Kansas Municipal News
Harvesting hope at Paola Community Garden
For some, it’s a peaceful respite from the hectic world around them.
For others, it’s a place to safely and naturally grow delicious produce.
For a few, it’s a memorial to those who are no longer with us.
For Alexis Shaw, the Paola Community Garden is the start of what she hopes will be a communitywide effort to promote conservation, organic growing and agricultural education.Shaw and her fellow volunteers have been busy this year revitalizing the garden, which is located on city-owned land along Industrial Park Drive.
(Read more: The Miami County Republic)
Renting a scooter in Wichita is easy, and apparently so is tossing one in the river
When it comes to electric scooters, it seems that people either love them, or want to see them all thrown into a river — literally.
On Monday, Dusty Lehman of Wichita posted a video to Facebook showing he discovered seven scooters in the Arkansas River. In the same Facebook post, Lehman wrote that he found at least 14 scooters on that particular bike ride.
(Read more: Hutch Post)
Retired city clerk admits to stealing taxpayer money, must pay back $150,000
The retired clerk of a southeast Kansas town has admitted to stealing from taxpayers.
Carole Sue Coker, 70, of Oronogo, Missouri, pleaded guilty Thursday to one count of mail fraud, U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister said in a news release. Coker admitted in her plea that she took money from payments made to the city.
As part of her plea deal, Coker agreed to pay more than $150,000 in restitution. Sentencing is schedule for Dec. 19, and Coker faces up to 20 years in federal prison.
(Read more: Local News |)
U.S. Attorney General hails Kansas, Wichita law enforcement
…U.S. Attorney General William Barr hailed Kansas and Wichita-area law enforcement on Wednesday…
Barr, who heads the U.S. Justice Department, said Kansas and local law enforcement are significant partners in keeping pressure on gun crime, drugs and gangs.
“I wanted to come here to Kansas because this is one of the most successful federal, state and local law enforcement partnerships we have in the country,” Barr said during brief remarks to local media.
(Read more: Local News |)
Lawrence City Commission approves new comprehensive plan that includes controversial growth policy
Lawrence city commissioners approved the city’s new comprehensive plan on Tuesday without making substantial changes, despite the fact that several members had voiced support for loosening the plan’s requirements for annexing new land into the city.
At its meeting, the commission voted 4-1, with Commissioner Matthew Herbert opposing, to approve Plan 2040, which covers Lawrence and the unincorporated areas of Douglas County. The plan has a new growth policy that prioritizes infill development and adds requirements for developers who want to expand the city’s boundaries. One requirement is that developers must provide some kind of community benefit if they want to annex land to expand the city. That idea has been controversial with some members of the local business community, who say it will increase the cost of housing.
Read more: LJWorld.com.
Douglas County leaders, staff discuss responsibility for ‘abandoned’ cemeteries
In the rural part of Douglas County, between Lecompton and Lawrence, a cemetery sitting on private land is an important piece of the county’s African American history.
But staff told county leaders Wednesday that if the county wants to preserve that history, it will need to work through an issue that has arisen in several “abandoned” cemeteries in unincorporated areas: a lack of clear documentation of the property’s ownership.
Read more: LJWorld.com.
Hutch council votes 4-1 for rental licensing
By a 4-1 vote, the council directed that an ordinance be drafted to establish a Rental License and Inspection Program and fee structure. It would be the successor to the rental registration program. The drafted language is expected to come before the council Oct. 15 for approval….
Dechant is a landlord, and he was one of only two landlords in a packed council chamber who raised his hand when the question was how many landlords would participate in the proposed voluntary city inspection of the interior of rental units to potentially qualify for the best-practice rental unit designation. Under the proposed licensing program, the city would list best-practice rental units online. Also, landlords could obtain a 25 percent reduction in the annual rental unit license fee for a best-practice designation, which would be good for three years.
(Read more: Local – The Hutchinson News)
GCCC Celebrates 100 Years
This past weekend, Garden City Community College celebrated its 100th birthday with a day of activities. Garden City Community College is the oldest community college in the state of Kansas, with its formal inception date on April 1, 1919.
The weekend activities were kicked off on Friday evening with the Endowment Association Centennial Gala. Tickets were sold out and the event was a huge success. Saturday morning started off with “100 Years of Community” parade through the campus and then moved into the ‘quad’ area on campus for a family friendly scavenger hunt, activity booths, food and entertainment.
(Read more: Greater Garden City » Feed)
Millions in Kansas economic development fund used for other purposes, audit finds
Millions of dollars intended for economic development in Kansas have been spent on other purposes with no tracking of whether it was used effectively.
Lawmakers said they were appalled and called for an overhaul of the Economic Development Initiatives Fund on Wednesday after state auditors revealed a lack of accountability in management of the fund.
The Legislature created the fund in 1986. It’s replenished each year with lottery and gaming revenue.
(Read more: Government & Politics News |)
HPD puts cops on buses for “stop” enforcement
The kids on a few Hutchinson school buses were probably on their best behavior Tuesday.A couple of motorists were not.Hutchinson police, responding to complaints about vehicles disobeying stop signs on loading and unloading school buses, placed officers on a pair of buses on their afternoon routes. Another officer in marked patrol unit cruised out-of-site nearby, and when the officer — or students — on the bus spotted a “stop” violation…
(Read more: Local – The Hutchinson News)
A look inside Wichita’s water treatment plant
The future of a new water plant for Wichita, and who will build it, has dominated local news this week. And the question, can the current water treatment plant meet our short term needs? Today KAKE news got a look inside the plant. It’s 80 years old and on its last leg. There are plans in the works for a new plant. But in the meantime, for the next couple of years, the challenge is to maintain quality drinking water…
(Read more: KAKE – News)
Hesston firefighter retiring after nearly 40 years as a volunteer
Chago Mendez is a rarity in today’s world — not only has he worked for the same company for more than 40 years, he has been a volunteer nearly as long. That volunteerism has led to 38 years with Hesston Fire/EMS."They don’t come around very often that they are willing to dedicate that much time and effort to staying involved in something that doesn’t buy their groceries," said Hesston Fire Chief Russ Buller.
(Read more: Newton Kansan)
County, wind farm still dispute responsibility for road repair
No progress is being made toward ending a dispute over repairing the county’s roads between county officials and Enel Green Power, the company developing Diamond Vista wind farm in the northern section of the county.
County engineer Brice Goebel told commissioners Monday that Enel continues to deny it’s their job to repair road damage caused by flooding.
“They kind of left it up to the local guy,” Goebel said. “One road has a steel plate over it and they don’t plan to do anything more. I really see no uptick on this.”
(Read more: Marion County RECORD)
Fort Scott hires new finance director
The city’s new finance director was announced during Tuesday’s meeting of the Fort Scott City Commission, and she is no stranger to working with the city.
City leaders announced that Susan Bancroft (Peery) will replace outgoing director of finance Rhonda Dunn, who last month announced her plans to resign to pursue another job opportunity.
(Read more: Fort Scott Tribune)
Douglas County Commission to discuss responsibility over cemeteries in unincorporated areas
The Douglas County Commission at its next meeting will discuss the county’s responsibility for cemeteries in its unincorporated areas.
During its work session on Wednesday, the commission is expected to receive a report from county staff regarding the active and abandoned cemeteries in the county. The report is also expected to discuss the statutory responsibility of the county regarding those cemeteries.
Read more: LJWorld.com.
Douglas County mail-in ballots now include prepaid postage
Residents in Douglas County who wish to cast election ballots through the mail will no longer need to pay postage to do so.
Advance ballot envelopes will now be marked with postage already paid, the Douglas County Clerk’s Office announced in a Monday news release. Previously, voters who cast their advance ballots through the mail needed to provide a first-class postage stamp.
Read more: LJWorld.com.
Longwell responds: ‘Public-private partnership is an ideal model for city development’
In response to a weekend investigative article from The Wichita Eagle that asserted he violated a City Council ethics policy, Mayor Jeff Longwell says building and maintaining positive relationships in Wichita’s business community is “an essential part of my job.”
On Sunday, Longwell shared on social media a two-page statement in response to the Eagle article published over the weekend that he says “misinterpreted” his influence.
(Read more: Wichita Business Journal)
Howell will host community meetings as part of county strategic plan
As the Sedgwick County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) prepares the county’s next strategic plan, 5th District Commissioner Jim Howell will host meetings with his constituents.
Howell has scheduled two town hall meetings in the district to “engage the community.”
(Read more: Area | derbyinformer.com)
Project seeks to bring drainage relief
Residents in a west Derby community can expect to see fewer problems from heavy rains.
At its Sept. 24 meeting, the City Council approved a $241,489 contract for drainage improvements in the Woodland Valley Addition. That’s an area west of K-15 and south of Meadowlark Blvd., on the boundary line of the city.
The action is pleasing area residents.
(Read more: DerbyInformer.com – news,news/)
September tax collections in Kansas $43M ahead of estimates
The state’s total tax collections for September showed the continued trend upward at $744.1 million; 6.2% or $43.2 million above the estimate, according to a media release from the Kansas Department of Revenue. These collections are $48.2 million more than September of Fiscal Year 2019.
Retail sales tax collections are $200.5 million; $2.5 million or 1.3% more than the estimate. Those collections are $3.4 million more than the same month in Fiscal Year 2019. Compensating use tax collections are $36.9 million; $1.9 million or 5.5% more than the estimate. That’s $1.4 million more than September of Fiscal Year 2019.
(Read more: Great Bend Post)