Kansas Municipal News
Kansas Highway Patrol troopers stop to sled with some kids
The Kansas Highway Patrol was busy Monday with the snow that rolled through Kansas.
However, the snow didn’t stop them from having a little fun.
Kansas Highway Patrol Trooper Chad Crittenden shared a video of Trooper Mueller and Schnieder stopped to sled with some children between calls.
(Read more: KSN-TV)
Finney County administrator picked to lead Reno County
The Reno County Commission voted Tuesday to hire Finney County Administrator Randall Partington as the county’s next administrator, replacing Gary Meagher, who is retiring at the end of the year after a decade with the county.
Partington, 43, is required to give 60-day notice at his current job, so he’ll start with Reno County on Feb. 17.
Reno County Youth Services Director Bill Hermes will serve as interim administrator after Meagher retires at the end of the year, Meagher advised at the end of Tuesday’s county commission meeting.
(Read more: Local – The Hutchinson News)
A business improvement district could bring vibrancy to Douglas, but not without a cost
A proposed Business Improvement District along a stretch of Douglas Avenue could bring significant economic growth to the area, supporters of the initiative say.
They argue it could mean more Wichita businesses are bolstered by organized marketing and programming efforts.
More splashy murals for buildings and alleyways that a decade ago were desolate and colorless.
And, ultimately, a BID could impact the city’s efforts to retain and recruit talent and new business.
“It’s an all-ships-rise sort of philosophy,” said Renee Duxler, executive director of the Douglas Design District, the group spearheading the effort to create the BID. “That when everybody’s successful and growing our economy and increasing jobs and sales tax revenue that everybody benefits from.”
(Read more: Wichita Business Journal)
Support ‘overwhelming’ for Hays officer with cancer
When Tisha and Mitch Berens married in August, they had no idea that one of the bonds they had would enter their relationship so soon and in such a devastating way.
Tisha is a breast cancer survivor. Mitch is a melanoma survivor. Having that in common was part of their attraction. The couple met online. She lived in Abilene, where she worked for a crop service company and was a substitute teacher. He is a patrol sergeant for the Hays Police Department, where he’s worked for 25 years.
It was 19 years ago when Mitch was diagnosed with malignant melanoma. It had spread from his knee to his lymph nodes. Surgeries removed skin on his leg and midsection, and he underwent chemotherapy and radiation at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston.
(Read more: News – The Topeka Capital-Journal)
Retiring Farmers Union president: Family farms still viable
As Roger Johnson prepares to step down after 11 years leading the National Farmers Union group, he’s well aware of the many challenges facing its members: a painful trade war, the effects of climate change and the march of farm consolidation. But Johnson, a North Dakota native, believes smaller operators can still find a way to carve out a living.
Here’s a look at Johnson’s thoughts on agriculture and the future of farming:
(Read more: Wichita Eagle)
Cottonwood Falls firefighters turn up the heat in new calendar
The Cottonwood Falls Fire Department has turned to an unlikely method of raising funds for outdated equipment — modeling.
Firefighters from Chase County will be on display the entire year in 2020, after the department teamed up with Rosebud Studio for its take on the traditional sexy firefighters calendar.
Geneva Cahoone, wife of firefighter Kevin Cahoone, sprung the idea when the fire department began discussing ways to raise funds without having to ask the city or county commission.
(Read more: Emporia Gazette)
Millions spent to accommodate overflow in Kansas prisons
TOPEKA, Kan. — Kansas prisons have exceeded their operating capacity and it will cost the state millions of dollars to move hundreds of inmates to a privately owned prison in Arizona.
A one-year contract with the Kansas Department of Corrections and CoreCivic was announced this month, KCUR-FM reports.
Acting Corrections Secretary says it’s the best option available at this time to accommodate the rise in prison population.
(Read more: fox4kc.com | FOX 4 – WDAF)
Registration fees for electric and hybrid vehicles in Kansas to increase in 2020
Electric and hybrid vehicle owners in Kansas are set to see an increase in their registration fees in 2020.
This year, Kansas lawmakers passed House Bill 22-14, which approves the price hike in fees for these vehicles.
Registration fees for electric hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles will increase to $50.
(Read more: KSNF/KODE – FourStatesHomepage.com)
Chief Justice Lawton Nuss retires from Kansas Supreme Court
Kansas Supreme Court Chief Justice Lawton Nuss retired Friday before a crowd of supporters who packed the ground floor of the judicial building in Topeka.
Nuss told the crowd that serving on the high court was the greatest privilege of his 37-year legal career, which began with two decades of law practice in Salina. Republican Gov. Bill Graves appointed Nuss to the Supreme Court in 2002, and Nuss has served as chief justice of the court since 2010.
Nuss said it was an honor to work with the 2,000 dedicated employees of the judicial branch in Kansas.
(Read more: News – Wellington Daily News – Wellington, KS)
Hutch public art projects eyed
The first mural chosen for the Chester I. Lewis Plaza, across from the entrance to the Historic Fox Theatre, 18 E. 1st Ave., is slated to be painted in spring 2020, depending on the weather.
Wichita muralist Josh Tripoli’s postcard-style design for Hutchinson has been revised during the planning process, with yellow replacing green as a backdrop color.
“I definitely like it better than the green,” Hutchinson’s director of parks and facilities Justin Combs told the Public Art and Design Council on Thursday at City Hall.
(Read more: News – The Hutchinson News)
Fired health chief, Pawnee County settle suit
Hours of mediation this month produced a resolution in a federal lawsuit brought by fired Pawnee County Health Administrator Robin Rziha against the Pawnee County Board of Commissioners and County Attorney Douglas McNett.
She had charged retaliation for accusing the county of misappropriating health-related grant dollars to supplant general county funds, alerting county and state officials and auditors of her concerns.
The case was settled at a mediation session that ran six and a half hours, according to a court document filed last week.
(Read more: News – The Hutchinson News)
Grant for PSU’s Nature Reach will fund new kindergarten program
It was only fitting that a diverse collection of animals — a pair of tortoises, a family of hissing cockroaches, a 4-year-old possum — were able to witness a key grant presentation Friday morning on the Pittsburg State University campus.
A check for $10,000 from the Evergy Foundation will help the university’s Nature Reach program establish a summer day camp targeting kindergarten-aged children next year.
Not only will the new camp introduce local children to about 50 different animals and insects that call PSU home, but officials hope it also will spark empathetic feelings toward animals of all shapes and siz
(Read more: www.joplinglobe.com)
Sedgwick County crews prep hundreds of miles of roads ahead of winter weather
The roadways in Sedgwick County go for miles and miles.
“Sedgwick County maintains 600 miles of roadway,” says Daniel Schrant, Construction Engineer for the Sedgwick County Public Works Department.
Hundreds of miles of roads the county does its best to cover.
“They have been doing that this week in preparation for the snowstorm,” says Schrandt .”Then, obviously, when the snow is here we do the plowing and salt and sand operation right behind the truck”
(Read more: KSN-TV)
Seneca works to increase school safety
A local school district adds an extra layer of protection when school is over and its time to pick-up the kids.
The Seneca School District is using a web system called Kid Account for the students in Pre-K through 6th grade.
It helps the school keep track of visitors leaving and entering the school.
(Read more: KSNF/KODE – FourStatesHomepage.com)
Wind farm protest not enough to stop Expedition Wind
The Marion County Commission meeting opened on Nov 18 with the results of the general election canvass from the Nov 5 election, which was finalized on Friday, Nov. 15. The outcomes generally remained the same although some of the counts changes due to absentee ballots being received through the mail.
Newly voted in District 4 and 5 Commissioners, Dave Crofoot and Jonah Gehring were sworn in and a reception was held to welcome them prior to the regular meeting.
Brice Goebel, Road and Bridge County Engineer, gave an update on the road funds. He informed the commission that they did not get the cautionary money from KDOT that the department was hoping for. Goebel called and asked what would help secure that money and was told letters of support from school districts, fire departments and other such places could help so he plans to do that. The next time to submit is in March. Goebel plans to try for money then. He asked for input from the commission regarding all of it.
(Read more: Hillsboro Free Press)
City of Wichita hopes push for change in state law cuts down on auto thefts
This year alone, Wichita police say auto thefts number more than 2,000. It’s a widespread problem the City of Wichita is addressing with a push for change at the state level.
Currently, not all auto thefts are felonies. Wichita leaders want to change that and hope a new bill can stop repeat offenders
(Read more: KWCH News)
100 percent participation at Goessel school parent-teacher meetings
The Goessel school board met on November 11 and heard from superintendent/elementary school principal Dr. John Fast that elementary school teachers had 100 percent contact with parents for parent-teacher meetings on October 24. Only four were contacted by phone instead of in-person meetings. Therefore, all students were represented.
“That kind of parent involvement is important,” Fast said.
Junior high/high school principal Scott Boden told the board that 98 percent of the junior high and high school students were represented by parents at the parent-teacher meetings, which are now “student-led.” Board member Ben Schrag asked if parent participation has increased now that the meetings are led by students. Boden said participation did go up; it had been 68 percent in the past. However, with the current format, participation rose to 98 percent. He said parents don’t have to wait as long now. Sometimes parents had to wait 45 minutes to an hour to meet with some teachers in the past. Boden said that if parents can’t visit with all of the teachers at the meetings the way they are currently structured, parents and teachers do communicate through email.
(Read more: Hillsboro Free Press)
Unitarian Church And City Of Lenexa Reach Agreement Over Homeless Shelter
A church whose request to operate a temporary homeless shelter was opposed by the city of Lenexa will be able to do so after all.
Under a settlement reached on Friday, Shawnee Mission Unitarian Universalist Church will be allowed to use its building, a former elementary school, to house up to 30 homeless adults overnight from Dec. 13 through April 1 and for the next three years.
The agreement also calls for the city to work with the church to craft an ordinance permitting homeless ministries in Lenexa.
(Read more: RSS Feed)
Newton finds temporary fix for historic preservation
City staff may have found a one-year, temporary way to keep performing historic preservation functions after budget cuts defunded a position in city hall that handled the duties of a historic preservation officer.
“Staff was asked to go back and see if there is a way to do this less expensively,” said Bob Myers, city manager. ”… the question was how much of a budget do we have to have … how much of a budget could we find to fund it.”
The answer was $50,000. That is the result of several open positions in the police department, leading to savings in the department. Those funds can be used for a housing incentive program, which in turn frees up $50,000 that can be used for historic preservation.
(Read more: Newton Kansan)
Johnson County city relents: Church that sued can now shelter the homeless
After a months-long search and a lawsuit, a Johnson County nonprofit has a place to shelter the homeless — now and for the next three winter seasons.
Lenexa has reached an agreement with Shawnee Mission Unitarian Universalist Church, which sued the city after it wasn’t allowed to operate a homeless shelter this winter. As of Friday, the nonprofit Project 1020 could begin operating the shelter inside the church building, a former elementary school at 9400 Pflumm Road.
“The city of Lenexa wants to be part of a comprehensive solution to the homeless issue in Johnson County. This agreement will enable the homeless population to be served temporarily while we work toward a comprehensive solution that serves the entire community,” Lenexa City Manager Beccy Yocham said in a statement Friday.
(Read more: Kansas City Government & Politics News |)