on the 2020 budget will take place now through the spring and early summer before being finalized.
A preliminary draft of goals will be prepared by administration and staff before being reviewed by the commission. Eventually, the goals will be finalized and approved at a regular commission meeting, which in the past has occurred in April.
(Read more: Greater Garden City » Feed)
Cowley commissioners: Let wind farms spin in flint hills
The Cowley County Commission has written a letter to Gov. Laura Kelly asking her to reverse the moratorium on wind farms in the Flint Hills imposed by former governor Sam Brownback.
Cowley County is considered a “gateway to the Flint Hills,” which is why it was affected by the moratorium, county appraiser Lucas Goff said.
Commissioner Wayne Wilt said the county should go after the wind farms as a source of revenue that could “help everybody:” the county, landowners and individual job seekers. The commissioners also stated that it is local residents, not the state, which should determine the suitability of wind mills for a particular area.
Goff and Wilt said they know of several counties that have benefited from the wind mills.
A letter from the commissioners of Elk County asking Gov. Kelly to reverse the moratorium stated that the one wind farm they do have brought in just more than $1 million this past year.
“That may not seem like much,” the letter states, “but the County’s total budget is only $6.7 million.”
(Read more: www.ctnewsonline.com – RSS Results)
City of Hays may exercise its option to buy land north of I-70
Hays city commissioners Thursday will discuss exercising the city’s option to purchase property near Interstate 70 and Commerce Parkway.
In April 2018, the commission purchased an 18-month irrevocable option to buy 91 acres in the northeast corner of the 27th Street and Commerce Parkway intersection at the east I-70 Exit 161. That option expires September 19 of this year.
The property, currently owned by the Cathy A. Braun Revocable Trust of Hays, has significant potential for future retail, commercial, and business park development.
According to a memo from City Manager Toby Dougherty, the cost to exercise the option is the original price of $800,000, less the credited option payment of approximately $17,500 if paid the day following the regular March 14 commission meeting, and prorated taxes of $108. The total remaining purchase price would be $782,608 plus shared closing costs and title insurance.
Staff is recommending the city commission approve the purchase.
(Read more: Hays Post)
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 |)