Municipal News & Jobs

Kansas Municipal News

Hays city commissioners roundly praise Arc inclusive playground plan

Hays City Commissioners offered encouraging words Thursday evening to organizers spearheading a fully accessible playground, ball park and splash pad at one of the city’s existing parks.

Commissioner Henry Schwaller IV told the group to be flexible and persistent and that he thought they could succeed with the ambitious $1.6 million project, particularly if they approach fundraising and construction in phases.

“You don’t have to do all three things at once,” Schwaller said. “If you want to do this in phase 1, 2 and 3, we’d be amenable to that as well. So I’d give you an 18-month window of time to build the playground, or whatever, raise money and execute it. …Just see how that goes and work through the other elements of it.”

The Arc of the Central Plains group presented details of the recreation complex at the commission’s regularly scheduled work session in City Hall. They are asking the city for permission to build the complex in Seven Hills Park at 33rd and Hillcrest. No existing park components would be disturbed, they said.

In describing the project, Sarah Meitner said response to the project has been overwhelmingly supportive.

(Read more: News – The Hays Daily News)

Wellington City Council contemplates how to clean up the city

The Wellington City Council wants to clean the city up, but they don’t want to take a heavy handed approach to get there.

The council heard from Winfield Environmental Inspector John Adams at a work session meeting Thursday and talked about various ideas to improve the city’s appearance.

Adams said he spends three hours per day looking around Winfield to find areas that need cleaning up. He said they are more proactive in their approach, and not complaint driven as many towns are. Adams said he tries to get a buy in from people, as opposed to forcing them to clean up property.

“Enforcement is the last resort,” Adams said. “It is not a money making thing. Our return on investment is about 20-25 percent.”

He said Winfield puts a door hanger note on people’s doors asking them to mow grass when it gets more than 12 inches tall. They have five days to comply, and if not, they will get a certified letter and they will have 30 days to get the situation taken care of. From there city of Winfield hires contractors to do the work and the homeowner gets the bill. It can be added to their taxes.

People have a right to request a meeting with city officials, and there a solution can be worked out.

(Read more: Sumner NewsCow)

Archaeologists explore a rural field in Kansas, and a lost city emerges

…Arkansas City is trying to determine how to promote its new claim to fame. Etzanoa remains mostly underground or on private land. Yet that hasn’t deterred interest.
“We get about 10 calls a day to see the lost city,” said Pamela Crain, director of the Convention & Visitors Bureau. “The vision is to have a visitors center. The other key is to persuade landowners to allow people onto their property.”
Limited tours began last spring, focusing on key historical and archaeological sites. Town leaders are hoping for a UNESCO World Heritage site designation.

Things are happening in … Baxter Springs

Down town Baxter Springs, Kansas. Future home of Cafe on the Route, Little Brick Inn, Decades of Wheels, The Spin Out, and Rita’s Roost.

How should Wichita handle surveillance cameras? Police want your opinions

After a controversial rollout, the Wichita Police Department is seeking the public’s help in drafting a policy for its surveillance cameras in Old Town — and beyond.

Should the chief of police be able to decide when to release surveillance video footage? Should the cameras be pointed through windows or into private rooms? What about traffic tickets?

Those are just three questions the public can answer directly to the Wichita Police Department through an online form, available here. The full text of the policy is available here.

“We have conducted a one year policy review and updated the public safety camera policy and are seeking community input and feedback,” a statement on the Wichita Police Department website says. “We recognize sensitivities associated with the use of this technology and seek your thoughts.”

(Read more: Wichita Eagle)

Edwardsville Fire Department Awarded $1 Million Grant for Regional Fire Agencies

The department was alerted in late July that the grant was awarded in the amount of $1,103,731 with a matching requirement of $110,373. Per the conditions of the MOU, participating agencies agreed to provide a 10% contribution to the total matching requirements for their approved items. Edwardsville’s contribution comes to approximately $11,037. This amount will be funded through the City’s special sales tax, which was established in 2014 for purchases related to Fire/EMS equipment, street improvements, as well as parks and recreation activity. The items included in the original grant application included SCBA packs with harness, backpack and face piece, RIT packs including regulators and face pieces, breathing air compressors and fill stations, as well as voice amplifiers and snap adapter tool kits. Approximately $17,000 worth of equipment was not included in the final award and will likely be presented to the City Council for purchase at a later date.

Source: City of Edwardsville

South Hutchinson approves $360,000 in city personnel cuts

Against the urging of citizens, including the Reno County Sheriff and the Nickerson schools superintendent, the South Hutchinson City Council voted 3-2 to make personnel cuts Thursday.

Citizens filled the council chambers — some standing in the hallway — and several spoke against the personnel cuts during a public comment session before the council entered an executive session to discuss nonelected personnel.

Council member Luke Herren said cuts were the only option to acquire the money the city needs.

“We’ve got to have cash,” Herren said. “And the hard part about it is the only way to have recurring money year after year is personnel cuts.”

Herren said after the city’s most recent audit, only $1,800 was available in unencumbered cash. That number should be closer to $200,000, he maintained. He said the city has to find money to keep operating in light of upcoming expenses such as payments for a storm siren, a lamp post and a bond issue about to go into effect,

“We have a bond issue on the streets, and I didn’t have anything to do with that. That was two years ago,” Herren said. “When I came onto the council I asked the city manager if we could get out of the contract. It would have cost us $700,000 we didn’t have to cancel the contract.” Every citizen who spoke at public comment session voiced opposition to layoffs in the South Hutchinson Police Department.

Among them: Reno County Sheriff Randy Henderson and USD 309 Superintendent Dr. Dawn Johnson.

(Read more: Local – The Hutchinson News)

‘It only gets better from here’: The landscape is changing in downtown Overland Park

Downtown Overland Park is experiencing a big boom.

With about 300 locally owned shops, restaurants, bars and Upper Crust, a nationally recognized bakery, people who live within walking distance say it’s a unique place to be.

“It is a little bit of a throwback to the 1950s with a lot of advantages to today’s technology,” said Janiece Vohland, who lives a few blocks away from downtown.

Downtown Overland Park runs from Metcalf, west to Conser and 78th to 82nd on the south. There’s a lot happening in the small stretch.

Downtown Overland Park

City officials attribute the new development, which includes apartments and retail, to a change in city code. About a decade ago, the city’s zoning ordinance was changed to allow buildings to be built up to five stories tall.

“That took place right during the recession,” said Doug Johnson, GIS and support services manager for Overland Park’s Planning and Development Services Department. “So for the first few years not much happened. As we came out of the recession, developer interest really spiked in downtown. And we’ve had several major projects, many of which are still under construction and a couple which are still yet to come.”

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

Clearwater throws birthday parade, celebration for 100-year-old former teacher

The town of Clearwater put together a parade all to honor one woman.

Hazel Dalbom turned 100 years old on Thursday.

Event organizers say Hazel has given back to her community for decades – as a teacher and school board member.

Once word spread that there was going to be a celebration in her honor, it grew into a city-wide event.

“I was very proud and emotion that we’re able to live in a community that was able to this for someone so special,” said organizer Risse Zimmerman.

Hazel got to ride on a cart for the entire parade. She was escorted by the city’s fire trucks.

Students from the local schools came out to wave and play music for her. Even the mayor showed up.

(Read more: KWCH News)

Leavenworth files response in body camera lawsuit

Attorneys for the city of Leavenworth have filed a written response to a lawsuit that seeks the release of video of a 2017 officer-involved shooting.

The written response argues that the city’s denial of requests for the video remains in good faith and with a reasonable basis in law. The response also argues there is no public interest in the requested materials.

The response was submitted on behalf of the city by Michael Seck, an attorney with the law firm of Fisher Patterson Sayler & Smith.

The lawsuit was filed last month in Leavenworth County District Court on behalf of family members of Antonio Garcia Jr.

Garcia was killed July 11, 2017, when he was shot by Leavenworth police Officer Matthew Harrington.

Harrington, who was fired from the Police Department in January, recently was indicted on a charge of involuntary manslaughter in connection to the shooting.

The lawsuit argues the city has a legal requirement to make public records related to the shooting including videos available for inspection and copying.

Leavenworth Police Chief Pat Kitchens has confirmed the Police Department has video of the incident from a body camera and in-car camera.

(Read more: Leavenworth Times)

Hays city commission to consider additions to two city parks

Local veterans are hoping to create a veterans memorial in the Hays Veterans Park, 13th and Canterbury.

Project Director Vance Chartier of the Veteran Alliance will make a presentation about the project during tonight’s Hays city commission work session. According to Chartier, the group will ask the commissioners for permission to build the “General [Alexander] Hays Veterans Memorial” in the city park and will not ask the city for any money to support the project. The project would proceed only after all funds are privately raised and secured.

The The Veteran Alliance is composed of The Society of 40 Men and Eight Horses, Voiture 1543 and Patriot Outreach with the support of American Legion Post 173, Marine Corps League 970 and the Hays Veteran Business Coalition.

Another Hays park, Seven Hills at 33rd and Hillcrest, may also get an addition spearheaded by a non-profit group which will also appear at the meeting.

(Read more: Hays Post)

Progress at Eisenhower Park in downtown Dodge City continues

It has taken some time but the upgrades to Eisenhower Park in Dodge City have picked back up again and are set to be completed by the end of the year.

The project of renovations started in June 2017 with funding coming from different local grants and organizations.

A fixture in downtown Dodge City for decades, Eisenhower Park, located at Gunsmoke Street and 1st Avenue, has been being host to several events including Movies in the Park during Dodge City Days.

“We are so excited about the progress being made in Eisenhower Park,” Main Street Dodge City coordinator Krissy Lampe said. “Earlier this year, city staff removed the light poles and trees. Wayne Cook Construction replaced the support posts on the Gazebo, as the original posts were in poor condition.”

The project hit some delays since it began but is back on track.

(Read more: Dodge City Daily Globe)

Nuisance properties in Sedgwick County

Every neighborhood seems to have at least one of those houses, where the lawn is overgrown, or worse, it looks like a junkyard. The county and most homeowners’ associations have rules and ordinances to make sure people keep up their home’s appearance. And while the system works, don’t expect it to happen overnight.

“It doesn’t take a long time for a neighborhood to slip. It takes a very long time for a neighborhood to turn around,” says Deb Legge, Neighborhood Inspection Administrator with the Sedgwick County Metro Area Building and Construction Department.

When a home gets bad, there’s a good chance Deb Legge or one of her 16 inspectors will make a call.

They inspect nuisance calls. These are homes violating trash and tall grass codes.

“We have so many complaints this time of year…especially when it keeps raining, grass keeps growing,” explains Legge.

On average, 1500 homes are reported for unkept yards. One-thousand homes need repair or to be torn down. But the largest number of reports, 2,000 are for trash and junk.

(Read more: KAKE – News)

Wichita considering selling golf course to developer

As the city of Wichita prepares to shut down one golf course, it’s considering a proposal to sell another one to a private owner.

The Golf Advisory Committee has scheduled a special meeting Tuesday where members will discuss a proposal from Waterfront developer Johnny Stevens, who wants to purchase MacDonald Golf Course at 13th and Roosevelt, officials confirmed Thursday.

Park and Recreation Director Troy Houtman said the proposal is in the early stages — “step one of 25.”

And it is nearly certain that MacDonald would remain a golf course whether the city keeps it or sells it, he said. The course east of Hillside stretches from 13th to Murdock.

(Read more: Local News |)

Mulvane plays host to Kansas’ longest-running annual celebration, Old Settlers Days

Kansas’ longest-running annual celebration, Mulvane Old Settlers Days, will return this weekend for its 145th year. This year’s theme is “A Stitch in Time”.

Jerry Bachman, president of Mulvane Old Settlers Days, said the theme originates from the celebration’s annual quilt show.

“[The quilt show] was dynamic last year. I’ve never seen so many people go to it,” Bachman said. “We used to have to have it at one of the schools, and it was just too far away.” Old Settlers attendants can buy a themed button for $2. Any person who buys a button will have his or her name entered for a drawing at 5.p.m Saturday.

“You don’t have to buy anything to get in, but you buy the button to win the prizes,” Bachman said. “The super prize is a $1,000 Visa card. There are also two $500 gas cards, a quarter of a hog, a quarter of beef, and a whole lot of dinners are given away.”

Bachman said fan-favorites from Old Settlers Days past will return this year, including the pet show, rod run, and turtle show.

(Read more: Area | derbyinformer.com)

Newton launches community alert system

Your phone buzzes, with a text: “A water main near your home has ruptured. Water service will be interrupted while the city of Newton repairs the issue.”

Quick, simple and convient— at least that is the goal behind a new notification system installed by the city.

The City of Newton has launched a Community Notification System to alert residents by text, email or phone call for local emergency situations and relevant community advisories.

“I think people are going to like this,” said Erin McDaniel, public information officer for the city of Newton. “I think people are starting to expect this kind of technology from their governments.”

City residents can sign up for the alerts, and customize what alerts they receive. The city can also customize the alerts it sends — zoning alerts to specific neighborhoods if need be.

According to McDaniel, alerts will be sent for urgent matters that could affect life and property, like severe weather warnings, police and fire activity, boil orders and public health emergencies. Advisories will be sent to residents regarding water main breaks, major road closures, trash pickup delays and other city service information.

(Read more: Newton Kansan)

City of Independence and area crews respond to multiple emergencies during flash flooding

City and area crews respond to multiple emergencies during flash flooding

Emergency responders across the city of Independence and Montgomery County spent a sleepless night answering multiple calls for assistance as a powerful, lingering storm system pummeled the area with high winds, drenching rain and deadly flash flooding. Two drowning fatalities were reported in the county as a result of rushing floodwaters, and multiple water rescues were conducted from homes and vehicles within the city limits.
David Cowan, Independence’s director of Safety and Code Enforcement, reported the storms dumped 8.3 inches of rain on the city in roughly a five-hour period, causing fast-rising creeks and surface water that led to evacuations in several neighborhoods, including the Whiskey Creek area on the city’s north side. According to City personnel, the depth of the Verdigris River measured at the city’s east side staging station at U.S. Highway 160 measured 1.59 feet before the storm at 5 p.m. Tuesday. By 5 a.m. today, the depth was measured at 31.46 feet.
“That’s an incredible amount of water to deal with in a short timeframe,” Cowan said, “and the water was moving probably as swiftly as I’ve ever seen it.”

Manhattan city commission discusses airport parking fees, federal grant

Parking lot improvements at the Manhattan Regional Airport was the central point of discussion at the Manhattan City Commission meeting Tuesday.

Airport Director Jesse Romo said they are about 60 percent done with the design process and that they currently plan to take bids on the construction in November. Romo said that the Airport Advisory Board has been supportive of implementing a parking fee of some sort to pay for the project, but a recent federal bill signed by President Trump after the board discussed supporting a fee opens up another revenue source.

Romo said that as a result of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2018, the Federal Aviation Administration has acquired additional funds to give grants through the Airport Improvements Program. He said that though parking improvement projects typically rank low on their radar, since the funds are supplemental the Manhattan Regional Airport might be able to submit a competitive grant request.

(Read more: 1350 KMAN)

Could tiny homes be built in Derby?

Tiny homes have been sparking some controversy in Haysville and Wichita, so could they do that in Derby, too?

Maybe, maybe not.

As City Manager Kathy Sexton put it: “We’ve not had inquiries from builders about tiny homes yet so [we] haven’t researched the issue nor discussed the details surrounding this issue in any detail.” There is no one, set area in Derby for the mini houses, which are one of the trendiest developments in the residential housing business.

However, there’s a brake that would likely put tiny homes on the back burner as an individual simply cannot buy a lot in a new development and expect to put in a dwelling that’s much smaller than the neighbors’.

That’s because there are a variety of regulations and covenants currently in place for new communities, and they would require that a house cover a certain percentage of a lot.

“Tiny homes would not be allowed in many Derby neighborhoods,” Sexton said.

That’s not to say they’re out of the question, she added, and it could be they may be allowed in “certain specific locations.”

Sexton said a potential Derby tiny home buyer should discuss the matter with City Planner Justin Givens about specifics.

(Read more: Derby News | derbyinformer.com)

Wichita could cut Cowtown funding in 2020

Wichita’s Old Cowtown could see its funding cut by more than half a million dollars.

The city is looking at cutting the majority of funding for cowtown museum in 2020.

The budget for that year is calling for no operation budget which is about $700,000 annually.

Museum supporters say the cuts would be detrimental to the museum’s future.

“They would only pay for maintenance, we would not be able to run programs, we wouldn’t be able to be open, it would only be preserving buildings, it would be a graveyard for history,” says Cowtown volunteer Dakota Bennett.

Wichita Mayor Jeff Longwell says the city is looking at ways to fund the museum and meetings will planned over the next year.

(Read more: KWCH News)

Brown v. Board mural dedication highlights local history, community pride and unity

Wednesday’s dedication of the Brown v. Board of Education mural featured empathetic speeches, heartfelt congratulations and a few tears.

About 700 people attended the dedication, celebrating the collaborative artwork on the south-facing wall of Hill and Co.’s building at 1424 S.E. Monroe St., near the Brown v. Board of Education historic site.

“This wall is the voices of our youth, our community, our collective humanity that has been brought together through art,” said Sarah Fizell, executive director of ArtsConnect and a founder of the mural project. Fizell said many of the volunteers were from Topeka, but signatures also came from 34 other states, nine countries and the District of Columbia.

Topeka Mayor Michelle De La Isla spoke about the human condition, one of her favorite Bible passages and Topeka’s rich history of unity.

“Topeka has been a city of opportunity,” De La Isla said. “The city of Topeka has always been a city of empowerment.”

Bike share program comes to Kearny County

Within view of the pool, hospital, library and Main Street, Lakin sidewalks now have something in common. Each sport a rack with blue and white bikes making up the city’s budding bike share program, the first of several aimed at smaller communities across the country. Kearny County covered much of the program’s costs through the Blue Cross Blue Shield Pathways grant, a sizable award dedicated to health and activity-centric community programming, with MountainHawk donating to the bike and lock costs to keep community contributions closer to the $6,000 provided by the grant. Bike share programs take different shapes and have different goals in different-sized communities, Hunnicutt said. In larger cities, bike rental may be a quick way for pedestrians to cover ground between other public transit, travel slightly shorter distances or move around town without a car. In small, rural communities, where most everyone owns a car and is perpetually five minutes away from their destination, the main use is for health and exercise, he said.

With free, working bikes constantly at community members’ fingertips, residents are hopefully more likely to ride around town, access trails and spend time outdoors staying active with each other, Hunnicutt said.

Belleville volunteers to mark century of service to the city, rural community

A century of saving lives and protecting property will be celebrated by the Belleville Fire Department this weekend, with a day of events for the community on Saturday, August 18. The celebration marks 100 years since the City of Belleville created a Fire Department Fund to maintain the department and purchase equipment. The first officials fire department was organized on July 29, 1918, with 22 firemen.
Today the department includes 21 firemen headed by Chief Duffy Strnad. Strnad has served as chief 14 years, and as a member of the department for 33 years.
Strnad credits the volunteers for their dedication to training and willingness to respond to emergencies.

Belleville considers how to enforce building ordinance

There is a growing sense of urgency among the ranks of local city council members as they seek to find answers regarding two downtown buildings that may be on the verge of crumbling.
Belleville city council members on Monday discussed the fate of the former Belleville Jewelers on the west side of the square and the former Century Shop located on the south side. Both buildings have been unoccupied for years and are in violation of the city’s vacant building ordinance. Of the two, the south side structure appears to be the most seriously eroded.

Lots of responsibility, low pay, cultural shift away from summer jobs lead to lifeguard shortage for Shawnee Mission area pools

Nearly every city in northeast Johnson County experienced some kind of lifeguard shortage this summer — part of a growing national trend since the recession in 2009.

In fact, several cities estimated the pool of applicants for lifeguarding is nearly half of what it was 10 years ago. A growing economy and a cultural shift away from summer work gives teenagers more time to focus on extracurricular activities, family vacations and career-driven paths such as internships and advanced coursework.

That means fewer lifeguards. Lauren Ozburn, an area aquatics specialist with Waters Edge, said lifeguarding used to be highly competitive. Now, she’s seen many pools experience anywhere from a 30 percent to 80 percent attrition rate.

Sean Keenan, aquatics specialist for Shawnee, said the downward trend of fewer teenagers applying for lifeguard positions has been a “constant struggle.” Shawnee used to hire 120 lifeguards each year; this year, it has 65.

Developer says it needs additional $510K in public financing for Regency Park reskinning project

Structural changes to strengthen the new facades from Regency Park shopping center will mean substantial cost increases for both private and public financing.

The developer of the center, at 93rd Street and Metcalf Avenue has asked the city for a $510,000 increase in the amount it will get from a special sales tax, bringing the reimbursement from $7.3 million to almost $7.9 million. A public hearing on the amended community improvement district is scheduled for Sept. 17. In addition, the city may make also increase the amount of assistance in the form of economic development revenue bonds designed to exempt some development-related expenses from sales tax. The city council’s Finance, Administration and Economic Development committee will also consider changes in that financing to increase the tax savings from $768,000 to $954,000.

The proposed 1 percent in additional sales tax to be charged in the district would not be changed, however.

South Hutchinson City Council exploring significant cuts to city staff

The South Hutchinson City Council has scheduled a special meeting for Thursday night to discuss significant cuts to city staff, including potentially eliminating up to a third of the city’s police department.

The meeting agenda indicates the council plans to go into an executive session to discuss nonelected personnel. The agenda did not show any votes scheduled, other than going into closed session, and it includes no time for public comment.

The council on Aug. 6, voted unanimously to adopt a $6.3 million 2019 budget with 43.847 mil levy – a 1.92 mill increase over 2018.

The council then voted on a split 3-2 vote to cut $349,000 in “annual reoccurring expenses” from its general fund budget. As part of the motion to cut the general fund, the council designated the mayor and two other council members – Luke Herren and Stephanie Harris – to meet with city department heads from General Government, Police, Fire and Public Works to discuss how to accomplish the cuts.

South Hutchinson Police Chief Mark Thompson said, based on discussions in the meeting, the council is exploring layoffs of at least five full-time employees, including two police officers and the police department’s lone clerk.

(Read more: Local – The Hutchinson News)

City of Chanute puts offer for former Spirit building on hold

Chanute commissioners held off Monday evening on a quarter-million-dollar offer for the former Spirit AeroSystems building while they look at what it may be worth.

The city received an offer from Michael Morris of $251,000, which is the county appraisal on the building at 615 W. Cherry.

Commissioner Phil Chaney said he would prefer to see the building marketed for sale, and Mayor Sam Budreau said he is not in favor of letting it go for that amount. Commissioner Randy Galemore said the building should be appraised.

“I’d like to get rid of it as well,” Chaney said, but he added he did not want to dump it for a quarter-million.

“We need to have a base to start from,” Chaney said. “I want it to be used.”

City Manager Jeff Cantrell said two local parties are interested, and the commission could look at supporting local businesses that want to expand.

Since an initial offer usually is low, City Attorney David Brake said, the commission could put it on the agenda for an October meeting to see what other offers develop.

(Read more: The Chanute Tribune)

Johnson, Wyandotte and Leavenworth counties now under drought emergency

A drought emergency was declared in 22 additional counties in Kansas on Tuesday, including Johnson, Wyandotte, Leavenworth, Miami and Douglas.

A total of 72 counties — virtually the entire eastern half of the state — are now under a drought emergency.

The city of Gardner has issued water-use restrictions. “Counties in emergency stage are eligible for emergency use of water from certain state fishing lakes,” according to an announcement from the Drought Response Team in Gov. Jeff Colyer’s office. “They also become eligible for water in some federal reservoirs.” All 105 Kansas counties are either in a drought emergency or under a watch or warning. The situation has improved, however, throughout the western half of the state.

(Read more: KC Star Local News)

Recount requested in Sedg. Co. District 4 Primary

Hugh Nicks has formally requested a recount in his Primary race against Richard Ranzau for Sedgwick County 4th District County Commission.

In a letter to Sedgwick County Election Commissioner Tabitha Lehman, Nicks requested a hand-count of all ballots, cast on either machines or by hand – including advance and provisional ballots.

Ranzau won that election by a slim margin. The final count from the canvass in Sedgwick County has Ranzau winning that race with 3,513 votes to Nicks’ 3,438.

In his letter, he appointed a representative to watch over the official recount process, and requested that Ranzau be asked to recuse himself from the recount panel.

With the letter, Nicks sent a cashier’s check for $1,000 as a surety for the recount.

Ranzau says he doesn’t think a recount will change much.

“It’s a slim margin overall, but I think as far as a recount, it should be pretty safe. If we are off by 75 votes, I would think we have some errors in some other races as well,” said Ranzau.

Nicks says he wanted a recount because there could be errors and wants to double check.

(Read more: KWCH News)

Community Policing Program in Hutchinson put on hold

After efforts to save the Hutchinson Citizens Police Acedemy Program from the budget tax, the police department sent out notice to its officers that the program is being put on hold.

Captain Troy Hoover says, the continued shortage of officers has forced the department to postpone the program. Hoover expressed his disappointment over the news, saying that the program provided close interaction between the department and citizens. Hoover says the program isn’t dead and they hope to bring it back once the department can get their numbers up. The officers who were in charge of the program will likely be moved back on the streets until more officers can be hired.

(Read more: Hutch Post)

Water rights are discussed in Pratt County

Some water rights in Pratt County have not been used and could be lost if action is not taken.

Pratt leaders met last week with Jeff Lanterman, Department of Agriculture water commissioner, and learned the City of Pratt does have an option to apply for a five year extension on water rights with the chief engineer of the Kansas Department of Agriculture.

The 40-year perfection period for water rights in Pratt County will expire on Dec. 31, 2019. At that time, Pratt County could lose some water rights that might be needed for unknown future development in the county. Pratt County has been conserving water from its water rights wells for years and some of the water rights have not been used. As a result, the county will lose those unused rights if no action is taken.

(Read more: Pratt, KS – Pratt Tribune)

Shawnee County crews removing collapsed 200-year-old tree from park

Crews with Shawnee County Parks and Recreation worked Monday to remove a massive tree, estimated to be about 200 years old, that split and collapsed over the weekend.

The tree, a bur oak, stood in the east part of Crestview Park near S.W. Shunga Drive and Gage Blvd. It was never formally measured, but parks officials estimated the tree was as tall as 60 feet before it collapsed.

It fell Sunday, said John Day with Shawnee County Parks and Recreation, after struggling with rot problems. As Day touched part of the exposed bark, it crumbled.

Day said crews had been out Thursday after a portion of the tree broke off.

After the tree fell on Sunday, children were reportedly climbing on it, which was hazardous, Day said.

Crews Monday were waiting on more equipment to be fully remove the tree.

Bur oaks, part of the white oak family, are native to Kansas and can grow up to 80 feet tall with a lifespan as long as 400 years.

Shawnee County approves Frito-Lay tax exemption

The Shawnee County Commission approved a resolution exempting certain Frito-Lay property from taxation for economic development purposes.

A public hearing was held during the commission meeting Monday with Jim Crowl, Shawnee County counselor, saying the “exemption is an investment in our community.”

Frito-Lay plans to purchase vacant land adjecnt to the current facility south of Topeka with plans for a 86,000-square-foot warehouse. The project includes creation of seven new jobs at the facility and retention of six other positions.

The tax exemption is not for existing property only the new value of the land, Crowl said. The projected economic impact of the project over the next 10 years for the city of Topeka would be $1,030,444 and $166,072 for the county, for a net benefit of about $1.2 million.

“This is an investment now, to have a much larger investment in the future,” said Commissioner Kevin Cook.

New Great Bend admin eyes city/county cooperation

The Barton County Commission Monday morning took time to welcome a new government officials to town. They were introduced to Kendal Francis, who was appointed recently by the City of Great Bend as the new city administrator, and it could be a cozy connection.

“I am excited to be here,” Francis said. “I look forward to serving the City of Great Bend, but also building a relationship with Barton County.”

Francis, who was hired by the City Council July 16, has served the cities of Beloit, Lakin and Coffeyville. Historically, he said, he’s enjoyed a good rappot with county officials where he’s worked.

“It’s important to share ideas and collaborate,” he said. “We have a common interest and that is what is best for our citizens.”

Commissioners liked what they heard from Francis.

Shawnee community center discussion moves forward

A community center has been on the city of Shawnee’s wish list for well over a decade, and now, the dream is becoming a little more concrete. After months of conducting surveys, public forums and in-depth research, the consultants pieced together a facility encompassing the most desired amenities among Shawnee residents. Financing of the community center would be left in the hands of Shawnee citizens.

The city plans to build and maintain the facility using revenue from a proposed mill levy increase, which would be voted on during a spring ballot question, whether by in-person or by mail. The future community center is set to be built at 61st and Woodland.

In 2005, the city purchased 26.3 acres of land at the site for a community center location, but the recession put those plans on the backburner.

The proposed site, with its picturesque landscape, is located near Mid-America Sports Complex, the Kansas City Ice Center and Pavilion and popular trails.

(Read more: The Dispatch stories)

Counties get conflicting advice from Kobach, Colyer camps as they begin ballot review

Gov. Jeff Colyer and Secretary of State Kris Kobach turned over squabbling duties to their proxies Monday as counties began tallying provisional ballots, extending Kobach’s lead in the GOP primary to 206 votes.

Kobach assistant Eric Rucker and Colyer’s chief counsel, Brant Laue, offered competing views of Kansas law governing provisional ballots completed by unaffiliated voters. The issue is whether votes should count if a volunteer poll worker made a mistake.

County canvassing boards are weighing those arguments as they sort through 9,000 provisional ballots this week. They don’t have to finish their work until Aug. 20, but the deadline for a candidate to request a recount is Friday.

More than 60 of the state’s 105 counties began reviewing ballots Monday. With the largest population, the final numbers from Johnson County could solidify or overturn Kobach’s lead. Officials tossed out 898 provisional ballots Monday while accepting 1,451. Those were expected to be counted by Tuesday afternoon.

Pratt County Commissioners got a good financial report from the Pratt Regional Medical Center

Finances for Pratt Regional Medical Center are good so far in 2018. Alan Waites, PRMC chief financial officer, reported to the Pratt County commissioners that gross revenue for last nine months was $78.9 million and that is $3.9 favorable for the hospital budget.

The net revenue for the last nine months is $2.3 million favorable.

“Our revenues have been strong,” Waites said.

Susan Page, PRMC president and chief executive officer, reported that sales tax revenues continue to be above predicted levels. May sales tax revenues were $152,000 above the predicted level while the overall sales tax revenue for the new addition and remodel is $1.5 million above predicted levels.

City comes to agreement with Salina Innovation Foundation

Salina city commissioners on Monday came to a tentative agreement with a representative of the Salina Innovation Foundation to assist with money needed for a roofing project.

Michael Schrage, interim city manager, said the city will help with 35 percent or up to $75,000 of the $214,924 needed for the project, whichever is less.

Schrage said city staff will draft the agreement, which should be ready for final approval by mid-September.

Mary Landes, founder of the Salina Innovation Foundation, said Ryan Roofing submitted the only bid for the roof. Landes said that after speaking with the Kansas Historical Society, funding could be possible from the Heritage Trust Fund Grant, which requires a 20 percent match of up to $90,000.

The city’s commitment to 35 percent, or up to $75,000, would help satisfy the grant’s matching requirement.

(Read more: News – Salina Journal)

Roeland Park police will begin use of speed monitoring trailer in hopes of calming traffic

Motorists traveling through Roeland Park may notice a radar display trailer tracking their car’s speed in the near future. Councilmembers this week gave the Police Department the thumbs up to spend about $5,400 on a new speed sign trailer.

The new trailer speed sign is powered through a mix of battery and solar power and can be moved throughout the community. Data from the radar will be used to determine speed problem areas in the community, according to Chief of Police John Morris.

Councilmember Tim Janssen said he was definitely in support of the new radar and noted that he regularly receives phone calls and messages this time of year from residents concerned with speeders in school zones.

“I’d like to see this put into service as soon as possible,” Janssen said.
Councilmember Michael Poppa also spoke in support of the new sign saying he had heard from several neighbors about speeding in his area.

KDWPT: River proposal threatens Kansas lakes, rivers

To meet Nebraska’s legal obligation to increase the flow of the Republican River into Kansas, the Central Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation District has proposed creating a connection in Nebraska between the Platte River Basin and the Republican River Basin. After entering northcentral Kansas, the Republican River feeds into Lovewell Reservoir and Milford Reservoir before joining the Kansas River near Junction City. The Republican River also connects with several other waterways in northcentral Kansas.

The State of Kansas opposes this project because invasive Asian Carp and White Perch in the Platte River could enter the Republican River (along with other nuisance species) if the two rivers are connected. As a result, the project could severely impact Kansas’ sportfish and native aquatic species, water-based recreation, tourism and the state’s fishing economy. There is no evidence that those two species currently live in the Republican River.

(Read more: The Salina Post)

Shawnee County commissioners to consider tax exemption for Frito-Lay expansion

The Shawnee County Commission this week will consider approving a resolution exempting certain property owned by Frito Lay from taxation for economic development purposes. If the economic development exemption for Frito-Lay’s expansion is granted, the county may grant an exemption in a specified amount and require a payment in lieu of taxes.

The property and buildings were appraised at about $9.3 million as of July 6, with added improvements to the land at $239,280. The 2018 taxes due for the buildings and land would be $380,470.53.

The proposed project includes purchase of vacant land adjacent to the current Frito-Lay manufacturing facility. Frito-Lay proposes to build an 86,000-square-foot Hi-Tech Warehouse.

The projected economic impact of the project over the next 10 years for the city of Topeka would be $1,030,444 and for the county would be $166,072, for a net benefit of about $1.2 million.

Kansas law enforcement training center seeing more women

A Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center class has a record number of women.

The Hutchinson News reports that 15 of the 58 people in Class 252 are women. It’s the most women the center has trained in a single class since it started operating at the formal naval base in rural Reno County in 1968.

The 14-week course features classroom training as well as hands-on experience. Students then become certified law enforcement officers.

Executive Director Darin Beck sayd officials aren’t sure if the increase in women is an anomaly or if it’s a growing trend. He says women used to account for about 10 percent of each class, but that number has slowly increased over his 20 years at the center.

(Read more: KOAM – Local News)

Ellis County not alone in struggling to fill vacancy

Ivan Holzmeister, service manager at I-70 Truck Repair on north Vine, says he’s not surprised that Ellis County has had a mechanic position vacant for a year.

“I can believe it,” Holzmeister said. “We have nine mechanics here and we could probably hire a couple more.”

But for two months I-70 has advertised a mechanic vacancy, and had only one applicant. Vo-Tech graduates are choosing ag careers, he said.

“I’ve been doing this for 40 some years, and years ago when we had a vacancy we’d get so many applicants we’d get tired of interviewing,” he said.

Ellis County Public Works Director Bill Ring knows the problem.

“We are not getting people to apply and the few that do don’t have the qualifications or experience as a heavy duty equipment mechanic,” said Ring. “We work on graders, bulldozers, dump trucks, excavators, all that big yellow iron you see when we’re building a road.”

The county’s Public Works Department has three mechanic positions, along with one welder-mechanic and one shop foreman. The mechanic position has been vacant a year despite advertising, job fairs and working with the Hays Workforce Center, Ring said. Counties in the western and central parts of the state have lower unemployment and a tighter labor market in general because population growth is not as strong, said Tyler Tenbrink, senior labor economist in Topeka for the Kansas Department of Labor. Ellis County unemployment is notably lower, 2.7 percent for June, than the state of Kansas, at 3.6 percent, the latest figures available from the department.

“Mechanics are on our list of high demand occupations for the state,” Tenbrink said.

(Read more: News – The Hays Daily News)

Domestic violence, sexual assault services reopen in Colby

Options Domestic and Sexual Violence Services is announced it will have a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its recently reopened office at 225 W. 5th St in Colby.

“We are pleased and happy to reopen our local satellite office in Colby and to be able to restore walk-in services for victims and survivors and their families,” said Jennifer Hecker, executive director. “The ribbon-cutting ceremony for Options marks a great opportunity to bring help, hope, and healing to those suffering in silence in western Kansas.”

The Colby/Thomas County Chamber of Commerce will facilitate the 10 a.m. ribbon-cutting ,and Options staff will be available to discuss services and share information about the agency. Services include 24-hour helpline, 24-hour crisis intervention, supportive counseling, child/youth services, law enforcement and court advocacy, medical advocacy, and much, much more.

(Read more: Hays Post)