Municipal News & Jobs

Kansas Municipal News

Lawrence conducting resident satisfaction survey to inform strategic plan

City leaders will soon discuss whether to commit to running on all renewable energy in the coming years.

As part of its meeting Tuesday, the Lawrence City Commission will receive a recommendation from the Sustainability Advisory Board to adopt a policy committing to 100% renewable energy for city operations and, ultimately, the entire community.

Lawrence-Douglas County Sustainability Director Jasmin Moore said cities have some of the largest utility accounts and can therefore lead by example when it comes to energy use.

Hutch to Legislature: Fund KDOT plan

The Hutchinson City Council will urge state lawmakers to fully fund the Kansas Comprehensive Transportation Program.

Ahead of the council’s special meeting with local state legislators at 10 a.m. Thursday, at City Hall, 125 E. Avenue B, the council on Tuesday added to the city’s legislative platform for 2020.

Councilmember Jon Daveline proposed adding transportation to the platform drafted by city staff. He noted the T-WORKS transportation project to improve K-96/K-14 from Nickerson to Sterling was among more than two dozen projects delayed by the Kansas Department of Transportation because of funding.

Also, Councilmember Steve Dechant suggested legislators write stronger language into state law regarding land contracts. They are rent-to-own agreements.

(Read more: Local – The Hutchinson News)

Topeka committee to create fire station master plan

Topeka city manager Brent Trout intended to staff a proposed new fire station on S.W. 6th Avenue at no additional cost to the city by closing the current Fire Station 11 at 2000 N.W. Lower Silver Lake Road and moving its personnel and equipment to that site.

But that plan sparked controversy at Tuesday’s meeting of the Topeka City Council.

“This is an unfair thing to even think about doing,” said Councilwoman Sandra Clear, who represents the district where Fire Station 11 stands.

Mayor Michelle De La Isla expressed concern that the proposed move would involve replacing a fire station in an area that is low-income with a station in an area that is not.

City to outsource social services grant funding program

Topeka’s city government will outsource the program through which it provides grant funding to social service agencies.

The mayor and city council voted 7-2 Tuesday evening to authorize city staff members to solicit proposals from anyone interested in operating the program through which the city provides that funding.

Mayor Michelle De La Isla and council members Sandra Clear, Mike Padilla, Brendan Jensen, Neil Dobler, Jeff Coen and Mike Lesser voted in favor of the move.

Council members Karen Hiller and Sylvia Ortiz voted against it, with Ortiz expressing support for the arrangement currently in place.

Proposal to add protected classes goes back to city human relations commission

Topeka’s mayor and city council late Tuesday sent back to the Topeka Human Relations Commission a proposal that would add “gender identity and sexual orientation” to the list of classes protected by city code rules.

The mayor and council voted 9-0, with Councilman Tony Emerson being absent because of illness, to make that move while asking the HRC to further research, review and evaluate the proposal.

That proposal contains wording that is “very vague,” said Councilman Brendan Jensen.

Sedgwick Co. Commission to vote to add full-time EMS staff in Clearwater

One city in Sedgwick County could be getting a new full-time EMS staff by 2020.

The City of Clearwater does have a dedicated Emergency Service volunteer but they are unable to provide transport.

That could soon change.

“As we know, with most emergency calls, the first few minutes are the most critical. We do need to have coverage nearby and obviously sophisticated well-trained medics,” says Michael O’Donnell, Sedgwick County Commissioner.

(Read more: KSN-TV)

Solar panels on Sedgwick County building will have to wait

The future of a Sedgwick County-owned building getting its first solar panels will have to wait.

After some back and forth on Wednesday, the Sedgwick County Commission decided to put roughly $247,000 to the side while commissioners wait on an energy audit.

Commissioner Lacey Cruse had initially pushed to take bids on putting solar panels on either the Sedgwick County Tag Office or the Extension Office. A presentation for commissioners showed a return on investment would occur within 14 to 19 years, but Commissioner Jim Howell mentioned that the presentation didn’t include replacing parts that had a 15-year life. He didn’t want to vote on sending out a request for bids until they had all the information.

(Read more: Local News |)

Wind farm moratorium voted down by commission

Although commissioner Dianne Novak is still sticking to her guns, a moratorium on wind farm development failed Monday on a vote of three to one, with commissioner Jonah Gehring not casting a vote in favor or against.

County counsel Brad Jantz presented a proposed 120-day moratorium resolution at Monday’s meeting. Novak questioned the resolution having that short of a time frame. Jantz said the time frame could be longer if commissioners wanted.
“There’s nothing magic about that 120,” Jantz said.

(Read more: Marion County RECORD)

Roeland Park enters into JoCo watershed organization, one week after Merriam

The Roeland Park city council on Monday approved a watershed agreement with Johnson County as part of the county’s new stormwater management program.

Working together is the county’s approach with the updated program: watershed organizations are created across city boundaries to allow for collaboration on projects that may impact more than one city. Roeland Park and 11 other cities, including Merriam and Mission, are part of watershed area 1, which is impacted by Turkey Creek and Bush Creek.

“The city is not obligated [to enter the agreement], it doesn’t cost the city anything out of pocket,” Public Works Director Donnie Scharff said. “It does allow these cities to work with neighboring cities on projects.”

Manhattan moving forward with construction of new Douglass Recreation Center

The Manhattan City Commission on Tuesday committed to some big dollar improvements on both the north and south sides of the city.

First, in a 4 to 1 vote, the commission approved a $4.3 million construction contract for a new Douglass Recreation Center. It includes a $400,000 contingency, which came in under expectations. The center will be another piece in a complex of recreation buildings, featuring a 3-lane elevated track and programmable to accommodate an 84-foot basketball court, two NCAA volleyball courts and two pickleball courts alongside community and fitness rooms.

Mayor Mike Dodson says the walking and biking activity throughout that part of the community demonstrates a need in the area, adding it will be great for Manhattan.

(Read more: 1350 KMAN)

Franklin County OKs zoning for renewable energy

Franklin County’s next frontier may lie with renewable energy. As of now, there are no renewable energy companies doing business in the county, but officials believe it is only a matter of time.

County planning director Larry Walrod and the county planning commission developed building codes and zoning guidelines for companies wanting to come into the county. Walrod began reviewing other county policies months ago.

“It has been a lengthy process,” Walrod said. “We have reviewed it pretty thoroughly. I had information from at least 14 counties. We have had input in at least one solar development.”

Lawrence Public Library to eliminate overdue fines; accounts can still be blocked for overdue items

The Lawrence Public Library board voted to eliminate fines for overdue books and other media beginning next year, but not before hearing concerns from some residents.

As part of its meeting Tuesday, the library Board of Trustees voted unanimously to eliminate late fines from the library’s circulation policy. Library patrons would still be charged for lost or damaged items. Patrons would be blocked from checking out additional books and materials once an item became two weeks overdue, but return of the overdue item would immediately restore access.
Read more: LJWorld.com.

Lawrence City Commission to consider moving forward with pilot program for electric scooters

City leaders will soon decide whether to move forward with a pilot program for electric scooters.

As part of its meeting Tuesday, the Lawrence City Commission will consider issuing a request for qualifications for the scooter pilot program. City staff plan to select up to two companies to participate in the pilot program, which calls for a deployment of 500 scooters for six months, according to a city staff memo to the commission.

If commissioners decide to move forward with a pilot program RFQ, additional steps would follow should they decide to conduct the pilot, according to the memo.

Lawrence City Commission to discuss possible transition to 100% renewable energy

City leaders will soon discuss whether to commit to running on all renewable energy in the coming years.

Lawrence-Douglas County Sustainability Director Jasmin Moore said cities have some of the largest utility accounts and can therefore lead by example when it comes to energy use.

Riverfront Legacy group moves forward with a plan that tears down Century II

Century II has been eliminated from Wichita’s skyline in a redesign of the east bank of the Arkansas River in downtown Wichita, replaced by mixed-use buildings and a large “programmable green space” that connects new performing arts and convention centers with the river.

That’s the direction the Riverfront Legacy Master Plan coalition wants to go, the group of downtown and business booster organizations decided Monday. The decision was based on months of public engagement and years of studies, group members said.

But local elected officials, who would be charged with approving the plan and then figuring out how to fund it, are divided on the issue. Outgoing Mayor Jeff Longwell said Tuesday that he disagrees with the way the group reached its conclusion.

(Read more: Local News |)

Emporia Public Library looks to future upon celebrating 150th birthday

The Emporia Public Library celebrated a major milestone Saturday.

The day marked exactly 150 years since, on Dec. 14, 1869, a group of Emporia citizens recognized the need for a library in the 12-year-old community. A year of special events, speakers and more culminated with a 150th birthday party. Library staff, board members and advocates along with local politicians and patrons helped mark the occasion.

Emporia Public Library Director Robin Newell said it is the longest continuously operating library in Kansas.

(Read more: Emporia Gazette)

Kansas fourth-grader rescues another student at lunch with Heimlich maneuver

It’s always good to have a friend in the school cafeteria – especially when that friend is a hero.

Scott City Elementary School fourth-grader Keller Turner wasted no time leaping into action to save a friend from choking at lunch.

It happened on Friday around 1:30 p.m. in the Kansas school cafeteria. Nicole Turner, the proud mother of the 10-year-old, said the students were having lunch as usual when a friend of Keller’s started choking.

“His face turned red really, really fast, and I knew he wasn’t joking,” Keller said. “I just took action instead of waiting for it.”

(Read more: fox4kc.com | FOX 4 – WDAF)

Hesston council discusses new grocery store possibilities

Hesston Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Megan Smith and the Hesston City Council addressed the need for a grocery store in town during the Monday night council meeting, but didn’t come to any final decisions.

“In the spring of 2019, the Hesston Chamber of Commerce formed a task force whose work would focus on bringing a grocery store back to the community of Hesston,” according to information handed to the council. “This group has worked diligently toward this effort. Activities have included surveying community members, analyzing market needs by utilizing outside resources, engaging with the Kansas State University Rural Grocery Initiative to gain insights into the industry and exploring all possible avenues to bring access to groceries back to the community.”

Smith told council members the old grocery store building will be available soon and that they feel it’s important to bring a grocery store to Hesston sooner than later. If the building is used for a potential grocery store, it uses a pre-existing building in the community, Smith said.

(Read more: Harvey County Now)

Kansas communities win funds to fuel local change

Kansans from across the state are awarded $43,800 to help strengthen early childhood efforts in their local communities.

A total of 45 Community Action Lab grants will be handed out, which organizations will use to address the question: “What can you create today to help ensure each child in your community has the best possible start in life?”

(Read more: hiawathaworldonline.com)

Groundbreaking for affordable housing in Valley Center

Advocates for more affordable housing have been sounding the alarm here in the Wichita area. On Tuesday, a sign of progress for people on fixed incomes.

The Mennonite Housing group from Wichita provides affordable homes to hundreds of independent senior citizens on fixed incomes, like Sunflower Gardens in Valley Center.

“They just take good care of us and they love us because they give us good prices and help us out and we help each other,” says Carol King, a resident at Sunflower Gardens.

(Read more: KAKE – News)