Municipal News & Jobs

Kansas Municipal News

Hospital tax approved in Ark City

A permanent, one-cent sales tax for South Central Kansas Medical Center received strong support among voters during a mail-in vote counted on Thursday.

The unofficial results showed 66 percent of the votes cast were in support of the proposal set forth by city and hospital officials to establish a long-term funding source for the financially struggling hospital center, while at the same time lowering overall sales tax going to the medical center from 1.5 percent to 1 percent.

Cowley County Clerk Karen Madison reported Thursday afternoon that 1,320 votes, more than 66.3 percent were cast in support of the measure with 670 votes against.

(Read more: The Arkansas City Traveler)

Pride, history drive rural community of Alton in Osborne County

Folks who inhabit tiny towns like Alton, population 98, remain viable because of civic pride and a willingness to give back to their community. For this little village, whose greatest claim to fame remains that of being the birthplace of Russell Stover, civic responsibility is just that – an old, established concept that compels people to work, play and live together in harmony. “Our annual celebration affords us the opportunity to bring people of this community and the surrounding towns together,” says Deanna Roach, a lifetime native who farms with her husband, Stanley, south of Alton. “We’re proud of our heritage, and we want people to know about it and continue to be a part of it.”

(Read more: The Arkansas City Traveler)

KBI, FBI asked to investigate “preferential treatment” at Hutchinson Police Department

The Kansas Bureau of Investigation – and possibly the FBI – are investigating the Hutchinson Police Department, Reno County District Attorney Keith Schroeder confirmed Thursday.

Schroeder said he sought the investigation after hearing “allegations and rumors of preferential treatment.”

He declined to go into details on who or what the preferential treatment involved, but said he sought an outside agency to look into the complaints due to “issues of integrity and trust that we need to have resolved.”

Schroeder said he didn’t know if the allegations rose to the level of a crime. But he said he wanted to resolved questions about the department because of U.S. Supreme Court rulings referred to as Brady/Giglio, requiring information that casts doubt on the credibility of testifying officers be revealed to the defense in a criminal case.

Schroeder said he asked the KBI to investigate and, after advised they may not have the staff to conduct an investigation, asked the FBI to join. He said, however, he doesn’t know who is handling the investigation.

“I’ve worked here 30 years, and this department has a legacy of being superior,” Schroeder said. “I still consider them to be superior. But I believed it was important enough to look into.”

(Read more: Local – The Hutchinson News)

Moundridge finds winning formula for growth

Nearly 82% of Kansas cities lost people over the last decade. That’s according to a new report out of KU’s Institute for Policy and Social Research. The losses get even worse when looking at towns that started with fewer than 10,000 people. But one town in Central Kansas has found a successful formula when it comes to attracting newcomers. “We offer free land to new business development and investment in our community,” said Murray McGee, Economic Development Director for the City of Moundridge.

As jobs came, people followed. Unemployment fell to just 3.3% and the city said companies have many job openings, ranging from sales clerks to engineers.

McGee said getting people to Moundridge still isn’t the last step in the city’s population growth plan.

“They want a community that gives new residents opportunities to really become part of the community,” he said. “And we try to do that.”

City leaders hold regular Newcomer Meetings to make sure everything’s going smoothly and new folks have the help they need to settle in. Moundridge has the biggest population jump in Central Kansas, between April 2010 and July 2017, for towns with fewer than 10,000 people.

(Read more: KAKE – News)

Split council approves increased paid holidays and vacation days for city employees

The City of Great Bend hired a firm from Kansas City to conduct a compensation study on all city employees. The study found that there were employees, mostly firefighters, which needed their salary increased to meet the market minimum. The Great Bend City Council approved a motion to improve compensation issues starting January 1, 2019.

The study also showed Great Bend was behind other comparable-sized cities for vacation days and paid holidays. Human Resources Director Randy Keasling recommended the City Council pass increases to both vacation days and holiday days for city employees.

Councilmember Jolene Biggs was against the motion, stating there are issues with underfunded or not funded at all projects within the capital improvement plan.

(Read more: Great Bend Post)

Hillsboro officials meet about options for internet

“We met with three people,” Hillsboro Economic Development Director Anthony Roy said. “One was from Star Point, and they manage fiber optics and operate them. He was there over the phone. And we had a gentleman from Graybar, which distributes and sells fiber optic equipment. And then the other guy was a representative of potential investors that invest in fiber networks. We knew the guy out of Graybar because he is from Wichita, but the other two we just talked about next steps. So they are just now going to put together a proposal or plan for a fiber build. Definitely nothing concrete by any means.”

Hillsboro only has a few options for Internet providers. A common complaint of Hillsboro residents is the lack of reliability and speed when it comes to the Internet.

“One of the things we would like is better options for Internet service,” Roy said. “Our biggest problem now is that we have areas in town that have fairly good Internet service. Like where I live gets very good, reliable service, but three blocks away someone may not be getting good service. So it is very spotty as to who is getting reliable service. We want everybody to have good service.”

This applies to both residential and business locations.

“As far as downtown, there is a need to have better service. I have spoken personally to several business owners downtown about their frustrations,” Roy said. “We just want to have good service [for Hillsboro] and see what our options are.”

(Read more: Hillsboro Free Press)

Saluting the forgotten lawn chairs of community festival

They’re the last standing reminders of another fun-filled Roots Festival weekend in Paola.

Long after the last act leaves the stage. After the last barbecue team RV pulls out of town. After the last piece of trash is picked up by the Square cleanup crew — they still remain.

Much like death and taxes, they’re a fact of life that will likely never go away. They’re the forgotten lawn chairs.

(Read more: The Miami County Republic)

Paola police department launches Take Me Home program

Sgt. Ryan Rayzor of the Paola Police Department wants to make sure all local residents are kept safe, especially those dealing with disorders that could potentially lead to misunderstandings with law enforcement.

That’s why he has spearheaded the creation of the Take Me Home program at the police department. The program is similar to others across the country that are based on the official Take Me Home program created in 2003 by officer Jimmy Donohoe in Florida. The program is endorsed by the Autism Society, and it was created so that children on the autism spectrum who wander will be returned safely and treated with understanding.

The concept is that police departments will develop a database of people who may need special assistance, which gives officers instant access to photos, emergency contacts and other information to reference if a youth is found wandering but is unresponsive with officers.

Rayzor said the program can be especially beneficial in a small-town community like Paola, because the officers likely will know all of the people registered in the program without even having to reference a database.

That’s why he is encouraging interested residents to schedule a time to come by the Paola Justice Center to pick up an enrollment form and meet the local police officers.

(Read more: The Miami County Republic)

Louisburg voters to decide fate of special sales tax in November

The sales tax in Louisburg could rise next year if residents approve its increase on the November ballot.

The Louisburg City Council voted Aug. 20 to ask voters to double the current infrastructure improvement sales tax from .25 to .5 of 1 percent, which would increase the total sales tax in the city from 9.25 percent to 9.5 percent. If approved, the sales tax increase would not go into effect until July 1, 2019.

The current infrastructure improvement city sales tax of .25 percent was approved by voters in 2010 to be collected for 10 years. That tax is set to sunset in 2020. “People see the work being done,” said Councilman Dave Maddax. “They see the progress and the sidewalks. I think they will go for it because they like their kids to be safe.”

City Administrator Nathan Law said city staff recommended increasing the special sales tax to .5 percent with no sunset and designated for general use.

(Read more: The Miami County Republic)

Miami County Commissioners decide fate of old jail

The graffiti was still legible.

But the splintered paint on the bars and walls of the empty cells were indications the 1960s-era building that once housed the sheriff’s office and jail had stood vacant for some months in the shadows of the three-story Miami County Detention Center across the street. The 96-bed center was dedicated in November 2017.

Miami County commissioners recently toured the old jail as they mulled options for the structure, designed to house 22 inmates. Commissioners discussed several options for the tired building, including renovation for office space or turning it into storage. Another possibility, commissioners said, was to raze the building and turn it into a parking lot to help alleviate a shortage of spaces around the courthouse, created in part by construction of the new detention center.

“We created the problem when we built that jail in our big parking lot,” Commissioner George Pretz said before taking the tour. “Now we need to solve it.”

During a follow-up discussion at the commission’s study session Aug. 29 County Administrator Shane Krull said the building was structurally sound but mechanically obsolete.

(Read more: The Miami County Republic)

Marion County Commission agrees to commission expansion proposal

Marion County Commission might grow by two members in January, depending on how the November election goes.

Commissioners at Friday’s meeting passed the decision unanimously, cancelling the need for chairman Dianne Novak to circulate a petition.

If the resolution passes in November, commissioners will have until Jan. 1 to restructure county districts with balanced populations.

“I believe the voters in the county want to decide that,” commissioner Kent Becker said.

If the county expands the commission, it cannot change district numbers for four years.

“It feels like the further away you get from Marion, the more you find people who want to go to a five-member board,” commissioner Randy Dallke said.

(Read more: Marion County RECORD)

Wichita is close to a deal with New Orleans Baby Cakes Triple-A baseball team

Wichita is in talks with the New Orleans Baby Cakes franchise, an affiliate of the Miami Marlins, to be Wichita’s new Triple-A team, several sources said Wednesday.

The deal is close to being finalized but is not yet done, sources say.

Mayor Jeff Longwell plans a baseball announcement of some sort at his regular Thursday briefing.

Longwell didn’t return a call for comment, nor did Augusto “Cookie” Rojas, the Baby Cakes senior vice president and general manager.

The Wichita Wingnuts, an independent baseball franchise, played its final game on Monday.

The city plans to tear down the 84-year-old Lawrence-Dumont Stadium downtown and build a new stadium that would accommodate baseball and other activities, possibly soccer.

The city has been working to lure a team that is affiliated with a Major League franchise. Financing for the Wichita project is expected to come from setting aside future sales and property taxes on commercial development expected to occur around the new stadium.

Wichita is planning to combine the stadium with significant retail, restaurant and drinking opportunities to create a more comprehensive entertainment experience that officials hope will attract patrons beyond the core baseball fans.

Great Bend City Administrator to hold quarterly community chats

Taking over the job July 30, Great Bend City Administrator Kendal Francis is making an effort to make himself more accessible to the public.

Francis announced at Tuesday’s Great Bend City Council meeting that he would be holding “Kendal’s Coffee” on a quarterly basis. During the coffee sessions, community members can come to talk to Francis about concerns or thoughts on the City.

(Read more: Great Bend Post)

Great Bend moves forward with no Public Works Director

When Charlie Suchy resigned as Great Bend Public Works Director in June, no timeline or procedure to find his replacement was announced. Now it appears that for the time being, the city will operate without a Public Works Director in place. According to Great Bend City Attorney Bob Suelter, City Administrator Kendal Francis will oversee the Public Works Department with assistance from a newly hired Assistant Public Works Director. Suelter says Francis has a background in public works, serving for nearly 20 years in Beloit with the city’s water and wastewater department. That person will be Simon Wiley who began his duties as Assistant Public Works Director three weeks ago. Wiley came to Great Bend after serving in a supervisory position for the city of Greenwood, Arkansas. He also has 10 years experience with the Arkansas Department of Transportation. He also has an interest in water and drainage issue, something that he says is unique for Great Bend.

(Read more: Great Bend Post)

Attorney General, Sunshine Coalition to offer free training sessions on open government laws in Topeka

Free training sessions on Kansas open government laws will be offered next month in Topeka and Johnson County, Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt and the Kansas Sunshine Coalition for Open Government announced today.

“Open access to the functions of government is important to self-government,” Schmidt said. “As our office investigates complaints of violations of open government laws, most often we find the violations were inadvertent and can be avoided through better education. I encourage public officials, candidates for public office, staff, members of the media and the public to participate in these training sessions to learn more about how these laws work.”

(Read more: WIBW News Now!)

Church fire mistake sparks new sharing agreement between city and county departments

Two months after a historic church suffered major fire damage and a Wichita fire truck was prematurely called back from the scene, the city and county have reached a new agreement on sharing resources to try to make sure it doesn’t happen again, officials said Wednesday.

The new agreement places the decision of whether to release equipment in the hands of the on-scene commander at an emergency, said County Manager Michael Scholes and City Manager Robert Layton.

The new accord on shared support was reached Aug. 30. The agreement rises from the ashes of the St. Joseph Catholic Church in Andale.

A lightning strike on June 24 set fire to the church. It suffered an estimated $1 million in damage after a Wichita ladder truck was pulled off the fire line by someone in the chain of command at the city fire department.

The county doesn’t have that type of truck, and county officials say the damage would have been less extensive if the truck had stayed on the scene fighting the fire.

(Read more: Wichita Eagle)

Kechi receives funding for arts district

It’s been a long time coming.

The City of Kechi announced this week that it received funds to design and construct a downtown arts and business district in the city.

The city has been waiting for approval for four years.

“The city council and staff members have been going the extra mile over the last few years to get to this point,” said City Administrator Robert Conger. “Once the planning phase is complete, things should move rather quickly since the funding has already been approved.”

In a 2015 strategic plan, residents expressed a vision for a vibrant, downtown arts and business district in the heart of the city. Original graphic renditions captured elements that would expand downtown opportunities for artists, crafters and different types of small business.

(Read more: Ark Valley News)

Valley Center considers prepay fuel law

On Aug. 25, Valley Center police responded to a gas drive-off at Casey’s General Store in the 200 block of South Meridian.

An older-style, red, two-door vehicle driven by a white male with long hair pumped $26 worth of fuel and left without paying.

Officers searched the area, couldn’t find the suspect and returned to the gas station to get information for a theft report.

It’s a familiar scenario, which rarely has a successful conclusion for either law enforcement or the gas station.

That’s why the city and the police department are proposing an ordinance that would make Valley Center a preapproval or prepay gasoline town.

“It takes 40 minutes, typically, from when the call comes out to taking a report,” Chief Lloyd Newman said. “… That’s part of our job, and we’ll do it. But there is a way to prevent it from happening.”

(Read more: Ark Valley News)

Junction City Commission Consensus: Sell Land Bank Lots Without Specials

The Junction City Commission by consensus has decided to leave lots in the Land Bank available for sale without special assessments. Those assessments are normally used to fund infrastructure related to the lots, but the City has several hundred of those lots available and they are not selling rapidly.

There was a push by a contingent of home owners in the Land Bank area to require the lots to be sold with the specials. They pay special assessments and are concerned that when the time comes to sell their homes they will not be able to do so since newer homes could potentially be built by developers and sold for less due to the lack of those assessments. Mayor Pat Landes noted he wants to see the City succeed. “We have valuable resources here in these Land Bank lots. We just have so many of them, and that’s the issue. We will continue to beat the drum with our economic development folks to try to bring jobs here and get more people to come to Junction City.”

(Read more: Junction City Post)

Atchison restricts smoking, approves demolitions

Smoking on areas of land owned by the City of Atchison will be prohibited following a divided vote by its governing body on Tuesday.

Resolution No. 6950, which prohibits the use of certain products within 25 feet of a playground, passed 3-2 during the regular City Commission meeting held following the Labor Day break.

Now-prohibited items include, but aren’t limited to, cigarettes, cigars, chewing tobacco, snuff, pipes, electronic smoking devices and any nicotine infusion device or product that isn’t backed by the Food and Drug Administration for use in addiction cessation.Chief Mike Wilson said after the meeting that City Attorney Bob Campbell is prepared to prosecute any violations as a Class C misdemeanor, entailing fines of up to $500. Wilson said his police officers will be enforcing the measure in a similar manner to the citation of traffic violations.

(Read more: Atchison Globe Now)

Walnut Valley Festival delayed due to wet weather

Officials at Walnut Valley Association have announced that the Land Rush for this year’s Walnut Valley Festival will be delayed till the weekend in order to allow for drying of the campgrounds. Land Rush will NOT be held on Thursday, September 6, as planned. On Thursday at noon, officials will announce whether the Land Rush will be held on Saturday, Sept. 8, or Sunday, Sept. 9. The information will be posted on the WVF website, wvfest.com, on the Festival’s Facebook and Twitter accounts, and posted on the mobile app as well.

Festival officials ask that people delay their arrival to festival grounds until Friday.

(Read more: KWCH News)

New charter ordinance defines uses of transient guest tax in Leavenworth

Last week, Leavenworth city commissioners approved a charter ordinance concerning the use of funds from the city’s transient guest tax. But the ordinance has not yet taken effect because it is subject to a 60-day protest period.

Assistant City Manager Taylour Tedder said the ordinance provides more guidance regarding how money from the tax can be used.

The transient guest tax is charged to people who stay at hotels in the city.

The state government ordinarily collects transient guest tax revenue for municipalities. But in 2015, the City Commission approved a charter ordinance to allow the city, instead of the state, to collect the money from the city’s transient guest tax.

But this earlier charter ordinance did not expand on the uses for the transient guest tax beyond what was already written in state law, Tedder said.

According to state law, money from the transient guest tax can be used for convention and tourism promotion.

“You can argue a lot of things are related to tourism,” Tedder said.

He said the charter ordinance approved last week provides clear-cut guidance.

(Read more: Leavenworth Times)

Leavenworth County Commission seeks to void entire contract, dismiss counterclaims

After a judge ruled that severance provisions of a former county employee’s contract are void, a lawyer for the Leavenworth County Commission is seeking to have the entire contract deemed void.

The County Commission also is asking the judge to dismiss counterclaims filed by former Human Resources Director Tamara Copeland.

The motion for a summary judgement was filed Aug. 24 by attorney Scott Ryburn, who is representing the County Commission in a lawsuit that was filed last year.

The motion focuses on a five-year contract that was approved for Copeland in September 2016. The contract included provisions that required the county to continue paying and providing benefits to Copeland if she was fired.

Copeland was terminated from her position with the county in October, and commissioners stopped paying her at that time.

In July, Senior Judge Edward Bouker ruled that the severance provisions in Copeland’s contract extended beyond the term of the County Commission that approved the contract and were an “attempt to improperly bind successor boards in matters incident to their own administration and responsibility.” Bouker ruled the provisions were contrary to public interest.

(Read more: Leavenworth Times)

Wichita councilman asks planning commission to look at tiny home rules

A Wichita city councilman is asking the planning staff to look at city rules after a controversy sparked surrounding a tiny homes development.

The 90-home development is in the works at 143rd and Harry.
That was approved by the council two weeks ago.

It is surrounded by large, expensive homes, and now some of those neighbors are upset about the tiny homes – saying they’re worried it might affect their home values.

These luxury tiny homes are advertised as small as 408 square feet for the development in southeast Wichita.

A city councilman formally requested research be done on building requirements when it comes to size, as well as the public notification process for changes in nearby property.

“I wasn’t just going to sweep it away and say okay it’s on to the next deal, this one is too important that we don’t relook at the seriousness of it,” Wichita City Council member Pete Meitzner says.

(Read more: KWCH News)

Governor declares state of disaster emergency due to flooding

Gov. Jeff Colyer MD has issued a state of disaster emergency declaration for five Kansas counties affected by flooding over the weekend. Named in the declaration are Jewell, Kingman, Marshall, Pratt, and Riley Counties.

Damages in these counties included washed out roads, bridges, culverts and flooding to some businesses and residential properties.

“Here in Kansas we make it a priority to take care of our neighbors,” said Colyer. “Those impacted by the recent flooding have our full support and we will continue to do whatever is needed to help during this time of emergency.”

(Read more: Little Apple Post)

Lindsborg hospital’s past, future to be highlighted

Health care has seen a number of rapid changes in recent decades, and those changes necessitated an evolution in the way hospitals were set up to treat patients.

Larry Van Der Wege, administrator at Lindsborg Community Hospital, will present “75 Years and Counting” at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 11 at the Bethany Home Activity Center, 321 N. Chestnut in Lindsborg. The program is sponsored by the Smoky Valley Historical Association.

Van Der Wege intends to share some of the hospital’s history and its different locations throughout the year.

“A big story to tell is that we still have a very high-functioning, capable health care system here in Lindsborg and have for 75 years as the Lindsborg Community Hospital Association and had it even prior to that with private practices,” Van Der Wege said.

(Read more: McPherson Sentinel)

Overland Park is the best place in the country to raise a family, according to new rankings

With affordable cost-of-living, great schools and child care options and strong socioeconomic factors like intact families and high employment rates, Overland Park is the best place in the country to raise a family.

That’s according to the 2018 installment of WalletHub’s national Best Places to Raise a Family rankings.

Overland Park topped the list of more than 180 U.S. cities, including the 150 most populous. It’s the second year in a row that it’s taken the Best Place to Raise a Family honor.

Tonganoxie’s economy struggling as popular farm’s sunflower crop slow to bloom

It was an unusual Labor Day weekend in the metro’s favorite sunflower patch.

They’re one of nature’s splendors and Leavenworth County’s brightest sights. Labor Day weekend is always busy at Grinter’s Farm in Tonganoxie since it’s about the time Ted Grinter’s legendary sunflower crop begins to bloom.

However, the flowers aren’t nearly as tall and colorful as they normally are, thanks to a dry summer that hasn’t provided enough rain since Grinter planted flowers six weeks ago.

And a small town that depends on flower power is taking notice. “This year, it’s been a little tricky because God didn’t cooperate,” Kathy Link, operator of Kathy’s Kottage, said with a grin Monday.

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

Hutchinson City Council approves support for bike trail grant

The Hutchinson City Council gave its approval to support a KDOT grant that would extend the GVI bike trail to the west of Plum Avenue.

The Transportation Alternatives grant would pay for 80 percent of the project while the city would be responsible for the rest. The estimated cost of the project would be $641,000 with the grant paying for $513,000. The city would be responsible for the remaining balance. That does not include land acquisition along the trail. KDOT announced it will not have such grant funds available after this year. No price tag was available on the project, which would be constructed in 2020.

(Read more: Hutch Post)

Hannes Zacharias completes river advenuture

Kayaker Hannes Zacharias will miss the solitude of spending months on the river – “something about the measured pace,” he said – but he won’t seek to repeat the solo adventure he just finished.

Zacharias paddled – and partially hiked, drove, and rode – as he followed water flowing east from the Continental Divide in Colorado to the Mississippi River and ultimately the Gulf of Mexico. He began the journey May 2,6 capturing snow from Tennessee Pass in Colorado that he poured into the Mississippi River Over Labor Day weekend.

Zacharias grew up in Dodge City and paddled from Dodge City to New Orleans in 1976 when he was a 22-year-old. He was determined that one day he would do the complete trip, following the water from Colorado to New Orleans.

This year found him between jobs as the former county manager of Johnson County and the future professor of practice at the University of Kansas’ School of Public Affairs and Administration, so he undertook the adventure on the Arkansas River.

(Read more: News – The Hutchinson News)

Hutch seeks to improve rental inspection program

The Hutchinson City Council decided to continue a controversial rental property inspection program for another year while waiving the fees charged to landlords and ordering a restructuring of the policies.

Council members on Tuesday heard from a handful of landlords, most of whom called the 2015 Rental Registration and Inspection program unfair.

The council voted unanimously to have the city’s Housing Commission study ways to improve the program, which was meant to protect renters. But the landlords said it was often used as a way for residents who don’t pay rent or were facing eviction to retaliate against property owners.

The original program required registering and interior inspections of rental properties – a policy that landlords argued violated the Fourth Amendment rights of their tenants against search and seizure. The state legislature upended the ordinance, along with others around the state, by passing a law preventing cities from conducting periodic inspections of rental housing without a warrant.

Members of the Housing Commission asked the council to continue the program and allow them to look for ways to improve the program and make it more equitable.

(Read more: News – The Hutchinson News)

Shawnee County Treasurer Larry Mah says state, not county, charges online vehicle registration fee

The Shawnee County Treasurer’s Office charges no fee to renew motor vehicle registrations online, but the state of Kansas does, says county Treasurer Larry Mah.

He spoke in response to concerns expressed by Topeka Capital-Journal readers after the newspaper published an article about fees associated with the registration process.

Mah had said in a Topeka Capital-Journal article published Saturday that while his office charges a $3 facility fee to people who renew their registrations at its office or annex, it assesses no such fees to those who renew those registrations by mail or online.

Mah shared that information in response to a question posed by a Capital-Journal reader as part of a public engagement project.

He said that because interacting with customers in person is more time-consuming and expensive than processing payments submitted by mail or online, the treasurer’s office charges the $3 facility fee to those who pay vehicle registration fees at the office or annex.

Chanute utilities director ‘unicorn’ remembered by friends, co-workers

Friends and co-workers reacted Tuesday to the death of Chanute Utilities Director Larry Gates. Gates passed away early Friday after a brief illness.

Chanute City Manager Jeff Cantrell recalled Gates as rock-solid, confident in his work, compassionate and someone who would give the shirt off his back.

“The loss is a shock to our organization,” Cantrell said.

Although he did not give details, he said officials knew about 30 days ago that Gates had serious health issues. Cantrell said even while undergoing treatment, Gates kept involved with city services through texts and emails.

“Larry was my boss, my mentor,” retired utilities employee Dave Hawkins said. “He knew how to conduct business and get things done.” Gates was a member of the Board of Directors of Kansas Municipal Utilities, first representing the city of Erie and later Chanute. He was also chair of the KMU Legislative and Regulatory Committee in 2000 and was Regional Coordinator for the Kansas Mutual Aid Program for Utilities. Cantrell said he does not anticipate replacing Gates.

“Larry was a unicorn in this line of work,” Cantrell said.

Instead, the city expects to reorganize the department with three groups, department heads and the city manager picking up Gates’ duties and some work being outsourced.

Parsons OKs loan, small grant for Domino’s

Domino’s Pizza could open in Parsons as early as February, the future owner told city commissioners Tuesday.

The Parsons City Commission approved a $115,000 loan for Pizza Properties LLC for the future Domino’s carry-out and delivery restaurant that will be built east of the new Dollar Tree, 2105 Main. The 20-year loan with 4.25 percent interest will come from a revolving loan fund created by three contributions from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development and city funding.

The commissioners also approved a $5,000 retail recruitment incentive grant to Pizza Properties.

Emily Elwell, who owns Pizza Properties with her husband, Dan, told the commissioners Dan Elwell discovered Parsons as he was taking a different route back to their Webb City, Missouri, home from their Domino’s in Fort Scott.

Elwell said the Parsons store will be their ninth. The Elwells met while working for a Domino’s. Dan Elwell was a driver and Emily Elwell was an order taker. They worked their way up until they bought their own Domino’s and then expanded from there.

“We have a great story and would love to expand into your city,” Emily Elwell said.

Mayor Kevin Cruse said the Elwells and the city are fortunate that there is plenty of money in the revolving loan fund because it hasn’t been used in several years. Interest rates had been low enough on the private market to make the 4.25 percent offered in the revolving loan fund to be less attractive.

(Read more: Parsons Sun)

Carbondale celebrates coming of fall at annual festival Saturday

Carbondale is gearing up for its annual fall festival, returning this year to the second Saturday in September. The 2018 Carbondale Fall Festival is this Saturday, Sept 8.

All activities will be in the new side of City Park., with vendors, a car show on Kansas Avenue, special parade for youth, variety of bounce houses, slides, and obstacle courses appropriate for toddlers to adults. Farmers market vendors will have a bonus sale opportunity at the festival, along with assorted foods and crafts. The Osage County Sheriff’s Office will have an information table and gifts for children and adults. The Carbondale Lions Club will fire up its funnel cake stand at 5 p.m., with all proceeds going to Santa Fe Trail High School Scholarship Fund.

Belleville is looking a lot better

The appearance of residential areas in Belleville are improving.
After getting off to a rocky, contentious start the North Central Regional Planning Commission as the determining agency for nuisance abatement in Republic County’s largest city has turned in a “thumbs up” assessment.
“If you have not driven around you really need to,” Carol Torkelson of the NCRPC told members of the Belleville City Council last week. “You will see amazing thing. People really do have pride in their properties.”

Flooding closes south side of Pratt

Torrential rains Sept 3 dumped from six to over eight inches of rain across the county causing heavy flooding on the Ninnescah River pushing water over the banks and causing numerous road closures especially in the Pratt area. Parks and the Pratt County Veteran’s Memorial Lake were filled to overflowing. Several families in low lying areas had to be rescued.

Smoky Hill Museum in Salina hosts presentation to focus on ancient site of Etzanoa

Etzanoa. For centuries it lay buried beneath the Kansas soil, holding its secrets and waiting. It waits no more. Join Dr. Donald Blakeslee as he discusses this exciting archeological discovery.

This free presentation is hosted by the Smoky Hill Museum on Thursday from 5:30-6:30 p.m. To accommodate a larger crowd, the presentation will be held at the First United Methodist Church’s Fellowship Hall, 122 N Eighth St., just across Iron Avenue from the museum.

Spaniards called it the Great Settlement, while a native name for the town was Etzanoa. This ancient settlement in southern Kansas was home to more than 20,000 ancestral Wichita Native American people.

Blakeslee will share why he decided to look for this city and how he gathered and deciphered clues. He’ll also share information about the initial dig and what they’ve found so far, as he works to uncover one of the largest Native American cities in North America. Blakeslee is an author and professor of archeology at Wichita State University.

(Read more: The Salina Post)

Shawnee Mission looking to make gun locks available for pick up at schools

As part of its continuing efforts to provide the safest and most secure learning environments possible, the Shawnee Mission School District’s police department is mounting an effort to promote gun safety within the homes of students. Giving an update on the department’s current strategy and tactics to the board of education this week, Director of Safety and Security John Douglass said that staff will be working with schools to promote a “culture of safety” that extends beyond the school building.

Part of that push will be encouraging parents to lock gun cabinets in their homes and otherwise secure weapons. The district is also hoping to make free gun locks available for pick up through school buildings in the coming months.

Douglass said that while much work has been done to allow schools to create a secure perimeter in the case of an active shooter situation — which he noted are still exceptionally rare — there needs to be a focus on preventing kids’ access to firearms.

City of Topeka considers raising sales tax to aid Cyrus Hotel investment

Topeka’s governing body, which two years ago authorized a 1 percent extra sales tax upon purchases made at downtown Topeka’s Cyrus Hotel, on Tuesday will consider raising that to 2 percent.

A proposal to make that move is among items on the agenda when that body, consisting of the nine city council members and Mayor Michelle De La Isla, meets at 6 p.m. in its chambers at 214 S.E. 8th. The city’s governing body plans to hear public comments and consider raising the special sales tax imposed to aid development of the $30 million Cyrus Hotel and restaurant property, which remains under construction at 912-924 S. Kansas Ave.

That body voted in September 2016 to establish a community improvement district enabling Cody Foster’s AIM Strategies LLC to assess a 1 percent sales tax on all purchases made on the property to reimburse private investment in the development. That tax is to be assessed in addition to other sales taxes levied in Shawnee County.

Assistant city manager Doug Gerber told city governing body members last month that the developers initially pitched a 2 percent tax, but officials didn’t feel comfortable with that at the time.

“The general sense now is 2 percent is appropriate for larger projects,” he said.

McPherson business owners push for Sunday liquor sales

McPherson residents are renewing a push to allow liquor sales on Sundays.

Stores like Dotties Girls are closed on Sundays meaning McPherson residents have to drive out of town just to get alcohol, something the owners hope changes soon

“There is so many people that have it, canton, Lindsborg, Salina, so we figured why not here in McPherson.”

Rhonda Boyston and Amy Russell own Dottie’s Girls Liquor Store in McPherson. They’ve been pushing for Sunday sales for a while now, something they say is long over due.

Mcpherson is one of the few cities in Kansas that does not have sales on Sunday following a law change in 2004 which lets cities decide if they can sell alcohol.

(Read more: KWCH News)

They created a new downtown ‘basically out of a field.’ Lenexa City Center is booming

The line of customers formed early and kept coming Saturday at the Red Kitchen Tamales food stall in Lenexa City Center’s Public Market. Owner Alejandra de la Fuente paused briefly from serving to reflect on her start-up’s remarkable blossoming over the past year.

“I think it’s amazing,” said de la Fuente. “There are always more and more people coming.”

Red Kitchen Tamales’ success is just one example of the progress at Lenexa City Center, the new heart of the suburb 15 miles from Kansas City. It has sprouted from what was farmland not too long ago, west of Interstate 435 at 87th Street Parkway and Renner Boulevard.

“The unique part for us is creating a Lenexa downtown basically out of a field,” said Keith Copaken of Copaken Brooks, the master developer for the southwest corner of Lenexa City Center. “It’s creating its own destination and its own draw, not just for Lenexa but for all residents of western Johnson County.”

Manhattan, Kan., hit by ’500-year event.’ Hundreds evacuated in flash flood.

Nearly 9 inches of rain that pounded Manhattan, Kan., overnight and into the day Monday caused major flash flooding, forcing more than 300 people to evacuate their homes. Some 750 homes still lack power, the city of Manhattan reports.

“We’re saying it is a 500-year event, perhaps a 700-, 800-year event,” said Manhattan’s Municipal Government Manager Mark Fehr at a 2 p.m. press conference Monday.

Aerial photographs posted by the Riley County Police show buildings flooded nearly to their roofs. Two emergency shelters have been established, one at Cico Park and a second at Bramlage Coliseum.

‘”It is estimated that about 300 individuals have been impacted as of now,” Fehr said. The Army Corp. of Engineers, he said, reported 8.9 inches of rain had fallen in the area, causing Wildcat Creek to overflow its banks. Three bridges were overcome, two on Kansas 18 and the bridge on Scenic Drive.

(Read more: KC Star Local News)

Labette County supports widening U.S. 400

Labette County commissioners on Friday approved a resolution that recommends prioritizing U.S. 400 in Southeast Kansas as the Kansas Department of Transportation and Kansas Legislature consider the next statewide transportation program.

Jim Zaleski, the city of Parsons economic development director, brought the resolution to commissioners for their support. He said the Parsons City Commission will consider a similar resolution on Tuesday.

The hope is that U.S. 400 will become a four-lane road in the near future. The highway recently received passing lanes and county commissioners and Zaleski noted on Friday that much of the right-of-way is probably purchased for the expansion.

A transportation task force, created by legislation this year, is traveling the state gathering input for road work to consider for the next transportation plan. The task force meets in Pittsburg on Sept. 20 and Zaleski said he is on the agenda to speak.

(Read more: Parsons Sun)

Parsons applying for grant to help fund, light and extend trail

The city of Parsons likely will apply for a grant that would add lighting and concrete to much of the trail in Tolen Creek Park while also extending the path.

During a Thursday afternoon work session, the Parsons City Commission gave its approval for the city staff to prepare an application for a Kansas Department of Transportation grant through the agency’s Transportation Alternatives Program.

The grant would be used to pave the portion of the gravel trail that begins on Cattle Drive and follows the west side of the park to underneath the U.S. 400 bridge continuing northwest to near Union Road. From where the trail turns back east, the trail would be branched off to the north a short distance to Union Road and then extend west along the road to North 16th Street (U.S. 59). The existing part of the trail is gravel but would be converted to concrete as well as widened from 8 feet to 10 feet to comply with KDOT standards.

The project also would add solar lighting every 100 feet along the improved and extended portions of the trail.

City Manager Debbie Lamb said KDOT now has a short turnaround from the time funding is announced to the deadline to apply, so she would need approval to apply from the commission during its Tuesday evening meeting. The commissioners on Thursday gave their consent to continue working on the application so they can consider it Tuesday.

“I see this as a really good project,” Mayor Kevin Cruse said. “I don’t see any problem with moving forward.”

(Read more: Parsons Sun)