Municipal News & Jobs

Kansas Municipal News

Garden City commissioners, city staff wonder about future of the Big Pool

The City of Garden City will look to the public for direction on preliminary decisions regarding the future of the Big Pool, as costly structural problems continue to weigh on the local landmark.

Assistant City Manager Jennifer Cunningham presented a report on the pool to the Garden City Commission Tuesday, outlining a summer that cost significantly more in labor with similar rates of sales.

Pool staff increased on all fronts, Cunningham said, causing the cost of labor at the pool to be over $82,000 more in 2018 than in 2017. Certain structural issues continue to be a problem, Cunningham said. Several factors, from uneven terrain causing water to flow out of the drains on the edge of the pool to persistent leaks, meant that the pool lost and had to pump in about 200,000 gallons of water a day, said Mike Muirhead, director of public utilities.

Muirhead said he and Sam Curran, director of public works, had helped the problem slightly last year by replacing concrete on the southeast corner of the deep end of the pool, but, regardless, the pool was still “leaking somewhere.”

Topeka makes changes regarding property maintenance codes

Topekans accused of violating the city’s property maintenance codes are, to a large extent, fixing those violations, city manager Brent Trout told the city council Tuesday evening.

Topeka Municipal Court Administrative Judge Lori Dougherty-Bichsel often finds she doesn’t need to penalize those people because they’ve taken care of the problems involved, Trout said.

“So I think we are on the right track relative to people taking responsibility for the condition of the homes,” he said. That body discussed the proposals at meetings on June 12, June 19, July 17 and Sept. 4. The revisions to the code are aimed at addressing ambiguities and making the code more consistent with state laws. One change also creates a separate ordinance governing unsafe structures.

Controversial hog farm in Potwin awaits state approval

There is tension in the small Butler County town of Potwin. Tuesday, neighbors and representative with the state department of health gathered to talk about a proposed hog farm being built.

Earlier this year, farmer Doug Claassen opened a hog facility four miles from Potwin. Now, he wants to expand it by building a new facility two miles north of the town. It would house 3,000 head of swine. Residents and the town’s mayor say their biggest concern is odor seeping into town. The KDHE will be reviewing the public comments from Tuesday’s meeting. It will decide whether to allow the new hog farm to be built.

(Read more: KAKE – News)

Kansas City police get $700K innovation grant

The Kansas City, Kan., police department has received a $700,000 grant designed to support innovative policing programs, a federal prosecutor’s office announced on Tuesday.

According to U.S. Attorney for Kansas Stephen McAllister, the grant was made to the Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kan..

McAllister said the grant comes from the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhood program, which is a centerpiece of the Justice Department’s strategy for reducing violent crime. This week marks the one-year anniversary of the revitalized Project Safe Neighborhood program.

“This money will help police test promising crime prevention strategies aimed at reducing violent crime in targeted areas,” McAllister said in a news release.

Saline County Commission accepts two grants

The Saline County Commission accepted two grants Tuesday morning.

The commission approved the purchase of a wireless headset system for Rural Fire District 3 from Weis Fire & Safety Equipment for $2,700. Weis Fire submitted the lowest out of four submitted bids. The commission also accepted a Kansas Forestry Grant, which will cover half of the cost of the wireless headset system.

The commission accepted a $2,300 grant from the Greater Salina Community Foundation that will completely cover the cost for one Automatic External Defibrillator (AED). Senior Services Director Rosie Walter said the AED will be stored on the first floor of the Salina Senior Center and that an AED borrowed from the Saline County Health Department will be returned.

(Read more: News – Salina Journal)

Shift in county truck traffic leads to complaints

Two South Hutchinson residents living along Avenue F appeared before the County Commission Tuesday to complain about the amount of Reno County Public Works truck traffic on their city street.

The traffic has increased significantly on the road since the state inspected a bridge a couple of months ago that’s over a drainage canal on Scott Boulevard south of the county facility and ordered its weight limit lowered, preventing the county trucks from taking that route any longer.

(Read more: News – The Hutchinson News)

Reno County Commissioners approve employee weapons policy

The Reno County Commission approved the two items on its agenda. Commissioners approved a revision of the Violence in the Workplace policy, which basically brings the policy up to speed with the concealed carry policy.

This would require an employee who carries a weapon to have it with them at all times and not leave it around where someone else would have access. If they leave it in a county vehicle, it must be out of sight and secured.

(Read more: Hutch Post)

Fort Scott hospital, open since 1886, announces they will close by end of year

Officials say Mercy Hospital in Fort Scott will close by the end of the year. Mercy officials said on Monday that declining patient numbers and reduced reimbursements from government programs, which is the largest source of the hospital’s revenue, led to the decision. The statement said hospital officials tried for months to find a way to keep hospital services in the community of about 7,800 people in southeast Kansas. The hospital, which opened in 1886, is a 46-bed acute care center. It is expected to close Dec. 31.

(Read more: Great Bend Post)

Bagged or contaminated recyclables run risk of ending up in landfills, Johnson County warns

An average of 24.6 percent of items Johnson County residents place in their recycling bins are either bagged in or comprised of non-recyclable materials.

That’s according to a 1,000-home recycling-habit survey Johnson County completed after China — where a large portion of the county’s recyclables are exported — tightened restrictions on accepted materials.

Earlier this month, Johnson County Recycles launched their seven-week Ditch the Bag campaign aimed to educate residents on how to properly recycle.

Through a collaboration of 12 Johnson County cities, the campaign is hoping to teach the importance of “freeing your recycling” and keeping items loose in recycling bins. The 1,000-home survey found 11 percent of residents put their recyclables in plastic bags.

Prairie Village’s new design standards for new builds address trees, windows, garages

The Prairie Village City Council on Monday approved new regulations aimed at the development of large homes within the city.

Councilmembers voted 11-2 to adopt a slate of neighborhood design standards, which include rules on tree planting, garage sizes and notifying neighbors.

City officials proposed the guidelines to address the rapid increase in recent years of owners tearing down the mid-century ranch and Cape Cod houses that have defined Prairie Village and replacing them with much larger homes. In some cases, residents have complained that the new, larger buildings overshadow their neighbors, cause drainage problems and are out of character with the rest of the neighborhood. The council in 2016 implemented a group of regulations for property zoned R-1A and R-1B that limited building heights and restricted how close new homes could be built to side property lines.

The new regulations, which go into effect Feb. 1, are more specific, addressing both building designs and the look of front yards. They will apply to home rebuilds and home expansions of more than 200 square feet.

Any home that receives a building permit before Feb. 1 would be exempt from the new rules, said City Administrator Wes Jordan.

Overland Park councilmembers accuse developer of ‘bait-and-switch’ after addition of drive-thrus to Galleria 115

An angry Overland Park City Council sent the latest proposal for the beleaguered Galleria 115 project back to the planning commission Monday night, with several of them calling revisions that would allow drive-thru businesses a “bait and switch” by developer Ken Block. Some council members said they felt betrayed because the changes would alter the entire complexion of a development they envisioned as an important first step to making College Boulevard more welcoming to night life and pedestrians.

“I believe the thing we voted incentives on was something special and unique. This is nothing. Nothing,” said Councilmember Dave White. “I’m voting against this plan and if I could vote to rescind the (special sales tax district) I would because I think we’ve been misled. I think you’ve taken advantage of us. And I’m sorry but three drive-in restaurants along Nall Avenue by all of this great office stuff cheapens the whole thing.”

Great Bend investing time to keep K-96 project alive

In 1989, the Kansas Legislature approved corridor highway projects that connected Wichita to central Kansas with K-96. In 2012 the Kansas Department of Transportation identified a new diagonal passage for K-96 in Reno and Rice counties as a priority. The new stretch of road would connect Hutchinson to north of Sterling, bypassing Nickerson and Sterling. The project was dropped as K-DOT funding was pulled to balance the Kansas General Budget.

Peters hopes the regional support will show the task force that this project is still needed.

(Read more: Great Bend Post)

Prairie Village approves new design standards to preserve neighborhood character

After nearly 20 meetings, hours of discussion and input from hundreds of homeowners, the Prairie Village city council has taken fresh action on an issue that has become a growing concerns to residents over the past several years: the impact of new home and remodeling projects on the character of existing neighborhoods.

On an 11-2 vote at its meeting last night, the council accepted the unanimous recommendation of the city’s planning commission and adopted a new set of home design guidelines that build upon a set of restrictions on height and minimum setbacks the council approved in 2016.

(Read more: Shawnee Mission Post)

Lawrence City Commission to consider consultant agreement to improve budget process

Lawrence city commissioners will consider moving forward with a consultant-led overhaul of the city’s budget process that aims to better prioritize spending decisions.

At its meeting Tuesday, the Lawrence City Commission will consider a $135,000 three-year agreement with a consultant, Resource Exploration LLC, to put in place new budgeting software and a process. To implement the program, called priority-based budgeting, would also require additional staff positions.

Shawnee Heights board: County ‘holding us hostage’ for drainage issue tied to new bus barn

Shawnee Heights Unified School District 450 board members on Monday approved a $29,548 change order for Kelley Construction to continue work on a new bus barn. However, they weren’t happy about it. Many felt the district was having to pay for a miscalculation Shawnee County made when it installed a new culvert along the east side of S.E. Shawnee Heights Road to allow better drainage to Lake Jivaro. Part of that work diverted water into the district’s drainage basin.

Cash mob to support downtown merchants in Salina

The master developer for downtown Salina’s revitalization and the downtown merchants’ association have joined forces to organize a cash mob designed to benefit downtown Salina merchants during construction.

The cash mob will take place during merchants’ regular business hours on Oct. 13. Shoppers are encouraged to patronize downtown Salina stores, restaurants and bars during a time of year that is typically slow for retailers.

Some downtown Salina retailers have seen disruption in store-front accessibility since construction began on the Santa Fe corridor, as the street is being narrowed to improve walkability and increase outside seating.

“We are so excited for the residents of Salina to show with their dollars just how much we cherish our downtown merchants,” said Penny Bettles, managing director of Salina Downtown Inc., in a news release. “We plan to reward shoppers, too. We’ll have a number of door prizes and some merchants will have special sales that day.”

(Read more: News – Salina Journal)

Finney County commission changes rehiring policy

The Finney County Commission on Monday unanimously approved a personnel policy change that will make it possible for the county to rehire former employees that left their positions without submitting two weeks notice, an action that until the change had marked employees as non-rehireable.

Kelly Munyan, the county payroll clerk, presented the request for the policy revision to the commission. Human Resources Director Darlene Lucas was slated to present the request, but had a conflict, she said.

Munyan told the commission that under the existing policy, if an employee voluntarily separated from the county and submitted a written notice of their resignation 14 days in advance, they would leave in good standing and could be considered for future employment at any time. If they resigned without providing notice 14 days in advance, however, they could never be rehired.

The revision would amend the latter half of the policy only, allowing employees that “walk out,” Munyan said, to once again be considered for positions with the county after “a five-year absence from employment,” according to the updated policy. Munyan said the new action would be “a one-time deal,” and that an employee would only be eligible for new employment after not submitting advance notice once.

“It won’t be considered a second or third time,” she said.

Wichita City Council set to move forward on IRBs for innovation campus YMCA at WSU

Wichita’s City Council on Tuesday is scheduled close the public hearing period on a measure that would issue $25 million worth of industrial revenue bonds for a new Greater Wichita YMCA location at WSU.

The City Council in May approved a letter of intent to issue the bonds for a new YMCA facility on the Wichita State University Innovation Campus. A portion of the $25 million would be used for improvements and an addition at the YMCA’s east Wichita location (9333 E. Douglas).

According to city documents, about $17.5 million would go toward the construction of the new YMCA facility at WSU. That complex is expected to feature up to 70,000 square feet and would include a space for Wesley Medical Center to develop an urgent care center. Plans for a YMCA at Wichita State were announced in March 2017, but the issue has been contentious at times over plans to increase student fees to help cover operations costs.

(Read more: Wichita Business Journal)

More than 77 tons recycled at Salina Drive-Thru Recycle Center since July

More than 5,700 customers have recycled more than 77 tons of material at the Salina Drive-thru Recycling Center (SDRC) since it opened on July 11. According to an administrative brief by Jim Teutsch of the Salina Public Works Department, “after eight weeks of operation, the facility has serviced 5,727 customers who recycled 77.1 tons of material. SDRC drivers have made a total of 11 trips to the Material Recovery Facility or ‘MRF’ in South Hutchinson, where the recyclables are processed.” Teutsch wrote that both residential and commercial customers are using the facility. He wrote that, “overall feedback has been extremely positive. Staff members are regularly complimented and thanked by customers who seem to value the convenience of the drive-through system, the cleanliness of the facility’s grounds, and the friendliness of SDRC staff.”

(Read more: The Salina Post)

City of Topeka Municipal Court taking Food for Fines in October

The City of Topeka Municipal Court will start a Food for Fines program during the month of October. Any person with a payment due to the Municipal Court between October 1st and October 31st will receive a $25 credit towards their fine with a donation of ten cans of non-perishable canned goods. All the non-perishable food items that are collected will be donated to Project Topeka.

“I’m pleased that the Topeka Municipal Court is able to help people pay off their fines and help those in need at the same time,” said Municipal Court Judge Lori Dougherty-Bichsel. “We are excited to partner with Project Topeka who will distribute the food drive items to food pantries all over our community.”

(Read more: WIBW News Now!)

Shawnee County commission sets final vote on land use plan for Oct. 15

The debate over a proposed Shawnee County comprehensive land use plan, which has lasted two years, will continue two more weeks.

County Commissioners Kevin Cook, Shelly Buhler and Jim Crowl approved 17 housekeeping-related revisions to the plan Monday before voting 3-0 to consider it for final action Oct. 15.

County counselor Jim Crowl suggested commissioners set the vote for Oct. 8, saying he could have the plan ready by then. But commissioners agreed to a request by two-time commission candidate Carol Marple that they allow an additional week for public deliberation.

Commissioners heard members of the public express a mixture of criticism and praise Monday for changes they made last month in response to concerns shared by rural landowners.

Inaugural Topeka Landlord Expo to be held October 27

The first Topeka Landlord Expo will feature more than 80 exhibitors and training sessions throughout the day, designed to educate landlords about doing business in the capital city.

“The city of Topeka wants to provide landlords with the advice, tools and knowledge that they need to be successful in our community,” said neighborhood relations director Sasha Haehn. “The expo is perfect for all landlords, whether you are a first-time landlord, established landlord, agent, property investor or thinking about entering the private rental market.”

The city partnered with the Shawnee County Landlord’s Association and Housing and Credit Counseling Inc. to organize the event. The expo will provide a platform for property investors to seek advice, guidance and tools necessary to succeed in the development and management of their commercial and residential rental properties, city officials said in a news release.

Workshops for residential landlords will include fair housing and best practices.

Citizens Academy an opportunity to understand police decision-making

Twice a year, local law enforcement invites members of the community to participate in the city of Topeka’s Citizens Police Academy. The group meets on Thursday nights for 14 weeks, as well as on two Saturdays, to learn about what it takes to work in law enforcement.

“The officers are very passionate about educating the public,” said Meg Gammage, a volunteer in police service.

Over the course of the program, participants cover such topics as recruiting and training officers, criminal investigations, the bomb disposal unit and organized crime. Each bureau of the department is highlighted, and citizens are invited to participate and ask questions. They also have the opportunity to experience training exercises used at the police academy and a behind-the-scenes tour of the Shawnee County Department of Corrections.

Shawnee County Commission to be asked to give land use plan discussion one more week

The debate over a proposed comprehensive Shawnee County land use, which has lasted two years, may continue for one more week.

Commission chairman Kevin Cook had suggested Sept. 10 that commissioners would act on the plan for the county’s unincorporated areas when they meet Monday.

But Cook said Friday that county counselor Jim Crowl plans that day to share a series of recommendations for the commission to vote on, then ask commissioners to wait one more week before taking a final vote. The proposed 197-page 2038 Shawnee County Comprehensive Plan would guide decision-making about the physical development of the county’s unincorporated areas. It seeks to guide orderly growth that balances environmental values and reasonable development demand over the next 20 years.

Cook described the plan earlier this month as maintaining “a delicate balance between land use and land ownership” in the county’s unincorporated areas.′

Hutch City Council to take action on builder permit fees

During the 2019 budget process, the Hutchinson City Council was in consensus to raise building permit fees for next year.

During Tuesday’s agenda session, the council will address the proposed 10 percent fee hike. It will be the first increase in permit fees in 10 years. Those fees go directly into the general fund. Fees for work being done with a cost of less than $500 would be $21.80. The fees would increase as project costs increase, climbing to $893 for construction totaling more than $100,000.

Fees for various permits for things such as sidewalks, moving structures and demolition would also increase if approval is given by the council.

(Read more: Hutch Post)

Countywide wind regulation in Reno County lacks push

The Reno County Planning Commission spent more than 45 minutes recently discussing how to approach regulating commercial wind farms in the county but ended up forwarding no recommendations to the Reno County Commission.

Instead, the board will wait for the commission to give it direction if it wishes to pursue the issue.

The idea of countywide zoning that would apply only to commercial wind and solar was suggested a few months ago when the county commission received a preliminary look at a Comprehensive Plan that the planning board was drafting. While zoning for wind developments would be a relatively simple thing to create, consultant Russ Ewy, of Baughman and Co. in Wichita, who is helping develop the county’s comprehensive plan, told the planning commission, requirements for public notices and public hearings prior to adoption would push the process out, “at a minimum, three months.”

(Read more: News – The Hutchinson News)

Parsons to consider lease in industrial park in exchange for needed parking lot repairs

Parsons city commissioners on Monday will consider a lease agreement with a waste management company.

During its regular meeting the commission likely will vote on the lease of land in Industrial Park No. 1 for Miami Industrial Supply. The company wants to set up a site where it can store empty roll-off dumpsters.

Jim Zaleski, economic development director, told commissioners during a Thursday work session that he has discussed the arrangement with the Miami, Oklahoma-based company for five or six months.

The company would lease space north of the north parking lot at the city’s Business Incubator Center, 1209 Corporate Drive, for 18 months at $300 per month beginning in November. In lieu of payment, Miami Industrial Supply would make repairs to the parking lot and provide rock as the base for its own parking area for its roll-off dumpsters and a truck. Following the 18-month lease, the company would pay $400 per month if it wanted to continue using the gravel parking pad.

Zaleski said the BIC’s parking lot is in dire need of repair. Two local companies, Ducommun Inc. and Sun Graphics, use the BIC for storage, and it would be helpful for drivers to not have to try to avoid the holes in the lot. He said the estimate for the repair is about the same as 18 months of rent at $300.

(Read more: Parsons Sun)

Economic development cooperative effort in Liberal/Seward County set to begin Jan. 1

Discussions of creating a joint economic development corporation for Liberal and Seward County are continuing.

The matter was discussed at the Sept. 13 meeting of several local boards, and some of the at large membership positions of the Liberal Seward County Development Corporation (LSCDC) could be filled at Monday’s county commission meeting.

At the Sept. 13 meeting, Liberal City Manager Calvin Burke talked about who would head up the corporation, namely having a permanent person being the director.

“I don’t want to hire someone in a temporary position to do that,” he said. “That’s not fair to the employees. I would encourage everybody. Let’s try and make this happen and have this in place so come January 1, we’re in place.”

Members of both the city and county commissions reviewed a set of bylaws proposed for the corporation, and Liberal Vice Mayor Taylor Harden said he likes what he saw.

(Read more: Liberal First)

Garden City seeking volunteers for CIP committee

The City of Garden City is seeking about 40 volunteers to serve on the Capital Improvement Planning committee, which will provide community input on how the city should prioritize CIP requests and review the order and year in which each project will be completed.

The committee will meet seven times between November and February. The 2019 CIP projects include a $2.43 million project to improve a stretch of Farmland Road, the construction of a new $750,000 irrigation system in Valley View Cemetery and a $2.7 million project to reconstruct a segment of Eighth Street.

Residents also can suggest CIP projects by submitting the Citizen Input Form mailed with September utility bills, through the city’s website, Facebook and Twitter pages or contacting Griffin directly. Suggestions should be submitted by Nov. 1.

Mission latest JoCo city to propose protecting LGBTQ, other marginalized groups

The city of Mission in Johnson County is preparing to debate new protections for the LGBTQ community, joining Prairie Village in that initiative.

In fact, the Mission City Council is expected to discuss a proposed non-discrimination ordinance at a committee meeting on Oct. 3, ahead of the Prairie Village council’s scheduled debate Oct. 15.

The Mission proposal was introduced by Councilwoman Sollie Flora. In a memo to her council colleagues, Flora said she wants to ensure uniform legal protections within the city prohibiting discrimination in employment, housing and public accommodations on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, marital status, familial status or veteran status.

Downtown study shows most new residents expected to come from Wichita

A residential market analyst this week said downtown Wichita could support up to 2,220 new rental and for-sale living units in the next five years.

The WBJ wrote about Laurie Volk’s findings on Thursday, but one of the questions often asked is where new downtown residents might come from. According to Volk’s findings — she studied the downtown Wichita market over the summer in the interest of updating her market analysis from 2014 — most of the people likely to move downtown in the coming half-decade (67 percent) are already in Wichita. So what else did Volk find? For one, she noted that a decent chunk of the people who have moved from other parts of the U.S. to downtown Wichita are from California.

(Read more: Wichita Business Journal)

Labette County economic development effort planned

The city of Parsons and Labette County are working toward an economic development partnership.

City of Parsons Economic Development Director Jim Zaleski met with Labette County commissioners Friday to discuss countywide economic development.

Zaleski told commissioners he could work on marketing buildings in the county as well as those in the city of Parsons when he speaks with site selectors and those inquiring about expansion opportunities. If Parsons has a building and other areas of the county have available buildings that could fit the need, he would share information on all locations with the industry or manufacturer. If there were no buildings in the county, Zaleski would share the contact with other economic development directors who may have a building available that would meet the needs of the prospect. The point is to bring jobs to Southeast Kansas and some of those jobs could be filled by Labette County residents. Parsons has a website that discusses the community and the opportunities available, growparsons.com. This site could be expanded in the future to include all of Labette County manufacturing sites.

“I just think this is an opportunity for us to continue to work together and grow what we’re doing. We don’t need to duplicate efforts. The redundancy is costly,” Zaleski said.

Bourbon County recently hired a part-time economic development director for $35,000. Zaleski said he would not use any money provided by the county to pay his salary. Rather, the county’s contribution would go toward resources such as brochures and other material or perhaps paying a consultant.

(Read more: Parsons Sun)

Decision day for new Prairie Village home design guidelines coming Monday. Here’s what they would mean

Expect the Prairie Village City Council chambers to be a lively place come Monday.

After the city’s planning commission unanimously recommended approval for a set of new home design guidelines Sept. 11, the council at its meeting next week will take up whether to formally adopt the new regulations.

A group of homebuilding and remodeling professionals have organized opposition to the new guidelines, with several lobbying the planning commission to recommend denial ahead of the vote earlier this month, saying that the regulations would scuttle investment in rebuild projects and would have unintended consequences for existing homeowners.

Among the proposed design standards, the new regulations would require a minimum amount of greenspace on a home lot, and restrict the amount impervious surface.

Blight in Topeka: City officials walk delicate balance between property rights, maintaining safety

Dilapidated homes and commercial buildings dot neighborhoods throughout Shawnee County, challenging government officials to tackle health and safety issues along with complaints from neighbors who see their property values impacted.

But there aren’t easy answers to blighted properties, said Sasha Haehn, director of neighborhood relations for the city of Topeka.

As is appropriate, she added, the government can’t ignore the rights of property owners, and if those owners don’t want to take care of their properties, the city or county can only step in when there is a health or safety issue.

“The International Property Maintenance Code establishes a minimum standard for the condition of properties, but I think that minimum standard is not well understood,” Haehn said. “As an example, you will see houses sometimes in the neighborhoods that are painted three or four different colors. They can do that because our minimum standard says it has to be weather proofed, so painted, but we don’t tell you what color to paint it or that it has to be the same color because that’s a little bit of an overreach, right?”

New city vehicle changes Roeland Park curbside leaf pickup program

The city of Roeland Park has announced changes to its decades-old city leaf collection program.

The city will soon debut a brand new leaf vacuum that changes the way curbside leaf pickup is done. In the past, residents had been instructed to sweep leaves into the street, and a city vehicle would come by and sweep them up.

Starting this November, residents will rake leaves to their curb, and a brand new machine will come by and vacuum them up.

City leaders say the new method should keep more leaves and debris out of storm drains, and it’s more durable than machines used for this job in the past.

“The leaf vacuum truck seems to be the most appropriate for what we were trying to achieve: number one, keep the program the same; number two, how do we eliminate the safety and environmental hazard of the leaves being in the street. So the leaf vacuum truck actually helps with those two things,” Roeland Park Public Works Director Jose Leon said.

(Read more: fox4kc.com | FOX 4 – WDAF)

Topeka mayor suggests adding ‘citizen layer’ to evaluating police use of force

Topeka’s city government is looking at creating a job in city manager Brent Trout’s office for a civilian employee whose duties would include playing a role in investigating reports of police misconduct, particularly those involving use of force, city officials said Thursday.

Trout was still trying to determine exactly how the arrangement would work and how the position would be funded, he said as he and Mayor Michelle De La Isla held their monthly news conference at City Hall.

Police Chief Bill Cochran said he had personally suggested the arrangement, which is similar to one the city of Denver has in place.

Wilson park plans still alive in Ark City

The master plan for the renovation of Arkansas City’s Wilson Park is progressing slowly, according to City Manager Nick Hernandez.

Hernandez unveiled the city’s long-term plan for the park in March 2017, which included a refurbishing of the Wilson Park train engine that was successfully done last October.

The CourierTraveler recently asked city officials about the status of the other projects envisioned for the master plan, which was done by LK Architecture with a $33,500 grant proved by the V.J. Wilkins Foundation.

In an email Wednesday, Hernandez said the plan has not been abandoned and efforts are currently being made to secure additional funding so the next phase can be completed.

He said a request has been made to the VJ Wilkins Trust for $263,144 to help fund future improvements.

“We are awaiting the final acceptance from the trust which will meet next month,” he said.

Hernandez said he was also working on a possible grant opportunity that has the potential to match the funds received from the trust, up to $500,000.

Cowley County businesses return from ‘Destination BootCamp’

Cowley First recently sponsored nine Cowley County businesses to attend the Colorado-based business improvement “Destination Business BootCamp,” where they learned many new methods to bring more customers and tourists to Cowley County. They were among a group of business owners from across North America who attended the intensive 2 1/2 day, 20-hour workshop. “With the principles we learned at the BootCamp, we will be able to satisfy more of our customers’ needs and make visiting Cowley County a much more enjoyable, fun experience,” Tawna Golightly of Timber Creek Floral & Gifts, in Winfield said.

“We were able to sponsor this first group of a variety of businesses from across Cowley County through our Cowley County E-Community program. We will continue to work together as a team on the principles, tools and resources gained from attending Destination BootCamp. With what we’ve learned, there’s no reason we can’t attract shoppers, dinners, visitors, groups, you name it, from hundreds of miles away,” Kerri Falletti, Cowley First, County Community Coordinator said. “We hope that we will be able to send another group of businesses next year to keep the momentum growing.”

Prairie Village considers home design guidelines on Monday

A group of homebuilding and remodeling professionals have organized opposition to the new guidelines, with several lobbying the planning commission to recommend denial ahead of the vote earlier this month, saying that the regulations would scuttle investment in rebuild projects and would have unintended consequences for existing homeowners.

Among the proposed design standards, the new regulations would require a minimum amount of greenspace on a home lot, and restrict the amount impervious surface.

(Read more: Shawnee Mission Post)

Douglas County raises smoking age to 21 in unincorporated areas

The Douglas County Commission has raised the minimum age to buy tobacco products in the county’s unincorporated areas from 18 to 21.

The Lawrence Journal-World reports the commission approved the change Wednesday and it will take effect in 30 days.

The measure includes all products that include nicotine, such as the liquids used in electronic cigarettes. Currently, only four stores in the county’s unincorporated areas would be affected by the resolution. Douglas County commissioners said they are not worried about lawsuits because the county’s legal counsel reviewed the resolution.

(Read more: WIBW News Now!)

Shawnee County Parks and Recreation gets national accreditation

The Commission for the Accreditation of Parks and Recreation Agencies awarded accreditation Wednesday evening to Shawnee County Parks and Recreation.

CAPRA accreditation demonstrates that an agency is in compliance with national standards of excellence, said Mike McLaughlin, communications and public information director for Shawnee County Parks and Recreation.

John Knight, director of Shawnee County Parks and Recreation, said being awarded accreditation puts the department among an elite group of agencies. Fewer than 2 percent of parks and recreation agencies are accredited, he said.

“Gaining accreditation shows our residents that we are meeting the national standards to deliver the best services to the community,” Knight said.

The Shawnee County department became the fourth entity in Kansas to earn accreditation from CAPRA, with the others being located in Johnson County, Wichita and Fort Riley.

Retiring Pratt Police Chief reflects on service

Closing the last chapter on a law enforcement career that has stretched four decades has caused now retired police chief Gary Myers to reflect on his years as a public servant.

“I’ve spent most of my adult life as a police officer,” Myers said.

Like most people in law enforcement, Myers got involved with police work to help people. Helping find a lost child and returning it to its family is a very good feeling, Myers said. One of the things Myers quickly learned was the badge is a symbol of trust for the community he serves.

“I get the satisfaction of providing a service to the community. I get to assist the citizenry,” Myers said.

While some look at his job as one duty, there’s a lot more to it than putting people in jail.

One thing he learned right away was it takes a lot of patience to do this job. You have to show people you care no matter what the situation.

Mayor’s veto causes delay for Butler project

In response to Andover Mayor Ben Lawrence’s veto last week concerning the special use permit for Butler Community College’s building project, the Andover City Council voted Tuesday night to sent the request back to the Planning Commission.
Butler Community College and its leaders have been fielding questions about funding and spending since early this year when Kansas Representative Kristey Williams began waging a campaign to slash BCC’s mill levy. Butler had plans for renovation and construction at the 5000 Building on E. 13th Street in Andover, but following pressure and questioning from Williams and a veto from Andover Mayor Ben Lawrence concerning a special use permit that would have allowed the construction project at the Andover campus to move forward.
Since 1992, Butler has leased the north wing of Andover High School for Student Services offices and numerous classrooms. With the Andover School District bond issue and the construction of new facilities at Andover High School, the north wing of the building will be demolished by the summer of 2020, thus creating the need for Butler to relocate its current operations. College leaders have said that BCC is not expanding; the school is simply consolidating buildings.
“This is a planned expenditure from our reserves, with no additional money needed from taxpayers,” said Kent Williams, CPA, vice president of finance stated last August.
At the same time Butler President Kim Krull stated, “We will not raise the mill levy for the Andover consolidation.For the past two years, we’ve set aside funds to be used for this purpose.”

(Read more: Augusta Gazette)

Topeka officials look at adding ‘citizen layer’ to evaluating allegations of police misconduct

Topeka’s city government is looking at creating a job in city manager Brent Trout’s office for a civilian employee whose duties would include playing a role in investigating reports of police misconduct, particularly those involving use of force, city officials said Thursday.

Trout was still trying to determine exactly how the arrangement would work and how the position would be funded, he said as he and Mayor Michelle De La Isla held their monthly news conference at City Hall.

Police Chief Bill Cochran said he had personally suggested the arrangement, which is similar to one the city of Denver has in place.

“I think at this point, citizens are expecting us to do something,” Cochran told a Topeka Capital-Journal reporter after the news conference.

Harvey County rates transportation priorities

The Board of Harvey County commissioners reviewed transportation priorities Monday in preparation for a presentation for the Joint Legislative Vision Task Force meeting to be held Oct. 4 in Newton.

County Administrator Anthony Swartzendruber said it was important for south-central Kansas counties to present a united front to the task force. Otherwise, the region will continue to lose out to northeast Kansas for projects getting state funding.

Commissioner George “Chip” Westfall will present the region’s priority list to the task force. Those included improvements to the US-50 and Meridian Road; construction of an exit that will allow westbound traffic on US-50 to travel directly onto northbound I-135; and reconstruction of the 36th Street and I-135 interchange.

(Read more: Newton Now)