Municipal News & Jobs

Kansas Municipal News

Great Bend’s newly-designed disc golf course grand opening Oct. 23

Everyone is invited to the grand opening of the newly-redesigned disc golf course on October 23 from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. The Grand Opening Celebration will include a Putting and Long Drive Challenges, a Disc Golf Tournament, and Eric McCabe, Professional Disc Golf World Champion will be on hand to conduct a “How to Clinic” for the novice or local disc golf enthusiasts. A disc golf tournament will follow the ribbon cutting ceremony with local disc golf enthusiasts on hand to assist anyone who signs up for the Disc Golf Tournament. The Disc Golf Course was originally designed in 2005 by the Chamber’s Leadership Class. This project was funded in part by the Great Bend Recreation Commission and Golden Belt Community Foundation with assistance of replanting of grass and landscaping by the City of Great Bend.

(Read more: Great Bend Post)

Businesses to address domestic violence through partnership with Topeka mayor’s task force

Local businesses and the YWCA Center for Safety and Empowerment are partnering with the Mayor’s Task Force Against Domestic Violence to reach more survivors in the workplace.

The task force’s corporate engagement subcommittee will support businesses in reaching survivors through education, outreach and services.

Sixteen years ago, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas established Shield Against Violent Environments, or SAVE, said Marlou Wegener, manager of community relations.

“We recognize the impact that domestic violence has on the workplace and that while at work, that may be the only time the survivor feels safe or has the opportunity to take action,” she said. The mayor’s task force on domestic violence launched in March.

Mayor Michelle De La Isla said the group has been engaged in identifying root causes of domestic violence and participating in the family peace initiative, which helps perpetrators understand their behavior.

Chanute stalls on offer to purchase building

Chanute city commissioners failed to approve a deal Monday evening for the sale of an industrial building after negotiating with a buyer last week.

The proposed deal to sell the building at 615 W. Cherry to Bridgewood Custom Cabinets failed 2-2 Monday evening.

Potential buyer Jim Caldwell of Hi-Lo Industries and Bridgewood increased his offer on the building to $500,000 and negotiated with commissioners to cap credits for equipment and job creation.

Caldwell previously offered $350,000 for the building, and sought an equal match of credit for the cost of equipment he planned to purchase this week, setting a date limit for the offer. Caldwell also sought an incentive of $5,000 for each new job created. They agreed to cap the equipment credit at $400,000, with the job creation credits covering up to the rest of the amount for the building.

Commissioners Phil Chaney and Randy Galemore voted against the deal, and Commissioner Tim Fairchild abstained because Caldwell is a banking customer of his.

Chaney said part of his concern was a previous vote to get a formal appraisal on the building. Galemore agreed on that point, and said the job and equipment incentives take the investment to zero.

“We’re giving it all back,” Galemore said.

“My main thing is job creation,” Chaney said, noting that the commission owed it to earlier potential buyers to get an appraisal.

“I want to know what it’s worth and what we’re getting into,” he said.

In contingency move, Salina saves money on downtown overhead structures

In a contingency move for the Downtown Streetscape Project, the Salina City Commission voted 4-1 on Monday to approve a change order that will save $122,464 in crosswalk overhead structure costs.

Mike Schrage, interim city manager, said a portion of the change order, which allows the city to make changes to the base contract, changes the supporting columns for the overhead structures, which were suppose to be steel poles with architectural pre-cast colored panels to solid concrete columns.

The change from a solid concrete column from a steel column will resemble the original design.

The second part of the change order will remove the most intricate and expensive panel of the structure.

The original design showed four panels of similar pattern but with larger or smaller openings. The panel that was removed required the most cutting.

This change saved approximately $62,464.

(Read more: News – Salina Journal)

Cheers Finney County: Proponents tout ballot initiative’s benefits

During Tuesday’s Noon Lion’s Club meeting, former Garden City Commissioner Chris Law talked about his support for a ballot measure that will change liquor by the drink rules in Finney County to get rid of a percentage-based food requirement for establishments that serve alcohol.

Law and other community members are promoting the “Cheers Finney County – Vote Yes Campaign” ballot initiative.

On Nov. 6, Finney County voters will get to decide whether to eliminate a food sales requirement on businesses that offer liquor by the drink. Currently, businesses that sell liquor by the drink are mandated to have 30 percent or their revenue come from food sales.

With the growth of craft brewing and distilling, the goal is to open the playing field for these new industries in Finney County.

(Read more: Greater Garden City » Feed)

Mark Hall Named City Manager in Coffeyville

Mark Hall has been selected City Manager for the City of Coffeyville. In a unanimous vote the Board of Commissioners approved an employment agreement with Hall at their October 9 Commission meeting. Hall most recently was employed as City Manager for the City of Liberal.

“The commission spent considerable time reviewing resumes and conducting interviews the past few weeks,” said Mayor Paul Bauer. “Mark Hall has been involved in city government for 18 years, and we believe he has the experience necessary to hit the ground running and move our community forward.”

(Read more: Coffeyville, KS – News Flash)

Great Bend tennis court improvements in store for Veterans Memorial Park

The Great Bend Recreation Commission is coordinating a united effort with the City of Great Bend, USD 428 school district, and Barton Community College in moving forward with tennis court improvements of resurfacing and repairing eight courts located at Veteran’s Memorial Park.

USD 428 Superintendent Khris Thexton says the current surface needs repairs to ensure a safe playing environment, and the collection of entities will financially come together. The Rec Commission Board approved a bid from Mid-American Courtworks from Wichita to resurface the eight tennis courts at Vet’s Park. The $48,668 will also reinforce the expansion joints on the courts.

(Read more: Great Bend Post)

Lawrence City Commission to discuss reducing penalties for marijuana possession

Lawrence city commissioners will soon consider whether the city should decrease its penalties for marijuana possession, which can include up to a $1,000 fine and mandatory drug counseling for first-time offenders.

As part of its work session Tuesday, the commission will review the city’s current ordinance regarding marijuana possession and receive a proposal to make the penalties less severe.

Read more: LJworld.com.

Amtrak vows to keep the Southwest Chief rolling through Colorado, Kansas and New Mexico — at least for another year

Amtrak is vowing to keep its historic Southwest Chief train route rolling — as-is — through Colorado, Kansas and New Mexico for at least another year following pressure from Congress.
The national rail carrier was considering suspending rail service between Dodge City, Kan., and Albuquerque, and replacing it with charter buses as early as the start of 2019. That proposition stemmed from what Amtrak says are millions of dollars in needed repairs to a 219-mile section of track between Trinidad and Santa Fe that it can’t afford.
Advocates of the line said busing would put the nail in the Southwest Chief’s coffin by causing a steep drop off in ridership.

Looking to improve accommodations for motorists, cyclists and pedestrians alike, Lenexa kicks off Complete Streets program

Lenexa is embarking on a study of its streets, sidewalks and trails to develop a blueprint for future transportation infrastructure.

Lenexa and Olsson & Associates hosted an open house Wednesday, Oct. 3, at Lenexa Public Market to kick off the city’s Complete Streets program. During the open house, residents came by to provide feedback on what roads, sidewalks and trails they use, and where they find gaps in the system.

Jeff McKerrow, an engineer with Olsson & Associates, a contractor for the study, said the kickoff starts the process of collecting feedback from Lenexa residents on their transportation habits and needs.

“We’re going to let people have that opportunity to hear a little bit about what we’re doing forward, but also to tell us what they see today in the community,” McKerrow said. “Where do they walk? Where do they bike? Where would they like to walk or like to bike but can’t? What barriers do they see out there that keep them from doing that?”

Barton County Commissioners sign off on legislative agendas; tax lid at top of list

Barton County is a member of both the Kansas Association of Counties and the Kansas Legislative Policy Group. Both organizations have established their Legislative Policy Statements for the upcoming legislative session.

Barton County Administrator Phil Hathcock presented what the KAC has set as their priorities for Commissioners on Monday. Commissioner Alicia Straub serves as Vice President of the KLPG, a group of 37 western Kansas counties who represent the interests of this part of the state. The KLPG recently met in Dodge City to set their legislative agenda and Straub says the tax lid was at the top of their list.

(Read more: Great Bend Post)

Mission council to approve Broadmoor final design plan

Mission councilmembers last week agreed to consider the final key concepts for the Broadmoor redesign project at its next council meeting.

The city project is an overhaul of Broadmoor Street between Johnson Drive and Martway Street and includes full-depth pavement replacement, stormwater system upgrades, curb replacement, sidewalk improvements and replacement of the traffic signal at Johnson Drive and Broadmoor, according to Mission city records.

Emily Randel, assistant to the city administrator, told the council in a community development committee meeting Oct. 3 that the resolution listing key concepts in the redesign includes one revision in project costs, bringing the total up to $1.25 million but keeping the project under the original budget of $1.3 million.

Brenda Peters appointed interim Winfield city manager

The Winfield City Commission appointed Brenda Peters, Winfield city clerk and finance director, as interim city manager Monday night.

Peters was chosen after an executive session of over two hours during a special commission meeting Monday night. The appointment was announced via a message signed by Mayor Greg Thompson and commissioners Phil Jarvis and Ron Hutto.

“We would like to thank all the employees for their past and continued support,” the message said. “The search for a full-time city manager will begin immediately.”

Interest in lost city of Etzanoa grows as Ark City plans to accommodate tourists

During a recent work week, Wichita State anthropology professor Donald Blakeslee took two calls from England. The first, an interview with a science writer. The second, a call for an English radio show. Al Jazeera television from the United Arab Emirates is talking about coming to pay Blakeslee a visit this fall. The Travel Channel has talked about coming in the spring.

They all want to talk about one thing: The lost city of Etzanoa, an ancient massive city of Plains Indians near present-day Arkansas City. Blakeslee’s research over the past three years has confirmed the existence and location of the city, and changed what we’ve always thought about how the Plains Indians lived.

“I don’t have time to get my regular work done,” Blakeslee said.
Sandy Randel, the director of the Cherokee Strip Land Rush Museum in Arkansas City can relate. Her work load has doubled with half her time spent giving speeches about Etzanoa and hosting tours of the site on weekends. Tours are booked solid though the end of the year. But interest in Etzanoa is mushrooming faster than Blakeslee, and others in Arkansas City, can keep up with. Arkansas City manager Nick Hernandez cautions that it’s going to take time. He says that civic and education leaders are trying to do their part to make sure the area is ready.

In the past month, a governing committee was formed that includes the city of Arkansas City, Cowley College, Wichita State University and the Etzanoa Conservancy. The idea behind the council is that every interest is represented, from the landowners who live around the area, to the research community and to the tourists who want to visit the area.

Pam Crain, head of the Arkansas City Convention and Visitors Bureau, agrees with Hernandez.

“It’s beyond exciting. It can be so huge, to be honest. That’s why we are taking our time. So that we can do do it correctly,” Crain said.

(Read more: Wichita Eagle)

Here’s why the city and county want to spend $50,000 commissioning USS Wichita

Wichita City Hall and Sedgwick County government are moving full steam ahead on a plan to donate $50,000 of public money to the commissioning of a new Navy warship that will bear the city’s name on its stern.

The USS Wichita recently passed its initial sea trials and is scheduled to be commissioned as an official Navy warship in January.

The city and county money is to be combined with private donations from local companies and service clubs to help outfit the vessel to be more accommodating of the approximately 100 sailors who will be its crew. “When the Navy builds a ship they build it to be a war-fighting ship, but don’t put anything else on the ship to make it so that it’s really conducive to having a crew on board,” said County Commission Chairman David Dennis.

The Wichita is a “littoral combat ship,” a small but muscular vessel planned to deliver firepower in shallow water near coastlines. The design is modular, so it can be easily refitted for different missions.

(Read more: Politics & Government News |)

Meritex looking to ready former limestone mining site in Lenexa for future redevelopment

The Lenexa City Council last week unanimously approved plans to hold a Nov. 6 public hearing to consider whether to approve a proposed reclamation tax-increment financing (TIF) project plan for the former Meritex strip mine in the Ridgeview Mining TIF District.

The TIF project plan pertains to about 38.7 acres south of Prairie Star Parkway, west of Britton Street, east of a future addition to Ridgeview Road and north of a future addition to 99th Street, according to a Tuesday memo to the council from Assistant City Attorney Sean McLaughlin.

The Meritex Co. mined limestone at the site when it was a functioning strip mine, Senior Vice President Bill Seymour said in an interview. Meritex Lenexa LLC, a subsidiary of the company, is the project’s developer.

Fight over new home design guidelines becomes central in Prairie Village mayoral race — and it’s gotten personal

The set of new home design regulations approved on an 11-2 vote by the Prairie Village City Council last week has emerged as a bright dividing line between mayoral candidates Eric Mikkelson and Serena Schermoly. And it’s gotten personal.

Schermoly and Ted Odell were the dissenting votes on the new guidelines when they came before the governing body for final approval after months of deliberation last Monday. Schermoly also made an unsuccessful attempt to amend the guidelines to exempt existing homeowners from key provisions on green space and massing.

Mikkelson, on the other hand, has been a strong proponent of the Phase 2 guidelines and cheered their passage during a candidate forum last week, saying they would preserve the character of neighborhoods.

Lawrence City Commission to discuss raising age to buy tobacco products

City leaders will soon consider whether Lawrence should join more than a dozen other cities in Kansas that have banned the sale of tobacco products to people under 21.

During its work session Tuesday, the City Commission will begin discussion of a Tobacco 21 proposal. The measure would prohibit the sale of all tobacco products, including e-cigarettes and other devices that vaporize nicotine liquid, to people under 21, but would not ban the use of tobacco products for those ages 18-20.

Read more: LJworld.com.

Taking the next step for turf decision at the Great Bend Sports Complex

The City of Great Bend took the next step in determining whether or not turf will be installed at the baseball and softball fields at the Great Bend Sports Complex.

Mayor Joe Andrasek appointed a committee at last week’s meeting to research the matter more in depth to present their findings to the rest of the council. There has been a push from community members, mostly coaches, to place turf at the Sports Complex to prevent rainouts and continue to keep the complex a topnotch facility.

Great Bend transferred $1.3 million into a fund for the possibility of installing turf at the fields, but Francis mentioned at a previous meeting he does not expect the cost to be that high.

(Read more: Great Bend Post)

Neosho County moves ahead with health department grant

The Neosho County Health Department will move ahead with a $67,200 grant after the county commission gave its approval Friday.

Commissioner David Bideau reportedly talked to a state official Thursday and determined the action could move forward in compliance with the state’s cash basis law.

The US Department of Agriculture approved up to $67,200 to be reimbursed to the county for renovations of the Health Department offices in Chanute. The funds reportedly needed to be obligated no later than Sept. 30 for their intended purpose, but now officials say the project can go ahead despite missing the deadline.

Health Department Administrator Theresa Starr has argued that the offices at 320 E. Main in Chanute were in need of more space. The county rents the privately-owned property. At one time, the county purchased a building as a new location, but it was later re-sold and now houses Brenda’s Dance.

(Read more: The Chanute Tribune)

Spillway repair planned for Clark State Fishing Lake in Clark County

The Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism (KDWPT) is planning a spillway repair project at Clark State Fishing Lake – a popular and scenic fishing spot in southwest Kansas. The lake is nestled in a rugged canyon along Bluff Creek in northwestern Clark County about 9 miles south of Kingsdown.

The $1.6 million project is set to begin in December 2018 and will take about six months to complete – depending on weather conditions and any unforeseen issues.

The project is necessary to repair parts of the spillway that have deteriorated or been damaged. The intent is to maintain the lake’s prized fishery throughout the construction. However, the project will require lowering the lake level by 20-25 feet to relieve the hydraulic pressure of water in the soil pushing against the underside of the spillway floor and the side walls. The lake covers about 300 acres with a maximum depth of 36 feet deep when full. There will be about 160 surface acres and a maximum depth of about 15 feet after the drawdown, which should be adequate to maintain the fishery. If everything goes as planned, biologists don’t anticipate a significant impact to the fishery; however, staff will monitor the lake and modify management practices according to the duration of the drawdown, water depth and the runoff entering the lake after the repairs are complete.

(Read more: Hays Post)

Neosho County continues to hear both sides on wind energy project

Audience numbers have been up substantially since debate began over the Neosho Ridge wind energy project, and the public forum portion of Friday’s agenda had to be relocated to the larger courtroom to accommodate the crowd.

Opponents Shirley Dillinger-Estrada and her husband John Estrada moved to Neosho County two months ago from Arlington, Texas, before they found out about the project.

“I had a vision of where I wanted to live. I bought a view. I have a panoramic view of the countryside,” Dillinger-Estrada said. “Wind turbines were not part of the view in my life. If I wanted to live by a wind farm, I would have chosen to live in west Texas.”

“We didn’t buy this property to see our values go down,” John Estrada said.

Galesburg farmer Greg Brumgardt has signed a lease with Apex Clean Energy, the company constructing the electric generation project. He said the county should welcome the business, which he said would increase the tax base for the USD 101 school district. He said the district leads the state in ad valorem levy, and dropping farm prices will decrease valuations, requiring levy increases.

Brumgardt said the project would create jobs for young people.

“I don’t think it’s going to be 60-year-old fat guys climbing up and down these towers every day,” he said.

(Read more: The Chanute Tribune)

City council to discuss boosting Topeka’s visual appeal

The Topeka City Council on Tuesday will discuss proposed changes to city building design standards aimed at improving Topeka’s visual appeal. The city’s governing body, consisting of the nine council members and Mayor Michelle De La Isla, plans to hear a presentation but not act on proposed amendments to city zoning rules that would change building design and landscaping rules for new non-residential construction.

The proposed amendments have been encouraged by the Momentum 2022 campaign to enhance this community, the Land Use and Growth Management Plan 2040 the city adopted and a “visual appeal survey” city staff members conducted this year regarding building design and signs, according to a document in the agenda packet for Tuesday’s meeting.

“Staff has been applying the design standards informally to submitted commercial projects for the last couple of years,” the document said. “Generally speaking, most projects that are submitted are well designed. An important outcome of the new design standards will be to elevate the design of those projects that are typically not well designed.”

911 backup agreements in place for Cowley County Emergency Communications

Cowley County Emergency Communications continues to upgrade it services, director Doug Allison told county commissioners at their meeting this week.

CCEM has signed memorandums of agreement with Butler County, Sumner County and the Augusta Department of Safety to provide rollover and backup services for 911 calls and for Butler County Emergency Communications to provide rollover and backup services for Cowley County.

Allison said the agreements were signed at the request of the Kansas 911 Coordinating Council, which is upgrading Cowley County’s emergency communication system.

Salina utilizing ultrathin bonded asphalt surface (UBAS) maintenance

On Monday through October 12, APAC-Kansas, Inc., Shears Division of Salina will perform the ultrathin bonded asphalt surface (UBAS) maintenance on the following streets for the City of Salina, weather permitting. This type of preventative maintenance is fairly new to Salina but has been used to help extend the life of many roads around the State of Kansas. It consists of a thin, coarse aggregate hot mix over a special asphalt membrane similar to a chip seal but placed in one pass with a spray paver. The membrane prevents water intrusion and provides a superior bond to the old asphalt. The overlay can disperse water quickly off the surface, which reduces roadway spray from vehicles and provides greater visibility and traction in wet weather. UBAS has performed well for other cities and provides a good friction surface in wet weather. UBAS can be installed quickly, and asserts a longer life-span (8-10 years) than micro-surfacing (6-7 years).

(Read more: The Salina Post)

Gardner city water concerns still urgent

Gardner’s water woes dominated discussions during a city council meeting Oct. 1 with a consultant describing the current water situation in the city as urgent and fast approaching an emergency.
Jeffrey Klein, a project manager at Burns and McDowell, an engineering firm with vast experience in water projects, told the council that the city is running out of time, and the city may experience frequent shortages in the near future.
The company presented the city with several options to forestall shortages in the future including proposals to expand capacity from Hillsdale water reservoir, re-establishing Gardner Lake as a source and connecting the city’s system to Water One, the largest provider of water in the region. The city instituted a water restriction order on residents this summer and severely restricted sale of bulk water to residents of the surrounding unincorporated communities.
“Demand is outpacing supply and has moved from urgency to emergency,” he said adding that the city is projected to need 5 million gallons of water a day by 2020 and 7million gallons by 2027.

(Read more: Gardner News)

Mercy clinics to remain open under new ownership in Fort Scott, Pleasanton and Arma

The Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas (CHC/SEK) – a non-profit primary care system serving the nine counties of the most economically disadvantaged and least healthy region of Kansas – announced it will assume ownership of the Mercy clinics in Fort Scott, Pleasanton and Arma beginning Jan. 1.

“CHC/SEK entered into discussions with Mercy this summer about the need to maintain access to care and they were anxious to preserve the resources they had built in Bourbon and Linn counties,” said CHC/SEK CEO Krista Postai. “As an organization that had grown out of a faith-based health system, CHC/SEK shared their values and their commitment to providing quality, affordable care.”

“We both agreed it was the right thing to do,” Postai said, commending Mercy leadership for their efforts to ensure those they had served so long would continue to receive care from those they knew and trusted. “They are doing whatever they can to make this transition seamless.”

(Read more: Fort Scott Tribune)

Bourbon County begins exploring ambulance options

Bourbon County Commissioners are scurrying to find a replacement ambulance service after Mercy Hospital Fort Scott announced Monday it will close on Dec. 31.

On Wednesday, commissioners held a special meeting to discuss the direction they wish to take.

The meeting began with a 7-minute executive session to discuss information regarding a contract. After the session, commissioners voted to begin advertising immediately for bids for an ambulance service.

At the same time, commissioners agreed to also look at the feasibility of providing a county-owned ambulance service.

“We’ve already started the process with fact finding and financials,” Commission Chair Lynne Oharah said.

(Read more: Fort Scott Tribune)

El Dorado’s 1% sales tax on ballot next month

On the ballot in November:
“Shall the city retailers’ sales tax in the amount of one percent be extended for a period of five years from and after the first day of October 2019, in the City of El Dorado, Kansas to take effect on the first day of October 2019, with the first $600,000 to be allocated annually for street rehabilitation within the City of El Dorado, the next $1,650,000 to be allocated annually for property tax reduction, the next $100,000 to be allocated annually for a fund for economic development purposes, and with the balance being distributed per Ordinance G-1281, which retailers’ sales tax shall continue in full force and effect?“

(Read more: andoveramerican.com)

Pittsburg, KS Airport to Receive Infrastructure Improvements

The City of Pittsburg receives more than $600,000 in grants to improve the infrastructure at the Atkinson Municipal Airport. The City will pay for a portion of the projects, with grants coming from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT).

(Read more: KOAM – Local News)

Edgerton renews sheriff’s contract

Edgerton City Council approved a recommendation to renew an agreement with the Johnson County Sheriff’s Department for the law enforcement services for fiscal year 2019.
The agreement calls for the city to pay the sheriff’s department $310,459. a five percent increase from the $295,677 the city paid this year.
The agreement, outlined during the Sept. 27 council meeting, states that the sheriff’s department will provide services at the same level as those provided for the unincorporated area of the county. A fully manned patrol car will be available for the city and additional cars and personnel shall be available as needed.

(Read more: Gardner News)

Prairie Village set to reveal proposed solution to persistent flooding along Mission Road

In the span of just a few weeks last summer, torrential rains sent Brush Creek pouring over its banks in Prairie Village twice, threatening motorists on Mission Road and causing hundreds of thousands of dollars in damage to homes and property in the vicinity of the Village Shops and Village Presbyterian Church.

Now, the city of Prairie Village thinks it has a solution to the problem. Keith Bredehoeft, the city’s public works manager, told the city council this week that engineers believed they had devised a plan to mitigate the threat of such catastrophic flooding damage in the future. While he said he could not reveal specific details until next week’s meeting, Bredehoeft indicated that the plan calls for “widening and lowering the [creek] channel along with raising Mission Road…”

Kansas Attorney General Opinion 2018-14: Asset forfeiture funds used to pay salaries

Synopsis: Asset forfeiture funds credited to a special prosecutor’s trust fund pursuant to K.S.A. 2017 Supp. 60-4117(c)(3)(A) may be used to pay for salaries only if the county or district attorney or other governmental agency’s attorney determines the expenditure is for an appropriate and additional law enforcement and prosecutorial purpose, and the expenditure is supplemental to, but does not supplant, normal operating expenses. However, if such salary subsequently becomes a "normal operating expenditure," then such salary shall not be paid from the special prosecutor’s trust fund. Cited herein: K.S.A. 60-4102; K.S.A. 2017 Supp. 60-4107; 60-4117; K.S.A. 1993 Supp. 65-4173.

In effort to reduce no-shows, Lawrence Municipal Court will test having clerks call defendants with reminders

There are people who skip court on purpose. Sometimes repeatedly.

Then there are people who miss court because they forgot, or wrote down the wrong day or time.
Lawrence Municipal Court is going to try something new in hopes of reducing no-shows, at least in the latter category: phone call reminders of upcoming court dates.
The failure-to-appear rate at Lawrence Municipal Court isn’t good, and it’s been getting progressively worse in recent years, Lawrence Municipal Court Judge Scott Miller said.

Read more: LJworld.com.

Lawrence hopes to work with KU to research unified government; county still not interested

Lawrence’s city leaders resolved Tuesday to do further research into a unified city-county government, but a day later, Douglas County commissioners restated that they were not interested in the idea of unification.

The Lawrence City Commission, whose members had first brought up the topic with county commissioners at a Sept. 19 joint meeting of local governing bodies, discussed the issue again during its meeting Tuesday night and decided further research was needed.

Per a suggestion from City Manager Tom Markus, city staff will be asking the University of Kansas School of Public Affairs & Administration to study what it would take to unify the city and the county.

Markus said such a review would lay the groundwork for any attempt at unification that could happen in the future.

Read more: LJworld.com.

Lawrence leaders remove $1M insurance requirement for Airbnbs and other short-term rentals

City leaders decided that they will not require Airbnb and other short-term rental operators to carry insurance.

When the Lawrence City Commission voted Sept. 19 to require permits and licenses for short-term rentals, some said they were unsure about a $1 million insurance requirement and would like to to discuss it further. At its meeting Tuesday, the commission voted 4-1, with Commissioner Leslie Soden against, to strike that requirement from the regulations.

Read more: LJworld.com.

Douglas County to hear information on modular cells as possible solution to jail overcrowding

Douglas County Undersheriff Gary Bunting will provide county commissioners on Wednesday with information on the cost of installing portable, modular cell units at the county jail and will discuss the pros and cons of their use in addressing overcrowding.

Last month, Bunting shared with commissioners an Aug. 2 snapshot of the county’s inmate population that revealed that it had 244 people incarcerated on that one day, or 58 more people than the jail’s 186-bed capacity. The number was very similar to a Feb. 2 snapshot that counted 246 inmates. The earlier snapshot was released during the campaign for Proposition 1, which would have funded a $44 million jail expansion. County voters rejected that ballot initiative in May.

Read more: LJworld.com.

Pittsburg redevelops former smelting site

A former zinc-smelting property deemed unsafe and unusable for decades, is being put back into productive use thanks to a coordinated effort between the City of Pittsburg and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE). Cleanup efforts began this week at the previous Weir City Zinc Works site, located west of North Broadway Street in Pittsburg.

A coal-mining town fewer than 50 miles from the richest zinc mines in the United States, Pittsburg was once an ideal location for zinc smelting industries in the late 1800s. Although little is left of the zinc industry today, high levels of metal contamination left behind rendered these properties unsafe and unusable for many years. KDHE is working with Pittsburg and other communities across the state to restore the environment and promote the redevelopment of these properties.

(Read more: City of Pittsburg)

Was man fired by City of Olathe for belonging to motorcycle club?

An Olathe man has filed a lawsuit claiming he was unfairly fired by the city for belonging to a motorcycle club.

Larry Brown’s lawsuit was filed Wednesday in Johnson County District Court and seeks unspecified damages for his termination in October 2016. The lawsuit names as defendants the city, Mayor Michael Copeland, Police Chief Steven Menke, City Manager J. Michael Wilkes and then-chief information officer Shawn Whitcomb.

City officials said they had not yet seen the lawsuit and had no comment. “Mr. Brown alleges that he was terminated from his position with the City of Olathe not because of his failure to pass the additional background check but rather because he belonged to a motorcycle club,” the lawsuit says.

Southeast Kansas health center to take over Mercy clinics

Four Mercy-owned health clinics in the Kansas counties of Crawford, Bourbon and Linn will be taken over by the Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas, after Mercy announced earlier this week that it’s Fort Scott hospital location will close by the end of the year.

“CHC/SEK entered into discussions with Mercy this summer about the need to maintain access to care and they were anxious to preserve the resources they had built in Bourbon and Linn counties,” said Krista Postai, CEO of CHC/SEK, in a statement. “As an organization that had grown out of a faith-based health system, CHC/SEK shared their values and their commitment to providing quality, affordable care.”

Mercy announced Monday that it is closing its Fort Scott hospital — including inpatient services, the emergency department and ambulatory surgery — because of “declining patient numbers and shrinking reimbursement.”

(Read more: www.joplinglobe.com)

Shawnee County to spend $94K to make improvements to Rueger Park softball fields

Shawnee County commissioners made a move Thursday aimed at turning south Topeka’s Rueger Park Softball Complex into a facility capable of hosting national championship tournaments.

Commissioners Kevin Cook, Shelly Buhler and Bob Archer voted 3-0 to award a bid arranging for the county to pay $94,796 to the low bidder, Brown Midwest Commercial Construction, to make improvements to the four lighted softball fields in the park at 2801 S.W. Topeka Blvd.

The project will bring the infield playing surfaces “up to championship level play,” county parks and recreation director John Knight told commissioners in a recent memo.

Dodge City looks to install panhandling ordinance

City commissioners and officials have begun discussions on possibly implementing a panhandling ordinance similar to one that was put in at the city of Wichita.

The discussions stem from safety issues risen from ongoing panhandling between those that are seeking assistance and those giving assistance.

“We have been discussing generally the potential ordinances that address some of the safety concerns related to pedestrians transfer of gifts or donations between pedestrians and drivers or passengers of vehicles,” said city legal counsel Brad Ralph. “It generally follows the format that was passed in Wichita and I can say it will not be exactly like that ordinance but we have made additions and changes to that.”

Augusta City Council okays updates to airport leases

Augusta City staff, the City Attorney, and the Airport Advisory Board have been working several months on updating the lease agreements for T-Hangars, the Community hangar, and the tie-down spaces at the Augusta Municipal Airport.
Not only has the existing lease been in place for a long time and needs updated, but it also needs to address some current issues at the airport. Augusta Assistant City Manager Cody Sims explained the situation to council members at Monday night’s regular council meeting. “I contacted three other municipal airports and asked about updating leases…Updating leases does not happen very often,” Sims stated. Some of the new provisions to ensure that the City is getting the best use and return with the existing hangar space available at the airport, and to provide a consistent and equitable opportunity for the public to use the airport, include:

(Read more: El Dorado Times)

Great Bend finding out the expense of not having an engineer

As the Great Bend City Council approved the inspection services from Kirkham Michael for the 8th Street paving construction, they received a glimpse of the expense of not having an in-house engineer.

The project cost of the street construction will hit the City of Great Bend but the price tag will be reimbursed by the benefit district, those around 8th Street.

The inspection cost of $38,225 was accounted for, but councilmember Cory Urban noted that just one project is nearly half an annual salary of a city engineer.

(Read more: Great Bend Post)

Lenexa approves hearing date for public financing request on office project south of City Center

The Lenexa City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved holding a Nov. 6 public hearing to consider a redevelopment tax-increment financing (TIF) project plan for the Vantage Point office project in the Mining TIF District which would allow the developer to receive as much as $26.7 million in reimbursements for eligible project costs.

The TIF project plan covers about 32.5 acres at the northwest corner of Renner Boulevard and 93rd Street, according to a Tuesday memo from Assistant City Attorney Sean McLaughlin to the council. The developer is VP Lenexa LLC, a subsidiary of Wichita-based Vantage Point Properties Inc.