Municipal News & Jobs

Kansas Municipal News

Reno County Commission puts moratorium on wind discussion pending NextEra recommendation

The Reno County Commission began its meeting Tuesday advising proponents of restrictions on wind development in the county that they could no longer speak during the public comment period at the beginning of commission meetings, at least until resolution of the NextEra application.

Commissioner Bob Bush, who’d been absent from the commission for the past several weeks for health reasons, brought up the issue and asked County Counselor Joe O’Sullivan to explain why.

“For almost three months the public comment session of the agenda has been dominated by the wind energy conversion system issue, particularly the prospective NextEra project,” O’Sullivan noted. “The majority of that time, the issue before you was whether or not a moratorium on wind production should be put in place.”

But since it has decided the moratorium question, the commission should no longer consider anything the public offers about wind, pro or con, pending receipt of a recommendation from the Reno County Planning Commission on NextEra’s application for a conditional use permit (CUP), he said.

(Read more: Local – The Hutchinson News)

Splash Aqua Park to join Camping World, Gander Outdoors in south Wichita this summer

Developer Jeff Lange already made a splash by landing Camping World and Gander Outdoors stores for his new Steeple Bay mixed-use development at I-235 and Seneca.

Now, he’s making a literal splash with a deal for the new Splash Aqua Park that will open on the 14-acre lake on the north side of the 80-acre development.

“It’s a big playground . . . of inflatables that we anchor on the bottom of the lake,” said Cole Kalkbrenner, who is opening Splash with his wife, Erin. There will be swings, slides, trampolines, jumps, bridges and other inflatable fun, all connected by inflatable walkways over the size of a football field. Splash is significant because it likely will drive traffic to a part of Wichita that people from elsewhere in the city and region don’t normally go, although Lowrance noted that a lot of families are already traveling there for sports and are likely to take advantage of Splash while they’re there.

(Read more: Local News |)

Cost, breadth of impact among factors in Overland Park’s decision not to offer curbside storm debris pick up

When Winter Storm Gia hit Celeste Aronoff’s neighborhood in northern Overland Park, it snapped two massive branches from one of the trees in her family’s yard.

As clean up efforts from the storm got underway, Aronoff and her neighbors were struggling to decide how to proceed.

“There are large limbs and trees down everywhere,” she said. “The idea that most of us are equipped to manage this on our own seems kind of ludicrous…We just keep joking about getting everything in my Prius.”

Aronoff isn’t the only Overland Park resident irked by the city’s decision to set up drop off sites for storm debris instead of arranging for a curbside collection, and many other cities in the Shawnee Mission area have done. Overland Park’s neighboring cities of Leawood, Prairie Village, Mission and Roeland Park, for example, are all offering special curbside pick ups.

But, say Overland Park officials, the cost of arranging such an effort in a city the size of Overland Park would be considerable — and not every part of the city was hit as hard as the northern neighborhoods.

City of Wichita close to finalizing aquatics master plan

It may seem odd to be talking about the future of Wichita pools in the winter, but that’s exactly what the city council did at a workshop Tuesday morning.

It appears they may be on step closer to finalizing Wichita’s Aquatics Master Plan.

Mary Dean is one of several members who has fought to keep a swimming pool at McAdams Park in northeast Wichita. She is glad to see city council members moving in a direction that would keep a pool in the community.

“You know, we wanted to make sure that the heritage that is McAdams made sure that it stayed there,” she says.

Dean says the fight to keep the pool at McAdams Park has been a long, but important battle.

“All too often communities are getting their legacy taken away because of people who are seeing value to putting something else there, so we’re glad that the legacy and heritage will stay in McAdams,” says Dean.

(Read more: KWCH News)

Shawnee County Commissioner Kevin Cook seeks more say in zoning for those just outside Topeka

Since 2003, owners of land in the 3-mile jurisdiction just outside Topeka city limits in unincorporated Shawnee County have had no representation when the city’s governing body considered planning and zoning moves affecting that area.

But County Commissioner Kevin Cook said Tuesday he was working with county counselor Jim Crowl to craft a proposed home rule resolution that would arrange for the city and county to form a board to address those matters consisting of representatives from both the city and unincorporated Shawnee County.

“This would create a manner in which there would be actual representation of residents in the 3-mile area,” he said.

Cook added that he hoped at some point to see the city and county again operate a joint planning department, as they did until the Topeka City Council in 2003 pulled out of that arrangement.

Wichita Eisenhower National Airport set ridership record in 2018

Last year was the busiest on record for Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport, with 2018 ending with an annual record of 1,665,116 passengers flying in and out of the Air Capital.

That topped the previous record set in 2017 by more than 44,800 passengers, according to new data from the airport.

Boosted by new service that included Alaska Airlines’ flights to Seattle that began in 2017 and Frontier Airlines’ flights to Denver that began last year, the airport set numerous monthly ridership records throughout 2018.

That included one for the month of December, which saw 140,304 passengers for the final month of the year.

In addition to the overall ridership growth, the airport also reported a 7-percent increase in air cargo year over year in 2018.

(Read more: Wichita Business Journal)

Point In Time count allocates homeless funding in Kansas

In the next few weeks, cities across the state of Kansas will do their Point In Time count of the homeless.

“Once a year, this point in time count is done, just to kind of get a snapshot of what’s going on just on this particular day,” said Misty Bosch Hastings with the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services. “Of course, that’s the individuals that we can find.”

The purpose of the count is to be able to properly allocate public funds to help the homeless.

“This lets us know how much money we can get, statewide, from the federal government, also for the city, for the actual shelter that they go to,” said Bosch Hastings. “Shelter plus care, housing vouchers, all this money that helps house these individuals comes from this count.”

(Read more: WIBW News Now)

Lawrence police expected to have body cameras by summer

Lawrence police officials say all officers in the department should be wearing body cameras sometime this summer.

The Lawrence Journal-World reports 10 officers, with support from four staff members, have been testing the cameras since November.

Police Capt. Trent McKinley said the department will evaluate the test results early next month and then select a camera vendor. The cameras are budgeted to cost $462,000. Half of the cost will be funded by a federal grant, and the city of Lawrence will match those funds.

The city has also hired a technician to help with the body camera program.

McKinley said the department is still working on policies governing the use of the cameras.

(Read more: Top Stories | KSNW)

Pratt Volunteer Fire chief would like a training facility

Pratt Volunteer Fire Department Chief David Kramer would like to establish a permanent training facility in Pratt for his squad of 22 active volunteer firefighters as a solution to the current training program situation which, he said, adds hours of set-up and tear-down time to training exercises.
Kramer presented ideas for a facility based on shipping containers to Pratt City commissioners at their regular Monday meeting and received positive responses that fell short of commitment.
“I think it’s a good idea,” said commissioner Jason Leslie.
Kramer’s presentation included a slideshow of various configurations, suggesting one that would start with five 40-foot containers with a stairway and walkway, which would cost about $16,000.
“It’s a fraction of the cost of construction and the city would be getting a lot of bang for its bucks,” Kramer said. “It won’t be an eyesore, I promise you.“
Location for the proposed training center is on city-owned property at the corner of 10th Street and Highway 61, north of Pratt Community College where water is available.

Flint Hills Regional Leaders’ retreat brings regional economic concerns to the forefront

Business and industry leaders gathered with area political leaders for a two-day conference held in Olathe Friday and Saturday to identify strengths and weaknesses impacting the Manhattan area workforce and economy.
One of those key aspects discussed during the Flint Hills Regional Leaders Retreat is the Tri-county Region Reimagined economic strategic plan. The plan involves Riley, Pottawatomie and Geary counties. As it looks ahead to new technology, and a growing number of retiring baby boomers in the workforce, a lot of the conversation is now aimed at attracting talent and retaining those employees in the region. Region Reimagined Program Director Christy Rodriguez says collaboration between the various communities is key.

(Read more: 1350 KMAN)

CJOnline Facebook Live event to focus on Shawnee County land use plan

After more than two years of discussion, Shawnee County commissioners last October approved a comprehensive land use plan to guide decision-making about the physical development of the county’s unincorporated areas and serve as a blueprint for future growth and the preservation of agricultural land.

But some residents still don’t quite comprehend what the plan does and what effects it might have.

The Topeka Capital-Journal consequently asked County Commissioner Kevin Cook to answer questions during a podcast/Facebook Live event, in which he will appear at noon Tuesday at CJOnline and The Topeka Capital-Journal Facebook page.

The Capital-Journal on Monday provided Cook 15 questions it will ask. He will also respond to other questions about the plan that readers submit online during the event.

Study: Kansas strictest in limiting control of food policy

Kansas goes farther than any other state in limiting state and local agencies from influencing policy about food nutrition labels and portion sizes, according to a recent study.

A study published this month by New York University researcher Jennifer Pomeranz found that Kansas does more to limit the authority of local governments on food policy than any of the 13 other states with similar legislation, the Kansas News Service reported.

Kansas’ pre-emption law, which went into effect in 2016, prevents local authorities from restricting portion sizes, taxing soda and sugary drinks and banning “incentive items,” such as toys in a McDonald’s Happy Meal. The law applies to counties, school districts, councils and other local government agencies, which are prohibited from enacting restrictive food policies.

Similar bills have cropped up across the country in recent years, but Pomeranz said Kansas’ law goes further than others by limiting the state Legislature’s power. “The state basically handed over to the federal government control of these issues,” she said. “It’s basically saying ‘we’re not acting, and the locals can’t act either.'”

(Read more: Government & Politics News |)

New downtown recycling trailer in Great Bend already deemed a success

The community’s reaction to the new downtown recycling drop-off site has already exceeded expectations.

Organizers had anticipated unloading the trailer twice a month. But it is filling up quickly and the timetable has been moved up to accommodate the amount of collections at 18th and Williams.

The trailer was the brainchild of the Barton County Young Professionals (BCYP).

“Many of our members had voiced their desire for more recycling opportunities. And Sunflower Diversified Services and the city of Great Bend made it happen,” said Megan Hammeke, steering committee chair. “We are so excited to have this new addition downtown and we support all city and Sunflower recycling efforts.”

(Read more: Great Bend Post)

New Sheridan Co. K9 officer ready to begin training for duty

Sheridan County’s newest member of the sheriff’s department will be arriving soon.

Dak, the county’s first K9 officer, will begin training next week in Omaha, Neb., with his partner Deputy Adam Babcock.

The department is also accepting donations to help support the K9 program supplies, including such necessities as a dog cage for the patrol vehicle, kennels, veterinarian expenses, food and other necessities.

(Read more: Hays Post)

Report: Kansas electricity costs higher than other states

A report says Kansas customers are paying more for electricity than in neighboring states because of investments in coal and wind power.

The Kansas Corporation Commission recently presented its analysis of electricity rates to lawmakers.

The commission found that utilities Westar Energy and Kansas City Power & Light spent billions of dollars over the last decade on coal-fired power plants in Kansas. They also spent millions of dollars complying with a now-repealed state rule for 20 percent of energy to come from renewable sources by 2020.

Commission Chief Accountant Justin Grady says Kansas decided to invest in coal when it was cheaper than gas, but the price of natural gas has since dropped.

(Read more: Hays Post)

New management to take over the hospital in Hillsboro immediately

Hillsboro Community Hospital is temporarily under new management.

This morning, the Marion County District Court approved the Bank of Hays and the City of Hillsboro’s joint request to remove HCH out from EmpowerHMS and appointed a new company to take over the management.

As the Free Press previously reported, the Bank of Hays filed a foreclosure action against the current ownership group of the hospital, also known as EmpowerHMS.

According to a press release issued early this afternoon by the City of Hillsboro, Cohesive Healthcare Management has been appointed by the court to take possession of the hospital and to operate, manage and oversee it while the foreclosure lawsuit proceeds.

The court’s order states, “that immediate and irreparable harm is likely to result if a receiver is not appointed to operate and manage the hospital in order to ensure that it remains open and retains as much of its value as possible.”

(Read more: Hillsboro Free Press)

Basehor hires new city administrator

The Basehor City Council and mayor have hired a new city administrator.

Leslee Rivarola’s appointment to the position was approved Wednesday during a Basehor City Council meeting. She is scheduled to begin her duties as the new city administrator Feb. 4.

Rivarola, 37, said she has an extensive background in public service.

“I just love serving the public, and I really believe in the work that we do,” she said.

She currently serves as the city administrator of Lake Lotawana, Missouri. She has been in this job for about four years.

She has held other positions in the public service field including code enforcement officer and public works director.

Rivarola also has worked as a consultant to assist small municipalities.

The Basehor City Council began searching for a new city administrator after Lloyd Martley Jr. retired from the position in June.

(Read more: Leavenworth Times)

Website created for Salina downtown project

The website for downtown Salina’s revitalization project is now available at salina2020.com. The website hosts the most up to date information about projects, developments and events related to the renovation. Salina 2020, the master developer of downtown Salina’s revitalization project, and Salina Downtown Inc., will be hosting a cash mob Feb. 9. Shoppers are encouraged to patronize stores, restaurants, bars, and businesses during the event.

Social media users have a chance to win a $50 gift card to one of 20 downtown businesses by spreading information about the cash mob across Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. The social media contest is being organized by Salina 2020.

(Read more: News – Salina Journal)

Rural Revitalization gets to work

Only one committee in the Kansas House of Representatives has a leadership team comprised of three lawmakers living west of U.S. 81.

It’s the new Rural Revitalization Committee.

The problems of rural Kansas are varied and challenging, “but perhaps we can bend the curve,” said Committee Chairman State Rep. Don Hineman, R-Dighton. Rounding out the leadership team are Vice Chairman State Rep. Adam Smith, R-Weskan, and Ranking Minority Member State Rep. Jason Probst, D-Hutchinson.

“It’s pretty open-ended,” Hineman said of the committee’s agenda. “That’s what has most people excited,” according to Smith. Just about any topic that is a concern for rural areas – broadband access, health care services, adequate housing, economic development, agribusiness, declining school enrollment – overlaps the agendas of other legislative committees. In the committee’s first week, Kansas State University’s Associate Professor of Sociology Matthew Sanderson talked about population trends. There are counties where 55 of every 100 people are over 65, Probst said. “The math doesn’t work to replace that over time,” Probst said.

If population trends continue, projections show that by 2044, Probst said, 47 percent of Kansans will live somewhere in the five northeast counties of Leavenworth, Wyandotte, Johnson, Douglas, and Shawnee counties, Probst said.

“Very sobering report,” committee member and freshman State Rep. Paul Waggoner, R-Hutchinson, said of Sanderson’s presentation.

On the committee’s agenda during the week of Jan. 22 will be speakers addressing the topics of rural demographics, rural development and challenges, and rural tourism development.

“It’s important for us all to understand where rural Kansas has come from before we can begin good discussions about where we are going – and how to get there,” Smith wrote in an email.

The committee’s focus right now is not planning legislation but listening and learning, Probst said.

(Read more: Local – The Hutchinson News)

Shawnee County Commission decision brewing on alcohol at softball fields

Allowing alcoholic beverages at Shawnee County’s four adult softball complexes would help it increase revenues and attract national tournaments, supporters say.

But questions remain as to whether the county is prepared to deal with problems that might bring.

Teresa Miller, a member of the Shawnee County Parks and Recreation advisory board, told commissioners Dec. 20 about how beer consumption made players more aggressive on the teams for which her husband used to play.

“When they had beer, they were pretty rowdy,” she said. “Baseball bats make good weapons.”

Parks and recreation director John Knight responded his department plans to arrange for on-site vendors to sell beer in a controlled environment, where sufficient security is provided.

“We’re missing out on a lot of potential revenue,” he said.

Commissioners Bob Archer, Bill Riphahn and Kevin Cook plan Thursday to consider a home rule resolution sponsored by Cook to allow alcoholic beverages to be possessed and consumed at the adult softball complexes the county maintains.

City of Parsons to consider golf subsidy

City commissioners likely will grant an $8,000 subsidy to the local golf course on Tuesday.

The commissioners plan to receive a financial report from Parsons Katy Golf Course Association and probably will approve the payment to the course.

The city has paid the golf course a subsidy for many years but within the last few years began reducing the amount of $12,000 by $1,000 each year. The subsidy is expected to remain at $8,000 unless commissioners decide otherwise.

The commission agrees to pay the subsidy annually in order to help keep the business afloat as it is the only golf course in the immediate Parsons area. The commissioners consider having a golf course a factor in maintaining a good quality of life for residents.

(Read more: Parsons Sun)

Wind farm moratorium fails again in Neosho County

Once again, a motion against the proposed Neosho Ridge wind electrical generation project failed to draw a second at Thursday evening’s Neosho County Commission meeting, when matters came to clash over a 1,000-foot setback.

Development manager for Apex Clean Energy, Jade Scheele, said a setback of more than 1,000 feet ends the conversation, although Apex has agreed to a setback of 1,640 feet from the middle of properties that are not involved in leases.

“If you can’t go more than 1,000, I’m done,” Commissioner Paul Westhoff said. “Let’s just get this done. No windmills.”

Apex has signed leases in about 44,000 acres for 139 windmills to generate up to 300 megawatts of electricity, which nonleasing residents in the area want to stop. They have asked for setbacks of 2,000 feet from nonleasing property lines and 4,000 feet from nonleasing residences.

After Westhoff’s motion failed, opponent Lori Whitworth asked why the commission stopped short.

“Every time we’re here, they dangle something else,” she said. “Why can’t we make that formal?”

(Read more: Parsons Sun)

Some Lawrence officials frustrated by delayed energy debate

Several Lawrence officials and residents have expressed frustration that the City Commission didn’t discuss an offer to power the city exclusively with wind energy before the option was no longer available.

City staffers said Westar Energy’s offer was under review but officials hadn’t determined whether the energy plan was worth pursuing, the Lawrence Journal-World reported . Westar had approached some of its large-demand customers in July to purchase wind energy at a fixed rate for the next 20 years.

The Missouri-based utility had 200 megawatts of wind power available from a planned wind farm to be in operation by next year, and the energy reservations were offered on a first-come, first-served basis. All energy has since been allocated.

Douglas County, the city of Manhattan, the University of Kansas and Kansas State University were among the entities that took advantage of Westar’s 1.8 cents per kilowatt hour fuel rate offer for a 20-year term.

(Read more: Politics & Government News |)

Lenexa, Mission recommit to MARC program coordinating regional traffic signals

To improve traffic flow and reduce carbon emissions from vehicles, the Mid-America Regional Council is continuing its Operation Green Light program with multiple cities in northeast Johnson County and the Kansas City metro area.

Mission and Lenexa in their council meetings this week agreed to renew their commitments to MARC’s Operation Green Light Traffic Control System with surrounding cities, including Fairway, Leawood, Merriam, Mission Woods, Overland Park, Prairie Village, Shawnee and Westwood.

Operation Green Light works with federal, state and local agencies to operate a system that coordinates timing of traffic signals as well as communication between intersections across jurisdictional boundaries, according to Mission city documents. The system monitors and/or operates 705 signals and manages more than 1,200 network devices such as intersection controllers, wireless radios, switches, cameras, routers, serial-to-IP converters and servers.

Participating cities are required to match federal and state funding for Operation Green Light.

Winfield greivance policy may return

Winfield City Commissioners will consider additions to the city’s employee handbook, including a new grievance policy to replace one removed last year.

The new policy states employees have the right to present a grievance concerning interpretation or application of city policies or department regulations, working conditions, relationships with co-workers or supervisors, or application of equal employment opportunity policies. The new policy states the employee will never be subject to retaliation if they present a grievance.

The policy lays out the steps for filing a grievance. Those steps include presenting the grievance first to the employee’s immediate supervisor, who will then respond. If the employee is not satisfied with the response, they can present the grievance to their department head for a response. If they are still unsatisfied, they can choose to have a hearing with either the city manager or a grievance board, including five voting members from various departments and one nonvoting city employee chosen by the person filing the grievance. Board members must be agreed upon by the aggrieved party and the city manager or human resources.

(Read more: The Arkansas City Traveler)

Could modern peanut butter have been invented in Ark City?

The late Edith Joyce Davis recalled as a child of 10 riding on a horse-drawn wagon as Arkansas City’s original “peanut butter man” made his rounds in the late 1890s.

Long before peanut butter became one of the world’s favorite spreads, R.H. Brock was delivering his tasty peanut paste throughout Ark City and to customers in Winfield and Geuda Springs. He also shipped buckets of peanut butter to customers in New York and Iowa.

For many years, Ark City residents have referred to him as the inventor of peanut butter, although that’s hard to prove. He certainly is one of the first people in the U.S. to have set up a peanut factory to grind peanuts into a buttery paste.

Dr. John Harvey Kellogg patented a process in 1895 for creating peanut butter from raw peanuts. He marketed it as a nutritious protein substitute for people who could hardly chew on solid food. Dr. Ambrose Straub of St. Louis, Mo., patented a peanut-butter-making machine in 1903.

But a Traveler writer, in its Jan. 25, 1899 edition, objected to an Oklahoma City Times Journal item about a “new article of food” in India, where a factory was put in operation for manufacture of butter from oil of peanuts.

“Wake up brother,” the Traveler stated. “Arkansas City has been using peanut butter for the past year, made by Rev. Brock, of this city.”

(Read more: The Arkansas City Traveler)

Bel Aire starts safety initiative for bikers, walkers

Bel Aire, like other nearby cities, is looking to improve its walking and biking paths.

While city officials work on creating an updated Biking and Pedestrian master plan, the Bel Aire Police Department is stepping up to ensure the public enjoys outdoors safely.

“Bel Aire, like many small communities, doesn’t have sidewalks in all of their neighborhoods,” explained Police Chief Darrell Atteberry. “We would like people, when they’re out in the street, to wear reflective equipment so they’re easily seen by vehicles.”

The police department is passing out reflective arm bands and belts for walkers, joggers and bikers.

According to Atteberry, the safety initiative came after a resident expressed his concerns to city council about walkers and bikers in the community.

Bel Aire hasn’t had a vehicle-pedestrian accident, but Atteberry doesn’t want to wait until one happens.

(Read more: Top Stories | KSNW)

Mr. Park City, Jack Whitson, says farewell

In a world where government officials often don’t return calls, don’t answer questions or speak in legalese when they finally do, Jack Whitson is an exception.

The Park City administrator returns calls promptly — even providing his cellphone — answers questions and speaks like a normal human.

“If I have a question, he has an answer, and he’ll get me the answer if he doesn’t know,” said developer Lou Robelli, who owns Air Capitol Delivery & Warehouse. “He helped me through . . . the hoops to get started in Park City,” Robelli said. “He’s done a lot for Park City.” That includes helping incorporate the city in 1980.

The Nashville, Tenn., native came to the area through the Air Force and couldn’t believe how affordable housing was in what was then the Park City Improvement District.

He and a couple of other members of the Jaycees club needed a project in 1979 and decided to take on incorporating the city due to how others in the county were treating the area.

Whitson said zoning requests that weren’t approved elsewhere seemed to be sent up to the district.

“The people up here were very upset,” he said. “We felt like if we became our own city, we could deal with those issues.”

Whitson said former Wichita Mayor Bob Knight wasn’t happy about it. Then Bel Aire “jumped on board and wanted to create a city of their own.”

“The city of Wichita said, ‘Whoa, now wait a minute. Enough’s enough.’ ”

(Read more: Wichita Eagle)

Historic building survey in Clay Center almost complete

The downtown Clay Center historic building survey is almost complete and findings from the survey will be presented at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 30, at the Clay County Museum.

The goal of the survey is to determine if there is enough historic integrity to be considered for a National Register nomination as a historic district. A representative from the Kansas State Historical Society will be at the meeting to explain the advantages and disadvantages of being in a historic district. According to the National Park Service, and contrary to popular belief, National Register listing does not place any restrictions as to what can be done to the property unless federal licenses or permits are needed or federal funding is used. Listing a property on the National Register will not stop any private or locally funded projects. It is the use of State and Federal grants and tax credits that trigger the requirement for review and compliance with historic standards. However, changes made to the property that causes it to lose substantial historic integrity may cause the property to be removed from the Register listing.

Opportunity Zones

Few issues have captured the attention of city leaders like “opportunity zones.” But for many cities, towns and villages, there is more confusion than clarity. NLC is pursuing a new line of work to help cities understand and maximize the local impact of opportunity zones for all residents.

The opportunity zone program was created under the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act to provide local and national investors with a tax incentive for investments in economically distressed areas of the country. More than 8,700 opportunity zones have been designated across all 50 states for the next 10 years.

(Read more: www.nlc.org/contents/rss-feed)

New Guidance on Dockless Scooters and Bikes

Across the country, local governments are increasingly engaging with micromobility devices, like dockless scooters and bikes. These dockless micromobility devices are similar to their docked counterparts with one exception – they can be parked anywhere. Users can unlock the devices using their smartphones and are typically available at $1 to start and an additional 15 cents per minute. These devices are increasing in popularity due to their low cost to operate and ease of use, and as such, are increasingly becoming an important element as a city’s last mile transportation provider.

While dockless micromobility offers cities the opportunity to decrease congestion and aid communities in meeting their greenhouse gas emissions goals, they also present a regulatory challenge because they often do not fit into existing regulations. For example, merely regulating “scooters” as opposed to dockless micromobility devices can hit hurdles, as many states provide a set definition for a “scooter”. There can often be unintended consequences of a limited scope, such as accidently regulating every kind of scooter, which can include toy scooters or scooters used for a disability.

Dockless micromobility presents new, unanticipated challenges.

(Read more: CitiesSpeak)

Wichita-area home sales figures take another dip

Area home sales took another plunge last month as an apparent decline in the market continues.

According to fresh numbers released this week by the South Central Kansas Multiple Listing Service, home sales in the five-county area (Butler, Sedgwick, Cowley, Sumner and Harvey) surrounding Wichita dropped nearly 12 percent — from 821 units to 774 units — in December when compared to the same month in 2017. Contracts for sale were down about 3 percent from December 2017 to December 2018, according to the report.

The MLS reported 2,205 active listings at the end of last month, which is a decrease from the 2,214 active listings on the market at the end of December 2017. At the current rate of sales, that means there’s about a 2.5-month supply of homes currently on the market.

A figure representing less than five months of supply is generally thought of as a seller’s market.

(Read more: Wichita Business Journal)

Pittsburg partners pleased with Kansas Crossing Casino profits despite lower-than-projected revenue

Pittsburg city officials and community leaders say they are happy with their partnership with Kansas Crossing Casino & Hotel, even though the casino fell short of its projected gaming revenue.

When the casino was recommended by the Kansas Lottery Gaming Facility Review Board in 2015, Kansas Crossing’s projected total gross gaming revenue was $47.2 million annually.

However in 2018, the business made $34.3 million, according to officials with the Kansas Racing and Gaming Commission, which is $12.9 million, or 27 percent short its original goal.

Crawford County, Cherokee County and the city of Pittsburg each receive 1 percent of the casino’s overall revenue as part of an agreement.

“I don’t care what projections they had when they were bidding against the other competitors because I’m pretty sure everyone had their pencils out and were dialing out the best number they could come up with,” Daron Hall, Pittsburg city manager, said last week. “For us, it’s the simple matter of seeing how they opened and then what they’re trending now. Their trending is up considerably from month to month, year to year.”

(Read more: www.joplinglobe.com)

Website struggles hinder Goessel and other Kansas municipalities

Maintaining an online presence is increasingly important, but trips to some of Marion County’s city websites show pages that are behind the times.
Goessel is among the municipalities feeling the struggle.
… gathering content and finding time to post updates can be time-consuming, city clerk Jennifer Whitehead said.
“It ends up being that I have like 10 minutes here, let’s go in and look at what I need to update,” she said. “I try to do it weekly but usually it doesn’t work out that way.”

We have the answer for Goessel’s (see above) and your city’s website problems…

Ranson Citycode Financial hosts and maintains city websites with all the bells & whistles that big cities have … without the big city cost!
And, best of all, we can do it all for you! Just email us the content (minutes, agendas, ordinances, etc.) and we can update the website for you.

Learn more here!

City support moves track project ahead for Pratt Community College

Pratt Community College has cleared another hurdle on the path to construction of a new track and soccer field facility just east of the Green Sports Complex.

The PCC Trustees got an update on the $3.5 million project during their regular monthly meeting Jan. 14 at the college.

The closing price on the value of the bonds will be Tuesday, Jan. 29 and once that has been set, bonds can be issued for the project, said PCC President Michael Calvert.

Construction on the facility is expected to start in March with a completion date sometime in October or November, depending on the weather, Calvert said.

On January 7 the city of Pratt approved the Bond Ordinance and Resolution that would allow them to sell industrial revenue bonds for the project. The college doesn’t have the authority to issue industrial revenue bonds so it is being done through the city.

Although the city is issuing the bonds, they have no financial obligation for the bonds, Calvert said. The college has secured $800,000 in grants and donations so it will take $2.7 million in bonds to cover the rest of the cost. The college will pay back all bond money.

Former Pratt County sheriff to lead cattle theft investigations in Kansas

Attorney General Derek Schmidt selected a former Pratt County sheriff to support local law enforcement investigations of cattle theft in Kansas.

Vernon Chin was hired as a special agent in the livestock and branding investigation unit created by the attorney general in 2014 in cooperation with the Kansas Department of Agriculture.

“Vernon has an incredible resume that spans more than two decades in Kansas law enforcement,” Schmidt said. “His knowledge and experience will be a strong addition to the attorney general’s office as we continue investigating and prosecuting cases of cattle theft across Kansas.”

After serving nine years as a patrol deputy in the Pratt County Sheriff’s Department, Chinn was elected sheriff in 2000. He led the department for more than 15 years. He is a U.S. Army veteran who served a combat tour in Vietnam.

Finney County commission declines tax credit proposal

The Finney County Commission declined a proposal to grant Garden City Industrial Park a $60,200 tax credit in exchange for an easement for a stretch of road in the 500 block of Farmland Road that locals frequently use to access an adjacent residential area.

With the easement, the Road and Bridge Department would be able to improve and maintain the road and allow for public access to the nearby properties, said County Engineer John Ellermann.

The commission didn’t vote on the proposal, but came to a consensus decision not to grant the tax credit.

Though the residential area does also have an exit to the north of the properties, Commissioner Dave Jones said the area, set apart from the main road, was at risk of being “landlocked,” or cut off from public access due to being surrounded by private property. If the industrial park chose to fence off the road, access to the area would be limited. An advantage to the proposal would be granting county authority over the road, allowing for improvements and unfettered access, he said.

Oswego OKs sales tax renewal

The Oswego City Council on Monday approved several ordinances, one of which extends the city’s one-cent sales tax after voters approved a question in November.

Oswego voters have to renew the sales tax every five years and the tax will sunset on June 30, 2020. Generally, the city of Oswego tries to get the question on a ballot before the sunset date, ideally two elections before the sunset date. Because there are no longer spring elections, the next election will be November 2019. That’s cutting renewal pretty close, so City Clerk Carol Eddington said she asked to place the question on the November 2018 ballot.

Oswego voters approved the sales tax renewal that will take place July 1, 2020.

The sales tax is divided up between city streets and parking lots (75 percent) and parks and recreation (25 percent).

(Read more: Parsons Sun)

Governor’s new budget would leave transportation money alone

Kansas Governor Laura Kelly is proposing more money for Kansas roads in the Kansas Department of Transportation.

It’s not a call for new money. It’s a proposal to add by not subtracting.

The budget proposal would stop up to $100 million being transferred out of KDOT each year. Under Governor Laura Kelly’s budget, KDOT would have more money stay in-house for projects state-wide. The proposal would stop all transfers out of KDOT by the year 2024.

(Read more: Top Stories | KSNW)

Cherokee County Commission discusses forming fire districts in three townships

Cherokee County commissioners have drafted a proposal establishing three additional fire districts in the county in attempt to ensure sufficient funds are being paid for fire protection services.

The commissioners first read the resolution during their weekly meeting Monday, which would create three fire districts in the townships of Lowell, Shawnee and Spring Valley. The proposal calls for implementing a uniform 2.5-mill levy on property taxes in those three townships to be designated for fire protection.

Cory Moates, who serves as commission chairman and assistant fire chief at Baxter Springs, said a majority of the townships within the county are already paying at least 2.5 mills for fire protection. The resolution will grant the county permission to impose a 2.5-mill increase based on the township’s current mill levy for fire services.

“The goal is to have each township paying 2.5 mills for fire protection,” said Rodney D. Edmondson, county clerk. “So, as an example, if Township A currently levied 2 mills for fire protection, the citizens would only see an increase in taxes for an additional 0.5 mills.”

(Read more: www.joplinglobe.com)

Leavenworth County Commissioners discuss road pavement program

It would probably cost close to $120 million to pave all of the gravel roads in Leavenworth County, the county administrator said.

“We don’t have those kinds of funds,” County Administrator Mark Loughry said.

He said county officials will prioritize roads for paving based on traffic counts.

“We will try to pave as many roads as we can,” Loughry said.

But he said it is unlikely people who live on gravel roads with low traffic counts will have their roads paved anytime soon.

Loughry’s comments came Wednesday during a work session of the Leavenworth County Commission.

(Read more: Leavenworth Times)

Hutchinson officer uses traumatic experience to peer mentor officers

Law enforcement risk their lives daily, answering the call when the unexpected happens.

Hutchinson police officer, Josh Long says trauma is just part of his job, and it doesn’t discriminate.

“This job is stressful. Whether you’re a dispatcher or somebody else within the department, it’s stressful,” says Long.

Long says he was involved in two traumatic incidents while on duty in a span of just two months. That’s when he says he knew he needed help.

“Things weren’t right. I started to withdraw and started to not be myself and really looking for answers as to why that occurred,” says Long.

That’s when he pitched the idea for a peer mentoring program. A way for officers who are struggling to get help.

“We’re slowly starting to figure out in law enforcement that it is okay to talk to somebody and to admit that you’re struggling with an event,” says Long.

(Read more: KAKE – News)

Report to Hays: ‘Retail is not going away’

“There’s a lot of potential here,” according to Clay Craft, portfolio director of Retail Strategies, Birmingham, Alabama.

That was the tag line on the final slide Craft presented to Hays city commissioners Thursday night in an update from the national firm hired in March 2018 to provide a retail recruitment and retention program for the city.

Craft said he likes to joke the company is the “Match.com of retail.”

“The pitch to locate in a town must be very specific to what that retailer is looking for,” he told the commission. Retail Strategies focuses on recruitment of national retailers which may also help draw smaller businesses to a town. The company is currently in contact with 9,703 retailers, according to Craft.

The 45-minute presentation about Hays was jam-packed with data, information, analytics, and the status of the town’s retail sector.

(Read more: Hays Post)

State of the city: leaders tout ‘big win’ for Hutchinson

One day after passing the title of mayor to David Inskeep, Jr., Steve Dechant spoke about Hutchinson’s challenges and triumphs in the State of the City address.

Dechant remains as a member of the Hutchinson City Council.

“You can see that I’m still hanging on by my fingernails,” Dechant joked before beginning his portion of the speech.

Hutchinson AMBUCS established the State of the City seven years ago, and in previous years the address had been handled solely by City Manager John Deardoff. However, this year Dechant and Deardoff split the speech into parts. Dechant covered the city’s human relations efforts and economic development, while Deardoff looked at city financials, public safety and a new approach to the convention center.

Along with explaining the recently approved part-time human relations officer position, Dechant said while there have been challenges, he believes the city’s model for economic development works.

“During the past year I can point to some very nice wins in this area,” he said.

(Read more: News – The Hutchinson News)