Municipal News & Jobs

Kansas Municipal News

Finney County commission changes rehiring policy

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(Read more: Wichita Business Journal)

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

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

(Read more: The Salina Post)

City of Topeka Municipal Court taking Food for Fines in October

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

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

(Read more: WIBW News Now!)

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

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

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

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

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

Inaugural Topeka Landlord Expo to be held October 27

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

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

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

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

Citizens Academy an opportunity to understand police decision-making

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Hutch City Council to take action on builder permit fees

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

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

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

(Read more: Hutch Post)

Countywide wind regulation in Reno County lacks push

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

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

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

(Read more: News – The Hutchinson News)

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

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

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

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

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

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

(Read more: Parsons Sun)

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

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

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

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

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

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

(Read more: Liberal First)

Garden City seeking volunteers for CIP committee

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Downtown study shows most new residents expected to come from Wichita

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

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

(Read more: Wichita Business Journal)

Labette County economic development effort planned

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

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

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

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

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

(Read more: Parsons Sun)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

New city vehicle changes Roeland Park curbside leaf pickup program

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Wilson park plans still alive in Ark City

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Cowley County businesses return from ‘Destination BootCamp’

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

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

Prairie Village considers home design guidelines on Monday

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

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

(Read more: Shawnee Mission Post)

Douglas County raises smoking age to 21 in unincorporated areas

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

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

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

(Read more: WIBW News Now!)

Shawnee County Parks and Recreation gets national accreditation

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

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

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

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

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

Retiring Pratt Police Chief reflects on service

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

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

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

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

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

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

Mayor’s veto causes delay for Butler project

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

(Read more: Augusta Gazette)

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

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

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

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

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

Harvey County rates transportation priorities

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

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

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

(Read more: Newton Now)

Newton to consider scientific priority survey

Everybody wants something for nothing.
A majority of Newton City Commissioners appeared to think that conducting a scientific survey to poll Newton residents on their priorities for the future would be a good idea.
However, a sticking point seems to be the price…that is, if the city can get it on the cheap or not.

The City Commission discussed the possibility of commissioning a professional community wide survey to get more reliable data on community priorities and what priorities the community would be willing to support.
Such a survey has been batted around by Newton City Commissions since 2015, with Commissioner Barth Hague being a proponent of the study.

“I think this would be a useful tool for us moving forward,” Hague said. “I feel like I don’t have enough information on what the entire community hopes for and is willing to support to make the best decisions I could make.” Hague said city staff researched such a survey and estimated costs to be around $22,000, though Hague said it might be possible to make such a survey cheaper, working with an organization like Wichita State University.

(Read more: Newton Now)

Hutch Housing Commission will address inspection program in October

The Hutchinson City Housing Commission will take a month before revisiting the rental registration and inspection program.

The Housing Commission got an update on the decisions made by the City Council to keep the program in place, but made major changes to the program. What those changes will be will come from the commission. Discussion about the future of the program began in August and came to a head when the commission first considered ending the program. At a later meeting, however, the commission decided to keep the program.

That was met with much discussion by the council, which eventually came to the decision to keep the program, but make changes.

(Read more: Hutch Post)

Chairman of county commission argues against salary reduction

The chairman of the Leavenworth County is pushing back against the idea that salaries for commissioners should be reduced if the commission is expanded to five members.

Currently, the Leavenworth County Commission has three members. But in November, voters will be asked to consider increasing the number of commissioners to five.

Some have argued the money currently spent to pay salaries for three commissioners should be split five ways if the commission is expanded. This would reduce the salary for an individual commissioner.

But Chairman Louis Klemp has said he intends to propose a salary increase for members of the County Commission.

In a column published Tuesday in the Leavenworth Times, Marti Crow argued against an increase in salaries for county commissioners. She also argued in favor of expanding the commission to five members.

Crow is a former member of the Kansas House of Representatives.

(Read more: Leavenworth Times)

Great Bend celebrates new ownership of local healthcare provider

The University of Kansas Health System announced last April their intent of purchasing Great Bend Regional Hospital. The acquisition became official August 1, and Thursday afternoon a facility dedication happened with a “ribbon tying”.

The ceremony included speakers, all of which touched on the importance of the purchase that kept health care close to home for residents.

Great Bend Chamber of Commerce CEO Jan Peters noted the deal will not only keep healthcare access local but it will keep a strong employer for the community. The Great Bend hospital, now known as The University of Kansas Health System – Great Bend Campus, is part of a large string of hospitals including: St. Rose Medical Pavilion in Great Bend, Pawnee Valley Campus in Larned, HaysMed in Hays, and several more.

Jodi Schmidt serves as the Executive Director for Regional Development at The University of Kansas Health System but has been serving as the interim administrator at the Great Bend Campus since the acquisition. Schmidt says the combined effort and resources have already increased services in Great Bend.

(Read more: Great Bend Post)

Shawnee joins local fire departments’ effort to prepare to fight Kansas wildfires

After two devastating wildfires in Kansas in the past two years, Shawnee has decided to join the Kansas Wildland Task Force to pool resources with neighboring fire departments.

The Shawnee council agreed in a 7-0 vote to proceed with a memorandum of understanding between local fire response agencies in Johnson, Wyandotte and Leavenworth counties, including Olathe, District 2, Gardner and Kansas City, Kan.

Fire chief John Mattox said Shawnee firefighters deployed twice in the past two years on wildfires in Kansas. “Part of the disaster was the organization of the deployment of crews in Kansas the last two years,” Mattox told the council at its Monday evening. “This is an effort to make that more coordinated and organized.”

The statewide effort, led by the Kansas Office of the State Fire Marshal, coordinates plans for mutual aid requests and responses across the state, an organized regional response force, and operational plans for those responding units.

Council considers safety measures for parades

The candy flew through the air during Louisburg’s Labor Day parade. Now, there is a call to put a stop to it.

The Louisburg City Council reviewed a proposal at its Sept. 17 meeting to change the way parades are handled in the city. While the council accepted some of the changes as suggested in the proposal, the members weren’t ready to make all the changes.

The proposal calls for an end to the throwing of candy from vehicles, allowing candy to be handed out by people who walk along with the floats. Under the proposal, construction cones and caution tape, and barricades at Broadway’s intersections with other streets, would also be placed along the route to keep parade attendees back from where the vehicles are traveling.

(Read more: The Miami County Republic)

Osawatomie set to dedicate new fitness park

Brent Kaempfe works out on the two-person chest press on a crisp autumn morning.

It was the Osawatomie resident’s first opportunity to use the outdoor fitness park just north of the Osawatomie Pool. With the pool’s waterslide in the background, Kaempfe surveyed the 12 units of exercise equipment and liked what he saw.

“This is great for the community,” Kaempfe said. “A lot of people use the track [at Lynn Dickey Stadium, across the parking lot] and now they can come over here and use this equipment.” The 12 Greenfields outdoor exercise machines – some of which can accommodate more than one person at a time – include items like a two-person ski, four-person lower body combo, a cross-country ski, a rowing machine, a sit-up bench, four-person leg press and others.

The park will provide the public with free access to outdoor workout equipment that can be used around the clock.

“It’s 24/7, and it’s free for anybody to use,” Osawatomie Superintendent Gary French said. “It will have lights and security cameras. It will be fine this fall but in the springtime we plan to add some shade protection.”

This spring, the Osawatomie Rotary Club, along with the Osawatomie school district, were awarded $40,000 from the Baehr Foundation and Hawkins Foundation, as well as an additional $30,000 over the next three years from Olathe Health Miami County Medical Center to assist in the development of the fitness park.

Others have made smaller donations, bringing the total raised to $83,000, French said. The equipment, valued at $55,000, was purchased for $36,000, and that $19,000 savings is counted as part of the donations, he said.

(Read more: The Miami County Republic)

Mulvane utility customers can now pay by phone

Utility customers in the City of Mulvane are now able to pay their utility bill balances over the phone. This service is for utility bills only. According to a release from the City of Mulvane, the automated phone system is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

City of Mulvane has received $1,233,106.79 YTD from Kansas Star Casino

According to The Mulvane News, the City of Mulvane received $155,051.97 from the Kansas Lottery Commission, which represents a 1 percent share of August’s gaming revenue.

The contract between the casino and the Kansas Lottery calls for the return of 1 percent of each month’s gaming revenue to the City of Mulvane, and to both Sumner and Sedgwick counties.

So far this year, Mulvane’s 1 percent share amounts to $1,233,106.79, which is more than 72% of the budgeted amount, according to The Mulvane News.

The E.R. and county jail becoming face of Kansas mental health care

Larned State Hospital has a wait time of one to two days. For Osawatomie State Hospital, it’s three to seven days.

Such were the matter-of-fact estimations of Heather Porter, chief clinical officer at Newton Medical Center. She has such estimates because, increasingly, Newton Medical Center functions as a makeshift mental ward, holding patients until a state bed comes open.

In the last three months, according to its own numbers, the hospital admitted 127 patients to the ER in need of mental or behavioral health care. Fifty-nine were discharged to home care. The rest went to mental institutions or other hospitals.

Porter said the hospital and its emergency room is holding behavioral health patients daily now.

“The challenge for the patient is holding them in an appropriate unit,” she said. “Our rooms are set up as an acute care unit. Those equipment make noises that can sometime agitate a patient. Acute care isn’t always the best setting for that.” Newton Dept. Police Chief Craig Dunlavy spoke about problems of violence that come with an increase in mental health care patients as he showed off a newly opened satellite police office in the hospital. He said that in the past year the department responded to the ER 50 times.

“Our nurses and doctors have to go from caregivers to combatants,” Dunlavy said to U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran, who was present Sept. 20 touring the hospital.

During his tour of the hospital, Moran asked his tour guides if Osawatomie and Larned State Hospitals were keeping up with demand.

He was met with a short, involuntary laugh by Dunlavy.

“No. Absolutely not,” he said.

(Read more: Newton Now)

Hays budget can withstand flagging sales tax receipts

SSales tax receipts so far for 2018 on goods and services purchased in Hays are up only slightly over 2017, according to Kim Rupp, finance director for the City of Hays.

Right now, receipts are up only seven-tenths of 1 percent, after showing decline the first five months of the year, and then increasing slightly in June, July and August. Sales tax receipts supply money for public works, streets, parks, police, administration, municipal court, the fire department, the golf course, city swimming pools and the baseball fields, among other things.

“Basically it’s what runs the city,” Rupp said, referring to the city’s general fund. Sales tax revenue represents about two-thirds of the general fund for the city of Hays. Unlike most cities, Hays doesn’t have ad valorem, or property taxes, in the general fund.

The remaining third comes from franchise fees, liquor licenses, building permits, court fines, golf course revenue, pet permits and interest income. City administrators haven’t been able to pinpoint any one thing causing the change in tax receipts, but they do speculate on what might be the cause.

“We still think oil has something to do with it,” Rupp said. “Ellis County is the number one county in the state for oil production. So if the price is down, that’s pretty big for us.”

(Read more: News – The Hays Daily News)

Leavenworth City Commissioners advance proposed rate increases

When they met Tuesday, Leavenworth city commissioner reached a consensus to advance ordinances that would increase rates for city sewer and trash collection services. Public Works Director Mike McDonald said one of the ordinances will increase wastewater, or sewer, rates by 5 percent if approved. Wastewater rates are based on water usage. McDonald said most people in the city pay between $21.29 and $28.46 per month. With a 5 percent increase, these customers’ monthly fees will be raised between $1.06 and $1.42 per month.

McDonald said the city has been increasing sewer rates by 3-5 percent for the last few years. The other ordinance, if approved, will increase fees for refuse services by 8 percent.

According to McDonald, the current residential rate would increase from $16.87 per month to $18.22 per month.

McDonald said this increase is more than what city residents normally see.

The public works director said the city will see increased expenses next year associated with the purchase of a new refuse truck as well as changing the disposal location of garbage that is collected in the city.

(Read more: Leavenworth Times)

Johnson County Election Office looking to recruit 400 more workers to staff polls in November

With six weeks to go until the general election, the Johnson County Election Office is making a push to get hundreds of new workers trained and ready to staff polling locations.

The election offices says it hopes to have 2,200 election workers in the field Nov. 6 — and increase of 1,000 from the 1,200 it had at the polls for the primary.

There were around 1,600 election workers signed up to work on Election Day before the Election Office’s recruitment efforts began earlier this month. So far, they’ve had just over 220 new applicants come in, bringing the total available for Election Day to around 1,800. That means the election office will need to recruit and train an additional 400 workers to meet its goal for November.

Plans approved for wastewater treatment plant in Louisburg

The Louisburg City Council received good news at its Sept. 17 meeting, including more than four million reasons to celebrate.

Laura Gray, an engineer with the firm Larkin Lamp Rynearson, said not only has the facility plan for a new wastewater treatment plant in Louisburg been approved by the state, but the city has qualified for low interest loan funding with principal forgiveness.

“It is estimated this will give you $4.275 million in principal forgiveness,” Gray said. “It is like a grant, but not quite. It is amazing, great news.” Mayor Marty Southard agreed, exclaiming that it was “fantastic.”

The loan forgiveness program could lower the city’s final price tag for the sewer treatment plant by about $4 million, dropping the city’s cost from $12.65 million down to about $8.4 million. If the estimates are realized, the city would not have to increase sewer rates any more to cover the cost of the plant, according to an official with the Kansas Department of Health and Enviroment.

(Read more: The Miami County Republic)

Townships seek road meeting with Marion County Commissioners

Liberty Township road and bridge representative Linda Peters appeared at Monday’s county commission to address the county’s road situation.

She requested an evening meeting to give township representatives opportunity to raise concerns and communicate with the Road and Bridge Department.

“I’m not blaming the graders in this area,” Peters said. “They have a monumental task after months of neglect. I want to apologize in advance for the anger and disgust they see in the eyes of residents, landowners, and taxpayers.”

Many residents want to hold another meeting, and wish to do so even without the commission’s blessing, she said.

“Others want to start a petition to recall all three of you,” Peters said. “They feel you commissioners have the power to change this mess and don’t. Then maybe the county needs to find commissioners who will. Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that.”

(Read more: Marion County RECORD)

Florence city council extends water negotiations

Florence city council held back-to-back executive sessions at Monday evening’s meeting to discuss a lease offered by the DeForest family for use of Crystal Springs.

The sessions were held for half an hour and 20 minutes, with the council, Mayor Bob Gayle, and city attorney Randy Pankratz present.

“At the recommendation of our attorney, we’re still in negotiations,” councilman Traycee Warner said.

The process has dragged on, but it needs to be solved properly, she said.

“It’s been physically and emotionally draining for me, but I agree all parties have to be protected,” Warner said. “That’s what negotiating the contract will do.” The matter fell to the council in the first place because the previous agreement did not receive final approval before the council members changed, mayor Bob Gayle said.

“If it had been taken care of by the last council, it could have been done, but it didn’t,” he said. “It fell over onto this council and this council has fresh eyes to look at it. They chose to go a different direction.”

(Read more: Marion County RECORD)