Kansas Municipal News
Hospital sales tax defeated by 2 votes
The half-cent sales tax question to benefit the Hiawatha Community Hospital on the Nov. 5 ballot was defeated by 2 votes.
That became official after canvassing 40 provisional ballots by the Brown County Commission Monday morning revealed the final count: No-1,285 to Yes-1,283 to a packed room that included Hiawatha and Horton city officials, along with representatives from Hiawatha Community Hospital. Assisting with the vote canvassing were County Clerk Melissa Gormley, Deputy Clerk Dawn Boyles and Brown County Attorney Kevin Hill, who advised the commissioners on state statutes for reasons to dismiss a provisional ballot.
On election night, Tuesday, Nov. 5, the final tally after counting all 18 precincts was 1267 No and 1264 yes votes. That Friday, an additional 7 mail-in ballots were counted, which brought the vote to No-1,270 to Yes-1,268 votes.
(Read more: hiawathaworldonline.com)
Wind farm fight moves into Kansas courts
“The wind farm fight is far from over,” Nick Egli said Sunday night.
Reno County landowners opposed to a wind farm are organizing again as the company takes its case to court.
It’s a fight over who has the right to say yes or no to wind energy development in Reno County, a fight some thought was over this summer but now is dragging on into the state’s courts.
This latest development in a story … is once again pitting dozens of landowners who want the wind turbines against their neighbors, who don’t.
(Read more: KAKE – News)
Wichita police to ask ‘what more can we do’ in public discussion on criminal justice
The Wichita police chief and other officials working in various roles in the criminal justice system will ask the public “what more can we do” in a community conversation on Saturday.
The event, titled “What’s Going On and What More Can We Do,” will be hosted by the Wichita Police Department. The event will consist of panel and round-table discussions with local criminal justice officials “focusing on where criminal justice is succeeding, identifying areas needing improvement, and moving forward.”
“Criminal justice involves many moving parts and can be difficult to navigate at times,” Police Chief Gordon Ramsay said in a statement. “The goal of the event is to build relationships and work with the community to provide understanding and clarity and learn where improvements can be made. We appreciate all the partners and their involvement.
(Read more: Local News |)
Lenexa hires Scott McCullough as new community development director
Lenexa has hired Scott McCullough as the city’s new community development director.
McCullough replaces Beccy Yocham, who had served as community director since 2011 before the city council appointed her as city manager in April. Tim Green, deputy community development director, had been leading the department in the interim while city leaders looked for Yocham’s replacement.
McCullough’s first day on the job in Lenexa was Nov. 4. Yoccham introduced him to the city council Nov. 5.
(Read more: Shawnee Mission Post – Community news and events for northeast Johnson County)
Greensburg wins tourism awards
Greensburg City Administrator Stacy Barnes and Director of Tourism Caitlin Matile attended the Kansas Tourism Conference awards banquet on October 23 at the Kansas Star Casino in Mulvane, where Visit Greensburg won two awards presented by Kansas tourism professionals.
“These awards highlight the vital role of dedicated individuals and organizations in growing the tourism industry in Kansas,” said Bridgette Jobe, KDWPT Director. “Through their partnership, Kansas tourism will continue to be a significant part of the state’s economy. A recent economic impact survey indicates tourism has grown to an $11.3 billion industry in Kansas, one of the fastest growing industries in Kansas.”
(Read more: Pratt, KS – Pratt Tribune)
Augusta to revisit NRP proposal
The next step for Augusta’s Neighborhood Revitalization Plan is set for Monday. The city council will host a public hearing 7 p.m. before its regular meeting.
The current plan expires at the end of the year, and city officials have been at work re-structuring the existing plan to fit the mold for Jan. 1, 2020 through Dec. 31, 2022. The current plan has been in place since 2016.
Cody Sims, Augusta assistant city manager, outlined some key points for the NRP, including changing the date for residential properties to qualify for 10-year tax rebates from 1970 to 1990.
(Read more: andoveramerican.com)
Leveled By A Tornado, A Small Kansas Town Dreamed Big And Got Even Smaller
The massive tornado that leveled this town in 2007 pretty much defines disaster.
Eleven people dead. The place in ruins.
Yet without the tragedy, Greensburg wouldn’t have had the chance to transform itself into “the greenest community in America.”
It now runs on renewable energy wired into buildings and homes designed with the latest in conservation technology.
(Read more: Rural Messenger)
New signs will highlight U.S. Bicycle routes
Some new signs will be popping up along roadsides in Kansas — designating two different bicycle routes. One of those, U.S. Bicycle Route 76, also known as the TransAmerica Trail, passes through Harvey County as it connects the east and west coasts.
“Thousands of cyclists ride these routes through Kansas every year, offering great tourist opportunities for the over 30 communities they pass through, especially rural towns,” said Jenny Kramer, Kansas Department of Transportation bicycle and pedestrian coordinator. “Many towns take advantage of this opportunity for economic growth and development by making their towns more bicycle-friendly and creating attractive resting and overnight spots for travelers.”
The TransAmerica Trail brought a world-record holder to Newton in 2014, and cyclists from around the globe competing in the annual TransAm Bike Race since 2014. The next Trans Am Bike Race will launch June 7, 2020. In 2017, a veteran cycling to raise awareness of veteran suicide stopped in Newton.
(Read more: Kiowa County Signal)
What do the Riverfront Legacy Master Plan designs mean for Century II?
“How do we honor our past and move forward at the same time?” asks Evan Rosell with the greater Wichita Partnership. This is the question of debate for the Riverfront Legacy Master Plan.
Thursday Nov. 14, Project Wichita, released five potential designs. They have been working on these designs for five months. Of those options many include removing the old Central Wichita Library and Century II buildings.
“Even though we’re sort of removing something, an iconic thing from the city. We are giving something back,” said Amber Luther, Senior Associate for Populous design firm.
(Read more: KSN-TV)
Over 100 years of farming history up for auction in Mulvane
It’s a glimpse into how farming in Kansas used to be done more than 100 years ago.
Steam-engine tractors and other old farm parts are being auctioned off this weekend in Mulvane.
Hard to think that these antique machines operated solely on coal, and not diesel fuel, to plow Kansas fields.
(Read more: KSN-TV)
Will the county switch hours to match the city schedule?
Seward County commissioners are scheduled to hear from a county employee Tuesday about the results of survey work concerning possible new hours at the Administration Building.
Anabel Clinesmith, who works in the county clerk’s office, recently presented a Capstone Project to the commission at its Oct. 21 meeting to change hours in the Admin Building.
The project was required as part of the Certified Public Manager Program. Clinesmith suggested changing the hours from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday to 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and from 7:30 to 11:30 a.m. Friday.
(Read more: Liberal First)
County commission to attend Nickerson city council meeting
The Reno County Board of Commissioners will attend the Nickerson City Council meeting Monday night.
The board meets at 7 p.m. at City Hall, 15 N. Nickerson Street.
Commission Chairman Bob Bush suggested back in October that the board meet in Nickerson when it had issues to update the public on.
(Read more: Local – The Hutchinson News)
Topeka mayor, council to consider scheduling term limits vote
Topeka’s mayor and city council members on Tuesday will consider giving Topekans a November 2020 ballot question vote on whether to impose term limits on the mayor and council.
A proposal that would make that move will be among items on the agenda when the mayor and council meet at 6 p.m. in their chambers at 214 S.E. 8th.
The Shawnee County Commission will meet at 9 a.m. Monday in its chambers in Room B-11 of the County Courthouse, 200 S.E. 7th, where commissioners will hear an update on the county’s revenues and expenses as of Oct. 31.
(Read more: Local – The Topeka Capital-Journal)
New signs to highlight bicycle routes
Hundreds of cyclists come through the southeast Kansas region every year, new signs will help guide cyclists who are taking the U.S. Bicycle Routes 76 and 66.
On Thursday in Riverton, the Kansas Department of Transportation and other organizations unveiled new signs that are part of the U.S. Bicycle Routes (USBRs) 76 and 66 signing initiative.
Present at the unveiling was Roger Lomshek who is a Crawford County Active Transportation Advisory Board Chairman, owner of Tailwind Cyclists and avid cyclist.
(Read more: State News – Morning Sun)
Counties, including Neosho, take on the opioid industry
More than two dozen cities and counties across Kansas have sued the opioid industry, from a small town with a population of 150 near the Colorado border to the state’s most populous county at its opposite end.
(Read more: The Chanute Tribune)