Municipal News & Jobs

Kansas Municipal News

Former city clerk pleads guilty to theft

Rick Voisin, the former Towanda Municipal Court and utility clerk accused of stealing more than $186,000 from the city, pleaded guilty to two charges Friday morning in Butler County District Court.
In August of 2016 after a customer received an overdue notice on a utility bill that had been paid and providing a cancelled check, Towanda City Administrator Matt Engels and then-treasurer Andy Newbry, contacted the sheriff’s office after finding several manual adjustments to utility accounts.
Through investigation, the Sheriff’s department discovered several checks manually endorsed and not run through the point of sales system and other discrepancies with the accounts. On Friday, Voisin pleaded guilty to misuse of public funds and making a false information. In exchange for his plea, the prosecution dropped charges of theft by deception and unlawful computer acts.

(Read more: andoveramerican.com)

Dodge City approves panhandling ordinance

Dodge City commissioners have approved an ordinance establishing a Chapter XI, Article 7 of the Code of the City of Dodge City for prohibiting pedestrians from entering or staying upon a designated roadway to facilitate a transfer of anything from pedestrian to vehicle occupant would be prohibited.

What is being referred to as the “Panhandling Ordinance,” it states that pedestrians stepping out into the roadway or for those that remain along side a designated roadway, to complete a transaction, would be prohibited.

Therefore, anyone that goes into the roadway or along side the roadway and approaches a vehicle stopped on the roadway would be prohibited.

“The emphasis for this is traffic and pedestrian safety,” attorney for the city Brad Ralph said. “We want to make sure everyone stays safe which includes people getting and people giving transactions.”

The designated roadways would be any road listed within the ordinance would not be allowed for panhandling.

The roads that are being designated are Wyatt Earp Boulevard, 14th Avenue, Trail Street, Central Avenue from Comanche Boulevard north to Highway 50, Highway 50, 2nd Avenue south from Wyatt Earp Boulevard to the south city limits.

Paola crime rate drops 20 percent

The Paola Police Department has released its year-end statistics for 2018, and the total reported criminal offenses dropped from 692 in 2017 to 549 in 2018, a reduction of 20 percent.

Capt. Eric Jenkins said the department leaders were particularly pleased to see a reduction in preventable offenses, such as burglaries (down 21 percent), theft (down 33 percent) and automobile theft (down 30 percent).

“As in the past, we attribute these reductions to the citizens of Paola taking crime prevention more seriously,” Jenkins said in a news release. “Crimes such as these are typically a crime of opportunity. While we all love the small town feel of Paola, it is important to take simple quick steps to prevent crime, such as locking residences/garages and vehicles.”

(Read more: The Miami County Republic)

Ellis County fire chief presents 2018 report to Ellis County Commission

The Ellis County Fire Department responded to 320 calls for service in 2018, a slight decrease from the year before but they still spent more than 6,600 hours on emergency incidents in and around the county.

Director of Fire and Emergency Management Darin Myers presented the commission with the departments 2018 annual report Monday. The response times within the county continue to improve, according to Myers. He said in 2018 the average on-scene time within Ellis County was 9 minutes, 34 seconds. Recently, the number of volunteer emergency personnel has been trending downward, according to Myers.

“Luckily, over the last four years, we’ve steadily increased,” he said. “I wouldn’t say we ever have enough, just because of the time of day the incident happens. Usually between 8 a.m. and 5p.m. is when the firefighters are working their primary jobs.”

There are currently 83 paid-per-call firefighters in six companies after two recent retirements.

(Read more: Hays Post)

City holds meeting on downtown transportation

At a standing room only meeting about downtown transportation, a lot of people had opinions.

The City of Wichita is working on a downtown development plan for transportation issues. The first listening session happened Tuesday night at Distillery 244.

Right now, city buses only run at certain times and the Q-Line only runs along Douglas in Downtown. The city is meeting with downtown residents to see if that should change.

(Read more: KAKE – News)

Taggart Wall to manage city he once helped govern

Taggart Wall, city manager of Sterling and a former Winfield city commissioner, said he looks forward to coming back home after being hired as the new Winfield city manager.

The decision to hire Wall, a Winfield native, by the city commission on Monday was unanimous, according to a press release issued by the city immediately after the announcement.

Wall’s expected start date is May 13. He replaces former city manager Jeremy Willmoth, who left the city in October 2018.
Wall earned a Bachelor of Arts in philosophy/religious studies in 2011 from Southwestern College and a Master of Public Administration from Wichita State University in 2013. He also has degree certifications from Wichita State University in city/county management and public finance. He and his wife, Elizabeth, have two children. Wall served on the Winfield City Commission from 2009 to 2013. He was 20 years old when elected, making him the city’s youngest commissioner in history.

In 2011, at age 22, he was sworn in for a one-year term as Winfield mayor, becoming the city’s youngest mayor. He was a management assistant in Arkansas City from 2012 to 2014, a position he resigned from to become Sterling city manager.

Garden City commission OKs charter ordinance updating bond issuance authority

The Garden City Commission on Tuesday unanimously approved a charter ordinance that would give the city significantly more freedom in addressing general improvements and issuing general obligation bonds for certain projects.

The new charter ordinance would repeal a 1975 charter ordinance that until this week dictated that the city may borrow money and issue bonds for government projects without local voter approval at the ballot box, as long as the amount of issued bonds does not exceed $350,000 a year. Under the new ordinance, city projects are instead broken into two categories — utilities and transportation repairs and projects, and general governing projects regarding public bridges, parks, land and other facilities — with different bond limits.

The city commission will now have no limit when issuing bonds related to utilities and transportation, and up to $2.5 million without voter approval when issuing bonds for general governing projects.

Does Olathe’s Mentum have momentum over OP for ice rink, mixed-use development?

The Olathe City Council has unanimously approved rezoning the former Great Mall of the Great Plains site, giving a boost to a developer’s vision to transform the property.

The Council on Tuesday endorsed the rezoning and preliminary plan for Mentum, a $318 million mixed-use development on the old mall site at Interstate 35 and 151st Street. The concept calls for a 3,700-seat hockey arena, interactive golf facility, fitness center, other retail and entertainment uses, plus about 500 apartment units.

“This has the potential to be something truly special,” Mayor Michael Copeland said. But hurdles still remain before the project can become a reality, including a decision by the Kansas Commerce Secretary on whether to authorize up to $69.5 million in state tourism tax incentives to make the financing work.

(Read more: Joco 913 News)

Derby public schools to use new safety tool

An anonymous tip line will give Derby Public Schools a new tool to try to keep students safe.

The school board approved implementing the “See Something, Say Something” program on a 6 to 0 vote at its Jan. 28 board meeting, entering into an agreement with the Wichita Metro Crime Commission, the Derby Police Department, the Wichita Police Department, the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Department and the cities of Derby and Wichita.

The program will allow people who are concerned about a threat to schools to call or text anonymously. Rewards will not be offered for tips. Tips can be submitted through the “P3 Tips” mobile app on smart phones. The Wichita Police Department will receive tips and forward them to the appropriate authorities and school personnel. The board approved the memorandum of understanding on the same day the school district received an anonymous tip through the Kansas School Safety Hotline about a potential school shooting at Derby High School. School administrators worked with the Derby Police Department to investigate the tip, determined to be unsubstantiated.

Celebrate 150 years of Derby

A lot has changed in 150 years, especially in the city of Derby. In 1869, the Alexander Garrett family staked a claim near Spring Creek close to what’s now Garrett Park, sparking the community that soon became El Paso and then in the 1950s boomed into Derby.

Let’s get this in perspective. In 1869, Ulysses Grant was sworn in as our 18th president. The outlaw Jesse James robbed the bank that made him famous, and the first transcontinental railroad was completed. The terrain here was mostly prairie grass, and Kansas had just become a state in 1861. Look around Derby today and try to picture it with dirt roads and only a few blocks of “town” buildings in the vicinity south of Madison Avenue around the railroad track and what’s now K-15 highway. The rest of what’s Derby today was all farmland.

Wellington City Council members express concern with school’s redesign curriculum

There was a lot to talk about at the Wellington City Council Tuesday meeting – including talking about Wellington School Board.

Wellington Mayor Shelley Hansel said she was concerned with rumors around town that people are going to move away because of the new Summit Redesign curriculum being implemented at the school district.

“I heard a disturbing thing that there are several families who are considering of moving from Wellington because they don’t like the way our school district is going,” Hansel said in the audience participation portion of the meeting. “I am just wondering as a district partner, should we call for a meeting to have a joint work session?… When I hear that people are considering moving away from Wellington, I feel it becomes a community issue.”

(Read more: Sumner NewsCow)

Sheriff’s Office considers contracts with cities

The City of Barnes is considering a contract with the Washington County Sheriff’s Office to provide city ordinance enforcement, sheriff Justin Cordry told the Board of County Commissioners on Monday. He will meet with the Barnes City Council in the near future to discuss a contract where Barnes would pay $50 to the sheriff’s office every time ordinance enforcement is requested, he said. He told the commissioners that this is the first per-incident basis contract his department will have done with cities.

Source: Washington County News.

Harvey County says no fee for day use at parks

The Board of Harvey County Commissioners made just one change to the fee structure for its three parks by eliminating the $125 seasonal camping fee.

Parks Director Kass Miller said the action would prevent people from taking advantage of a season pass by living in a tent during the camping season. He also said it eliminated the issue but penalized those “who are in a situation in life where that might be the option for them.”

Miller said allowing homeless people to live at a park created concerns among staff about the safety of staying in a tent when the temperature surpasses 100 degrees.

“It’s a concern that we’ve had medical emergencies due to heat,” he said. “We have other resources available to them [homeless people] in the county.”

Commissioners have debated at length whether park visitors should be charged an entrance fee for picnicking, swimming or other day uses. Those who ride horses are charged a $5 daily fee or $40 for a seasonal pass, and those who operate motorized watercraft are charged a $10 daily fee or $70 for a seasonal pass. They decided against an option that would have charged visitors $2 per carload.

“I’m for no fee,” said Commissioner Randy Hague. “I don’t think you should have to pay to have a picnic.”

(Read more: Newton Now)

City of Topeka hires Kansas native as new finance director

Kansas native Jessica Lamendola was recently hired as the city of Topeka’s new administrative and financial services director. She starts work March 4.

Lamendola comes to Topeka from the city of North Hempstead, N.Y., where she has been finance director and acting comptroller since July 2016, the city of Topeka said in a news release Tuesday. North Hempstead’s population in the 2010 census was 226,332, compared to 127,473 for Topeka.

“Lamendola’s education, background and experiences will be very beneficial to the city of Topeka as we start work on the 2020 budget and CIP (Capital Improvement Plan) process,” city manager Brent Trout said in Tuesday’s release. Before taking her job at North Hempstead, Lamendola worked for the Nassau County, N.Y., Office of Management and Budget and spent more than three years with Moody’s Investor Services as a senior credit and financial analyst responsible for a large portfolio of municipal issuers, Tuesday’s news release said.

Reno County approves trash compactor rebuild

A contract to rebuild a three-year-old trash compactor at the landfill was approved Tuesday by the Reno County Commission.

The contract with Foley Equipment in Wichita for $347,841 will make the equipment like new for about a third- to half the cost of buying new, said Justin Bland, director of Field Operations at the landfill.

“They’ll tear it down to the frame and reconstruct the engine, powertrain, the wiring, the harness. It will get new paint, new seats, new floor liners, and headliners.”

The county started a program rebuilding landfill equipment in 2004, and this will be the fifth piece of machinery through the process.

(Read more: News – The Hutchinson News)

Hutch City Council agrees to lease new fire truck

The Hutchinson City Council approved the lease of a new fire truck during Tuesday’s agenda session. The department will once again use a lease similar to the one that allowed the fire department to acquire a new ladder truck last year.

The nine-year lease will allow the department to continue the new practice of setting a timeline for equipment replacement to better stabilize the budget. Councilwoman Jade Piros de Carvalho expressed concern about using an outsourced leasing agent to acquire the truck versus using a local institution to fund its outright purchase.

(Read more: Hutch Post)

Horton hospital faces uncertain future

A northeast Kansas hospital run by a troubled hospital management company is operating without enough supplies or the necessary funds to buy medications and food for patients, according to its chief nursing officer.

Krissy Torkelson said she has had to negotiate with city officials to keep the lights on at Horton Community Hospital. She said and trash piled up because the bill wasn’t paid, adding that employees also weren’t paid on Friday but were assured they would be paid Monday.

The hospital in the town of about 1,700 people is operated by EmpowerHMS, a subsidiary of The Empower Group. That Florida-based corporation has struggled to pay its bills across the country and was recently removed as operator of the hospital in Hillsboro because of funding problems.

(Read more: Atchison Globe Now)

Sedgwick County wants more time to plan for wind, solar developments

The Sedgwick County Commission on Wednesday will consider a measure designed to give it more time to craft regulations for potential future wind and solar energy projects.

The commission will vote on a moratorium that temporarily suspends the issuance of conditional-use permits for wind and solar energy projects within the county’s unincorporated areas.

Chairman David Dennis says there are already some leases for such projects in western parts of the county.

But, because Sedgwick County doesn’t have regulations within its zoning code to specifically standardize use for wind or solar projects, Dennis says the moratorium is designed to give it time to make sure it adequately addresses issues if any lease is executed and becomes a full-scale project.

“We are trying to give us time to develop the rules and regulations,” he said.

(Read more: Wichita Business Journal)

Great Bend will have representation on a trip to Washington D.C. in late March

After not sending anyone a year ago, the city of Great Bend will once again send representatives to Washington D.C. as part of a Western Kansas Congressional Delegation in late March. The group that is made up of city, county and economic development officials from Western Kansas make the trip each year to meet with elected officials and their staff to discuss topics of vital interest to the western part of the state. City Administrator Kendal Francis estimated that it would cost $1,500 per person for the trip that would include airfare, meals and lodging.

(Read more: Great Bend Post)

City council agrees with planning commission; rejects controversial sign proposed for Delano

In Tuesday’s city council meeting, members rejected a 60-foot sign that has been at the center of controversy in Delano.

The sign was designed to advertise an up and coming sports bar, Tight Ends. The sports bar is similar to a Twin Peaks or Hooters.

“We don’t want become just a giant scene of signs there along Kellogg. We want people to actually like see the view of the city and enjoy it,” said Christopher Parisho, a Delano resident.

Under law, signs in Delano are not to reach above 30 feet. The proposed sign would be double that height.

In addition to concerns about the sign not meeting zoning regulations, Delano residents are concerned that the new business will make the area less family friendly.

“I don’t think anybody would really want that type of business right behind their house,” said another Delano resident, Vincent Hancock.

(Read more: KAKE – News)

Ellis County : some jobs hard to fill

With truck drivers in big demand, hiring one for the Ellis County Road and Bridge Department isn’t easy, according to department director Bill Ring.

“We had an interview Friday that lasted four minutes,” said Ring. “The dollar figure came up right away.”

There are lots of interviews going on, he said, but they’re not getting a lot of applicants.

“There isn’t a large pool out there of unemployed people,” Ring said.

It doesn’t help that the hourly wage of $13.89 translates into $28,000 a year for a 40-hour week.

Probably the employee situation is going to get worse before it gets better, since most of the department’s employees, 32 of 48, or two-thirds, are 50 or older.

(Read more: News – The Hays Daily News)

Residents provide input toward Plan Pottawatomie 2040

An open house Monday at Westmoreland Elementary School gave community members and interested stakeholders an opportunity to learn more about the Pottawatomie County Comprehensive Plan, also known as Plan Pottawatomie 2040.

County officials shared recommendations they’ve created so far, including 12 key initiatives. Meredith Dang, a Senior Associate with planning firm Kendig Keast Collaborative was on hand to present and answer questions from the community. Dang gave a presentation during the meeting of 12 different “near term” priorities for the community to choose from. Some of the general topics were roads, infrastructure, agriculture, and transportation. Jack Allston, Pottawatomie County Economic Development Corporation Executive Director and steering committee member, says his corporation is interested in seeing land set aside for industrial, commercial, and office development, along with enough residential development to satisfy the county’s growing population needs.

(Read more: 1350 KMAN)

Salina, Saline County consider upgrades for Expo Center

Saline County and Salina City Commissioners listened to a presentation Monday from Kala Ade, projects manager for GH2 Architects, who proposed about $8 million in upgrades for the Saline County Livestock and Expo Center.

In July, the Saline County Commission hired GH2 Architects, at a cost of up to $9,600, to evaluate proposed improvements for the Expo Center.

During the past six months, Ade has been talking with city and county staff and the public to better understand what upgrades are needed. Salina and Saline County are currently negotiating a long-term lease for the Expo Center, a county facility that sits atop city land.

(Read more: News – Salina Journal)

Man who helped form Park City is retiring

Jack Whitson is one of Park City’s founding fathers.

Whitson, city administrator who moved to Park City in 1970 when it was known as a Sedgwick County Improvement District and is credited with shaping the city into what it is today, is retiring.

Whitson moved from Tennessee to Wichita while serving in the Air Force at McConnell Air Force Base.

He met his wife in Wichita, and she refused to move back to Tennessee with him. Whitson decided it would be wise to listen to his wife, and they stayed in Kansas where Jack worked for a couple of civil engineering firms. He said the decision to move to what is now Park City was made simply because he thought it was a good location, and because it was affordable.

Taggart Wall (Sterling city manager) hired as new Winfield city manager

Taggart Wall, city manager of Sterling, Kan. and a former Winfield city commissioner, has been hired as the new Winfield city manager, the Winfield city commission announced Monday evening.

The decision to hire Wall was unanimous, according to a press release issued by the city immediately after the announcement.

Wall’s hiring is the result of a multi-state search conducted by Osenbaugh Consulting, interviews involving the city commission and a comprehensive background investigation, the release said.

Wall’s expected start date is May 13. He replaces former city manager Jeremy Willmoth, who left the city in October 2018.

(Read more: The Arkansas City Traveler)

Geary County to charge commercial tree-brush contractors for use of landfill

Geary County Commissioners released a statement on Monday saying that the brush and tree disposal site at the “Closed” Geary County Landfill site was developed for residents of Junction City and Geary County to use free of charge. But the high volume of brush and tree debris coming into that facility from commercial tree-brush contractors has become overwhelming along with the daily expense of pushing and piling tree debris and periodic burning. As a result the County feels it is necessary to charge contractors a fee for disposing of trees and brush. Effective immediately all contractors will have a disposal fee for the landfill. The minimum fee will be $15 per load under one ton or $15 per ton for trees and brush. Contractors must weigh all loads at the Geary County Transfer Station, 1509 North Perry Street, and can pay the fees with cash, check or charge account.

(Read more: Junction City Post)

Another Kansas hospital run by troubled North KC-based firm can’t pay its employees

Another Kansas hospital run by North Kansas City-based EmpowerHMS is reporting serious financial trouble.

Employees at Horton Community Hospital in northeast Kansas said they didn’t receive their paychecks Friday and have been dipping into their own pockets for weeks to buy supplies.

It’s the latest in a months-long string of similar cash flow problems for EmpowerHMS, which until recently managed 14 rural hospitals across Kansas, Missouri and five other states. Last month a judge granted a request by the city of Hillsboro, north of Wichita, to remove Empower as its hospital’s operator, “citing the irreparable harm” likely to occur if Empower stayed on. The cities of Prague, Okla., and Ripley, Tenn., have filed similar legal petitions.

(Read more: KC Star Local News)

City of Hutchinson trying to attract more conventions

The question of attracting more conventions and other events to Hutchinson has become a concern to the city and also the local chamber.

Debra Teufel, president and CEO of the Hutchinson/Reno County Chamber of Commerce, says a task force has been formed to look at a number of options, including a possible renovation of the Atrium Hotel and Conference Center.

Teufel says the task force has provided feedback in an attempt to improve a product already in place.

(Read more: Hutch Post)

The city’s making it snow again — this time with better sledding and a light show

Few could have predicted just how popular last month’s Wichita Snow Day would be.

The free event, which promised a full morning of sledding on artificially produced snow in early January, was swarmed with would-be sledders — so much so that the snow was mostly all gone a couple hours in.

In the next week, there will be two more “artificial snow days” in Wichita — one a nighttime event with LED light shows and a live DJ, and one a Saturday-morning free sledding day.

(Read more: Local News |)

Improving community through Place Science focus of Tuesday forum in Hutch

Hutchinson residents are reminded of a public discussion Tuesday evening on how the community can invest in public places in a way that can lead economic growth.

Katherine Loflin will present “Place Science: Loving Where You Live and Why It Matters to People, Places and Local Economies” beginning at 6 p.m. at the Hutchinson Art Center, 405 N. Washington St.

The event is sponsored by the Hutchinson Community Foundation, in partnership with Hutch Rec and Young Professionals of Reno County.

“Place science” is the study of the relationship between people and a city, and placemaking is a strategy by which places are optimized in key areas to foster that relationship for the benefit of people and places.

(Read more: Local – The Hutchinson News)

Downtown Lawrence residents identify dozens of issues facing downtown as part of master plan workshop

The list of challenges facing downtown compiled by a group of Lawrence residents was long and varied, but from it emerged some consensus.

A firm hired by the city is hosting a series of community workshops this week to gather input for the city’s new Downtown Master Plan, which will shape the future of downtown Lawrence for the next 15 to 20 years. As part of a workshop Monday evening for downtown and adjacent neighborhoods, attendees came up with a list of 45 issues facing downtown Lawrence.
Nik Davis, principal of the community planning firm Houseal Lavigne Associates, then asked the workshop’s approximately 75 attendees to vote on the three most important issues. Davis said that Houseal Lavigne would look at all the issues, but that the voting was meant to help prioritize certain aspects of the plan.

Kechi considers water runoff fee

The City of Kechi is “behind the times” with its stormwater system, and a new fee may be in the cards for residents and businesses.

The city council on Jan. 24 heard from assistant public works director Thomas Bevan about a recent report from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.

KDHE recently visited the city to inspect its stormwater practices. This was likely brought about due to the city’s recent growth and development.

“It kind of opened our eyes to what we’ve been doing,” said Bevan. “I guess we’re kind of behind the times down here, so we got some suggestions on some things we can do to improve. They said the EPA isn’t going to be as nice as KDHE if they have to come down here.”

One suggestion was to develop a map of the city’s stormwater system and its retention ponds. KDHE suggested investing in barriers for storm drains to keep out unwanted materials.

Lawrence City Commission to consider pay increases for city employees

City of Lawrence leaders will soon consider a new pay plan that would provide more than $400,000 in pay raises for city employees beginning next year.

As part of its meeting Tuesday, the Lawrence City Commission will receive a study of the city’s compensation plan that was conducted by McGrath Human Resources Group. The report indicates that a significant number of city employees are underpaid when compared to their peers in other cities. Commissioners will then consider authorizing an amendment to the city’s 2019 budget to increase employee pay.

Some money was budgeted for raises in 2019, but making the pay changes recommended by the study would require an additional $254,621, according to a memo to the commission from the city’s human resources division. In the memo, the human resources division recommends making the pay increases and says that if the city wants highly qualified workers, it needs to pay competitive wages.

As mayor, Lawrence 7th-grader would improve city’s bikeability

If Jack Tell were mayor, Lawrence residents might have to deal with a lot of construction and noise for a little while — but the payoff would be improved bike infrastructure citywide.

The Billy Mills Middle School seventh-grader recently finished as a regional winner in the annual Kansas League of Municipalities “If I Were Mayor” memo contest.

Jack’s plan to make Lawrence more bike-friendly would include “adding bike paths, bike lanes, bike racks, a bike park” and more, he wrote in his memo.

His entry mentioned the health benefits of biking — “It helps your cardiovascular fitness, makes you stronger, decreases stress” and much more, he wrote — plus it’s cheaper than driving, and fewer cars would mean less wear and tear on the roads.

The city might have to raise taxes a bit to pay for the expensive project, he wrote, but it could also seek grants to help cover costs.

Topeka police receive cultural sensitivity training

Recognize any personal biases you might have and make sure they don’t affect the way you do your job.

That was among tips Cain Davis shared with Topeka Police Department employees Friday during a cultural diversity training session held at Topeka’s National Guard Armory.

Police Chief Bill Cochran, who was among participants, said he hoped the training would help open up the eyes, hearts and minds of the department’s employees while improving their ability to interact with people from different races, religions and cultural backgrounds.

“The better educated and more understanding the officers are, the safer the citizens and the officers will be,” he said.

City of Independence employee creates coloring book to prevent inappropriate calls to 911

Alexis Sanders is in our employee spotlight this week. Alexis came to us last July from Montgomery County Sheriff’s Dispatch where she worked for about two and half years. Alexis is a Dispatcher Clerk I. Alexis received repeat 911 calls from a local youngster playing with the phone recently. What Alexis did next really demonstrates the quality of people that work at IPD. Knowing that it is important to reduce the demand on the 911 system, Alexis felt compelled to create a solution to prevent young children from inappropriately dialing 911. She also knew that young children require creative solutions. So, Alexis created an age appropriate coloring book to help the child understand how to use 911. Later that week the mother brought the child in for a tour of our dispatch facility.
Alexis’ creative thinking demonstrates her commitment to excellence. Taking the time to create an educational coloring book shows that she is passionate about the people she serves and that she takes pride in her chosen profession.

Topeka implementing downtown parking initiatives

Parking in downtown Topeka could get easier after a variety of planned improvements, including upgrades to parking garage systems, on-street meters and wayfinding technology. A reader recently expressed confusion about parking, asking #TopCity What?: “There is a sign at Centre City Garage that says free parking during (business) hours. Why did I have to pay during the listed hours?”

“It would appear the reader misread the signs,” parking manager Brenda Hayes said in a written response, noting that parking is free in the garage after business hours and on weekends.

Hayes said if a user is charged incorrectly, he or she can bring the parking receipt to the parking administration office at 620 S.E. Madison during business hours to dispute a charge.

The city operates seven parking garages with a total of 3,253 parking spaces. The city also maintains 3,293 on-street parking spaces, including 1,700 that are metered. Approximately 6,000 parking spaces in the downtown area are under private, state or other ownership.

“There’s plenty of parking downtown,” said Vince Frye, president and CEO of Downtown Topeka Inc. and senior vice president of the Greater Topeka Partnership. “We just need to do a better job of directing people to the spots that would be most appropriate for them when they come downtown.”

Reno legislators regard wind turbine sites local decision

All five members of Reno County’s delegation in the State Legislature regard siting decisions for a wind farm’s turbines as a local call, aren’t in favor of currently proposed hikes in hunting fees, and think more money is needed for prison staffing.

On other issues, the five members split.

(Read more: News – The Hutchinson News)

Pawnee County touts local jobs

The Pawnee County Leadership Committee visited the Statehouse Wednesday, and State Rep. Leonard Mastroni, R-LaCrosse, promoted the committee’s visit and efforts to fill jobs at Larned State Hospital.

Included in Pawnee County folders provided to lawmakers was a promotion of the website, larnedcares.com, for people interested in jobs there, Mastroni pointed out in comments on the House floor.

As of last week, the state listed various job openings at Larned State Hospital and at Larned Correctional Mental Health Facility. They ranged from professional medical care openings to safety and security officer positions – on all three shifts.

“One in five Americans experience mental health issues. One in one Americans can make a difference. Be the one,” is the message on larnedcares.com.

(Read more: Local – The Hutchinson News)

Southwest Kansas sees fewer refugees, shifting agencies

Saleh Mohammed fled his native Myanmar in 2015.

“Too much fighting over there,” he said.

As a member of the Rohingya ethnic minority, he was in particular peril. His life was in danger.

He settled in Garden City. Now 24, he may gain citizenship in a year. That, in turn, will put him in a position to bring over his family and free those loved ones from a refugee camp in Bangladesh.

To navigate life in western Kansas — he’s a meat carver in a Tyson packing plant — he’s relied on aid groups in the region. Those organizations have put him on a path to citizenship and to bringing over his relatives.

But that safety net for refugees is experiencing its own transition. The International Rescue Committee had been the lead agency helping refugees in southwest Kansas until the flood of refugees became a trickle.

The IRC closed its Garden City office last year and consolidated operations in Wichita. Now Catholic Charities helps Mohamed and the dwindling number of refugees in the area like him.

On average, the IRC agency resettled 50 to 100 refugees a year in Garden City and other U.S. cities.

“In 2016 and 2017, we were very busy out there,” said IRC Kansas Executive Director Michele Green said. “There (were) still hundreds of refugees moving to the area.”

But in late July 2018, IRC closed its office in southwest Kansas. That came after the U.S. State Department announced the year before that it would no longer support offices servicing fewer than 100 people per year.

(Read more: News – The Hutchinson News)

Sales tax could go to voters in Winfield

Winfield voters might be asked in June whether to raise the city’s sales tax by .6 of a percent to bankroll a new safety center to house police and fire/EMS, estimated to cost between $16 million to $20 million.

A resolution authorizing an election to repeal a .4 percent retail sales tax and replace it with a 1 percent capital improvement sales tax will be on the agenda Monday for Winfield city commissioners.

If the resolution authorizing the election passes, it will be held via mail with a June 4 deadline, according to a copy of the resolution provided by interim Winfield city manager Brenda Peters.

The 1 percent sales tax would be used to fund construction of a combined police and fire/EMS safety center, street work and other capital improvements.

(Read more: The Arkansas City Traveler)

Olathe, Overland Park envision building ice hockey arenas

There’s a move to build ice hockey arenas in Olathe and Overland Park.

A field near U.S. 69 and 159th Street in Overland Park is slated to become a 300,000-square-foot multisport complex.

“All kinds of sports, whether it’s basketball, whether it’s volleyball, but the big drive is hockey,” said Overland Park City Council member Chris Newlin.

Newlin wants the project vision to become a reality — a 3,500-seat ice arena, basketball courts, and indoor soccer, with nearby office space, apartments, retail, restaurants and entertainment.

“There is nothing like this in Johnson County. There is nothing like this in the Kansas City metro,” Newlin said.

Nine miles away at the former Great Mall of the Great Plains, Olathe and its developer hope to achieve something very similar — a three-phase, $300 million development, including a 4,000-seat hockey arena.

To become a reality, the arenas need Star bonds, which require state approval.

One requirement is that visitors come from over 100 miles away, meaning it’s unlikely both projects will get the green light.

Both cities say they won’t guarantee the bonds with taxpayer money.

Ultimately, bond market investors will decide which project is the best investment.

(Read more: KMBC)

Proposed $100M development for Indian Springs Mall lot brings excitement to KCK

After years of failed hopes, some say a dream development is headed to KCK. A metro company is ready to give it to them.

Scavuzzo’s Food Service is planning to develop the old Indian Springs Mall site.

The mall was demolished in 2016, and other proposals failed to gain community support. But now many in the community say the time has come.

“Oh, I’m very excited,” said Jashona Clark, the assistant manager at City G.E.A.R. up the road from the lot. “I’m ready for it.” The mall closed its doors in 2001. The same year it was demolished Lane4 proposed a flex tech space for the land, but the plan failed months later.

“We just have a tremendous opportunity for new development for our city,” KCK Mayor David Alvey said.

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

Ellis Co. will begin investigating new election equipment next week

The Ellis County Election Office will start looking at new election equipment on Tuesday at the Administrative Center in the Ellis County Commission Chambers, 718 Main.

Election Systems and Software will demonstrate its election equipment for county officials.

In a news release, County Clerk Donna Maskus said the county is looking at new election equipment since Kansas Statute 25-3009 goes into effect this year. The law will require a post-election audit to be done before the canvass. The equipment in use now is not sufficient to handle the audit process. “We look forward to bringing new voter equipment for future elections and will continue the usual high standards with the election process.”

(Read more: Hays Post)

Salina, Saline county appear to be close to agreement on road impact fee

The city and county appear to be close to an agreement on a road impact fee and annexation and maintenance of roads.

According to a news release from the city, the Salina City Commission is scheduled to conduct a special meeting at 2:35 p.m. Monday (or as soon thereafter as possible following the special meeting of the Saline County Commission) to consider approving an agreement with Saline County providing for a road impact fee and annexation and maintenance of certain roads, and to execute a joint motion of the city and county to vacate injunction.

(Read more: The Salina Post)