Kansas Municipal News
Pawnee County will vote on liquor by the drink 30% rule
With the start of advance voting beginning next Wednesday and the fact that most candidate races were decided at the close of the August Republican primary election, Pawnee County voters may wish to speed through their choices for the general election leading up to Election Day on Nov. 5. But before turning in their ballots, Pawnee County voters are advised to slow down, and check the back. Pawnee County Attorney Douglas McNett noted that last February, the Board of County Commissioners of Pawnee County determined that voters should be given a choice as to the appropriate restriction to the sale of alcoholic liquor for consumption by the individual drink in the county. Currently, all licensed drinking establishments in the county that offer alcoholic liquor for consumption by the individual drink are required to derive at least 30% of their gross receipts from the sales of food. The special question on the back of all general election ballots in the county reads: “Shall the following be adopted? Shall sale of alcoholic liquor by the individual drink in Pawnee County be allowed in public places without a requirement that any portion of their gross receipts be from sales of food?”
Source: Great Bend Tribune
Landlord Incentive Pilot Program concludes after two rounds of federal funding
Johnson County’s Landlord Incentive Pilot Program, which was approved by the Board of County Commissioners on June 8, 2023 and launched on July 1, 2023, has successfully concluded. The pilot program provided landlords with financial incentives to rent their units to tenants using federally funded housing subsidy vouchers. The Board approved two rounds of federal grant funding, totaling $400,000, from July 2023 to Oct. 1, 2024. Both rounds of funding were successfully spent. The program was developed through a collaborative effort between local landlords and Johnson County Government. The county conducted surveys, listening sessions and a focus group to build partnerships and ensure the program met the needs of both landlords and tenants. With the help of the pilot program, 56 new landlords participated in the Housing Choice Voucher program. As a result, the program helped to provide 475 people with long-term, stable housing – including families with disabled members, the elderly, working families with children, and families experiencing homelessness. In 2023, the average annual income of those with Housing Choice Vouchers was $17,710.
Source: Johnson County Kansas |
Overland Park joins effort helping cities around the globe tackle hate
Overland Park will participate in a pilot program with the Strong Cities Network designed to help communities prevent and combat hate, extremism, polarization and terrorism. Money to support the city’s participation in the pilot comes from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
The city has been putting the pieces together on the pilot program for the past year. City officials plan to soon release a survey seeking to gather information about residents’ experiences with hate, extremism and polarization that have threatened their safety. “We are working to connect with anyone who has experienced hate or extremism to learn how to best support them. We hope this community can highlight blind spots to safety and inclusion so everyone can feel connected and safe in Overland Park,” Dehner said in an emailed statement to the Post.
Source: Johnson County Post
Lenexa explores building new fire HQ on old city hall property
The city of Lenexa is looking at renovating its old city hall property into a new headquarters for the Lenexa Fire Department. Currently home to a one-truck fire station, the city would like to demolish the old city hall building on the site near 87th Street Parkway and Monrovia Street and build a structure that would serve as the new headquarters for the department. “It cuts our response time to the 79th (Street) and Quivira corridor in half,” Lenexa Fire Chief Travis Vaughn said. “We’re in a time-based business where people get sicker or become more hurt and or the fire gets bigger the longer it takes us to get there.” He added: “That’s why it’s imperative that we’ve got fire stations based out of areas in the community where we can touch most parts of the community that are well-populated within four minutes (of) straight drive time.” Plans for the property envision a three- to four-bay facility that also has space for administrative offices, along with upgrades that focus on the physical and mental health of the firefighters, similar to what the Shawnee Fire Department showcased with the opening of two renovated fire stations earlier this year.
Source: Johnson County Post
Shawnee Mission parents circulate petition calling for ‘phone free’ schools
A group of Shawnee Mission School District parents has followed up their request for cell phone free schools with a petition to the school board. The petition, circulated since last week via Google forms, asks the board to create a clear policy on phones and electronic devices. As of last Thursday, it had 300 signatures, said Allison Brimblecom, one of three signers. The petition springs from an “action meeting” of Shawnee Mission district parents and teachers last Tuesday that was attended by 40 or 50, Brimblecom said. Although it doesn’t give specifics of how the policy should look, “our hope is they will adopt a policy of storing devices from bell to bell,” meaning phones would not be allowed during lunch or passing periods, she said. School districts throughout the country have grappled with the issue of phone use in school. But bans have sometimes met with opposition from parents worried that their children might need to contact them, especially in an emergency. Student cell phones have also been used to document violent incidents on school property.
Source: Johnson County Post
Speed bumps, humps and tables — How Johnson County cities try to slow drivers down
Cities like Leawood and Prairie Village have recently addressed speeding in neighborhoods through traffic calming measures. But which measures work the best to slow down traffic? Speed humps or roundabouts are just two examples of traffic calming measures used in specific areas to slow down vehicle speeds. In several Johnson County cities, these measures are installed on a case-by-case basis due to specific needs on specific roads, city staff members told the Post. “Traffic calming devices are so site specific that it is difficult to say one type outperforms other types,” Lenexa City Engineer Tim Green told the Post. Most Johnson County cities use some type of traffic calming measure, but some like Lenexa and Shawnee opt against using speed humps and speed tables in particular. Here’s a look at how some Johnson County cities attempt to minimize speeding on public streets, and how they determine which type of measure to use.
Source: Johnson County Post
Prairie Village says final price tag for new community center could top $90M
After narrowly surviving a vote to scuttle the entire project, the Prairie Village City Council is moving forward with a years-long idea to build a city-owned community center. The final projected price tag is now clearer, too, with the city council voting 8-4 to move forward with plans to repay construction costs over 30 years through an estimated five-eighths or three-quarter cent sales tax increase. The cost of building a new city-owned community center to replace the current aging Paul Henson YMCA is estimated to be $55 million, but when interest is added on to repaying bonds over a 30-year term, the total cost the city is projected to pay reaches $92.5 million. On Monday, Mayor Eric Mikkelson broke a split 6-6 vote to kill the project outright, a motion that was made on the fly by Councilmember Nick Reddell. Several councilmembers said they are concerned about partnering with the YMCA, but some who shared those feelings voted against killing the project in order to get feedback at an already scheduled city public forum Oct. 15.
Source: Johnson County Post
New UG development director talks growth, long-term strategy
The Unified Government of Wyandotte County/Kansas City, Kansas, filled a two-year vacancy in its economic development office. Chelsee Chism will be the county’s next economic development director, rebuilding the department to support small businesses, entice new economic development opportunities and assist with the UG land bank program. “I love the diversity that Wyandotte County offers. There is also this ability to exercise multidimensional approach to economic development that’s not necessarily offered in Johnson County. I feel like my efforts here and my team’s efforts could just be really impactful for the community,” Chism said. She comes to the job from her role as assistant city manager for Overland Park and Shawnee. In Overland Park, she worked on economic development projects including Bluhawk, Prairiefire and the Meridian project, formerly known as Brookridge. Chism succeeds Katherine Carttar, who was the UG’s economic development director between 2019 and 2022. Now, Carttar is the executive director of the Urban Land Institute Kansas City. County Administrator David Johnston said Chism’s first major assignment will be drafting an economic development strategic plan for the county over the next nine to 10 months.
Source: Kansas City Business Journal
Audit of Kansas TIF districts reveals delays in returns, increased crime rates
Some of Kansas’ largest cities are struggling to gain full returns on tax increment financing districts meant to help bolster development activity and property values, a recent state audit found. TIF districts, as they are called, are intended to fund real estate projects that otherwise wouldn’t exist. The idea is that the development will increase property values in the designated district, resulting in higher property tax collections that are used to pay off the bonds that financed the project. State auditors surveyed six TIF districts from Kansas’ largest cities and found that half did not recover their costs in a timely manner. Most experienced construction delays and recorded increased crime rates after development finished. At least one city calculated its TIF collection incorrectly. Two cities, Wichita and Topeka, aren’t likely to recover the costs of three projects through TIF revenue by the end of the districts’ lifetimes. In Topeka, the general fund is covering an estimated 40% of the city costs associated with the College Hill TIF project, the audit found. In Wichita, two projects have experienced construction delays and the projects haven’t generated as much TIF revenue as anticipated. One of those projects, the Douglas and Hillside TIF district, was $1.8 million behind on debt service payments as of 2022, but the city said the debt will be fully financed by 2027, according to the audit. The other project, the Ken Mar TIF district, was $420,000 behind on payments as of 2022 and developers have been tied up in litigation with the city. “If a city cannot pay off debt obligations on time, then its overall cost from the TIF project may increase as it accrues additional interest,” according to the audit. “The use of other city funds to help cover shortfalls may leave less funding for other purposes.”
Source: Kansas Reflector
‘First People of Kansas’ documentary showcases Native American history for St. John community
Former journalist Beccy Tanner had always had a knack for history. As soon as she noticed there was not any written history of Native Americans in her small central-Kansas town of St. John, she knew she could join her talent with other journalists to educate her community about their history. Tanner, joined by photographer Bo Rader, videographer Auriel Hathaway and local historians, created the “First People of Kansas” documentary series, highlighting the history of Native Americans in the St. John and Wichita area. “We didn’t really have stories of diversity,” she said. “We had a lot of stories, and we still will tell those stories, of the prominent white people who settled here and did well. But there were also many other people who didn’t always make our history books.” The St. John community on Oct. 19 will celebrate the project’s completion with a showing of the documentary at the St. John Homecoming Hall and Museum. Native American women will make fry bread, and Don Blakeslee, a Great Plains Native American archeologist, will give artifact presentations.
Source: Kansas Reflector
Volunteer firefighters worry new OSHA safety standards could shut down some rural departments
Fighting fires has evolved, but federal safety regulations haven’t changed for nearly half a century. Now the Occupational Safety and Health Administration has proposed new safety standards. It’s great news for professional firefighters, but volunteer departments say the new rules could bog them down with expensive and irrelevant regulations. Hundreds of US firefighters die every year, and job-related cancer is far and away the biggest killer, according to Sean DeCrane with the International Association of Fire Fighters union. He places some of the blame on outdated federal safety rules that protect firefighters, enacted in 1980. “It’s long past due that the firefighters that are out there responding every day are provided some protection by the federal government when it comes to workplace safety,” said DeCrane. “If these regulations had been in place 40 years ago, we would have saved hundreds, if not thousands, of firefighter lives,” DeCrane said. “Just from early detection of cardiovascular disease, or understanding of exposure to toxins and carcinogens, proper training, proper equipment.” But while all of that sounds great to the professional firefighters DeCrane represents, most fire departments in the U.S. are not professional. According to the National Fire Department Registry, more than 4 out of 5 departments are all volunteer, or mostly volunteer. And for volunteer firefighters, the added money and time necessary to comply with OSHA’s new proposals are not welcome.
Source: KCUR News
City of Baxter Springs unveils new historic mural, ribbon cutting
The City of Baxter Springs partners with local organizations to celebrate the completion of a mural. The city says the mural covers the entire 100×12 ft. wall of the Water Works Plant building facing east, on the corner of Highway 69 and Route 66 across from the Baxter Springs High School. “After months of planning, discussion, and community engagement, we are thrilled to unveil Baxter Springs’ newest piece of public art”, stated Pam Mitchell, Baxter Chamber Tourism Chair and Kansas Historic Route 66 Association President. “We’d like to thank AJ and Jordan Wood for honoring our community with their creative vision.” “This is the first of many murals we hope to complete in Baxter Springs. We are incredibly grateful for Mayor Abbott’s and the City Council’s support. While on their journey across Historic Route 66, many groups from other countries have already stopped and spoken with the artists. They’ve overwhelmingly commented on the historical detail of the mural and added it to their favorites. Plans include electric lighting to be installed above the mural, as well as an informational Kiosk in the adjacent Military Park,” stated Jennifer Burton, Art Steering Committee Chair.
Source: KOAM News
Wichita City Council to consider gunshot detecting devices, water plant agreement
The Wichita City Council voted 7-0 to approve the purchase of 31 additional Flock license plate cameras and gunshot detection technology for the Wichita Police Department. In 2022, the WPD began using Flock Raven gunshot detection devices in places considered hotspots for gun crime. Based on a hotspot analysis of crime in Wichita, the department wants to add two square miles of coverage in District 6. The city has been testing gunshot detection for Flock in two square miles in District 1 and District 3. The cost to the City is just over $337,000.
Also, the council voted 7-0 to approve hiring Operational Technical Services (OTS) to temporarily run the new Wichita Water Works Facility. Mayor Lily Wu told KSN News that the City has struggled to find workers since the old facility still has to run. “The City of Wichita is still continuing to hire people for the new water treatment plant. They’ve been doing this over the last several months and have not been very successful in getting more people in,” Wu said. The City will still recruit workers. The one-year contract will cost nearly $1.3 million.
Source: KSN-TV
Derby firefighter returns back from Hurricane Helene recovery efforts
As more Kansas rescue crews head to Florida to respond to Hurricane Milton, others are just returning home after two weeks of search and rescue after Hurricane Helene. Captain Matt Ludwig with the Derby Fire Department says he would do it again. This is his third deployment for hurricane recovery and relief efforts. “The people that I encountered firsthand that they were all very hopeful and optimistic. They’re very, very kind people and just, you know, thankful for what they have left. And they’re going to they’re going to stay and rebuild,” he said.
Captain Ludwig says that the Kansas Task Force had a “task” that is unimaginable for many. “In North Carolina, we searched over 1,400 structures in three or four days. Sometimes, we were one of the first responders that had made it to that house to talk to those people,” he said. The task force saw miles of destruction.
Source: KSN-TV
Downtown improvements will require lowering Arkansas River
The City of Wichita is lowering the Arkansas River as part of a downtown improvement project. The project is along the west bank of the Arkansas River between Douglas and Waterman. The city says the design is similar to the projects to the north in front of the Drury Plaza Broadview Hotel and the River Vista Apartment Complex. The first phase involves constructing a sea wall and concrete cap beside the river, which requires the city to lower the water level. A $6,240,000 BASE grant from the Kansas Department of Commerce is funding the project.
At Tuesday’s council meeting, the Wichita City Council approved moving ahead with the project. The city says it will work with partners to ensure minimal impact on events planned for the area during construction.
Source: KSN-TV
Columbus Day Festival showcases classic cars and community fun
The city of Columbus celebrates day two of its 55th annual Columbus Day Festival. The Columbus Day Festival continued Saturday with a car show and entertainment around the Columbus Square. “I’m always excited because it brings our community together, it brings all different ages. There is something for everyone. And everybody likes to see other people they haven’t seen in a while, it’s just a wonderful event, it really is,” said Becky McDaniel, Columbus Day Festival car show host.
Source: KSNF/KODE
What Wichita-area firefighters saw in ‘devastation’ of Hurricane Helene in NC, Florida
When two Sedgwick County firefighters were told they would travel to North Carolina to help with Hurricane Helene relief, they didn’t hesitate. Luke Wiebe, captain for Sedgwick County Fire District 1, and Lt. Tyler Brenneman got the call Sept. 24 that they were being sent to help those impacted by Hurricane Helene. What they assumed would be two weeks full of rescues turned into connecting with the community. “[We] checked on people, door to door, see what they were needing, see if they’re OK, see if they wanted to be evacuated, and then also assess damage on properties, vehicles, pretty much anything that was misplaced,” Brenneman said. Wiebe and Brenneman said the damage they saw in North Carolina was extensive. “There’s whole trees knocked over, tree limbs down everywhere, water in multiple houses. Almost every house we went in had, you know, feet of water inside of it,” Brenneman said. Brenneman and Wiebe said considering the situation, they were surprised to see how positive the people impacted were. “They were actually in very good spirits,” Wiebe said. “Most people, when we checked on them, would actually ask us if we needed anything as well.” When asked if he had been to a scene similar to this one, Brenneman said that the Andover tornado in 2022 was the only one he could think of.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
Sedgwick County is counting homeless deaths for the first time. Here’s what to know.
The deaths of more homeless residents are being counted this year after local officials implemented a formal process to identify them — the latest symptom of the intensifying conversation around homelessness in Wichita. As of September, 46 homeless people had been confirmed dead by Sedgwick County Regional Forensic Science Center investigators. That’s more than the 42 that were counted all of last year through anecdotal numbers compiled via a collaboration between the Wichita Police Department, service providers and homeless advocates. The shift is the latest move to address homelessness in Wichita, following the opening of a new emergency winter shelter in a former elementary school, which city officials aspire to make a multi-agency campus, and amid talk of a “more aggressive” ordinance to remove homeless encampments. Homeless advocates have been requesting a more formal record of deaths for years, and the forensic science center decided this year to classify homeless people among its deceased following media reporting that highlighted the uncertainty surrounding past counts. When first presented with the data, registered nurse and homeless advocate Kathy Bowles leaned back in shock. “Oh my god,” she said.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
Girard History Museum expands
Saturday, as participants enjoyed Girard Homecoming and Fall Festival activities, just one block south of the square, the Girard History Museum held a reception to commemorate its recent expansion. Located at 300 S. Summit St., the Girard History Museum relies on community volunteers and members of Friends of Historic Girard to preserve historic sites and educate people about the town’s unique history. Since its opening in 2000, the museum has held tours in the former St. John’s Episcopal Church. Recently, however, the museum recently an expansion that created additional space for meetings and restoration. “We were just in the church building and it’s not conducive to do any work or to have any meetings. It’s nice for our displays but what we found is we had no place to work, to clean anything, to even have our board meetings, and we were trying to get on the internet and get out there more,” said Terri Harley, president of the Friends of Historic Girard. “We have a phone. We’ve never been able to have a phone. We have Wi-Fi now.
Source: Morning Sun
Developers request incentives for ‘ultra-accessible’ amusement park project in Olathe
More details for an “ultra-accessible” entertainment and youth athletic district proposed by members of the Hunt family in Olathe are starting to take shape. The project — proposed at the corner of 119th Street and Renner Boulevard — comes from Loretto Properties, a development company run by Lamar Hunt, Jr., and his son-in-law, James Arkell. They want to use the Kansas Sales Tax and Revenue, or STAR, bond economic development tool, as well as some local incentives. On Monday, the Olathe Planning Commission voted 9-0, finding that the planned Olathe Gateway STAR bond district development conforms with PlanOlathe, the city’s existing comprehensive plan. The commission also voted 8-1, finding that the associated tax increment financing district plan conforms. Commissioner Tony Bergida cast the no vote, voicing skepticism in his questions earlier in the meeting that the project met the threshold for the intent of a TIF district.
Source: Prairie Village Post
Roeland Park wants to connect park, community center to busy Roe Blvd.
Roeland Park is envisioning more connectivity near its northern city limits. Last week, the Roeland Park City Council unanimously voted to approve expanding an existing tax increment financing, or TIF, district to include Nall Park and the nearby Roeland Park Community Center.
By expanding the TIF district, the city can raise funds to help pay for a route to connect the park and community center to busy Roe Boulevard, giving motorists and pedestrians easier access to two of the city’s public amenities.
Source: Shawnee Mission Post
What Lawrence’s ballot question on the city’s ‘form of government’ actually means
There’s a lot of confusion around the “form of government” ballot question that, if voters approve, could make the city commission into a four-district city council with a nonvoting, directly elected mayor, among other things. The question (as well as one asking to increase the sales tax to support affordable housing and homelessness initiatives) will be on city voters’ Tuesday, Nov. 5 general election ballots. Here’s the text of the question: “Shall the City of Lawrence, Kansas, abandon the Commission-Manager form of government and adopt a Modified Mayor-Council Manager form of government and become a city operating under a Modified Mayor-Council Manager form of government?” That’s all that will appear on the ballot. There will be no further explanation to let people know what that means and what it might look like. That’s because state statutes dictate the language the city has to use for the question.
Source: The Lawrence Times
Mural is ‘beautiful,’ but not what the council requested
The new Fairview mural, which is catching eyes at the U.S. Highways 36 and 75 crossroads, is “beautiful,” but not what was requested by the Fairview City Council. The artist, Christy Klein-Tross, is a Fairview native and started painting the mural at the beginning of September. However, as Klein-Tross continued painting, some Fairview City Council members started to realize that it wasn’t what they had exactly requested Klein-Tross to paint. While the bottom portion of the mural is the only thing that can be seen by those passing by, the top portion of the sign, which says “FAIRVIEW,” also has been completed. However, it still has not been put up. The Fairview City Council met for their regular meeting on Thursday, Oct. 3, which is the first time they have met since the mural has been completed. During the meeting, guests present voiced their opinions on the mural not “representing Fairview,” or the mural was “degrading” to what is on the back of the sign, which is the Fairview Veterans Memorial.
Source: The Sabetha Herald » Feed
Manhattan Parks and Rec mulls new cost recovery policy to generate more revenue
Manhattan Parks and Recreation officials want to raise fees for some programs with a new cost recovery policy. Parks and rec director Aaron Stewart on Monday told KMAN the proposed policy aims to focus on total cost recovery instead of operational recovery, which is the basis of the current policy. Stewart said the new policy would reduce the percentage of taxes used for operations by generating more revenue. “We’re looking to approach the city commission with a fully vetted cost recovery, which includes all fees and services to be set administratively based on this policy,” he said. Parks and rec also is looking to help those with financial barriers to accessing those services. Stewart said the goal is to implement an equity program with help from the Parks and Rec Foundation to help those who can’t afford things like pools, for example.
Source: themercury.com
Municipal Bond Trends for October 14, 2024
The interest rate table above illustrates recent changes in a sample of AA rated bond trades reported to the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board’s EMMA® system. Every issuer’s credit is different, and other financing sources may be available. To obtain comprehensive Financial Advisory services for your local government, contact your Ranson Financial Municipal Advisor, Larry Kleeman, or Henry Schmidt.
Municipal Bond Trends for October 11, 2024
The interest rate table above illustrates recent changes in a sample of AA rated bond trades reported to the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board’s EMMA® system. Every issuer’s credit is different, and other financing sources may be available. To obtain comprehensive Financial Advisory services for your local government, contact your Ranson Financial Municipal Advisor, Larry Kleeman, or Henry Schmidt.
Municipal Bond Trends for October 10, 2024
The interest rate table above illustrates recent changes in a sample of AA rated bond trades reported to the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board’s EMMA® system. Every issuer’s credit is different, and other financing sources may be available. To obtain comprehensive Financial Advisory services for your local government, contact your Ranson Financial Municipal Advisor, Larry Kleeman, or Henry Schmidt.
Municipal Bond Trends for October 9, 2024
The interest rate table above illustrates recent changes in a sample of AA rated bond trades reported to the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board’s EMMA® system. Every issuer’s credit is different, and other financing sources may be available. To obtain comprehensive Financial Advisory services for your local government, contact your Ranson Financial Municipal Advisor, Larry Kleeman, or Henry Schmidt.
Douglas County to consider new pay plans that would boost county employee pay above area averages
Douglas County government should create a new goal to pay its employees — everybody from custodians to administrators — well above the median wage of similar employees in the region, county commissioners will be told at their meeting on Wednesday. … a human resources group, recommends that the county create a “compensation philosophy” that aims to pay county employees at a rate equal to the 70th percentile of wages for similar positions in the area.
Source: LJWorld
Governor Kelly Announces Virtual, On-Demand Meeting as Part of Water Local Consult Outreach
Governor Laura Kelly announced today that a virtual, on-demand meeting is now available for Kansans who want to provide input on water issues in the state. The virtual meeting is part of a second round of local consult meetings to gather input on strategies to implement the 2022 Kansas Water Plan. “These local consult meetings are critical to finding and implementing sustainable solutions to address our state’s water concerns,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “By hearing directly from Kansans, we can make further progress on the goals of the 2022 Kansas Water Plan.” The recent in-person and new virtual meetings build on the first round of local consult meetings held this summer, as well as Regional Advisory Committee meetings. The virtual meeting mirrors the content from the eight in-person meetings held across the state in September.
Source: Governor of the State of Kansas
Increased prices contribute to continued housing shortage
Real estate agent Natalie Moyer has helped Kansas residents purchase homes for the past 16 years. But the housing market is so tight right now, it’s been very difficult for first-time homebuyers to find a house within their budget. The demand for a home has been much higher in recent years and there simply are not enough homes to go around. That shortage of supply is pushing up the costs of homes on the market, making it even more difficult for buyers to purchase an affordable or middle-market home. The trickle-down effect of the tight market is believed to be contributing to a lack of affordable housing and rising homelessness in the state.
Source: Derby Informer | Area
Plans being finalized for emergency room/hospital in Fort Scott
Bourbon County officials reported Monday that efforts to secure Freeman Health System’s plans to bring health care to the county are being finalized. Bourbon County Commissioners Jim Harris and Brandon Whisenhunt amended the meeting agenda to allow County Counselor Justin Meeks to speak on the topic of health care in the county. Commissioner Clifton Beth was not present for the commission’s second straight meeting within a week.
Source: Fort Scott Tribune
City Council approves steps for hotel, Expo
With a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and resolutions calling for two public hearings, the Great Bend City Council took preliminary steps Monday that will help a developer build an 80-room hotel and one or more restaurants on 10th St. The actions are also aimed at making the Great Bend Expo Complex a destination for tourism and entertainment using STAR Bonds. Improvements might include a drag racing museum and more seating at the drag strip; a banquet hall with multi-purpose courts for sporting events; an amphitheater; improvements to the existing rodeo grounds; and an additional hangar/restaurant.
Source: Great Bend Tribune
City cracking down on weeds
The City of Newton has been enforcing more environmental code violations lately. For all of 2023, it targeted 244 environmental violations for weeds. That number increased to 682 for this year up to the end of September, a 180 percent increase. The Newton City Commission saw a presentation of nuisance enforcement at its Oct. 8 meeting. “We are definitely trying to do what you asked us to do to send more notifications out to people,” City Engineer Suzanne Loomis said.
Source: Harvey County Now
Harvey County offers public hunting
As outfitters and leasing agents continue to gobble up access to private hunting land, there is still opportunity for public hunting in Harvey County. In 2018, the Harvey County Commission approved limited seasonal hunting at East Park. The agreement has been approved through the 2025-26 season. This seasonal hunting is restricted to archery deer, waterfowl and archery spring turkey. For those pursuing deer, they can hunt archery deer on the tracts known as Harvey County A and Harvey County C. Harvey County A is located north of Northeast 24th Street, and Harvey County C is located north of Northeast 12th Street. Only one hunter can use the area per day but may bring up to two additional people. Waterfowlers are allowed to use one of the five blinds on the northernmost section of East Lake. One person can reserve one blind per day but can bring up to three other people. Only waterfowl hunting is allowed on Harvey County B.
Source: Harvey County Now
Prairie Village changes how it picks the next council president — Here’s why
The city of Prairie Village is changing how it elects a council president. After nearly a decade of electing the most senior councilmember who has yet to serve as president, the Prairie Village City Council on Monday voted 11-1 to change those rules. Councilmember Inga Selders cast the lone dissenting vote. The new rules outline a more complex council president election process compared to the previous one, including a more detailed list of criteria for what is an eligible candidate. Council presidents generally run the governing body’s council committee of the whole meeting, during which no formal action can be taken. Other than that, council presidents stand in the mayor’s place when the mayor is unable to attend meetings.
Source: Johnson County Post
Overland Park OKs 1% special sales tax for Stanley Square revamp
Stanley Square, an aging shopping center in southern Overland Park, may use a tax incentive to help finance $7 million in planned improvements. Len Corsi, who leases out the shopping center via Johnson County Management, has applied for the formation of a 1% Community Improvement District, or CID. On Monday, the Overland Park City Council voted 11-0 to proceed with the incentive district petition to help pay for the renovation project at Stanley Square, located on the northwest corner of 151st Street and U.S. Highway 69. The vote doesn’t necessarily mean the special taxing district will be formed, but it does set up the process. Councilmember Jim Kite was absent from the city council meeting this week.
Source: Johnson County Post
Houses in Dodge City built by students, for the community
The housing association is a nonprofit that for the past 10 years has partnered with DC3 – local shorthand for the college – to build a house in Dodge City annually. Its mission is to address housing needs by revitalizing low-to-moderate-income neighborhoods. “It’s really a neat partnership and program that we implement here,” says Mollea Wainscott, assistant director of the Dodge City/Ford County Development Corporation. The program creates additional housing, trains the future workforce in Dodge City and cleans up blighted neighborhoods. Wainscott says every house the program builds is south of Comanche Street, an east-west thoroughfare generally regarded as a demographic dividing line. Students level the dirt for the concrete work, help set up the forms and pour the concrete for the foundation, frame the floor, install insulation, hang drywall and install windows. They had contract help with the foundation, electrical, plumbing and mechanicals. Source: KLC Journal
Sedgwick County is counting homeless deaths for the first time. Here’s what to know
The deaths of more homeless residents are being counted this year after local officials implemented a formal process to identify them – the latest symptom of the intensifying conversation around homelessness in Wichita. As of September, 46 homeless people had been confirmed dead by Sedgwick County Regional Forensic Science Center investigators. That’s more than the 42 that were counted all of last year through anecdotal numbers compiled through a collaboration between the Wichita Police Department, service providers and homeless advocates. The shift is the latest move to address homelessness in Wichita, following the opening of a new emergency winter shelter in a former elementary school, which city officials aspire to make a multi-agency campus, and amid talk of a “more aggressive” ordinance to remove homeless encampments.
Source: KLC Journal
Medicine Lodge receives high-speed smart pole, state leaders hope to address rural digital divide
Many Kansas rural communities lack high-speed internet. On Tuesday, crews installed a “smart pole” in Medicine Lodge to help tackle that digital divide. The smart pole is just the brink of what the state’s director of broadband development said needs to happen to bring rural Kansas up to speed with the rest of the state. The smart pole will provide free high-speed internet to those within a 10-mile radius. “Making sure the folks in the very remote areas have the opportunity to connect,” said SCTelcom CEO Carla Shearer. The pole was installed in partnership with the school district to help everyone access the internet. “This is just a trial, so we can make sure that all the technology is cooperating, as expanding to as far north as Reno County, into the Pratt, Iuka areas, corn fields in Pratt County,” said Shearer.
Source: KSN-TV
Pratt sends linemen ahead to assist ahead of Milton
Pratt is sending linemen to assist in restoration efforts after Hurricane Milton. The now Category 4 storm is expected to make landfall Wednesday night in Tampa Bay, an area of over 3 million people. Along with devastating sustained winds, Milton is expected to bring a storm surge over 10 feet high and could drop 18 inches of rain. The City of Pratt says five linemen have headed out to help restore power systems expected to be destroyed by Milton. They will move into the affected areas after Milton has moved on.
Source: KSN-TV
Haysville school district looking at $78 million bond issue
USD 261 is preparing a $78 million bond to repair and improve existing buildings. The district says the bond will not increase the mill rate. “We have a lot of maintenance items that we have to kind of get back under control,” said Craig Ryan, assistant superintendent of finance and business operations. “We have roofs and HVAC units and parking lots and some of the not fun stuff to really do. But we’re also looking at the potential of maybe doing an extension with a CTE building and doing some things like that on the side to help students be successful after high school.” The career and technical education building allows students to get certified for different jobs and things that they can get right out of high school with a certificate. Ryan says the program is becoming so popular that the building needs an expansion to accommodate more kids.
Source: KSN-TV
New ‘iconic pedestrian bridge’ set to be installed over Kansas River in Topeka
The Kansas River in Topeka is set to get a new bridge connecting the downtown area to the North Topeka Arts District (NOTO) in the near future. The Topeka Riverfront Advisory Council (RAC) is working to install a new “iconic pedestrian bridge” in the latest major announcement from the group and its vision for transforming the Capital City’s riverfront areas. The RAC made the announcement Tuesday, Oct. 8 at Townsite Tower. “I’m thrilled to see a strategic vision for our capital city’s riverfront come together following months of hard work and collaboration,” said Matt Pivarnik, CEO of the Greater Topeka Partnership (GTP). “The Topeka/Shawnee County community remained front of mind throughout the visioning process. We stand on the shoulders of those who have been dreaming for years about the potential our Kaw River holds, and I’m eager to see the progress that lies ahead.” The choice of a pedestrian bridge was one of the top picks for Topekans during the survey period. Locals also expressed interest in expanded recreational opportunities such as picnic areas, jogging/walking trails and lighting for the riverfront. Members of the RAC plan to put the new pedestrian bridge over the river near Northwest Van Buren Street to the south and Northwest Railroad Street to the north, connecting the downtown capitol district with the NOTO area near the Great Overland Station. New restaurants, recreational opportunities and retail developments are expected to follow over the next three to four years depending on agency coordination, funding and permitting.
Source: KSNT 27 News
Shawnee County using cameras and AI to help catch criminals
Connect Shawnee County is a registry of 321 registered cameras and 855 integrated cameras that police and deputies use to canvass areas. The Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office said the registry lets officers quickly find cameras in an area, saving officers time. “Officers generally have to walk or drive the area to determine if there are cameras available; this system reduces that time, allowing officers to be available for other policing activities,” Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Shayna Anderson said. Citizens of Shawnee County can participate in the program by registering their cameras with the sheriff’s office. Those who register their cameras may be contacted by investigators when they need access to a camera.
Source: KSNT 27 News
NLC, Local Infrastructure Hub Help 1,000+ Cities Develop Competitive Federal Infrastructure Grant Applications
The National League of Cities (NLC) announced today that more than 1,000 cities have utilized the Local Infrastructure Hub’s free grant-writing trainings designed to help communities develop competitive grant applications for federal funding available through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act. NLC runs a program within the Local Infrastructure Hub focused on helping small and mid-sized cities, towns and villages effectively pursue federal infrastructure funding. To date, participating cities have secured more than $315 million in federal infrastructure dollars for their communities. The Local Infrastructure Hub has designed resources to help cities craft competitive applications for specific federal grant programs; resources include training sessions, individualized coaching, and peer learning sessions. Throughout seven phases that have taken place since the program launched in 2022, resources have been tailored to help cities secure funding to improve roadway safety, install electric vehicle charging stations, repair and restore bridge infrastructure, reconnect communities and neighborhoods by modifying surface transportation structures, and develop natural hazard mitigation plans.
Source: NLC