Municipal News & Jobs

Kansas Municipal News

Local leaders take exception to bleak forecast for Scott County

The numbers paint a bleak picture of the future for Western Kansas.
By 2044, Scott County is projected to see a population decline of 12.6%.
Finney County’s population decline is projected at 19.4%.
And they’re the lucky ones.
The population loss in other area counties is forecast at: Wichita (44.9%), Lane (61.3%), Kearny (32.9%), Logan (32.1%) and Thomas (37.4%).
The only counties west of Hays expected to buck that trend are Gray (+5.6%) and Ford (+17.7%).
Those are the kind of numbers which might cause a little panic among economic development leaders in the region.

E-bicycles Now Legal at Kansas State Parks

In a 5-1 vote, Kansas Wildlife, Parks and Tourism (KWPT) Commissioners approved the use of electric-assisted bicycles, or e-bikes, at Kansas state parks. The decision was made during the Commission’s Sept. 19 public hearing at the Kansas Wetlands Education Center in Great Bend.

E-bikes, also referred to as pedal-assist bikes, have a small motor that engages when a rider pedals. Once engaged, the motor provides a “boost” of acceleration, allowing the rider to more easily maneuver hills and rough terrain. Only e-bikes that cease to provide assistance when the bicycle reaches a maximum of 20 miles per hour may be used at Kansas state parks. E-bikes will also only be allowed on trails already approved for bicycle use.

(Read more: Rural Messenger)

In JoCo visit, Kansas Sec. of State says office will take measured approach to expanding polling location option

It’s not one hundred percent certain that Kansans will be free to vote at their choice of polling places in time for the 2020 presidential election, says Secretary of State Scott Schwab, because of the many technical and security issues that still have to be worked out.

“We’re not in a hurry to screw this up. We want to make sure that the election is an election you get a result you can trust in,” he told Johnson County Commissioners during a brief visit to their Thursday meeting.

Schwab was referring to a law passed recently that would uncouple voting from neighborhood polling places. The law will allow any voter to cast a ballot at any polling place on Election Day, regardless of where he or she lives.

Coffey County Sheriff Rogers to retire when term ends

Randy Rogers, sheriff of Coffey County since 1997, has announced he will retire when his current term expires in January 2021.

Rogers hopes to spend more time with his family, including his grandchildren, he said in a statement posted Wednesday on his department’s Facebook site.

“I can’t thank the citizens of Coffey County and the men and women of the sheriff’s office enough for all the support and confidence in me as sheriff,” he said. “I have experienced so much as sheriff and will take those memories with me forever.”

Newspaper claims Wichita’s mayor steered contract to friends; Mayor explains that the allegations are simply not true

First, an excerpt from the Wichita Eagle:

Wichita Mayor Jeff Longwell steered what could become the largest contract in the city’s history to his political supporters, golf partners and friends, a Wichita Eagle investigation has revealed.
The city plans to spend about $524 million to build a new plant to treat drinking water. …
A city selection committee unanimously recommended awarding the contract to Jacobs Engineering, one of the nation’s leading design firms that specializes in water treatment plants.
Instead, at Longwell’s urging, the City Council gave it to Wichita Water Partners, a group that has less experience designing large water plants.

(Read more: Wichita Eagle)

The Mayor responded:

You may have read today’s Wichita Eagle story alleging that I used my influence to award friends of mine the contract for the new water treatment facility. I want to assure you that these allegations are simply not true. In fact, our process is designed so that this kind of favoritism cannot happen. The full City Council made this decision based on what is best for the community. Below you can read my response to today’s Wichita Eagle story…

(Read more: Facebook – City of Wichita.)

NOTO dedicates new courtyard, unveils sculpture

The NOTO Arts and Entertainment District continues to develop areas that people can visit, and Thursday was no different as the district gathered to dedicate its new courtyard.

The courtyard, located between the NOTO Arts Center, 935 N. Kansas Ave., and Paper June, 927 N. Kansas Ave., features string lights, painted concrete by Shelly Bedsaul and new landscape.

The courtyard officially has been named Teeter Courtyard after Stan and Jody Teeter, who donated money to repair the courtyard.

Douglas County set to sell tax foreclosed properties, six years after the delinquent owners last paid

While the Douglas County government tends to give local property owners a few years to pay back taxes, it could take five years — or even more — before it sells those properties to recoup lost tax revenue.

Douglas County will soon offer a tax foreclosure sale on properties that have not paid their taxes. But the properties that will be up for sale include four parcels of land that have not paid county taxes since 2013, about six years ago.

Jeff Heiman, a local attorney who processes the tax foreclosure lawsuits for the county, said the process to sell those properties took longer than he expected.

Baldwin City to ask KDOT to help with multiuse trail on Midland Railway easement

After purchasing a multiuse easement along the length of Midland Railway in April 2018, Baldwin City will soon apply for a Kansas Department of Transportation grant to help install a concrete trail on the section of the easement within the city limits.

Baldwin City Administrator Glenn Rodden said the city would apply in October for a KDOT transportation enhancement grant that would provide 80% of the construction cost of the trail. The trail would follow about 4,000 feet of track from the south side of U.S. Highway 56 to Lawrence Avenue on the east side of town.

Healy USD 468 drops to 44 students

The kindergarten through 12th grade headcount this month for the entire Healy school district, based in Lane County, was 44.

Superintendent Cheryl Cook said that represented a new low. She also said there are no first-graders in the school district.

Fifteen of the 44 students live in other school districts, including in the Scott City, Dighton and Gove areas.

A year ago the headcount for the district was 52, but by the end of the school year in May, enrollment had dropped to 46, Cook said.

(Read more: Local – The Hutchinson News)

Dollar store food requirement rule tabled

Some Hutchinson Planning Commission members showed no interest Tuesday in pursuing regulations that would require future dollar stores to dedicate a certain percentage of space for fresh foods, but they voted to return to the subject Oct. 8.

City staff is recommending an amendment to zoning regulations that would require new small-box variety stores or dollar stores to obtain a conditional use permit and have a design standard of a minimum of 10% of retail floor area dedicated to the sale of fresh food and fresh frozen food.

“What we are talking about is not a ban on these stores,” said city planning and development director Ryan Hvitlok, but a “minimal” regulation that would align with the city’s 20-year Comprehensive Plan that promotes access to healthy food options.

(Read more: Local – The Hutchinson News)

Restaurants wanting to use Naftzger Park for patio seats strike deal with board

Restaurants that want to use Naftzger Park land for outdoor dining and drinking have struck a deal with a Wichita board.

The agreement unanimously approved by the Board of Park Commissioners on Wednesday reduces the space available to the restaurants and does not allow fencing to enclose the patio area. The use agreement now goes to the City Council for ratification.

Jon Rolph’s Thrive Restaurant Group plans a HomeGrown restaurant and a new Peace Love & Pie concept in the downtown Spaghetti Works District.

(Read more: Local News |)

Couple steps in to save Kansas cafe known for German buffet that closed after flood

They’ve become pretty good bakers and meat smokers, and with 17 years of experience selling food on their resumes, Mark and Kris Wiebe think they’d be pretty good at running a restaurant.

But that’s not their only reason for reopening the Main Street Cafe, the small-town Kansas restaurant that’s been closed since a Fourth of July flood.

Mark grew up just two miles outside of Durham, where the cafe has operated for more than two decades. So he knows first-hand how important the presence of a restaurant can be for small communities.

(Read more: Dining With Denise Neil |)

Newton follows teens’ lead in raising age limit

On the heels of a second death attributed to vaping products in Kansas announced this week, the Newton City Commission took action on a request from high school students this summer to move the legal age of purchase for tobacco and e-cigarettes to 21.

“When I first came here with three other students, we all understood that any change could be a good change,” said Eli Reddington, president of STAND at Newton High School. “We have been seeing this problem in Newton High School, and it is everywhere. We are social media. … Any change that can help stop someone from getting addicted to nicotine is a good change.”

“My guess is in the health industry we are going to see the effects of this from our youth,” said Val Gleason, president and CEO of Newton Medical Center. “Their lung damage is severe. … We don’t know if it is reversible, and it is serious.”

Dodge City forms census committee

In preparation for the 2020 census, the first Dodge City Complete Count Committee has been formed with community leaders and stakeholders to develop and implement a plan to get every Ford County resident counted in the decennial census.

The committee’s goal will be to increase the accuracy of the census within the community, which is an area with historically low participation in the census.

“A complete and accurate count of every resident in southwest Kansas is critical to ensuring all of our families and communities can thrive,” said Kansas Appleseed campaign director Blanca Soto. “Counting everyone ensures Dodge City and every community in Kansas will have the resources and representation that accurately reflect our diverse population.”

County, wind farm representatives disagree on flood damage to roads

A Friday county commission meeting to discuss road maintenance issues with Enel Green Power, the company developing Diamond Vista wind farm in the northern section of the county, and talk to Expedition Wind about future development of a wind farm in the southern portion of the county stayed civil despite a packed house.

Commissioners first discussed road damage caused by July storms weeks ago and county engineer Brice Goebel said Enel Green Power did not consider it their responsibility to repair that damage. Commissioners disagreed, since damage caused by rain is to be expected in Kansas.

(Read more: PEABODY Gazette-Bulletin)

Shawnee County adopts $8 million budget to develop Family Park

A divided Shawnee County Commission adopted an $8 million budget Thursday for a project to develop a Family Park just south of S.W. 21st and Urish Road.

Commissioners voted 2-1 to approve a proposal containing that figure, with Commissioners Bob Archer and Bill Riphahn voting in the majority.

Commissioner Kevin Cook dissented, noting that Thursday’s meeting was Archer’s last on the commission.

“A new commissioner, who will have to live with this decision, is coming on board,” Cook said.

County officials, others bid farewell to Commissioner Archer

Shawnee County Commission Chairman Bob Archer got a standing ovation from those present at the end of Thursday’s commission meeting, which was his last on that body.

A standing-room-only crowd filled all 35 public seats in the commission chambers at Thursday’s meeting, where various speakers bid farewell to Archer while praising him for having helped make Shawnee County a better place to live, work and play.

“You have been an integral part of this community’s forward momentum,” said Curtis Sneden, senior vice president for the Greater Topeka Partnership.

Olathe school district poised to sue Juul amid vaping illness outbreak

The Olathe school district is poised to sue a major electronic cigarette manufacturer as the number of deaths from a vaping-related lung disease continues to climb.

The school board will hold a special meeting at 11:30 a.m. Friday to vote on filing a lawsuit against Juul, the largest U.S. seller of e-cigarettes. Vape users and parents have filed dozens of lawsuits targeting Juul, including a man in Johnson County, who alleged the company’s marketing has led to widespread substance abuse among young people.

District officials declined to comment until after Friday’s meeting.

(Read more: Local News |)

Shawnee County officials, others bid farewell to Commissioner Bob Archer

Shawnee County Commission chairman Bob Archer got a standing ovation from those present at the end of Thursday’s commission meeting, which was his last on that body.

A standing-room-only crowd filled all 35 public seats in the commission chambers at Thursday’s meeting, where various speakers bid farewell to Archer while praising him for having helped make Shawnee County a better place to live, work and play.

“You have been an integral part of this community’s forward momentum,” said Curtis Sneden, senior vice president for the Greater Topeka Partnership.

Impact Avenues to combat student homelessness

Officials estimate there are between 700 and 1,000 homeless students in Topeka and Shawnee County schools. The poverty and uncertainty of living in such a situation has a major effect on a student’s ability to learn. Topeka USD 501, the city of Topeka and the Topeka Rescue Mission, along with a number of other area businesses and agencies, have come together to launch the Impact Avenues program in an effort to combat this problem and break the generational poverty cycle.