Municipal News & Jobs

Kansas Municipal News

Cheney is the first municipality to pass a T21 policy in Sedgwick County and the 24th T21 policy to pass in Kansas

On November 14th, City Council adopted a Tobacco 21 Ordinance raising the age from 18 to 21 for anyone to possess or purchase electronic cigarettes, cigarettes or tobacco in the City of Cheney.

Our Council was presented information in October from our School District about the growing number students vaping and using other tobacco products and also received facts from the Tobacco Control Coordinator including “85% of daily adult smokers are smoking daily before the age of 21”.

Police Chief Ken Winter, who also serves on the Executive Law Enforcement Advisory Board for DARE America stated, “I’m pleased that the Cheney City Council has made the Tobacco 21 a priority. The Cheney Police Department plans to continue their partnership with USD 268 and other community partners as we work to educate youth on the dangers of any type of tobacco use.”

Cheney is the first municipality to pass a T21 policy in Sedgwick County and the 24th T21 policy to pass in Kansas.

The change is effective Jan 1, 2020. The complete ordinance can be viewed at http://cheneyks.org/images/924.pdf

(Source: City of Cheney)

Neighbors lose one fight against proposed events center, battle continues

Wichitans who live near 37th and Woodlawn are saying “not in my neighborhood” about a proposed event center. Thursday they had a chance ask the Metropolitan Area Planning Commission to stop the development before it begins.

Developers Levi Bond and Jake Hartman want to build what they call a wedding venue on the property along 37th St. The location backs up to natural wetlands and is surrounded by residential neighborhoods.

(Read more: KAKE – News)

Tax fund that hasn’t been used since 2003 would reduce property taxes

The Governor’s Council on Tax Reform met Tuesday to make recommendations to Governor Kelly ahead of the 2020 legislative session.

The council is recommending that a tax reduction fund be restarted after not being used for nearly 17 years. The Local Ad Valorem Tax Reduction Fund has been in place for years, a percentage of the state sales tax is supposed to be distributed across the state.

“That goes to the local governments in order for them to reduce mill levies and reduce the property tax in local governments, whether they’re cities or counties,” explained Senator Steve Morris, Chair of the Governor’s Council on Tax Reform.

(Read more: KSN-TV)

Shawnee to draft Tobacco 21 ordinance, regulate locations of future vape stores within city limits

The Shawnee city council has directed city staff to draft a Tobacco 21 ordinance that would raise the age to purchase tobacco products from 18 to 21.

Shawnee is one of the last cities in northeast Johnson County not to have passed a Tobacco 21 ordinance. Proponents and opponents alike noted that as a result, Shawnee has become a safe haven for tobacco and vape users between the age of 18 and 21 and the businesses that cater to this age group.

(Read more: Prairie Village Post)

A Shrinking Kansas Town Pins Its Hopes For Growth On The Promise Of Free Tuition

The Emporia Community Foundation and staff at What’s In Outdoors understand that college can be expensive – that’s why they’re inviting high school seniors to apply for the What’s In Outdoors Scholarship.

The $1,000 scholarship is available to any graduating high school senior in the state of Kansas planning to attend a Kansas college or university. Applicants must plan to make a career in conservation in some capacity and take classes pertaining to wildlife, nature, photography, journalism, communications, or any other related fields.

Successful applicants will receive $500 per semester after showing proof of full-time enrollment (minimum of 12 credit hours). The second semester payment will be sent after grades from the first semester are received.

(Read more: Rural Messenger)

Junction City hires new chief of police from Florida

A new police chief is taking over in Junction City.

It was announced at Wednesday’s city commission meeting that John Lamb is replacing the recently retired Dan Breci. For 26 years, Lamb has served the Jacksonville, Florida Sheriff’s Department. He most recently served as Police Lieutenant over the Patrol and Community Affairs Unit and was an Assistant Chief in the department.

Lamb said in a release it’s been a long-term goal of his to serve as Police Chief in a community like Junction City, committed to its police department.

A start date for Chief Lamb has not been announced.

(Read more: 1350 KMAN)

Wichita approves contract for new water treatment facility

Wichita is on track to develop a second water treatment facility after the city council approved a $500 million contract.

The council voted unanimously on Tuesday to give the biggest contract in the city’s history to Wichita Water Partners. The group’s relationship with Mayor Jeff Longwell came under scrutiny after a report by The Wichita Eagle alleged he steered the water contract toward the group to benefit his friends and political donors.

City officials wanted to continue to work with Wichita Water Partners out of fear of losing federal funding or not finding another company to bid on the project, The Eagle reported.

(Read more: Area | derbyinformer.com)

Seward County approves communications project

Seward County commissioners unanimously approved three agreements and a resolution Monday in an effort to move forward with a cooperative project with the City of Liberal with a new radio system.

A memo from the Joint 911 Communications Board to the commission said the county and the city have worked together to bring this project together in the most cost effective means possible.

“This new system will allow us an effective and interoperable radio system for our community into the future,” the memo said.

The memo added Monday’s vote came after work by the communications board, a heroic effort from Liberal City Counselor Lynn Koehn and Seward County Counselor Nathan Foreman and support of both the city and county commissions, which made a complete proposal to the county commission possible at Monday’s meeting.

(Read more: Liberal First)

City of Topeka receives over $70,000 in grant money

The City of Topeka has received more than $70,000 in grant money from the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant program, and will split up between the city and Shawnee County.

The money is part of more than $376 million in awards announced Wednesday by the Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs, according to a news release.

The City of Topeka received $71,199, and according to city spokeswoman Molly Hadfield, the money will be divided up among the city and county.

Arkansas City Commissioners plan to step away from hospital duties

The South Central Kansas Medical Center is asking the Arkansas City Commission to get out of the hospital governing business.

Medical Center board chair Dan Jurkovich asked the commission Tuesday to draft an ordinance to eventually separate the two boards.

He said it was time to think about how the trustee board should operate in the future.

“I feel there is enough stability that we could get something more formalized that says how our board is going to be,” he said.

(Read more: The Arkansas City Traveler)

Wichita to close different public golf courses weekly to save money

Golfers will have one less public course to play on each week in Wichita.

Auburn Hills Golf Course in west Wichita was closed this week. It’s a part of something new the city is trying called the golf winter rotation.

From now through February, one of the city’s golf courses will close to allow for maintenance and cut expenses.

(Read more: KWCH News)

Olathe adds LGBT protections

Moundridge Receives Housing Grant

The City of Moundridge has been awarded a housing grant to help construct several new homes. The $281,748 grant from the Kansas Housing Resources Corporation will be used to construct seven homes north of the Meadow View Addition.

$141,748 will go towards helping build streets and install utilities for the expansion of the new subdivision and $140,000 will go towards a home buyer assistance program to be disbursed at closing when the homes are sold.

Kansas rule could lower property tax bills; Lawmakers have ignored it for 15 years

Gov. Laura Kelly wants to provide property tax relief by reactivating a long-dormant subsidy program for Kansas cities and counties.

The Democratic governor’s tax council on Tuesday recommended lawmakers start following a state law they’ve ignored for 15 years at a cost of more than $1.3 billion to local governments. Her office said it would give localities “a strong tool to begin lowering local property taxes.”

Kansas is required to send a share of its sales tax collections to cities and counties each year through a program called the Local Ad Valorem Tax Reduction Fund. But the Legislature has continuously waived the rule since 2004, opting to use the tax dollars as a hedge against the Great Recession and Gov. Sam Brownback’s signature tax cuts.

(Read more: Wichita Eagle)

Utility connection, building permit fees waived for low-income senior housing

Manhattan is waiving more than $90,000 in utility connection and building permit fees for a planned low-income senior living development.

The City Commission approved the waiver for the project in Lee Mill Village Tuesday by 4 to 1 vote with Commissioner Wynn Butler opposing. Manhattan had previously agreed to sell the 19 lots to the Manhattan Area Housing Partnership in January.

The land was bought by the city in 2012 on a tax sale after a previous development struggled to get off the ground. The land has been slow to sell, leaving Manhattan covering the special assessment taxes and collecting no property taxes. As part of the details of the sale, Manhattan will cover one third of outstanding specials — amounting to $190,000.

(Read more: 1350 KMAN)

County to apply for second Healthy Kansas grant

Bourbon County will take advantage of an opportunity for additional grant funds to promote a healthier community.

On Tuesday, Bourbon County Commissioners voted to allow Economic Development Director Jody Hoener to apply for an additional Blue Cross Blue Shield Healthy Communities grant.

(Read more: Fort Scott Tribune)

Goessel mayor leads $2.5M sewer project

Dave Schrag has retired from Marion Die and Fixture after 34 years, but Goessel’s mayor still has plenty on his plate.
Schrag is heading up a $2.5 million project to fix and renovate the city’s sewer lines.

Schrag said the sewer pipes had numerous cracks, which allowed rainwater to run into them, causing a buildup of water in the lagoons.

(Read more: HILLSBORO Star-Journal)

Kansas receiving more than $2.6 million in federal grants to fight crime

The state of Kansas is in for some upgrades thanks to more than $2.6 million in federal grants given to the state to enhance public safety.

U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister said Wednesday the money is part of more than $376 million in awards announced by the Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs.

“We’re working with our state and local agencies to make Kansas safer,” McAllister said. “These grants are designed to give Kansas law enforcement the flexibility to spend the money based on the needs in their own communities.”

(Read more: KSN-TV)

Gov. Laura Kelly’s tax council supports internet, digital tax changes

The advisory council appointed by Gov. Laura Kelly recommended Tuesday adoption of a $32 million tax on internet sales by out-of-state businesses and the imposition of a $30 million sales tax on digital products ranging from books, cloud-based applications as well as magazines, video games and other items.

Former state Sen. Janice Lee and House Minority Leader Tom Sawyer proposed adjustment of state law to compel “marketplace facilitators,” such as Amazon, to mandate collection and payment to the state of sales tax on third-party transactions. Kansas legislators have debated the idea, but remain one of five states without this provision in state statute.

“It’s very much a fairness issue, an equity issue for our Main Street businesses,” said Lee, who is co-chair of the bipartisan council.

Commissioners consider whether to renew Neighborhood Revitalization Program

Marshall County’s Neighborhood Revitalization Program will expire Dec. 31. On Monday, commissioners discussed renewing the program, possibly with changes.

The program gives county residents the opportunity to apply for a three-year county property tax abatement before renovating an existing structure or building a new one. An 80 percent tax rebate is given the first year, 60 percent the second and 30 percent the third.

Commissioner Barb Kickhaefer said the spirit of the program is to revitalize blighted neighborhoods. Commissioner Keith Bramhall agreed and said that new construction in rural areas that receive tax rebates through the program pay for themselves with the long-term taxes paid on the property’s added value.

(Read more: The Marysville Advocate)