Kansas Municipal News
After beating his stage 4 cancer in less than a year, he’s named as Merriam new police chief
He was told he had terminal cancer.
But now less than a year after his diagnosis, Darren McLaughlin is not only back to the police force, he’s Merriam’s new police chief.
McLaughlin was diagnosed with stage 4 non-Hodgkins lymphoma in January. Doctors told him it was terminal.
But McLaughlin beat the odds and is now cancer free.
(Read more: fox4kc.com | FOX 4 – WDAF)
Great Bend trying to figure out priorities for future street repairs
Professional Engineering Consultants (PEC) was assigned by the City of Great Bend to create a digital map of street conditions. The $50,000 project outlines service line locations underneath the streets and also what repairs are needed in the future.
Judging the city streets as a whole, PEC engineer Ben Mabry told the Great Bend City Council that the rating is in the middle of the pack.
While the conditions for every street in town were rated, the assessment was made upon a surface evaluation.
“You are not going to find everything, there may be some potholes,” said Mabry. “To get a 100% accurate representation of the pavement, you would have to go core every street. We did not have the budget to do that for every street.”
(Read more: Great Bend Post)
Transfer station payment still topic for county commission
Delinquent taxes, a lease-purchase idea to pay for transfer station renovations, and buying furniture were the focus of the Sept. 23 commission meeting.
In an effort not to deplete the county’s cash reserves in renovating the transfer station, Commissioner Randy Dallke said he wants clarification on the sales tax from the state legislature.
Commissioner Dianne Novak said her mission between now and the next time the county reviews its annual budget, is to know how to read and comprehend what it all means.
“It’s a complex budget,” she said. “But regarding the transfer station, there is about $500,000 in his capital outlay and in the risk management line item there is another $500,000.”
(Read more: Hillsboro Free Press)
Reno County Sheriff Randy Henderson to retire Dec. 27
In an email to staff and others, Reno County Sheriff Randy Henderson announced Wednesday his plans to retire on Dec. 27.
“After over 43 years in law enforcement, I feel it is time for me to give more time to my family,” Sheriff Henderson wrote. “I have had a blessed career, being mentored by some outstanding officers. I have been fortunate to have the greatest staff around me, that have supported me and made my life and job pretty easy.”
He also talked about his blood family that has stood behind him and supported him in good times and bad. “It is now time for me to give back to them,” Henderson said. “My 98-year-old mother needs more of my time, I have much work to do around our house, make momma happy, and I never want to miss my grandkids sporting or school events again.” He says that makes him happy.
(Read more: Hutch Post)
County Commission will honor longtime employees
The Geary County Commission recognize employees for service milestones attained during 2019 at a ceremony on Sept. 30 beginning at 3 p.m.
Among the many employees that will be honored are Dale Evans, Public Works, 35 years; Diane Briestensky-Leonard, Register of Deeds, Wendy Easley, Attorney and Dennis Lilly, Public Works all for 25 years.
A total of 18 county employees will be honored during the ceremony.
(Read more: Junction City Post)
Kansas ranked among best states for teachers
A new study put Kansas among the top 15 best states for teachers.
Wallethub ranked states based on average teacher starting pay, average teacher pension and average growth potential. They also looked at opportunity, competition and academic and work environment.
Academic and work environment included student to teacher ratio, overall quality of the state school system, and even average commute time.
Kansas was ranked 13 beating out all of its neighboring states.
(Read more: KSN-TV)
Some Lawrence still interested in raising age to buy tobacco products; others say it’s the wrong approach
Though the Lawrence City Commission has declined to consider a proposal to ban the sale of tobacco and vaping products to people under 21, that doesn’t necessarily mean the idea won’t get its day at City Hall.
A court ruling this summer indicated that local governments have the authority to ban tobacco sales to those under 21, but because of a lack of support among Lawrence city commissioners, the commission has not joined Douglas County in passing such a ban. However, with an election coming up, Mayor Lisa Larsen said she planned to bring the topic up again.
Read more: LJWorld.com.
KDA to Participate in Multistate ASF Exercise
The Kansas Department of Agriculture will be one of 15 states participating in a functional exercise the week of Sept. 23-26 focused on the states’ plans for African swine fever (ASF) response and mitigation. The functional exercise, led by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, will test participants’ abilities to respond to a simulated animal disease event….
This four-day functional exercise, which will be based out of KDA headquarters in Manhattan, will enable KDA and its partners in other state agencies, federal and local government, industry, university and 14 other states to practice this response plan.
(Read more: Rural Messenger)
Gardner postpones water plant annexation
The Gardner City Council Sept. 16 asked Ryan Denk, city attorney, and staff to contact Miami County Board of commissioners about the city’s plans to annex the Hillsdale water treatment plant.
The council during its last meeting Sept 3 authorized the mayor to execute a “consent to annex” the plant.The plant is located in unincorporated Miami County, and city staff said it would save money on permitting fees paid to Miami County for construction projects at the plant. Fees were estimated at $150,000.
(Read more: Gardner News)
USD 308 School Board seeks approval of amendment for facilities use.
The Hutchinson USD 308 School Board will seek approval of several amendments to the shared facilities agreement with Hutchinson Community College during Monday’s agenda session. The agreement includes the use of Gowans Stadium and the USD 308 Complex.
The amended agreement now includes information related to the use and care costs of the game soccer field located at the soccer complex at 23rd and Severance. Hutchinson Community College will pay for 30% of the maintenance costs of the game field which at this time is $15,000. We have also amended the agreement to indicate that HCC staff will be responsible for the custodial services and the grounds clean up after all USD 308 events at Gowans Stadium.
The associated cost to USD 308 would be $7,740. The district feels the change will keep them from bringing in off duty staff and paying overtime to staff for the cleanup of the Gowans’ after home events.
(Read more: Hutch Post)
Sedgwick Co. Rural Water District 4 under boil advisory
A boil water advisory has been issued for residents in Sedgwick County Rural Water District 4. The advisory is for all services south of Kellogg Avenue.
On its website, the water district said its water line was hit at 23rd South and 167th West. Some customers could be without water service for 8 hours. When service returns, customers should boil water for one minute prior to drinking or preparing food, or using bottled water.
(Read more: KAKE – News)
Little Jerusalem Badlands state park to open October 12 in Logan County
The wait is finally over. The Nature Conservancy and Kansas Department of Wildlife Parks & Tourism (KDWPT) announce the much-anticipated Little Jerusalem Badlands State Park will open on Saturday, October 12. Located in southern Logan County, Little Jerusalem is easily accessed from Interstate 70 and U.S. Highway 83. A grand opening celebration with speeches and a ribbon cutting will take place at 10 a.m. The two permanent trails will open after the ceremony and close at sundown, approximately 7 p.m. Free snacks and water will be available.
Grand opening activities include free, guided tours departing from the parking lot on Saturday at 11:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 1:30 p.m., 2:30 p.m., 3:30 p.m., 4:30 p.m., and 5:30 p.m. Space for the guided tours is limited and advance registration at nature.org/littlejerusalem is required. All visitors may hike the two permanent trails at Little Jerusalem at their own pace. The Overlook Trail extends one-quarter mile along a crushed rock surface to a scenic viewpoint.
(Read more: Kiowa County Signal)
Bethel College capital campaign launches with seven-figure gift
As Bethel College moves full steam ahead with its Engage the Future capital campaign, a significant gift from two Baldwin City alumni has boosted the effort.
The Dick Living Trust has made a commitment of $1.5 million toward the campaign, which is focused on student wellness (physical, spiritual and emotional), information technology upgrades, academic program initiatives and annual giving.
Brad Kohlman, Bethel vice president for institutional advancement, said, “This is the type of commitment that is transformational to our institution’s present and its future.”
(Read more: Newton Kansan)
Lenexa, KDOT planning to improve I-435 interchange at West 87th Street Parkway
Lenexa is planning to work with the Kansas Department of Transportation to make improvements to the busy highway interchange near City Center.
The project calls for construction of interchange improvements at West 87th Street Parkway and I-435. The total cost of the project is estimated to be $6.68 million. Lenexa has been awarded $3.2 million in funding from the federal Surface Transportation Program to help cover expenses for the project. Meanwhile, the city will cover the remainder of the project costs as part of its 2019-23 capital improvement program.
(Read more: Prairie Village Post – Neighborhood news and events for Prairie Village, Fairway, Mission Hills)
Pratt County approves loader purchase; flu shots available today
Pratt County commissioners approved the reconditioning of a loader at the Pratt County Landfill during their regular Monday meeting business. Jason Winkel, landfill manager, said the loader was about four years old and had 4,500 hours. Some parts of the loader were showing from 80 percent to 90 percent wear and needed to be replaced. The final drive seals are starting to show a little leakage and don’t need to be replaced right now but Winkel said it would be smart to do it at the same time to save transport expenses at a later date.
Commissioners approved $39,700 for Foley Cat to do the reconditioning. Foley is also completing reconditioning on another landfill loader and will swap out loaders when the first project is complete.
Work on a temporary land fill scale house is almost done. Some electrical work needs to be done. So far, Winkel has only received one response for bids for concrete work for the new scale house. He is expecting responses from two other contractors.
(Read more: Pratt, KS – Pratt Tribune)
USDA offers disaster assistance for Kansas farmers hurt by 2018, 2019 disasters
Agricultural producers affected by natural disasters in 2018 and 2019 can apply through the Wildfire and Hurricane Indemnity Program Plus (WHIP+). Sign-up for this U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) program began Sept. 11.
“There is no doubt that extreme weather has greatly impacted Kansas’ agricultural producers over the last several years, and 2019 is no exception,” said David Schemm, State Executive Director for Farm Service Agency (FSA) in Kansas. “With record amounts of crops prevented from planting nationwide and other devastation, more than $3 billion is available through this disaster relief package passed by Congress and signed by President Trump in early June.”
(Read more: Sabetha Herald)
Muni-Bond Sales Surging as Yields Tumble to Lowest Since 1960s
U.S. state and local governments are selling bonds at the fastest pace since the record-setting flood in December 2017, seizing on a slide in interest rates that has pushed their borrowing costs to the lowest in more than half a century.
The volume of new debt sales in September is poised to rival or exceed the $38 billion that was issued in August, which was the busiest month since governments rushed to the market before President Donald Trump’s tax law pulled the subsidies from a key refinancing tactic. Governments have sold about $28 billion of long-term debt in September, a 33% increase from the same period a year ago, and more than $10 billion is already scheduled to be offered over the next week, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.
Read more: Bloomberg.
Finance Director Cindy Ehart Retires After 15 Years with City
Ehart started working as a part-time accountant for Merriam in 2004 and became the City’s finance director in 2007. She’s responsible for managing the City’s budget and financial reporting. Her department also oversees investments, accounts payable, and accounts receivable.
Ehart said Merriam is a location that “can’t be beaten” and said she’s been fortunate to serve the City while doing work she really enjoys.
“Merriam is a great place to live, work, and play,” Ehart said. “I’m grateful for the opportunity to have served the community.”
(Read more: Merriam, KS news)
Motorist who was shot during altercation with Lawrence police officer files lawsuit alleging excessive force
A motorist who was shot by police after a traffic stop turned violent has filed a lawsuit claiming that police used excessive force against him and that the city failed to properly train its officers.
Akira S. Lewis filed the lawsuit in Douglas County District Court against the City of Lawrence, the Lawrence Police Department, the police chief and the two officers involved in the traffic stop. The lawsuit, filed Friday, alleges that the officer who shot Lewis used excessive force and that both officers involved in the stop battered him and inflicted emotional distress through negligence, among other claims.
Read more: LJWorld.com.
Cyberattacks vandalized Kansas county websites in August, exposing security weaknesses
Cyberattacks crippled the websites of about a dozen Kansas counties in early August — replacing their homepages with cryptic messages and an image of Mecca.
One county, which was conducting an election during the assault, decided against posting results online. The attacks did not affect vote counting but meant citizens didn’t have access to normal government information, such as contacts for local agencies, for several hours.
The hacks defaced websites, but did not affect other systems. It does not appear the hacker or hackers took data hostage, as has happened elsewhere in the country. State officials don’t think the hacking was connected to the August primary election.
(Read more: Politics & Government News |)