Municipal News & Jobs

A week after Roeland Park and Prairie Village decided to close their pools for the summer, the city of Fairway made the decision to keep the its pool closed for 2020 — though the council asked to leave the door open to looking into potential options that might allow for the pool to open later in the summer. After over an hour of discussion, the Fairway city council on Monday evening affirmed City Administrator Nathan Nogelmeier’s decision to close the pool for the 2020 season. Nogelmeier said the staff recommendation to close the pool was not made because surrounding cities closed their pools, but rather because city staff evaluated several factors and determined that inability to train lifeguards while maintaining social distancing measures was prohibitive.
(Read more: Prairie Village Post)

As of today, Shawnee is planning to open one of its two pools this summer under physical distancing guidelines and other COVID-19 safety measures. In a presentation to the city council on Monday, Sean Keenan, aquatics manager, said the city lacks adequate staffing for both pools so city staff opted to consider only the Thomas A. Soetaert Aquatic Center for opening. City staff led the decision-making process, although City Manager Nolan Sunderman acknowledged that the situation is tentative and subject to change.
(Read more: Prairie Village Post)

The Johnson County Park and Recreation District has released details for phased reopening of facilities and resumption of activities following the end of the local COVID-19 stay-at-home order this week. Phase one began yesterday and allows for the use of park courts for singles play and non-contact activities. Phase two is expected to begin next week, and would include the reopening of playgrounds and outdoor entertainment venues. But the majority of activities will remain closed until phase three. District leaders say that phase three could begin June 1 if statewide directives on reopening criteria remain on their current trajectory. However, all of the plans are subject to change pending new orders from the county and state government.
(Read more: Prairie Village Post)

An Airstream trailer with coffee and donuts may become the first food truck to set up for regular business in Downtown Overland Park. The city planning commission gave its blessing Monday to make a test case of the donut truck, which will be at 7512 W. 80th Street, on a vacant spot just east of the Nexus IT building. Plans are for the truck to be open on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and Wednesdays. Saturdays and Wednesday coincide with Farmers’ Market days, once it’s open again at its downtown space. The concrete pad where the truck will sit will be covered with artificial turf and some landscaping, tables and chairs will be added. The truck will be moved behind the buildings on its off days.
(Read more: Prairie Village Post)

Plans for expanding indoor space and programming at the Shawnee Civic Centre and review of the city’s role in sports development at the Valley of Champions were two key highlights from Shawnee’s parks and recreation master plan, which the governing body and advisory board reviewed last week. During a special joint meeting May 5, the Shawnee city council and parks and recreation advisory board reviewed final drafts of the city’s first parks and recreation master plan and Imagine Shawnee, the city’s first strategic visioning plan. The 10-year parks and recreation master plan serves as a framework for the city’s vision and direction and establishes goals and plans for Shawnee’s parks, trails, open space, recreation and events.
(Read more: Prairie Village Post)

City offices and facilities in Fairway and Westwood remain closed at this time, but any potential updates can be found on their respective websites as they come. To stay updated with Fairway, click here. To stay updated with Westwood, click here. While Johnson County and state stay-at-home orders have been lifted, the county itself and the cities throughout it are taking the reopening process one step at a time. While the county and some cities, such as Roeland Park and Shawnee, have announced phased reopen plans for city facilities, and noted safety measures to be taken throughout these plans, other cities have yet to announce reopen plans or change procedures used during the stay-at-home orders. Many city halls and other city facilities remain closed, and while most are encouraging business to be conducted online or via phone, email or mail, a few cities have limited access at city facilities.
(Read more: Prairie Village Post)

JCCC’s marketing photographer, Susan McSpadden, has made it her mission to document these unprecedented times for our campus community. Each week, she provides a look into how a different area of campus is responding to the pandemic. The JCCC Open Petal Farm is considered an essential operation during the campus closure, with efforts now directed toward growing sustainable produce for local donations. Recipients include area restaurants serving as community kitchens and other local food distribution organizations.
(Read more: Prairie Village Post)

Hundreds of people lined the streets Overland Park Sunday night as emergency service vehicles with their lights on made their way south past the site of the death of Mike Mosher, the second police officer killed in the line of duty in the department’s history. The “Salute to Blue” procession was the first in a series of events set for this week to honor Mosher. A drive-by visitation is set for Tuesday at the Overland Park Convention Center. A private funeral will be held Wednesday. Mosher died Sunday after following a vehicle he’d observed fleeing the scene of a collision. In an address broadcast over police radio channels following the conclusion of the procession, Overland Park Police Chief Frank Donchez said Mosher was part of the “thin blue line” that keeps society in order.
(Read more: Prairie Village Post)