Kansas Municipal News
A community vision plan for Great Bend revealed
In the summer of 2017, members of Barton County Young Professionals were meeting with at-the-time interim Great Bend City Administrator George Kolb. Kolb challenged the group to think about Great Bend’s future and what they wanted to the city to look like 20 years from now. Shortly after the interaction with Kolb, BCYP secured funding from the Harm Trust to hire Shockey Consulting to form a visioning process and strategic plan.
The visioning group, Great Bend Better than Great, brought in 55 community members to form a steering committee and received public feedback on goals for the city going forward.
Great Bend Better than Great Co-Chair Mark Mingenback says those goals are established and ready for the implementation phase.
“The risk with a plan like this is does it just go onto a shelf,” said Mingenback. “The shelf gets dusty, and then in a few years people look at this and wonder what it is. Being concerned about that, we have a plan to map the future and hold parties accountable for the goals.”
(Read more: Great Bend Post)
Four of the five board members selected for Great Bend Economic Development
Monday’s Great Bend City Council meeting revealed four of the five names that will make up the Board of Directors for the newly created Great Bend Economic Development.
Mayor Joe Andrasek announced that Jolene Biggs and Barry Bowers will serve on the board from the City Council, while Great Bend Chamber of Commerce Board Chairman AJ Chrest notified the council of their two selections.
“The Chamber’s two appointees will be Mark Calcara and Mark Chalfant,” said Chrest.
Biggs, Bowers, Calcara, and Chalfant will be in charge of reviewing the other applicants to determine the at-large board member which will be announced at the Nov. 18 meeting.
(Read more: Great Bend Post)
Bridge replacement over Cedar Creek planned in Smith County
The Kansas Department of Transportation this week expects to begin a bridge replacement project along K-9 in Smith County.
Crews will be replacing the bridge over Cedar Creek located approximately one mile east of Cedar. Work this winter will consist of constructing a temporary bridge and shoofly detour in preparation for the bridge replacement work to take place next spring. The project is expected to be completed by November 2020, weather permitting.
(Read more: Hays Post)
Geary County is preparing for future delinquent property tax sale
Geary County officials have taken a step toward holding a delinquent property tax sale.
County Commission Chair Charles Stimatze explained there has been a filing in District Court for a tax sale for 96 properties. “As of two weeks ago when they’ve filed the county counselor has collected $822, 954.42 ( in delinquent taxes ).
(Read more: Junction City Post)
KDOT announces approved October bids
The Kansas Department of Transportation announces approved bids for state highway construction and maintenance projects in Kansas.
The letting took place Oct. 17, in Topeka. Some of the bids may include multiple projects that have been bundled based on proximity and type of work.
District One — Northeast
Brown: U.S. Highway 75, striping from the Brown/Jackson county line to the Brown/Nemaha county line and rumble strips from south of the Fairview interchange north to the U.S. Highway 75/Kansas Highway 246 junction, pavement marking, 24.2 miles, Twin Traffic Marking Corporation, Kansas City, Kan., $341,583.60.
(Read more: Sabetha Herald)
Despite some reservations, Shawnee planning commission advances scaled-down plan for Westbrooke Green
Despite reservations from some members, the Shawnee planning commission last night agreed that a revised, scaled down plan for Westbrooke Green, a multimillion-dollar mixed-use project on the northeast corner of 75th and Quivira, still generally conforms to the intent of the city’s comprehensive plan.
The planning commission had agreed in November 2017 that the project was consistent with the city’s comprehensive plan. Representatives with MP Westbrooke North LLC, the developer, said they have been working on plans that fit the site; they have found the revised plans would better suit the character of the neighborhood.
Westbrooke Green is one of a handful of projects getting extra scrutiny from city leaders, as the developer has received public incentives in the form of tax increment financing to help fund the development.
(Read more: Shawnee Mission Post – Community news and events for northeast Johnson County)
Federal Lawmakers Push ‘.Gov’ Web Addresses For Local Governments
Federal agencies and states tend to have website addresses that end in “.gov,” a signal to users that they’re clicking on official sources of government information.
But across local governments, domain names are more of a mixed bag and might end in “.com,” “.org,” or “.us.” While this may seem trivial, experts say it opens the door for “spoofing,” where criminals post imposter websites that can trick the public in a variety of ways.
Look-alike department of motor vehicle sites, where people can get scammed out of cash, or have personal information stolen, and artificial elections websites that might direct people to the wrong polling place, are just two potential examples.
(Read more: Route Fifty – All Content)
Valet parking for bicycles? It could be a thing at Wichita’s new baseball park
If you ride a $1,000 bicycle to a ballgame at Wichita’s new stadium, how do you make sure it will be there when you’re ready to ride home?
Valet parking for bicycles is one answer that a city committee is proposing.
The Wichita Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board is recommending “bike valets” as a way to protect the bikes and encourage cycle commuting to the new $75 million ballpark that will soon be the home field of the Triple-A minor league team now known as the New Orleans Baby Cakes.
(Read more: Local News |)
Upcoming Free Trainings & Workshops!
2/12/2020 — Location: Hays, Kansas Time: 9:00 AM – 3:30 PM
2/12/2020 — Location: Hays, Kansas Time: 4:00 PM – 8:00 PM
2/18/2020 — Location: Colby, Kansas Time: 9:00 AM – 3:30 PM
Lawrence City Commission to consider purchasing body cameras for police department
City leaders will soon consider a contract to purchase body cameras for all Lawrence police officers.
As part of its meeting Tuesday, the Lawrence City Commission will consider authorizing the police department to enter into a five-year contract with Axon Enterprises Inc. for $1.26 million, which will be funded in part by a $231,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Justice, according to a city staff memo to the commission. The contract covers the purchase of 154 body cameras and associated software and hardware and will outfit all members of the police force with a camera.
Read more: LJWorld.com.
In Douglas County case, U.S. Supreme Court seems OK with car stop based on owner’s invalid license
The Supreme Court seems ready to say police may pull over a car when they know only that its owner’s license is not valid — even if they don’t know who’s driving.
The issue of traffic stops based on information gleaned from motor vehicle records has become more pressing with the advent of automated license plate readers that can run hundreds of plates a minute.
The justices indicated in arguments Monday that they would reverse a Kansas high court ruling that found police violated a driver’s constitutional rights when they stopped his pickup based only on information that the truck owner’s license had been suspended.
Read more: LJWorld.com.
Commission accepts bid to kill water weed at Lake Shawnee
Compared apples-to-apples, the apparent low bid Shawnee County received recently to kill a specific type of water weed at Lake Shawnee turned out to be higher than that of a competitor, the county commission learned Monday.
Commissioners Bill Riphahn, Kevin Cook and Aaron Mays then voted 3-0 to instead enter into a contract with that competitor, Truesdale, Mo.-based Aquatic Control Inc.
Aquatic Control’s bid was “the most comprehensive and most competitive” the county received, Cook said.
(Read more: Local – The Topeka Capital-Journal)
Reno County again takes up two major bridge projects next week
The Reno County Commission will take up three resolutions for work involving two bridges when they meet next week.
One had to do with replacing the 43rd Avenue bridge just east of the old K-61 highway, the other is a bridge over the Arkansas River South of Nickerson.
The first resolution is to determine the necessity of construction, the second over approving the construction and the third is approving the bonding of the two projects.
(Read more: Hutch Post)
Wichita recycler expands again by bringing another company back under local ownership
AllMetal Recycling has expanded yet again, this time by bringing a longtime Kansas company back under local ownership.
Glickman Metal Recycling started in 1910 and sold to Oklahoma-based Yaffe Cos. in 2002.
Last week, AllMetal purchased Glickman from Yaffe, which still has operations in Oklahoma, Arkansas and Missouri.
(Read more: Carrie Rengers: Business Columns & Blogs |)
Rural Entrepreneurship Resource Event hosted by Phillips Co. Eco-Devo
Entrepreneurship comes with both its challenges and its rewards. As an entrepreneur, you might sometimes feel as if you’re flying solo and dream of having a co-pilot to help steer you around the many obstacles that you face during the course of your everyday business.
EshipConnect brings you an opportunity to talk to some of the leading business professionals in western Kansas; allowing you to ask the questions that matter most to you and your business. Whether you are an established entrepreneur or you’re thinking of taking that leap of faith to start your own business, our panel of resource professionals will provide you with the assistance you need. So get ready to build your network and make some connections to help develop upon your existing hard work and talents.
(Read more: Hays Post)
Hutchinson ready to take action on rental program
The Hutchinson City Council will take action on the new rental inspection program during Tuesday’s agenda session.
The city is proposing a licensing fee structure with incentives rather than the current permit fee. The Housing Commission has denied a recommendation on the proposal. That came during a meeting on Oct. 19 on a 4-2 vote.
“There were still some concerns from the housing commissioners that is this really going to solve any of the problems,” Planning Director Ryan Hvitlok said. “We also had two new slots filled on the commission so that changed the vote a little.” Several other members of the commission were absent, which also skewed the numbers, according to Hvitlok.
(Read more: Hutch Post)
Wichita Transit is giving free rides to the polls on election day
Wichita Transit is offering a day of free rides on all traditional bus routes for Tuesday’s general election.
A transit spokesperson said free rides on November 5 are valid for everyone riding to or from polling locations as well as any other trip during the day. Riders do not need to provide documentation of voting to receive a ride.
(Read more: KAKE – News)
KDHE issues boil water advisory for Spring Hill, Johnson County RWD 7
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment has issued a boil order water advisory for Spring Hill, a portion of Johnson County RWD 7 located south of Highway 56 and the Miami County RWD 2 in Kansas.
Customers of Johnson Co RWD 7 north of Highway 56 are served by water originating from Olathe and as such are not subject to the advisory.
KDHE officials said they issued the advisory because of high turbidity. High turbidity in a distribution system may result in a loss of chlorine residuals and bacterial contamination.
(Read more: KMBC)
Johnson County commissioners express concern with potential expansion of mail-in ballot distribution
The Johnson County Commission is not on board with possible new efforts to expand the list of voters who can get ballots in the mail automatically every election.
Commissioners made a last-minute addition to their legislative agenda Thursday that implied disapproval of what Election Commissioner Ronnie Metsker said is likely to be a push to allow more of the automatic mailings. The legislative agenda is a list of positions taken by commissioners every year on issues likely to come up in the next session.
The commission originally considered writing a platform plank that would “oppose” any changes, but changed it to more passive wording to “support the current statute” lest the public think they oppose advance voting in general.
(Read more: Shawnee Mission Post – Community news and events for northeast Johnson County)
Secretary of State speaks to clerks about election security
Kansas Secretary of State Scott Schwab stopped by the Finney County Clerk’s Office on Monday, one of many visits he and his team made ahead of Tuesday’s Election Day.
The visit, he said, was largely to speak to clerks about this week’s election and prepare for the higher profile 2020 election.
“We want to make sure we’re focusing on security, security, security, security. We’re not just dealing with nefarious political activists — we’re dealing with foreign nationals,” Schwab said. “And so we’re working with our clerks to let them know what we see, so if they see it then they can report it and we can stop it.”
(Read more: News – The Garden City Telegram)