Kansas Municipal News
Salina Fire Department dedicates tribute plaza
More than 100 people turned out Saturday morning for the dedication of the Salina Fire Department’s tribute plaza, including the unveiling of the statue at the heart of the plaza. They weren’t disappointed!
People crowded around the northwest corner of Seventh and Elm, where the plaza is located at Station No. 1. The plaza is a tribute to current and past Salina firefighters and all they have done/do for Salinans and Saline County residents.
The Salina Fire Department Honor Guard raised the United States flag and Robert Levis, Salina Fire Department Chaplain, offered a prayer.
(Read more: The Salina Post)
Economists optimistic about future; poverty still high in Lyon County
Local legislators, business leaders and educators got a snapshot of the future of state and local economies during the 2018 Emporia Regional Economic Outlook Conference Friday afternoon at Emporia State University.
The conference is a program of Wichita State University’s Center for Economic Development and Business Research, which collects and analyzes data from around the state to get an accurate picture of regional economic growth around the state. Attendees heard updates on the economic conditions of ESU, the state, low- to moderate-income communities, real estate and Emporia and Lyon County.
ESU School of Business Dean Ed Bashaw said the general feeling on the current state of the state was “cautiously optimistic.”
(Read more: Emporia Gazette)
Special training helps Wichita police officers spot struggling co-workers
Wichita police allowed our cameras to record one of its mandatory training focused on helping co-workers who are struggling.
The training is called, “Duty to Intervene.”
Officers are taught how to step in when they see a co-worker struggling in their work or personal life.
“We want officers to go out there, do the right thing, make the right decisions and if they see somebody struggling, see someone getting worked up, they’re going to be the first to know,” said Sgt. Kenneth Kimble with the Wichita Police Department.
Kimble said officers are often the first ones to recognize the signs of distress because they work with one another for 10 hours a day on a daily basis.
(Read more: KWCH News)
Wichita’s biggest employer just put the brakes on a $650 million acquisition
Spirit AeroSystems is putting on hold a $650 million deal that would give it more work on military aircraft and commercial jetliners.
Wichita’s largest employer said Friday it is postponing the deal to acquire the parent company of Asco Industries in Belgium because of issues identified during a review of the acquisition by the European Commission.
Spirit didn’t specify what the issues are. Analysts could press the company for more details when Spirit hosts a conference call next Wednesday to discuss its third quarter 2018 earnings.
“Spirit has decided to withdraw its notification of the transaction from the Commission in order to address those issues,” the supplier to Airbus and Boeing said in a news release. “This will interrupt the Commission’s current review of the transaction. Spirit and Asco will work to refile the notification in a timely manner.”
(Read more: Wichita Eagle)
South Hutchinson Police Department installs new Drug Drop Box
The South Hutchinson Police Department is taking a step further in decreasing opioid abuse in Reno County by installing a drug drop box at the police department.
Residents may now take unused and unwanted drugs to the department, 10 E. Blanchard, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday to safely dispose of them.
“We are excited to offer a year-round drop off for citizens and hope to make a greater impact in curbing prescription drug abuse in our community,” state South Hutchinson Police Chief Mark Thompson in a release.
The department partnered with Reno County Communities that Care, which wrote a grant to provide funding to purchase the box. Communities that Care is an organization that promotes positive behaviors in youth and works to reduce underage drinking and drug use in Reno County.
(Read more: News – The Hutchinson News)
Wichita in the running for 700-job USDA research offices
Wichita is among the 136 applicants officially vying to be the new home of major research offices of the U.S. Department of Agriculture that could bring with as many as 700 high-paying new jobs.
The USDA this week announced the locations and applicants it received after putting out the call in August that it was looking for a new home for its Washington D.C.-based Economic Research Service (ERS) and the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA).
“The interest from across the country has been overwhelming as localities, universities, private entities, and elected officials realize the potential for their communities in becoming the new home for these two agencies,” U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue said in a press release.
The USDA is working with Ernst & Young to narrow the field and select the winning location or locations for the research offices by January 2019.
(Read more: Wichita Business Journal)
Shawnee Fire Department seeks public input on strategic plan
The Shawnee Fire Department wants your input as it hits the half-way mark on its strategic plan.
In 2016, the department embarked on a five-year strategic plan initiative.
During an upcoming series of meetings, it plans to update the community on its progress towards the goals and objectives set in its strategic plan, plus get input on its future direction. “We’re in an informative age—people are curious what we’re doing with their tax dollars,” said Shawnee Deputy Fire Chief Sal Scarpa. “A lot of citizens in our community are civic-minded and they care about what’s going on in the city. We want to help provide them with that information.”
(Read more: The Dispatch stories)
Reno County Commissioner talks about county zoning for wind towers
The proposed wind farm in southeast Reno County has commissioners considering what they call overlay zoning. It’s used for specific businesses that may want to build in the county.
County Commissioner Bob Bush talked about this controversy with some residents in the Haven area who want a moratorium on any wind towers being built in the county until any zoning can be put in place. At a meeting earlier this month, NextEra Energy told the commission it would abide by zoning in place in the unincorporated area as the company will have to do in the incorporated areas.
Bush wants to make it clear that any zoning put in place by the county would only be for certain industry.
(Read more: Hutch Post)
Could Wichita pools reopen and stay open longer? City floats new ideas for its pools
The City of Wichita is re-examining how many of its public pools to keep open, and how much it’s willing to spend to do so.
Wichita City Council members are looking at three proposals for the future of city pools, two of which would keep more pools open. In all of the plans, the city recommended pools stay open longer — and later into the year.
Currently, the city’s pools are open from 1-6 p.m. six days a week. Under any of the new plans, pools would be open from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. Monday through Friday, and noon-6 p.m. on weekends.
The new proposals suggest pools stay open regular hours through the start of school, then transition to weekends only through Labor Day. That’s nearly a month longer than usual, as Wichita pools have typically closed the first weekend of August at most locations.
(Read more: Wichita Eagle)
Flags to be Flown at Half Staff for Victims of Pennsylvania Shooting (until sunset, October 31)
In accordance with Executive Order 10-12, and following the proclamation of President Donald J. Trump, Governor Jeff Colyer has ordered flags to be flown at half-staff from now until sunset, October 31, 2018 as a mark of solemn respect for the victims of the terrible act of violence perpetrated at The Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
“We express our deepest condolences to the families who lost loved ones in this terrible tragedy,” said Governor Colyer. “This was a terrible act of violence perpetrated against innocent victims with every right to peaceably observe their religious beliefs. We grieve for those suffering as a result of this crime, and pray they will find peace and comfort in the days ahead.”
Filmmakers travel across Kansas on foot for documentary on the state’s beauty, people
Two filmmakers and Kansas natives who zigzagged hundreds of miles on foot across the Sunflower State learned more about the state and the people who reside in it, they said.
A portion of a film depicting their travels will be on display in Lawrence this week.
Patrick Ross, originally from Lawrence, and Joshua Nathan, originally from Moundridge, walked across the state on foot in seven weeks in 2015, checking out spectacular monuments in the state and allowing the area in between to “present itself” to them, Nathan said.
“We didn’t want to itinerarize too much,” he said of their travel. “The walk was very important to us to stay on the back roads, stay on the dirt roads, see who we met and let that guide the trip in the moment.”
Read more: LJWorld.com.
Commissioner ’embarrassed’ about letter of support for mural
All five Hays city commissioners say they support a proposed historic mural to be painted on the Sternberg water tower by local artist Dennis Schiel.
Ron Mellick voted Thursday against a letter of support from the city which Schiel will utilize in applying for a grant from the Dane G. Hansen Foundation in Logan.
Mellick said he was “embarrassed that Mr. Schiel is going to Dane G. Hansen with only a letter of support from us and no financial commitment.” “We have civic groups in the city that adopt city parks and regularly come to us wanting us to match their money to do improvements within the city parks, and we do that,” Mellick said.
“I wonder how many of these things would have happened if we’d only gotten a letter of support from these entities.” “Dennis’s work is world-class and it certainly speaks to the history of our community. There’d be nothing like it in the midwest,” Vice-Mayor Henry Schwaller said.
Schwaller agreed with Mellick’s contention made at the last commission meeting. “We spend a lot of money advertising our town on billboards and I really question the effectiveness of it because you’re going so quickly. And they make no sense. Not a problem with CVB, but they’re awful.
“This is something that is very clear and it says exactly what we are. It doesn’t say ‘Eat. Stay. Dine. Shop.’ From an artistic standpoint it’s phenomenal. It’s also great from a promotional and destination standpoint.
(Read more: Hays Post)
How many county commissioners make a meeting? One wants the attorney general to rule
The day after three Sedgwick County commissioners changed commission rules to allow three of five members to conduct a meeting, one of the dissenting commissioners said he’ll ask the attorney general to review whether that’s legal.
Commissioner Jim Howell, a former state representative, said he spoke with Attorney General Derek Schmidt at a drug summit meeting Thursday morning and asked if it was legal for the commission to reduce its official quorum from four to three members.
“I kind of surprised him with my question,” Howell said. “He said he thought it was a pretty good question.” Howell said he expects to have his formal request, which must be done in writing on official government letterhead, submitted to the attorney general’s office Friday.
The attorney general’s office advises legislators and local officials on legal matters related to application of state law in governing. His opinions stand as guiding law until and unless they get overturned by a court.
(Read more: Wichita Eagle)
Owners of crumbling historic downtown Newton building slowly working on restoration; could result in tax credits
A portion of a wall at 519/520 N. Main facing Main Street crumbled Sept. 24, and since that time it appears little has been done — but the work to get the sidewalk cleaned up and Main Street fully reopened has progressed.
Albeit, behind the scenes. McElroy has been working to help facilitate work on the building — though her role, and the role of the city, is limited.
“It is a privately owned building. It is not an expense of the city nor is it our jurisdiction other than to oversee code in the building,” Kelly McElroy, assistant city manager said.
“We do have things we could do, they are rather heavy handed. We could pursue that as public nuisance,” added Bob Myers, city manager. “We could use some authority and take some immediate actions, though that would be more in the nature of demolition. I think as long as they are making a reasonable effort to keep moving forward I think it would serve our interests to give them some reasonable latitude. … Right now there is no indication that they are doing anything but trying to move ahead as well as they can.
(Read more: Newton Kansan)
More opposition brought to wind project discussion
Thursday, the Secretary of State’s Office admitted that new voters in Ford County have been confused about where to cast their ballots, thanks to notifications handed out to all newly registered voters. Those standard notifications, says Brian Caskey in the Secretary of State’s election office, automatically listed the regular polling site instead of the temporary one in use this November.
The county elections office moved the site after pending construction made the regular site at the Dodge City Civic Center unusable. Instead, voters will have to drive out to the Western State Bank Expo Center outside of town.
In the case of the confused newly registered voters, Bryan Caskey with the Secretary of State’s office says Debbie Cox, the Ford County Elections Clerk, is working to contact all new voters to make sure they know exactly where to go.
It’s the twists and turns of this story that have brought journalists from around the world into Dodge City. Commissioner David Bideau said the board is waiting for a report from County Counselor Seth Jones on just how much authority it has over the project.
“It’s not something with a very simple answer,” Jones said.
(Read more: The Chanute Tribune – news,news/)
Polling site confusion in Dodge City draws international attention
Thursday, the Secretary of State’s Office admitted that new voters in Ford County have been confused about where to cast their ballots, thanks to notifications handed out to all newly registered voters. Those standard notifications, says Brian Caskey in the Secretary of State’s election office, automatically listed the regular polling site instead of the temporary one in use this November.
The county elections office moved the site after pending construction made the regular site at the Dodge City Civic Center unusable. Instead, voters will have to drive out to the Western State Bank Expo Center outside of town.
In the case of the confused newly registered voters, Bryan Caskey with the Secretary of State’s office says Debbie Cox, the Ford County Elections Clerk, is working to contact all new voters to make sure they know exactly where to go.
It’s the twists and turns of this story that have brought journalists from around the world into Dodge City.
(Read more: KAKE – News)
Shawnee hires architect, owner’s representative for community center project
The Shawnee council has officially hired an architect and owner’s representative for a proposed community center near 60th Terrace and Woodland Drive. Some councilmembers considered these steps to signal the city’s clear intention to move toward a public vote on the project.
The council at its Monday meeting approved 6-1 both of staff’s recommendations on the project. “While the official action this evening is limited to the approval of architectural services and an owner’s representative, tonight, in my opinion, is about so much more,” said councilmember Stephanie Meyer. “Tonight, we are affirming to our residents our intention to move forward towards a public vote for a community center at 60th and Woodland.
(Read more: Shawnee Mission Post – Community news and events for northeast Johnson County)
Reno Commission leans toward offering incentives for fewer jobs
A majority of the Reno County Commission indicated support this week for amending the county’s job incentive policy to grant cash payments to companies adding five to nine new jobs.
The debate, however, again evolved into the intent of the policy and its likely impact, leaving the door open to additional future changes.
As presented, the amended policy proposed paying a company that adds five to nine new jobs paying at least $15 per hour half of the incentive paid for each position when adding 10 or more jobs, or $250 each.
The current policy doesn’t offer incentives for less than 10 jobs.
(Read more: News – The Hutchinson News)
New hotel, crash lab, and the YMCA: Construction boom continues at Wichita State University
Wichita State University on Thursday updated multiple construction projects, headlined by a new plan for a Hyatt Place hotel.
The university said the four-story, 110-room hotel will be built at 19th and Oliver and, pending approval of the plan from the Kansas Board of Regents, construction will begin this spring. The hotel is expected to open in spring 2020. Hotel management group Lodging One Hospitality is developing the project. The new hotel will also include a restaurant and bar, meeting space, indoor pool and fitness center. The new hotel plans were among multiple construction updates the university provided Thursday, which also included:
(Read more: Wichita Business Journal)
County’s oldest newspaper ends publication
The oldest newspaper in Marshall County is closing this week.
The Telegraph, which is based in Waterville and covers the Valley Heights community, is ending publication with this week’s edition after 148 years.
That leaves only two newspapers in the county, the Frankfort Area News and the Marysville Advocate.
Telegraph co-publisher Don King said his weekly newspaper has been for sale for several months but he could not find a buyer.
The Telegraph’s circulation was 335.
“The real reason we are closing down is we’re not making any money,” King said. “We’ve been trying to keep it alive. We offered to sell the paper, but nobody called.”
(Read more: The Marysville Advocate)
Central Kansas cities apply to be new home of USDA offices
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced Monday that cities in 35 states had expressed interest in being the new home of the United States Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service and the National Institute of Food and Agriculture.
Of the 136 expressions of interest, five came from cities in Kansas: Kansas City, Lawrence, Manhattan, Salina and Wichita.
“Why are we interested? Well, jobs and investment are the two biggest reasons why we’re interested in one, or both, of the USDA offices moving here,” said Mitch Robinson, executive director of the Salina Economic Development Organization.
Salina EDO submitted the expression of interest to USDA, and Robinson said he believes Salina meets many of the criteria USDA is looking for.
(Read more: Kansas Agland – The Hutchinson News)
‘Florence nearing water deal’ council member says
Florence city council held a 40-minute executive session at Monday’s meeting to discuss the lease regarding Crystal Springs.
The council was present, along with mayor Bob Gayle and city attorney Randy Pankratz.
Pankratz addressed the audience regarding how much eminent domain would cost, if that were the result.
Local business owner Sarah Dawson requested a worst-case scenario from the attorney for the cost of the case. A letter with 60 signatures was presented to show community concerns and support for the DeForests, owners of the land.
(Read more: Marion County RECORD)
Main Street Kansas: Haunted hotel in Wilson attracts business from thrill seekers
It’s a hotel with a reputation, first, as a popular train stop in the 1890’s.
Then, for the movie, “Paper Moon,” which shot several scenes here in 1973.
Even the hotel’s food has a following!
“This was known for having the largest steak around. You got it free if you ate it all,” said Melinda Merrill, owner of the Midland Railroad Hotel. But the hotel’s darker side that may get the most attention.
“Actually, as soon as I bought it, which was four years ago, the stories started coming out,” said Merrill.
Stories of an orphaned girl haunting the third floor.
(Read more: Top Stories | KSNW)
Cowley County residents want bridge replacement sooner
Residents from northeast Cowley County expressed concern Tuesday about the county’s apparently slow response in replacing the stone-arch Fox Bridge, north of Cambridge.
The bridge, built in 1910 over Grouse Creek, collapsed and was swept away just more than two years ago, in October 2016, by flood waters from heavy rains in the eastern part of the county.
Visitors to the commission meeting complained of the difficulty of getting around the area. Deborah Calvin spoke about people trying to get across the former bridge, which is near her home.
Without the Fox Bridge, school buses have to go miles out of their way to pick up students on the Ferguson Ranch, David Burdette said.
Josh Whitehill, a Harvey Township officer, said to grade a road 2 1/2 miles, a grader must be taken 54 miles out of the way.
(Read more: www.ctnewsonline.com – RSS Results)
Sales tax renewal featured on upcoming ballot in Hiawatha
Early voting started this week, and one of the key issues being discussed about the ballot is a renewal of a quarter-cent sales tax for economic development.
The tax has come up several times at recent Hiawatha City Commission meetings, and the Hiawatha Foundation for Economic Development has circulated flyers over the past few weeks in an attempt to educate voters on what the sales tax has accomplished, and what they hope to see from it in the future.
During city meetings, the commission has urged voters to renew the tax, stating that current bond payments are funded by the tax, and those payments will eat up other portions of the budget if the sales tax goes away.
(Read more: Hiawatha World Online)
City of Dodge City offering free public transportation to only polling location
One polling location in Dodge city has grabbed people’s attention all over the nation.
Some people saying it’s suppressing people’s right to vote now that it’s moved outside the city limits to the Western State Bank Expo Center.
“It’s harder for people who don’t have transportation to get to the polling and it’s out in the country,” voter Jeremiah DeCouteau said.
But do residents know the city is offering to help voters get there?
“No, I wasn’t aware of that,” Allysa Reyes said.
“I haven’t heard of that, any transportation.” Emilio Zacaries said. “I just usually use my car ,that’s about it.”
The city has chosen to offer free transportation to any person that wants to vote.
Voters can call 620-371-3879 to make a ride reservation.
Mayor Kent Smoll said the city is not in charge of the polling location and the decisions behind it, but they’re here to help with transportation.
(Read more: Top Stories | KSNW)
Goessel Council Approves Emergency Response Plan
The Goessel city council met on October 15 and approved the emergency response plan that was put together by Phillip Fishburn of Midwest Assistance Program. MAP works with small rural communities on matters of disaster management, in addition to numerous other issues. The central office is in Missouri, but Fishburn’s office is in Haven.
An emergency response plan is required in order to receive loan and grant money for the city’s sewer project. According to city clerk Jennifer Whitehead, the city needs a “Letter of Conditions.” This plan will satisfy that requirement. The document is about 200 pages long and includes a list of contacts that the city would need to contact in case of an emergency. It also includes basic plans for emergency situations.
Whitehead and public works director Karen Dalke planned on attending a meeting in Park City to learn about preparing for floods and tornadoes.
(Read more: Hillsboro Free Press)
Marion County Commission considers expanding commission to five members
The Marion County Commission debated on the issue of five members as opposed to three members, but this time Marion city officials also attended the Monday, Oct. 22 meeting. Mayor Todd Heitschmidt and city administrator Roger Holter provided some options related to dividing the county into five districts, along with what they have been hearing from constituents.
(Read more: Hillsboro Free Press)
Redesigned disc golf course is open for play in Great Bend
The grand reopening of the disc golf course at Veteran’s Memorial Park included challenges, a tournament, a “how to clinic”, and a ribbon cutting. The event Tuesday afternoon in Great Bend was to celebrate the redesigned course with 18 tees, new tee boxes, and baskets.
Jeremy, Rusco, a Great Bend native and owner of Dynamic Discs, was on hand with the Dynamic Discs Mobile Store. Rusco started Dynamic Discs in 2005 in Emporia and since then the company has emerged as a leading brand for disc golf.
The disc golf course at Vet’s Park was designed in 2005 as well and the redesign was intended to make the course more inviting and challenging.
(Read more: Great Bend Post)
KDHE Continues Outreach on Former Wichita Area Dry Cleaner Sites Meetings in Wichita and Haysville held to address environment and health concerns
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) is actively engaging
residents affected by dry cleaning contamination in the west Wichita and Haysville areas. Within the
last week, two public meetings were held to share with residents, the latest on contamination clean up
and health-related studies being conducted to evaluate the impact of private well water
contamination. “Our top priority is ensuring residents understand their level of exposure and know the steps we are
taking to remediate the sites,” said Bob Jurgens, KDHE Bureau of Environmental Remediation
Director. “We appreciate those who attended the meeting and asked questions. We understand the
concerns surrounding dry cleaning contamination, and we will do all we can, with the available
resources, to remove the chemicals from the ground water.”
– In Haysville, since the private well water contamination was discovered, we have had
209 properties connected to the city public water system (PWS) and 8.7 miles of new PWS water line
installed. The next step is to assess the indoor air quality.
(Read more: Kansas Department of Health and Environment)
Reno County residents have concerns over proposed wind farm
With the Reno County Planning Department considering limited zoning for the entire county, some say it won’t happen soon enough. The planning department believes it could take as much as six-months for any zoning to be put in place. Two residents in the Haven area are asking the Reno County Commission to put a six month moratorium in place to stop Next Era Energy from building any wind farms in the county until zoning is in place to protect residents who live in the area of the proposed wind farm.
(Read more: Hutch Post)
Bourbon County in planning phase for ambulance service
Bourbon County officials said Tuesday they have moved beyond the fact-finding stage and now are in the planning phase of retaining an ambulance service.
On Oct. 1, Mercy announced it would close Mercy Hospital Fort Scott on Dec. 31, which means the county is now responsible for providing an ambulance service to its citizens.
Since then, Bourbon County Economic Development Director Jody Hoener, County Counselor Justin Meeks and Third District Commission Nick Ruhl have been researching options for an ambulance service. They said Tuesday they have been working with the city of Fort Scott about the issue.
(Read more: Fort Scott Tribune)
Sedgwick County Commission orders outside investigation into county leadership
An clear divide among the Sedgwick County Commission came to the surface Wednesday, a day after reports of a possible FBI investigation involving multiple commissioners. The divide on the commission has led commissioners to approve an outside investigation into management and the commissioners themselves.
(Read more: KWCH News)
Local entrepreneur named director of Grow Hays
Doug Williams has been hired as executive director of Grow Hays, after serving as interim director since May.
Williams is a lifelong entrepreneur and has been involved in a wide variety of business interests during his 30-year career.
“Grow Hays is critically important to the long-term growth and prosperity of our community, and I know that the board of directors and I are committed to work toward making that happen any way we can,” Williams said. “Since May, we have been grateful to Doug’s efforts as our interim director, and we are increasingly excited about our future with someone of his stature at our helm,” said board chairman Ron Fields. “He brings a level of experience with every aspect of the regional business community that is unmatched.”
(Read more: News – The Hays Daily News)
Giant mural in north Wichita begins to come alive
Every day, as commuters make their way south down I-135, the faces become more visible.
What’s being billed as the largest mural to be painted by a single artist in the world is coming to life on the side of a north Wichita grain elevator, and many in the community are taking notice.
And some are donating money to help get it completed.
Armando Minjarez once saw those grain elevators across north Wichita and thought they looked like walls — physical barriers between different neighborhoods and cultures.
Minjarez also saw something else in those aging grain silos. An opportunity. And a giant canvas.
(Read more: Local News |)
Tiny cafe in tiny Kansas town gets big crowds for its Friday-night German buffet
It might be the most Kansas experience you could have.
Hop in your car on a Friday night and point it north on I-135. You’ll drive past miles of farm fields, zipping by Newton and Goessel, and after about an hour — not long after you’ve passed the giant, white Alexanderwohl Mennonite Church on K-15 — you’ll arrive in Durham, population 106.
When you pull up to the Main Street Cafe, it will appear to be the only business open on downtown’s main drag, and the main drag is a gravel road. Every available parking place will likely be taken.
(Read more: Wichita Eagle)
Haysville approves political sign ordinance in compliance with state law
A controversy concerning political signs in Haysville comes to a solution with the city passing an ordinance that complies with state law.
In accordance with the state, yard signs can now be displayed for up to 45 days leading up to an election. The previous law in the city only allowed political signs to remain up for two weeks before they had to be taken down.
Haysville’s mayor made a case for the previous law , but ultimately the city agreed stepping in line with state law was the best course of action to take.
(Read more: KWCH News)
Kansas Attorney General Opinion 2018-15: Electioneering
The mere presence of a person offering non-partisan voter assistance, or signage advertising the same, within 250 feet of the entrance to a polling place does not constitute electioneering so long as such activities do not include acts prohibited by K.S.A. 2018 Supp. 25-2430(a). The offering of non-partisan voter assistance or signage advertising such assistance, by themselves, do not constitute unlawful disorderly election conduct or intimidation of voters unless the person or persons conducting such activities also engaged in conduct prohibited by K.S.A. 25-2413 or K.S.A. 2018 Supp. 25-2415, respectively. Whether the offering of non-partisan voter assistance and education, or the posting of signage advertising a non-partisan voter assistance hotline or website, constitutes the crimes of electioneering, disorderly election conduct, or intimidation of voters depends on the facts of each individual case. || A polling place is a nonpublic forum subject to reasonable restrictions on speech. The election board of each polling place is authorized to guide, manage, direct, and oversee the polling place to ensure that voting is conducted in an orderly manner. Cited herein: K.S.A. 25-2413; K.S.A. 2018 Supp. 25-2415; 25-2430; 25-2810.
(Read more: Kansas Attorney General Opinions)
City Council approves ballpark development agreement
The return of affiliated baseball to Wichita is quickly becoming less of an idea and more of a reality.
The City Council on Tuesday voted unanimously to approve a ballpark development and facility-use management agreement that essentially paves the way for a 7,000-seat multi-purpose stadium to go up on the site of soon-to-be-razed Lawrence-Dumont Stadium.
Including party and group areas that don’t include regular seats, between 10,000 and 11,000 is expected to be the capacity for the facility.
During the City Council meeting Tuesday afternoon, assistant city manager Scot Rigby said that Pacific Coast League officials on Monday gave their conditional approval of the relocation application from the ownership of the New Orleans Baby Cakes to move the Triple-A baseball franchise to Wichita.
Final approval, Rigby said, is contingent on ballpark design specifications meeting the standards of the PCL and Minor League Baseball.
(Read more: Wichita Business Journal)
ONEOK developing new gas pipeline running through Rice and Reno counties
ONEOK is in the process of acquiring right-of-way to construct a new 46-mile underground liquid gas pipeline through Ellsworth, Rice and Reno counties which will end at the company’s fractionation plant west of Hutchinson.
The company so far has secured about 18 percent of the necessary right-of-way through contracts with landowners, Michael Gillaspie, ONEOK manager of government relations advised the Reno County Commission Tuesday. “We’re alerting you so that when we do start construction of the pipeline, you’ll be aware,” Gillaspie said. “You’ll start seeing more trucks and piping moving through. Hotels and restaurants will see an uptick with pipeline employees coming through.” The line is actually part of a 900-mile pipeline under construction that will deliver unfractionated Bakken natural gas liquids (NGLs) from near ONEOK’s Riverview terminal at Elk Creek in eastern Montana to its existing Mid-Continent NGL facilities in Bushton.
(Read more: News – The Hutchinson News)
Lawrence-Dumont demo job awarded to Wichita firm
Bradburn Wrecking Co., Wichita, has been awarded the contract to demolish Lawrence-Dumont Stadium.
Members of the Wichita City Council voted Tuesday to accept Bradburn’s bid of $178,555.44 to tear down the city’s 84-year-old ballpark. H. Excavating earlier this month submitted a cheaper bid (about $146,000) for the work, but that bid was left off a final list of bidders on the city’s website.
A start date isn’t set, but Darren Bradburn said work will begin in the next few days once utilities are cut to the stadium.
(Read more: Wichita Business Journal)
City-owned building being demolished in downtown Leavenworth
The demolition of a city-owned building in downtown Leavenworth has started.
The city purchased the building at 301 Delaware St. in August for $52,500.
City officials purchased the building with plans to tear it down. With the building demolished, officials hope to find a developer for the site.
City Manager Paul Kramer said the city already has a couple of leads that will be explored.
“If those don’t come through, we will probably look at some sort of active marketing of the location,” he said. The building is located at the same intersection as a new hotel and a recently refurbished cinema.
(Read more: Leavenworth Times)
Analysis: Labette County can mine, crush rock cheaper than it can buy it
A study by a Pittsburg State University graduate student concluded that it’s cheaper for Labette County to mine and crush its own road rock than it is to buy the rock from a quarry operator.
The Labette County Commission paid John Botts $1,000 to analyze the county’s road rock mining and crushing operation. Botts was to find out if it’s cheaper for the county to crush road rock or buy it on the open market. Botts is working toward a December graduation from PSU with a master of business administration degree.
The county purchased a rock crusher in the mid-1990s and has been crushing its own road rock. Most of what the county produces is used for the gravel roads in the county. The smaller rock is used on various projects, including chipping and sealing hard-surface roads. Commissioners have been discussing the future of the rock crushing operation for quite some time, because a new crusher may cost a lot of money and it’s expensive to operate. The county now contracts with a company to blast the rock out of the quarry south of Mound Valley instead of doing the blasting itself. This saves the county money on its liability insurance policy. The commission considered buying road rock from Midwest Minerals instead of crushing rock, but Commission Chairman Doug Allen wanted a study completed to see if it’s cheaper to do so.
(Read more: Parsons Sun)
FCC Says Rule Change Could Boost 5G Internet, But Critics Say It Could Hurt Rural Broadband
The Federal Communications Commission voted 3-1 on Tuesday to undo Obama-era rules intended to help small companies provide faster wireless internet service.
The FCC said the decision will foster more investment and use of the 3.5 gigahertz band, a radio frequency spectrum that can be used for 5G internet service.
But small wireless internet service providers said the decision could shut smaller players out — limiting their ability to bid on licenses and deliver broadband in rural areas.
City council reviews denial of ‘erotic’ sports bar
The Wichita City Council chambers became a courtroom Tuesday for several hours, as the council held a hearing for an appeal filed by a south-side “erotic bar.”
Vixen’s Erotic Sports Bar has been closed since the city decided not to renew its license to operate. That decision came from a recommendation by the Wichita Police Department. Investigators cited a series of incidents at Vixen’s in the past year, including two homicides and an unrelated undercover investigation involving possible prostitution. The hearing included testimonies from officers who patrol the area, and the bar which they knew all too well. The city’s legal team argues those officers saw several incidents of nudity.
“And what they learned when they got there was there isn’t just dancing going on at that bar,” said Jan Jarman, attorney in the City of Wichita’s legal office. “There were three separate dates where officers went in and saw it happen.”
(Read more: KAKE – News)