Municipal News & Jobs

Kansas Municipal News

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.

Roeland Park Aquatic Center closed for winter. Consulting firm seeks solutions

It hasn’t been easy managing the Roeland Park Aquatic Center lately, and residents will have a chance next week to advise the city on how to upgrade its pool complex.

Officials have been dealing with leaks, pump failures that temporarily closed the slide-and-catch pool, the collapse of two light poles, the closure of the whale slide in the children’s area and a delayed reinstallation of diving boards after one leak was fixed.

And in a blow to sports teams and individual athletes that need a pool in the winter, after a storm last fall heavily damaged the inflatable dome that allowed indoor swimming, the city decided against replacing it. They brought in the Water’s Edge Aquatic Design form to consult on long-term development of the aquatic center.

(Read more: Joco 913 News)

City of Hays files suit against local companies

The City of Hays has filed suit against Nex-Tech, LLC; Big River Telephone Company, LLC; and Eagle Communications, Inc., related to the imposition of franchise fees for services provided to customers in the city.

The suit, which was filed July 9 in Ellis County, seeks a court order requiring Big River to enter into a franchise agreement with the city intended to collect city franchise fees for Big River’s service to Eagle Communications for Eagle Communications’ IP-delivered telephone service. Cities with franchising authority currently collect franchise fees on traditional switched telephone service delivered through traditional methods, but not IP-based service, which is delivered entirely via internet.

The suit also asks the court to make a determination as to whether or not Eagle Communications, with or without services from Big River, should be required to enter into a franchise agreement to provide its internet-based telephone service. And, the suit seeks to establish that the city can continue to require Nex-Tech to enter into a franchise agreement to provide its service in Hays based on the technology Nex-Tech utilities.

(Read more: Hays Post)

From site of Prairie Village church, a 3-acre park with garden, play area will emerge

For more than 60 years, Faith Lutheran Church was a cherished spiritual gathering spot at 67th Street and Roe Avenue in Prairie Village.

But it fell on hard times, closed last year and has been demolished. Still, city officials hope the former church grounds will soon be home to another vibrant community gathering spot.

The city bought the property for $1.1 million and is now making plans for North Park on the 3-acre site.

“Our village vision has pointed out that there wasn’t much parkland in the northern part of the city,” said Alley Porter, assistant to the city administrator, who is part of a steering committee exploring concepts for the park. She said the goal is to alleviate that shortcoming with this new park. The church demolition and park construction are expected to cost roughly $1 million, and Porter said that funding is available within the city’s budget.

Current plans call for a garden, bocce ball court, picnic shelters, an open grass area, play area and 37-space parking lot. Porter said the exact design of the garden and play area is not complete. BBN Architects is working with the city to design the park. The city also plans a marker to commemorate the church’s history.

City of Neodesha Requests Assistance from Community on Addressing

The City of Neodesha is asking for assistance from all residents and business owners in providing addresses to assist emergency Fire/EMS or Police services in locating structures.

On March 8, 2017 the City of Neodesha Commission adopted an Ordinance requiring that all home and business owners put addressing numbers on their building in a prominent location. The purpose of this ordinance is for safety and protection of the community. If a 911 call goes out and the crew responding cannot find the address because there is no numbers on it then crucial emergency care can be delayed. This is especially dangerous if immediate help is needed.

The numbers shall be placed on the front of the building, door, post or transom or other place in such a manner that the numbers are conspicuous and can be seen and read from the street or avenue. The numbers shall be at least (4) inches in height, made of non-rusting material and colors to contrast with the material on which the numbers are placed.

Please help the City help you. Although there is a penalty up to $200 for non compliance we hope that this action will not be necessary.

(Read more: Neodesha, KS news)

Wilson named Peabody city clerk

Peabody is getting its fifth city clerk in 19 months, and this one is a familiar face.

After two executive sessions, City Council members voted last week to hire council member Travis Wilson’s wife, Jylle, as clerk.

The vote July 2 was 4-0, with Travis Wilson abstaining.

Wilson has been Peabody’s municipal court clerk and police secretary for the past 2½ years.

She agreed to take the new position with the understanding that she would help find a suitable replacement for the court and police position.

“I’m looking forward to being down at the city office,” she said. “I really want to make a difference to better the city.”

Mayor Larry Larsen said Wilson will be trained this week in the city office this week in QuickBooks to do the city’s payroll.

The court/police secretary position will be advertised immediately.

“Jylle and Chief Burke will assist with interviews for the new position,” Larson said.

Burke said he was sad to lose her.

“She’s done a great job in the clerk/secretary position,” he said.

(Read more: PEABODY Gazette-Bulletin)

Area fire departments get relief funds from Kansas Insurance Department

County firefighters will benefit from $77,154.92 soon to be distributed by Kansas Insurance Department.

The money is designated for firefighter relief funds, used to purchase accident, health, disability, and life insurance for firefighters in the event of injury or death in the line of duty.

The Kansas State Firefighters Association will give area departments the following amounts:

(Read more: PEABODY Gazette-Bulletin)

Accountant gives creative option to Marion County Commissioners in dealing with new state-imposed tax lid

Battle lines as being drawn as county commissioners begin to debate whether to use a one-time reassessment windfall to cut taxes or increase spending.

At stake appears to be what to do with a consultant’s report preliminarily concluding that county employees are underpaid an average of four percent.

Assessed value of property in the county is expected to increase by close to $8.2 million this year.

If it weren’t for a state-imposed tax lid, the same property tax rate would generate considerably more revenue.

Because of the lid, however, the county will have to cut its general fund tax rate by a little more than 3 percent to keep overall spending under the lid. Maintaining current tax rates would require voter approval — unless the county takes advantage of exceptions that tax accountant Scot Loyd seemed to take pains not to describe as loopholes when he itemized them for commissioners Friday.

One exception would be creation of a new budgetary item for storm contingency. Such a fund might be tapped not just in an emergency but also for more routine things like road repairs after the types of storms that tend to happen most years.

Although state law excludes from the tax lid money tucked away for emergencies, it does not evaluate whether what county actually uses the money to buy is an emergency expenditure, Loyd said.

“I’m just throwing that to you out front to think about if you’re forward-thinking and thinking outside the box and not so tied to what can we do to reduce the budget,” he told commissioners.

(Read more: HILLSBORO Star-Journal)

‘Newton would lose train service’

Barth Hague is losing hope. He is starting to believe that a decades long effort to preserve the Southwest Chief has been in vain, and that the death of the long distance train from Chicago to Los Angeles with a daily stop in Newton is just around the corner.

“I canceled a reservation I had because it appears I am not going to be able to use the train” Hague said.

He said friends and acquaintances have been asking him if they should do the same in the wake of an announcement this month that Amtrak plans to stub the train — ending the westward run at Dodge City and eastward run at Albeuque, New Mexico. In between, Amtrak plans to use charter buses. Amtrak spokesmen state that a final decision on the future of the Chief has not been made.

“I think if this service is stubbed I think ridership will decline dramatically,” Hague said. “The history is in this kind of a situation ridership drops off by at least 50 percent. I think eventually the service will be eliminated. I can imagine a time where Newton would lose train service over this.”

(Read more: Newton Kansan)

A real bell-ringer at Marion County courthouse

No need to wonder for whom the courthouse bell tolls. As of now, it tolls for no one.

At 11 a.m. Sunday, the clock chime seemingly performed its swan song when it rang continuously for 20 minutes before falling silent.

County clerk Tina Spencer was working in her office at the time.

“There was really no way to stop it,” Spencer said.

She called an employee who winds the clock weekly, and he inspected the clock Monday.

“The part of the mechanism that controls the chiming broke over the weekend,” Spencer said. “The clock should still keep time, but the chime will be silent until we can get someone out to make repairs.”

The last time the 110-year-old clock needed repairs was in 2013, when Regulator Time Co. of Manhattan repaired the clock’s hands and dials, and replaced its faces and rotted wood surrounding them for $29,683.

(Read more: Marion County RECORD)

Prairie Village church is razed to make way for a new park

Faith Lutheran Church in Prairie Village is being razed to make way for a new 3-acre park, North Park, which the city hopes will open to the public in 2019. The city purchased the property for $1.1 million from the church last year.

Miami County Commission supports property owners in denial of conditional-use permit for concrete company

Miami County commissioners recently agreed with members of the Miami County Planning Commission when they voted unanimously to deny a requested conditional-use permit for Concrete Strategies, which is located on Cedar Niles Road south of 231st Street and north of Hillsdale Lake.

The issue has bounced back and forth between the Planning Commission and County Commission as the business owner worked to modify the permit request, hoping that the changes would appease surrounding property owners.

The Planning Commission unanimously recommended denial of the requested CUP following a public hearing March 6. A group of neighbors raised concerns about noise, lights, dust, roads and other issues, while Bruce Stahl, the previous property owner and proprietor of Stahl Excavating, and several employees of Concrete Strategies spoke in favor of the requested CUP, according to planning documents. Some of the specific concerns of the Planning Commission included the fact that the request included a heavy industrial use that did not conform to the Rural Residential designation of the Miami County Comprehensive Plan. The planned heavy truck traffic also raised concerns about gravel road maintenance.

(Read more: The Miami County Republic)

Kiowa city voters want term limits

In a special election Tuesday in the city of Kiowa, voters resoundingly told their city leaders they favor term limits.

Earlier this year, the Kiowas City Council voted to lift term limits first adopted in the 1970s. A petition forced a special election and a “no” vote Tuesday was against the charter ordinance ending term limits. The unofficial tally was 157 voting no and 38 voting yes, according to the Barber County Clerk’s office. There is one provisional ballot. Canvassing of election returns will take place Monday.

Councilmembers and the mayor have been limited to two consecutive four-year terms.

City Administrator Lou Leone said city leaders have talked off and on in recent years about removing term limits. When another Barber County city – Medicine Lodge – failed to attract ballot candidates for city offices in the 2017 election cycle, that spurred Kiowa to take up the issue.

“The city of Kiowa has a hard time even filling positions,” Leone said. “We’ve had elections in the past where we have three open seats and three run,” he said.

It’s unusual for cities to have term limits, Leone said. His research found Kiowa, with an estimated 980 residents, is the smallest city to have limits.

(Read more: Local – The Hutchinson News)

Leavenworth Commission approves resolution for ballot question

When they met Tuesday, Leavenworth County commissioners approved a resolution to place a question concerning the expansion of the commission on the ballot for the November election.

But before the vote, Commissioner Doug Smith questioned comments made to the newspaper by a member of a group supporting the expansion.

A group known as Give Me Five collected signatures to have the question added to the November ballot. The question will ask voters if they approve of expanding the County Commission from three commissioners to five.

County Clerk Janet Klasinski said the group had to collect at least 2,153 signatures of Leavenworth County registered voters in order to have the question placed on the ballot.

“The committee did obtain the correct number of signatures,” she said.

She said the resolution voted on Tuesday by commissioners authorizes her to put the question on the ballot.

(Read more: Leavenworth Times)

Penny Postoak Ferguson named new Johnson County manager

Penny Postoak Ferguson, who has been serving in the role on an interim basis the past six month, was today appointed Johnson County’s new county manager.
Postoak Ferguson is a veteran of county government, having started as an assistant county manager overseeing human services here in 2010. In 2012 she was promoted to deputy county manager. She became interim county manager in January following the board of county commissioner’s move not to renew the contract of Hannes Zacharias late last year.

Wichita transit looks to connect services to four neighboring cities

Wichita Transit is conducting a connecting communities study evaluating the demand and support for connected transit service to Andover, Derby, Haysville and Maize.
“It’s not just about connecting people into Wichita, it’s about connecting people to where they want to go,” said Wichita Transit Associate Planner Philip Zevenbergen.
The city created a comprehensive market analysis in May of 2018. In June, transit employees hosted several community meetings and stakeholder discussions to get an idea of what kind of transportation would be wanted and what would be feasible.
On Wednesday, Wichita Transit hosted a transit alternative community meeting in Maize showcasing the route options based on public feedback.

Kansas Commerce launches KansasCentral.com, an Online Business and Economic Development Magazine

The Kansas Department of Commerce announces the launch of a new online magazine loaded with news and feature articles on business and economic development topics in Kansas. KansasCentral.com is aimed to keep Kansans and anyone interested in starting, relocating or expanding a business in Kansas informed of topics and opportunities in the state.
“It has been exciting to see so many businesses decide to expand to Kansas or start new operations here in America’s heartland, creating thousands of new jobs,” said Governor Jeff Colyer, M.D. “KansasCentral.com will not only keep everyone informed of breaking news of companies locating in Kansas but will share success stories of thriving businesses in our state.”
KansasCentral.com features three main content areas: News, Events and Features.
The News section will constantly be updated with breaking business and economic development news, such as business expansions throughout the state and new or updated programs to assist businesses of all sizes be successful in Kansas.
The Events section will highlight upcoming conferences, workshops, job fairs, etc. that will be beneficial to entrepreneurs, business executives, employers and job seekers across the state.
The Features section will include success stories, video interviews, and articles about programs available through the Department of Commerce and other agencies that will benefit Kansas businesses or those considering locating in the state.

Both the News and Features sections also offer the ability for readers to easily find information specific to industries they are interested in, such as Aviation, Agriculture, Bio-Science and Energy.
“There are many great stories to tell of why Kansas is the best place in the country to do business, along with a steady stream of good news to share,” said Robert North, Interim Secretary of the Kansas Department of Commerce. “We hope KansasCentral will quickly become a must-visit website for anyone interested in business and economic opportunities in our state.”

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KansasCentral.com