Municipal News & Jobs

Kansas Municipal News

Southeast Kansas task force discusses future plans for highways

A full house on Thursday greeted lawmakers and others serving on a taskforce gathering input for Kansas’ future transportation needs.

The Joint Legislative Transportation Vision Task Force is traveling the state to hear what roads need work and prioritize these projects in a future transportation plan. Two main coalitions presenting recommendations to the taskforce on Thursday supported expansion of US-169 and US-69. Other highways were discussed as well, including US-400 and US-160 in Labette County.

The US-169 coalition wants to see that highway expanded to four lanes from Kansas City to the Oklahoma border and see safety improvements on the dangerous stretch from Welda to Garnett. That 9.4-mile stretch has no shoulders, has ponds on either side of the road, and is in bad condition.

Rep. Jim Kelly, an Independence Republican, Trisha Purdon, Montgomery County Action Council executive director, Walter Wulf Jr., Monarch Cement Co. CEO and chairman of the board, Chuck Shively, Coffeyville public works director, and Christopher Weiner, Garnett city manager, discussed US-169. Others submitted written testimony. Purdon gave a detailed presentation about the need for the US-169 work. The road connects the eastern part of Kansas and Southeast Kansas to the global marketplace, she said. The Port of Catoosa at Tulsa also supports the highway expansion in Kansas, and Oklahoma is working on expanding US-169 from Tulsa to Kansas.

Purdon said there are 150,000 jobs along the US-169 corridor and 27,000 of those are manufacturing jobs.

“We know that’s one of the large segments of the Kansas economy,” she said.

(Read more: The Chanute Tribune)

Emporia raises minimum rental housing temperature

The Emporia City Commission has officially raised its minimum heating requirements for rental housing within the city limits from 60 degrees to 68 degrees.

According to Vice Mayor Jon Geitz, the city began looking into the minimum housing standards of other cities around the state and found Emporia’s heating requirements were much lower than average compared to the rest of the state.

“It has to have the ability to produce heat at least 68 degrees,” he said.

Community Services Officer Shelly Kelley had approached the city during its most recent study session, asking commissioners to consider this change. She said she believed it would “create a healthier, safer environment for individuals who are renting property in Emporia.”

(Read more: Emporia Gazette)

Douglas County leaders not interested in unified government but willing to review agreements with Lawrence

Lawrence mayor Stuart Boley’s proposal to explore merging the city and county governments didn’t go over well with Douglas County commissioners on Wednesday, but the county leaders said they were willing to review existing shared funding agreements with the city.

The discussion occurred at a two-hour joint meeting of the Douglas County Commission, Lawrence City Commission and Lawrence school board at the Douglas County Fairgrounds’ Flory Meeting Hall.
Boley brought up the subject of a unified government during time reserved for discussion of the city’s and county’s shared funding agreements for such things as the Dwayne Peaslee Technical Training Center, Lawrence-Douglas County Fire Medical and the Lawrence-Douglas County Health Department.

Olathe city officials vote to annex 118 acres

Olathe city officials are eliminating one of the largest remaining islands of unincorporated land within city limits as development in the surrounding area has begun to pick up.

The City Council on Tuesday voted unanimously to annex 118 acres south of the intersection of Kansas 7 and 119th Street. The land was one of 12 remaining Johnson County “enclaves” in the city.

The property currently consists of 11 lots, five of which have single-family homes, one has a business and one holds a church. The remaining lots are undeveloped.

A single lot of around an acre located in the middle of the annexation area will remain outside the city limits after planners determined it did not meet city requirements for annexation and the property owner didn’t respond to city offers for voluntary annexation.

Marion County commission hires interim EMS director Tuesday

The county commission announced Robert Church as interim director of Emergency Medical Services Tuesday.

He comes to Marion with 18 years experience as a paramedic. For the past year, Church worked in St. Luke Hospital. He spent the last eight years as a nurse, working for Via Christi Hospital in Wichita.

The decision was made Monday to offer him the position, commission chairman Dianne Novak said. Church was given 24 hours to accept, and did so at a special meeting Tuesday.

The announcement came two days before director Ed Debesis’ resignation took effect.

(Read more: HILLSBORO Star-Journal)

Changes in store for Derby as it approaches legal designation of “city of the first class”

As Derby’s population nears 25,000, the milestone is not just a marketing feature, it also is a legal one.

At that point, it becomes what is known in Kansas as a “city of the first class” and mandatory requirements kick in.

The state has three city classifications: first, second and third, each designated by population level. State officials can’t recall the last time it took place, but it has been decades at least. …

One significant impact of conversion, [City Attorney Jacque] Butler said, will be the voiding of most of Derby’s current charter ordinances.

That’s because the existing charter ordinances are tied to statutes governing cities of the second class.

(Read more: Derby News | derbyinformer.com)

Changes made to Derby’s traffic ordinance include handling DUI cases and littering from a vehicle

The City Council approved recommended changes updating Derby’s traffic codes. In Derby, misdemeanor cases are handled by city court whereas felony cases are undertaken by the county court. But sometimes that procedure snarls a case. Earlier this year, a situation arose in Derby municipal court and, because the ordinance didn’t contain a mechanism for handling misdemeanor third DUI charges, the case had to be dismissed and refiled in district court.

Certain third DUI cases are classified as misdemeanor offenses because of their age.

“Addition of the proposed language will allow Derby municipal court to handle such cases in the future,” Butler said.

In addition, a new offense concerning littering from a vehicle is proposed to offer law enforcement more flexibility in enforcement of littering offenses by authorizing citation of the driver of the vehicle. This would apply when there are multiple occupants in a vehicle in which littering was witnessed.

(Read more: Derby News | derbyinformer.com)

Sports complex could result from STAR bond district change in Derby

Adjustments have begun on shifting business requirements for Derby’s STAR bond district.

After a briefing by representatives of Derby Destination Development LLC on Sept. 11, the City Council approved an amendment to the agreement, which was passed in summer 2016.

It now goes on to the Kansas Department of Commerce, which is expected to approve it.

It then goes back to the council for a second reading.

The special taxing district, which is designed for business development and to be a regional visitor draw, extends roughly along Rock Road from near the north city limits south to Meadowlark.

It includes the Derby Marketplace shopping complex. The written briefing stated: “The developer has made efforts to recruit a steakhouse and has thus far been unsuccessful in getting a commitment in the near term, although one is possible in a few years.”

However, a new venture, Derby’s Sports Zone, is proposed to satisfy the restaurant requirement.

As reported in last week’s Informer, the facility would include indoor and outdoor courts and game areas – and a sit-down eatery.

Fort Scott hires new community development director

City staff introduced and welcomed the city’s new community development director during Tuesday night’s meeting of the Fort Scott City Commission.

Robert Uhler, who is originally from Topeka, will take over the position formerly held by Rhonda Dunn, who has recently moved into the position of director of finance. Uhler said he and his family have lived in Fort Scott for the last 21 years.

“I appreciate the opportunity to work with the citizens of Fort Scott, city staff and commissioners,” Uhler said. “Thank you for your confidence.” “Robert has the best and most experience necessary,” Martin said. “He’s been valuable to us already.”

City Manager Dave Martin said Uhler will work closely with Director of Economic Development Rachel Pruitt and Dunn, who continues to have oversight of the codes department, as part of a team effort toward the city’s short and long-range plans and goals. Uhler will also work on plans to “get additional money” for city projects.

(Read more: Fort Scott Tribune)

Electric scooters popping up more and more in Shawnee Mission — but rules for riding them legally here are fuzzy

The electric scooter rentals that have been zipping around downtown Kansas City for the past few months are showing up more and more frequently in the Shawnee Mission area.

But just where and how they can be legally ridden in northeast Johnson County is somewhat fuzzy.

Electric scooter companies like Bird and Lime haven’t officially set up operations in Overland Park, Lenexa, Shawnee or Prairie Village, according to city officials — but that hasn’t stopped riders from taking the vehicles into the area. Because the phenomenon is so new, cities here have not directly addressed electric scooters regulations yet, especially concerning public safety and right-of-way. Denise Redina, communications director of Lenexa, said she believes the electric scooters would fall under the city’s traffic ordinance on motorized skateboards, which are prohibited on streets, highways and trails in the city. Motorized skateboards and scooters are also prohibited on sidewalks unless they are designed to be stood upon, among other stipulations.

“Additionally, our community development team said they anticipate this topic being discussed as part of our complete streets study, which has just begun,” Redina said of the city project geared toward accommodating all types of transportation in Lenexa.

Bourbon County offices prepare to move into former jail space

Bourbon County Commissioners spent much of the afternoon portion of their Tuesday meeting preparing for an upcoming move to new spaces on the first floor of the Bourbon County Courthouse. Commissioners and county officials packed up desks and office items in preparation for a move Thursday that will transfer all current offices on the second floor of the courthouse to the first floor. The first floor portion will soon house the commissioners’ desks, offices for the county clerk, the county treasurer, the new county economic development director, and the public works department. The space that previously housed offices for the Southeast Kansas Regional Correctional Center has been remodeled to house county offices.

(Read more: Fort Scott Tribune)

‘We don’t consider that new and improved.’ Critics aim to stop Merriam pool design

A group of Merriam residents upset about the proposed community center design is gathering petition signatures to try slowing the project down.

The residents, calling themselves Merriam Concerned Citizens, are frustrated that the outdoor pool that will be part of the new aquatic center would be significantly smaller than the existing outdoor community pool that they consider one of Johnson County’s best. They believe the city has reneged on promises made before voters approved a tax increase in 2017 to help build the new center.

“We don’t consider that new and improved. They’re reducing the recreational space in the outdoor pool,” said Thelma Fowler, a leader in the petition effort. “We’re simply stating that the outdoor pool being significantly reduced is unacceptable, and not what we voted for.” Mayor Ken Sissom is adamant that city leaders have kept faith with the voters and will deliver a community center that meets residents’ expectations.

“I hear from people all the time that they’re happy with it,” Sissom said of the proposed community center design. “People are getting excited about what we’re getting ready to offer them.”

(Read more: Government & Politics News |)

Report: Attendance, revenue up at Kansas State Fair

Great weather and a solid start to the 2018 Kansas State Fair, coupled with new programming, activities and strong concert sales, helped boost overall revenue and attendance over last year’s numbers according to fair officials.

According to a media release, this year’s preliminary attendance was 327,965, a 1.76 percent increase over last year. Preliminary reports also show substantial growth in revenue. Those figures are still being tabulated, but several vendors indicated this year’s fair was one of the best in several years.

“The Kansas State Fair is at a pivotal turning point,” Interim General Manager Bob Moeder said. “This year’s numbers reflect a change in direction. We have a really solid team who stayed focused, helping us grow and expand the fair during this transitional year.”

(Read more: Hays Post)

Emporia’s zoo moves closer to hitting $4.3M fundraising goal

The zoo in Emporia is getting closer to raising enough money for a major update that will include adding and renovating several exhibits.

The Emporia Gazette reports that $3.6 million already has been raised for the $4.3 million project. Once the campaign hits $4 million, the Capitol Federal Foundation has agreed to donate the final $300,000.

The Capital Federal donation will be used to renovate and rebuild the Waterfowl Pond and Gardens Exhibit.

(Read more: KOAM – Local News)

Finney County judge orders deputies to go find jurors

The Finney County Sheriff’s Office shared a post on after 10 jurors didn’t show up to jury duty on Tuesday.

Three deputies from the sheriff’s office went to places like the post office and Wal-Mart to find jurors.

The sheriff’s office says this has only happened four times in 22 years.

The court administrator tells us the wrong summons dates were sent out to jurors this week.

The court administrator says all jurors showed up Wednesday.

(Read more: KWCH News)

Homeowners opposed to tiny-homes development may sue City of Wichita

Homeowners near a planned tiny-homes development say they may sue the City of Wichita.

This comes a after the city last month approved the development at 143rd Street East and Harry in far east Wichita to move forward.

Area homeowners are upset over the development plans and are talking about how they can stop it. Their primary concern is that the tiny homes nearby will lower their property values.

“I absolutely would not have built this house if there had been 90 tiny homes behind it,” area resident Ryan Schweizer said after the city approved the development’s plans last month.

Schweizer filed an open-records request and obtained emails from the city concerning tiny homes. Schweizer points to specific emails where Wichita City Council member Pete Meitzner appears to help the developer for the tiny homes write its news release.

(Read more: KWCH News)

Townships oppose City of Lansing’s plan to withdraw from fire district

Attorneys say the Delaware and High Prairie township boards want Leavenworth County Fire District No. 1 to remain intact. And the township boards will oppose efforts by the city of Lansing to disband the fire district.

That is the message in a letter signed by attorneys for Delaware and High Prairie townships. Currently, Fire District No. 1 provides services to Lansing and Delaware and High Prairie townships. The fire district is governed by a board made up of members who were nominated by Lansing and the two townships.

In June, the Lansing City Council sent a letter to various parties involved in the fire district. The letter expressed the council’s intent to withdraw from the fire district at the end of 2019 and split the district’s assets with the other parties. The city plans to operate its own fire department in the future.

(Read more: Leavenworth Times)

Reno County Commission questions shift in TECH spending

Reno County Commission Chairman Ron Hirst voiced objection Tuesday to the Technology and Evaluation Center of Hutchinson shifting $60,000 in county funding from its former early childhood education program for infants and toddlers into expanding its art program and its children and family services budget. TECH, however, shifted the proposed spending after it and the Reno County Education Cooperative severed a longstanding agreement under which TECH oversaw in-home programs for children birth to age 3, while RCEC ran programs for children 3 to 5.

The dollars, which come from a county mill levy designated for programs to support the developmentally disabled, the commission learned, cannot legally be shifted to the RCEC since TECH is designated as the county’s Community Developmental Disability Organization.

(Read more: Local – The Hutchinson News)

Committee offers recommendations on bond, fees in Kansas municipal courts

In an effort to increase equity in Kansas municipal courts, a committee offered 18 recommendations Wednesday on bond, fines and fees.

The ad hoc committee was formed about a year ago at the direction of the Kansas Supreme Court. Economically disadvantaged people are disproportionately jailed because of their inability to post bond or pay court fees, Chief Justice Lawton Nuss said. Some municipal courts use a bond schedule that lists a crime and a bond amount. “Just to take a bond schedule, which is one size fits all, and not look at the individual characteristics of each defendant is a problem,” Nuss said.

Ellis County discusses policy of free dumping at waste station for non-profits

The agency that supports Special Olympics in Hays is spending a good deal of money hauling trash to Ellis County’s municipal waste transfer station.

The nonprofit would like to dump it for free like other non-profit organizations, said Jim Huenergarde, board president for the local Arc chapter.

The problem is due to a big jump in donated household goods that can’t be sold but that are dropped off at Arc of Central Plains locations.

Arc’s request spurred Ellis County Public Works Director Bill Ring to ask the County Commissioners how they want to handle the county’s free dumping policy for nonprofits. Some non-profits have dropped off free since at least July 2003, the last time the Ellis County policy was updated.

Ring asked the commissioners if they want to cap the number of dollars a nonprofit can drop off, or perhaps not permit any free dumping at all, since Ellis County ships its trash to a landfill in another county.

(Read more: News – The Hays Daily News)

Hutch inviting proposals for hotel/convention center

The city of Hutchinson is taking another swing at bringing an “upscale or upper midscale” franchise hotel and adjacent convention center to town. The 11-page request for proposals does not specify the dollar value for potential public aid, but states that the city “is prepared to offer incentives.”

Possibilities range from a developer identifying the Hutchinson Mall or the Kansas State Fairgrounds as a location for a hotel and convention center – to the chance that no one submits a formal plan before the deadline arrives.

“We have not had a lot of inquiries,” said Hutchinson City Manager John Deardoff, about the request for proposals issued Aug. 22.

(Read more: News – The Hutchinson News)

Chetopa continues study of animal zoning

The city of Chetopa continued discussion of a proposed ordinance outlining where farm animals can be kept within city limits.

During a Sept. 4 city council regular meeting, Chetopa resident George Davis asked the council to adopt a zoning ordinance restricting farm animals now and then work out the regulations later.

The council discussed the proposed ordinance, and members of the audience expressed their concerns. The council received a copy of a petition with no signatures on it so that members could read the wording.

Shane Adamson, the city’s attorney, received a copy of the city of Parsons ordinance governing animal control. He planned to also review ordinances from other cities. Adamson said he didn’t think the council was in a position adopt a zoning ordinance until further information is received and considered.

(Read more: Parsons Sun)

Heavy rains cause sewer issue in Parsons

A small group of neighbors talked about sewage problems during heavy rainfalls, including foul odors and bits of toilet paper found in yards, during a Monday evening Parsons City Commission meeting.

City Manager Debbie Lamb said the city staff was unaware of the problem, but they will see what can be done to solve the problem.

The issue is a prime example of the problem the city is trying to solve to satisfy an Environmental Protection Agency compliance order. Broken and long-neglected sanitation sewer pipes around town have allowed the infiltration of stormwater, inundating the sewer system and the wastewater treatment plant with more water they are designed to handle. The city has relined or replaced many miles of lines in the first and second wards but hasn’t reached the third or fourth wards yet.

During heavy rain, stormwater mixes with sewage, causing a backup into some people’s homes or out of their cleanouts and onto their yards. The city previously reached a settlement with a family whose home had sewage backed up into it.

(Read more: Parsons Sun)

Salina city commissioners accept resignation of animal shelter director

In a decision Salina City Commissioner Melissa Hodges called the “worst vote I’ve ever cast,” the commission approved granting the interim city manager the ability to deviate from personnel policy and accept the resignation of Salina Animal Shelter manager Vanessa Cowie, who was placed on administrative leave Aug. 15.

Cowie’s resignation is effective Sept. 30.

Commissioners called a special executive session at 6 p.m. Tuesday after Cowie contacted interim city manager Mike Schrage to submit her resignation Monday evening.

(Read more: News – The Hays Daily News)

Mission council approves CID start date delay; construction still on schedule

The Mission council has granted Tom Valenti’s request to delay the start date for an additional sales tax for Mission Gateway.

After initial concerns two weeks ago, the council unanimously approved the delay, which pushes back the community improvement district’s 1 percent sales tax start date from Jan. 1, 2019, to July 1, 2020. Valenti and others on the Gateway team indicated that the delay would “align with the completion of development and the beginning of retail activity.” Councilmembers in their Wednesday meeting said concerns they had voiced in a community development committee meeting two weeks ago are now assuaged.

Why Wichita’s economy shrank last year while other Kansas cities grew

Wichita’s economy shrank in 2017. It was the only major metro area in Kansas that didn’t grow last year, according to new federal data.

And despite positive growth in some cities, the Kansas economy shrank overall.

Wichita and the state can’t find enough workers, in turn limiting the ability of companies to grow and boost the economy. Across the state, job vacancies increased by 9.1 percent last year.

Local leaders emphasize the need to attract workers to the region. Data released by the federal Bureau of Economic Analysis, or BEA, this week shows that the Wichita area gross domestic product — a fundamental measure of the economic strength — declined 1.4 percent in 2017.

Out of 383 metro areas, Wichita ranked 357th in growth. The city was among 71 metro areas that had flat or negative growth in 2017.

Kansas is one of just three states that experienced shrinking economics last year. Its overall, gross domestic product declined 0.1 percent.

(Read more: Politics & Government News |)

Lenexa council approves updated plans for Sikh gurdwara

The Lenexa City Council approved the final plan for a new, $4.5 million Sikh temple — the Midwest Sikh Gurdwara — at its Tuesday night meeting.

The council had put plans for the project on hold at its April 17 meeting because of concerns about the project’s design expressed by some Lenexa City Council members and nearby residents. The Lenexa Planning Commission had recommended approval of the project’s preliminary plan at its April 2 meeting. The building’s exterior will comprise precast concrete panels and brick, and three ornamental, golden domes in Sikh-style architecture will sit atop the building. The building’s parking lot will have 125 spaces.

The building will sit on 12 acres, part of a 42-acre lot purchased two-and-a-half years ago by the Midwest Sikh Association, Shukla said. The association plans to eventually sell lots to build single-family homes on the remaining 30 acres in the same price range as existing, surrounding homes.

Shawnee community development director Paul Chaffee retires after 30 years

After 30 years working in community development for the city of Shawnee, Paul Chaffee is retiring as director.

Chaffee was previously a city planner for Shawnee and has maintained the role of community development director for the past 24 years. His last day is Sept. 21.

He said he’ll remember the people with whom he had the opportunity to work, and also the many projects they tackled together.

“No two days are the same,” Chaffee said, adding that he enjoyed helping residents with questions or issues they may have. “I get to work on all different types of projects.”

String of late cancelations delays introduction of ordinance to provide legal protections for LGBTQ individuals in Prairie Village

A Prairie Village city councilman’s planned introduction of a non-discrimination ordinance that would provide protections for members of the LGBTQ community was delayed Monday when a string of late cancelation by other members of the governing body resulted in a lack of a quorum for the city council meeting.

Tucker Poling said he planned to introduce the non-discrimination ordinance to ensure protections for LGBTQ individuals that are not currently provided under state or federal law. The ordinance would make it illegal to discriminate based on race, religion, color, sex, disability, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, gender identity or military status in employment, housing or public accommodation — that is, providing goods or services to people.

Marysville Police Chief named finalist for top job in Riley County law enforcement

Marysville Police Chief Todd Ackerman has been selected from a field of 16 candidates as one of three finalists for director of the Riley County Police Department.

A public forum with the candidates was Monday at the Riley County Public Works Department building. Ackerman told the audience why he should be the next police director in Riley County.

“A lot of it comes down to leadership skills. I’ve been a leader for many, many years,” Ackerman said. “I graduated college here. My wife graduated college here. We fell in love with Manhattan, and I feel with my leadership skills I could become the director here, allow the people to do the job they are hired to do, work with them, support them.”

Ackerman, who was born in Marysville and has lived most of his life here, has been Marysville police chief for almost 20 years.

(Read more: The Marysville Advocate)

Osawatomie library completes makeover

People might not be able to gauge a book by its cover.

But Osawatomie Public Library Director Elizabeth Trigg is eager for people to offer an opinion about the library’s renovated interior space. “We wanted to create a space where people feel comfortable – where they can sit down and read,” she said of the renovations to the 1980-era-building. The facelift was made possible by a $32,000 gift from Franchelle Maxine Cliff, an Osawatomie native who died two years ago in Colorado. One of her favorite activities was returning to Osawatomie for the annual high school alumni meeting on Memorial Day weekend.

Trigg said the library was extremely grateful for the gift, which allowed for the renovations without touching the nearly $100,000 the library had raised over the past decade for expansion and remodeling. That fundraising effort continues as the library looks to maximize its Community Development Block Grant [CDBG] potential.

(Read more: The Miami County Republic)

Osawatomie to stick with Waste Management

Osawatomie city leaders have decided not to change trash service providers, and they are hopeful that a revised contract and new city software will lead to fewer issues for residents.

The city’s contract with Waste Management is set to expire at year’s end, and Harrisonville-based WCA was vying to pick up the contract for Osawatomie’s solid waste and recycling collection program. City Manager Don Cawby told Osawatomie City Council members, during their Sept. 13 meeting, that WCA officials stopped negotiating with the city after the public hearing because they felt like their collection style was not a good fit for Osawatomie.

Cawby talked with council members about a proposed contract with Waste Management for renewal. Additions made to the contract following the public hearing include a city option to take over billing after giving four months notice, and a penalty provision for unresolved complaints or complaints that are bounced back to the city.

(Read more: The Miami County Republic)

Paola has a noise ordinance for the first time in a decade

For the first time in a decade, the city of Paola has a noise ordinance.

Paola City Council members approved the ordinance during their Sept. 11 meeting after discussing the details during a work session earlier in the month.

Paola City Manager Jay Wieland said the ordinance includes the criteria city officials were wanting, without being too cumbersome for law enforcement officers to enforce. The ordinance uses the “person of reasonable sensibility” standard instead of listing detailed criteria based on zoning districts and decibel measurements.

City Attorney Lee Tetwiler said the ordinance is based on language from a Wichita ordinance that was upheld by the Kansas Supreme Court.

“You can either go with technology, meters and complicated enforcement, or use common sense,” Tetwiler said.

(Read more: The Miami County Republic)

Osawatomie gets creative to attract grocery store

The city of Osawatomie is sweetening the deal in an attempt to attract a grocery operator to take over the vacant Ron’s Country Market location.

The grocery store at 701 6th St. closed in 2017 less than a year after opening its doors. Much of the equipment, valued at $400,000, was almost brand new, and in an attempt to keep it from being sold off, the city purchased the equipment through a lease-purchase agreement with First Option Bank for a reduced cost of $150,000. The latest plan, which Osawatomie City Council members gave their support during their Sept. 13 meeting, is designed to attract a new grocery operator who, after seven years, would own both the building and the equipment.

City Manager Don Cawby said the latest plan is the result of extensive collaboration with First Option Bank and Associated Wholesale Grocers. In general, the incentive proposal is a lease-purchase for seven years, with no money down for the building or equipment.

(Read more: The Miami County Republic)

Detroit Land Bank Authority sells 10,000th vacant side lot; adjacent property owners buy lots for $100

The Land Bank Authority in Detroit has sold its 10,000th vacant side lot as part of an effort to beautify city neighborhoods and reduce blight.

The authority says its side lot program was started in 2014 and also brings in about $500,000 in annual property taxes to the city.

Lots are sold for $100 to adjacent property owners who are up-to-date on their property taxes. Some residents have transformed lots they’ve bought into flower and vegetable gardens, playgrounds and neighborhood gathering places.

Many lots are left vacant after homes are demolished. They often become overgrown with weeds and used as sites for illegal trash dumping.

(Read more: Wichita Eagle)

Former Boys & Girls Club is becoming a Family Dollar store. The neighbors are furious

The former Boys & Girls Club building at 21st and Grove is about to become Wichita’s newest Family Dollar store, and residents of the largely African-American neighborhood aren’t happy about it.

City Council member Brandon Johnson broke the news on his Facebook page Wednesday, and constituent comments were mostly a mix of disbelief, anger and profanity that the northeast neighborhood was getting yet another discount dollar-type store, to add to the six already in the general area.

“Another dollar store is ridiculous,” one said. “A tutoring center, a grocery store, a quality gas station or something of that nature would have been better.” Other than spot usage for storage and the occasional charity drive, the building has sat vacant since the Boys & Girls Club moved to a new, more modern place on Opportunity Drive about 10 years ago.

The city owned the building in the mid-2000s and considered turning it over to the Lord’s Diner for a satellite station to feed the poor and homeless. But that plan fell through amid neighborhood opposition and City Hall sold the building off as surplus property.

(Read more: Local News |)

Augusta Historic Theatre receives honor

The Augusta Historic Theatre received an honor recently when it was named by the Western Journal as one of the Top Historical Sites to Visit in the United States.
In the August edition, the publication listed 50 of its favorite historical sites and the local theatre was the site listed for Kansas.
Included with a photo of the inside of the theatre, is the following text, “In 1930s America, it was extremely common to find a movie theater in any downtown. But when the Augusta Historic Theater first opened, the trend was on its downward trajectory. Nevertheless, the theater was completed in 1935 and has remained open. As it stands today, the historic site is a testament to the early days of American cinema. Connie Thurman, president of the Augusta Arts Council and director of Downtown Augusta, Inc., stated, “We are thrilled that our wonderful theatre is listed in the article! It’s nice that Augusta’s beautiful treasure is appreciated by others, too.”

(Read more: Augusta Gazette)

Kansas City panel OKs rezoning for sports facility near Innovations Campus

A vacant Home Quarters store in south Kansas City is set to become the newest Elite Sports facility in the metro.

The Elite Sports Mall, 5000 E. Bannister Road, would include eight indoor courts, an adult workout facility, medical offices, coffee shops and food vendors, as well as outdoor enclosed batting cages. The rezoning request for the project received unanimous approval during Tuesday’s City Plan Commission meeting.

The facility is near Cerner Corp.’s new $4.5 billion, 16,000-job Innovations Campus — which has set off an explosion of growth in south Kansas City and brought an accompanying residential development boom to support the additional residents moving to the area.

The aim of the mall-style facility is to provide “cohesive health and wellness amenities” in addition to the standard sports courts and fields. Work is expected to be finished in late December or early January.

Reno County ready to help Sedgwick County deputies

When one member of your family is hurt you help. Those are words Reno County Sheriff Randy Henderson lives by, especially following Sunday’s shooting that left a Sedgwick County deputy dead.

“I contacted Sheriff Easter and said what do you need? We’re ready,” said Sheriff Henderson.

Reno County deputies were dispatched to the shooting scene as back up Sunday. For all it’s a tragedy that hits close to home.

“A lot of our guys work with the Sedgwick County officers because we are right next door,” Henderson said. “They know these guys.”

Although Deputy Robert Kunze III will be laid to rest Friday, Sheriff Henderson knows the mourning won’t end there. That’s why his deputies are ready to fill in for those who need to take time.

“If they need help in the jail, if they need help covering the road, we’re going to be there for them. And they know that.”

(Read more: KAKE – News)

Marion County gets recommendation to increase salaries

The Marion County Commission continued shoring up its policies by reviewing its plans ranging from revisiting who should have vehicles, tuition and conferences attended at its Monday meeting.

In addition, representatives of the McGrath Human Resources Group, based in Wonder Lake, Ill., reviewed objectives, and talked about their progress and more recommendations.

Malayna Halvorson Maes, senior consultant, said that in order to get employees where they should be on the pay schedule, it could mean a 3 to 4 percent increase until they are up to the regular salary schedule.

(Read more: Hillsboro Free Press)

Property owner in Marion granted extension to move 8 million pounds of silage from residential area

Mike Beneke, owner of Double B Cattle of Lincolnville, was granted a 30-day extension to remove about 8 million pounds of silage from his property at 601 W. Main St., at a hearing Sept. 16. City administrator Roger Holter said Monday that it’s his understanding that if the silage isn’t removed, the city will do it at Beneke’s expense.

“The city has attempted to administer the laws of the city in a fair and consistent manner,” he said.

“Our goal has remained consistent throughout the process and remains unchanged.”

At the first hearing Aug. 30, Holter said this was a safety concern to include it being a fire hazard because of its proximity to residences.

Holter said: “It’s also in the flood plain, which implicates surface and ground water.”

Another concern was the height of the pile and that it wasn’t covered, leaving it open for flies and other animals to access.

But, being in the city limits, covered or not, it was still in violation of the ordinance. Holter added: “On behalf of the citizens, we simply want Mr. Beneke to remove the illegally deposited 8 million pounds of decaying material that creates safety and health concerns for our community.

“Residents did not choose to live in a feed processing area which was created by a single individual desiring to impose his will upon the community for commercial gain.”

(Read more: Hillsboro Free Press)

Old downtown firehouse has new mission after culinary school cease-and-desist

A former fire station on Topeka Avenue downtown will become a shared workspace for artists and business startups after Wichita State University objected to Butler Community College’s proposal for a culinary arts school there.

The Wichita City Council voted to accept the proposal from Commerce Street Development Partners LLC., which will pay $100,000 for the 16,000-square-foot property at 500 S. Topeka and redevelop it into a shared-space concept called FireWorx.

“I hope it will do what it’s designed to do and truly be a catalyst for that area,” said Mayor Jeff Longwell.

The council didn’t have much choice.

Of the original five proposals for the building, a staff committee had narrowed it to two — FiireWorx and a proposal from a development company that wanted to renovate the building and lease it to Butler Community College for a $4 million culinary arts school.

But Butler withdrew its proposal after the college got a cease-and-desist letter from Wichita State University objecting to the potential competition for students.

(Read more: Local News |)

Plan for strip center near JoCo school advances. But neighborhood vehemently opposed.

Neighbors of a Blue Valley elementary school turned out in force this week to oppose an adjacent commercial strip center, but the Overland Park planning commission let the proposal move forward.

Reno County Commission OKs fire station spending, Highlands sewer funding allocations

The Reno County Commission, as expected, approved on Tuesday authorizing the sale of temporary notes to fund Buhler fire station improvements and voted to authorize the use of a combination of property tax and sewer fees to pay for The Highlands sewer upgrade. When the commission met with residents of The Highlands in June, close to 95 percent of those asked to vote by a show of hands supported splitting the cost of paying off sewer improvements between a monthly use fee and property taxes.

Since that meeting there have been some who questioned the split, said Councilwoman Bonnie Teal, with some wanting vacant lot owners to pick up more of the tab since only 200 of the 500 lots in the subdivision have homes.

The commission, however, was reluctant to reconsider the issue, based on the straw poll and comments from residents and unanimously voted to approve the even split, with half the annual $108,000 bonding cost covered by a sewer bill and half through property taxes.

(Read more: Local – The Hutchinson News)

City manager: Topeka entry doing well in online vote

With a week to go, Topeka is in second place in the online voting competition to earn a spot among finalists for the $50,000 Gen2Gen Encore Prize, city manager Brent Trout said at Tuesday evening’s city council meeting.

People can cast votes daily, Trout said, and he encouraged residents to do so.

Topeka earned a place in the online vote as one of 25 semifinalists out of 110 applicants for the prize, which is awarded to an organization that comes up with an innovative solution that will tap into the talent of people over the age of 50 to partner with youths and help them thrive.

The money would help finance the implementation of a pilot program called “Common Unity” at Highland Park High School, with plans calling for the program eventually to include all Topeka public high schools. That site indicated the money would help students here with things that include ACT exam preparation and fees, college application fees and college visits.