Kansas Municipal News
Under the surface: the fight for water rights in central Kansas
On the surface, it looks like there is plenty of water to go around in parts of Stafford and Pratt counties, especially with recent rains flooding an area known as the Rattlesnake River Basin. But farmers and ranchers who have lived in the area are getting ready to fight for their rights to use water far under the ground, threatened by a complaint from federally-controlled Quivira Wildlife National Refuge.
Concerned about federal laws taking away state rights to regulate water use, a group of Stafford County area residents has joined forces to form the non-profit “Rattlesnake Basin Cause.” They are focused on water rights issues stemming from the Quivira Wildlife National Refuge (Wildlife and Parks Services) Impairment Complaint of 2012 which, they believe, is now at a boiling point for resolution.
Rural Stafford County residents Leah Chadd, her son Shaine Chadd, Rachel Crane and her father Alan Crane are the principals in the grassroots movement. They hope to call attention to the issues and proposed resolution between Quivira and southcentral Kansas farmers and landowners, represented by the Ground Management District 5 Board and Kansas Chief Engineer David Barfield.
(Read more: News – The Hutchinson News)
Oak Park Mall isn’t like other malls — it’s not dying. Here’s what its future holds
When American fashion designer Rachel Roy was looking for a place to open her first pop-up this fall, she picked Overland Park’s Oak Park Mall for its “vibrancy.”
Alchemy Bath Co. in Lawrence also opened its first storefront there this year, hoping the “traffic and exposure” would raise the profile of the home-based business. And Cupcakin Bakery did so well as a holiday pop-up, it opened a permanent location and added an event space for children’s parties.
Heading into the holidays, mall vacancies nationally hit 9.1 percent in the third quarter from 8.6 percent in the second quarter, the largest one-quarter jump since 2009, according to data by real estate research firm Reis.
But Oak Park, one of the metro’s last traditional malls, has only a handful of empty spots. Though the future loss of the 200,000-square-foot, three-story Nordstrom in 2021 is “clearly not good news,” according to real estate experts, it does open up opportunities for new destination draws, even on-trend entertainment venues.
(Read more: Joco 913 News)
Topeka to once again be ‘Topikachu’ for one day
Topeka on Saturday will again be known as “Topikachu” for a day.
Mayor Michelle De La Isla read a proclamation at Tuesday evening’s City Council meeting announcing the temporary move, which will take effect on a day when Nintendo will provide the public a free preview opportunity to play two new Pokémon games for the Nintendo Switch. The “Pokémon Let’s Go Road Trip” experience will be offered from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the parking lot of the Topeka Zoo at Gage Park.
Festivities planned for Saturday at the zoo are welcome news “for nerds like me who play Pokémon Go,” De La Isla said.
The Pokémon Go game uses augmented reality to place virtual tools and creatures at indoor and outdoor locations, where players use their smartphones to find the tools and capture the creatures.
The experience being offered Saturday in Topeka will be made available to the public in only seven other cities: New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, Boston, Dallas, Seattle and San Francisco.
(Read more: News – The Topeka Capital-Journal)
New life for Great Mall of the Plains property
Two years after the Great Mall of the Great Plains in Olathe succumbed to the wrecking ball, a Salt Lake City-based company has unveiled a $271 million mixed-use project that will replace the retail behemoth with offices, restaurants, apartments and a 4,000-seat arena and ice hockey center.
Woodbury Corporation on Tuesday announced plans for the project, to be called Mentum, adding that it is under contract to buy the 100-acre site at Interstate 35 and 151st Street from current owners VanTrust Real Estate LLC.
The developers said the project would include 250,000 square feet of entertainment, retail and restaurant space, two hotels, 300 apartment units and 200,000 square feet of office and medical office space.
(Read more: Joco 913 News)
Downtown Salina overhead structures could go from four to two
A compromise on how many overhead structures to be installed in downtown Salina was discussed during Monday’s city commission meeting.
Commissioner Joe Hay Jr. proposed that the anticipated four overhead structures be cut down to two with one being placed at the intersection of North Santa Fe and Ash Street and the other near the First Bank Kansas on South Santa Fe.
Hay, who likes the overhead structures, said the suggestion came after speaking with many individuals during the Oct. 10 Downtown Streetscape Progress Party.
“I went on a walk with some of them and we discussed the different perspectives,” he said. “Some people are for overhead structures and some are against it. I think this is a good compromise that considers both sides. With the two structures, they could work as sort of a gateway into downtown Salina.” Jim Kowach, public works director, said Monday the move could save nearly $500,000.
(Read more: News – Salina Journal)
Pair of Reno County county residents request commission impose moratorium on wind development
Two Reno County women, one living within the zoned portion of the county and one outside, appealed to the Reno County Commission Tuesday to impose a six-month moratorium on development of wind farms in the county.
The Commission last week sent the issue of a proposed countywide zoning layer for certain commercial uses, including wind farms, back to the Reno County Planning Commission to draft a proposal.
While recognizing it would take 3 to 6 months to get new zoning in place, however, officials declined in the meantime to put a moratorium on development.
“The planning commission indicated there is a limited need for this zoning and it is not urgent,” said Kristina Horsch, 22591 Kent Road. “I disagree. NextEra is in the county researching and building meteorological towers… We were told yesterday they’d finalized their map.”
(Read more: Local – The Hutchinson News)
People of Caney, Kansas, Mostly Glad To Have The Federal Goverment Come Clean Things Up
The federal government recently tore up Debbie and Tony Morrison’s front yard in the small southeast Kansas town of Caney.
And the two are happy about it.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency came in, scraped away contaminated dirt, replaced it with clean soil and spread sod on top.
“It actually looks very good,” Morrison said. “After they put the new grass in, they came down and they faithfully watered and cared for it continually until they felt like it had taken hold.”
The Morrisons and hundreds of other Caney residents were living on contaminated lots — the legacy of two lead and zinc smelters that closed their doors there nearly a hundred years ago.
The EPA and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment are putting the final touches on a cleanup paid in part through legal settlements with mining companies that left the mess behind.
(Read more: KCUR)
City of Hutchinson and community groups bring Strong Towns’ president to town to speak at historic Fox Theater
In an effort to spark a new dialogue about how Hutchinson and Reno County should grow and what it will take to sustain that growth, the public is invited to a “Curbside Chat” on Oct. 23 with Strong Towns President Charles Marohn.
The city of Hutchinson, Hutchinson/Reno County Chamber of Commerce, Hutch Rec, Young Professionals of Reno County and Hutchinson Community Foundation will welcome Marohn from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Historic Fox Theatre, 18 E. First Ave. The final 20 minutes of the presentation will include a public question-and-answer session with Marohn.
Strong Towns is a media organization leading a national conversation about a model of development aimed at helping cities, towns and neighborhoods become financially strong and resilient. It is challenging Americans to fundamentally rethink how their cities are built. In the “Curbside Chat,” Marohn will discuss how so many American cities have found themselves in decline after decades of “growth.” The presentation will identify how current economic development models value short-term gains over long-term prosperity. To strengthen cities and ensure their economic success, Marohn says we must look to traditional ways of building them.
(Read more: News – The Hutchinson News)
New rules imposed for Shawnee County Civil Service Board
The three-member board that decides promotions in the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office must now interview applicants for those at least twice a year.
That requirement was among revised rules for the Shawnee County Civil Service Board that County Commissioners Kevin Cook, Shelly Buhler and Bob Archer voted 3-0 to approve Monday.
Sheriff’s Maj. Jay Simecka thanked those involved afterward for their “engagement, decisiveness and response action” in getting the rules revised, which he described as being “a truly collaborative effort.” The county’s Civil Service Board — which consists of Aaron Mays, Gary Ross and Matthew McGivern — seeks to ensure Shawnee County provides qualified, professional law enforcement. Its duties include ensuring benefits and protections for sheriff’s officers with the rank of major and below, and arranging for the most qualified officers to receive promotion to the ranks of corporal, sergeant, lieutenant, captain and major.
(Read more: Local – The Topeka Capital-Journal)
Health officials to hold groundwater contamination meeting in Haysville
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment plans to hold a public meeting in Haysville to address groundwater contamination.
The agency’s Dry Cleaner Remediation Program’s public availability session will be held at 6 p.m. today at the Haysville High School Gymnasium at 1975 West Grand Avenue. It is expected to last two hours.
The groundwater contamination is attributed to the American Cleaners site located at 412 West Grand. The KDHE says it will provide information regarding the status of the site, current investigative and remedial plans and future plans for the site.
(Read more: KAKE – News)
The Supreme Court Cases for State and Local Governments to Watch
The eight current justices face a quiet docket without any headline-grabbing blockbuster cases. Still, there are several cases with implications for state and local governments.
“State sovereignty is a really big issue this term,” says Lisa Soronen, executive director of the State and Local Legal Center. Chuck Thompson, executive director of the International Municipal Lawyers Association, adds that several of this term’s cases “have the potential to expand the amount of litigation against local government.” Here’s a rundown of the most important cases for state and local government officials to watch:
(Read more: GOVERNING)
Kansas Sheriff pleads guilty to firearms charge, agrees to resign
The Sheriff of Ness County pleaded guilty Monday to a federal firearm charge and agreed to resign, according to U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister. Sheriff Bryan Whipple, 48, Ness City, pleaded guilty to one count of knowingly selling a gun to a person who was prohibited under federal law from possessing a firearm. In his plea, Whipple admitted he arranged to sell a .45 caliber pistol and ammunition to a man he knew was a convicted felon.
The plea agreement calls for Whipple to resign his position as sheriff and to surrender his law enforcement certification from the Kansas Commission on Peace Officers’ Standards and Training.
(Read more: Junction City Post)
Wellington aviation enthusiasts celebrate a new municipal airport mile-long runway
With the Wichita band “Soul Injection” singing the song “Celebration”, the City of Wellington, airport authority officials, flying enthusiasts and the community at large were indeed doing just that Saturday. The grand opening and open house of Welington Municipal Airport’s new runway was held during a perfect fall day.
After years of planning, bureaucratic red tape, and then a year’s worth of construction, Wellington now has a 5,250 foot runway to accommodate larger private jets. The runway, which was previously 4,000 feet, will put Wellington’s airport on a level playing field with various area airports in providing services for those with larger private jets.
(Read more: Sumner NewsCow)
Bird supporters fight back, accuse Wichita board of feral cat favoritism
As a Wichita city board continues to claw its way toward an ordinance making it easier to be a stray cat, bird lovers are pushing back and accusing the board of feral feline favoritism.
Tom Ewert, president of the Wichita Audubon Society, told the board last week he thinks the ordinance would be bad for birds and other local wildlife animals. At the minimum, he said the proposed “community cat colonies” should be banned around 15 parks and open spaces that are designated as wildlife habitats. The Animal Control Advisory Board has been working for months and is nearing completion on a proposed ordinance to set city policies allowing trap, neuter and release, or TNR.
(Read more: Politics & Government News |)
Ark City going for the prize
The Arkansas City Chamber of Commerce is hoping to raise enough votes to win a $500,000 prize that is being offered by a unique TV show, Small Business Revolution, Main Street Productions.
The program picks a community each season to receive a makeover of main street businesses. The winner is determine by the number of votes received through the program’s website.
Chamber CEO Paisley Howerton said in early October, a link with information about the contest was shared on the Ark City Ask and Answered Facebook page. She said she saw it as a possible opportunity and everyone quickly started sharing the information.
“It looked like it would be awesome for Ark City to be part of that,” she said. “So we just shared it and nominated Ark City, of course.”
Howerton said people were being encouraged to visit the website and to vote for Ark City. Last Thursday, she discovered that the community might actually have a chance at winning.
“Kanyon Gingher called and said Nick Hernandez had told her we had enough nominations to be noticed by the show,” she said.
(Read more: www.ctnewsonline.com – RSS Results)
City of Topeka to take up employment contract, asphalt purchase
An employment contract with Topeka street maintenance employees and Shawnee County’s emergency purchase of 828 tons of hot mix asphalt are among matters local governing bodies plan to take up this coming week. The city’s governing body, consisting of the nine council members and Mayor Michelle De La Isla, plans to consider entering into a three-year contract covering 2019 through 2021 with city street maintenance employees represented in collective bargaining by Teamsters Local No. 696.
The employees involved have approved the contract, which would provide a 1 percent across-the-board pay increase in each of the three years involved, said a document in the agenda packet for Tuesday’s meeting.
The agreement would arrange for all employees it covers to be paid at least $15 an hour, that document said. It would create four classifications of workers and a comprehensive training program to ensure all employees can perform a wide variety of tasks.
(Read more: News – The Topeka Capital-Journal)
Pittsburg Micropolitan Area Economic reports payroll growth, low cost of living, population
Each quarter the Business & Economic Research Center releases a report called “The Pittsburg Micropolitan Area Economic Report.”
The third quarter report, recently released, shared the quarter’s income and overall job growth, unemployment, job growth by industry, payroll growth by industry, labor force, taxable sales, residential permits, commercial permits, office space market, commercial and residential land values, retail space market, bankruptcies and more. Director of Business & Economic Research Center Michael Davidsson, Ph.D. said 2017 was a good year for the Pittsburg Micropolitan Area, with bankruptcies declining and the increase of housing infrastructure.
(Read more: Pittsburg, KS – Morning Sun)
Outside engineer hired by Crawford County finds little concern about Silverback plan
A report from an engineer hired by Crawford County said he does not foresee any significant damage on Crawford County property from stormwater runoff in proposed the Silverback Landing Development.
Neighboring residents had concerns about water run-off from the development area.
After discussion with the City of Pittsburg and the public, the county decided to hire Senior Engineer of Agricultural Engineering Associates Inc. Frank Young to create a report of findings of the Silverback Landing Subdivision. The report was to be completed before the county made a decision on the Rural Housing Incentive District for the Silverback Landing Subdivision during its 30-day county review period. The review period will be over Oct. 25.
According to Director of Community Development & Housing Quentin Holmes RHID is a program set up by the state legislature to incentivize and encourage development in rural communities across Kansas.
Through the RHID the developer pays in advance for infrastructure and roads — rather than the municipality installing the infrastructure — and repaid out of property tax receipts over a 15-year period, which starts Oct. 26.
There is no tax increase for Pittsburg taxpayers, no one is losing tax dollars, Holmes said.
(Read more: Pittsburg, KS – Morning Sun)
Hays taps Russell fire chief for deputy fire chief
When Shane Preston starts Nov. 13 in his new role as deputy fire chief for the city of Hays, he’ll be assisting Fire Chief Ryan Hagans as well as the department’s 22 full-time firefighters.
Preston is currently fire department chief in Russell, where he’s worked as a firefighter for 18 years.
“He’s done a lot for the city of Russell, bringing them into a modern fire department,” said Hagans. “He brings in fresh ideas, and he’s a forward thinker and good with public events. He has a lot of what we’d like to bring to Hays.”
The deputy fire chief’s role is to carry out fire code inspection and enforcement, and see that fire protection equipment is properly installed in new construction commercial buildings as well as maintained in existing ones, Hagans said.
(Read more: News – The Hays Daily News)
Coordinated cleanup underway at Pittsburg contaminated site
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment and a southeastern city have partnered to clean up and re-purpose contaminated property for use in future commercial development.
The Joplin Globe reports that the coordinated cleanup that’s underway in Pittsburg is targeting contaminated soil left behind by a former zinc-smelting plant, Weir City Zinc Works. The plant operated from around 1880 to 1920 and left concentrations of arsenic, cadmium and zinc on the property.
Deputy City Manager Jay Byers says the cleanup is the first step for Pittsburg to put the land into productive use.
After completion of the cleanup, the city hopes to build a roadway extension in the area to connect existing businesses in the city’s tax increment financing district.
Cleanup operations should finish in the next few weeks.
(Read more: KWCH News)
Residents fire complaints to Apex at Neosho County meeting
Heated discussion about a proposed wind generation facility drew a rebuke from a Neosho County Commissioner Friday morning.
Commissioner Jennifer Orr warned people against sarcasm and hostility during public comments at Friday’s commission meeting.
Opponent Dustie Elsworth raised an issue with a document that had been submitted to the state, which said Apex Clean Energy does not own or lease agricultural land. Apex plans to build 100 to 130 electricity-generating wind turbines in the Neosho Ridge project in the southwestern part of the county.
Apex Senior Development Manager Jade Scheele said Elsworth should have brought the question to Apex directly, and said opponents are trying to portray Apex as a bad company.
“We’re not here to pull the wool over your eyes,” Scheele said.
(Read more: The Chanute Tribune – news,news/)
City of Fort Scott to apply for grant to fund runway extension project
Developments continue on a proposed multi-million dollar project to expand and extend the runway at the Fort Scott Municipal Airport.
City officials have applied for a federal grant through the Federal Aviation Administration to fund a project that would expand the current runway an additional 2,500 feet and widen it an extra 12 feet on each side. State and federal grants have been sought as engineering and survey work continues on the project. City officials have lobbied for grant money since an economic development opportunity arose for the airport in late 2017. In May, the Fort Scott airport was one of four airports to receive state funding for improvement projects. The funding came through the Kansas Department of Transportation’s Division of Aviation.
(Read more: Fort Scott Tribune)
Homeowners balk at placement of wind turbines
Citizens concerned about the Neosho Ridge Wind Project expressed some alarm on Wednesday about how close the wind turbines would be to homes.
Dustie Elsworth, rural Erie, said he and others have been in contact with Apex Clean Energy, the company proposing the wind project, in an attempt to negotiate the company’s proposed setback of 1,400 feet from homes’ foundations, not property lines. Given the proposed height of the turbines of 610 feet, based on forms filed by Apex with the Federal Aviation Administration, the group prefers at least a mile setback from properties, but said they were told by Apex it was impossible to do within the existing footprint.
(Read more: The Chanute Tribune – news,news/)
Haysville City Council comes to consensus on sign ordinance
After months of discussion, the Haysville City Council seemed to reach an agreement on the city’s sign ordinance at its Oct. 9 meeting.
A Kansas statute requires municipalities to allow the display of temporary political signs up to 45 days before an election. On Feb. 23, a bill repealing the Kansas statute passed 100-25 in the House of Representatives, but it died once it reached the Senate.
According to the Haysville Sun-Times, Haysville’s sign code is in conflict with the statue because it allows unlicensed, temporary signs to be displayed for up to 14 days before an election, but it doesn’t make an exception for political signs. Haysville’s city attorney proposed changing city sign code so that all temporary signs — both political and nonpolitical — can be displayed for 45 days during the pre-election periods outlined in state law.
This proposal would keep the city in line with the Kansas statue, as well as the “content-neutral” ruling from the Supreme Court.
(Read more: The Miami County Republic)
Lawrence seeks sexual harassment training for bar staff
Lawrence city leaders want bar staff to be prepared to respond to predatory behavior, harassment and sexual assault.
Commissioners asked city staff last week to work with drinking establishments and other stakeholders in developing a requirement that drinking establishments receive SafeBar sexual violence and bystander intervention training as a condition of their local license. That local license is in addition to the state liquor license. Commissioner Jennifer Ananda, an attorney and social worker who handles complaints of discrimination and harassment at the University of Kansas in her role as deputy Title IX coordinator and policy specialist, originally proposed that the commission consider requiring the training. She said many alcohol-facilitated sexual assaults start at bars.
“Even when justice is served, whether through an academic system or a justice system, it doesn’t fix that person and it doesn’t change what happened to them,” Ananda said. “So preventing that is really where we get to the core of changing our culture, changing our community and shifting that paradigm in our community.”
(Read more: Local – The Topeka Capital-Journal)
Banker survey: Farmland prices expected to drop in Kansas
A new survey says farmland prices are expected to continue their decline in parts of 10 Plains and Western states. The latest Rural Mainstreet survey shows that on average, bank CEOs in the region estimated farmland prices declined by 4 percent over the past 12 months. They expect farmland prices to fall by another 3.2 percent over the next 12 months. The overall economic index for the region increased slightly to 54.3 from 51.5 in September. That score still suggests growth because it is above 50, while any score below 50 indicates a shrinking economy.
(Read more: The Salina Post)
Sales tax up for renewal in Oswego
The city’s 1 cent sales tax is up for renewal. This is NOT a new tax, just the renewal of the existing sales tax. The renewal question will be on the November ballot. The sales tax is designated for use to maintain Oswego’s streets and parks (which includes making the bond payment for the community building). With the tax lid on, the sales tax revenue is even more important than before as there is no other source to make up for the loss in revenue if the question doesn’t pass.
(Read more: Oswego KS)
City of Pratt will allow IRBs for new track and field complex
Pratt city commissioners voted unanimously to approve a resolution that will allow the issuance of Internal Revenue Bonds to finance the construction of a track and field complex for the city of Pratt, Pratt Community College and other Pratt schools.
“We have been assured that there is no risk of security and no hidden expenses in this,” said Mayor Doug Meyer. “All we ask is that the city be involved in any decision-making discussions as this process moves forward.“
(Read more: Pratt, KS – Pratt Tribune)
Wichita to take a swing at selling golf course
A Wichita city board has decided to put the MacDonald Golf Course up for sale.
On Friday, the Park Board voted to seek proposals for the sale of the 146-acre course at 840 N. Yale in northeast Wichita, but with several conditions to ensure it remain a golf course and be open to public play indefinitely.
Under the proposed terms of sale, if the buyer decided to close the course or redevelop it for another use, the Park Board could buy it back for the original sale price.
However, Friday’s meeting didn’t really clarify how that could occur. The money from the sale is expected to be used on the other courses in the system and it remains unclear where the Park Board would get the money if it wanted to buy the course back.
(Read more: Wichita Eagle)
Opponents say wind farms come at a cost
Green wind energy sounds appealing as companies propose leasing land to build new wind farms that would help counties with job creation and economic development efforts.
Concerned citizens in Neosho County have been researching the impacts of wind farms on counties and found things to not be so green, including claimed financial benefits to counties and landowners.
About 30 people met Wednesday night at Tony’s Function Junction south of Erie to discuss the proposed Apex Clean Energy wind farm project in Neosho County and to share what they’ve found about wind projects in Kansas and other states. Apex plans a wind energy generation project on 40,000 acres in Neosho County.
Those gathered Wednesday said wind energy comes at a cost, a cost that counties in Illinois, Wisconsin, Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas are absorbing far beyond what the wind energy companies invest and the value of temporary jobs produced, the citizens said.
(Read more: The Chanute Tribune – news,news/)
Lawrence installs new type of bike lane on portion of Massachusetts Street
A different type of bike lane that changes the rules for both cyclists and drivers has been installed on a three-block portion of Massachusetts Street.
The new bike lanes are wider and more visible than existing bike lanes throughout the city. They also include signage that restricts vehicles from turning right on a red light, as well as a new feature that a city diagram says is intended to make cyclists more visible at intersections.
Read more: LJWorld.
Debate over multimillion-dollar Lawrence benefit districts raises questions for all homebuyers
A buyer signs up to 150 pages of documents when closing on a home, and among the multitude of notices can be an agreement to pay significant sums to the city. After a contentious debate about the $5.3 million Queens Road benefit districts, city leaders have questions about whether such agreements can be more forthright in the future.
The recently created Queens Road benefit districts will add thousands to the tax bills of residential and commercial property owners in the area, and many said they were not aware they had agreed not to protest the benefit districts. Even though the no-protest agreement would have been included in closing documents, those familiar with the closing process say they are not surprised.
“It’s a lot of paper, and a lot of it is kind of innocuous looking disclosers that say the lender can report your credit, and the lender can get your insurance,” said Greg Haehl, director of commercial services for Kansas Secured Title. “So I certainly understand why people fade out when they try to read it.”
Read more: LJWorld.
Visitors flock to Baldwin City for annual Maple Leaf Festival
Donna Curran, Maple Leaf Festival booth committee chair, said she knew the 361 vendors she signed up for the festival would be busy Saturday. The day was perfect for the festival, she said, with sunny weather and mild temperatures.
“We’re always busy when we have nice weather,” she said. “I knew it was going to be nice. I didn’t even look at the forecast.”
Curran and other festival organizers estimate from 30,000 to 35,000 people attend the annual festival, although they have no way to take an exact headcount. Even when the booths opened at 9 a.m., she said, there had been large crowds downtown, with people lining up to get the soups and warm breakfasts a few of the food vendors were offering. The park-and-ride lots at the two Baldwin City school campuses were also full, she said.
Read more: LJWorld.
‘A good fit’: Rose Hill selects new city administrator
After a period of vacancy, the City of Rose Hill has a new administrator.
Rico Aguayo, 46, was sworn in for the administrative position at the Oct. 15 Rose Hill City Council meeting.
“So it’s official now,” said Mayor Steve Huckaby after Aguayo’s swearing-in. “Something we have been waiting for for many months.”
Aguayo, originally from California, has a long track record in public service, both locally and at the state level.
(Read more: DerbyInformer.com – news,news/)
OP Council approves taking neighbors’ land for Quivira upgrade. Court fight could loom
Overland Park may try to take land to improve two-lane Quivira Road from 159th to 179th streets, despite some landowners’ concerns about losing private property for a road widening that’s not anticipated until 2040.
The City Council voted unanimously Oct. 15 to allow the property acquisition, through condemnation if necessary, to prepare for growth along the road.
The council heard from one landowner’s attorney who argued the acquisition is speculative and unnecessary, but voted 12-0 to proceed.
(Read more: KC Breaking News, Sports & Crime |)
Emporia City and Lyon County commissions discuss possible food council
The Emporia City and Lyon County commissions had a joint meeting Wednesday evening during which they discussed topics ranging from a possible food policy council to housing issues.
Teresa Briggs, Daphne Mertens and Hannah Crowl of Healthier Lyon County addressed the commissioners about the need for a food policy council. Briggs cited information from the Centers for Disease Control which reports life expectancy is growing shorter rather than longer.
“Just let that sink in,” she said. “Whereas, here in the United States, we like to think that we are progressive enough and realize what we need to do to keep ourselves and our families safe and healthy, but we’ve gotten into some bad habits as far as what we eat, the amount of time that we don’t exercise and so the lifespan is actually reducing rather than growing. So, I think that’s a powerful statement and something that we want to try to address with a food policy council.”
The council, if formed, would be a joint city-county effort and would be modeled after the one between Lawrence and Douglas County. It would include members from several sectors, including food producers, grocers, consumers, educators, representatives of nonprofits and others throughout Emporia and Lyon County.
(Read more: Emporia Gazette)
Geary County Sheriff arrested on suspicion of gifting county gun, misusing funds: KBI
Geary County Sheriff Tony Wolf was jailed on felony charges Thursday morning, on suspicion of gifting a county-owned firearm and misusing public funds.
Agents of the Kansas Bureau of Investigation made the arrest in Wolf’s office in Junction City about 9 a.m. and booked him into the Geary County jail, the KBI announced. Wolf was then released on bond.
Wolf, 44, has served as sheriff in the county since his election in 2012.
(Read more: Local News |)
Ellis County Commission candidates talk budget, economic development, promoting county
The three candidates running for the first district seat on the Ellis County Commission in the November general election took part in a debate Tuesday at Fort Hays State University. The financial future of Ellis County, the number of commissioners and promoting economic development were among the topics discussed by the three candidates.
(Read more: Hays Post)
Hays artist pitches giant mural on Sternberg water tower
Artist Dennis Schiel envisions one of Hays’ giant water towers painted with a huge mural of the city’s signature branding logo, three people who aptly represent Hays’ pioneer and frontier history.
Schiel this evening will ask the Hays City Commission to consider approving from $65,000 to $96,750 to contribute to the cost of a mural.
Depending on the design chosen, the mural would include not only William Cody, Wild Bill Hickok and George Custer, but also a railroad steam engine, a buffalo and the words Hays America, Est. 1867. The 1-million-gallon water tower hovers over Interstate 70 next to Sternberg Museum, 3000 Sternberg Dr. It was recently remediated and repainted.
“That would be great exposure for me and the city both,” Schiel said. “Can you imagine driving down the highway either way and seeing Buffalo Bill, or the big buffalo?”
(Read more: News – The Hays Daily News)
County’s park board rejects proposal to built exit path from JCCC through Thomas S. Stoll Memorial Park
Weeks of impassioned testimony and email writing have apparently paid off for neighbors of Thomas S. Stoll Memorial Park. The county park board on Wednesday officially shot down a proposal for a gated exit through the park that Johnson County Community College wanted for emergencies.
Some 40 neighbors applauded as the county park and recreation governing board unanimously voted to deny the egress route for college use. College officials should look for other alternatives, park board members said.
Park neighbors have turned out in force to meetings on the idea and have submitted numerous emails since learning of the idea about a month and a half ago. JCCC had asked for a connection as an evacuation route for the campus that would bring traffic south and out through the park’s entrance. But neighbors feared the idea would be a foot in the door toward college expansion into the park or a traffic cut-through into their neighborhoods.
(Read more: Prairie Village Post – Neighborhood news and events for Prairie Village, Fairway, Mission Hills)
City of Hays expecting lower rates for employees’ health insurance
Some unusually good news for the city of Hays as it comes time for the annual renewal of the employees’ health insurance policy.
Assistant City Manager Jacob Wood said the 2019 Blue Cross Blue Shield premium is actually a decrease based on the city’s expected enrollments.
“We got really good bids this year. It’s actually a reduction of 2.46%, which in the current healthcare market is pretty good. So, we’re pretty excited about that,” Wood said.
(Read more: Hays Post)
Chetopa council wants park curfew set
The Chetopa City Council has directed an ordinance to be drafted to set a curfew for Veterans Park.
During an Oct. 2 meeting, council member Geraldine Castle recommended more police patrolling of the park at night as there have been kids on top of the shelter houses. She also was concerned about the increased potential for vandalism. Debbie Yost of Chetopa said she was told that the free Wi-Fi in the park has encouraged drug deals there.
The comments led to discussion on a possible park curfew, and the council agreed that an ordinance should be drafted that would close the park from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. if approved. Exceptions would be made for special holiday events or other events approved by the council. The ordinance also would ban squatting in the shelter houses.
(Read more: Parsons Sun)
Junction City Moves Forward on Rathert Field Turf Improvements
The Junction City Commission has approved an interlocal agreement with Geary County and USD 475 for improvements to Rathert Field. They include a new artificial turf for the infield, foul areas and warning track.
Parks and Recreation Director Ed Lazear explained the project will help alleviate rainout problems. The bid was awarded to Hellas Construction of Austin, Texas for $424,715. City Manager Allen Dinkel explained the project will be paid for via a $200,000 commitment from the county from the transient guest tax that was initially put in place for a sports complex. We have a private donation of $100,000. ” The rest of the cost will be paid for using city funds via a lease-purchase on that to possibly stretch out their funding so other work could possibly be done at Rathert Field like the outfield fence or decking improvements. That will also allow the city to continue with their plan to make budgeted upgrades at some other parks.
(Read more: Junction City Post)
Tonganoxie City Council hears more plans for former TES land
Plans for the rest of the land at the former Tonganoxie Elementary School campus were discussed in more detail at Monday’s City Council meeting.
The Tonganoxie City Council took steps forward at the last meeting with regards to the new library’s future on the south end of the former TES site.
On Monday, Kelley Hrabe of Prairie Fire Development in Kansas City presented to the council.
Hrabe told the council about potential plans for 36 residential units on the property. Though the property might not be exclusively for retired residents, it’s expected to have many of its residents fit that demographic. Council Member Curtis Oroke spoke of the demand for retirement living in Tonganoxie with waiting lists at various retirement communities within the city.
(Read more: TonganoxieMirror.com stories)
Manager search gets help in Winfield
A contract with Osenbaugh Consulting, of Derby, for assistance with the Winfield city manager search was approved Monday by the city commission in a 3-0 vote.
The contract specifies a flat fee of $8,000. This money will go toward consulting services and includes three trips to Winfield by Osenbaugh consultants, according to a copy of the contract. Additional trips will cost the city $1,000 each.
The contract states Osenbaugh Consulting’s duties include discussing the parameters of the search with commissioners, composing and positing a help wanted ad, reaching out to potential candidates, reviewing and organizing résumés, participating in candidate interviews, creating a list of finalists and performing background checks. City commissioners will meet soon with an Osenbaugh consultant to discuss what qualities the city wants in a new manager, Mayor Greg Thompson said Tuesday.
(Read more: The Arkansas City Traveler)