Kansas Municipal News
Reno County DA to retire, run for district judge seat
Reno County District Attorney Keith Schroeder announced Wednesday that he is retiring to run for a district judge seat.
Schroeder served as the elected DA for the 27th Judicial District, Hutchinson, Reno County, Kansas for years. He is set to retire June 1, 2020.
“My decision was made with great pause and reflection,” Schroeder said in a statement. “I am thankful for the opportunity to serve my community in the District Attorney’s Office for more than thirty years, including nearly five terms as the District Attorney.”
Schroeder plans to run for the position of Reno County District Court Judge, Division II.
(Read more: KWCH News)
Wichita transit rolls out fleet of electric buses
Wichitans will get to see the state’s first fleet of electric buses Thursday.
Wichita transit rolls out its first ever zero-emission battery-electric transit buses at 10:30 a.m. There will also be a demonstration of the ProTerra buses.
The buses will charge overnight and should have enough power to run 150 miles by morning. Wichita Transit estimates each electric bus will last 12 years and save the city $462,000 in that time compared to its diesel counterparts.
(Read more: KWCH News)
City insurance to increase by 20%
The cost of a commercial insurance package for the city of Leavenworth is going up next year by more than 20%. And officials are blaming the increase largely on the settlement of a wrongful death and civil rights lawsuit that stemmed from an officer-involved shooting in the city.
Relatives of Antonio Garcia Jr. reached a $1 million settlement with the city of Leavenworth and former Leavenworth police Officer Matthew Harrington earlier this year.
Garcia was fatally shot by Harrington on July 11, 2017, in Leavenworth. The shooting occurred while Harrington was a member of the Leavenworth Police Department.
(Read more: Leavenworth Times)
Newton moves to voluntary recycling
Mandatory recycling in the city of Newton is nearly dead as the city commission chose Tuesday to explore creating a voluntary program in response to changes in recycling rules and fees at the county level.
The city commission did not set new rates or decide how the program’s rates will be set.
The commission could choose to only charge those residents who use the service or charge a flat fee to all sanitation customers. Voluntary recycling would mean changing the number of trucks on the road as well — with three trash trucks operated four days a week and one recycling truck four days a week.
(Read more: News – Butler County Times Gazette)
Lenexa acquiring property along Quivira Road for street improvements
Lenexa is acquiring right-of-way access for construction improvements along Quivira Road.
City leaders on Dec. 3 agreed to move forward with acquisition of lands by condemnation of property abutting Quivira Road between 75th Street and 87th Street Parkway. The city requires easements and rights-of-way for construction improvements.
The approved ordinance authorizes the City’s property acquisition counsel to file a condemnation petition with the district court to acquire the easements and rights-of-way necessary for the project. The project requires property from four tracts, but only three will be included in the condemnation proceedings because the city acquired one tract before filing for condemnation, according to city documents.
(Read more: Prairie Village Post – Neighborhood news and events for Prairie Village, Fairway, Mission Hills)
AT&T Invests More Than $110 Million Over 3-Year Period to Boost Local Networks in Topeka
At AT&T, we’ve invested more than $110 million in our Topeka wireless and wired networks during 2016-2018. These investments boost reliability, coverage, speed and overall performance for residents and businesses. We’ve also improved critical services that support Public Safety and first responders using the FirstNet communications platform.
AT&T’s wireless network covers more than 99% of all Americans and has become the fastest wireless network in the nation, according to the third quarter 2019 results from tests taken with Speedtest® and analyzed by Ookla®.2
In 2018, AT&T made 12 wireless network upgrades in the Topeka area.
(Read more: The Chanute Tribune)
Growth or commercialization? Overland Park Arboretum expansion approved over concerns
A $12.4 million expansion of the Overland Park Arboretum and Botanical Gardens won final approval this week. But plans could stall if a group of angry neighbors decides to protest the decision, sending the issue to the City Council.
The Overland Park Planning Commission on Monday approved the project, which has been in the works for years. The plan includes adding a new visitors center, outdoor amphitheater and event spaces, plus more parking at the venue, off U.S. 69 and 179th Street.
While dozens of neighbors say they support the expansion, they argue the project would “commercialize” the gardens and draw noisy events and concerts. Many said the city hasn’t done enough to plan for added traffic on the already congested highway and 179th Street.
(Read more: Joco 913 News)
The new Shawnee Mission School District Aquatic Center has opened in Lenexa
The new Shawnee Mission School District Aquatic Center has opened at 17251 W. 87th Street Parkway in Lenexa’s rapidly developing City Center area.
A dedication ceremony for the $28 million facility was scheduled for Dec. 5, just before the first swim meet on Dec. 7.
The building, financed with bond money approved by school district voters in 2015, includes two pools, a diving well and bleacher seating for up to 1,000 spectators, with additional seating for viewers on the mezzanine. The 50-meter pool is the largest in Johnson County, the city said, and part of the smaller pool has a movable floor with depths ranging from zero to 7 feet.
(Read more: Joco 913 News)
Safety concerns mean changes for Wall Park
Following action by the McPherson City Commission on Monday, changes are coming to Wall Park.
The biggest change comes at the behest of the city insurance company — Travellers Insurance.
Playground equipment installed in 1988 will be removed.
“The equipment contains a number of deficiencies including head/torso entrapment hazards within the equipment,” Travellers wrote in a report to the commission. “Replacing this play structure with a new piece of equipment that meets current playground safety standards would be a sound risk management decision.”
(Read more: Newton Kansan)
‘Major win’: Walmart to invest $200 million, bring 300 jobs to Topeka
Walmart has picked Topeka to become the site of its biggest distribution center in Kansas.
The retail giant unveiled plans Wednesday evening to invest $200 million and create 300 full-time jobs at competitive salaries over the next five years while developing that center in south Topeka’s Kanza Fire Commerce Park.
“This is a great day in our community — 300 new jobs!” said Topeka Mayor Michelle De La Isla.
“It is thrilling to know that Topeka has captured the attention of the world’s largest retailer,” said Matt Pivarnik, CEO of the Greater Topeka Partnership. “It’s major wins like this that really accelerate the capital city’s already powerful momentum.”
(Read more: Local – The Topeka Capital-Journal)
Wichita establishes Community Improvement District for portion of Tokola’s redevelopment projects
The City Council approved the creation of the Community Improvement District with a unanimous vote Tuesday.
The financing method isn’t new to the project; the Council approved a development agreement with Sudha Tokala’s Douglas Market Development back in November. The group is redeveloping a five-building, $75-million complex that includes the under-construction Kansas Health Science Center on Douglas Avenue.
(Read more: Wichita Business Journal)
USD246 receives Commissioner’s Award
Arma School District was recently recognized for its postsecondary success.
The district received the Commissioner’s Award from Dr. Randy Watson, Commissioner of Education for Kansas, for being above the standard deviation in postsecondary success.
According to Arma School Counselor Beth Gabern, the state used to award schools based on state assessments. Now they are focusing on goals. The Commissioner’s Award is based on the district’s postsecondary effectiveness rate by looking at how many of the district’s students are going to college, completed college or other certifications two years after they graduate high school, Gabern said.
(Read more: Community – Morning Sun)
Kansas ag department offers website for stressed farmers
Kansas farmers and ranchers who are stressed over finances or emotional issues have a new place to turn for help.
The Kansas Department of Agriculture, along with several other partners, is now providing a website that offers farmers, ranchers and their families resources and support. The department announced the website, kansasagstress.org, on Tuesday.
The site offers several topics, including the Kansas Suicide Prevention Line and the Crisis Text Line. The site comes during a time when the suicide rate for farmers and ranches is climbing across the nation.
(Read more: 1350 KMAN)
Abilene mulls what to do with videos
The Abilene City Commission was split on how to manage videos of the meetings once the equipment is installed.
Assistant to the City Manager Kara Titus updated the commission on broadcasting options last week.
Recently the city invested in updating the city commission meeting room with new technology to make meetings more accessible to the public.
Read more: Abilene Reflector-Chronicle
Lawrence City Commission interested in discussing changes to city union rules
City leaders are interested in discussing potential changes to the local resolution governing city employee unions.
As part of its study session Tuesday, the Lawrence City Commission received a report from the area union Teamsters Local 696 regarding Resolution No. 6817, which the commission can amend at its discretion.
Matt Hall, secretary-treasurer and business agent for Teamsters Local 696, told the commission that there is a group of city employees interested in unionizing, but that the city’s resolution creates barriers to unionization and needs to be reformed.
Read more: LJWorld.com.
Food for Fines in Valley Center
Food for Fines (FFF) is a project that will not only benefit the community, but have a positive impact on the clients of the Valley Center Municipal Court. FFF is designed to emphasize the compassionate side of our judicial system and encourage charity within the community. The court has the potential to reduce the debt owed on active cases that meet the court’s criteria for eligibility at a time of year when the general population is struggling to make ends meet.
(Read more: City of Valley Center news)
Reno County OKs temporary repair to earthquake damage in courthouse dome
The Reno County Commission on Tuesday approved a $24,300 contract with a Wichita company to make temporary repairs to damages in the dome of the historic county courthouse which officials blame on a pair of magnitude 4.2 earthquakes that occurred in August. The permanent repairs, which will likely be awarded in spring, are expected to cost several hundred thousand dollars. The county will seek insurance reimbursement for part of the cost, but it has a rather high deductible.
(Read more: Local – The Hutchinson News)
Overland Park planning commission unanimously approves controversial arboretum expansion
The Overland Park city planning commission unanimously approved a controversial plan to significantly expand the city’s arboretum.
The commission welcomed a packed house to Monday’s meeting. Those supporting the arboretum’s expansion plans see the proposal as critical to growing what’s considered a jewel of Johnson County.
“Think about the future to think about all the people that come to the arboretum and what they take away about the city of Overland Park because of it,” one woman supporting the plan said.
Although it’s a popular attraction, many who live near the arboretum do have frustrations, especially with its large-scale events.
(Read more: fox4kc.com | FOX 4 – WDAF)
Goddard bans vaping products for minors
The Goddard City Council voted last week to pass a city ordinance prohibiting possession and sale of vaping products to anyone under 18.
(Read more: Area | derbyinformer.com)
Derby grad takes over as DRC program coordinator
Ashlynn Godown’s career pursuits have officially come full circle.
Having graduated from Derby High School in May 2015, Godown and the Derby Recreation Commission recently reached an agreement for her to take over as program coordinator.
Having served as an intern in the department since the spring, Godown had firsthand perspective of what the position needed. When Katie Dawes resigned in September, she felt it would be a good fit for her first full-time job.
(Read more: DerbyInformer.com – news,news/)