Kansas Municipal News
Colorful mural coming to downtown Great Bend
As part of the ongoing efforts to improve the 2000 block of Forest Avenue for the Final Fridays on Forest events, the Great Bend City Council Monday night approved a request from Great Bend Alive Inc. to repair and paint the alley between the 2000 block of Forest and the 2000 block of Lakin with a colorful geometric pattern.
Source: Great Bend Tribune
Emporia Main Street earns accreditation
Emporia Main Street has once again earned accreditation through Main Street America for meeting “rigorous performance standards,” it announced last week. Main Street America, a program of the National Main Street Center, works to revitalize older and historic commercial districts to build vibrant neighborhoods and thriving economies. Each year, Main Street America and its partners announce the list of Accredited programs to recognize their exceptional commitment to preservation-based economic development and community revitalization.
Source: Emporia Gazette
Prairie Village tackles zoning laws in effort to create attainable housing
Living in Prairie Village is becoming less and less affordable, and as fewer people can afford to reside there, some officials are working to create opportunities for attainable housing. On Tuesday evening, the City Council will vote on recommended changes to zoning regulations to create opportunities to develop and preserve attainable housing — and to solidify the city’s position to advocate for attainable housing in regional initiatives.
Source: Kansas City Business Journal
IRS boosts business mileage rates as gas prices soar
The Internal Revenue Service has some good news for taxpayers who use the federal mileage rate for business use of a vehicle. With gas prices soaring at the pumps, the IRS has increased the standard business travel reimbursement rate to 62.5 cents per mile, up 4 cents from the rate of 58.5 cents that went into effect in January. The new rate goes into effect on July 1 through Dec. 31. The rate applies for use of a car, van, pickup or panel truck.
Source: IRS
Wichita considers changing charges for fentanyl test strips
Right now it is illegal to possess a fentanyl test strip in the City of Wichita. But some members of the community say that the strips save lives, and the penalties for possession should be relaxed. On Tuesday, members of the Wichita City Council came together to discuss the issue. In the end, they decided to table any action on fentanyl test strips, and during their discussion, there were mixed opinions about what the city council should do. “I think we need to get moving of these fentanyl test strips as soon as possible. This is something that could save lives,” said City Council Member Mike Hoheisel.
Source: KSN-TV
Up to $500 fine waits for those who break Emporia fireworks ordinance
The City of Emporia is reminding residents about the city’s fireworks ordinance ahead of the July 4 holiday. Fireworks are allowed within the corporate limits of Emporia between June 27 and July 5 from the hours of 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Other rules are as follows: No fireworks may be discharged in the streets. No fireworks may be discharged in parks, the golf course, city parking lots or recreational fields, the zoo, the rec center or the aquatic center parking lot. No fireworks may be discharged within 200 square feet of the property line of a hospital, a school or nursing home. No bottle rockets, metal sparklers or unmanned aerials.
Source: KSNT 27 News
KCKCC receives $1.4 million grant to serve local high school students
Kansas City Kansas Community College has been awarded $1.4 million by the U.S. Department of Education to implement the Upward Bound program. The grant begins in fall 2022 and will continue through August 2027. “Being awarded the Upward Bound grant allows Kansas City Kansas Community College to expand services into schools to help those students who need it the most. These expanded services, built around intensive and intentional academic and student support services, will help increase high school graduation rates and college preparedness,” said Dr. Greg Mosier, president of KCKCC. “The Upward Bound program expands KCKCC’s ability to positively impact workforce needs and educational readiness of underserved students in our community.”
Source: Wyandotte Daily
State Board of Regents freezes tuition for students of state universities
On Wednesday, June 15, the Kansas Board of Regents voted to hold tuition flat at state universities during the upcoming school year, something they were able to do because of the historic level of funding provided by the budget Governor Laura Kelly signed in May. As part of her budget, Governor Kelly restored university funding to pre-pandemic levels to enable state universities to freeze tuition and knock down barriers to higher education. “I’m pleased that my call to freeze tuition at state universities has been taken up, especially as pandemic-induced inflation impacts the lives of Kansan students and their families,” Governor Kelly said. “Continuing the streak of low-to-no tuition growth under my Administration ensures our state can maintain its workforce pipeline and keep higher education degrees attainable.”
Source: The Sabetha Herald
Unemployment rate lowest recorded in Kansas history
Gov. Laura Kelly on Monday celebrated Kansas hitting the lowest unemployment rate in the state’s recorded history, at 2.3 percent. Unemployment continues to decline in the state, even as the unemployment rate nationally holds flat. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Kansas has the sixth lowest unemployment rate in the country relative to other states. “My Administration has worked to ensure that every Kansan who wants a job, can have a job,” said Gov. Kelly. “I’m proud that we have achieved the lowest unemployment rate in our state’s history at 2.3 percent, over a full percentage point below the nation’s unemployment rate. We will continue breaking economic records by prioritizing job creation, business investment, and workforce development.”
Source: Morning Sun
Governor Laura Kelly Promotes Rural Economic Development with Stops in Independence and Cherryvale
Today, Governor Laura Kelly celebrated new beginnings for rural economic development during a several-stop visit to Southeast Kansas. First, she traveled to Cherryvale to break ground on Bartlett Grain’s new, $375 million soybean processing facility, which will create 50 high-quality jobs for local residents. Governor Kelly also toured Indy Brew Works, a family-owned brewery in Independence, where she talked with the owners, economic development leaders, and city officials about the work the state is doing to assist small businesses. “When I took office, I brought back the Kansas Main Street Program to help cities access technical services, networking, and training opportunities to restore their historic downtown districts,” said Governor Kelly. “Independence is a Main Street community, and it was a pleasure meeting with local small businesses leaders today to see how Main Street has succeeded – and to hear how my Administration can build on its support for businesses in smaller towns.”
Source: Kansas Department of Commerce
City of Wichita offers free swim lessons, encourages parents to enroll kids for safety
The City of Wichita is offering free swimming lessons to kids at McAfee Pool this summer with help from two community donors. The second session of classes started Monday morning. The program was in such high demand, all the spots, at least free ones, are filled. “It’s definitely at least a known issue in our community that a lot of young kids, especially that grow up around here, don’t learn how to swim,” Kyle Ellison, executive director of Real Men Real Heroes, said. Real Men Real Heroes and Skaer Veterinary Clinic helped fund the program. Ellison said that it’s been two years in the making. “It’s just something that’s really a big confidence builder for kids, and they know how to swim, and it just opens up a lot of opportunities,” he said.
Source: KAKE – News
Hutchinson looking to add more hotels as shortage impacts state fair, local events
More than 200,000 people are excepted to visit Hutchinson in September for the Kansas State Fair, but the big question is, where will everyone stay? “We sell out everything here in town that we can. We go up to McPherson, and we sell out most of that, and we have actually had to put people up as far as Maize,” said Kansas State Fair General Manager Bryan Schulz. Some said this is a big issue for the fair, the city, and visitors. “Right now, our quantity of hotel rooms is less than what we would like it to be because we had our largest hotel abruptly close down in December of 2019,” said VisitHutch Vice President of Operations and Tourism, LeAnn Cox.
Source: KSN-TV
‘Time bomb’ lead pipes set to be removed. But first water utilities have to find them
It took three years for officials to notice lead was seeping into the city’s drinking water. Missouri regulators had given the green light in 2014 for Trenton to start adding monochloramine to its drinking water to disinfect it without the harmful byproducts of chlorine. But by 2017, the city noticed something alarming. Lead levels in drinking water in the northwest Missouri town — population 5,609 — had spiked. Over the next two years, one-quarter of the homes tested exceeded the Environmental Protection Agency’s action level — 15 parts per billion — at least once.
Source: The Lawrence Times
Neighborhood Center brings low-cost or free meals, fellowship to older adults in JoCo
Johnson County has filled a void in Olathe by opening a new congregate dining site where older adults can socialize and eat together. The newest Neighborhood Center is at Olathe Towers, 1425 E. College Way. The site hosts older adults from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. weekdays, with a hot lunch served at 11:30 a.m. Breakfast is offered Tuesday through Thursday. “Olathe has not had a congregate site in more than 10 years. We created a unique partnership with Olathe Towers, an older adult high-rise,” Brandy Hodge, spokeswoman for Johnson County Aging & Human Services, said by email.
Source: Joco 913 News
$800M in upgrades happening at 2 aging JoCo wastewater plants
Two major improvement projects costing more than $800 million combined are bringing some much needed upgrades to two of the county’s oldest wastewater treatment facilities. … The Tomahawk Creek facility, 10701 Lee Boulevard, was originally built in the 1950s and was recently expanded in a nearly complete overhaul that finished in May. The Myron K. Nelson plant, 4800 Nall Avenue, dates back even further to the 1940s, and a major renovation project there is just now getting underway. The two facilities combined process more than half of the county’s wastewater each day.
Source: Prairie Village Post
Fed promises ‘unconditional’ approach to taking down inflation in report to Congress
Federal Reserve officials rolled out strong language Friday to describe their approach to inflation, promising a full-fledged effort to restore price stability. In its annual report on monetary policy – a precursor to Chairman Jerome Powell’s appearance before Congress next week – the central bank promised it would launch a full effort to bring down inflation pressures running at their fastest pace in more than 40 years. “The Committee’s commitment to restoring price stability — which is necessary for sustaining a strong labor market — is unconditional,” the Fed said in a report to Congress. That marks the Fed’s strongest statement yet, affirming its commitment to continue raising interest rates and otherwise tightening policy to solve the economy’s paramount issue.
Source: CNBC – Bonds
USD 457 bus drivers place at competition
Three Garden City Public Schools brought home awards from the Kansas State Pupil Transportation Association’s Bus Rodeo Safety Competition on June 1 in Salina. Jerry Guerrero took first place in the Experienced Transit Driver Division; Andrew Herring took second place in the Rookie Transit Driver Division; and Liz Nunez received a medal for a perfect written score. The winners were presented their awards at a banquet that was held on June 3.
Source: Greater Garden City » Feed
Cottonwood Falls unveils online bill paying
With gas prices at record highs, even short trips in small towns can bring second thoughts. But Cottonwood Falls has a new way to save a drive. “It is an option that will allow people to pay from home, without having to have a check or cash and coming into the office,” City Clerk Bree Larkin said. The city added online utility bill paying to the city website in early June. Larkin said it will be available for July consolidated payments of water, sewage and trash. “We’ve had quite a few people ask for it,” Larkin noted. “We want people to have the option to pay in multiple ways that work for the best for them.”
Source: Emporia Gazette
Emporia housing board ponders education, enforcement of rental property standards
Emporia’s Community Housing Board is considering ways to improve renting standards for tenants and landlords in the city. The board held a special meeting on Thursday evening to discuss possible solutions to the influx of issues surrounding rental properties in the city, including inattentive landlords and a surplus of vacant properties. Matt Lowery, chairman of the housing board, said the endgame is enforcement of current property standards and educating landlords and tenants on their rights and responsibilities.
Source: Emporia Gazette
Infrared technology used after large train derailment in Lawrence
After a train derailed on Friday, the Lawrence Police Department worked to identify if there were any hot spots or fires on Saturday. Using infrared technology, the LPD’s unoccupied aerial vehicle pilots were able to determine there were no dangerous hot spots or fires after around 30 train cars derailed on June 17. UAV pilots shared the information they collected with Union Pacific to coordinate a clean-up plan. Because the wreck was near the Lawrence Municipal Airport, the FAA helped to provide a safe air space. “This valuable, and potentially lifesaving, view would not have been possible without UAV technology,” according to LPD’s Twitter.
Source: KSNT 27 News