Kansas Municipal News
Topeka City Council rescinds controversial plumbing amendment
The Topeka City Council unanimously voted Tuesday to rescind controversial plumbing amendments and reconsider how the amendments to the plumbing code should be worded. Deputy Mayor Tony Emerson made the motion to reconsider two amendments he proposed after hearing concerns from businesses in the community. “Although my amendments solved a few immediate problems their wording let some plumbing contractors think their livelihood was being threatened,” Emerson said at the Oct. 20 city council meeting. “I can assure you that was not the intent.”
Source: Local Government – The Topeka Capital-Journal
Mayor: Topeka has done well addressing poverty, but there is still more to do
Mayor Michelle De La Isla joined mayors from across the country Wednesday to discuss eliminating poverty in their cities. De La Isla boasted about what Topeka has done so far, but said there is more work to be done as “poverty is everywhere.” “We are the richest nation in the world with 328.1 million people, yet contrasted with other nations we have 10.5% of people in America that are living in poverty,” said Tom Cochran, CEO and executive director of the United States Conference of Mayors at Wednesday’s virtual roundtable.
Source: Local News | Topeka Capital-Journal
Kindergartners exempted from COVID-19 mask mandate, commission delays action on bars
Sedgwick County has quietly altered its mask mandate to no longer require kindergartners to mask up in school, it was revealed Wednesday. The County Commission also decided Wednesday to delay action on one commissioner’s proposal to rescind an early curfew on bars and nightclubs and to make the county’s COVID-control orders, including the mask mandate, voluntary again. During Wednesday’s meeting, the county released a rewrite of an order issued on Friday by Dr. Garold Minns, the county health officer and dean of the University of Kansas School of Medicine, Wichita.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
Roe 2020 project remains on track with residential striping completed
After nearly five months of construction, Roeland Park’s largest infrastructure project in the history of the city remains on track for completion by Thanksgiving 2020. Why it matters: Roe 2020 is a $10 million renovation of the city’s main thoroughfare, Roe Boulevard, from northern city limits to southern city limits. The residential portion of the street — south of 51st Street — is on schedule to complete major construction milestones within the next few weeks. The project is bringing eight-foot sidewalks, a completely repaved and restriped street, new landscaping and for many Roe Boulevard residents, new or partially-new driveways.
Source: Prairie Village Post
USDA Invests $50,000 in Community Infrastructure in Concordia, Kansas
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development State Director for Kansas Lynne Hinrichsen today announced that USDA is investing $50,000 toward new seating for the historic Brown Grand Opera House in Concordia. … This Rural Development investment will be used to purchase seating for the historic Brown Grand Opera House in Concordia, Kansas. The current seating in the opera House is breaking and finding parts for repair has become increasingly difficult. This project will allow the opera house to purchase new seats. Additionally, the second balcony will be returned to its original bench-style seating and 432 new seats will go in the orchestra and first balcony. Upon completion, the opera house will benefit nearly 9,600 people with a safe and accessible educational theater experience, while preserving historical infrastructure. This community partnership is made possible by the additional contribution by the applicant of $160,067.
Municipal Bond Trends for October 20, 2020
The interest rate table above illustrates recent changes in a sample of MBIS “investment grade” yields. Every issuer’s credit is different. For rates that may be applicable to your municipality, contact our Municipal Bond Advisors, Larry Kleeman and Beth Warren.
Health official: COVID now widespread in Reno County community
COVID-19 is now widespread in Hutchinson and the Reno County Community, the county’s interim Health Officer warned on Tuesday, and people need to step up the oft-repeated protection measures to mitigate it. “People don’t understand what a huge problem we have,” said interim Reno County Health Department Co-Director Karen Hammersmith during a weekly Tuesday morning Zoom call. There are currently 18 positive COVID patients admitted to the local hospital, including three people who are now on ventilators. At noon on Tuesday, the county reported its 12th death. That’s eight deaths in in the past 13 days. Reno County’s positive case numbers are high, in part, because of large outbreaks in communal living with the county, including the state prison, county jail, and a couple of nursing homes.
Source: Local – The Hutchinson News
Bike Share ICT to get on the road again with new operator after COVID-19 bankruptcy
Rental bikes will soon be rolling on the streets of Wichita again, after the COVID-19 pandemic bankrupted the previous operator of Bike Share ICT. The City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved a contract with a new operator for bike rentals, a company called Tandem Mobility. That firm operates the KANcycle program that serves several cities in north-central Kansas, including Salina and Concordia, according to its website. Wichita has been without a rent-a-bike service since May when the previous contractor, Zagster, declared bankruptcy and ceased operation. Council member Becky Tuttle, who ran Bike Share ICT in her previous job at the Greater Wichita YMCA, said she was delighted by the system’s comeback.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
Display violated city’s sign ordinance
Larger-than-life hay bale version of President Trump changed after it exceeded size limits for political promotions. A political display on U.S. 54/Madison Avenue got a lot of attention this past week. Too much, actually. The display, composed of four large round hay bales and painted to represent a larger-than-life version of President Donald Trump, exceeded the city’s limits on political signs. It was an unusual type of sign, though, and an unusual situation, Codes Enforcement Office Greg Hutton said. “That was a first,” he said.
Source: The Iola Register
Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office partners with Ring home security
The Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office is partnering with home security company Ring in an effort to make the community safer. Ring devices capture video of suspicious activity or a crime. Device owners will now have the ability to share these videos with the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office utilizing the Neighbors App available free for download at the App Store or Google Play. As an identified public safety user of the Neighbors App, the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office can post information about crime and safety alerts, view and comment on public posts within our jurisdiction, and use the video request feature to ask Ring to request video recordings from Ring device owners who are in the area of an active investigation.
Source: KSN-TV
‘He is ready to go back’: Officer shot in Lyons making recovery alongside wife in hospital
Three days after he was shot in the line of duty a Lyons police officer making a shocking recovery. “He is alive,” says Cami Ryan. Sgt. Cory Ryan, a Lyons police officer since 2012, took three bullets responding to a 911 call including one in the face. “Literally millimeters of difference and we would be having a very different conversation right now,” said Ryan’s wife. Moments before a flood of armored vehicles, sharpshooters, and ems arrived on the scene Ryan was dragged from the danger by someone nearby and rushed to the hospital where he has been defying the odds ever since. “They have used words like impressive and miracle and they are just shocked at how well he is recuperating in just a short amount of time,” Ryan said.
Source: KSN-TV
Harvey County extends mask order until rescinded
The Harvey County Commission voted unanimously to extend a local order requiring face masks to be worn in Harvey County in a continued effort to reduce the spread of COVID-19. The order was extended until such time it is rescinded, superseded or amended. The order requires individuals to wear a face mask over their nose and mouth in any indoor or outdoor public space where a social distance of 6 feet cannot be maintained at all times. New Sedgwick County order will allow bars to open until 1 a.m. starting Oct. 22
Source: KSN-TV
Long-time Ford dealership burns down in Syracuse
Davis Motors a long-time Ford dealership in Syracuse was destroyed in a fire overnight. The city clerk says that business was a total loss and has been in the community for over 75 years. Several agencies battled the blaze.
Source: KSN-TV
‘We Have To Help Ourselves’: Why Rural Winfield, Kansas, Is Taking Charge Of Its Energy Future
Electric cars aren’t a common sight in rural Kansas — yet. But the town of Winfield — population 12,000, about 45 minutes southeast of Wichita — knows that will inevitably change. “We’re going to see the electrification of vehicles across the country,” said City Manager Taggart Wall. “So how do we stay on the leading edge of that and learn as the industry grows, rather than try to be retroactive and catch up?” Last year, the city began offering $1,500 rebates to residents who installed charging stations in their homes. And earlier this month, Winfield cut the ribbon on its first public charging station, situated in front of Shindig’s Bar and Grill downtown. It’s a “destination location,” says Mayor Phil Jarvis. “A lot of people will drive here from Wichita or other places to eat at Shindig’s,” he said. “So we thought, ‘Well, we’ll try here.’ It’s on a major highway going through town, and just to see how much it’s used. “We really don’t know at this point.”
Source: KMUW
Fort Scott looking to change dog ordinance
Fort Scott is looking to change the verbiage on an ordinance regarding dogs. At the last city commissioners meeting, a resident voiced her concerns on the area’s pit bull laws—saying it should be changed to a vicious dogs ordinance. Commissioners believed the ordinance should be changed to reflect that not all pit bull are vicious. Under a new proposed ordinance, animal control would be allowed to step in if they deemed any dog dangerous. Fort Scott is looking to change the verbiage on an ordinance regarding dogs. Kevin Allen, City Commissioner, Fort Scott, said, “There’s things in there that say if an animal patrol officer has been called a certain number of times, that dog will be confiscated and taken care of, if it’s attacked someone, there’s procedures to handle it.” The new ordinance is set to be presented at Tuesday night’s city commission meeting. Fort Scott is looking to change the verbiage on an ordinance regarding dogs.
Source: KSNF/KODE
Shawnee County Parks & Rec wants residents to vote on Family Park design
Shawnee County Parks + Recreation is asking for more feedback from locals in its second phase of planning for the new Family Park. The department posted an online survey to find out what people want from the new facility. HTK Architects, who designed three layouts for the park, will also ask the public to vote on their favorite in the survey. Family Park is located in the 2200 block of SW Urish Road. “A critical component of the planning process is gathering public and stakeholder input concerning potential passive and active recreational opportunities in Family Park,” said Zach Snethen, principal at HTK Architects.
Source: KSNT News
Fairway modifies tree ordinance following large tree removal on Suwanee Road
The Fairway City Council last week approved modifications to its tree ordinance, which will no longer require a special city council meeting for a tree to be removed. The ordinance as previously written required city staff to get city council approval prior to removing a feature tree, which is defined as a tree with a trunk that is at least 30 inches in diameter. Under the modified ordinance, city staff can work with KC Arborist, the tree company the city has worked with for years, to determine whether a feature tree needs to be removed based on if it is dead, dying or dangerous.
Source: Shawnee Mission Post
Governor Laura Kelly Celebrates 90 New Jobs in Dodge City at Nor-Am Cold Storage Grand Opening
Governor Laura Kelly today applauded the announcement of a new, 148,000-square-foot Nor-Am Cold Storage facility in Dodge City. This is the sixth facility in the Midwest for Nor-Am and second in Kansas, with the other in Elwood. The new Dodge City facility is Nor-Am’s largest. Governor Kelly joined Rob Adams of Tippmann Construction, Nor-Am CEO Greg Brandt, Dodge City Manager Nick Hernandez and Secretary of Commerce David Toland for a ribbon-cutting ceremony today. “Nor-Am is an outstanding, family-oriented company, and its cold-storage capabilities are a critical component in the safe distribution of the high-quality food products Kansas is known for,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “Between its two locations, the company will play an essential role in our state’s efforts to keep food on the plates of families statewide and nationwide. I am pleased to welcome Nor-Am to another Kansas community.” The facility is equipped with state-of-the-art freezing equipment, high-density racking, semi-automated pallet shuttle technology with nearly 17,000 pallet positions, and a 50,000-square-foot processing area. The new facility will bring 90 new full-time jobs and $30 million in capital investment to Dodge City and Ford County.
Ark City has a 150th logo, but celebration is slow-go
A specially designed logo will be featured during the celebration of Arkansas City’s 150th anniversary. The logo was designed by local resident Liz Shepard, who was chosen after a bid for proposals. City public Information Officer Andrew Lawson said the logo will be featured on special flags and banners, and other printed materials.
Source: Cowley CourierTraveler
Overland Park to name street after police officer Mike Mosher, who was slain in May
The city of Overland Park is renaming a street for police officer Mike Mosher, who was killed in the line of duty in May. Monday night, the City Council unanimously agreed to change the name of 123rd Street, between Metcalf Avenue and Blue Valley Parkway, to Mike Mosher Boulevard. That section of street is near the spot where Mosher died in a shootout with a suspect. “It’s a great idea. I’m excited that we can honor Mike in a timely manner,” Overland Park Police Chief Frank Donchez said at Monday’s meeting. “It was the ultimate sacrifice. Mike’s a hero. And I just want to thank everybody for the hard work that’s gone into this.”
Source: Joco 913 News