Municipal News & Jobs

Kansas Municipal News

Debate on wind energy project continues in Neosho County

Debate continued Friday at the Neosho County Commission meeting between opponents and supporters of the proposed Neosho Ridge wind energy project.

As many as two dozen people attended and discussed the project for about 2 ½ hours. Some opponents said Apex Clean Energy, the company developing the project, was not forthcoming with information or was misleading. Opponent Dustie Elsworth said efforts have started for a petition against the project, including among residents near Stark. The Neosho Ridge project is proposed for southwest Neosho County in the area near Thayer, Erie and Galesburg, while the Jayhawk wind energy project is proposed for southwest Bourbon and northwest Crawford counties, with some landowners in northeast Neosho County.

(Read more: The Chanute Tribune)

Golf course springing back to life financially in Ark City

Struggling with a temporary cash flow problem, board members of the Spring Hill Golf and Recreation Association asked for help from the City of Arkansas City.

They got it — $1,000. But not all commissioners approved. The course, which operates on city owned property, was nearly closed in August 2016 due to major financial problems. The Spring Hill board approached the city at that time, requesting a minimum of $23,000 to help the organization get back on its feet. The commission had previously given the organization $3,600 to help cover its expenses through August of that year.

Commissioners met with the organization again in September to review its current needs, and agreed to cover the golf course’s bills for December, then cover all operational costs with the exception of wages, through January 2017.

(Read more: The Arkansas City Traveler)

Tennis group, city volley over indoor court fees

Arkansas City commissioners, Cowley College and school district officials, along with an indoor tennis association are struggling to agree on how to make the best use of the Agri-Business building, a community-event center that hosts everything from mixed-martial arts to daddy-daughter dances.

The debate centers on the future of the tennis courts inside the facility and the fees being charged for usage. One option involves removing the tennis court surface and replacing it with a more durable one.

The new floor would allow a larger variety of activities and be easier to clean and maintain, according to city officials. It would cost $65,000, but last 30-40 years.

A second option would be to keep the current flooring and increase usage fees for the indoor courts to help defray expenses.

City Manager Nick Hernandez said the courts need resurfacing, which would cost approximately $13,000. Depending on usage, the court floor could require a resurface every five years.

Hernandez proposed that the tennis association pay a fee of $1,250 per year, then pay $2 per court per hour, if the courts remained.

(Read more: The Arkansas City Traveler)

Roeland Park’s new leaf pickup truck is ready to hit the streets this fall — along with changes to city’s program

Roeland Park’s one-of-a-kind leaf pickup program is getting a new look this fall.

The city recently purchased a new leaf pickup truck that vacuums up leaves instead of scooping them. Jose Leon, Roeland Park public works director, said Roeland Park was “in dire need” of replacing the equipment because it incurred hefty maintenance expenses last fall.

During pickup season in 2017, several bricks, landscape rocks, yard tools and other heavy objects hidden in leaf piles got picked up by the machine and broke the leaf shredder. Those issues cost thousands of dollars and “a lot of downtime” to fix.

“Over the last couple of years, having to deal with that and the age of the equipment, all of that combined just really made us look at other options,” Leon said.

The new truck is expected to mitigate some of those issues — but it will also require a change to the way residents must prepare the leaves for pick up.

“No longer are leaves allowed to be placed in the street,” read a message from the city to residents last week. “The leaves are now required to be placed behind the curb in front of your home for pickup.”

Questions remain as Lawrence considers raising age to buy tobacco products

Lawrence city commissioners will soon consider a measure that would raise the age to purchase tobacco products in the city from 18 to 21.

Both the Lawrence school district and the Douglas County Commission have voiced support for the Tobacco 21 initiative, which would ban the sale of all tobacco-related products, including electronic cigarettes and vaping devices used to inhale nicotine, for those under 21. However, the city government would be the body in charge of creating, enforcing and legally defending such an ordinance, and city leaders have questions.
Though Mayor Stuart Boley is undecided on the topic, he said the measure is an issue he is looking forward to learning more about and one the commission needs to consider. Boley said one of the questions is whether city government could legally defend such an ordinance if it were passed.

Read more: LJWorld.

We’re getting a new baseball team, Wichita. What do you want to call it?

The Wichita Linemen, the Keepers; the Sky Kings; the Lightning, the Bombers, the Funnel Cakes, the Aviators.

Mayor Jeff Longwell and Vice Mayor Bryan Frye are hearing a lot of suggestions these days of potential names for the Triple-A Minor League Baseball team that will occupy the new ballpark that will be replacing the venerable Lawrence-Dumont Stadium at Maple and McLean. “I’ve heard so many great, creative imaginative names,” Frye said. “Wichitans are really pulling out all the stops. I like to think I’m a creative person, but I haven’t found one that I’m ready to push forward yet.

He has some time left. The team isn’t due to arrive in Wichita until 2020 at the earliest, but already, the town is talking about what to name it.

Clearly the team’s current name, the “Baby Cakes,” isn’t going to cut it.

(Read more: Local News |)

Building a legacy in Garden City

During his first month in Garden City, Steve Cottrell spent his evenings driving around town.

It was 1975 and the 23-year-old, going on 24, had just graduated from the University of Nebraska to take his first job as assistant city manager for the City of Garden City.

The city, with a population near 15,000, wasn’t too different from his western Nebraska hometown of Scottsbluff, he said. It was flatter, but still had ample feedlots, with wheat crops instead of sugar beat.

Steering through main roads and neighborhoods, Cottrell memorized the town. He learned address ranges, streets and block numbers. He got the feel for different areas.

Forty-three years later, the routes come second nature to Cottrell. He and his wife have tried leaving town twice since those early years, but something about Garden City and its people “made (him) feel home.” After over three decades as the city engineer, to say he’s taken ownership of the area is an understatement.

Trails set for Little Jerusalem, located south of Oakley

“They’re really stunning,” said Mike Goodwin on Tuesday of the towering chalk formations that stretch as far as the eye can see at Little Jerusalem Badlands State Park.

As part of the Kansas Trails Council, Goodwin was walking the badlands, scouting trail locations and setting pink flags to mark the route for two new trails at Kansas’ newest state park.

“There are lots of canyons and rock towers,” Goodwin said. “Every time you turn a corner it’s an interesting view.”

Few people have seen the new state park. Not yet open to the public, Little Jerusalem has no public access infrastructure at all.

But that will most likely change by next summer, said Matt Bain, who works for the badlands’ owner, The Nature Conservancy of Kansas. And top of mind while designing the two new trails and parking lot is that the 85-million-year-old chalk is very fragile and highly erodible.

“If you concentrate foot traffic, it’s going to erode,” Bain said. “We’re trying to limit the public access infrastructure as much as we can and still accommodate users. So it’s a balance. We want people to enjoy it and learn from it, while keeping the area as pristine as it is today.”

Municipal Airport discussion continues in Gardner

If words were actions, Gardner would have a KCI-type airport in place of the city’s municipal airport.
Since taking Gardner Municipal Airport over in January 2016, untold hours have been spent discussing the airport’s future, although little action has been taken to improve or maintain the property.
According to the Aug. 20 city council meeting minutes, a report document prepared for the council by “Lee Moore’s spouse,” provided a timeline of council input regarding GMA. The document was reviewed by the city council and obtained under the Kansas Open Records Act.
According to the report, in Sept. 2015, Laura Gourley, finance director, said the condition of the airport building was a concern, and said the staff was not holding out on the project, but more concerned with setting priorities.
According to the reviewed document, it doesn’t indicate council members addressed building concerns again until Aug. 2017 when Michael Kramer, director, told council about sanitary sewer issues.
A porta potty was set at GMA in April 2016 when Kramer determined the septic system had failed.
Council has been discussing the GMA toilet since then; and according to the Aug. 13 airport advisory board minutes, a construction survey for an 8 inch PVC sanitary sewer to be gravity flow and located on the north side of 175th St, has been completed. Funds for the project will be available in 2019.

(Read more: Gardner News)

BNSF says Kansas can’t regulate how long trains block traffic; State calls that ‘absurd’

The BNSF Railroad is challenging a Kansas law limiting how long trains can block intersections and a lawyer for the state says if the railroad wins, the answer could be forever.
The case spins off a blockage of two crossings in a rural part of Chase County, but how the court decides it would have ramifications for railroad crossings throughout the state.
A three-judge panel of the Kansas Court of Appeals heard oral arguments in the case Thursday at a special session held at Wichita State University.
The case revolves around lengthy blockage of two railroad crossings near the town of Bazaar in December of 2016.
The Chase County Sheriff’s Department cited BNSF saying it had parked a train on a siding for four hours, blocking the only two crossings that provide access to several farms.

Manhattan to use Wichita as guide for alcohol policy

The Manhattan City Commission wants to use Wichita as a guide to amend its policy on special events with alcohol.
The commission on Tuesday continued the discussion about making changes to allow for alcohol throughout an entire event area within the Aggieville Business District, the Downtown Business District (including Manhattan Town Center Plaza), and Blue Earth Plaza. The current policy only allows for fenced-in beer gardens where only people 21 or older can enter.
Wichita requires a special event applicant to notify adjacent businesses at least six weeks prior to the event and list on the permit application any drinking establishment that wants to participate.

Lawrence City Manager Tom Markus announces plans to resign in spring 2019

City Manager Tom Markus has announced that he plans to resign in spring 2019.
Markus, 67, made the announcement at the end of the Lawrence City Commission’s meeting Tuesday evening. In a letter to the commission, which he read aloud, Markus said that he was clear during the hiring process that he would not likely be a long-term city manager in Lawrence. Markus stated that while he had hoped that his tenure might be longer, he had decided it was time for him to move on.
After reading the letter, Markus told commissioners that the decision had not been easy.
“And you can tell by my voice that this was a difficult decision for me to make, but I think it’s the right decision for me and my family,” Markus said. “And I’ll work with you going forward to make this transition as smooth as we can.”
After a nationwide search, the City Commission voted in January 2016 to hire Markus, who has more than 40 years of experience in municipal government. Markus began his position in March of that year.

Read more: LJWorld.

Lawrence city leaders grateful for changes Markus made at City Hall, begin to consider next city manager

Though Lawrence city commissioners said they were sorry to hear City Manager Tom Markus’ announcement that he plans to resign, all said they are grateful for the changes he’s brought to City Hall.

Markus, 67, announced Tuesday that he plans to resign in the spring of 2019, which will mark approximately three years since he began his position as the city’s top administrator. When Markus was interviewed, he said he planned to hold the position a maximum of five years, and Markus said on Tuesday that he felt it was time for him to move on and that he hopes to spend more time with his family, including his six grandchildren.
Vice Mayor Lisa Larsen said she was sorry to hear about Markus’ decision, but that she understands his desire to spend more time with family. Larsen said though the city didn’t get the maximum of five years, the commission has gotten the shakeup at City Hall that it sought when hiring Markus.
“One of the reasons to have somebody from the outside come in is it gives you an opportunity to have somebody look at it from a whole different point of view,” Larsen said. “He has shown us where some of our weaknesses are.”

Read more: LJWorld.

After pushback from neighbors, Lenexa council rejects Vistas at Canyon Creek apartment project

A group of homeowners living near a proposed apartment complex in western Lenexa gathered nearly 200 petition signatures and sent a flurry of emails to City Council members in opposition to the project, and many showed up in force at Tuesday’s council meeting.

In the end, the council unanimously rejected the project.

The Vistas at Canyon Creek, proposed for the northwest corner of Canyon Creek Boulevard and Kansas Highway 10, would have required rezoning for the construction of 294 apartments in 12 buildings and a convenience store with gasoline pumps.

…

Kristin Kippes, a homeowner who lives near the proposed project, addressed the council Tuesday and expressed her and other nearby homeowners’ opposition to the project, including their belief that their property values would decrease and what she called “emotional concerns.”

(Read more: Shawnee Mission Post)

Overland Park moving forward with plan to install 37 new bike racks in downtown OP

Bicyclists stopping by downtown Overland Park will soon have many more places to hitch up. The city is in the process of getting 37 new racks to be distributed throughout the downtown area.

Three racks would go outside the Matt Ross Community Center.
“Downtown is a natural destination for bikes but there are really very few racks,” said Doug Johnson, of the city’s planning and development department.

That will change with the acceptance of a proposal from BikeWalkKC that the city council approved Monday night.

The bike racks come at no cost to the city. Instead, the $9,270 to install them will come through the Johnson County Department of Health and Environment’s LiveWell initiative, which provided the grant money. Maintenance will be done by the city parks department.

(Read more: Shawnee Mission Post)

Augusta hears about next generation of 9-1-1 call system

Augusta Department of Safety Director Bob Sage … explained that currently when someone calls 9-1-1, the phone will ring several times while the call processes through the system. With the transition to an ESINET system, the dispatcher may answer the call before the caller hears it ring. ESINET helps Kansas boost 9-1-1 reliability, speed emergency responsiveness and improve disaster recovery. For Kansans, this means a faster, more reliable 9-1-1 experience.

(Read more: andoveramerican.com)

Atchison weigh skatepark plans

Progress continues on Jeremy Watkins and Pam Cline’s project to provide a home for skaters around the region at Reisner Park.

The couple, parents to the late Joshua Kinsman, who died in January, met with city officials, supporters and local residents on Sept. 15 at the park to discuss the costs, benefits and implications of a new skatepark.

Kinsman had a lifelong dream of leading the construction of a skatepark in Atchison, which as been without a dedicated area for skaters for the last decade. After his tragic death, his parents formed the Skate High With Hope Joshua Kinsman Foundation to raise money for the project.
The City of Atchison is prepared to match up to $75,000 in fundraising. Watkins and Cline have been in contact with the Tony Hawk Foundation, which offers up to $25,000 for skatepark projects which demonstrate strong community support, and Pillar Design Studios of Phoenix, Arizona.

(Read more: Atchison Globe Now)

Manhattan estimates flood damage to be in the millions

The City of Manhattan has come out with estimates of the damage caused by the Labor Day Wildcat Creek flood — and the cost is in the millions.

Manhattan City Manager Ron Fehr was on Tuesday’s edition of KMAN’s In Focus and said the flash flooding caused $17.2 million in damage. He broke that down into private and public real estate damage — $14.5 million of which was sustained by private structures while $2.7 million was sustained by city property.

Additionally, Fehr said that a dozen properties suffered damage amounting to “50 percent or more” of the property’s value or had suffered damage in successive storms amounting to 25 percent or more of their property’s value. Of those properties, eight were residential and four were commercial.

(Read more: 1350 KMAN)

Earth is finally moving at Mission Gateway. But council is delaying one more thing

Preliminary site work is finally underway at the long-awaited Mission Gateway development, but the City Council has also approved a delay in the start of a tax incentive for the project.

Korb Maxwell, a Kansas City attorney working with the developer, told the City Council on Monday night that the required development milestones are being met. He said earth-moving equipment is working at the site bounded by Shawnee Mission Parkway, Johnson Drive and Roe Avenue. The development agreement required New York-based Cameron Group to start work by Oct. 31 on the first of three phases of the $200 million project. That first phase is 170 market-rate apartment units in three buildings along Johnson Drive and Roeland Drive, with first-floor retail shops. Completion of that phase is expected in April 2020. It’s the first tangible sign of progress after years of false starts. The former Mission Mall was demolished in 2005, but the 16-acre parcel has been vacant ever since.In October 2017, the city council adopted an ordinance establishing a community improvement district, which was to impose a 1-cent sales tax on retail activity within the district to help pay development costs. At the time, the CID was to take effect Jan. 1, 2019 and last for 22 years.

But on Monday night, the council agreed to push the start date of that tax to July 1, 2020, to correspond with the time when retail activity will have started.

(Read more: Government & Politics News |)

Pretty Prairie USD’s headcount surges; Haven USD’s numbers plummet

Two neighboring rural school districts in Reno County reported major swings in student numbers this year, as schools across the state conducted the annual student headcount Thursday.

Haven USD 312 experienced a drop of 52 students, as its headcount went from 813 a year ago to 761 this year. Haven USD closed Partridge Elementary School in May, and about 20 of 45 Partridge students are no longer attending Haven schools.

Pretty Prairie USD 311′s headcount jumped from about 259-260 a year ago to 295 students in kindergarten through Grade 12.

Pretty Prairie’s growth comes partly from the enrollment of former Partridge students but also from families that moved into the school district, according to Pretty Prairie School Superintendent Randy Hendrickson.

“That’s really good news. We’re very excited,” Hendrickson said of Pretty Prairie’s growth.

(Read more: Local – The Hutchinson News)

Shawnee County moves into next phase of Kansas Expocentre improvement project

Shawnee County on Thursday entered the construction document development phase of a high-dollar project to renovate the Kansas Expocentre. The planned $45 million Expocentre improvements are to be financed using revenue from the November 2014 approval by Shawnee County voters of a ballot question extending for 14 years — until Dec. 31, 2031 — a countywide half-cent sales tax used to raise revenue for economic development and infrastructure improvements. County Commissioner Archer made reference Thursday to the county continuing to lack a funding source for an estimated $3.5 million worth of costs for the project.

County counselor Jim Crowl responded that those figures weren’t firm, with the estimate having come about after county officials asked that it include “everything we would like to see.”

Crowl said the county would have an opportunity to refine those figures once a construction manager for the project is chosen.

Kansas River weir project costs turn out to be $2.5 million above estimate

Costs that turned out to be nearly $2.5 million higher than expected have held up work on a project by Topeka’s city government to improve the safety of its Kansas River weir, where three people have drowned since 2007.

Former Topeka Mayor Larry Wolgast, a member of the Topeka and Shawnee County Riverfront Authority, described the development Thursday as a “major setback” and said it was “extremely disappointing.”

City officials had intended last month to start work on the project at the concrete weir, located north of the city’s water treatment plant at 3245 N.W. Waterworks Drive.

But while the city’s estimate for costs to hire a company to carry out the project had been $1,979,000, the low bid the city received was $4,455,000, according to a city document.

“We will need to either change the scope or locate additional funding — or both,” Braxton Copley, the city’s deputy director of utilities, said Thursday.

Sedgwick County Election Office checks machines after water leak

The Sedgwick County Election Office is making sure the voting machines are working properly following a water leak Thursday.

Officials don’t believe any machines were damaged. They plan to work with the vendor to ensure proper functionality.

The city says the machines were properly stored so it is likely only the wheels at the bottom of the machines got wet.

(Read more: KWCH News)

After pushback from neighbors, Lenexa council rejects Vistas at Canyon Creek apartment project

A group of homeowners living near a proposed apartment complex in western Lenexa gathered nearly 200 petition signatures and sent a flurry of emails to City Council members in opposition to the project, and many showed up in force at Tuesday’s council meeting.

In the end, the council unanimously rejected the project.

The Vistas at Canyon Creek, proposed for the northwest corner of Canyon Creek Boulevard and Kansas Highway 10, would have required rezoning for the construction of 294 apartments in 12 buildings and a convenience store with gasoline pumps. At its July 17 meeting, the council remanded the proposal to the Lenexa Planning Commission, requiring the developer to submit a new design. The planning commission and city staff later recommended that the council approve the project.

Overland Park moving forward with plan to install 37 new bike racks in downtown OP

Bicyclists stopping by downtown Overland Park will soon have many more places to hitch up. The city is in the process of getting 37 new racks to be distributed throughout the downtown area. “Downtown is a natural destination for bikes but there are really very few racks,” said Doug Johnson, of the city’s planning and development department.

That will change with the acceptance of a proposal from BikeWalkKC that the city council approved Monday night.

The bike racks come at no cost to the city. Instead, the $9,270 to install them will come through the Johnson County Department of Health and Environment’s LiveWell initiative, which provided the grant money. Maintenance will be done by the city parks department.

Once the parks department approves the rack locations, the racks can be ordered. Johnson said they may be installed yet this fall.

New sports complex in Parsons still in planning stage

Planning is well underway for a sports complex on the north end of town, but the new fields probably won’t be ready for games until 2020.

Former NFL quarterback Shaun Hill, a Parsons High School alumnus, has pledged $250,000 through his charitable foundation for the sports complex that will include two multi-use fields. The fields will be large enough to divide into four youth soccer and flag football fields or used as two tackle football or adult soccer fields. The complex also will include a parking lot, a building for storage, concessions and restrooms, fencing and bleachers. Eventually lights and a scoreboard will be added.

The city of Parsons has committed a match of $250,000 in property and in-kind work. Jim Zaleski, economic development director for the city of Parsons, has been working with Gary Crissman, Parsons Recreation Commission executive director, who has taken over the day-to-day role of coordinating the project. The PRC will be responsible for maintenance and operation of the complex once completed. Hill, who came up with the idea, also has been involved, and Crissman said there has been a lot of assistance offered for free from local people as well.

(Read more: Parsons Sun)

Sedgwick County approves bond sale for Spirit AeroSystems expansion

The Sedgwick County Commission on Wednesday voted to approve the sale of general obligation bonds, that will help finance projects like the county’s portion of expansion funding for Spirit AeroSystems Inc.

The bulk of the $10 million total in Series B municipal bonds listed in county documents would reimburse the $7 million previously approved by the county for “Project Eclipse” over the next 10 years.

That project encompasses the partnership between the city of Wichita and the county with Spirit (NYSE: SPR) to help finance the construction of the company’s new 150,000-square-foot Global Digital Logistics Center in Wichita.

(Read more: Wichita Business Journal)

Rural Mainstreet still growing, but slower, survey says

The Creighton University Rural Mainstreet Index was released on Thursday for September. The overall index declined to 51.5 from 54.8 in August.

“This is of course, a survey of Bank CEOs in rural areas of 10 states, including Kansas,” said economist Ernie Goss. “Average community size is 1300. It’s based a lot on agriculture and what happens in energy, those two sectors. The number was above growth neutral, but it did decline for the month. I won’t say we’re moving in the wrong direction, but we’re certainly, some of the growth is cooling out there.”

Kansas is included in the cooling. The state’s rate dropped from August’s 56.3 to 53.2.

“The tariffs are kicking in or at least having some negative impacts,” said Goss. “We’re seeing that in the agricultural sector. For example, agricultural commodity prices are still very weak. Of course, we can trace that to some of the tariffs and trade restrictions and some of the uncertainty surrounding what’s going on between the U.S. and China.”

(Read more: WIBW News Now!)

City of Salina to present new vision for Broadway

After several months of work, citizen meetings, and workshops, the City of Salina announces a public open house to present the results of this planning process – a plan for a new vision for Broadway Boulevard. A major focus is the street itself, as businesses and property owners along the street have long been concerned about access and circulation problems partially created by medians in Broadway.

Other issues have included poor bicycle and pedestrian facilities, the street’s visual image and appearance, speed concerns, and underused adjacent property. The plan, which included extensive public participation and two public design studios, is designed to respond to these issues and help create a revitalized Broadway Boulevard.

(Read more: The Salina Post)

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.

Read more: LJWorld.

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)