Municipal News & Jobs

Kansas Municipal News

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)

Abilene discusses future of housing addition

“A toothache” is what Abilene Mayor Tim Shafer called it.
“A toothache with a migraine,” commented Commissioner Dee Marshall.
At Monday’s Abilene City Commission meeting, that is how they described what was once the Highlands Addition housing development, 116 acres of land now owned by the city of Abilene with a $4 million debt for infrastructure.
The development dates back to 2006 when a housing needs forecast based on the planning goals of the nearby military base said housing was needed. That need nor the subdivision developed.
“This is what I hear about: what we are doing about it,” Shafer said at the meeting.
City Manager Austin Gilley posed the question what to do with Highlands a year ago. Monday night the question was how much to charge, if anything, to sell it off.

For several years, Lawrence made sales tax mistakes on water, trash bills; some customers may be due small refund

The city of Lawrence recently discovered it has been incorrectly taxing as many as 2,000 solid waste customers, adding to a list of other billing errors that the city has discovered over the past two years.

Customers who requested an additional trash cart were mistakenly being charged sales tax for the cart, while other customers were not charged sales tax on the purchase of certain yard waste and other bins when they should have been. The city discovered the incorrectly assessed taxes for solid waste containers after a different sales tax error, discovered by the state of Kansas, prompted the city to review its utility billings, according to a city staff memo recently provided to the Lawrence City Commission.

In total, the city isn’t sure how much it overcharged in sales taxes because billing records for 2012, when the mistaken billing began, aren’t readily available. But between September 2013 and June 2018 — when the error was discovered — the city overcharged sales taxes by about $37,000. Customers who had an extra trash cart and were incorrectly charged the sales tax can apply for a refund, which in most cases will be about $4 a year, with a maximum of $12 in total.

Justice prevails: FHSU part of study on rural Kansas youth

Fort Hays State University is part of a project titled “Our Town, Our Kids,” aimed at helping prevent youth from entering the criminal justice system.

Rural counties in western Kansas are part of a study devoted to developing support systems for youth and families with the goal of providing services that maximize their chances of leading productive lives. The project was awarded funding by the Kansas Department of Corrections and the Kansas Advisory Group.

Dr. April Terry, associate professor in the Department of Criminal Justice at FHSU, said rural western Kansas is often overlooked. It is important to have a study in which 22 of the 23 counties are in rural areas of the state, Terry said. Ellis County is included.

“There is a big hole in rural criminology (research),” Terry said. “There is very little research in rural areas and juvenile(s). We hope that his project will result in a national initiative to look at other rural areas.”

(Read more: Hays Post)

Should Green Valley area (east of Manhattan) incorporate?

A pair of meetings are planned next week that could shape the future for residents living in the southwest portion of Pottawatomie County.
With about 4,000 residents living in the growing Green Valley area east of Manhattan, residents are increasingly more in need of public services such as law enforcement, ambulance, road construction and maintenance. All of the services currently are financed by the county at-large. Assistant Planner/Zoning Enforcement Officer Stephan Metzger says it’s apparent the county should play less of a role in governing those services. Earlier this month, a lawyer hired by the Pottawatomie County Commission recommended the area incorporate into a nearby community versus annexing, with Manhattan being the most likely option, given its proximity. Metzger says they want to hear from those residents about the kind of local control they hope to have moving forward.

(Read more: 1350 KMAN)

Transfer station project could affect trash service in Newton and Harvey County

The Board of Harvey County Commissioners approved a low bid of $58,890 from Snodgrass & Sons Construction Co. for resurfacing the floor at the transfer station on Monday. And that means a complete shut down of the station while work is completed.

Now it will be up to Solid Waste Director Rollin Schmidt and County Administrator Anthony Swartzendruber to iron out the details to get the project done with as little interruption to trash service as is feasible.

The single shutdown, as opposed to doing work in phases, would reduce the price by $3,400.

“Phasing would be a pain,” Schmidt said.

Swartzendruber said the City of Newton indicated that the longest shutdown it could accommodate would be Wednesday through Sunday. He said the city was “uneasy” about using its trucks to haul trash directly to Reno County. He said the city didn’t feel like its trucks were reliable enough for the extra mileage.

Commissioner Randy Hague said he was concerned what the city was going to do if the county shut down its transfer station for 10 days. He also said the potential savings of $3,400 to have the project done in one phase was “minute” if doing the project in phases helped the city out.

(Read more: Newton Now)

Public encouraged to take survey on statewide drone usage

The Kansas Department of Transportation’s Division of Aviation is seeking public opinion on the use of unmanned aerial systems or drones in Kansas airspace.

Individuals of all ages, occupations and backgrounds are encouraged to participate in the 10-question online survey available at https://www.ippkansas.org/ks-uas-ipp-survey until Feb. 28.

Through the survey, KDOT hopes to gain a better understanding of the public’s familiarity and opinion on UAS use scenarios to drive operations for the Kansas UAS Integration Pilot Program (IPP).

This federally-initiated program will help tackle the most significant challenges to integrating drones into the national airspace and will reduce risks to public safety and security.

(Read more: Top Stories | KSNW)

City leaders: Cash incentives not everything when wooing companies

Speaking Thursday at a WBJ Emerging Leaders panel, Wichita city manager Robert Layton said Cargill Protein was very close to leaving town.

“There was a lot of money being thrown at (Cargill) during that process from cities around the country,” Layton said. “We were in a significant competition with Plano, Texas, and they had a very lucrative package on the table.”

What made Cargill officials ultimately opt to stay in Wichita and eventually build a $70 million complex on the site of the old Wichita Eagle building downtown? Creative solutions to problems that the company had identified. “In order to fend off (Plano), we came up with a very creative solution,” Layton said. “We assisted with the construction of their parking garage. We weren’t sure that the approach would work, but the mayor, along with the City Council, said we need to try something different.

“We don’t create jobs, the private sector does. We need to tee things up so we can help address their needs.”

(Read more: Wichita Business Journal)

Fare game: Wichita targets economic development with regional push to expand air service

When Howard George made the decision to find a new location for his Seattle-based call center business, he narrowed his choices to Wichita and Boise, Idaho.

As a Midwestern hub for call centers and a market where the cost of living and other factors were attractive draws, George says one of the biggest strikes against Wichita at the time was the lack of direct air service to Seattle.

“I liked Wichita … but I wasn’t sure if I could get there easily enough,” he says.

Then, in April 2017, Alaska Airlines began a daily, nonstop flight between the Air Capital and the Emerald City.

And, in a real-world example of what local leaders say is the economic development power of expanded air service, George says the new flight helped Receivables Performance Management come to Wichita.

(Read more: Wichita Business Journal)

Support grows for downtown historic district as survey nears completion

The effort to make the downtown a historic district is closer to completing what needs to be done before the application can be submitted to State Historic Preservation Office.

After presenting information last night, members of the Clay Center Action Network (CCAN) and others involved in the historic district survey asked business and property owners within the district to sign petitions either for or against the historic district. Most in attendance of last night’s meeting signed the petition in support.

Colbalt Boats announces $7M expansion plans in Neodesha

A southeast Kansas boat manufacturer will begin a multi-year expansion in Neodesha.

Cobalt Boats will expand in a nearly $7 million project to improve operational efficiency and quality.

“That kind of growth will be good for Chanute,” Chanute Regional Development Authority Matt Godinez said.

Cobalt Vice President of Operations Shane Stanfill said he could not release specific numbers, but the three-phase expansion will add jobs and increase the size of operations significantly.

He said the project will touch all areas and improve flow and equipment. Cobalt currently has 700 employees in 500,000 square feet of space. Stanfill said as the company has added efficiency, and that boats have become larger in size and more complex.

Cobalt expects to build 2,200 to 2,300 boats this year.

Parsons to talk about Sunday liquor sales

Fourteen years after the Kansas Legislature made it legal, city officials likely will discuss the possibility of allowing the sale of liquor on Sunday.

The sale of packaged alcoholic beverages has been legal in Kansas since 2005 but individual cities and counties must approve measures to make it legal or voters must approve it at the polls.

Commissioner Kevin Cruse brought up the issue during a Thursday work session. Although he said he was reluctant to discuss the hot-button issue, he said it’s time to consider allowing people to buy alcohol in town to keep them off of the highways after they already have been drinking.

On Sundays some drinkers head to smaller, nearby towns such as Erie, which began allowing the sale of liquor on Sunday in 2005 after voter approval. McCune and St. Paul, among others, also allow Sunday sales.

Cruse said the city also is looking for more revenue. Parsons is losing out on sales and alcohol taxes when people head to other cities on Sunday.

(Read more: Parsons Sun)

Topeka considers TIF District for area considered blighted at S.W. 29th and Wanamaker

The Villa West Shopping Center property at the northwest corner of S.W. 29th and Wanamaker Road is considered blighted under Kansas laws governing tax increment financing, Topeka city officials say.

The city’s governing body plans Feb. 12 to consider scheduling a March 19 public hearing, at which it would consider authorizing TIF financing for a project to make renovations and improvements at that site.

“The area qualifies as a ‘blighted area’ under the state TIF statutes because a majority of blighting factors exist to a degree throughout the area as a whole and contains a substantial number of deteriorating structures which create economic obsolescence,” said a document in the preliminary agenda packet for that meeting.

After Garden City was targeted by white terrorists, residents choose hope over fear

Born in Kenya to Somali refugees, Ifrah Ahmed found a new home amid the cattle ranches, beef slaughterhouses and pancake-flat fields of western Kansas.

Here in Garden City, Ahmed, 29, has made a community for herself with fellow African and Asian refugees and longtime locals who make up an unusual fabric that they believe represents the best of America: open, inclusive and understanding.

“It’s the people that make home. It’s not the area, not the environment,” says Ahmed. “It’s the people. It’s your neighbors.” In Garden City, population 27,000, residents speak 40 languages, including Burmese, Spanish, Vietnamese, Swahili and Creole. About 23 percent of the population is foreign born, according to the U.S. Census. White, non-Hispanic residents account for 40 percent of the population. On main street, Vietnamese noodle soup is prepared by Hispanic chefs, and hookah stores sit next to taco joints and drive-up hamburger stands. Garden City was always a place for anyone who wanted to work hard.

It got its start as a waypoint on the Santa Fe Trail used by Mexican merchants to access eastern U.S. markets, and later by westbound settlers headed to California. Cowboys, Native Americans and residents of the former Mexican territories of southern Colorado and New Mexico mingled freely in Garden City, giving it a diverse population from the start.

(Read more: Atchison Globe Now)

In State of the City, Leawood mayor highlights accomplishments, raises concern about partisanship, school funding

Leawood had built a deserved reputation as one of the best places in Kansas and beyond to to live, work and play.

That was the takeaway message from Mayor Peggy Dunn’s State of the City address, delivered Thursday at the Ironhorse Golf Club.

But Dunn also had words of caution, pointing to the recently ended 35-day federal government shutdown as a sign of troubling partisanship, and imploring state leaders to work through continued friction over K-12 funding.

Johnson County judge orders Election Commissioner Ronnie Metsker to comply with request for list of provisional ballots

A Johnson County judge on Thursday sided with the progressive activist who sued Election Commissioner Ronnie Metsker after Metsker refused to hand over a list of provisional ballot voters requested under the Kansas Open Records Act.

Davis Hammet, who heads Loud Light, an operation focused on increasing voter engagement and participation, was the plaintiff in the case filed in conjunction with the American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas in September. Hammet and the ACLU took legal action after Metsker’s office denied a request to produce a list of voters whose ballots were rejected because their signatures did not match those the Election Office had on file.

Fed holds interest rates stable, pledges ‘patient’ approach

The Federal Reserve opted not to raise interest rates during its policy meeting this week and pledged that future moves will be done patiently and with an eye toward how economic conditions unfold.
In a statement Wednesday, the central bank voted unanimously to hold its policy rate in a range between 2.25 percent and 2.5 percent.
The decision came along with a separate statement on the Fed’s balance sheet indicating that policymakers will consider adjusting the reduction of the central bank’s bond portfolio if conditions warrant. Officials in that statement also said they expect to operate with “an ample supply” of bank reserves, an indication that the balance sheet will remain sizable once its reduction is complete.

In a move that represented a divergence from policy of the past several years, the Fed dropped language that more rate hikes likely would be warranted – “further gradual increases,” as stated after the December meeting – and said it was adopting a more cautious approach.