Kansas Municipal News
Public expresses support for keeping Newton library downtown
The votes are in. The Newton public, at least those that attended library site selection meetings, want any new library to stay in the same location.
The feedback followed two public input sessions held this week at the library as part of the initial process of coming up with a plan for a new library.
More than 100 area residents helped select criteria and vote on five provided library locations.
With the crowd listing accessibility as one of their top criteria, it perhaps should be no surprise that the current library spot was selected as top choice.
(Read more: Newton Now)
County considering repeal of recycling requirements
Swartzendruber updated commissioners on the status of the ongoing recycling situation. He said he didn’t receive a proposal from Waste Connections about going forward, even though a company employee had promised to send him one Oct. 29.
Swartzendruber said he reached out to two other haulers with routes in the rural part of the county. Combined, the two have 1,137 accounts, and only 207, or 18 percent, have recycling.
Swartzendruber said he spoke with all the municipalities, and Hesston is interested in the county moving quickly on making a decision as to whether mandatory recycling would continue. He said Hesston would like to see a policy change so that its customers could get a cheaper rate. He noted that the topic would be discussed Wednesday at a Council of Governments meeting.
(Read more: Newton Now)
Voters back redistricting amendment to Kansas Constitution
Kansas has ended an unusual practice for redrawing the lines of legislative districts that has cost university communities political clout.
Voters on Tuesday approved an amendment to the Kansas Constitution eliminating a requirement for the state to adjust federal census figures when the Legislature redistricts itself every 10 years.
The adjustment counts college students and military personnel not where they’re living but in a “permanent” home elsewhere. For thousands of people, that’s outside Kansas.
(Read more: 1350 KMAN)
USD 378 Riley County voters approve $15 million bond to upgrade facilities
USD 378 voters have approved a $15 million school bond that will see some much anticipated upgrades to facilities in the district.
The issue passed by a margin of 810 to 505 during Tuesday’s election. Riley County Schools Citizens Advisory Committee Treasurer Karen Schroeder says they appreciate the voters supporting them in this matter.
“We’re very excited. I’ve gotten all kinds of emails and texts from people and the main word has been ‘thankful.’ Everybody is very thankful that this has passed and we can move forward and fix our schools,” she said.
(Read more: 1350 KMAN)
New mayor for Andover could mean change in pit bull ban
Ronnie Price was elected as mayor in Tuesday’s election. When he takes office in January, changes could come to the city’s current ban on pit bulls.
It’s been illegal to own a pit bull in Andover city limits for the last 19 years. Mayor Ben Lawrence has defended the law since he took office in 2003.
With new leadership moving in, the controversial ban may come to an end.
(Read more: KAKE – News)
Olathe events range from books sales to Bass Summit
New, modern scoreboards are coming to stadiums in the Olathe School District, and they will be financed by sponsors in the business community.
The boards are to be installed next spring at the Olathe District Activity and College Boulevard Activity centers, replacing scoreboards that are at the end of their life expectancy.
Patrons will experience events and athletic contests with LED video, improved sound and animation, Tim Brady, activity director for the school district, said in a news release.
(Read more: Joco 913 News)
‘It’s a mess’: JoCo intersection one of most dangerous in KC area. $10M should help
Johnson County commuters could eventually get some relief while traveling on one of the worst bottlenecks in the Kansas City area — an intersection with a crash rate 11 times higher than the national average.
The U.S. Department of Transportation has awarded the city of Olathe a $10 million grant to reconfigure and expand the interchange at Interstate 35 and 119th Street, where the traffic volume is among the highest in the state.
“It’s a mess,” said Tim Danneberg, a city spokesman. “It is at capacity now, and traffic will stack a mile or two back during peak hours. It’s our No. 1 traffic priority.”
(Read more: Joco 913 News)
Food truck rules a topic in Winfield
The City of Winfield may consider changes to the city code regarding mobile food trucks as the mobile restaurants continue to increase in numbers and popularity locally. The issue came up for discussion at Thursday’s Winfield city commission work session.
Although food trucks have been in Winfield for the past few years, the city does not have any specific ordinances governing food truck operations and permits. Currently, food trucks are regulated under the city’s ordinance for peddlers. The ordinance, contained in chapter 66 of the city code, says anyone who sells goods mainly through traveling must purchase a $50 permit, which is good for five days. However, Winfield city staff are looking for a better way to handle food truck permits and regulations.
(Read more: The Arkansas City Traveler)
Ellis County receives $6.5 million for business corridor
Ellis County’s proposed Northwest Business Corridor got a big boost Wednesday with a $6.5 million BUILD discretionary grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation, according to a release from Sen. Jerry Moran’s office.
The proposed $11 million Northwest Business Corridor north and west of Hays would improve three heavily traveled county roads in a busy industrial area, as well as the Exit 157 intersection where on- and off-ramps to Interstate 70 converge with 230th Avenue.
That would complement the City of Hays’ north Vine Street project, which was approved in last year’s BUILD grant cycle, providing an alternate route for large loads that cannot pass safely under the I-70 overpass.
Read more: (Hays Daily)
GCCC and Finney County Economic Development Offering Workforce Challenge Seminar
Garden City Community College is partnering with the Finney County Economic Development Corporation to host a one-day seminar for employers, helping them to tackle the toughest challenges they face. The Western Kansas Workforce Challenge will be held on Wednesday, Nov. 20 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Garden City Community College.
The seminar will feature guest speaker Josh Davies, CEO for the Center for Work Ethic Development, for an introductory presentation and crash course on the “Bring your ‘A’ Game” curriculum. The seminar will also include a panel discussion on issues facing today’s workforce, a presentation by Tucky Allen of Kansas WorkforceOne on apprenticeships, a discussion on education and workforce alignment with Bob Kreutzer of Business Management Services, Inc., and presentations from Lonnie Geiman of Bandura Plus on Investing in employees, and a closing presentation entitled “Working with my Disability” by David Powell.
(Read more: Greater Garden City » Feed)
Newton approves Sunday alcohol sales, S. Hutchinson votes it down
A Sunday alcohol sales ordinance was on the ballot in two Kansas communities on Tuesday, but the outcomes were very different.
Newton residents approved the measure 64 to 36 percent or 2,296 to 1,293 votes. The vote comes months after city commissioners also approved the ordinance. It was placed on the ballot after a petition was filed requiring voters to make the final decision.
(Read more: KWCH News)
Pit bull vote hangs in balance
The outcome of the vote regarding a ban on possessing pit bull dogs in the city of Dighton will not be known until canvassing Monday in Lane County. In unofficial results Tuesday, 131 voters favored lifting the ban, and 124 voted no. There are 23 provisional ballots, according to the Lane County Clerk’s office. The ballot was advisory, leaving the decision on removing the prohibition up to the Dighton City Council. /blockquote>
(Read more: Local – The Hutchinson News)
Wichita approves faster process to apply for alcohol consumption at parks
The Wichita City Council approved an amendment to a city ordinance for the consumption of alcohol in parks for special events that aren’t community events.
The change to the ordinance will streamline the event request process, making it easier for residents to receive approval to hold special events in parks where alcohol will be served or sold.
Residents can now get approvals for these events more conveniently with written approval by the Park and Recreation Director.
(Read more: KSN-TV)
Manhattan City Commissioners approve changes to public nudity ordinance
Manhattan City Commissioners, on Tuesday night, unanimously approved changes to its public nudity ordinance — decriminalizing female toplessness.
The amendment removes the female breast from the definition of public nudity — the change was prompted by a recent court case.
City officials stress it does not fully legalize female toplessness. Private business owners may still refuse service to patrons not wearing a shirt.
(Read more: KWCH News)
Despite concerns, former Sears site in Overland Park to get apartments, food, retail
After a year of reworking plans and meeting with neighbors, a developer can finally start revitalizing the shuttered Sears property in Overland Park.
New York-based Seritage Growth Properties — a spinoff of Sears that has been renovating its former stores across the country — has been seeking approval to revamp the southeast corner of 97th Street and Metcalf Avenue. And on Monday night, the Overland Park City Council put the project back on track by approving a rezoning request.
This time, plans for the 19-acre site include a 300-unit apartment complex, stores, restaurants, gas station and 350-stall parking garage on the land surrounding the former Sears store. Seritage developer Jeff Martin said he also will revamp the Sears building, but did not specify plans. The two-story building could be refaced and expanded.
(Read more: Joco 913 News)
Former Marshall County Clerk convicted of felony misuse of public funds
The former Marshall County Clerk has been convicted of felony misuse of public funds, Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt said today.
Sonya L. Stohs, 44, of Marysville, today pleaded guilty in Marshall County District Court to one count of felony misuse of public funds. District Judge John L. Weingart accepted the plea and scheduled sentencing for January 7 at 11 a.m.
The charges stemmed from an investigation by the Kansas Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Secret Service that showed between May 2013 and April 2019, Stohs used funds belonging to Marshall County to pay for various personal items, in excess of $100,000.
(Read more: Kansas Attorney General News Releases)
USMCA ratification would benefit Kansas farmers, families, and factory workers
As an American-born company with offices right here in Kansas, AGCO Corporation understands how much trade matters to the prosperity of Kansans and to Americans across the country.
For example, more than 12 million American working families are able to put food on the table thanks to the United States’ ability to trade with Canada and Mexico alone. Farmers especially know just how important trade with our northern and southern neighbors is. Canada and Mexico account for nearly one-third of U.S. agricultural exports every year.
It’s why we need a strong trade agreement here in North America. And we need a version of the agreement that works for a 21st century global economy. That’s exactly what the USMCA, the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, does. However, politics in Washington, D.C., is getting in the way of its ratification.
(Read more: Joco 913 News)
Challengers defeat incumbents in many Johnson County races, but not JCCC board
A wave of newcomers defeated incumbents in Johnson County elections Tuesday — but not in the most contested and closely watched race.
Challengers ousted elected officials in Overland Park, Olathe, Prairie Village, Shawnee and Fairway and on the Johnson County water board. But incumbents on the Johnson County Community College Board of Trustees held on to their seats despite an unusually crowded field.
With all precincts reporting Tuesday night, incumbent Greg Musil led with 18.4% of the votes, followed by incumbent Nancy Ingram who tied with newcomer Laura Smith-Everett with 17.8% each. They defeated challengers Lori Bell, 16.3%, Colleen Cunningham, 15.4%, and Jameia Haines, 14.2%.
(Read more: Joco 913 News)
Commission supports outside agency transporation funding application
The Reno County Commission approved a letter of support Tuesday for efforts by Disability Supports of the Great Plains-Hutchinson to secure funding for its transportation costs through reimbursement from the state.
Not, however, before commissioners present questioned the accuracy of statements in the letter they were being asked to sign.
Rachael Grubbs, administrative support staff at the agency which assists the developmentally disabled in Hutchinson with day services, explained that they are seeking about a $5,000 annual reimbursement.
(Read more: Local – The Hutchinson News)
Hutch City Council adopts rental license code
The Hutchinson City Council voted 4-1 Tuesday to approve a new Residential Rental Licensing and Inspection code that some landlords opposed.
“We will be voting; we will be voting today,” said Jill Gumble, president of the Central Kansas Landlord Association to the council, immediately after the morning vote.
Three of the four yes votes came from incumbents seeking re-election Tuesday: Mayor David Inskeep, and Councilmembers Steve Dechant and Jade Piros de Carvalho. Councilmember Nancy Soldner also voted for the new program and Councilmember Jon Daveline voted no.
(Read more: Local – The Hutchinson News)