Municipal News & Jobs

Kansas Municipal News

Prairie Village residents focus on teardowns, new construction at first of 3 meetings

When Doug Klein heard that the Prairie Village City Council was considering a new round of guidelines designed to restrict some aspects of residential construction, he worried how they might affect the plans he and his wife had to expand their home.

Klein, who lives on a corner lot on 71st Street, said he wants to add a master bedroom, bathroom and two-car garage to his mid-century home. He said reading about the proposed changes online, particularly those controlling the location of garages and minimum amounts of green space, raised concerns.

On Monday, he was one of more than 50 people who attended the first of three open houses held to give Prairie Village residents more information about the proposed guidelines and collect public input.

“I got a lot of answers,” he said. “I think what they’ve proposed is great as it’s going to limit the size of the houses that are going in. There’s a couple near us that don’t look like they have any green space at all.”

Prairie Village officials, like those in other northern Johnson County communities, have spent the last few years wrestling with the issue of young and growing families buying older homes and replacing them with much larger structures that longtime residents complain go against the city’s homey charm.

Two years ago, the council approved a slate of changes designed to lower maximum home heights and expand the required distance from homes to side property lines.

(Read more: KC Star Local News)

Wichita City Council approves bonds for Cargill expansion

More than $38 million in industrial revenue bonds has been approved to help pay for Cargill’s new biodiesel plant in Wichita.

The Wichita Eagle reports that the city council approved the bonds on Tuesday. The plant is part of an $87 million project being built at Cargill’s facility. Mayor Jeff Longwell says the city is “thrilled” in the investment in the city.

Cargill currently has a soybean processing plant, a grain elevator and truck and rail bulk loadout operation at the site.

Cargill facility leader John White says the site has produced vegetable oil, but it will transition to making biodiesel. White says it’s a “great growth opportunity.” He says the new plant should be completed by early next year.

(Read more: Government & Politics News |)

Holton City Commission meets library halfway on mill levy request

Members of the Beck-Bookman Library Board of Directors asked the Holton City Commission for extra funds to cover operations costs at the Holton library — funds that would come from a special city property tax levy — for fiscal year 2019.

The commission responded by agreeing to meet the library board halfway.

During the commission’s Monday, July 2 meeting, commissioners agreed to up the mill levy for the library from five mills to six after library board members asked for an increase of two mills, which would generate about $40,000 to cover operations and maintenance costs at the library.

“We hate to do it, because nobody likes a tax increase,” library board treasurer Mark Will told commissioners.

But rather than granting the full two-mill increase, as the library is funded by city property taxes that are set by city ordinance, Commissioner Dan Brenner suggested the library follow in the footsteps of Holton Community Hospital and set up a foundation that would oversee fund-raising activities for the library.

(Read more: Holton Recorder)

Chanute plans energy audit for buildings

Chanute commissioners voted Monday evening to seek an energy audit for municipal buildings.

Energy Solutions Professionals from Overland Park was the only one that responded of three companies city officials asked to provide a request for proposals for an investment-grade energy audit. ESP presented a preliminary audit at the April 23 meeting.

Utilities Director Larry Gates said it may be difficult for the Memorial Building to have enough energy savings to pay for the needed improvements in efficiency. But he also said the building’s boiler, installed in 1984, is near the end of its useful life.

Dumpster fees about to change in Winfield

A new ordinance from the City of Winfield will simplify the fee schedule for rental of trailer dumpsters.

The new schedule will have two rates, for residential customers and for commercial customers and contractors.

The new fees, which take effect Aug. 1, are $50 for 24 hours or per dump for residential customers, and $100 for 24 hours or per dump for commercial customers and contractors.

Community improvements director Patrick Steward didn’t have exact numbers, but said the the four-cubic-yard dumpsters are well-utilized by citizens.

There are currently three rates: one for residential demolition materials, one for commercial demolition materials and one for yard waste.

The new structure will simplify the rates and also specifies which items are prohibited.

(Read more: The Arkansas City Traveler)

July free-chlorine burn to disinfect water system in Augusta

The City of Augusta Water Department will be conducting a free-chlorine burn to disinfect the water distribution system July 9, 2018, through the end of the month.

Water utilities with chloramine disinfection use free-chlorine burns and system flushes to provide routine maintenance. Free-chlorine burns also reduce the potential for coliform or other types of bacteria in the system. During the free-chlorine burn, the water disinfection process will be changed from chloramines to free chlorine, which is a stronger and faster-acting disinfectant.

Fire hydrants will be open periodically to flush the distribution system, helping to remove sediment from pipes and distribute chlorine. After the free-chlorine burn, standard disinfection chemicals will be reintroduced to the system.

(Read more: Augusta Gazette)

11.1 percent sales tax at Edison District in downtown OP would be among highest in Kansas

A new four-level parking garage won’t solve the parking crunch in downtown Overland Park during the day, city officials said. In fact, daytime weekday parking for the public will stay about even with what it is now, said City Manager Bill Ebel.

But council members still agreed to a $14.4 million public financing package for the Edison office and retail development, saying the influx of office workers and entertainment will be good for business and bring more people to shop downtown.

The package includes $10.6 million in tax increment financing to build the parking garage and a two percent additional sales tax within the district to help the developer on other building expenses on the $54 million project at 80th and Marty Streets.

A rendering of the plan as approved by the city council earlier this year.
The 2 percent sales tax approved by the council is the highest ever for an Overland Park community improvement district and would bring the tax rate for that area to 11.1 percent. That is among the highest sales tax rates in Kansas, according to the state department of revenue. In Johnson County, Olathe’s Conference Center Hotel CID is higher, with an 11.475 rate. The higher rate would only apply within the Edison area and does not include existing downtown businesses.

City of Pratt hosts Kansas State Firefighters Association training session

The city of Pratt played host to more than 50 firefighters who were in town July 7 and 8 as part of Kansas State Firefighters Association training sessions.

Firefighters from Pratt, Larned State Hospital, Sawyer, Cullison, Barber County, Anthony, Harper, Pratt County Rescue, Township 12, Kingman County, Ellis County, Reno County, Argonia and Ford County participated.

Lessons covered included vehicle extraction, pump operations (running the fire truck), search and rescue, building construction and structural collapse, fire cause and determination, ventilation, burn trailer and wildfires.

Instructors and experienced firefighters from the Kansas State Firefighters Association offered constant support for people going through the training for the first time.

“We had a lot of people encouraging them and helping them along,” said Pratt Fire Chief David Kramer. “It was an opportunity for inexperienced people to learn. Everybody seemed to enjoy it. No matter what the class is, they always take something away from it.”

(Read more: Pratt, KS – Pratt Tribune)

Council OKs Edison OP, despite complaints about changing character of Overland Park

Construction of a controversial downtown Overland Park office/entertainment complex is expected to begin this fall, after the City Council approved tax incentives and an unprecedented 2 percent sales tax to support the development.

“I’m really excited,” developer Tim Barton said after the Council’s votes Monday night to support financial incentives for the $53.8 million Edison OP project.

The proposal has generated considerable debate about the changing character in downtown Overland Park, especially over increased density, traffic, parking shortages and noise. But Barton said he has listened and responded to public suggestions and concerns that he thought led to a better project.

Edison OP calls for a five-story office building at the southwest corner of 80th and Marty streets, a first-floor food hall in that building, a public courtyard, a one-story renovated building for a restaurant on Marty Street, a surface parking lot, and a four-story parking garage at the northwest corner of 81st and Marty streets.

Wichita lets gravel pit get bigger despite complaints of violations, choking dust

A south Wichita dirt and sand-mining operation will be allowed to more than double in size and add a rock crusher, despite complaints from neighbors that dust from the existing operation already keeps them inside their homes during the day.

The Wichita City Council turned aside the neighbors’ protests and upheld a Planning Commission recommendation to allow Wichita home developer Jay Russell to expand a 20-acre topsoil operation into a 47-acre sand and gravel pit on the east bank of the Arkansas River south of East 55th Street South.

In addition, the council approved the use of a mobile crusher at the site to process salvaged asphalt and concrete into gravel for up to three months a year. The Planning Commission voted 8-1 to approve the plan; the District Advisory Board, which also heard from the neighbors, voted 7-0 for denial.

The council sided with the Planning Commission on a 6-1 vote, with Brandon Johnson in opposition.

Afterward, neighbors said they were disappointed in the council vote and expect things to get worse as mining operations expand.

“Dust. My kids can’t even play outside when they’re running trucks,” said Megan Miller, who lives adjacent to the site. “It’s summer. My kids want to be outside and play. We’re stuck inside until they’re done for the day.”

The mining generally starts between 6 and 7 a.m. and runs until about 6 p.m., said neighbor Rustin Atkeisson, who lives across the dirt street from the site.

(Read more: Local News |)

Salina obtains land for water treatment plant

The Salina City Commission Monday approved on a 5-0 vote the purchase by eminent domain of land and water rights for a new water treatment plant in south Salina.

The city is purchasing 41.9 acres at the southeast quadrant of South Ohio Street and Water Well Road and associated water rights for $503,170. Commissioners also agreed to pay appraiser’s fees of $6,000, for a total of $509,170. The price per acre for the land and water rights is about $12,000.

The city has 30 days to pay the clerk of Saline County District Court or the clerk will consider the purchase abandoned.

There will be a 30-day appeal period during which either the city or the landowner may appeal the appraiser’s assessment of the value of the land. If either side appeals, the matter will go to a jury trial.

The city wants to obtain the land and water rights for a new water treatment plant. Martha Tasker, the city’s director of utilities, said adding a well field and treatment plant will ensure the city has enough water, even in a drought.

(Read more: News – Salina Journal)

Farmland Road, in Finney County rezoning to allow more livestock

The Finney County Commission on Monday approved a request to rezone a stretch of lots on Farmland Road as a rural residential district, giving property owners more flexibility in what kind of livestock they can keep on their land.

Kaleb Kentner, Neighborhood and Development services director, told commissioners that residents of properties on Farmland Road between Mary Street and Kansas Highway 156 had requested the zoning change.

Property owners on the road have faced many code violations for keeping animals — oftentimes horses — and the City of Garden City had worked with them to find solutions, according to Kentner’s proposal.

Before the approval, 18 lots spanning more than 42 acres on the stretch had been zoned as suburban estates, which allows property owners to keep horses and chickens on their land, or low density residential, which don’t allow for any animals.

With the change, the lots will be rezoned as rural residential, which allows for a certain amount of equine, bovine, swine, sheep or goats, poultry, rabbits and other small animals based on the size of the lot’s fenced acreage.

Labette County chooses bridge to repair

Labette County commissioners on Monday agreed to pursue funding for repair of a bridge near Mound Valley.

Bridge No. 109, built in 1950, is on 14500 Road near Harper Road. The long structure has 41-, 44- and 41-foot segments and has a weight limit of 10 tons. The sufficiency rating is listed at 49.8, and anything below 50 can be considered for replacement.

Commissioners considered a list of five bridges from an email from Public Works Director Sandy Krider before deciding on the bridge near Mound Valley. The county sought funding to replace Bridge No. 109 in 2016 from the pool of money available from the Kansas Department of Transportation for off-system bridges, such as those on many gravel roads. The project was not approved and the bridge’s condition continues to deteriorate.

The county formerly repaired more bridges each year when the state had a five-year bridge program, but a funding change through KDOT slowed bridge replacement to two bridges in the last five years.

In the off-system bridge program, the county is responsible for 20 percent of the cost of the replacement and also must pay to move utilities and purchase right of way for the work from property owners.

(Read more: Parsons Sun)

Hoisington pool running fine, more improvements expected

In 2014, there was talk amongst the Hoisington City Council to implement a city sales tax in Hoisington to help fund a new pool. At the time, Hoisington was going through another major leak that was difficult to identify and kept the pool closed for half of the summer. The City Council went away from the extra tax and instead added a charge to utility bills. Any customer using Hoisington utilities has free access to the pool all summer, but a $2 charge each month is assigned to the utility bill. Residents that do not use the pool are still charged the $2 fee, but Mitchell says those residents can take advantage of the guest passes. Mitchell says the pool that opened in 1962 is running fine now, but anticipated the City Council to consider making improvements to the building that houses the showers, restrooms and changing area.

(Read more: Great Bend Post)

Yes, the city knows what a straight line is

A Wichita bridge famous for its pigeon poop has a new reason to make Wichitans look up.

This past weekend, Wichitans, particularly those who like things in a certain order, went wonky over the new LED lights in the Douglas Ave. railroad bridge. Lights installed in the underpass veer to the left and right instead of being placed in a straight line.

A photo of the misaligned lights was tweeted by Jon Looney on July 6.

Looney captioned the photo, “The new LED lights under the @DowntownWichita railroad bridge are great! But….Come on @CityofWichita Was a straight line so hard? #mildlyinfuriating #notmyjob.” Assistant Director of Public Works and Utilities – City Engineer Gary Janzen said the project simply wasn’t done yet and the lights had just been roughed in late last week.

The new LED lights under the @DowntownWichita railroad bridge are great! But….Come on @CityofWichita Was a straight line so hard? #mildlyinfuriating #notmyjob pic.twitter.com/B9UXz0ELaO

— Jon Looney (@JonLooney) July 6, 2018

“When they first install them, they’re not in final position,” Janzen said late Monday afternoon. “If it’s not done now, it will be done by tomorrow.” KFDI’s JJ Hayes replied to the tweet, “OMG…my OCD is going crazy…I can’t deal!”

(Read more: Wichita Eagle)

Developers seek city help to renovate ‘eyesore’ in southeast Wichita

A pair of developers are asking the Wichita City Council for nearly $6 million in tax-exempt revenue bonds to renovate a southeast Wichita apartment complex.

Brent Hurst and Dave Murfin have formed Sandstone Apartments to purchase Eastwood Apartments, a six-building complex located just south of Kellogg on the east side of Oliver. The request for the industrial revenue bonds goes before the council on Tuesday.

The complex, built in the 1950s, “has come into disrepair and faces extensive deferred maintenance issues,” according to a city document. A plan for the project shared with city officials called the Eastwood Apartments an “increasing eye sore in a very visible and now improving area.”

(Read more: Wichita Eagle)

Shawnee upgrades 20-year-old water fountains, adds dog bowls, water bottle fillers

Park-goers and their canine counterparts have new water fountains and dog bowls in Shawnee’s parks this summer.

Swarner Park and Gum Springs Park each have new fountains with dog bowls and water bottle fillers. Herman Laird Park has a new fountain with a dog bowl.

Joe Overstreet, manager of parks and facilities, said the four drinking fountains, which were replaced in mid-June, cost approximately $1,300 each. The drinking fountains upgrades were a planned budgeted expense in the Land Improvement Maintenance account.

“The fountains being replaced have been in operation for as long as 20 years,” Overstreet said. “The new fountains allow staff to purchase replacement parts at local commercial plumbing vendors, as the old fountain parts could only be sourced online.”

Junction City Water Supply in Good Shape

It is hot and dry, and Geary County is in a drought emergency. But Junction City Manager Allen Dinkel confirmed Monday that the city’s water supply is good shape. “I think we’re lucky in the fact that even though the drought seems tremendous here is not spread out through the area.”

Dinkel noted there is still water coming into Milford Lake, there’s still water being released from Milford Lake, and of course our well fields ( are ) along the Republican River. “We have no issues at this point in time.”

Rains in north central Kansas have resulted in water flowing into the Republican River in turn flows into Milford Lake.

(Read more: Junction City Post)

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. Farmers State Bank, Farmers National Bank, and First National Bank had purchased the bonds and are allowing the City to pay them early. By paying the bonds off early the City has saved $34,423.00 in interest cost.

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.

(Read more: Phillipsburg, KS news)

Overland Park receives settlement from insurance company after boy topples expensive sculpture

The insurance company for the family of a boy who toppled an expensive sculpture at an Overland Park community center has sent a large check to reimburse the city.

Overland Park spokesman Sean Reilly says the family’s insurance company sent the city a check for $107,000 after a 5-year-old boy knocked over the sculpture last month. The sculpture, known as the “Aphrodite di Kansas City” was on display with more than 150 other works of art at the Tomahawk Ridge Community Center when it was broken.

“I cannot believe they allowed something so dangerous to be where kids play,” Sarah Goodman, mother of the boy who toppled sculpture, told KMBC 9 News.

Goodman said her family was there attending a wedding that day, and she was just around the corner from her son when the incident happened.

“That type of artwork had absolutely no business being in that community center,” said Goodman.

Video from that day showed Goodman’s son, Troy, reaching up and appearing to hug the statue before it crashes to the ground. Goodman said her son was cut by glass from that sculpture.

She believes a sculpture of that value should have been secured or roped off.

(Read more: KMBC)

A 130-year-old general store and memories keep Kansas ghost town of Banner alive

From a spring wagon pulled by mules, A.W. Purinton found his home.
It was fall 1878 and settlement was only beginning. Western Kansas was vast and empty. Trego County hadn’t been organized. The only community center was a small settlement north of the Smoky Hill River that would become WaKeeney.
Yet, for a few days on the sparsely settled prairie, the pioneer and a couple others from his native Vermont searched for the best free land to stake their hopes and dreams and build a future.
Purinton found it along the Hackberry Creek in the southwest part of the county, not far from Castle Rock. The settlers then marked a trail north so they would remember where to go when they returned with family that spring.
It was the beginning of a community they called Banner. Those first residents built sod homes, a sod church and established a post office.

Equine facilities impact communities in more ways than one

One facility has been in the same location for more than a 100 years. Another for close to 20 years and one more is just getting its feet wet. For three places that host equine events in southwest Kansas, the impact on their communities can be measured in a couple of ways.
Many equine enthusiasts and competitors travel to events around their local areas while others criss-cross the country competing. When they travel, they need food, fuel, feed for the horses and hotel rooms. Some bring shopping lists when they travel to bigger cities and stock up on necessities before or after they compete.

Topeka city manager drops request to raise sales tax, proposes keeping it the same

Public feedback has prompted city manager Brent Trout to drop his earlier request that Topekans be asked to raise the citywide sales tax to three-quarters of a cent.
A resolution he is sponsoring would arrange for Topekans to instead vote on whether to extend the current half-cent tax for another 10 years.
The city on Thursday made public a copy of the preliminary agenda for its governing body’s July 17 meeting, which shows that body plans to consider scheduling a citywide Nov. 6 ballot question election on whether to renew the current half-cent tax for 10 more years, through Oct. 1, 2029.

Governing bodies to consider labor contract, incentives for promoters

A proposed labor contract amendment and incentives for promoters to bring acts to the Kansas Expocentre are among matters local governing bodies plan to take up this coming week.
The Shawnee County Commission will meet at 9 a.m. Monday in its chambers in Room B-11 of the county courthouse, 200 S.E. 7th. The Topeka City Council will meet at 6 p.m. Tuesday in its chambers at 214 S.E. 8th.
Commissioners plan to consider entering into an agreement through which Philadelphia-based Spectra Venue Management, which manages the Kansas Expocentre under contract for the county, would provide the county $200,000 to establish an “event show fund.”
The intent of the fund is to provide incentives for promoters to bring events to the facility and, in some cases, offset the financial risk they or the facility may incur in connection with those events.

Cowley County officials hope to avoid property tax hike

Cowley County commissioners this week took a step toward approving next year’s budget.

Administrator Lucas Goff and county commissioners held a work session Tuesday on the proposed 2019 fiscal-year budget during a commission meeting. Among the challenges to the upcoming budget is a substantial increase in the cost of health insurance: 26.6 percent. The increased cost is based on how the insurance was used by employees in the last fiscal year.

Some years are good and some years are less good, Goff said. It depends on the amount of money the insured use for the services they receive.

Goff is working with the various departments to get them to set aside more money for reserves. His goal is for the departments to set aside 15 percent of their budget every year for long-range planning.

In the past, former commissioners and county administrators did not emphasize planning for the long term. For example, the Road and Bridge Department has about $2.7 million set aside, but that does not go far paying for all the bridge work that needs to be completed. Goff is working to develop a five-year plan for that department.

Capital improvements will also challenge the county. For example, it will shortly be looking at replacing air conditioning in the courthouse — an expense of about $250,000.

Budgets proposed by the various department heads changed little from last year, Goff said, as everyone is trying to keep the mill levy flat.

Goff praised Mary Read, director of community corrections, who has had her budget cut by the state more than once, but went out and found several grants to offset the losses.

(Read more: The Arkansas City Traveler)

A small Kansas City bar plays host to generations of Croatian soccer fans

Hrvatska! Hrvatska! Hrvatska!

In a basement of the typically quiet Strawberry Hill neighborhood in Kansas City, Kan., those words could be heard echoing repeatedly from over 200 strong over the course of three hours on Saturday afternoon.

Hrvatska means “Croatia” in the native tongue for a Croatian, and a strong band of Croatian soccer fans had gathered in the basement of St. John’s Catholic Club, where through an inauspicious set of doors down a spacious alleyway, a bar and bowling club played host to the hopes and dreams of generations of Croatian fans in the KC area, as their team competes in the 2018 World Cup. Hordes of Croatians made the long journey to America for the hope of a new life, like many of those before them. Kansas City was home at the time to a Swift Meat Packing factory, which brought in and gave work to many of the Croatians who arrived in the Midwest.

The small community in the Strawberry Hill neighborhood that has housed Croatians for over a century has a very European feel to it, too. Small streets with cars squeezed on either side are lined by tight, yet neatly kept houses.

Everybody also seems to know everybody else. On Saturday afternoon, there weren’t many people in the streets, because they were inside St. John’s Catholic Club. But inside the tightly cramped bar, there didn’t seem to be a face that was unknown by somebody else.

Even the beer being served in the bar was native to Croatia — a beer called Karlovačko, which translates roughly to ‘made in Karlovac.’

Clapp Golf Course in Wichita slated to close Sept. 30

Turning aside pleas from dozens of residents, the Wichita Park Board voted late Friday to close L.W. Clapp Golf Course in south Wichita at the end of the peak golf season Sept. 30.

But the closure passed with a stipulation that no land will be sold for development until a master plan can be prepared for the site, which could take the next year.

And some board members held out hope that Clapp could still be saved, if Wichita’s golf community rallies around the course and stanches course losses between now and the end of the summer. The 4-3 vote came after nearly four hours of meetings and two unsuccessful attempts at a vote to close the course.

(Read more: Politics & Government News |)

Reno and surrounding counties still in drought emergency

On Friday, Gov. Jeff Colyer updated the Drought Declaration for Kansas counties with an executive order.

The update includes all 105 counties either in an emergency, warning, or watch status. This order places nearly half of Kansas counties in an emergency drought status.

Counties in the emergency stage are eligible for emergency use of water from certain state fishing lakes because of the KWO Memorandum of Understanding with the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks, and Tourism. They also become eligible for water in some federal reservoirs.

Reno County is included in the drought emergency. Others also under the emergency alert include Harvey, Kingman, McPherson, Pratt, Rice, Sedgwick, and Stafford counties.

(Read more: Hutch Post)

City and school sidewalk projects underway in El Dorado

Projects adding walkways and bike paths to Sixth Avenue and McCollum Road the City of El Dorado and USD 490 are partnering are in progess.

Sidewalks are in the process of being added to Sixth Avenue and the McCollum Road project has just started.

The 5-foot wide Sixth Avenue sidewalk will stretch from Orchard to Star Streets along the south side Sixth Street. The bid awarded to SPS was $97,912.50. Pearson Construction also submitted a bid of $226,955. The engineer’s estimate of the project was $149,655. The sidewalk is being paid for with excess sales tax dollars.

The 8-foot wide bike trail from North Main Street to Country Club Drive on McCollum Road will cost a total of $66,365 to complete through SPS. The engineer’s estimate was $106,225. Pearson Construction bid the job for $115,225. USD 490 and the City of El Dorado are co funding the project.

(Read more: andoveramerican.com)

Wellington Council approves project connecting new Dollar Tree to city utilities

By unanimous decision, the Wellington City Council approved Cornejo and Sons LLC of Wichita to head the Boundary Road Improvement Project that will connect the new Dollar Tree to city utilities. The project will cost the city $281,235.

The project extends water and sewer north to the Dollar Tree lot north of McDonald’s. Cornejo’s will also pave Boundary Street 430 feet to the north where it will connect with a future east-west street called 17th Street to be built by the developers.

Proposed look of Dollar Tree.

The hook up will then be available for any future development to the east or west on the north side of U.S. 160 out to the railroad underpass. The infrastructure will include a sewer extension, a water line, a sewer manhole that will feed into the Beaver Creek line that serves current businesses down the U.S. 160 East Corridor.

This marks the second developmental agreement passed by a Wellington Council in less than a year. A similar agreement for the Cowley College Sumner Campus was approved last fall.

(Read more: Sumner NewsCow)

Salina drive-thru recycling center to open Wednesday morning

The new Salina Drive-thru Recycling Center (SDRC) will open, Wednesday, July 11, 2018, at 8 a.m. with a public ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by the City Manager and City Commissioners. The SDRC will open for business to the public immediately following the ceremony. The SDRC is located at 125 W. North Street (on the corner of Santa Fe Avenue and North Street). Normal business hours will be Wednesday-Saturday, 8:30 a.m.-6 p.m. The SDRC is open to all Salina and Saline County residents.

(Read more: The Salina Post)

Johnson County election officials busy preparing for primary, looking for poll volunteers

New voting machines are ready to go in Johnson County, just in time for the August Primary election.

County election officials are testing more than 1,000 new machines that will be used for the first time next month. The new technology allows for a more accurate count by allowing voters to print out a ballot to double check their vote is correct before submitting it.

“We have significant improvement in the technology available to us. They’re also different in their design in that they have a voter-verifiable paper trail, which means we will be able to go back and recreate and recount every vote,” said Ronnie Metsker, Johnson County election commissioner.

Each machine has a built-in tabulation device, which means election officials will have better access to real time results and updates. They replace voting machines that have been in use since 2002.

“That’s our goal, is to give regular and frequent output of the standards of how is our voting going as we tabulate throughout the evening we intend to give more results,” Metsker said.

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

Historic downtown Ark City survey continued

The primary motivation for the resurvey was to provide as many building owners as possible the opportunity to access financial incentives that are available through the Kansas State Historical Society for properties listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Spencer said.

One of the two main financial resources available to owners with listed properties is a state tax credit program offered through the Kansas Historical Society.

The Kansas State Tax Credit is equal to 25 percent of expenses for capital improvements of more than $5,000 to historic buildings owned by for-profit businesses. Before the work starts, the building owner must complete an application that is reviewed by the State Historic Preservation Office. Once the application is approved, the project must be completed before the owner is reimbursed with tax credits equaling 25 percent of the costs.

Spencer said that owners of Ark City’s downtown properties already listed on the national register have not taken full advantage of the tax incentive program.

“Only six tax credit programs have been done since 1983,” she said.

Humboldt to host vintage baseball

Walter Johnson Stadium in Humboldt will host its annual vintage baseball game at 1 pm Saturday.

The Topeka Westerns will play the Branson Boomers, and festivities begin at 11 am with players warm-up and a display of antique cars at Humboldt City Square Park.

Players will ride in the cars at noon to the stadium for a hot dog feed. The National Anthem will play and the game will start at 1 pm Saturday.

B&W Trailer Hitches will sponsor the Branson Boomers and Monarch Cement Co. will sponsor the Topeka Westerns.

Monarch office manager Tessa Morris said the stadium has hosted vintage games for several years, and Monarch is involved through the Monarch Academic Achievement Scholarship. Admission to the game is free, but donations will be accepted to benefit the stadium and proceeds will go to the scholarship.

The game will follow 1860 rules for baseball. For example, if a batter hits to the field, he is still out if the ball bounces before it is caught.

Morris said programs given out at the game will display the vintage rules.

Winfield-Ark City rivalry gets bloody

Arkansas City and Winfield law enforcement and fire personnel will be working together to help ensure blood is available during medical emergencies by partnering with the American Red Cross for the Arkansas City vs. Winfield Battle of the Badges Blood Drives.

The rivalry between Arkansas City and Winfield will be used as a force for good, as the first responders in each city will team up to see who can recruit the most blood donors.

The Winfield fire and police departments will have their opportunity to help save lives and recruit the most blood donors during their drive from noon to 6 p.m. July 12 at First United Methodist Church, 1000 Millington St.

Support the Arkansas City Fire Department and the Arkansas City Police Department by donating blood from noon to 6 p.m. July 13 at Central Christian Church, 206 W Central Ave.

The number of blood donors at each drive will determine who wins this year’s bragging rights.

“Thank you to first responders for not only keeping the community safe, but also helping with blood collection this summer,” said Tammy Hunnell, Central Plains Blood Services Region account manager. “These Battle of the Badges blood drives offer a way for residents of both cities to support their local heroes and help save lives by giving blood.”

Overland Park police seek suspects after fireworks cause $20,000 in damage at city park

Police in Overland Park are investigating an arson after fireworks were used to destroy parts of a city park on Wednesday.

The damage occurred at about 10:53 p.m. at Sapling Grove Park.

Restrooms and a structure at the park were damaged.

Witnesses say they saw five men running east from a shelter at the time of the fire.

Authorities say the fires were sparked by fireworks and estimate the damage to be nearly $20,000.

Municipal court fees increase in South Hutchinson

The South Hutchinson City Council gave approval to the lone item on the agenda during Monday’s meeting.

The council approved raising municipal court fees by $10. The amendment to the ordinance means that court fees have increased from $75 to $85.

It is the first fee increase for the municipal court since 2010.

(Read more: Hutch Post)

Roeland Park councilmembers concerned proposed policy could put barrier between council and the press

Roeland Park’s governing body debated a proposed policy Monday that would guide how city officials respond to media inquiries — a proposal that had some members of the council worried about issues raised when the mayor of Prairie Village asked councilmembers to refrain from talking to the media last year.

The proposed Roeland Park language was crafted by city staff and would direct media requests related to city policy to city administrator Keith Moody and requests related to the city council to Mayor Mike Kelly. Moody and Kelly could then either respond to the request themselves or refer the media member on to the most appropriate city official.

Staff said the policy would protect accuracy of information while supporting timeliness of press responses.

Councilmembers Becky Fast, Tom Madigan and Erin Thompson voiced concerns the guidelines would place a barrier between councilmembers and the press.

“I do not understand how the mayor can be the spokesperson for the governing body,” said Madigan while pointing out that the mayor only gets to vote on issues in two particular instances: to break a tie or when a 2/3 majority is required.

El Dorado City Manager explains tornado sirens

El Dorado City Manager David Dillner explained how the tornado sirens in El Dorado work at Monday’s City Commission meeting.

A successful test of city-owned tornado sirens was administered Monday at noon. The sirens are tested the first Monday of every month at noon.

The city-owned tornado sirens were all operational. Two state-owned tornado at El Dorado Lake were not working properly.

Dillner explained that the El Dorado sirens do not have an all clear siren. When there is a imminent threat the sirens will alarm for three minutes, then rest for five minutes before alarming again for three minutes. If the sirens are silent for more than five minutes, the threat is gone.

The sirens are intended for people that are outside to take cover. They are not made to warn people that are already inside. If you are in a home or building tune to a weather radio, television or cell phone for weather updates.

The City of El Dorado dispatched crews and equipment to Eureka to help in the cleanup from the June 28 tornado. Assisting were the El Dorado Police Deparment, the El Dorado Fire Department and Public Works. Public Works sent over a street sweeper as well.

(Read more: Augusta Gazette)

Manhattan implements hiring freeze amid budget shortfall

The city of Manhattan has implemented a hiring and travel freeze amid budget shortfalls it blames on sluggish tax revenues.

KSNT-TV reports that says Kansas State University is seeing declines in enrollment as well as fewer solders at Fort Riley.

Manhattan City Manager Ron Fehr says this results in fewer shoppers in Manhattan and could be part of the reason for the stagnant tax revenues.

The city had $250,000 less revenue than expected in 2017.

That trend is continuing this year with the city revenues more than $80,000 dollars down in May.

Fehr says they are going to be more conservative when estimating revenues in the future.

(Read more: KOAM – Local News)

Lansing City administrator comments about fire district decision

Lansing’s city administrator argues a city-operated fire department in the place of an existing fire district will increase accountability and reduce bureaucracy.

The Lansing City Council has announced plans to withdraw from Leavenworth County Fire District No. 1 at the end of 2019.

City officials plan to replace the fire district with a new Lansing Fire Department.

“We view it more as reorganizing the leadership structure of the department,” City Administrator Tim Vandall said.

Leavenworth County Fire District No. 1 currently provides fire protection services to the city of Lansing and Delaware and High Prairie townships. The fire district utilizes full-time employees as well as volunteer firefighters.

Vandall said city officials plan to maintain employees and volunteers from the fire district.

He said the city of Lansing will offer to provide fire protection services to the two townships through the new Lansing Fire Department.

(Read more: Leavenworth Times)

Lenexa QuickTrip proposal revised after neighbors’ concerns

A proposal for a new QuikTrip in Lenexa has been slowed down again and will return to the Lenexa Planning Commission Aug. 6.

The Lenexa City Council voted unanimously Tuesday night meeting to send a revised proposal for the new QuikTrip, at the northeast corner of 95th Street and Noland Road, back to the planning commission, which had recommended denial at its June 4 meeting amid concerns expressed by some surrounding property owners about light and noise the new store would produce.

The matter was returned to the council at its June 19 meeting but continued to Tuesday’s meeting.

Community Development Director Beccy Yocham addressed the council Tuesday and said that the applicant had significantly revised its plan and that city staff wanted to keep nearby residents apprised of the project application’s status. A proposal for a new QuikTrip in Lenexa has been slowed down again and will return to the Lenexa Planning Commission Aug. 6.

The Lenexa City Council voted unanimously Tuesday night meeting to send a revised proposal for the new QuikTrip, at the northeast corner of 95th Street and Noland Road, back to the planning commission, which had recommended denial at its June 4 meeting amid concerns expressed by some surrounding property owners about light and noise the new store would produce.

The matter was returned to the council at its June 19 meeting but continued to Tuesday’s meeting.

Community Development Director Beccy Yocham addressed the council Tuesday and said that the applicant had significantly revised its plan and that city staff wanted to keep nearby residents apprised of the project application’s status.

Roeland Park Aquatic Center Open House

The City of Roeland Park and Johnson County Parks and Recreation Department have had a long-standing joint-funding agreement in regards to the operation of the Roeland Park Aquatic Center. The interlocal agreement expires in May of 2019, and in preparation, the City of Roeland Park has begun an operational study to determine the long-term needs and options for the Roeland Park Aquatic Center.

The study consists of evaluation of the physical condition, operability of its systems and structures, market, participation and program analysis, options for long term operations and community input.

Hearing from the community of Roeland Park and users of swimming facilities is a crucial and important element of the study. Understanding the swimming needs and priorities of the Roeland Park community is how we will best be able to continue to offer the services most valued.

The Roeland Park Aquatic Center survey was designed to understand your household and its swimming needs, what you look for in aquatic facilities, how you use them and what your feedback is on the existing Roeland Park Aquatic Center. Your feedback will be used in the operational study and long-term pool planning.

(Read more: City of Roeland Park)

Sedgwick County deputies join the officer lip syncing trend

What is your problem free philosophy, @kcpolice @lawrenceKS_PD @JOCOSHERIFF @Kshighwaypatrol @Topeka_Police ?

#lipsyncbattle #lionking #Hakunamatata #SCSO

*We don't own the rights to this music. @DisneyStudios does 🙂 pic.twitter.com/3Q7Gb0Ugdt

— SG County Sheriff (@SGCountySheriff) July 3, 2018

Several Kansas law enforcement agencies are starting a so-called lip sync battle after a Wichita-area agency posted a video of deputies mouthing the words to a Disney song.

Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office deputies lip sync to The Lion King’s “Hakuna Matata” in a video posted to Twitter on Tuesday.

The sheriff’s office also tags the Twitter accounts for police in Lawrence, Topeka, Kansas City, Mo., and the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office, as well as the Kansas Highway Patrol. It asked, “What is your problem free philosophy.”

(Read more: Wichita Eagle)

Hays wades into water change approval

When the City of Hays purchased the R9 Ranch in Edwards County in 1995, the sitting mayor, Robert Albers, said turning the ranch into a municipal water source would be “a long period of transition.”

He was right. The cities of Hays and Russell have spent the 20-some years since working to end irrigated agriculture on the ranch and gather information to change the water rights located on the ranch for municipal use. In May, the cities took another step closer.

The Kansas Department of Agriculture Division of Water Resources released a draft master order approving a change-order application that would convert water use on the city-owned property from agricultural to municipal in May. The news came after a three-year wait. The cities sent in the change application in June 2015. Representatives from the cities of Hays and Russell presented the change application, which outlines the consolidation of 58 points of diversion on the R9 ranch — places where water is diverted to the surface — into 14 wells for municipal water use.

Hays City Manager Toby Dougherty stated the original change application would shift a maximum of 7,625 acre feet of water for consumptive use per year, which according to data collected on the R9, would be lower than the historic irrigation diversion of around 8,000 ac/ft.

The current application decreases the maximum allowed, per-year diversion to 6,756 ac/ft., and the cities have agreed to meet a 10-year rolling average of 4,800 ac/ft. per year — meaning the cities can divert up to the maximum amount of water in one year, but must divert less in other years to meet the rolling average.

(Read more: News – The Hutchinson News)