Municipal News & Jobs

Kansas Municipal News

Louisburg receives grant for Lewis-Young Park upgrades

A number of improvements are planned for Louisburg’s largest park.

The city of Louisburg learned Monday, Jan. 6, that it had received a $260,250 National Park Service grant to enhance Lewis-Young Park.

Improvements include new fencing on A and B fields, lighting and new pole installation on A field, construction of a nine-hole disc golf course, paving the current graveled parking lots next to B & C field and the area around the concession stand, and a pavilion located near the east parking lot at the soccer fields, according to a city news release.

The improvement project also is to include a 1.5 mile asphalt trail from the east parking lot running along the street to the concession stand. The trail will then turn north and run along W. 263rd Street to make a loop, according to the release.

(Read more: The Miami County Republic)

New transportation plan, end of highway robbery shape budget outlook

As Kansas lawmakers prepare to adopt a new plan for funding highways and other infrastructure across the state, the Kansas Department of Transportation is shifting gears with its strategy for working with local communities.

KDOT secretary Julie Lorenz said the catalyst for transportation projects used to be job creation. Now, with the state economy stressed by a shortage of workers, the emphasis is on quality of life.

“We are focused on how do we make Kansas communities livelier and more attractive, places where people want to live and raise their kids, and their kids stay and create forever homes,” Lorenz said. “Transportation investments can be a part of that.”

Overland Park seeks final community input on Strang Park improvement plans

Park patrons have another chance to offer insight and direction on improvements for one northern Overland Park park.

The city embarked on the Strang Park renovation journey in July 2019 when it hired Kansas City landscape architecture firm Viero to complete design work for the park. As previously reported by the Shawnee Mission Post, the city included a $2.2 million Strang Park project in its five-year plan.

Construction is set to begin in summer 2020, but not before a third community planning meeting to discuss improvement plans for Strang Park, which is located at 89th Street and Farley Street. The city-hosted meeting will be held on Jan. 22 at the Johnson County Central Resource Library, 9875 W. 87th Street, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Behind the scenes of Topeka Civic Theatre’s playreading committee

During a typical season at Topeka Civic Theatre, 275 nights out of the year, a production takes place on one of the theater’s stages.

The plays and musicals that debut at TCT can make an audience laugh, cry, scare or think. No one has to second-guess that the actors evoking those emotions from the audience put in long hours to make the production a memorable one.

But a particular group of volunteers, made of up 13 individuals, spends countless hours before a new season premieres making decisions about which productions they think will bring an audience to the theater.

Auburn residents hope to see interchange project move forward

People in Auburn could be getting an easier and quicker way to reach a major highway. A study was done by the Kansas Turnpike Authority and Auburn city officials to see if adding an interchange on I-335/KTA was possible.

Supporters say it would provide better access for people in Auburn. The discussion about adding the interchange first started around 14 years ago. A similar study was done in 2006, but the project didn’t move forward because it wouldn’t bring any net revenue to the area. But, city leaders didn’t give up on the possibility and recently asked for a new study to be done to account for new and anticipated growth.

(Read more: KSNT News)

Bourbon County to ask for continuation of hard surface roads sales tax

Bourbon County Commissioners are gearing up to promote the continuance of a 1-cent county-wide retail sales tax.

The sales tax currently in place funds hard-surface roads projects and expires at the end of the year. If passed, this would be the third time the tax has been placed on the ballot with each sales tax in effect 10 years each time.

(Read more: Fort Scott Tribune)

Laid off Spirit workers to receive help

Spirit announced they’re laying off roughly 15 percent of their workforce in Wichita Friday morning, leaving several people looking for jobs.

Now, the question looms, what’s next for them?

“Under a warn notice, they will still get 60 days of pay,” Keith Lawing said, CEO and president of the Workforce Alliance of south central Kansas. “Then they will be looking to possibly apply for unemployment insurance they will be eligible for that.”

Lawing said the layoffs are temporary, giving the employees the chance to be rehired. To do so, they would have to wait and see when the production of 737 MAX would start again since they cited the uncertainty in that production as a major reason for the layoffs. If they want to leave the industry they can go elsewhere and Lawing said the Workforce Center in Wichita can help with that.

(Read more: KAKE – News)

One of the hottest housing markets in Johnson County fears losing ‘small-town feel’

The last eight years have been good to 66-year-old, violet haired Riedhart, who runs the breakfast and lunch spot with a few family members. And they’ve been good to De Soto, population 6,443. From her restaurant in the two-block downtown, she’s witnessed an influx of new residents, homes and businesses to the town nestled between Kansas 10 highway and the Kansas River in northwest Johnson County.

De Soto is quickly becoming a larger player in the wider boom story that has defined the county. The city’s population is growing. New homes are going up all around town. And housing prices have soared — outpacing the rate of growth in all other parts of the Kansas City metro.

(Read more: Joco 913 News)

Franklin County set for economic boom

Franklin County is on the cusp for an economic boom, the new Franklin County Development Council executive director said.

Paul Bean, who has been on the job since November, said everything is in place to attract outside businesses and for current businesses to consider expansion.

“People feel really good about Ottawa and Franklin County from the outside looking in,” Bean said. “They think we are in a great position and things are going to happen. A lot of people are envious to where we are at today. We have so many positive things going on. You have to have your foundation of a quality community, good workforce, good health care and good education. We have all that stuff. We are very blessed. We are a fortunate community. I would put Ottawa and the county up against any place. It is a phenomenal opportunity.”

(Read more: News – The Ottawa Herald)

Grant to assist with Egerton’s 207th Street railroad overpass received

Edgerton received grant money for a railroad overpass along 207th Street.

The Johnson County Board of Commissioners approved a $1 million County Assistance Road System, or CARS, grant to Edgerton for an overpass along 207th Street at Co-Op Road.

“We are in the final stages of design and property acquisition for the project,” said Beth Linn, city administrator. “We anticipate this project will go out to bid in the coming weeks to secure a contractor for construction. We plan to start the project in this spring with substantial completion by the end of 2020. Likely due to the magnitude of the construction project there will be some work still in 2021. “

The post Grant to assist with Egerton’s 207th Street railroad overpass received appeared first on Gardner News.

(Read more: Gardner News)

Riley County approves cost share for water line re-alignment study

Riley County commissioners gave consensus to share the cost of a re-alignment study for Marlatt Avenue with the City of Manhattan.

City Assistant Director of Public Works Randy DeWitt and City Engineer Brian Johnson say they are preparing a RFQ for the design of a major water line to the water tower on Marlatt. With the pending re-alignment, the city is uncertain where to construct the water line.

“What this provides for us is an opportunity to collaborate with the county, not so much for the water line project specifically. When we design this water line it seems appropriate to work with Riley County to see what this alignment looks like,” DeWitt said.

Johnson says one of the main benefits for the county will be more direct access to Riley County High School. Those residents will no longer have to take Kimball to get there.

(Read more: 1350 KMAN)

Harvey County firefighters creating task force to battle wildfires

Firefighters in Harvey County are fired up about a new task force. It’s called the Harvey County Wild Land Task Force.

A brush fire just south of Halstead Tuesday took crews about an hour to get under control. The Halstead fire chief said they had to rely on help from other counties. It’s an example he said of how a wild fire task force could lower response time.

“If we would have had the complete task force set up we wouldn’t have had to have asked and the times would have been compressed quite a bit probably saved us about 20 minutes,” said Halstead Fire Chief Jim VanSchaick.

(Read more: KSN-TV)

Pittsburg brightening downtown with murals

The city of Pittsburg is seeing some changes.

…

Recently demolition in downtown Pittsburg has been a sight for sore eyes. The former Mike’s New and Used location was recently demolished because it was unsafe.

Just down the street, Artist Bryan Lewandowski is painting a mural on the side of a building to bring some vibrancy back to the area.

“We enjoy looking at all the different colors and advertisements and what’s going on and seeing the artists to their thing.”

Bryan Lewandowski, Artist, said, “I know there’s a lot of diversity and a lot of people that are always trying to push for something a little more colorful and this is a big way to kind of symbolize that diversity that’s kind of growing right now and I think the last 10 years it’s been kind of booming.”

Municipal Bond Trends for January 9, 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 Advisors.

Porter takes city manager job in Rose Hill

Former Winfield city manager Warren Porter, who left a little more than three years ago for a job out of state, has taken a new job in the area to be closer to family, he told the CourierTraveler on Thursday.
Porter began as city manager of Rose Hill on Monday. He was previously the director of finance for the city of Edmond, Okla. Before that, he was city manager of Winfield for 20 years before leaving in late 2016.
Read more: Cowley Courier Traveler.

Geary County and GCH still looking for solutions to save the hospital

Geary Community Hospital has been in trouble for a long time. At this point, this is not a disputed fact.

However, the hospital continues to try to drag itself out of the hole and it has requested help from the Geary County Commission.

Monday, Interim CEO Don Smithburg and several members of the hospital’s board of trustees attended a county commission meeting where the commission received an update on the hospital’s progress.

Bel Aire council adopts legislative platform

The Bel Aire City Council … adopted a legislative platform for 2020. Some of the issues discussed at the council workshop were sales tax, the tax lid, bonds, tax exemptions, concern for home rule and property-funded mandates, mental health and K-254 development.

New Kansas law requires vehicle breathalyzers to take photos

The new law requires all breathalyzers installed in vehicles for people with a history of DUI’s to take a photo of themselves while they’re blowing into the machine, making it much harder for them to falsify the results

Will White is the owner of Lifesafer in Wichita, a company that installs them. He thinks this change is long overdue.

“It’s actually a great idea if you think about it. I mean we’ve had so many horror stories about people having their kids start it or their friends start it, and there’s still someone that’s getting out onto the street that’s impaired and driving and could injure you, myself, our families, our children… Just anyone. And that’s very unsafe,” said White.

(Read more: KAKE – News)

Parsons to quit offering utility bill extensions

Starting in March, city of Parsons utility customers can no longer get an extension on their bills.

The city made the announcement this week on its Facebook page, which generated lots of comments, mostly negative.

City utility bills — which include water, sewer, sanitation, stormwater and an Environmental Protection Agency compliance fee — are due on the 17th of each month. If not paid by then, the city adds a small late fee, and customers have until the 25th to pay the bill.

(Read more: Parsons Sun)

Neighbors want limit on group homes in east Wichita neighborhood

Charles Baughman is taking his neighborhood’s concerns over group homes to state lawmakers. Baughman met with Representative Henry Helgerson Wednesday afternoon to discuss the concentration of group homes in his neighborhood near 13th and Edgemoor.

Over the last seven years, he said at least five group homes moved into the neighborhood, several of them house young men in need of a helping hand. One of the houses is home to former foster boys who have aged out of the system.

Baughman said he’s not against having the homes in the area, he simply thinks there needs to be a limit to how many group homes can be established in a specific area.

“I think there is a need, I’m not against that, “said Baughman, “what I’m against is that you can’t take over an entire neighborhood.”

Baughman said he’s concerned for his kid’s safety after he caught some of the men getting too close.

(Read more: KAKE – News)