Municipal News & Jobs

Kansas Municipal News

County Commissioner says new medical examiner facility will meet important need

By this time next year, the county is scheduled to be operating its first ever medical examiner facility. What does this mean for Johnson County? We will have better resources and efficiencies to perform autopsies and death investigations. Public safety will be enhanced because this state-of-the art facility will use best practices and current technology for collecting evidence, optimizing our response to homicides, suspicious deaths and overdose cases. Additionally, our public health teams will be able to access real-time information to identify trends or emerging diseases.

Johnson County had long studied the need for our own resource to do this type of work. Currently, we outsource investigations for suspicious deaths to a privately-owned lab in Wyandotte County. In 2016, the county completed a study and determined we had grown to the point of needing a coroner facility. Through further study and discussion, we determined the county would move forward with a medical examiner instead of a coroner facility, allowing a greater expanse of services to be performed. It was further determined we would provide an accredited facility by meeting scientific requirements of the National Association of Medical Examiners (N.A.M.E.). In November 2016, Johnson County voters approved a 10-year, ¼ cent public safety sales tax to build a new medical examiner facility and a new courthouse.

Council votes to make the City of Wellington the primary electrical supplier for VNA plant

The Wellington City Council denied a franchise agreement with Sumner-Cowley Electric Cooperative to serve the area that has been annexed by the city for the proposed VNA plant.

Instead, the council unanimously approved that electricity will be provided by the city of Wellington. Kip Etter and Jennifer Heersche were not present for the meeting.

The plant, if built, will be located at the southeast corner of U.S. 160 and Seneca Road. The entire parcel was annexed into the city of Wellington on August 6, 2019. VNA is proposing to build a biofuel industrial complex that will convert wheat straw into compressed natural gas.

(Read more: Sumner NewsCow)

Wind farm proposed for south-central Marshall County

A NextEra Energy wind farm is proposed for construction possibly as early as next year in south-central Marshall County.

NextEra Energy project manager Mark Trumbauer and project director Casey Moye met with county commissioners Barb Kickhaefer and Keith Bramhall and county counselor Jason Brinegar Monday. …

Marshall County Partnership for Growth director Ellen Barber also attended. Trumbauer said NextEra Energy has been working with Barber to make sure people know the Florida-based company is considering building in the area.

(Read more: The Marysville Advocate)

City of Merriam Wins State Award from League of Kansas Municipalities

The City of Merriam received a state award in honor of several community grant programs offered to its residents.

The League of Kansas Municipalities on Oct. 14 honored the City with its Inspire – Create – Innovate Community Awards for economic development during its annual conference in Overland Park. The award celebrates recent “innovations, programs, community projects, and acknowledge overall excellence in local government.”

The League said it recognized Merriam for its three grant programs that help spur economic development. Those grants include the Exterior Home Improvement Grant, Block Party Grant, and Neighborhood Island Grant.

(Read more: Merriam, KS news)

Douglas County Commission approves new city-county comprehensive plan

The Douglas County Commission signed off on the implementation of a new city-county comprehensive plan on Wednesday after a discussion about the wording of one of the plan’s provisions.

While considering the plan, which outlines how the city and county will consider growth and development in the future, the commissioners said they were confused by a provision about land requirements for development in the county.

Valley Center population, schools and businesses growing

While some small towns in Kansas are shrinking, some are bursting with opportunity.

It has a lot do with the community pride.

Valley Center saw a more than seven percent population increase from 2010 to 2018.

And with that has come more businesses and an expanding school district.

…

New business is growing too.

That goes for businesses like the Cottage Market on Main Street that opened two years ago.

(Read more: KSN-TV)

Ellis Co. administrator will take top job with Saline County

At Tuesday morning’s Saline County commissioners meeting, commissioners approved a contract with Phillip Smith-Hanes, current Ellis County administrator, to serve as the new Saline County administrator.

Smith-Hanes comes to Saline County after a career of more than 23 years that has spanned both city and county governments in two different states. He has served as a county administrator since December 2009, first in California and for the last 3-plus years in Ellis County.

(Read more: The Salina Post)

USD 378 presents forum on upcoming bond referendum

The Riley County USD 378 school board on held a forum to discuss a proposed $15 million dollar bond referendum with the public.

Speaking to a gathering at the Riley County High School cafeteria Monday, Superintendent Cliff Williams said the bond would cost the owner of a $100,000 home around $18 per month or about $218 in yearly property taxes, comparing it to about a pizza per month for the average consumer. Williams adds that if it passes, one addition would be a middle school gymnasium with locker rooms.

“We take our middle school students up to the high school four days a week and they make four individual trips per day to get all the students through the curriculum there,” Williams said.

(Read more: 1350 KMAN)

USD 428 finding out what went wrong in bond proposal; gearing up for another vote in April

USD 428 and SJCF Architecture found out what they believed might have been the problem with a failed bond issue this fall. Based on a survey, that is still open until Oct. 21, participants stated the dollar amount was too high, athletic needs should be eliminated, figure out priorities over needs, and it was a bad election timing due to the economy and city tax increase.

The survey was designed to seek feedback from voters as to why the $44.87 million school bond issue did not pass and what aspects they did support.

Terry Wiggers with SJCF told the USD 428 Board of Education Monday night there were also comments on the survey that there was too much information and that people did not know what was going on.

(Read more: Great Bend Post)

City hires firm to find new city manager, discusses rundown properties

The Hutchinson City Council went over a list of 11 properties that were considered unsafe during Tuesday’s agenda session. The properties are a continued effort by the city to have older structures either repaired or removed.

The council passed a resolution giving property owners 30 days to either make repairs to the structures or have a solid plan in place to do so.

The council also approved the refinancing of $4.5 million in industrial revenue bonds for Wesley Towers Retirement Community. The city is the go-between for the bonds and is not under any financial obligation. The bonds are being refinanced because of lower interest rates.

(Read more: Hutch Post)

911 issue slow-going; $20,000 raise for city manager

Chanute commissioners discussed issues with the 911 system Monday evening, but did not have much in the way of a response to a deadline from the Neosho County Commission.

The county commission asked for a response by Tuesday to its questions about the city’s intent whether to continue with its 911 agreement. City Manager Jeff Cantrell said the level of communication has not broken down and he has met with two of the county commissioners about the issues.

“To suggest that we’re not communicating is not accurate,” Cantrell said.

(Read more: The Chanute Tribune)

Wilson among counties urged to upgrade voting equipment

A handful of Kansas counties are being urged to upgrade their voting machines to a voting system that creates a paper record of each vote.

The Topeka Capitol-Journal reports the American Association for the Advancement of Science urged Geary, Grant, Greeley, Hamilton, Harvey, Sumner, Wallace and Wilson counties to upgrade to newer voting machines.

(Read more: The Chanute Tribune)

Wichita city council approves funding, designs for aquatics plan first phase

Construction will begin this winter as they renovate the Aley, Orchard and McAdams pools.

The Evergreen, Edgemoor and Boston pools will be converted into splash pads.

The goal is to have these open by Memorial Day of next year.

Phase 2 will renovate the Harvest, Minisa and College Hill pools.

(Read more: KWCH News)

Newton may lose Historic Preservation Commission

The ability of city staff to review minor projects to improve historic properties in the city of Newton is in a bit of jeopardy, though the city believes there is action to take and a path forward — but that path could mean saying goodbye to the Historic Preservation Commission.

“That would be a nice customer service aspect,” said Kelly McElroy, assistant city manager. “It would be nice for city staff to say ‘yes, this qualifies’ when they are taking a building permit.”

The problem arose in September, when the State Historic Preservation Office found a lapsed agreement between Newton and North Newton. In September 2019 the State Historic Preservation Office notified City of Newton staff that the agreements between the cities of Newton and North Newton and the State Historic Preservation Office that allow reviews of proposed projects to be reviewed by local administrative staff and preservation commissions had lapsed.

School Board makes change to “Standards of Solvency and Viability”

School Board members engaged in a lengthy and at times tense discussion regarding the “Standards of Solvency and Viability” at their regular meeting on Monday, Oct. 14. The standards, originally approved in October 2016, had been brought up at the previous two board meetings, as a few board members suggested that changes to the standards should be considered.

At Monday’s meeting, Board Member Kent Saylor proposed a change to how revenue is calculated in the expense and revenue formula that supports the standards.

The current “Standards of Solvency and Viability” document was developed by the board’s Finance Committee — which consists of board members Saylor, Ed Reznicek and Kathy Lippert. According to Saylor, it was developed as a basic tracking tool to help monitor the overall financial health of the district as a whole, as well as the financial health of each campus.

(Read more: Sabetha Herald)

KDOT pavement testing begins in Grant and Hamilton counties

The Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) will be conducting pavement tests on highway sections in Hamilton and Grant counties from Monday, Oct. 14, thru Friday, Oct. 18. Sections tested will include:

K-25 from the north city limit of Ulysses to the Grant/Kearny county line;

U.S. 50 in Hamilton County;

K-27 from the Stanton/Hamilton county line to the south city limit of Syracuse.

(Read more: Western Kansas News)

Million-dollar gift to support rural health program at McPherson College

A $1 million gift will help McPherson College fund a new community health care initiative, including ten $25,000 scholarships for students committed to community health. This is on the heels of an announcement last month of a partnership with McPherson Hospital.

“We want to work together to make health care better in our community,” said McPherson College President Michael Schneider. “The narrative for small colleges and small hospitals is a little bit bleak, a little bit challenging. People are wondering what the future holds. We’re going to work together to prove everyone wrong and combine new academic programs in health sciences with outreach in our community.”

Kansas is among states with the highest numbers of rural hospitals and greatest shortage of healthcare professionals of all types, according to the National Rural Health Association.

(Read more: WIBW News Now)

City would forgive hospital debt under proposed resolution

South Central Kansas Medical Center may soon be officially off the hook for the nearly $1.3 million it received from the city during tough financial times.

Commissioners will consider a resolution Tuesday that will forgive all amounts that the hospital has borrowed from the city, dating back several years.

If approved, the resolution wipes out any remaining debt related to construction, equipping, financing and repayment of all loans between the Public Building Commission, the city and the hospital, according to city commission notes.

Young Lenexa siblings write letter to city council to install deer crossing signs

Two young siblings who live in Lenexa have seen their fair share of deer along 83rd Street. They wrote a letter to their local city council member asking if a warning sign could be put up.
“There’s a family of deer we want to keep safe on 83rd, because people go very fast there,” Dominic and Eve wrote in their letter to the city council member.
The 9-year-old and 6-year-old decided to do something about it. They hand delivered the letter they wrote to their local councilman down the road.

Lawrence City Commission to consider proposal that would allow 2 houses per lot with certain restrictions

City leaders will soon decide whether to move forward with a proposal that would allow two houses to be built on one lot as long as both homes are affordable.

As part of its meeting Tuesday, the Lawrence City Commission will consider a text amendment to the city’s land development code that would codify the so-called density bonus. Following recently recommended changes to the proposal, the ability to build two houses on one lot would only be allowed on certain lot sizes and have other restrictions.