Kansas Municipal News
Lawrence City Commission moves forward with draft strategic plan that will guide city budget decisions
City leaders are moving forward with a draft of the strategic plan that will guide budget decisions for the next two years, and more detailed discussions about how to accomplish the plan’s goals are forthcoming. As part of its work session Tuesday, the Lawrence City Commission discussed key pieces of the strategic plan, which will update a plan created by the last commission in 2017. City officials said the plan would play an important role in the city’s budget process and prioritization of the city’s funding. “This is not meant to be a nice, pretty plan that we adopt and sit on the shelf,” Budget and Strategic Initiatives Administrator Danielle Buschkoetter said. “This is really intended to be the plan that really drives our day-to-day work, and everything that we do should be able to be tied back to the strategic plan.”
Source: LJWorld.com.
Overland Park ranks among top 50 cities for millennials
Millennials represent the largest segment of the U.S. workforce, and as these young professionals assess where they might want to build a career and a life away from the office, a number of factors can shape their decisions. If you’re one of those young workers already living and working in Overland Park, this report says you’re in one of the top 50 cities for millennials. If you’re perhaps looking to take your talents to a new city, this research might help you find one that’s best for you. … Among the factors considered in the ranking are local public schools, crime, housing, nightlife, diversity, jobs, weather, cost of living, outdoor activities and commuting.
Source: Kansas City Business Journal – The Business Journals
Reno County imposes new gathering restrictions due to COVID-19
Reno County officials agreed Tuesday to allow the re-imposition of a mass gathering limit within the county of a maximum of 100 people, based on a recommendation by local health officials. The Reno County Commission didn’t vote on the gathering limit – which includes multiple exceptions – but allowed an order proposed by Interim County Health Officer Karen Hammersmith to be stand. There was no discussion on Tuesday of implementing a local mask ordinance that is criminally enforceable, though various officials – from the hospital to clinics to schools superintendent to county commissioners – all pleaded with the public to wear them.
Source: Local – The Hutchinson News
Newton to move high school online; Hutchinson to welcome back some sports fans
Newton Public Schools will move into an orange zone in its gating criteria next week, meaning students in seventh through 12th grade will move to remote learning and sports can continue, but now without fans. Limited fans will still be allowed at home games this week. The move is due to the increased spread of COVID-19 in the community, according to school officials. Pre-kindergarten through sixth grade will go from on-site to hybrid next week.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
More than 80% of Kansas counties now reporting COVID-19 case rates in the red zone
More Kansas counties had so many new cases of COVID-19 over the past two weeks that they moved into the red zone of one key state benchmark for closing schools during the coronavirus pandemic. A map from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment showed 88 of 105 counties in the red zone of the incidence rate as of Monday. That’s 13 more counties than last week and 23 more than two weeks ago. The measurement compares the number of new cases of COVID-19 over two weeks with the population, expressed as the rate of new cases per 100,000 people. It is one of five school reopening indicators established by the Kansas State Department of Education. The KDHE releases information by county for three of the five indicators.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
JoCo residents financially impacted by COVID-19 may be eligible for free skills training at JCCC
Johnson County residents and businesses who’ve been financially impacted by COVID-19 may be eligible for free workplace skills training at Johnson County Community College’s Continuing Education branch. The federal government’s Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act is funding the program, which seeks to provide training and skill building for those who may have experienced job loss, cut wages or reduced revenue due to the pandemic. Those interested should be committed to completing their short-term training program by December 30, 2020. “From training in computer software, to business leadership, to the trades, these courses provide individuals with the opportunity to learn new skills and build on those they already use in the workplace,” said Elisa Waldman, Dean of Continuing Education at Johnson County Community College.
Source: Prairie Village Post
Governor Kelly updates testing strategies in Kansas
Kansas is planning to spend $53 million to expand coronavirus testing. The federal coronavirus funding was allocated by the Kansas SPARK Task Force to be used for testing in the state. Communities can submit proposals to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment on why they need the extra money for testing. That money can be used for testing supplies, additional staff among other necessities that expand testing in the community. “We’re now that much closer to getting these funds out the door and into the communities and facilities that need them the most,” said Governor Laura Kelly. The recipients of the funds will be announced sometime in the next couple of weeks. The money will then be sent to those communities as soon as possible, according to the Governor.
Source: KSN-TV
Sedgwick County puts up $1.9 million to support local workforce hurt by Covid-19
The Board of Sedgwick County Commissioners last week voted to distribute roughly $1.9 million that will go toward helping Wichita’s workforce negatively impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic. Most of the funds will go toward upskilling laid off workers and those most at risk of being laid off. Commissioners approved funding agreements with WSU Tech, the Workforce Alliance of South Central Kanas and Friends University.
Source: Wichita Business Journal
City of Lawrence announces first director of equity and inclusion
Lawrence City Manager Craig Owens announced Monday that Farris Muhammad has been hired to be the city’s first director of equity and inclusion. Muhammad was selected after a nationwide search from a field of over 120 applicants, according to a city news release. During the process, the city used several interview panels of community members and staff to provide input. Panelists included representatives of organizations that serve marginalized populations, advocacy groups, city staff and local leaders working in diversity, equity and inclusion, as well as other community institutions and organizations. Owens said in the release that he was eager for Muhammad to join the city as it works more intentionally to advance equity.
Source: LJWorld.com.
Ark City finance director Kathy Cornwell retires with praise
Kathy Cornwell has analyzed her last spreadsheet for the City of Arkansas City. The finance director retired Friday at a send-off with city officials and staff. Cornwell held that position for more than eight years. She described her job as interesting, exciting and frustrating. Two projects stand out as being particularly interesting and challenging among the complex issues she dealt with, she said. “Being part of the automated meter-reading project was very interesting, in how it intertwined with the utility billing system,” Cornwell said. “Of course, the hospital bond refinancing and dealing with bond rating agencies.” Former City Manager Nick Hernandez said Cornwell came in at a time when the city was struggling financially. He credited her effort and knowledge for helping the city get back on track.
Source: The Arkansas City Traveler
Project to fix Wichita area’s worst highway bottleneck in line for county funding
Sedgwick County, Wichita and the Kansas Department of Transportation are about to start on a plan to relieve the area’s biggest traffic headache, the oft-congested interchange of I-135 and I-235 in north Wichita. On Wednesday, the Sedgwick County Commission is expected to vote on spending $3.7 million toward the rebuilding of the “North Junction,” a well-known bottleneck between the city and points north. The project started in November 2018, but the work to date has been mostly rebuilding parts of I-235 to the west of the interchange and the only impact on traffic flow has been to slow things down in the construction area.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
Avoidance of COVID-19 testing a real concern
Although the number of COVID-19 cases among Pittsburg State University students has decreased sharply since the outbreak at the start of the fall semester, Crawford County health officials are increasingly concerned about the spread of the coronavirus among older area residents. “COVID-19 case numbers in Crawford County have begun to increase from the previous weeks with a higher percent positive for those tested,” the county health department said in a press release Friday.
Source: Leavenworth Times
Lawrence bar owner sues Douglas County health official over COVID-19 restrictions
A Lawrence bar is suing a local health official over an emergency health order that limits bar hours in an attempt to slow the spread of the coronavirus. According to the Oct. 1 order issued by a Douglas County, Kansas health official, restaurants and bars with liquor licenses are required to stop serving alcohol by 11 p.m. and have to shut their doors to in-person clientele by midnight. Rita “Peach” Madl, the owner of The Sandbar, a popular bar in Lawrence, home to the University of Kansas, filed a lawsuit Friday against Douglas County’s Local Health Officer Thomas Marcellino, who issued the order.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
Valley Center to vote on sales tax to expand aquatic facilities, build rec center
Three weeks from today, voters will decide on local, state and federal political candidates. Taxpayers in Valley Center will have an additional measure on their ballot: a sales tax increase to pay for a new aquatics complex and recreation center. According to city administrator Brent Clark, the 1 percent sales tax would be in place for up to 15 years. If the bonds are paid off earlier, the increase would sunset.
Source: KSN-TV
Should Kansas cities opt out of mask orders by counties? The two disagree
Local control had been cited as the biggest reason for why counties should have the ability to opt out of statewide orders — but now, counties face that same argument being used for cities. “We have so many areas and counties where we have a single city within the county that actually has most of the population of that county,” Rep. Bradley Ralph, R-Dodge City, said during a committee meeting. … Mayor Hunter McMillen, of Solomon, with a population of around 1,100, said his town isn’t like the more-populated areas of Dickinson County such as Abilene, the county seat. “They’re having an outbreak in in Abilene, Kansas, or Dickinson County where the courthouse is,” he said. “They’re having an outbreak and he’s punishing all the other little towns for what his town has done. And I don’t think that’s right at all.”
Source: Leavenworth Times
City of Newton reveals winning flag design
A new flag is flying on Main Street in Newton, the winner of a community contest that had been in the works for more than 5 months. Black with gold railroad tracks and wheat heads, the flag, created by businessman Robert Palmer, owner of Back Alley Pizza and former owner of Norms, and minister Brandon Eck, of The Gathering Church, won a contest created by the Newton Flag Committee. That committee was under the advisement and approval of Newton city commissioners.
Source: Leavenworth Times
WSU starting new COVID testing program
Wichita State is trying out a new testing method to identify people with COVID-19 who are not showing symptoms. The Voluntary Asymptomatic Surveillance Testing Program will involve a sampling of 5% of the on-campus student population. Participating students are chosen at random, with testing taking place every two weeks. The program is set to begin Tuesday, October 13. While supplies last, participating students will get a Shocker Hall meal pass if they choose to take part. Students who have been selected for testing will be notified through their campus email.
Source: Country 101.3 KFDI
Johnson County receives grant to help with high demand in voting
By the end of Monday, there will be a little over 500 hours until Election Day. Johnson County, Kansas commissioners accepted a grant to help with the high demand. “The postage, the paper cost, the ballot cost for the large quantity by mail ballots that we’re sending out, none of that was included in our budget for this year,” Elections Commissioner Connie Schmidt. It’s been an unusual election year for staff at the Johnson County, Kansas Election Office. Schmidt said employees are planning for Election Day in the middle of a pandemic and a high demand of mail in voters.
Source: fox4kc.com | FOX 4 – WDAF
Governor Kelly Announces More Than $21 Million in Grants for Crime Victim Assistance Programs
Governor Laura Kelly on Thursday announced the Federal Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) Victim Assistance grant awards. Community-based organizations and local and state agencies that provide services directly to crime victims are eligible to receive VOCA grant program funds. Direct services available to crime victims include crisis counseling, telephone and onsite information and referrals, criminal justice support and advocacy, shelter, transitional housing, and mental health services. The award recipients provide these services in response to the emotional, psychological, or physical needs of crime victims and survivors.
Source: KRSL Russell Radio
Sedgwick County passes 10,000 cases of COVID-19 as Kansas has record-breaking weekend
Kansas broke its record for the most new cases of COVID-19 in a single report as Wichita’s home county passed a milestone. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment reported 2,055 new cases of COVID-19 on Monday, included 196 children. The increase was from the last KDHE report on Friday. The weekend increase was only the second time one of the KDHE’s Monday-Wednesday-Friday reports had 2,000 or more new cases. It set the record for the biggest increase, breaking the old record of 2,037 new cases from two weeks ago, on Sept. 28.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle