Municipal News & Jobs

Kansas Municipal News

Topeka voters to consider 10 more years for half-cent sales tax

Topekans will vote Nov. 6 on whether to extend the citywide, half-cent sales tax used to finance street work for 10 more years, through Oct. 1, 2029.

City governing body members voted 8-2 Tuesday evening, with council members Sylvia Ortiz and Jeff Coen dissenting, to approve a resolution scheduling that election. In expressing her objections, Ortiz noted that the question that will go on the ballot would arrange for revenue from the renewed tax, like the current one, to be spent only to cover “costs of maintenance and improvements of existing streets, curbs, gutters, sidewalks, alleys and street lighting.”

She said she wanted the word “existing” removed, as it keeps the city from using revenue from the tax to widen streets or put in curbs, gutters, sidewalks or concrete where those things don’t currently exist.

That’s not fair to residents in underdeveloped council districts like the one Ortiz represents who often don’t have such things as sidewalks, curbs and gutters, she said.

“We want what everybody else gets,” she added.

Governing body members heard seven members of the public speak on the proposal Tuesday evening. Four of those advocated seeking to make the tax countywide and using the additional revenue that would bring to address Shawnee County parks and recreation deferred maintenance needs. However, no governing body members made any effort to go in that direction.

Cuba, Kansas: A Place for Life … New photo exhibit to document ‘tenacity’ of town at 150th celebration

It’s the town that refused to die. That was photographer Jim Richardson’s goal some 40 years ago–to document the demise of a rural community in Kansas. He picked Cuba-just down the road from his hometown of Belleville.
Richardson photographed the everyday life of the town through his tenures at the Topeka Capital-Journal and the Denver Post, and later for National Geographic magazine.
But the community refused to cooperate with Richardson’s plans.
July 20 and 21 the community will celebrate its 150th birthday during the Cuba Harvest Festival. One of this year’s features will be an exhibit of 60 of Richardson’s photographs set up in the Cuba Community Hall-a hub of the community that underwent a half-million dollar renovation a few years ago.
Richardson titled his exhibit Cuba, Kansas: A Place for Life.

New development planned for Delano district

Christopher Parisho has lived in Delano for the last ten years and with two kids at home, he’s made it his mission to make sure the district he knows and loves stays family friendly.

“We were trying to get them to just change the uniform,” Parisho said.

With a new sports bar, called ‘Tight Ends,’ going in to the Delano district on the northeast corner of S Seneca and University, Parisho has some concerns—mainly what the waitresses have to wear.

“At first they seemed willing to listen but then when it came down to it, they were just like, ‘Well, we’re going to do what we’re going to do,” Parisho said.

The restaurant is a franchise from Texas. The waitresses dress in clothing compared to the uniform of Twin Peaks or Hooters. City Councilman Jeff Blubaugh, whose district includes Delano, said this is the first he’s heard of anyone being against the restaurant.

“I think any kind of nice, commercial development like that is gonna be welcome and I really think once people find out more information, it’s gonna be a nice add to the neighborhood,” Blubaugh said.

Parisho likes the idea of more development, but he wants it wholesome.

“As a member of the community, I want to have businesses come in here that I can be proud of,” Parisho said.

(Read more: KAKE – News)

Salina city commission looks at fees, taxes

Salina city commissioners Monday took a look at a 2019 budget that could include a property tax increase of up to nearly 3 mills, fee increases of 2 to 3 percent and raises for city employees of between 2 and 5 percent.

The final budget will be set in August.

As a working proposition, the commission consensus was to consider increasing the city’s property tax levy to 29 mills, from 26.129 mills. Property tax valuations are usually stagnant in a strong economy, Gage said. Sales tax collections, which the city also uses to fund projects, typically increase 1.5 percent to 2 percent a year. Most city fee increases are projected to increase 2 percent to 3 percent, he said. Some won’t change and some, such as building permit fees and planning fees, will increase more.

Water and wastewater utility fees will be set in the fall, he said, because the city will have a better idea then of summer usage. Landfill tipping fees are expected to increase.

(Read more: News – Salina Journal)

Barton County Commission hesitant to give nod to project request for tax credit program

The building where E&E Glass once operated may have a new life soon, should Rosewood Services succeed in acquiring a grant from the state to offer tax credits to fund its renovation. But, a request for a letter of support backing Rosewood’s application for the Kansas Department Of Commerce Community Service Tax Credit Program was tabled until next week in order for commissioners to look further into who exactly will benefit from the proposed renovations.
If approved, the tax credit program would be used to remodel the property at 1117 Williams St., and open the Rosewood Creations Center, said Anna Hammond-Bodine, director of development for Rosewood.
According to Hammond-Bodine, the proceeds of the tax credits would be used to remodel the old E&E Glass building on Williams Street. “Who would receive the benefits of renovating that building,” Commissioner Straub asked. “In other words, who has ownership of that building?”
“Right now Rosewood Services leases it from another entity,” Hammond-Bodine replied.
“So, any improvements to that building would be retained by the owner of that property, correct?,” Straub asked. Hammond-Bodine replied in the affirmative.
“Okay, I just want to make sure the public is clear that these tax credit programs don’t necessarily benefit just the non-profit organization as they should,” Straub said. “They also benefit the private entity that owns the real estate that the improvements are being done to.”

Ford County talks transportation task force

At Monday’s Ford County Commission meeting, County Engineer Jon Halbgewachs brought the commission’s attention to a recently-created task force which could impact area roadways with its work. “My understanding is that their duty is to then, throughout the summer and going into the fall and winter, set up kind of town hall meetings across the state like they did in the last (Kansas Department of Transportation) transportation program when they did the listening tour, if you will,” Halbgewachs said.

Either Dodge City or Garden City are typically stopping points for such tours, Halbgewachs said. “Where I’m going with this is this committee’s going to be presenting a recommendation to the legislature next year on where Kansas needs to head in transportation,” Halbgewachs said. “When we find out when those town hall meetings are, certainly the county and the city of Dodge City want to be involved in that so you can get your voices heard on what’s important to this region.”

Locally, the task force’s recommendations could determine for better or worse the outcome of certain area roadway projects.

“Part of that is the Highway 50 project, which is on the books, the four-lane expansion between Dodge City and Cimarron, but is has been put on hold because of funding issues,” Halbgewachs said. “So if there’s a desire to get that project finished that voice needs to be heard as well.”

Right now, Halbgewachs said, that project is in haitus.

(Read more: Dodge City Daily Globe)

Federal Reserve Chairman backs more rate hikes as economy growing ‘considerably stronger’

The U.S. economy is running at a fast enough pace to justify continued interest rate increases, Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell said Tuesday.
Powell is delivering his semiannual testimony to Congress this week, starting with an appearance Tuesday before the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs.
In remarks he provided ahead of a question-and-answer session, Powell painted a largely positive picture of the economy, which he said is expanding at an increasing pace and is being boosted by aggressive fiscal policy on Capitol Hill.

“Overall, we see the risk of the economy unexpectedly weakening as roughly balanced with the possibility of the economy growing faster than we currently anticipate,” Powell said.
“The unemployment rate is low and expected to fall further. Americans who want jobs have a good chance of finding them,” he added.
Powell spoke as the central bank is in the process of gradually raising interest rates. The policymaking Federal Open Market Committee has hiked the Fed’s benchmark rate twice this year in quarter-point increments, and is expected to approve two more increases before the end of the year.

City of Gardner imposing mandatory water restrictions starting Tuesday

The City of Gardner is imposing mandatory water restrictions after usage at its treatment facility reached high levels this week.

The city said the Hillsdale Water Treatment Facility has operated at more than 90 percent capacity for more than five consecutive days. As a result, the city has reached a Water Warning Stage as part of its Water Conservation Plan.

Usage restrictions go into place Tuesday, July 17. The city said outdoor water use, including lawn watering and car washing, will be restricted to before 10 a.m. and after 9 p.m. on the assigned days.

Refilling of swimming pools will only be allowed one day a week after sunset. Privately-owned pools not filled already may not be filled until after the water warning is lifted.

The city also said bulk water sales will be suspended, and waste of water will be prohibited.

(Read more: KMBC)

Wichita’s newest dog park will offer agility area, interactive features and fountains

Wichita’s dogs are getting a new park to run around in.

The proposed dog park in W.B. Harrison Park, 1300 S. Webb, will be constructed within the year, Troy Houtman, director of Park and Recreation, said.

The dog park will be located in the east corner of the park near the rugby field and include a large dog area, a small dog area, an agility park and a renovated parking lot.

“There will be areas to wash the dogs and some really fun amenities for the dogs to play with, like hoops to jump through and an obstacle course,” Houtman said. A conceptual design map depicts a large dog area and a small dog area with features such as shade structures, areas for open play, benches, tables, hillside fetch and fountains. The agility area includes a teeter totter, weaving posts, hurdles, crawl tube, a ramp and climb, and more.

Construction will be completed in the winter or early spring, Houtman said. The park is near Webb and Harry.

(Read more: Wichita Eagle)

Douglas Design District given Wichita Community Foundation grant

The Douglas Design District has been awarded a grant to help add public art and other enhancements to the burgeoning neighborhood east of downtown.

The award of $84,500 from the Knight Foundation Fund at the Wichita Community Foundation was announced Monday night at the From Perception to Action forum at Central Standard Brewing.

The grant will go toward the district’s 2020 Vision campaign, a two-year, $215,000 project that includes enhancing or adding public art, establishing a business improvement district for long-term sustainability and civic engagement for accelerating a streetscape plan. “This grant is going to really help us pass through some of these speed bumps and hurdles that have slowed us down” in the efforts to help the district blossom, Janelle King, president of the Douglas Design District board, said Monday night. The money will allow the district to “make the next step forward.”

The board and executive committee for the design district worked hard to “have a very clear vision of creating public art and space along Douglas that will not only engage the community but continue to attract business, industry and talent” to the area, King said in a statement released earlier Monday.

(Read more: Wichita Eagle)

Audit explains budget changes in Finney County to comply with new state tax lid

Lewis, Hooper & Dick, LLC, owners Theresa Dasenbrock and Kristin Sekavec presented the audit to commissioners, who accepted it at their meeting. The county’s general fund revenue and expenditures dropped significantly from the previous year, with 2017 revenue totals equaling $8,691,619, compared to 2016′s $15,643,831. Expenditures in 2017 added up to $9,535,250, compared to 2016′s $15,499,749.

Dasenbrock said the change was due to the sheriff’s office moving out of the general fund and into a separate fund, a move made to keep accounting separate under a tax lid that has an exception for emergency services. The move caused several million dollars in tax receipts and public safety expenses to be filed under the sheriff’s office fund instead of the general fund.

Regardless of the change, the county’s expenditures surpassed its revenue by $843,631. The deficit remains despite the county spending over $400,000 less and earning over $1.2 million more than was budgeted. Partington said the county expected and planned for general fund revenue to come in under expenditures in 2017, and would offset the shortage with unencumbered cash from the end of the previous year. The county often feeds prior years’ cash into the next year’s budget so residents are not overtaxed, he said.
.

New behavioral health crisis stabilization facility coming to Salina

The Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services (KDADS) has signed contracts to provide funding to Community Mental Health Centers (CMHCs) in Salina and Manhattan for the creation of two new crisis stabilization facilities to care for individuals experiencing a mental health or substance use crisis, according to a media release from the KDAADS.

“Kansas communities face the continual challenge of helping those who are struggling with mental illness as families deal with the ongoing anxiety of trying to maintain stability and safety, while also meeting the needs of their mentally ill loved ones,” Governor Jeff Colyer, M.D., said. “Crisis services such as these will allow communities to divert those in mental crisis from emergency rooms, county jails and the state hospitals to a setting where they can be properly cared for and diagnosed.” With funding flexibility provided through the CMHCs, KDADS has contracted with Central Kansas Mental Health Center in Salina to serve Saline, Dickinson, Ellsworth, Lincoln and Ottawa counties, and Pawnee Mental Health Services in Manhattan to serve Riley, Potawatomie, Geary, Clay, Cloud, Washington, Republic, Mitchell and Jewell counties. KDADS is providing $85,000 to fund the facility in Salina, and $725,000 for the Manhattan facility.

(Read more: The Salina Post)

Capitol Federal, Evergy donate $5M to build Topeka’s downtown plaza

Capitol Federal and Evergy both will donate $2.5 million toward the construction of a downtown plaza, the two companies announced Monday morning.

The $5 million is more than half of the funds needed to build the plaza, which is expected to cost between $8 million and $9 million, said Vince Frye, president and CEO of Downtown Topeka Inc.

Capitol Federal sits on the southeast corner of 7th Street and Kansas Avenue, across from where the plaza is expected to open in March 2020 on the north side. CEO John Dicus said Monday his company is proud to be part of revitalizing an area of Topeka it has called home for 125 years.

“You can do so much more when there’s a group of you than you can by yourself,” he said of his partnership with Evergy and Greater Topeka Partnership. “We still need others, so hopefully this will be something that kickstarts that and gets other people to be involved. The new plaza will not only be the heart of a vibrant downtown district but the cornerstone of the entire Topeka community.”

Topeka citywide sales tax suggested to go countywide to help parks and rec

Shawnee County needs a consistent, long-term source to meet the $20 million worth of deferred maintenance needs existing in its parks and recreation department, a Topeka businessman told Shawnee County commissioners Monday.

Joseph Ledbetter, a Topeka lawyer, asked Commissioners Kevin Cook, Shelly Buhler and Bob Archer to help arrange for the county to accomplish that by teaming up with Topeka’s city government to turn its citywide half-cent sales tax into a countywide tax, while extending it for 10 years.

The tax would raise an estimated $17.5 million annually, of which $14.5 million would continue to finance street-related purposes while $3 million would cover deferred maintenance costs in parks and recreation, Ledbetter said at the commission’s morning meeting.

“This is really not a tax increase, and yet it solves a terrible shortage of maintenance funds for Shawnee County Parks and Recreation,” he said.

New bowling alley owner in Parsons gets city retail grant

The new owner of the local bowling center plans to make improvements to the business.

The Parsons City Commission on Monday evening approved a $5,000 retail recruitment grant for Roosevelt Draine, who is in the process of buying PK Bowl, 103 Main, from Community National Bank and Trust through a limited liability company bearing his name. Roosevelt Draine LLC must match the grant with at least $25,000.

Community National has owned the bowling alley since repossessing it from William and Kathy Farr after they declared bankruptcy in 2016. The Farrs had operated the business as Parsons Bowl. The 12-lane bowling alley had been called Tower Bowl for many years prior to the Farrs buying it in 2010. Helen Brooks managed the bowling alley for the bank under the name PK Bowl.

According to Draine’s business plan submitted to the city, the new name of the bowling alley will be Parsons Family Fun Center.

“I think this is something that will move toward bettering the community,” Jim Zaleski, the city’s economic development director, said.

Zaleski said after the meeting that Draine will have Brooks continue to manage the bowling alley because he knows that she has done well with the business. Brooks worked for Tower Bowl and then Parsons Bowl off and on for 20 years for three different owners.

(Read more: Parsons Sun)

Labette County discusses senior meals program

Labette County commissioners on Monday discussed several budget requests, including funding for the program that helps feed senior citizens in Southeast Kansas.

Cindy Lane, executive director of the Southeast Kansas Area Agency on Aging, discussed the Labette County allocation Monday. The original request was for $63,775, but commissioners added another $3,000 to the budget and asked Lane to get back with them soon on how to change the allocation to the meal sites in the county.

The agency provides up to four hot meals a week to seniors at participating centers and another three frozen meals to seniors who want them. Lane said she recommends that seniors donate $1 per meal received. Because no Mound Valley representatives attended the June meeting, the board voted to divide the community’s allocation between Altamont’s meals program and the Area Agency on Aging.

Besides Mound Valley, meals programs operate in Altamont, Chetopa, Edna, Oswego and Parsons. Chetopa, Edna, Oswego and Parsons own these meal sites. Altamont’s senior center owns its meal site and pays for the building and activities inside it.

(Read more: Parsons Sun)

Shawnee County counselor: Performance of coroner’s new firm being monitored

Shawnee County commissioners made the best decision they could under the circumstances last month when they agreed to let Forensic Medical Holdings provide coroner’s services until January 2020, says county counselor Jim Crowl. Crowl clarified in an interview last week how the county responded to the firing of three coroner’s office employees who sounded alarms about the company’s quality of service. He also said commissioners learned in mid-April that county coroner Charles Glenn, who has held the position since 2014, planned to sell his company to FMH. Commissioners Kevin Cook, Shelly Buhler and Bob Archer voted in 2015 to privatize coroner’s office services and contract to have them provided by Mid-America Forensic Pathology, a company owned by Glenn. Commissioners in 2016 extended the county’s contract with his company until January 2020.

But Glenn earlier this year sold his interests in MAFP to FMH, which hired him. Commissioners voted June 7 to extend all of MAFP’s rights and obligations to FMH through January 2020.

The vote came after then-deputy district coroner Alan Martinez and coroner’s office employee Annette Carper told commissioners that Glenn’s office provided poor service to the county. Martinez and Carper, who were accompanied by coroner’s office employee Kristen Row, suggested the county return to the previous arrangement in which the coroner and his employees worked directly for the county.

Responsiblity to rebuild road shifts from city of Topeka to Shawnee County

Responsibility has shifted from Topeka to Shawnee County for rebuilding a road that straddles city limits at an economic development park south of town.

County Commissioners Kevin Cook, Shelly Buhler and Bob Archer voted 3-0 Monday to enter into a contract calling for the county to carry out bidding, construction and construction administration for the joint $1 million project to rebuild S.W. Gary Ormsby Drive between S.W. Innovation Parkway and the on-ramp to northbound US-75 highway.

“I feel much more comfortable than I did when we first took up this topic,” Cook said.

He was referring to how the agreement initially called for the city to be responsible for those duties when commissioners considered it July 2 and indicated they wanted the county to play a larger role. County staff members subsequently worked with city staff members to revise the contract. The city maintains the road’s south side because it lies within the annexed area. The county maintains the north side because it lies in unincorporated Shawnee County.

Tom Vlach, director of the county’s public works and solid waste departments, said the arrangement approved Monday continues to call for the city to play the lead role in designing the reconstruction. However, it shifts responsibility for the other parts of the project to the county.

Reno County Courthouse chimney damaged by lightning strike

A lightning strike over the weekend damaged a six-story-high brick chimney at the Reno County Courthouse, sending bricks and pieces of a giant concrete cap flying.

Some of the pieces of concrete, which officials estimated weighed 250 pounds or more, fell onto a nearby steel fire escape, smashing through at least two sets of stairs and then through the roof of a small storage building below.

The strike knocked out power to the courthouse, including the E-911 dispatch center, though it immediately went onto emergency backup.

County Administrator Gary Meagher said he had no estimate on the damages, but the county’s insurance company has been contacted and is expected to send out an adjustor this week.

It will likely require using a lift to reach the top of the building to inspect the damage, Meagher said.

The strike occurred about 1 a.m. Saturday. Officials closed the alley behind the courthouse pending a determination whether it is safe to pass through.

(Read more: Local – The Hutchinson News)

Vibrant life of a small town: Cuba, Kansas, to celebrate 150 years

When Jim Richardson began taking photos in Cuba, Kansas, he started out photographing a town and ended up photographing a community.

“I kind of expected when I started that I was documenting the decline and probable death of a small town, but it didn’t happen,” Richardson said. “They have kept the town alive and interesting.”

Richardson, a former Topeka Capital-Journal photographer who now works for National Geographic magazine, has spent 40 years taking pictures of Cuba and the people who live there. The photos have been featured in National Geographic and on CBS Sunday Morning.

Cuba will celebrate its 150th anniversary as a town during the annual Cuba Harvest Festival on July 20 and 21.

Richardson will have an exhibit of over 60 photos on display during the festival.

A community effort: How years of planning unfolded to create Topeka’s largest, most inclusive mural

Creating the Brown v. Board education mural, there was a lot of doubt about how this project was going to come about.

Filling 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, was the largest undertaking the Topeka Mural Project had ever attempted.

It involved coordinating with an artist with whom the mural project had never worked. From the project facilitators to city leaders, building owners and the general public, it involved a lot of trust.

“I learned pretty early on that you have to just trust the Toombs,” said Sarah Fizell, executive director of ArtsConnect Topeka.

Toombs is Michael Toombs, a Kansas City, Mo.-based artist who oversaw thousands of painters over months of painting to create the mural.

“I think he’s an amazing leader and a team builder,” said Topeka police Lt. Joe Perry, chairman of the mural committee within ArtsConnect. “Even when we were first in talks, he was already thinking about who he wanted to bring in to mentor and develop, to teach.”

Topeka to consider extension of sales tax

The city’s governing body, consisting of the nine council members and Mayor Michelle De La Isla, plans to consider scheduling a citywide Nov. 6 ballot question election on whether to extend the current citywide half-cent tax for 10 years, through Oct. 1, 2029.

The proposal would arrange for revenue from the renewed tax, like the current one, to be allowed to go only to cover “costs of maintenance and improvements of existing streets, curbs, gutters, sidewalks, alleys and street lighting.”

Topekans in April 2009 voted 57 percent to 43 percent to approve the current 10-year tax. It began Oct. 1, 2009, and expires Oct. 1, 2019.

City manager Brent Trout had initially suggested the city increase the tax to three-quarters of a cent and revise the rules to allow flexibility for revenue to be used to carry out additional work, but he indicated earlier this month that public feedback had convinced him to drop those requests.

New Topeka city flag could ignite enthusiasm, encourage civic pride

The proposed redesign of the city of Topeka’s flag is an initiative being proposed by Forge, but it fits in with the community’s focus on building pride in Kansas’ capital city.

“Topeka’s brand is essentially morphing right now. We’re in the process of figuring out exactly what it is that Topeka’s going to be five years from now, because of Momentum 2022, but also beyond that time frame,” said Leo Espinoza, a board member of Forge, Topeka’s young professional group.

He spoke Friday morning at Heartland Visioning to explain why it may be time to replace the current green and gold flag that bears the city of Topeka seal.

It is time, Espinoza said, to think about the city’s flag, a symbol meant to unite the community.

“When you think about any geographic area, you think of the symbol that unites that area and, of course, that’s most commonly the flag,” Espinoza said. “With Topeka, specifically, we think the flag would be a fantastic way for the community to come together in light of all of the development taking place, in light of all the excitement that surrounds all the projects that are happening.”

Erie meets county on street project

City of Erie officials met with Neosho County Commissioners Thursday evening to seek help with a street rebuilding project.

Erie City Council member Jason Thompson and Superintendent Buddy Stark met with the commission to request funds to help with a project to rebuild 4th Street from Main Street to west of the railroad.

Commissioners requested a breakdown of the project cost and may possibly provide base rock.

The city will apply for a Community Development Block Grant which will require 50 percent matching funds. The city has three options, ranging from a $700,000 total project to a $1.1 million complete construction with concrete. Thompson said officials would like a $900,000 project to completely reconstruct the street with asphalt.

A bridge just past the railroad tracks to the east of the county barn also needs replacement, which can add $100,000 to any of the three options.

(Read more: The Chanute Tribune)

Public safety team organizing in Atchison

Interest had been rising in Atchison County on sponsoring a supplementary team of volunteers to aid first responders during a crisis. And then a bomb went off.

In the immediate wake of the 8th Street explosion early in the morning on July 6, and with high awareness of previous, more destructive incidents like the 2011 grain elevator disaster, a new Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) is being organized.

Lydia Theurer, an Atchison County EMS paramedic, serves as the CERT program director in addition to various other roles. On Thursday Theurer didn’t shy away from telling a classroom full of first responders and prospective volunteers about how the July 6 incident frayed some nerves, though it caused no casualties. “CERT teaches some valuable information about disaster preparation, community response, even preparation for terrorism,” she said. “You might think we don’t need that, but 8th street in Atchison teaches us otherwise.”

Director of Emergency Management Wes Lanter, himself a volunteer firefighter for the Atchison County Rural Fire District No. 2 (Effingham), said CERT volunteers are by design people common citizens who want to make a difference.

(Read more: Atchison Globe Now)

43 Kansas counties OK’d for emergency haying, grazing

Because of severe drought conditions, U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency state Executive Director David Schemm announced Thursday that Conservation Reserve Program acres in 43 Kansas counties have been authorized for emergency haying and grazing beginning Monday.

Emergency haying and grazing may continue through Sept. 30.

Area Kansas counties approved for emergency haying and grazing are Saline, Ellsworth, Ottawa, McPherson, Clay, Dickinson and Marion. A complete map of authorized counties may be found online at fsa.usda.gov/ks.

Schemm said eligible producers interested in emergency haying and grazing of CRP acres must request approval through their local FSA and obtain a modified conservation plan that includes haying and grazing provisions.

Authorized producers can use the designated acreage for their own livestock or may grant use to another livestock producer, according to a news release from the Kansas Farm Service Agency in Manhattan.

(Read more: News – Salina Journal)

Take a leisure ride through Fort Scott

Local residents and visitors to Fort Scott have another way to get around town thanks to a program through the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce and the Healthy Bourbon County Action Team.

The chamber is facilitating the Fort Scott Bike Share Program, in which people can pick up a bike at one of four hub locations; the chamber office, 231 E. Wall St., Peerless Products, 2403 S. Main St., Nate’s Place Restaurant & Lounge at Eighth Street and National Ave., and Fort Scott Community College, 2108 S. Horton St.

The bikes were purchased using grant funds from the $500,000 Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas Pathways to a Healthy Kansas grant the action team received in 2016. The program is part of a non-motorized transportation plan the Fort Scott City Commission approved in 2017. The program is geared toward promoting a healthy, active lifestyle.

(Read more: Fort Scott Tribune)

Wichita’s Keeper of the Plains among landmarks celebrating Special Olympics milestone

The Special Olympics announces landmarks around the world, including Wichita’s own Keeper of the Plains, will turn red in a global display of unity. The Keeper will light up July 20 as part of the Special Olympics 50th anniversary celebration.

In all, more than 70 places around the world join Wichita for the celebration. Other participating locations include nations and major cities. The list includes the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, South Africa, China and Chicago.

You can learn more about the Special Olympics and the upcoming celebration here.

(Read more: KWCH News)

Johnson County officials celebrate start of construction on new county courthouse

Johnson County officials marked the start of construction on the new nearly $200 million courthouse Thursday with a groundbreaking ceremony in Olathe. The seven-story building with 28 court rooms will replace the current facility across the street at Santa Fe Drive and Kansas Avenue. Completed in 1952, the current courthouse does not have facilities that allow inmates coming to court to be separated from the public, an issue that raised safety concerns. Moreover, the current facility is largely out of compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Johnson County voters approved a 10-year, quarter-cent sales tax to fund the new courthouse as well as a new coroner facility in November 2016. The proceeds from that sales tax yield revenue for individual cities as well as the county.

After a series of public engagements sessions, project designers updated their plans for the facility, reducing the building height to make it more in line with the aesthetics of the surrounding neighborhood in downtown Olathe.

Sales Tax to Fund Capital Improvement Fund for Infrastructure Improvements in Phillipsburg

The Phillipsburg City Council is asking residents to consider a .5% sales tax at the August 7th election which will replace the current .5% sales tax that is dedicated to the payment of debt for the wastewater improvements made in 2001. The debt for the wastewater improvements will be paid in its entirety on August 1, 2018 which is 4 years earlier than planned. The .5% sales tax that will be voted on at the August election is dedicated towards city infrastructure improvements including streets, sewer system, and water system. At the July 3, 2018 City Council meeting, an ordinance establishing a Capital Improvement Fund was adopted. This ordinance will be effective on July 11, 2018. All of the .5% sales tax monies will be receipted directly into the Capital Improvement Fund. Kansas law requires a capital improvement plan be developed and approved by the City Council prior to any expenditure from this fund. By placing this money in the new fund, it will insure transparency and accountability for the use of the money.

Residents are reminded that the .5% sales tax to be voted on in August will not increase the total current city sales tax now in effect. This will be a change of use for the sales tax funding from .5% for debt repayment to .5% for infrastructure improvements.

(Read more: Phillipsburg, KS news)

More lakes in Rooks, Saline counties affected by blue-green algae

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE), in conjunction with the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism (KDWPT), has issued public health warnings for Carbondale West Lake, Clarion Woods Park Lake, Webster Lake, Atchison County Park Lake, Melvern Outlet Pond, Melvern Outlet Swim Pond, Topeka’s Central Park Lake (Pond), Lake Afton, Rooks County State Fishing Lake and Salina’s Jerry Ivey Pond for the upcoming weekend and week. If a lake is under a public health warning for blue-green algae, activities such as boating and fishing may be safe. However, direct contact with water (i.e., wading, skiing and swimming) is strongly discouraged for people, pets and livestock. The lakes currently under a public health advisory:

(Read more: Hays Post)

Wyandotte County stuck with $1 million bill for Schlitterbahn investigation

The Unified Government of Wyandotte County/Kansas City, Kan., got a surprise recently: Its taxpayers will have to foot the bill for the Kansas Attorney General’s costs on the Schlitterbahn investigation.

So far, the UG is budgeting $1 million to pay the Kansas Attorney General for costs associated with the criminal case against Schlitterbahn and key employees accused of recklessness in the 2016 death of a young boy at the KCK water park.

“We’re hoping it doesn’t cost that much,” said UG spokesman Mike Taylor. “It’s basically $1 million in a surprise expense.” The UG is responsible for the bill because former Wyandotte County District Attorney Jerry Gorman asked the Kansas Attorney General to handle the Schlitterbahn matter after the Kansas City, Kan., Police Department investigated the death of 10-year-old Caleb Schwab. Those requests come with a stipulation that the county requesting the attorney general’s involvement agrees to pay the costs.

(Read more: KC Star Local News)

Hungry goats devour west Wichita weed nightmare

Mary Powell’s 75 Barnyard Weed Warriors lay waste to a west-side weed-infested lot Friday. The 75 goats devoured poison ivy, small trees and weeds, stripping away unwanted vegetation. “I couldn’t give them any better food,” Powell said.

History of Soda Fountains subject of Sunday presentation at Geneseo City Hall

Journalist and Kansas historian Cindy Higgins will give a PowerPoint presentation about “Soda Fountains of Kansas” at the City of Geneseo City Hall at 2 p.m. Sunday.She will relive the glory days of the soda fountain where tonics and curatives evolved into refreshments like the Brown Cow, the Mudslide, and the Egg Cream. Government regulations, World War I luxury taxes, and bottled soda pop prompted Kansas pharmacists to make more ice cream concoctions…

(Read more: News – The Hutchinson News)

Parsons Historical Society Museum plans to dedicate addition

The Parsons Historical Society Museum is inviting the public to a reception and ribbon-cutting for a new addition to the museum built in honor of Ken Ervin.

The dedication event is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. July 21 inside the new 60-foot addition.

“It’s going to be a time to celebrate our new space and to celebrate the work that Ken has done for the museum,” board member Mike Brotherton said.

In recent years alone, Ervin has committed hundreds of hours of volunteer time to the museum, serving on the board, working on exhibits, helping with construction of display cases, doing maintenance work, raising funds for expansion of the museum and more.

Ervin said the new space would allow for relocation of some items in addition to new installations. “The space is not completely full, thank goodness. So it won’t be an unveiling of a completed interior,” Brotherton said. “We hope to grow into it. That’s why it was built — to give us space to grow. So, there are new exhibits there, but thankfully the space isn’t full yet.”

(Read more: Parsons Sun)

Garden City Police Department implements body cameras

Garden City commissioners and city staff were given a presentation last week during a pre-meeting on the Garden City Police Department’s recently implemented body cameras, which detailed how the cameras will be used and what the benefits and limitations of body camera systems are.

According to Garden City Police Chief Mike Utz, the GCPD began using body cameras on July 1, and officers have been trained and are now out using them while on duty.

″… We started looking at the body camera technology in approximately 2015 and tested several companies. The problem we found is that some companies had body cameras, some had car cameras, and nothing integrated, except for a few companies,” he said. “But it has always been a concern, and the public’s demand for the technology has come to the forefront and it’s time to move forward with the systems.”

For their tax dollars, Merriam residents want a great community center with a big pool

At two separate open houses in June, Merriam residents showed up to City Hall to see the proposed plans for their new community center. On the walls hung posters listing its many amenities and a video showcased the site plan.

“We asked the public what they saw as the future of recreation in Merriam, and we’re going to try to do our best to provide that,” said City Administrator Chris Engel at the June 21 open house.

…

The appeal of a new pool is what inspired many residents to vote for the new community center back in 2016, when it appeared on a ballot initiative. It received 67.5 percent approval. But the pool shown in the proposal plans was not up to the standards some Merriam residents expected.

(Read more: KC Star Local News)

Valley Center Fourth of July: Law and disorder

While Valley Center residents appeared to enjoy themselves during the Fourth of July, the holiday wasn’t such a blast for local law enforcement.

Police responded to several complaints last week, issued a handful of tickets and even arrested one reveler.
According to a police report, Officer Eric Leeker observed a 33-year-old man walk away from fireworks that were going off in the street. The man was previously warned against shooting fireworks in the street. Leeker issued a citation this time.

Police said the man made a threatening move toward officers after he received the citation. Police took the man to the ground. A glass beer bottle he was holding shattered and cut his arm.

Police called EMS, but the man refused treatment.

(Read more: Valley Center Newswire)

During ‘Libraries Rock’ program in Olathe, children get in the groove

“There are a lot of different experiences in the library’s summer programs,” said Jennifer Smart, Olathe Public Library children’s staff member. “The students get a lot of exposure to the arts, science, and more — and they have a lot of fun.” Got Rhythm? was just one of the many programs on Olathe Library’s extensive youth summer schedule. Open to kids from preschool through high school, upcoming programs run through the end of August and nearly all are free of charge. In addition, free lunches are being served through the summer to anyone under 18 at both the Indian Creek and downtown library locations.

Through these no-cost programs, the Olathe Public Library is meeting vital needs of its community members.

“Poverty is in the double digits in Johnson County. It’s our big little secret here,” said Kate Capps, Olathe Public Library’s children’s librarian and school library liaison. “The needs of families are great.”

(Read more: KC Star Local News)

High death rate from West Nile led to mosquito trapping in Reno County last year

Health officials are continuing to use properties in southern Reno County this summer as one of just three mosquito trapping regions for tracking West Nile Virus in the state.

Reno County became a trapping site in 2017, after three people living within the Turon area zip code died from West Nile complications between 2013 and 2016, said Ingrid Garrison, state public health veterinarian with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.

Extremely high mosquito counts – more 10 times numbers that normally trigger action – were discovered in some of the first traps set in the region, leading to a concerted response by health experts which included going door-to-door in Turon to advise residents about action and prevention steps.

So far this year, mosquito counts have been high a couple of times, but well below the numbers from 2017 and there have been no pools found with the West Nile Virus.

(Read more: Local – The Hutchinson News)

Great Bend community members give input on workforce “skills gap”

Over 20 local business workers from the Great Bend area sat in on a luncheon Wednesday afternoon at the Great Bend Chamber of Commerce to hear about a survey to determine what is the “skills gap” in the Kansas workforce.

Great Bend was chosen as one of several communities to participate in the online survey that hopes to make the Kansas economy grow and prepare students for successful careers.

Nick Jordan is a former Kansas Senator, Secretary of Commerce, and Secretary of Revenue. He is now helping with the KU School of Business to put together the survey. Along with the KU School of Business, the Kansas State Department of Education and the Kansas Chamber are coming together to build the survey. Jordan noted the survey is also designed to build better communication between education and employers so schools can better equip students.

(Read more: Great Bend Post)

Cowley County has full day of emergency calls

Cowley County emergency service personnel were scrambling Wednesday after an accident and two fires spring multiple agencies into action. An accident on Summit Street in Arkansas City was followed by a grass fire that started from burning tires on 61st Road, and a landfill fire on 81st Road. The Atlanta Fire Department also fought at least one grass fire in the county, according to scanner records. An all-call went out during the landfill fire for Ark City fire/EMS personnel to respond to the fire station to assist with calls. Winfield was requested to send an ambulance to stand by in Strother Field in case Ark City had any additional calls in which to respond. Cowley County deputies assisted Winfield police Wednesday afternoon by responding to a motor-vehicle accident when Winfield’s call volume was high.

Newton Amtrak Service in jeopardy

Newton could lose future Amtrak service.
That was the theme of a doom and gloom report Commissioner Barth Hague gave to the Newton City Commission on current actions of Amtrak.

“I hope I’m wrong on all of this, I really do,” he said. “I hope my predictions are wrong and there’s a ‘Hail Mary’ on this.”

Hague has long been an advocate for rail service in Newton and was tasked with providing an update about bleak news coming from the Amtrak train company.
The crux of the issue, Hague explained was that Amtrak wants to receive $3 million from the states of Kansas, New Mexico and Colorado, annually for the upkeep of a line between Dodge City and Albuquerque, N.M..

He said the organization also wants funding for additional safety checks or positive rail control to a stretch of line in New Mexico, allowing dispatchers to remotely stop a train in case of emergency.

“Amtrak’s new president is on record saying Amtrak will not operate without positive rail control,” he said.

Hague said that would mean a stretch of line being closed on Jan. 1 from Dodge City to Albuquerque.

The Southwest chief would connect that stretch by bus.

He noted there are also rumors that the company will cut dining service to the Southwest Chief, as well as ticket staff around the line.

“I’ve had two people contact me and ask if they should cancel their tickets,” he said. “I also canceled a reservation I had earlier, today.”

(Read more: Newton Now)

Kendal Francis likely to be chosen as next Great Bend City Administrator

An agenda item is listed at the end of next Monday’s Great Bend City Council meeting to appoint the next Great Bend City Administrator. While no official announcement has been made by the City of Great Bend, it is anticipated that Kendal Francis will be named to the position, based on sources.

Francis is originally from Beloit where he worked in the water / wastewater department for nearly 20 years. Francis then served as City Administrator for the City of Lakin from February 2014 to August 2015. Francis’ most recent work came in Coffeyville where he was the City Manager from August 2015 to March 2018. On his resume, Francis states he managed Coffeyville’s $87.3 million annual budget and 155 full-time employees.

In an interview with Francis on June 27, he stated he appreciated Great Bend’s plans for the future.

(Read more: Great Bend Post)

The vote was unanimous: She’s now Johnson County’s new manager

Months after the Johnson County Commission abruptly ousted County Manager Hannes Zacharias, the commission has appointed the woman who was Zacharias’ deputy as his successor.

The commission voted 7-0 Thursday to appoint Penny Postoak Ferguson, 49, as the new county manager. She had been serving as interim county manager since the county commission stunned the community by voting 4-3 to terminate Zacharias’ employment contract as of Dec. 31, 2017.

The commission majority said at the time that the county needed new leadership and a new direction after more than eight years with Zacharias at the helm. The commission had also talked about a national search for his replacement. But in the end, the commission went with a longtime county insider. Postoak Ferguson had been hired as assistant county manager in June 2010 and had served as deputy county manager since August 2012. She is the first woman appointed since the position of county manager was created along with a new county charter in the early 2000s.

Commissioners explained their decision Thursday, saying Postoak Ferguson has done an excellent job as an interim manager for the last six months and they had confidence in her leadership.