Municipal News & Jobs

Kansas Municipal News

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)

Water, wind and fire have parts in Reno County Comprehensive Plan

Countywide zoning for renewable energy projects – including commercial wind and solar farms – along with imposing stricter flood zone regulations are among recommendations in a draft update to the Comprehensive Plan for Reno County.

The 70-page plan also proposes the county create a unified fire district with a single fire chief, that it evaluate low-volume roads for closure and that it creates a “township maintenance plan” for prioritizing joint county/township road projects.

The Reno County Commission, during a study session on the plan two weeks ago, had questions about the proposals but didn’t indicate whether they supported the ideas or not.

Developed by the Reno County Planning Commission with assistance from a consultant from Wichita, the plan also recommends development of a bicycle transportation plan in the short term, but delays development of an actual bicycle/pedestrian network for the long-term – or more than 10 years out.

(Read more: Local – The Hutchinson News)

Neosho County Commission urged to join class-action opioid lawsuit

An attorney met with the Neosho County Commission Friday morning to urge them to sue over the opioid epidemic.

Attorney Pat Smith met with commission representing Morgan and Morgan, a firm handling class-action lawsuits against pharmaceutical companies involved in over-prescribing opioid medications.

Crawford, Bourbon, Cherokee and Montgomery are among Kansas counties that have filed suits.

Smith said companies used false or inaccurate studies to support sales of opioids, which turned out to be addictive, and the problem affects county budgets through law enforcement and other departments. “We want to stop them and then we want to recover for the counties,” Smith said.

He said the settlement for opioids could be the biggest lawsuit settlement ever.

“Bigger than tobacco,” he said.

(Read more: The Chanute Tribune)

City of Fort Scott approves downtown building for residence

The Fort Scott City Commission on Tuesday approved a measure that will allow a local couple to live on the first floor of a building in the downtown business district.

Commissioners heard from city officials and various citizens on both sides of the issue as they considered a conditional use permit that would allow residential living on the first floor of a commercial building. Currently in the downtown district, residential living is only allowed on the second floor of a building.

Local resident Jerry Witt, who owns the building, plans to change the building from a business setting to a residential setting as he and his wife, Judy, plan to live there. The building only has one floor and Witt has designed a plan for the facade.

“This is a critical decision for the downtown,” City Manager Dave Martin told the commission prior to the discussion. “You guys are on the hot seat and must make the decision.”

Martin told commissioners that up for discussion was “one piece of property,” and whether or not they should allow housing on the first floor.

“You’re not opening it up and you’re not changing the ordinance,” he said. “One of our strong suits as a city is we look at every situation.”

(Read more: Fort Scott Tribune)

City of Topeka to enforce political sign ordinance

Between August 10th and September 21st, the City of Topeka will be enforcing its temporary sign code, which does not permit election signs in the right of way, until the general election cycle starts.

Political signs in the public right of way are only allowed forty-five days before an election cycle and up to two days after. All signs in the public right of way are subject to removal.

There are also additional restrictions during this time on private property. Only one sign per property, no bigger than 4’ tall and 6 sq. ft. in residentially-zoned areas, and no bigger than 6’ tall and 32 sq. ft. in commercially-zoned areas or on parcels larger than 1 acre in any zoning district.

(Read more: WIBW News Now!)

Sen. Moran visits Garden City Amtrak following amendment

U.S. Senator Jerry Moran visited the Amtrak station in Garden City Friday. Moran visited with city officials from Garden City and Dodge City to brief on the latest with his amendment to maintain Amtrak train services along the established, long-distance passenger rail route of the Southwest Chief.

“It’s important to Kansans and particularly in southwest Kansas and it has become a cause for cities in our state Newton, Hutchinson, Dodge City, Garden City, who have put a lot of effort and their own taxpayer dollars into a project that’s beginning to work and we didn’t want the rug pulled out from under that effort. For people with disabilities this is a method that they can get places,” said Moran.

The amendment came about when Amtrak announced it was ending rail service from Dodge City to Albuquerque and replacing it with buses.

“In my mind that meant the end of the Southwest Chief, it was just like nonchalant it wasn’t like we’ll work with you to solve it was just like this is where we’re headed, so the policy we still have to face is we do not have a friendly Amtrak management passenger rail service”, said Moran, “you can have an argument about what the role of federal government is in providing passenger rail service across the country, you can have the debate as to whether or not the American taxpayers should be subsidizing a rail that doesn’t pay for itself, but that decision has been made and it’s Amtrak’s responsibility to provide that service.”

(Read more: Western Kansas News)

Shawnee moves forward with new community center planning though some members raise concerns about property taxes

After reviewing the initial master plan and feasibility study for a new community center, the Shawnee council committee has agreed to move forward with next steps. Councilmember Lindsey Constance, echoed by other councilmembers, said she thinks the city should look into how much the Mill Levy should be increased to accommodate a 6- or 8-lane lap pool. Neil Holman, director of parks and recreation, said the mill levy involves heavy discussion with the De Soto School District.

Councilmember Eric Jenkins voiced several concerns about plans for the new community center. As a representative of Ward 2, which has a median income of $53,400 (about half of Ward 3, which is $107,700), Jenkins said his residents have less disposable income to spend on a community center.

“My folks are kind of in a jam on this thing,” he said, adding that local private fitness centers were also concerned the community center would cause them to lose business.

Neosho County resolving over-payments to taxing entities

Neosho County over-paid local taxing districts by nearly $3 million in June, and cash balances have not been reconciled since April, a county commissioner said Friday morning.

Second District Commissioner David Bideau raised the issue at Friday morning’s commission meeting. He also said the office has failed to prepare and publish quarterly cash statements, required by state statutes, since October.

“I’m definitely not happy about the treasurer’s operations,” Bideau said.

County offices in addition to the treasurer’s office are training and transitioning to a new computer software system provided by CIC. Treasurer Sydney Ball attributed the problem to the transition, and said a plan is in place to correct it.

Ball and her staff contacted the county districts and County Counselor Seth Jones said all have either refunded the overpayment or are in the process.

Ball has been on maternity leave and spoke outside of the commission meeting.

Bideau said during the commission meeting he has requested financial reports to prepare the coming budget, but they contained inaccuracies. He contacted CIC sales representative Debbie Trahan, and found the Treasurer was behind in processing.

Ball said her office has been taking in payments on the old software and sending out payments on the new.

(Read more: The Chanute Tribune)

Great Bend Police Department will soon be fully staffed

The Great Bend Police Department has come a long way since last summer in attempts to bulking up its staff. In June of 2017, it was reported that the Police Department was operating with 25 employees, five short of a full staff.

Great Bend City Administrator Kendal Francis says the Police Department hired another officer and will be fully staffed near the end of the month. The Great Bend City Council approved additional officer positions within the budget, and now the Police Department has 33 officers. The 33rd officer will start on August 27, meaning that four of the 33 officers will be in training.

Police Chief David Bailey says the new hires go through 13 weeks of classroom training followed by 12 weeks of field training. At some point, the officers will have to spend an additional 14 weeks at the police academy in Hutchinson.

(Read more: Great Bend Post)

Wellington woman requests neighborhood watch; but crime in town is still down

The recent spat of high-profile thefts and robberies brought a Wellington woman to the council meeting in quest of initiating a neighborhood watch program.

Tunie Caudillo-Sparman addressed the council at its regular meeting this week asking that a neighborhood watch initiative be set up in which neighbors and citizens work together to stop what is perceived to be a dramatic increase in crime.

Wellington Police Chief Tracy Heath said he is all for a proactive stance against crime, and is open to suggestions. However, statistically, crime is not up in Wellington. In fact, it is down from 2017.

(Read more: Sumner NewsCow)

New voting system saved time in Pratt

Determining how the voters in Pratt County marked their ballots Tuesday took a lot less time than it did to determine who won the Republican race for governor in Kansas. With Kris Kobach and Gov. Jeff Colyer in a virtual tie at 41 percent of the votes, it may take some time to officially declare a winner in the race that has Kobach with a 191 vote lead over Colyer.

It may take some time to determine the winner but determining the Pratt city and county election results only took about an hour and a half thanks to some new voting equipment. This is the first time the new system has been used. They county got the system about a month ago and have been training on it for this first real world use in an election. The old system was fairly old and it was time to replace it.

The new system has not been mandated but it is the way voting is heading.

“It hasn’t been mandated yet but I think it will be,” Voss said. Starting in 2019, election audits will be required and this new system will help make the audit more efficient, said Pratt County Clerk Sherry Kruse.

Roeland Park police credit crime prevention tactics with reduced incidents in business district

Roeland Park’s business district experienced a 24.5 percent decline in crime incidents from January through July 2018 following implementation of a Crime Prevention Initiative, police officials reported this week. The $7,500 initiative placed officers in the business district for 10 hours per week with rotating times and locations, with a special focus on Lowe’s, Price Chopper, and Walmart. Funds went toward paying officers’ overtime. The city also utilized a donated Ford Mustang “Retail Crime Enforcement Unit” to demonstrate police presence.

Chief of Police John Morris called the crime decrease “dramatic.”

“We’re pretty pleased with how it worked,” Morris said.
Morris said the decline in incident and report writing within the business district allowed officers to spend more time patrolling the streets and maintaining visibility in the community.

Leavenworth purchases downtown building

When they met Tuesday, Leavenworth city commissioners approved the purchase of a downtown building for $52,500.

City Manager Paul Kramer said city officials plan to tear down the building located at 301 Delaware St. and look for economic development opportunities for the site.

The city is purchasing the building from Triple R Properties, a limited liability company based in Leavenworth.

“We would close Friday,” Kramer said. Kramer said the City Commission has taken similar actions in the past. He pointed to the purchase of properties in the area of Fourth Street and Metropolitan Avenue. Those properties later were sold to a hotel developer. He also noted that the city had purchased a vacant hotel building in the downtown area. A developer later built a new hotel on that site.

(Read more: Leavenworth Times)

Late resident’s proposed projects laid out at Tonganoxie City Council meeting

Per Larry Meadows’ wishes, his wife, Lois Meadows, spoke before the City Council during open session about two projects Larry hoped could be done in the coming years.

Larry Meadows, an involved community member for several years, died last month at the age of 76.

In his final days, he worked with others in the community and his wife to pitch a couple ideas to the council.

The first one Lois, a former Tonganoxie mayor herself, pitched to the governing body was a community center. Larry thought the community was in need of such a facility, which he envisioned having a basketball/volleyball gymnasium, elevated walking area, snack bar, indoor swimming, meeting rooms, a community room and offices for the Tonganoxie Rec Commission.

In a prepared statement Lois read, Larry admitted the project was ambitious and would take a good amount of money to build, but he asked that it be considered for a project in five to 10 years.

He asked that the mayor appoint a committee with a diverse cross-section of community members to explore options for such a facility.

Another project would be “an outstanding asset to the community and less costly,” Lois Meadows read.

Larry, who with his wife came to Tonganoxie nearly 50 years ago, would like the city to consider archways be built.

(Read more: TonganoxieMirror.com stories)

Chetopa cabins for homeless raise concerns

The little cabins being built on the west end of Chetopa are part of a homeless mission.

Judy Wilson asked Chetopa City Council members during a regular meeting on July 17 why the small buildings were being kept a secret.

City officials explained that James Inman inquired about building permits for the cabins on North 13th Street but was told that because of the size of the cabins he planned to build was under 100 square feet, a permit was not needed.

According to the minutes of the meeting, it was noted that policy wasn’t consistent with the wording in the city code, and a lengthy discussion was held over the concerns of the project by some city residents who attended the meeting. Shane Adamson, Chetopa’s attorney, said he would look into the issue and report back.

Adamson told the council Tuesday that if a project is privately funded as Inman’s is, there are no regulations to meet. If federal money were being used, there would be certain rules and regulations Inman would have to follow.

(Read more: Parsons Sun)

Shawnee County Commission learns utility companies delaying work on bridge project

Shawnee County commissioners learned Thursday that four utility companies haven’t yet moved their utilities out of the way for bridge work on S.E. 29th Street over Dover Creek.

Tom Vlach, director of the public works and solid waste departments, said Cox Communications, Kansas Gas Service, Westar Energy and AT&T weren’t working with the county to move their utilities so the two-phase project can begin. Topeka Water is the only utility service that has had a contractor on board to move its water lines, he told commissioners.

Contract agreements would have had relocation of the utility lines begin in June. After that month passed, the county was told the relocations would begin Aug. 1, but as of Thursday’s commission meeting, none of the work had begun.

The bridge can’t be installed because the utilities would be in the way, and it will cost taxpayers money if they aren’t moved, Vlach said.

About 10 years ago, a draft resolution was proposed by the county counselor’s office to impose sanctions on utility companies if they don’t move their lines out of the way in time for bridge installation.

Here’s what a developer is doing to restore a downtown Wichita icon full of memories

There are no men sporting top hats or women wearing gloves and floor-length dresses. No bellhops scurry about with luggage as passengers embark on journeys.

Yet the Union Station train terminal — a vast space that was chopped up for offices in 1979 — is now being being restored to some of its original grandeur.

“We’re trying to take that back now,” says Gary Oborny, chairman and CEO of Occidental Management. Oborny bought the Union Station campus of five buildings for $1.5 million in 2013 and, after working on some of the other buildings, is now refurbishing its showcase feature. The most significant change is the elimination of many of the steel frames that created mezzanines for office space.

Union Station was known as “the daylight station of America,” as one visiting Mississippi reporter put it before the 1914 opening, with an east bank of windows that “flooded light into the whole area,” Occidental president Chad Stafford says.

“So the mezzanine blocked a lot of that.”

With their demolition, Oborny says, “This is how the space looked . . . back in 1914. Very wide open, all the way up to the ceiling.”

(Read more: Wichita Eagle)