Municipal News & Jobs

Kansas Municipal News

Baxter Springs Heritage Museum to host traveling exhibit of the Magna Carta

An enduring legacy indeed. After over 800 years, the Magna Carta is still considered a symbol, and pillar of democratic leadership recognized around the world. Initially drafted to make peace between the unpopular King John of England at Runnymede and a group of rebel barons in June 1215, this charter became part of English political life and went on to play a pivotal role in inspiring the America’s Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution, and the Bill of Rights.

To help the preservation of its legacy, the American Bar Association Standing Committee and the Law Library of Congress have collaborated to present a traveling exhibit to raise awareness about the Magna Carta and celebrate its enduring legacy. The ABA has generously donated a complete set of the traveling exhibit to the State of Kansas.

The exhibit will be making its way to Southeast Kansas, with an extended stay at the Baxter Springs Heritage Center and Museum.

City of Newton budget a success for political process

That’s how a budgeting process should go.

We saw the Newton City Commission pass a budget last week after long debate, community feedback and compromise. It was truly a singular event. And we’re proud of all involved for the effort, and they deserve credit. All of this was done on the record, not at a service club or donut shop. You could tell because there was genuine debate, disagreement and eventually compromise. Motions passed. Motions failed.

But eventually the city passed a budget that included a small, 1 mill tax increase, cut some proposed staffing costs, cut back on proposed transfers out of utility and sales tax funds and made an attempt at planning for the future. That’s politics, and when it’s done right, no one leaves totally happy.

But when politics and open debate is done right, it sometimes yields more sensible solutions than either party had when they started. The commission proposed a budget. Citizens gave feedback. The commission debated the budget in a transparent manner, and they passed an improvement on their proposal. That, folks, is how it should be done.

(Read more: Newton Now)

Lenexa council OKs plan for Quivira Road focused on redevelopment of commercial areas

The Lenexa City Council has accepted a plan for Quivira Road that recommends redevelopment of key commercial areas, more transportation options and initiatives to develop a sense of place along the roadway from 79th to 99th streets.

The study identified three shopping areas for redevelopment that would meet the changing demographics, lifestyles and business needs in the area. The study noted that that the area was designed as an auto-related suburb where most reisdents worked in downtown Kansas City. Now, more people want to live work, work and play in a cohesive community.

Moreover, some of the older shopping areas were anchored by big box stores which have not done well in the internet age.
The transportation recommendations include multi-use paths, bike lanes and other improvements to make the area safer and more hospitable to walkers and cyclists. The study also identified spots for upgraded transit stops.

“Placemaking” and beautification strategies include street trees, benches, decorative lighting and high-visibility decorative crosswalks.

The study process began in 2017 and included ideas from residents. The city will consider the recommendations during its planning activities, but no money has been earmarked specifically to implement the recommendations. Visit lenexa.com to see the entire plan.

Saline County agrees to fund Salina Community Economic Development Organization for the next three years

Saline County commissioners Tuesday agreed to provide $20,000 annually for the next three years to fund the Salina Community Economic Development Organization.

SCEDO Executive Director Mitch Robinson had requested $50,000 annually for three years.

Commissioner Rodger Sparks said commissioners decided to contribute less because they already fund economic development through the Salina Area Chamber of Commerce and the Salina Airport Authority.

Robinson said he understands the decision.

“We understand $20,000 is workable and that’s what we are glad to be able to get from the commissioners today,” Robinson said.

Robinson said SCEDO will use its cash reserves to make up the difference.

(Read more: News – Salina Journal)

Company plans 1,000 jobs over five years in new office building in Overland Park

Shamrock Trading Corp. announced Tuesday that it will build a $250 million office building across the street from its Overland Park location, creating 1,000 jobs over the next five years that will pay an average salary of $56,000.

The announcement came at the site where the new building will stand: the former Overland Park French Market. Shamrock bought the 30-acre property earlier in July. It’s now mostly a hilly parking lot overlooking the company’s current offices.

Shamrock is a freight brokerage and logistics firm whose subsidiaries include Ryan Transportation, RTS Financial and ProTransport.Shamrock will be able to lean on graduates of area universities and colleges, said Ed Eilert, Johnson County chairman.

(Read more: Wichita Eagle)

Topeka to hold community improvment program in collaboration with NeighborWorks America

In September, the City of Topeka will host a community improvement program to encourage positive action in local neighborhoods.
The program, Topeka Neighborhood University, is a leadership training hosted by NeighborWorks America.
NeighborWorks America is an organization that trains and conducts assessments of nearly 250 NeighborWorks organizations nationwide to provide training to neighborhood leaders and community partners. It assists communities with affordable housing and community development initiatives through building skills and supplementing resources of the organizations they work with.

Salina Commissioners agree to STAR bonds for project

Salina city commissioners voted unanimously Monday to allow the developers of The Alley, FIB, to assign their rights to STAR Bond and Community Improvement District proceeds to American State Bank & Trust Company, as collateral for their financing.

FIB will complete project financing for The Alley entertainment center today and requested that commissioners consent to the agreement by a more formal means than previously provided in the Development Agreement and Transferee Agreement. STAR Bond funds would not be disbursed until the project is completed, and Community Improvement District Funds are disbursed on a pay-as-you-go-basis as the funds are generated and collected.

The Alley, a family entertainment center that will be constructed on Ash Street between North Santa Fe Avenue and North Fifth Street, should be completed by the end of July 2019, said Cathy Desocio, of FIB.

Construction on The Alley is expected to begin Wednesday.

(Read more: News – Salina Journal)

New Great Bend administrator settling in

As the City of Great Bend feted Interim City Administrator George Kolb Monday afternoon, his permanent replacement Kendel Francis had his first day on the job.

Kolb’s official last day is Aug. 17. But both he and Francis will be work in parallel as the transition is made.

Francis was anointed city administrator on July 16.

“It’s been pretty much nonstop since I got here this morning,” Francis said Monday afternoon. “That is what I expected. There is a lot going on and I am going to jump in feet first.”

He had meetings with city staff and community members about what is happening in the city. “There are a lot of on-going projects.”

Francis said he expects the changing of the guard to go much quicker than planned. “George has been very gracious to fill me in on the blanks. I couldn’t be more excited to get going.”

Great Bend says farewell to Interim Administrator Kolb

It was a time for The City of Great Bend to say farewell to Interim City Administrator George Kolb Monday afternoon. The reception at the Events Center recognized the veteran city official who stepped into the breach last fall following a summer of controversy within the community.

“I think you guys should be good,” Kolb told the group of city employees and civic leaders gathered for the event.

Kolb had to give the city 30 days notice and with the new administrator chosen he did so. So, his last day will be Aug. 17, but he has indicated he might leave sooner if recently hired new City Administrator Kendel Francis’ transition into the position goes smoothly.

Francis was named Great Bend’s next city administrator by the mayor and council July 16. Francis served as city manager in Coffeyville and city administrator in Lakin.

But, Monday’s event wasn’t about Francis, nor was it about past strife. It was about saying goodbye to the man who kept the city on an even keel as the seas calmed.

Topeka police officer contributes to neighborhood rejuvenation effort

As Topeka police officer Derek Parrett stands in the 700 block of S.W. Buchanan, he points to two homes on the west side of the street that are being spruced up.

Representatives from city departments have gone house by house, block by block, assessing neighborhood needs through the Team Up to Clean Up initiative, which launched in May.

“We’re out there shaking hands, talking to people,” said Parrett, who is the team liaison for the Topeka Police Department. The police department, fire department, code compliance and other departments contribute to Team Up to Clean Up.

Parrett, who is a community police officer in central Topeka, said the department is focused on five areas: contacting local businesses to carry out security assessments; developing public service announcements about public safety programs; identifying vacant houses and contacting their owners; removing abandoned vehicles; and passing along information at neighborhood improvement association meetings.

Home owners who aren’t in compliance are issued a warning and can give consent to the police so they can enter and address issues like squatters. Home owners are also given information about community resources like Habitat for Humanity.

Topeka’s third annual Clean Slate Day scheduled for Sept. 21

Topeka Municipal Court will hold its third annual Clean Slate Day to assist Topekans with issues like arrest warrants, payment plans and free legal advice.
This year’s event will take place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 21, city of Topeka spokeswoman Molly Hadfield said. The event will take place at the Topeka Performing Arts Center located at 214 S.E. 8th Ave.
The event is not an attempt to arrest citizens, but rather give them assistance on various topics, according to a flyer from the city.

City urging Amtrak not to make changes to train route that runs through Lawrence

In her years as a volunteer caretaker at the Santa Fe train station in Lawrence, Carey Maynard-Moody witnessed firsthand the broad mix of people who use the train. She said they included travelers from near and far touring the country, but also patients headed to hospitals in Kansas City, Haskell Indian Nations University students headed to hometowns in the southwest, a man going home to western Kansas for a funeral.
And Maynard-Moody, who is president of Depot Redux, a local preservation group involved with a recent effort to rehabilitate the station, is worried the service is in danger. Amtrak is considering changes to the approximately 2,300-mile Southwest Chief route that runs through Lawrence, including discontinuing a portion of the route and replacing it with bus service. Maynard-Moody said she thinks even discussion of interrupting the train service is shameful.

City of Olathe to start programs before and after school at Green Springs Elementary

More than 100 children and adults attended the event, held at the center’s amphitheater. It was part of an annual summer series launched more than 30 years ago. For the past five, Salmans has been teaching several of the center’s programs.

This animal-loving officer understands that, for many people, fear is connected to the species he displayed and discussed.
Meadors said the YMCA of Greater Kansas City, which runs after-school programs at dozens of sites across the metro area, was forced to drop some locations in Olathe. That led the Olathe School District last year to ask the city to take over the program in those schools. “They invited us to come in, and we chose to start with one school,” he said.

The program specialists will coordinate games, clubs and other activities before school (7 a.m. to 8:20 a.m.) and after school (3:40 p.m. to 6 p.m.) at each school building during the school year and work with the city’s existing summer camp programs when school is out. The city’s camp and out-of-school programs are already licensed by the state.

Meadors stressed that the specialists will be funded through user fees. The exact costs to parents depend on the number of children they are enrolling and whether the students are attending the program every day or only part of the week. For a single student attending four or five days a week, before-school care will cost $33 a week, after-school care will cost $69 a week and attending both will cost $88 a week.

(Read more: Joco 913 News)

At Olathe center in Ernie Miller Park, programs aim to cure ‘nature deficit disorder’

Many people don’t know that skunks are actually acrobats. Handstands are their forte. With tails fluffed and pointed straight up in the air, they perform this stunt when they sense an unwelcome audience has come on the scene.

“The skunk’s not trying to amuse or entertain you. He’s trying to get you to leave,” said Seth Salmans, Johnson County Parks & Rec police officer. “If you don’t leave, his next step will be to spray you.”

The truth about skunks was just one part Salman’s educational program, “The Good, The Bad, and The Smelly,” held on a recent evening at the Ernie Miller Park and Nature Center. During this entertaining and educational event, Salmans also shared information and facts about the evening’s other headliners, which included bull snakes, rose hair tarantulas and American toads. More than 100 children and adults attended the event, held at the center’s amphitheater. It was part of an annual summer series launched more than 30 years ago. For the past five, Salmans has been teaching several of the center’s programs.

This animal-loving officer understands that, for many people, fear is connected to the species he displayed and discussed.

(Read more: Joco 913 News)

Bus service in Salina will offer families rides to back-to-school fair

Salina CityGo will provide free rides to families attending the Back to School Fair on Friday.

The Back to School Fair will be from noon to 7 p.m. at Lakewood Middle School.

Passengers should tell the driver that they are going to the Back to School Fair. The best stop to use is stop 41 on the Red Route (North Ohio Street crosswalk). Buses will be at that stop at 46 minutes after each hour during regular hours, 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., and at 16 after each hour during peak hours, 12:30 to 6 p.m.

(Read more: News – Salina Journal)

Dodge City CVB announces webpage design update

The Dodge City Convention and Visitors Bureau is pleased to announce the launch of the newly designed visitdodgecity.org website.

“We began working on the updates and design concepts several months ago, looking to freshen the look of our site,” said Jan Stevens, director of the Dodge City Convention and Visitors Bureau.

“The site is much more vibrant, and has many features our old site couldn’t support. New elements such as an on-line version of our printed Visitors Guide, video streaming capabilities, up to the minute news capabilities and ‘quick link’ buttons throughout the site.”

The new design features a more user-friendly model, with a “less clicks” idea element incorporated in the scheme that will allow visitors planning their trip, and guests in the community to find information on the site, easily.

Special session held to discuss hospital sales tax in Marysville

Community Memorial Healthcare chief financial officer Dan Fehr told Marshall County commissioners Friday during a special session that the hospital has some tough choices to make.

The special session was held to discuss the proposed half-cent sales tax that CMH has requested for the Nov. 6 general election ballot.

Fehr and CMH board member Bryce Porter explained to the commissioners the financial hardships of the hospital. The commissioners expressed understanding of CMH’s situation but stressed the county’s financial situation as well.

Chairman Dave Baier said he liked the dialogue with Porter and Fehr more than past meetings with larger groups of CMH representatives.

“I felt like we had a positive and productive back and forth in the room,” Fehr said after the meeting.

Fehr also said if the hospital continues to operate in the same way it will deplete its reserves of about $6 million in fewer than ten years.

“When we run out, what then?” CMH board member Bryce Porter asked the commissioners at the meeting.

“We can’t keep doing what we are doing,” Fehr said before explaining to the commissioners that the sales tax is the hospital’s final option to avoid cutting services. “Once we cut a service it is not coming back.”

(Read more: The Marysville Advocate)

Neosho County approves solid waste plan

Neosho County Commissioners approved a five-year plan for solid waste at a 15-minute meeting Thursday evening.

No one made comments during the public hearing portion of the meeting on the plan prepared by committee at the end of June. The five-year plan will be revewed annually in May.

Neosho County owns and operates a drop-off station and landfill east of Erie for municipal solid waste and construction and demolition. Commissioners have discussed the fact its landfill operates at a loss, but said Thursday’s action was a separate issue. The plan mentions a possibility of closing the C and D landfill near Erie to only two days a week instead of the current five days, or closing it completely.

Chanute operates its own landfill. Green Environmental Services takes trash to the Allen County landfill near LaHarpe.

(Read more: The Chanute Tribune)

Lawrence Fire Chief Mark Bradford remembered as ‘ultimate professional’

One indicator of how Lawrence-Douglas County Fire Medical Chief Mark Bradford viewed his profession was in the theme of the emails he sent to his staff.
Former Division Chief Bill Stark, who retired last year, said Bradford would regularly send out “fire service pride” emails to the department, usually copying city management.
Stark said that in the emails Bradford would often relay thank-you letters — sometimes scanning them in — and other compliments from members of the public. Stark said that even if the message was just that someone’s grandmother had been well taken care of by fire and medical staff, the emails were important.

Shawnee County commission to consider interim department head for public works

The Shawnee County Commission plans Monday to consider appointing Tom Flanagan, the county’s deputy public works director, as interim director for the public works and solid waste departments. County Commissioners Kevin Cook, Shelly Buhler and Bob Archer plan Monday to consider temporarily filling the public works/solid waste director’s job being vacated by Tom Vlach, 52, who submitted his resignation this month effective Sept. 7. Vlach is leaving to become deputy city engineer in charge of design and construction for Des Moines, Iowa.

Cook said Friday commissioners will consider appointing Flanagan to temporarily fill the position. Flanagan, 71, has served in the past as interim director of public works.

Gardner amends water restrictions

During the July 19 city council emergency meeting, the amended water restrictions that had been imposed July 17. The amended restrictions went into effect on July 20.
Outdoor water use will now be determined according to geographical location and applies to all homes, businesses and government agencies. (Map available at www.gardnerkansas.gov)
North of Main St. – Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday
South of Main St. – Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
No watering on Friday.
Any outdoor water use, including lawn watering and car washing, will be allowed before 10 a.m. and after 9 p.m. on the assigned days.
Refilling of swimming pools will be allowed one day a week after sunset. Privately owned pools not filled prior to the declaration of a water warning may not be filled until after the water warning is lifted.
Bulk water sales will be allowed between 6 a.m. – 3 p.m. , Monday through Friday, not to exceed 10,000 gallons per day.
Waste of water will be prohibited.

(Read more: Gardner News)

Lawrence board to look at ban for plastic bags, straws, other plastic products

A local advisory board will be looking at whether the city can play a role in reducing the amount of disposable plastic products used in Lawrence.
The city’s Sustainability Advisory Board voted earlier this month to make the issue of single-use plastics one of its priorities. Lawrence-Douglas County Sustainability Director Jasmin Moore said the board is forming a community work group to study single-use plastics, such as plastic bags, straws and food containers, and potential ways to reduce their use.
Moore, who is the board’s staff liaison, said the board took up the issue in response to calls from several community groups for a plastic bag ban or other restriction. After hearing public comment on the issue, Moore said the board decided it wanted to look at the topic more broadly and consider all single-use plastic products and strategies to reduce waste.

Wichita’s proposed budget includes adding more officers, repairing neighborhood streets

In Mayor Jeff Longwell’s weekly briefing says there won’t be as many cuts as initially proposed. He says continuing to enhance Wichita’s quality of life is top priority and that includes adding more personnel to the police department.

Wichita Police Department Deputy Chief Troy Livingston says he’s grateful the department will be getting to add more people to its staff. He said, “our call load has gone up within the last few years. It gives us the opportunity to do more community policing activities. Right now, police officers are going from call to call.”

In total, WPD will be adding 32 new positions, that includes civilian positions like crime analysts. He said, “we are looking at adding 21 new commissioned positions. Two of those will be sergeants, we need those in our traffic unit. Six will be detectives and 13 will be police officers.”

The proposed budget will also focus on something a lot of people complain about, neighborhood streets.

(Read more: KAKE – News)

Limit fireworks, citizen suggests in city of Holton

At the request of a Holton resident who raised concerns on how fireworks affect pets and military veterans who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), the Holton City Commission has pledged to look into possibly reducing the number of days that fireworks may be discharged within the city limits.

During the commission’s regular meeting on Monday, commissioners met with Diane Gruver, who had written commissioners prior to the meeting about cutting the number of days that firecrackers, shells and other Class C fireworks may be “shot off” in the city.

At present, the city’s window for fireworks discharge runs from June 27 to July 5, which is the same as the state’s window for Class C fireworks sales, Holton City Manager Kerwin McKee said. While cities can set dates and times for fireworks discharge by ordinance, the state’s sale window cannot be changed.

(Read more: Holton Recorder)

Unified Government of Wyandotte County brings in outside fire chief

The Unified Government today announced that Mike Callahan of Chicago will be the new Kansas City, Kansas, fire chief.

Callahan, 60, is deputy fire commissioner of the 5,000-employee Chicago Fire Department, and a 40-year veteran of that department, starting in 1980 as a firefighter, according to UG officials. For the past nine years, he has been the deputy fire commissioner in Chicago.

After a national search, Callahan was selected by UG Administrator Doug Bach from six finalists, including two finalists from the Kansas City, Kansas, Fire Department. The six finalists were introduced at a UG meeting on June 14, and included Jack Andrade, senior assistant chief of logistics, and John Droppelmann, fire marshal, both from the Kansas City, Kansas, Fire Department. Andrade served as acting fire chief for the past few weeks, after the retirement of interim fire chief Kevin Shirley on July 12.

“From what I have observed, the recruitment, assessment and selection process has been fair, systematic and rigorous, and brought forward six qualified candidates,” Mayor David Alvey said at a news conference today.

(Read more: Welcome to Wyandotte Daily!)

Pratt Solar Farm a result of teamwork, persistence

The city of Pratt hosted an official groundbreaking ceremony on Wednesday for the Pratt Solar Farm, which could be the largest municipal-owned solar farm in Kansas when operational. Members of the Pratt City Commission, the Pratt County Commission and Pratt Community College were joined by representatives of Inovateus Solar, Kenyon Energy, Tortoise Financial Advisors and several bystanders to celebrate the teamwork and persistence that culminated in the promised coming of 37 acres of solar panels to provide Pratt citizens with electricity by October 2018.

“Initially we were aiming for a completion date sometime in January 2019,” said Jamie Huber, Pratt Director of Electrical Utilities. “But the panels are ordered and probably on their way here already to get ahead of any tariff problems and things will be happening rapidly now.”

Standing at a podium in the middle of a former wheat field, currently sporting windrow grass, Pratt Mayor Doug Meyer said it was good to see the teamwork of so many and the persistence of those who started this project come to fruition.

“This might be the only place in America where you can stand in one place and see a solar farm, an ethanol plant, wind turbines, a community college, a thriving town and productive farm ground,” Meyer said. “We are doing something very special here. We are telling the world that here in Pratt we are open for business. We want to grow. And it is all possible because of the teamwork of everyone rep- resented here. Teamwork and a lot of persistence is paying off.”

(Read more: Pratt, KS – Pratt Tribune)

Several in Hodgeman County without power after overnight storms

Several residents in Hodgeman County woke up in the dark on Thursday.

Storms moved through overnight knocking down transmission lines and snapping power poles.

The Hodgeman County Sheriff’s Office posted updates on its Facebook page showing the damage between Jetmore and Hanston.

The City of Jetmore asked residents to conserve water while its well was on a backup generator from Wichita.

Crews from Midwest Energy, Inc. finally arrived to restore power.

“Well 14 is working on filling the water tower, and the lift station is keeping the sewer flowing. Thank you to everyone for conserving the water! Because of your efforts, well 14 doesn’t have a great deal of work to do to refill the tower,” said the city in one of its posts.

Residents needing to use electricity for oxygen or charge their phones are invited to go to the courthouse which is running on a generator. There’s also a microwave available in the lounge.

The sheriff’s office says the Nusser’s have their pumps on a generator and are open for use for anyone who needs fuel.

(Read more: KWCH News)

New city manager discusses what’s next for Shawnee

It’s a new era for the city of Shawnee as Nolan Sunderman takes over the reins.

Without much of a breather, the good-natured 34-year-old has spent the past few weeks jumping into his duties as the new city manager ever since he was named Carol Gonzales’ successor last month.

Being in charge of the city’s operations, as well as implementing policies adopted by the council, are not easy tasks, but Sunderman, the former assistant city manager, loves the challenge.

After all, his passion for city government stems back nearly two decades when he was an ambitious high school student longing to be more involved in his community on a deeper level.

(Read more: The Dispatch stories)

Great Bend looking to switch to an entirely automated water meter system

The City of Great Bend has made recent efforts to be as transparent as possible with water bills and meter readings. At a Great Bend City Council meeting in April, the City outlined the entire process on how water rates are calculated. Interim City Administrator George Kolb mentioned at the July 10th budget session that the City plans to allocate money over the years to automate the entire water meter system. Kolb noted an automated system would reduce labor and benefit the customers. With over 6,000 water meters that the City operates, it takes the one trained employee roughly a month to manually read all the meters. The new automated system would allow the reader to drive by the meter or be in close proximity of it to receive the reading. Water is billed to the nearest 1,000 gallons used.

(Read more: Great Bend Post)

Mayor: Clapp Golf Course, Evergreen and Linwood libraries to remain open

The City of Wichita will not close Clapp Golf Course or two local library branches this year, according to Mayor Jeff Longwell.

The mayor made the announcement during his weekly brief Thursday morning.

He said an increase of $1 million that was going to be used for street maintenance would be shifted over to keep the programs open.

“We want to make very clear that we intend to continue operations at Clapp Golf Course, that it will remain open until we’ve had the chance to masterplan the property,” said the mayor.

He also said full funding would be restored to Linwood and Evergreen Branch libraries.

“We’re going to try and figure out a way, at least for this next budget season, to continue to focus on those quality of life aspects that we know that are incredibly important to the community,” said Longwell.

(Read more: KWCH News)

Phillipsburg’s ‘man of steel’ built rodeo grandstands, helped with construction of pens

He’s the man of steel, and he’s put up plenty of it at the Phillipsburg rodeo grounds throughout the years.

Cliff Van Kooten has been associated with the rodeo, either on the committee, as chairman, or as a volunteer, since 1982.

After graduating from high school in 1960, the Long Island, Kan. native spent three years in the military before coming back home to marry his wife, Helen, in 1964. The couple moved to Phillipsburg. He went to welding school and worked for the International Harvester dealer in Phillipsburg while he welded on the side.

In 1967, he started his own business, and two years later, he bought the location where Cliff’s Welding is situated, on the west side of Phillipsburg.

In 1982, a Phillipsburg businessman stopped by his shop, offering his rodeo share in the Rodeo Association for $100 to Van Kooten. But Van Kooten couldn’t afford it. “At the time, I didn’t have the money, so he said he’d keep it till I had enough. It wasn’t long, and I had the $100.”

(Read more: Hays Post)

Downtown Pittsburg To Get New Parking Lots

Pittsburg’s Block 22 Project is nearing completion. It’s expected to be done by the middle of next month and at that time around 99 additional people will be living downtown. Those people will need somewhere to park. This week the city commission approved a parking plan. Five parking lots within a block of the buildings have been selected. Residents are expected to move into Block 22 on August 18th.

(Read more: KOAM – Local News)

Topeka public works director Jason Peek answers queries from Capital-Journal readers

Topeka public works director Jason Peek says he understands the frustration drivers feel when they sit at a red light for what seems like a long time.

He said Wednesday that the city uses technology, including video cameras and “loops” embedded in the street, to detect vehicles arriving at most signalized intersections and adjust the signal’s timing to keep traffic running smoothly.

“But these are all pieces of infrastructure that require maintenance,” Peek said.

Sometimes loops break, or straight-line winds — such as those the city saw last week — alter a camera’s direction and keep it from working effectively, he said.

Traffic signal timing was among topics Peek discussed while answering 35 questions posed by Topeka Capital-Journal readers during a podcast/Facebook Live event broadcast Wednesday on CJOnline.

The podcast was part of a reader engagement project linked to the program “#TopCity What? You ask. We answer.” Readers may access it on The Capital-Journal’s Facebook page.

The Downsides of Property Tax Caps

Property tax caps are hampering municipalities’ ability to fund basic services and are exacerbating inequality, according to a report released by the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP) last week.

The tax caps, which first became popular during the 1970s tax revolt and have since spread to 44 states plus the District of Columbia, have created fiscal stress for the states that adopted the limits. Because of property tax caps, “states are pushing too many costs down to the lower level,” said Ron Deutsch, executive director of the Fiscal Policy Institute, during a press call about the report. The report has a recommendation to alleviate some of these issues: Flip the current property tax cap formula.

Right now, most states limit the annual increase in property taxes to 1.5 or 2.5 percent or the rate of inflation — whichever number is lower. Setting the limit instead at whichever number is higher, the researchers say, would provide more cash for governments and make revenues more predictable.

“We never thought the tax cap was the right solution,” said Deutsch. “Property tax caps should be eliminated. If they aren’t eliminated, at the very least, they should be amended.”

(Read more: GOVERNING)

Florence seeks to seize springs

An ongoing water fight between Florence City Council members and owners of a spring that has supplied city water for 98 years has ratcheted up and is likely headed toward a court battle.

Council members voted Monday to begin eminent domain proceedings to seize ownership of four acres owned by the DeForest family at Crystal Springs, where the city’s springhouse is situated. Council member Trayce Warner was the lone vote in opposition.

The atmosphere of city council meetings frequently has been contentious since council members voted in June to reject a 10-year, $6,000-per-year water contract offered by the DeForest family.

(Read more: PEABODY Gazette-Bulletin)

Osawatomie City Hall gets a new look

Osawatomie City Hall has a fresh new look, with renovations and improvements made to address safety and security concerns in the older-style building.

The remodeling began earlier this year in March and is mostly completed, with only a few small changes to be finished. City Manager Don Cawby said those finishing touches should be complete by August.

Renovations included the conversion of the old police station, which was housed in a portion of City Hall, into the City Clerk and utility billing offices.

(Read more: The Miami County Republic)

Commissioner seeks legal opinion about chairman

A member of the County Commission wants an attorney general’s opinion regarding whether the commission’s chairman can be removed from his leadership position.

Commissioner Bob Holland is not seeking to oust fellow Commissioner Louis Klemp from the commission. But Holland wants to know if a majority of the commission can vote to remove Klemp from the position of chairman.

During a meeting Tuesday, Holland made a motion to direct County Counselor David Van Parys to seek an opinion from the Kansas Attorney General’s Office on the issue.

(Read more: Leavenworth Times)

Leavenworth changes solid waste disposal services

When they met Tuesday, Leavenworth city commissioners voted to change how garbage from the city is disposed of in the future.

Leavenworth officials plan to continue to operate a city curbside trash collection service. But beginning next year, the garbage collected through the city’s solid waste service will be hauled to a landfill in Johnson County instead of the Leavenworth County Transfer Station, which is located in Lansing.

Commissioners voted to accept a bid from Waste Management, Shawnee, for a one-year contract with a solid waste disposal fee of $24 per ton.

City Manager Paul Kramer said the city collects about 12,000 tons of garbage per year.

(Read more: Leavenworth Times)

Leavenworth County Commission discuss proposal for school mental health initiative

County commissioners reached a consensus Tuesday to have staff look into a possible ballot question regarding a tax increase for a mental health program for schools.

Kim Knight, an assistant principal for Leavenworth High School, is proposing a program in which the Leavenworth, Lansing, Easton, Basehor-Linwood and Tonganoxie school districts contract with a mental health provider to provide services to students for suicide prevention and other mental health issues.

Knight is requesting that a question be placed on the ballot for the Nov. 6 general election to see if voters would approve a 2-mill increase to the county’s tax levy. If approved, the money generated through the tax increase would be used to fund the program.

(Read more: Leavenworth Times)

Mulvane to rebuild parts of downtown structure

The Mulvane Land Bank will consider bids Aug. 6 to make repairs to a downtown building damaged by a leaky roof.

Part of the building at 201 W. Main collapsed last month, forcing the tenant, a dance studio, to move out. The building, which is about 120 years old, is one of two that the Land Bank still has in its stable of properties.

No one was hurt when the center window and bricks began falling off the front of the building. The damage pushed the front of the building out six to eight inches, City Administrator Kent Hixson said at the time.

(Read more: Area | derbyinformer.com)

Derby cops work as overnight elves

When police arrived at Joan Van Boening’s west Derby house to take a property damage report of a footbridge, they realized they could do something extra to help – such as restore it.

The bridge, which spanned an open ditch, was ruined by a hit-and-run driver in an incident that happened July 14 at 1011 N. McIntosh.

Van Boening, 84, uses the bridge to reach her mailbox, which also had been hit.

While the bridge was for safety, as it meant that she didn’t have to go out on the dangerous road, it also was sentimental as it and a mailbox were built by her late husband and son-in-law.

(Read more: Derby News | derbyinformer.com)

Fire station will be re-purposed for police uses

Derby’s police station will be expanding. The additional space comes in the form of old Fire Station 81 at 128 W. Market and just south of the police station. The space will be used for police evidence processing and storage, training and vehicle storage when fire staff and equipment is moved to their new station in about six months.

City Manager Kathy Sexton explained the plan at the July 19 meeting of the Derby Planning Commission as part of her presentation on the city’s Comprehensive Plan.

(Read more: Derby News | derbyinformer.com)

Wichitans worry about budget cuts in their neighborhoods

People living in Wichita are telling the city council what they think about the proposed budget.

People don’t want to lose their libraries, golf courses and other neighborhood amenities.

In a year where the city is struggling to balance its budget and add to public safety, some say, “don’t cut at my home.”

The library is a place of learning, and retired Wichita teacher Kurt Kerns is worried about the possibility of evergreen library closing.

(Read more: KWCH News)

OP officers resign over false seat belt tickets. $4,000 has been refunded to motorists

Three Overland Park police officers have resigned and more than 200 pending traffic tickets have been dismissed after an internal investigation into false seat belt citations.

Police Chief Frank Donchez Jr. said Wednesday that personnel within the department became aware that some officers apparently were ticketing motorists for not wearing seat belts. In fact, they had been wearing them but had committed a different traffic violation.

Instead of a speeding ticket, he said as an example, a motorist would be falsely cited for not buckling up. He said he did not know the motivation behind the officers’ actions.

(Read more: KC Star Local News)

Reno County commissioners reluctant to add nuisance policy

The Reno County Commission met Tuesday and discussed a petition submitted by area residents in the 7300 block of Zolman Road. Commissioners questioned whether a county nuisance code is needed, or even desirable, to correct such conditions throughout the county.

Commissioner Dan Deming wants some type of code possibly concerning only residential properties. However, the other two commissioners seemed more reluctant. Commissioner Bob Bush said he hasn’t heard from anyone else in the county saying this is an issue anywhere else. He wants anyone in the county that may have a similar issue to contact the commission. There was some talk of starting a county court, where a person could be brought before a judge.

Residents in that neighborhood east of the city apparently are concerned over this property and what it could do to property values. One resident asked the commission, “Would you want to have a property like this where you live?”

They’re also concerned about the look of the neighborhood since this home is in bad condition. Trash, debris, and abandoned cars litter the property. Tall weeds nearly hide the home.

(Read more: Hutch Post)