Kansas Municipal News
Kansas House kills bill that supporters said would have made HOAs more accountable
Kansas lawmakers have rejected a bill that supporters said would have made homeowners associations more accountable by placing their oversight under the Kansas Attorney General’s office.
Lawmakers shot down House Bill 2629 after a 36-minute debate on the House floor, followed by an unrecorded voice vote.
“I just don’t get it,” said Scott Wircenske, an Olathe homeowner who sued his HOA to see its financial documents, then went to authorities after discovering the property manager was mishandling the funds. “Why would you not want this level of protection if you’re a homeowner? If I’m a homeowner, I want to know that the books are clean through and through and that I don’t have to worry about it because there’s this oversight.” House Speaker Pro Tem Scott Schwab, an Olathe Republican who proposed the bill, told how Wircenske, a constituent, was forced to take his HOA to court because board members wouldn’t let him see the financial records or meeting minutes.
“These are mini-governments. And the city can’t stop it. The county can’t stop it. The township can’t stop it. The only way to hold them accountable is you’ve got to sue yourself and your neighbors for people who aren’t obeying existing law,” Schwab said.
But Rep. Russ Jennings, R-Lakin, said homeowners know what they’re getting into when they buy in an HOA.
“People who buy property that have restrictions or covenants on that property do so at the time of the purchase knowing that it exists,” he said. “I’m not sure why the state should provide counsel for folks who have a complaint about an HOA when they entered into a contract to do it with them in the first place.”
(Read more: Government & Politics News |)
Russell Water Judged Second-Best Tasting Water in Kansas
The best tasting water in Kansas is produced by WaterOne of Johnson County according to a recent contest, and the City of Russell’s water placed second.
So says the team of professionals who judged water during the 51st Annual Conference and Exhibition for water and wastewater utilities sponsored by the Kansas Rural Water Association held at the Century II Convention Center in Wichita.
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The City of Russell serves 2,400 customers and has a production capacity of 1.5 million gallons per day to meet customers’ needs. City Manager Jon Quinday comments the City of Russell is proud to have placed second in the contest as nearly 30 samples were submitted by cities and rural water districts. This is the first year the City of Russell has participated in the contest.
Read more: KRSL.
Parsons works with Labette Community College for possible tornado shelter
The city of Parsons is working with Labette Community College on the possible construction of a new storm shelter.
City Manager Debbie Lamb told city commissioners Monday evening that she and her staff have been brainstorming for ideas on how a new community tornado shelter could be built. The staff wants to discontinue the use of the Parsons Municipal Building basement as a storm shelter because it doesn’t meet Federal Emergency Management Agency standards. Parsons USD 503 has FEMA-approved community storm shelters at its three elementary schools and Parsons High School, but those aren’t available to the general public during school hours.
Lamb said Laura Moore, community development director, has discovered that FEMA will pay 75 percent of the costs for a community storm shelter. LCC is getting ready to build an addition to its gymnasium, and city staff is interested in possibly incorporating a safe room into the addition.
(Read more: Parsons Sun)
County Commission declines to make grant application because of sales tax referendum uncertainty
Douglas County commissioners reluctantly declined Wednesday a staff request to apply for a grant that would help pay for a viewing site and shelter at Wells Overlook Park because of uncertainty about the fate of the half-cent sale tax referendum before voters this spring.
Keith Browning, county public works director, said the county developed plans for an Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant viewing platform about 30 feet north of the Wells Overlook tower.
The project was not on the county’s capital improvement list, but it was developed after Ken Lassman, a member of the family who donated the Wells Overlook property on County Route 458 just east of U.S. Highway 59 to the county, expressed interest in improving viewing opportunities at the site for those with mobility limitations.
(Read more: LJWorld.com / Lawrence, Kansas)
Section of sewer line to be replaced in Holton
The Holton City Commission on Monday evening approved a bid to replace a problematic section of the city’s sewer line in order to prepare the line for an upgrade.
A 70-foot section of a north-south main sewer line in the 600 block between New York and Pennsylvania avenues — “the one that we’ve had so much trouble with,” Holton City Manager Kerwin McKee said — will be replaced by Haug Construction of Holton, which bid $17,355 for the work, commissioners noted.
(Read more: Holton Recorder)
Hays firefighters train for airplane fires
City of Hays firefighters conducted practical fire attack training April 3 to requalify as airport firefighters.
The practical firefighting training was presented by the University of Missouri Fire & Rescue Training Institute and conducted at the Hays Regional Airport.
The University of Missouri’s mobile aircraft fire trainer was used to simulate various aircraft firefighting and rescue situations.
To support airport operations, city of Hays firefighters are required to complete a comprehensive airport firefighter training program meeting Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) standards.
(Read more: Hays Post)
Lawrence City Commission to discuss raising tobacco age to 21
The discussion of whether the city of Lawrence should create a local ordinance to raise the age to purchase tobacco-related products to 21 will be coming to City Hall.
At the City Commission’s meeting Tuesday, Vice Mayor Lisa Larsen made a motion to add the topic to a future commission work session agenda. Larsen said she would like to have a discussion about the pros and cons and about what other cities are doing.
“There seems to be a big push,” Larsen said. “I think that there’s some merit to getting more details about what would be expected from that type of a program.”
City staff both said that a key element of that discussion would be the legality of such ordinances. City Attorney Toni Wheeler told the commission that the city of Topeka’s ordinance raising the age to 21 has been successfully challenged in court and that city staff would continue to review the case.
“We’ll have some more information on the legality here soon,” Wheeler said. “It’s not a closed question yet.”
(Read more: LJWorld.com stories: Local news)
Commissioner questions Project Wichita’s intentions toward Century II
A Sedgwick County commissioner publicly questioned Wednesday whether Project Wichita is a legitimate effort to gather input on the future of the community, or a pretext to generate public support for tearing down Century II and building a new convention and performing arts center.
A co-chairman of Project Wichita said Century II is likely to be part of the discussion, but the project’s goal is to take a much broader look at community wants and needs and how to handle them. And he assured the commission that any research done by Project Wichita will be on the up and up.
The issue arose during debate over whether Sedgwick County should spend $45,000 to be part of Project Wichita, which was approved 4-1 with Ranzau opposing it.
(Read more: Local News |)
Developer says parking is ‘last piece’ for downtown grocery plans; goal is to begin construction this fall
Developers leading the downtown grocery store project say they aim to begin construction by the fall and that the final detail that needs to be figured out is the parking.
“We’re excited that we’ve got almost all the pieces in place,” Lawrence businessman Mike Treanor, of Treanor HL, told attendees at the Downtown Lawrence Inc. meeting Wednesday. “That last piece is how we get that parking paid for.”
The plan is to construct a mixed-use building on the site of the former Borders building, 700 New Hampshire St., with a Price Chopper grocery store on the ground level and about 70 apartments above. Plans also call for an underground parking garage, and Treanor said that tax rebates requested from the city would help pay for that element of the project.
(Read more: LJWorld.com / Lawrence, Kansas)
Hillsboro considering new dog ordinance
The Hillsboro City Council at its March 27 special meeting discussed a potential new ordinance for the city regarding dogs.
City Attorney Josh Boehm said the new ordinance leans toward addressing the behavior of dogs rather than banning a particular breed.
“This is driven by the police department having reoccurring issues regarding dogs—dogs at-large, aggressive dogs and complaints regarding pit bulls,” Boehm said with input from Police Chief Dan Kinning.
Boehm said the Kansas League of Municipalities, a nd most cities in the state, are moving away from using breed-specific bans or language.
“(Dog complaints aren’t) something that’s specific to Hillsboro—it’s been going around the last six months or so,” Boehm said. “Dan or another officer has called to ask me half a dozen times or more—and even 20 minutes before this meeting—regarding a dog issue.”
“This (draft) is an attempt to clean some of that (language) up, make it very straightforward, and just organize it better.”
(Read more: Hillsboro Free Press)
National chain eyes Derby Marketplace site
A well-known national chain of beauty supplies and services is set to open in Derby.
Ulta Beauty officials want to have an outlet in the Derby Marketplace, the large commercial development on the east side of Rock Road.
Officials have submitted site plans to the Derby Planning Commission for the 10,012-square-foot store and commissioners will consider them at the April 5 meeting.
Unless there’s some outstanding reason not to, generally such plans are approved, which is the recommendation of the planning staff. There could be some suggestions and comments from the Commission, and the plans could be subject to them.
If the store’s plans are authorized, it would join three other locations in the Wichita metro area. They are: 8141 E. Kellogg Drive in the Eastgate Plaza Shopping Center; 2734 N. Greenwich Court in Greenwich Place; and 2441 N. Maize Road in the New Market Square Shopping Center. There also is one outlet in Hutchinson.
(Read more: DerbyInformer.com – news,news/)
Goddard using community crime map
The city of Goddard has recently started to use an interactive online map to indicate areas of crime through the city. The map allows community members to sign up for email notifications for crimes that occur within a specific area.
Goddard police chief Fred Farris told the The Times Sentinel that the technology, which is provided by Lexis Nexis, was easy to set up and link with department management systems.
(Read more: DerbyInformer.com – news,news/)
Lenexa gives green light to new 6-story regional headquarters building for Kiewit Corp.
BThe Lenexa City Council Approved The Final Plan Tuesday Night For A New, Six-Story Office Building And Expansion Of An Existing Two-Level Parking Garage In City Center For Omaha-Based Construction And Engineering Company Kiewit Corp.’S Regional Headquarters.
The New Building Will Contain 181,680 Square Feet And Will Be Built On An Undeveloped Parcel At The Southeast Corner Of Penrose Lane And West 88th Terrace. Kiewit Spokesman Bob Kula Said The Building Would Cost About $43 Million And The Parking Garage Expansion About $7.5 Million. JE Dunn Is The Project’s General Contractor.
Kiewit Expects To Break Ground On The Project In The Third Quarter Of This Year And Complete It By Jan. 1, 2020. The Company Intends To Seek Tax-Increment Financing For The Project From The City At A Later Time.
Kiewit Recently Bought Two Adjoining Buildings From Lexmark Properties At 89th And Renner For An Undisclosed Amount. These Buildings, Formerly The Headquarters For Perceptive Software, And The New Building Will Constitute Its Regional Headquarters Campus In Lenexa. Combined The Campus Will Contain About 385,000 Square Feet.
The Company Anticipates Adding Another Office Building, From Two To Five Stories High, On An Additional Lot On The Site At An Undetermined Time. The Lot Will Function In The Meantime As A Plaza And Green Space On The Campus.
(Read more: Prairie Village Post – Neighborhood news and events for Prairie Village, Fairway, Mission Hills)
Great Bend hoping to take advantage of “Opportunity Zones” for investments
Opportunity Zones are an economic development tool enacted by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 designed to encourage long-term investments in low-income urban and rural communities. This provides incentives to investors to move capital off the sidelines and into projects which will stimulate the Kansas economy.
Great Bend Chamber of Commerce CEO Jan Peters says she is confident that Great Bend will be identified for at least one of the 70 communities by Governor Jeff Colyer. The program provides deferral and reduction of capital gains taxes when the gain is invested in a Qualified Opportunity Fund and maintained for at least five years.
(Read more: Great Bend Post)
Garden City Commission bans smoking at parks
The Garden City Commission passed an ordinance making smoking illegal at public parks Tuesday. The signs will be displayed near playgrounds to keep smoking away from children.
The ordinance will go into affect this week. During the meeting commissioners did discuss how the ordinance will be enforced. City Manager Matt Allen said after he would compare it to how the environmental code works.
“It’ll be enforced through heightened awareness like the signage and expectation that certain behaviors are allowed, certain behaviors aren’t allowed. If people see a violation of that it’s kind of a complaint based system,” said Allen.
(Read more: Western Kansas News)
Leavenworth City Commissioners discuss stormwater fee
Leavenworth city commissioners have not yet settled on a dollar amount for a stormwater maintenance fee. But during a meeting, commissioners discussed options that would charge annual fees ranging from $72 to $96 per year for single family residences.
For months, commissioners have been discussing the implementation of a fee to pay for maintenance of the city’s stormwater system, which carries rainwater away from buildings and roads. The water is channeled into creeks and watershed areas.
City officials say they have identified more than $83 million in needed maintenance to the stormwater system.
(Read more: Leavenworth Times)
Kiowa City Council Discusses New Economic Development Group
In opening business, council approved joining the World Economic Development Alliance (WEDA) for a six month trial period at a cost of $2,900. The alliance, headquartered in Dallas, TX, has contacts throughout the country and world and is focused on promoting and working to find business possibilities for rural areas.
City Administrator Lou Leone said WEDA works as a “job/business broker”. He added that there are two areas he is already looking at- ammunition manufacturers and telemarketing. Councilman Wells said he has seen WEDA’s efforts in Dumas, TX and noted that it seemed to really work well for that community. The city has $14,000 budgeted for economic development since it no longer is a member of the county’s economic development group.
(Read more: The Kiowa News)
Cowley County begins to look at contract labor for juvenile intake positions
The fiscal year 2019 Juvenile Services block grant application for $488,431.07, approved Tuesday morning by the Cowley County Commission was “mostly the same as last year,” according to youth services director Melody Pappan.
But she brought out one potential change to hiring that directed conversation for a few minutes. Pappan suggested that two weekend part-time positions in juvenile intake could be listed as contract positions.
The conversation on the change — making some part-time positions into contract positions — is only just beginning, county administrator Lucas Goff said.
What the commissioners approved Tuesday was the grant application, he said, but they are not ready to approve the change to contract positions.
“They are just discussing it,” Goff said. “What using contract positions would mean, whether that would save the county money.”
(Read more: www.ctnewsonline.com – RSS Results)
Newton police collect thousands of pills from new drug drop-off box
The Newton Police Department is hoping to fight prescription drug abuse in its community and has already collected thousands of pills from its drug drop-off box.
Lt. Bryan Hall says the box was installed just last week. The evidence custodian has already had to empty it out several times since it was put in.
“It’s only been a few days and we’re already into thousands of pills,” he said. “I can’t even count at this point.”
It’s a no-questions-asked drug drop-off box. Lt. Hall says people will not be arrested if they drop off illicit drugs. In fact, he says he’s had several messages from people wanting to drop off illicit drugs in order to better their lives.
“Our goal isn’t to arrest people. It’s to help people,” Hall said. “our history shows a lot of violent crimes in the last few years have been associated with the illegal drug trade.”
(Read more: KAKE – News)
Night of community and engagement on tap at Meridian Center for Newton’s Talk20
In hopes of sparking conversation, creating community, understanding different perspectives and providing Newton with a good way to spend a Friday night, Newton Now will host its first annual Talk20 Event at 7 p.m. Friday, April 6, at the Meridian Center.
Ten community members will give short, photo-illustrated talks about experiences and situations unique to their lives.
There will be an intermission in the middle of the talks. Afterwards, the venue will remain open and there will be a bar and non-alcoholic drinks available for people to mingle, socialize and discuss.
“We have been attending such events in Hutchinson for a number of years and have always left impressed,” Publisher Joey Young, who helped organize the event, said. “We wanted to bring something like this to Newton, because we think the community deserves it and that it will catch on.”
Newton Now staff sat down and selected the various speakers for the event, based on their unique perspectives and the quality of the stories they had to tell.
Each speaker will present with 20 slides behind them, speaking for 20 seconds for each slide. The format forces speakers to be concise and to also provide compelling imagery that illustrates their speech.
(Read more: Newton Now)
Shawnee unveils new fire station design
The community was given a sneak peak into the design for the new western Shawnee fire station during an open house on Thursday.
Shawnee fire chief John Mattox and several of the city’s firefighters were on hand at the meeting, which was held at Riverview Elementary School, to answer questions and offer insight into the new building.
The new Station 74 is proposed for 53rd Street and Woodsonia Drive; it will be roughly 9,000 square-feet.
It will feature six individual bunkrooms, a fitness room, a gear washing station, an expansive storage area and a community/training room, among other necessities and amenities.
“It will meet all of our needs now into the future,” Mattox told the Dispatch. “We’re excited to get started.”
(Read more: The Dispatch stories)
Lawrence City Commission approves study to identify better cleanup methods for contaminated Farmland site
Consultants will soon undertake a study to come up with a new strategy for the city’s cleanup of the former Farmland fertilizer plant.
At its meeting Tuesday, the Lawrence City Commission voted unanimously to approve a more than $200,000 contract with a consulting firm, GHD Inc.
GHD will complete an analysis of the city-owned Farmland site, conduct community input meetings and come up with a new plan to deal with the nitrogen-contaminated water at the site. The plan will have at least five contingencies, each with a cost-benefit analysis, in case one or more methods become infeasible.
“Last fall you had two alternatives; neither were good,” GHD project engineer David Hempleman told the commission. “What we are trying to do for you is come up with five alternatives, each of which on any given day would work.”
(Read more: LJWorld.com stories: Local news)
Harvey County rescinds bid award; winning bid didn’t meet specs
The cargo bed is too small.
That detail caused the Harvey County Board of County Commissioners to rescind a bid offer to purchase three Utility Terrain Vehicles from 321 Kawasaki of El Dorado.
Last week, the county approved paying $41,653 to the company for three UTV vehicles to go to the parks and solid waste departments.
However, this week county administration asked the commission to instead rescind that offer because it found that the bed of a vehicle it was to purchase, a Kawasaki Mule Pro FXR, was 13.9 square feet and not 20 square feet, meaning it didn’t meet the county’s previous specifications.
County Public Information Officer Kyle McCaskey stated that county administration noticed the error and was also notified by another vendor, Dan’s Cycles, of the mistake. At the meeting, County Administrator Anthony Swartzendruber suggested that the county go with the lowest bidder it had that still met specifications.He said that if they allowed 321 Kawasaki to change its bid, they’d need to do that for all bidders.
The next lowest bidder was Dan’s Cycle out of Hesston, with a total cost of $41,769.
Krehbiel, after hearing Lewis’ explanation of why its bid didn’t meet specifications, responded.
“I can appreciate what you’re saying and understand,” he said. “But what we’re getting at here is if it doesn’t meet specs, we need to not accept it period.”
(Read more: Newton Now)