Municipal News & Jobs

Kansas Municipal 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.

12 Kansas National Guard nurses go to provide hurricane aid

Twelve nurses, including eight from the Kansas Air National Guard and four from the Kansas Army National Guard, are going to provide emergency aid to North Carolina officials dealing with Hurricane Florence.

The nurses will assist North Carolina Public Health officials at local shelters in the area of Brunswick, N.C., said Jane Welch, acting director of public affairs for Kansas Adjutant General Lee Tafanelli’s office. Kansas Gov. Jef Colyer said, “We are grateful to the members of our Kansas National Guard for always being ready to lend a hand when called upon, and thank them for their willingness to assist the people of North Carolina with much needed hurricane relief.” Two other Kansas Guard members are in Washington D.C. providing support to the National Guard Bureau with military intelligence and logistics, while nine airmen from the 184th Intelligence Wing of the Kansas Air National Guard are in Wichita providing satellite imagery support, Welch said.

States and Cities’ Battle for Control of 5G Reaches the FCC

ack in 2016, several major phone carriers approached the city of McAllen, Texas, about building state-of-the-art 5G wireless networks. With the promise of ultra-fast internet connection speeds and an array of potential commercial and public applications, city officials eagerly entered into discussions about amending local ordinances to accommodate the necessary infrastructure. Months later, they were close to reaching an agreement on establishing a large-scale pilot program.

It all started to unravel, though, when McAllen and other Texas cities heard about a proposal in the legislature setting statewide rules for 5G installation and prohibiting local governments from negotiating their own deals. McAllen City Attorney Kevin Pagan says the wireless providers initially assured him they weren’t interested in asking for state legislative help. But then the bill started gaining traction. Company representatives stopped responding to Pagan’s emails about the licensing agreement, and he says he hasn’t heard from them since. Across the country, telecom companies are beginning to lay the groundwork for 5G wireless networks. The buildout often pits states against cities, as in Texas. But a proposal that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is set to vote on Sept. 26 would not only upend future local agreements, but also preempt states. If approved, localities across the country would have drastically less authority over 5G infrastructure. The key building blocks of 5G networks are small-cell antennas interwoven throughout city infrastructure, affixed to streetlights, utility poles or buildings. Providers typically describe them as the size of pizza boxes. But in actuality some of the antennas are much larger, while others are hardly noticeable at all. They generally need to physically connect to wireline fiber, so the first places expected to get 5G are densely populated urban areas with high consumer demand and existing fiber networks. One study conducted by the municipal advocacy group Next Century Cities, of jurisdictions considered to be leaders in technology, reported that 60 percent of communities with a wireline fiber connection to residences had small cells in place, while the same was true of only a third of those without existing fiber.

Unlike cellphone towers, small-cell nodes have limited range and poor ability to send signals through physical barriers. So telecoms may need to install hundreds of small cells to cover a relatively small area — an undertaking that becomes cost-prohibitive in less urbanized areas. For this reason, Blair Levin, a former FCC official who oversaw the National Broadband Plan, says 5G is likely to further widen the digital divide that has disadvantaged parts of rural America.

(Read more: GOVERNING.com)

New infrared laser technology to help Shawnee police work efficiently

New technology that could save some of your tax dollars is coming to the Shawnee Police Department.

The Shawnee City Council recently approved about $70,000 to buy a Faro 3D Laser Scanner. It will help officers map crime and crash scenes faster, with better accuracy.

The Faros are infrared lasers. They collect scene measurements on a cloud, with accuracy of plus or minus one millimeter. Essentially, it does all the work by taking “pictures,” and takes out room for human error, making for a more efficient process.

“If we put the scanner out there we can get all the data we need from the scene and all the evidence collected, we will be able to open up the road way quicker,” Sgt. Steve Walsh with the Shawnee Police Department said.

Right now, Shawnee PD is using the same system it had since 2002, a 2D system called “Total Station” that requires four or five officers to operate it for hours at a time.

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

Riley County police director injured in bicycle crash, taken to hospital, officials say

The director of a Kansas law enforcement agency has been injured in a crash while he was riding a bicycle, officials said.

Emergency crews were dispatched to a crash with injuries at around 12:55 p.m. Tuesday in the 2700 block of Moehlman Road, a rural area about 2 miles south of Manhattan, the Riley County Police Department said in a Facebook post.

Riley County police Director Brad Schoen was riding a bicycle when he was involved in a crash with another vehicle, RCPD officials said. He was taken to Via Christi Hospital.

The Kansas Highway Patrol is investigating the crash, RCPD officials said.

(Read more: Wichita Eagle)

Open Streets ICT block party, a surprise hit last year, returns even bigger this weekend

It was just something that Wichita Park & Recreation Director Troy Houtman wanted to try, an idea he’d seen presented at a conference.

So last September, not knowing how it would work out in Wichita, he and his crew closed down four miles of Wichita’s main downtown thoroughfare, filled it with food trucks and entertainment and invited Wichitans to ride their bikes over to enjoy it.

He wasn’t sure anyone would come. But they did — by the thousands. By the end of the event, organizers Wichita Park & Recreation and the Wichita Park Foundation estimated, 18,000 people had biked or walked through the first Open Streets ICT event, and many had stopped to eat, dance, play basketball, hula hoop and toss Frisbees while they were there.

“It was a tremendous success,” said Matthew Martinez, the assistant recreation supervisor for the park department. “It was exactly what we wanted to see — so many people on their bikes. We did not realize how many people in Wichita had bikes. It was amazing and so much fun.”

People loved the event so much, Martinez said, that many told organizers they should put on an Open Streets event twice a year. Organizers are considering it, but in the meantime, they’ve put together another one.

(Read more: Wichita Eagle)

Kansas Supreme Court-appointed committee presents recommendations on municipal court practices

An ad hoc committee appointed by the Kansas Supreme Court a year ago to review bonding practices, fines, and fees of Kansas’ municipal courts presented its recommendations at a news conference Wednesday.
The 18 committee members were appointed by Chief Justice Lawton Nuss in an order signed September 6, 2017. Of the 18 members, 16 are municipal judges, one a city attorney, and one an attorney from the League of Kansas Municipalities.
The Supreme Court directed the committee to study current municipal court practices, examine the practices in other courts across the country, and recommend best practices for Kansas municipal courts.
The committee’s report offered 18 recommendations. It was delivered to the judicial administrator of the Office of Judicial Administration and to the executive director of the League of Kansas Municipalities, as spelled out in the Supreme Court order.

Wheels set in motion to celebrate Belleville’s 150th anniversary in August 2019

A gala event to mark the 150th anniversary of the founding of Belleville has been set for August 16-18, 2019.
More than 20 volunteers attended a meeting of the Belleville Community PRIDE organization Sunday to lay the groundwork for the event. By consensus volunteers agreed that the Mid-America Cruise-in at the Crossroads, traditionally held in June, and the Ag Heritage Festival staged the July 4 weekend will be rolled into the 150th celebration to focus funds and volunteers into one event.

Lawrence considers requiring licenses, inspections for Airbnb, other short-term rentals

The City of Lawrence could soon begin regulating the fast-growing short-term rental business in Lawrence.

Following direction from city commissioners last year, city staff has drafted regulations that would allow short-term rentals in all residential areas, but would require them to be licensed, to be inspected annually, to be insured to a certain level and to follow occupancy limits and other restrictions. Permits for short-term rentals where the property owner resides elsewhere would be an option, but not guaranteed.

Current city code doesn’t allow short-term rentals, but that hasn’t stopped the practice from occurring in Lawrence. Figures show the number of such rentals has been growing quickly in Lawrence over the past few years.

Shawnee County commission OKs expenditure to ‘thwart low-life thieves’

Shawnee County Commissioner Bob Archer said Monday he felt irritated because Shawnee County needed to spend nearly $36,000 “to thwart low-life thieves” instead of on trails or parks equipment.

Still, Archer joined Commissioners Kevin Cook and Shelly Buhler in voting 3-0 to earmark that amount to buy a security system aimed specifically at deterring the theft of copper from baseball and softball fields at Dornwood Park, 2500 S.E. Highland.

“It’s unfortunate that we have to have to spend money on something reluctantly like this,” Buhler said.

Commissioners voted to use contingency funds to spend $35,982.04 to make the sole-source purchase of a security pulse system for the Dornwood Field lights from an Olathe-based company called Elecsys and to spend $9,933.13 to repair damage to lights resulting from copper thefts at Dornwood and at Shawnee North Community Center, 300 N.E. 43rd.

Monday’s vote came after Cook noted at a commission meeting last week that the theft in July of an estimated $200 worth of copper from the Kansas Expocentre grounds would ultimately cost the county about $100,000.

Topeka police chief: Dominique White shooting transformed law enforcement in city

Topeka police chief Bill Cochran said the department would handle the aftermath of a police shooting differently compared to nearly a year ago when Dominique White was killed.

White, 30, was shot Sept. 28, 2017, by officers Michael Cruse and Justin Mackey.

“Dominique White’s shooting did more to transform law enforcement in the city of Topeka and the state of Kansas than probably any other incident in a long, long time,” Cochran said.

The investigation was handed over to the Lawrence Police Department the day of the incident.

Cochran said the department didn’t know the status of the case as LPD investigated, but that in the future they would like to have some contact with the investigating agency so they can provide answers to Topekans. “I don’t think the public liked hearing, ‘Well, Lawrence has it and we don’t have any idea what’s going on,’” he said. The department is in discussions with other eastern Kansas law enforcement agencies and the Kansas Bureau of Investigation on handling police shootings so they are more “fluid.” One proposal is to have a team that can mobilize to investigate such incidents similar to the group Johnson County law enforcement agencies formed.

“We hope another situation like this never happens, but if something happens in the future, we want to be in a better position to be more responsive and accessible to the public,” Cochran said.

Olathe Police finding officer recruitment a struggle as city grows

Police departments across the country are struggling to find officers.

In Johnson County, Kan., it’s compounded by the region’s explosive growth.

Some estimates peg the population of Olathe to top 300,000 in the next 20 years. Finding officers to protect all those people is not easy. With over 70 active neighborhood watches, there’s still a strong sense of people looking out for each other. A big piece in keeping the community safe is its police force, and that’s a job that’s growing harder all the time to recruit for.

“We had a recent testing where we only had about 12 people come in and take the test. Fifteen years ago when I was hired, there were five positions and 200 people applied for it,” Olathe Police Sgt. Logan Bonney said.

The Olathe Police Department has got two extra challenges, a lot of officers are hitting retirement age and the city’s growing a ton.

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

Gathering ideas for Great Bend’s visioning project

A visioning project in Great Bend has spent time gathering information about the community in hopes of developing a plan to bring Great Bend into the future.

Great Bend’s population has declined 2.97 percent since 2010, there are 70 vacant housing units for sale, there are four employers that have over 300 employees, and 24 percent of the population is considered a millennial between the age of 15 and 34.

These statistics and many more were put together as a starting point for the master plan according to Sheila Shockey, founder and president of Shockey Consulting Services. Shockey Consulting Services was hired by the visioning group known as, “Great Bend, Better than Great,” through money from the Harms Trust. The process includes a steering committee that is meeting to discuss what they want to see in the future.

(Read more: Great Bend Post)

Hutch City Council seeks approval of new zoning ordinance

The Hutchinson City Council will take final action on the rezoning proposal that would allow for more condensed development in the older parts of the city during Tuesday’s agenda session. The changes were put in place after several public meetings and studies were done to see if the infill district would make property improvement easier. One of the biggest additions with the new zoning change would allow for the construction of a small apartment on property, such as a garage apartment.

Other changes include smaller setbacks and the number of parking spaces a property must have from two to one. The new residential zone covers an area of the city from 17th south, then east and west from K-61 to Cow Creek.

(Read more: Hutch Post)

Great Bend to renegotiate contract with the Chamber of Commerce

The contract between the City of Great Bend and the Great Bend Chamber of Commerce was drafted in 1999 and there have been no changes to the agreement since.

City Administrator Kendal Francis felt it was time to renegotiate the contract with the Chamber to get better clarification of what the City wants from the Chamber and the economic development the governing body wants to pursue. The contract with the Chamber automatically renews January 1, and in order to renegotiate the contract the City must give the Chamber 90 days notice. The Great Bend City Council voted in favor allowing the City to move forward with the renegotiation. Part of the Chamber’s funding comes from the special city sales tax. Through the General Fund and transfers to the Economic Development Incentives Fund, the Chamber was approved $370,000 in the 2019 budget.

(Read more: Great Bend Post)

Hesston library adds wifi checkout

The Hesston Public Library is expanding online offerings — now allowing library users to check out one of 10 WiFi hotspot devices.

“They check out just like a book, DVD or anything else,” said Libby Albers, head librarian at Hesston Public Library. “You can take them on the road, take them camping or take them home.”

Albers said the first users include a family that has moved and is waiting for their home internet service to be connected, a family whose cable line was cut during construction and others.

“There are a lot of ways to utilize this,” Albers said.

The Library received $3,500 grant from the Hesston Community Impact Fund through the Hesston Community Foundation, an affiliate of Central Kansas Community Foundation, to provide a new “Digital Equity” mobile WiFi hotspot lending service to library patrons.

“We had the right grant, and the right scope at the right time, so we pursued that,” Albers said.

(Read more: Newton Kansan)

Parsons hires new police chief

The city of Parsons announced Monday the hiring of a retired Louisiana law officer as police chief, replacing Chief Jason Sharp, who took a job with Labette Community College.

City Manager Debbie Lamb announced the hiring of Robert L. Spinks of Lake Charles, Louisiana. His hiring followed an internal, regional and national search. He was among four finalists.

An official start date will be announced soon. Spinks and his wife, Connie, are preparing for the relocation from Louisiana.

(Read more: Parsons Sun)