Municipal News & Jobs

Kansas Municipal News

Wichita Fire Dept. introduces new rescue dog

Wichita firefighters Thursday introduced their department’s new rescue dog.

Sailor is working for the Wichita Fire Department with her handler after graduating from Ground Zero, an emergency training facility in Oklahoma.

The pair will work together on search-and-rescue efforts in disaster situations.

“She only indicated on live human scent,” Sailor’s handler, Wichita Fire Department Captain Chad Winton explains about the dog and how she’ll help the department. “When she find that individual, she will stay with them and continue to bark until I come up and reward her and locate that victim.”

(Read more: KWCH News)

Downtown bike-share program doubling in size with 100 more bicycles, new locations

The downtown Wichita bike-share program that launched last year is more than doubling its size with additional locations and more bicycles.

Bike Share ICT is adding 100 more bicycles and 24 new locations in the coming weeks, said Becky Tuttle, community development director for Greater Wichita YMCA. The expansion is funded through a contribution from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas and the Wichita Community Foundation. “Bike Share ICT has had a tremendous impact on the bike and pedestrian culture of our city,” Mayor Jeff Longwell said in a release. “I love seeing more and more people riding bikes, and I hope the success of this program will continue to spread the love for biking in our community.”

(Read more: Wichita Eagle)

More jobs means more than better pay to some Kansans

More jobs and better pay coming their way, that was the conclusion of the annual jobs forecast from Wichita State’s Center for Economic Development and Business Research Thursday. “I’m actually optimistic about the job outlook,” said Jeremy Hill, director of the Center for Economic Development and Business Research behind the forecast. For the last few years he’s been pessimistic about job growth and Kansas has lost jobs. But now, he says, things are turning around. “It doesn’t mean we’re going to grow a lot. But I think it’s actually a positive sign.”

(Read more: KAKE – News)

Merriam celebrating inaugural Merriam Drive Live this weekend

The inaugural Music Fest Merriam Drive Live is set for Saturday, Oct. 6.

Downtown Merriam will turn into a street and lawn party with live music on two stages. Plus, festivalgoers can enjoy a touch-a-truck and beer garden as well as food trucks, yard games — including Connect 4, corn hole and giant Jenga — and other kids activities. Crafters and farmers market vendors will also be there for visitors to get their shopping done.

McPherson residents might snag a free pizza with a properly functioning smoke alarm

McPherson’s Domino’s Pizza, 719 N. Main St., and the National Fire
Protection Association are teaming up with the McPherson City Fire Department to promote fire safety during Fire Prevention Week on Oct. 7-13.

From 11 a.m until 7 p.m. this upcoming Monday and Tuesday anyone who orders a Domino’s pizza may be randomly selected and surprised at the door when their pizza
arrives aboard a fire engine. If the smoke alarms in the home are found to be working, their order is free.

If the alarms are not working, the firefighters will replace them or install new batteries.

Goddard STAR bond project finally a reality?

The starting gun finally may be sounding for real on the long-awaited $25.4 million Goddard STAR Bond Development.
The city council on Monday approved a fourth amendment to the development that offers the best promise yet to jumpstart the project, which has been on the drawing board for five years.

The amendment assigns master developer rights for five years from Goddard Destination Development to Goddard Sports, LLC, a company owned by Wichita entrepreneur Rodney Steven. The agreement calls for construction on Phase I of the development to begin no later than Dec. 31, 2018.

“They are ready to begin, and I don’t have any inclination at all that this date will be missed,” city administrator Brian Silcott told council members.

Amtrak will run Southwest Route as it is for at least a year

Amtrak officials say its Southwest Chief route, which stops in Topeka, Newton, Hutchinson, Dodge City and Garden City, will continue to operate as normal for at least the next year.

Republican U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran of Kansas made the announcement Wednesday in news release after a hearing before the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee.

The Southwest Chief line runs for 2,300 miles between Chicago and Los Angeles. Amtrak officials said in June they were considering using buses along the route in parts of Kansas, New Mexico and Arizona.

Moran said during Wednesday’s hearing that Amtrak officials committed to continuing operation as it currently is along the entire route at least through the current federal fiscal year, which ends Sept. 30, 2019.

(Read more: KOAM – Local News)

Mission residents urge council to pass non-discrimination ordinance with protections for LGBTQ residents, employees

Mission residents came out Wednesday night in overwhelming support of a nondiscrimination ordinance to extend legal protections to their LGBTQ neighbors and city employees.

Councilmember Sollie Flora introduced the ordinance that would make discrimination against a number of classifications, including LGBTQ individuals, illegal. LGBTQ residents and city employees are not currently given legal protection from discrimination under state or federal law.

The ordinance is reflective of the city’s values, Flora said Wednesday.

Sedgwick County to investigate itself on secret personnel matter

Following a closed-door session and cryptic pronouncements from the bench, a divided Sedgwick County Commission has decided to hire outside counsel to conduct an investigation of personnel matters within the county.

Commissioners declined to state the reason for the investigation, but sources within county government have previously told The Eagle that some commissioners have been concerned about a high rate of turnover among department heads who report to County Manager Michael Scholes.

The decision to launch the investigation came Wednesday after a half-hour meeting of commissioners behind closed doors.

(Read more: Politics & Government News |)

Marysville considers change in downtown zoning

Marysville City Council is eyeing a change in zoning of Marysville’s central business district to allow for apartment development in the future.

City inspector Dave Richardson told council members at their Sept. 24 meeting that Marysville Planning Commission is considering a new zoning district for downtown buildings that currently are prohibited from having ground-floor residences.

Richardson said the change could offer more options for use of vacant buildings that once housed businesses and professional offices in the downtown area.

Current city code allows for second-story residences, such as apartments and lofts, in buildings along Center and Broadway, but not on the main floor.

(Read more: The Marysville Advocate)

Wellington City officials not happy with Dollar Tree’s rush to pave 17th Street

Developers involved in the Dollar Tree project paved 17th Street north of the new store over the weekend, and Wellington city officials are not real happy with the situation.

As part of the overall agreement, the developer was supposed to do that project, but they were also to allow the city to inspect the work as it proceeded and they were to meet certain specifications. City officials discovered on Monday the work had been done over the weekend. Dollar Tree officials are targeting for an opening date of Oct. 25.

City Manager Shane Shields told the council at Tuesday’s meeting that he and other city officials are going to get information from a consultant and see what their options are moving forward. Shields, in his report at the end of the meeting, said the developers agreement says the project is subject to specifications listed by the city. They have sent the developer a notice to stop work on the project until it is resolved.

(Read more: Sumner NewsCow)

Statewide opioid response includes more resources in western Kan.

In response to the estimated $30 million dollars in grants being awarded to several state agencies in Kansas from the Federal government for use in battling opioid and substance use disorders, Governor Jeff Colyer, M.D. today announced his coordinated effort to ensure those funds are targeted toward addressing prevention and treatment of substance use disorders in Kansas. Western Kansas is specifically targeted for more telehealth resources and Oxford Houses, self-run, self-supported residential recovery programs.

(Read more: Hays Post)

Official: Economic development is a regional issue

A growing regional economy is a benefit to all, including Derby’s residents and business owners.

That was among the many points John Waltner of the Regional Economic Area Partnership, or REAP, made during a recent presentation in Derby before the City Council.

The cliche statement may be that “the rising tide raises all boats,” but it is appropriate, he said. Waltner, who retired as County Administrator of Harvey County in 2017, also served as mayor of Hesston for nearly 25 years. Derby is part of REAP’s board of directors and is represented by council member Tom Keil and

City Manager Kathy Sexton.

As part of his job in dealing with REAP’s member relations, Waltner has a mission to visit the REAP member cities and counties to provide an update and to hear questions or concerns.

(Read more: Derby News | derbyinformer.com)

Derby Recreation Commission receives $5,000 grant

A $5,000 grant from the Kansas Recreation and Parks Association may soon assist in displaying news and health tips from the Derby Recreation Commission throughout the city.

In efforts to promote patient health and partner with local healthcare providers, the DRC plans to use the funds to add electronic video communication kiosks. Derby Recreation Commission marketing director Mykalynn Penny said, however, that after evaluating costs, they are now looking at displaying the information on televisions instead.

The plan is to add three to five displays. Each screen would have approximately 10 slides and seven of them would be from the DRC. Penny shared that they’d include information on health and wellness, education information as well as fitness programs available at the Derby Recreation Center.

(Read more: Derby News | derbyinformer.com)

Leavenworth Commissioners discuss amended Port Authority agreement

When they met Tuesday, Leavenworth city commissioners discussed proposed changes to the 1969 agreement that established the Leavenworth County Port Authority.

As currently written, the agreement calls for members of the Port Authority’s governing body to jointly be appointed by the Leavenworth City Commission and Leavenworth County Commission.

But the County Commission has proposed changing the appointment process for the economic development organization. Under a proposed amended agreement, the County Commission would be the only entity that approves members of the Port Authority board in the future.

County commissioners approved of the amended agreement in July.

But Leavenworth City Manager Paul Kramer said the agreement needs to be ratified by both the County Commission and City Commission.

(Read more: Leavenworth Times)

Overland Park council makes it official: Farmers Market staying put

It took less than a minute Monday night for the Overland Park City Council to finally settle months of debate over whether to move the Farmers Market into a downtown park.

No, the council said. The Farmers Market will not relocate to Santa Fe Commons Park. With that unanimous voice vote, council members gave the go-ahead to city staff to put the question behind them and begin working with consultants on the finer points of a redesign for the park, which is soon to be renamed Thompson Park.

Chanute negotiates sale of former Spirit building to cabinet manufacturer

Chanute commissioners negotiated Tuesday evening with a manufacturer interested in repurchasing the building at 615 W. Cherry, and will consider action at next week’s meeting.

Jim Caldwell, owner of Hi-Lo and Bridgewood Custom Cabinets, said he wants to attend an auction next week to purchase equipment for the plant, which would expand the Bridgewood operations. Caldwell is making an offer of $400,000 to purchase the 615 W. Cherry building from the city. He is also requesting incentives of a reduction of dollar-for-dollar for equipment purchased for the building, and $5,000 for each new job created. He said after Tuesday’s special commission meeting that the job creation incentive is similar to one offered to Xcursion pontoon boats.

(Read more: The Chanute Tribune)

CORRECTED: Manager search to commence in Winfield

CORRECTION: Any early title incorrectly mentioned “Wellington”. That should have stated “Winfield”. We apologize for the error!

With Jeremy Willmoth no longer manager for the City of Winfield, the city commission will soon begin looking for a replacement.

Winfield Mayor Greg Thompson said the commission’s first order of business is to find an interim city manager. Interviews will begin in the next couple of weeks. The interim manager could end up being someone who is already employed by the city, said Thompson.

“(The commission hasn’t) talked about it a great deal,” Thompson said about finding an interim. “But obviously this is where our focus needs to be at this point.”

The commission could call on consultants to help with hiring a permanent manager, which they did in 2016 when replacing former manager Warren Porter. The governing body might also consider other sources of help, said Thompson.

Parsons looks at options for utility fund rate hike

Although a rate increase is certain to be implemented soon, Parsons city commissioners are still trying to decide exactly how to increase revenue in the stormwater utility fund.

During 2019 budget planning in the summer, city staff recommended that the stormwater rate for residential customers be raised from $3.50 per month to either $4.50 or $5. Commercial rates under that plan would be raised by the same amount, from $4.50 per month to either $5.50 or $6, but city commissioners now think commercial utility customers should shoulder more of the burden because their larger buildings and parking lots create more stormwater runoff into the city’s drainage system.

During a Thursday work session, City Manager Debbie Lamb presented the commission with 11 scenarios, ranging from keeping the two rates the same to raising the residential rate to $5 and the commercial rate to $10. The latter would raise an additional $109,194 annually for the stormwater fund.

(Read more: Parsons Sun)

Sedgwick County Zoo unveils new 25-year master plan

Sedgwick County Zoo has a new 25-year master plan that includes a water park, an aquarium, a hotel and an African savanna.
By Bo Rader

(Read more: Local News |)

Valley Center considering outdoor exercise equipment

The Valley Center Recreation Commission is considering the installation of an outdoor workout circuit with up to six pieces of equipment at the McCay Family Soccer Complex. The stations would include three stationary pieces of equipment and three that have moving parts. The equipment is designed to use a person’s body as the weight resistance.

Cost for the equipment and installation is just over $37,000.

(Read more: Area | derbyinformer.com)

Clearwater fire chief steps down from post, volunteer firefighters resign

The fire chief for the City of Clearwater stepped down from his post Tuesday night. The move followed an emergency meeting at City Hall. With the resignations of the fire chief and other firefighters in the city, Clearwater will now have to rely on outside communities for emergency response.

(Read more: KWCH News)

Fort Scott plans to work with Bourbon County to find health care solutions

City officials are putting plans in motion to address the impact of the city losing its hospital by the end of the year.

City Manager Dave Martin talked to the Fort Scott City Commission Tuesday about working together with Bourbon County officials on potential solutions after Mercy Hospital Fort Scott officials announced Monday plans for the hospital to close by Dec. 31. Martin said he, Director of Economic Development Rachel Pruitt and Community Development Director Robert Uhler have been contacted by some people about the future of services currently provided by Mercy. He emphasized the need to work with the county on the future of health care in the community.

“We want to partner with the county to save health care here,” he said. “We’re working on a fast timeline.” During discussion later in the meeting, Mayor Jolynne Mitchell said “it will take our whole village and community to overcome what we’re facing right now.”

(Read more: Fort Scott Tribune)

Bourbon County Commissioners discuss impact of hospital closing

The upcoming closing of Mercy Hospital Fort Scott was announced the same day Jody Hoener punched the clock for the first time as Bourbon County’s economic development director.

On Tuesday, commissioners said the announcement means the newly created economic development director position is more important than ever. “It’s a very sad day for Bourbon County with the closing of the Fort Scott hospital,” Commission Chairman Lynne Oharah said. “Our hearts go out to the employees that are affected because of this dramatic change in their lifestyles.

“It’s going to be up to the county and the city to move forward with a plan that will benefit Bourbon County. So we just have to take the news as we’ve got it and we’re going to have to move forward.”

“Out biggest nightmare was realized yesterday,” Second District Commissioner Jeff Fischer said. “There’s challenges ahead.”

(Read more: Fort Scott Tribune)

Garden City airport eyeing new terminal

The Garden City Commission unanimously approved a request for the consideration of funds for the construction of a new terminal at Garden City Regional Airport, a project that would result in an larger, updated facility that would allow the airport to accommodate larger aircrafts.

The request, the Federal Aviation Administration Supplemental Appropriation Project Request for fiscal years 2018-2020, potentially could secure $20 million for the $26.85 million terminal construction project. Should the city receive the funding, it still must finance or find outside payment for the remaining $6.85 million, said Rachelle Powell, director of aviation at Garden City Regional Airport.

Mayor Roy Cessna said the city has looked into enhancing the terminal for some time, and had long looked for ways to bring in larger airplanes and more airlines. The first step, he said, was a larger terminal.

Harvey County trying new approach to limit health costs

The Board of Harvey County Commissioners approved changes Monday morning to the Harvey Healthy Rewards wellness program designed to get higher participation among county employees.

Health Department Director Lynnette Redington said changes made by the wellness team encouraged more physical activity. She suggested allowing employees’ spouses to join the program.

“That is a huge addition this year,” she said.

Commission Chairman Randy Hague said spouses should be on the plan because their health affected the county’s insurance.

County Administrator Anthony Swartzendruber said staff talked about possible changes that could limit the cost of health care. He said larger counties had clinics in their buildings where employees see a doctor and not have the visit billed to the insurance provider. He also said it was too late in the year for the county to consider such a change in 2019.

(Read more: Newton Now)

Miami County courthouse to undergo repairs to water-damaged plaster

A plaster restoration expert who helped restore Kansas City’s historic Midland Theater has been contracted to repair plaster damage in the stairwells, the courtroom and two offices of the Miami County Courthouse.

Miami County commissioners voted unanimously Sept. 26 to hire Brad Bruce of Kansas City, Kan., to complete the restoration for $13,420.

During a study session earlier that day, County Administrator Shane Krull described water damage to the plaster on the third-floor ceiling of the west and east stairwells. Plaster from the east stairwell fell three floors to the ground level. The damage occurred on a weekend, and no one was injured.

(Read more: The Miami County Republic)

Lawrence City Commission voices concerns about validity of community survey on police

While some Lawrence city commissioners said the results of a survey gauging the community’s interactions with and perceptions of Lawrence police were important to consider, they also expressed disappointment and frustration with the consultant’s methodology in conducting the survey.

The city hired Allegro Training & Consulting and paid the firm $20,000 to complete the survey. Vice Mayor Lisa Larsen said she is a big believer in looking at statistics, but pointed out that one version of the consultant’s own report states that the survey is not statistically valid because it doesn’t have a representative sample of the population.

“I want to see data that will help us move forward with our policing in Lawrence, but when I see sentences in here that say it is not a statistically valid cross-section of Lawrence, it’s hard for me to take that data seriously,” Larsen said.

Reno County Commission considering changes to economic policy

The Reno County Commission is considering a policy that would require businesses to meet certain conditions if they want incentives from the county. This policy would also apply to businesses that create five to nine jobs.

County Administrator Gary Meagher told the commission Tuesday that, for those companies, they would pay 50 percent of what the county pays companies that plan to create 10 or more jobs.

In every case, the minimum wage criteria and cash incentives per job created would apply. Some on the commission didn’t like limiting small businesses or those in a small community from only getting 50 percent and suggested at least going to 75 percent of what is paid to those who create 10 jobs or more.

No decision was made on the county economic policy Tuesday, but it could come back in the next couple of weeks for final adoption.

(Read more: Hutch Post)

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)