Municipal News & Jobs

Kansas Municipal News

Douglas County Commission to receive report on local effort to address mental health issues among farmers

While many Kansas farmers believe mental health is a serious issue, almost half of them said in a recent Kansas Farm Bureau study that it’s hard to access mental health services designed for their lifestyle, said Mallory Meek, an agent for the K-State Research and Extension office in Douglas County.

However, in Douglas County, Meek’s office is partnering with the Bert Nash Community Mental Health Center to reverse that trend, she said in a memo to the Douglas County Commission.

During the commission’s meeting on Wednesday, Meek will present ways the partnership is attempting to address mental health issues among local farmers, which is a “community that often suffers in silence,” Meek said in the memo.

Lawrence seeks ideas to improve downtown as part of new master plan; parking lots one option for redevelopment

The next phase of Lawrence’s Downtown Master Plan process will soon begin, and the city wants to know how residents think downtown should look and function in the years to come.

The new master plan will cover downtown land use and development for the next 15 to 20 years. Planning and Development Director Scott McCullough said the visioning phase of the plan’s development will look at multiple aspects of downtown and how they could improve.

“It’s really looking at the opportunities for development and public spaces and traffic and infrastructure, and laying out a shared vision for what downtown could become if those elements were enhanced or changed in some way,” McCullough said.

Wichita’s freak-out over e-scooters is nothing new

Since appearing on Wichita streets in July, electric rental scooters have incited their share of wrath.

Critics call them “stupid,” “trashy,” “an absolute menace” and “all kinds of bad.”

Supporters, including transportation officials and members of the city’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board, say the initial frustration is understandable, but things should improve as e-scooters become a part of Wichita’s landscape and culture.

What neither side may realize: This battle began more than a century ago.

Motorized scooters, first called autopeds and powered by an air-cooled engine over the front wheel, debuted in 1915.

(Read more: Wichita Eagle)

Wichita growing into a professional pickleball scene

Many people are still learning about the sport of pickleball and don’t know that Wichita is gaining national attention as a professional hub for the sport.

“So the top 16 pros from all over the country are here for this weekend,” said Wisconsin contestant Dave Weinbach.

Wichita is turning into a hot spot for pickleball; not only casually but professionally as well.

Weinbach said, “It’s a very very special event, a very unique event, one of a kind, it’s never happened before. And it’s been one of the largest payouts in the history of pickleball.”

(Read more: KWCH News)

Progress continues on Neosho Ridge Wind project

Upgrades to public roads are almost complete in the construction area of the Neosho Ridge Wind project, and the developer hopes to begin pouring foundations next week.

Project Manager Chris Weatherford said upgrades are 95 percent complete to public roads that will be used to deliver components to the project’s lay down equipment yards. Work has also started on access roads across private land to reach the sites of 139 windmills in the southwest part of the county around Thayer and Galesburg.

The Neosho Ridge Wind project, developed by Apex Clean Energy, will generate 300 megawatts of electricity when completed.

(Read more: The Chanute Tribune)

Superintendent announces retirement

Following Monday night’s Board of Education Meeting, a district press release announced that Superintendent Deb Hamm will retire at the end of the 2019-2020 school year.

“Newton is our home,” Hamm stated in the release. “I’ve enjoyed serving this community as a teacher and administrator. I will miss working with the staff and students. However, I am excited to be able to spend more time with my family.”

Hamm has worked in the district from 1989 to 1998 as a teacher, and then assistant principal, before serving as a principal, assistant superintendent, and superintendent out of district. In 2012 She returned to serve as Newton’s superintendent.

(Read more: Newton Now)

Newton raises minimum age to buy tobacco products to 21

If you want to buy tobacco products in Newton, Kansas, you’ll have to be at least 21 years old starting next year.

The Newton City Commission on Tuesday approved a T21 ordinance, which raises the minimum age to 21 to purchase tobacco products. It goes into effect on January 1, 2020.

All tobacco products are covered in the ordinance, including cigarettes, e-cigarettes, cigars, chewing tobacco, etc. Newton was the 500th city in the nation to adopt T21.

(Read more: KAKE – News)

KC-area city lands on ‘Great Places in America’ list

The Kansas City metro is on a roll when it comes to some of the best places to live.

Earlier this month, Money named two local cities — Shawnee and Blue Springs — to its list of the best places to live in the U.S. And now downtown Lee’s Summit has landed on the annual “Great Places in America” list, which is compiled by the American Planning Association (APA).

Lee’s Summit was named as one of four “great neighborhoods” on the Great Places list, which highlights streets, neighborhoods and public spaces that display “exceptional character, quality and planning.” They also are “unique and exemplary in their success stories of revitalization, cultural identity, and strong community connection,” according to a release.

Canton library to host ground breaking

In a Kansas township of 900 citizens sits the last built Carnegie Library that is on both the state and federal historic registries. That library will be added on to this year, after the community celebrates breaking ground.

There will be a groundbreaking ceremony at 5 p.m. Sept. 27 for the Canton Township Carnegie Library, 203 N. Main, Canton.

“Now it can become a facility that can provide learning and enjoyment for all ages,” said Sandra Dresher, President of the Canton Township Carnegie Library Board

Piece of Dodge City’s past returns home

On Tuesday, the Boot Hill Museum received a donation of the Rev. O.W. Wright’s personal desk by his great-granddaughter Claire Laird and her children.

According to Boot Hill Museum, Ormond Worthington Wright was born in Acworth, N.H., in 1850, arriving in Dodge City in early 1877 at the age of 26. He remained in Dodge City as a minister to all people, regardless of their background or occupation, until 1882.

“Soon after he arrived in Dodge City,” the museum said in a news release, “he joined efforts to build the Union Church.

McPherson Hospital debuts new Rehabilitation Department

The community got an inside look at the recently relocated Rehabilitation Services Department at McPherson Hospital during a ribbon-cutting ceremony and open house, Wednesday.

The Rehabilitation Services Department has relocated to a spacious and easily accessible facility in the former Family Practice Associates building, located on the hospital grounds at 1000 Hospital Dr. Building 4.

A ribbon-cutting was held at the rehabilitation department at McPherson Hospital, last week. Present are Dr. Brandon Lebertew, Rick Larmore with RehabVisions, Terri Gehring, CEO and President of McPherson Hospital, Tom Brown, McPherson mayor, Alex Graber, Chamber President and Eric Duerkson, chamber ambassador.

(Read more: McPherson Weekly News » Feed)

Sedgwick County offers mental heath first aid classes

Communities across Kansas are recognizing the importance of mental health education. Comcare in Sedgwick County holds mental health first aid classes. Comcare says it’s similar to a physical first aid class. As people learn how to perform CPR, they should also learn how to help someone in crisis.

“They show up one day and they’re just not the same person. They seem a little bit sadder or they don’t really care about things. That may not be a big sign, but it’s an indicator to say ‘something’s different about you,'” says Sarena Clubb with Comcare.

(Read more: KWCH News)

Local authorities cite drivers in ‘Officer on a Train’ event

Local authorities joined Kansas Operation Lifesaver during Rail Safety Week to watch for unsafe and illegal activities at rail crossings.

The Wichita Police Department, Sedgwick County Sheriff, Kansas Highway Patrol and BNSF police were patrolling rail crossings across Wichita on Tuesday, Sept. 24.

Officers were stationed along the rail crossings and on trains to monitor the area. They cited any driver or pedestrian who attempted to weave through the grade crossings or speed through them.

(Read more: KSN-TV)

Derby woman takes over as Andover’s new city administrator

When Jennifer (Gluszek) McCausland, newly announced city administrator for Andover, was attending Derby High School she never thought someday she would be leading one of the fastest-growing communities in Kansas.

After the longtime Derby resident and 1998 Derby High School graduate attended Wichita State University, the idea of what her career path would be became clear.

“You could look back and say I’ve been preparing to do this my whole life,” McCausland said.

Tour will spotlight historic local landmarks

New residents may not realize it, but Derby has a lot of history – 150 years of it, in fact.

To get the city’s heritage out to all – local citizens and visitors alike – city officials have put together several history-oriented endeavors from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. on Oct. 9.

The activities will be centered at the Derby Historical Museum, 710 E. Market St. They include a ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the debut of the city’s new historical landmark signs and a narrated tour of Derby’s other six signs. There also will be a chance to see the new time capsule inside of the museum. That capsule will be opened in 50 years.

Spring Hill exploring quiet zones

Quieter neighborhoods could soon be a possibility for Spring Hill residents.

Earlier this year, the Governing Body approved a contract and funding with Bartlett and West, a Kansas City engineering firm, to explore railroad quiet zones at three crossings in the City limits: 207th Street, Nichols Street and Hale Street.

The results of this work determined the 207th Street crossing would be the most feasible with plans for raised curb medians and additional signage.

(Read more: City of Spring Hill news)

Overland Park council signals early support for idea of ‘road diet’ on College Blvd.

A lane reduction appears in the cards for a one-mile section of College Boulevard as part of a plan to make the Overland Park corridor a more attractive destination for convention center visitors and nearby office workers.

The city council Monday night gave a favorable nod toward a road diet that would turn the road’s six lanes between Metcalf and Nall Avenues into four and reduce the speed limit to 40 miles per hour from 45.

Board proposes minimum salary in search for new county administrator

A Reno County Commissioner suggested Tuesday that the salary listed in a “recruitment profile” that a consultant plans to disseminate in the search for a replacement Reno County administrator be $120,000.

The salary would be negotiable, Sellers noted, but that amount would be a starting point.

The suggestion was among several Sellers made for the profile, proposing the removal of some and language amended on others before the county posts the document.

Lenexa police host ‘use of force’ workshop for local law enforcement officers

Law enforcement officers across the county recently participated in a workshop to help them gain a better understanding of the science behind the use of police force.

The class, which took place Sept. 18-20, informs law enforcement officers of the physiological effects that use of force can have on them in tense circumstances.

More than 15 agencies participated in the class hosted by the Lenexa Police Department, including roughly seven from Johnson County, and representatives from the Johnson County District Attorney’s Office and Johnson County Medical Examiner’s Office.

Mission calls public hearing on deannexation process along shared border with Roeland Park

The city of Mission is moving forward with next steps to de-annex a small portion of land and allow Roeland Park to annex it in the near future.

The two cities have been in negotiations since December 2018 concerning annexation of seven-tenths of an acre on the northeast corner of Johnson Drive and Roe Boulevard. The subject property is the future site of a medical facility under development; currently, the developer is working with both cities to move forward on the project.