Municipal News & Jobs

Kansas Municipal News

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.

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.

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 |)

A Kansas town and Google roll toward the future with Wi-Fi on school buses

What do you do when you’re stuck for an hour or more on a school bus?

In one Kansas school district, you log onto the internet and you do your homework.

On Friday, the chairman of the Federal Communications Commission and other dignitaries came to Council Grove, population 2,079, to celebrate a budding program to equip rural school transportation with Wi-Fi service.

(Read more: Local News |)

Commissioner Bob Archer prepares to leave office amid whirlwind of activity

Bob Archer entered politics here 10 years ago by winning the closest election in Topeka City Council history.

Now he’s preparing to leave the Shawnee County Commission amid a whirlwind of political activity.

Republican precinct committee members from the district Archer represents are preparing to choose his replacement Friday from between announced candidates Neil Dobler and Aaron Mays, and anyone else who might step forward.

School board presented first look at Manhattan High expansions

The Manhattan-Ogden USD 383 board of education got their first look at the designs for the Manhattan High School West campus expansions.

The hardest challenge for the Manhattan High School West Campus renovations is fitting all the staff and students from the East Campus. This is according to Adam Sterns with Gould Evans as he presented the options. Stern gave somewhat detailed options they have been looking at based on the master plan.

“There’s about 70 thousand square feet of additions in both the auxiliary gym and classroom additions, 100 additional parking spots for the incoming students and faculty. So that was kind of how the master plan was drawn up,” says Stern “The good news is we’re about the same square footage.”

Sterns says they looked at classrooms in high schools from around the state to get an idea on the rooms they would like. They decided on 800 square feet for each room from teacher input. They then surveyed teachers and students on what they want out of a classroom, with the students saying they wanted larger classrooms.

(Read more: 1350 KMAN)

Tyson plant resumes some operations, provides update on reconstruction

Tyson representatives posted an update on the reconstruction of the Holcomb meatpacking plant Friday morning, saying the plant is still months away from reopening entirely but has been able to resume limited ground beef and value-added production.

Tyson Fresh Meats President Steve Stouffer said in the update that the company appreciates the support from Finney County residents following a fire that heavily took to the harvest floor of the plant on Aug. 9 and 10, caused by a “flash” following welding work near the slaughter area. The plant has since closed temporarily for reconstruction.

(Read more: Dodge City Daily Globe)

Edgerton approves condemnation plan

The Edgerton City Council approved a resolution to acquire through condemnation several private properties along state Highway 56 during a meeting Sept. 12.

The properties lie along the proposed route of a multi-use path along the highway which will provide pedestrian and bicycle access from neighborhood residences to the Dollar General store, the elementary school and other future development.

Dan Merkh, public works director, told the council that city staff had spoken with all the property owners along the corridor and negotiations for easements are ongoing.

(Read more: Gardner News)

Cost to repair, replace spillway balloons to $766,000

Cost of repairing the Gardner Lake dam has grown to more than $766,000, according to Michael Kramer, public works director. The cost includes the design, permitting and construction of the alternate.

In January, 2017, the Gardner City council approved dredging the lake and repairing the dam for a cost of $780,000. Michael Kramer, public works director, said the State Division of Conservation (DOC) had responded to a June 2016 city request for funding and would contribute $280,000 in 2017 to fund the dredging project. Kramer had also said DOC was hopeful that another $200,000 would be available in 2018, in which case more dredging would be done.

The DOC grant did not become available.

(Read more: Gardner News)

Jobless rate in Kansas lowest in 20-plus years

Kansas is reporting that unemployment in the state dropped to 3.2% in August and was at its lowest rate in more than 20 years.

The state Department of Labor said Friday that the state gained private-sector jobs during the month and over the past year. Labor economist Emilie Doerksen said the state has seen broad economic growth, and Gov. Laura Kelly hailed the report as good news for Kansas.

The department said the unemployment rate declined from 3.3% in July. It was also 3.3% in August 2018.

It was the lowest unemployment rate since May 1999. The rate has been below 4% since January 2017.

(Read more: Great Bend Post)

Seismologists urge Kansans to have a disaster plan for earthquakes

A couple of earthquakes shook south central Kansas early Saturday morning, one in Oklahoma and one in Kansas. They’re the latest earthquakes to shake the region.

The Cosmosphere in Hutchinson held a free public presentation on Saturday morning. Hoping to give some answers to locals about why this is happening.

“From a scientific perspective, what we’re seeing in Kansas is really quite interesting. I think that there are a lot of interesting things that we’re still learning,” says Dr. Justin Rubinstein.

(Read more: KAKE – News)

KPERS explores idea of cutting 7.75% investment return forecast, adding to liability

Trustees of the Kansas Public Employee Retirement System discussed Friday the possibility of following a national trend by lowering assumptions on long-term investment returns, signaling the state’s taxpayers could be asked to contribute more to a system serving 315,000 people.

Nothing is likely to be decided about modifying the current 7.75% return on investment standard for KPERS until completion in January of a lengthy study of economic and demographic trends.

“This is obviously one of the most important decisions the board makes,” said Kelly Arnold, the board’s chairman. “We need to make sure we’re making the right decision for the members.”

Kansas’ unemployment rate slips to 3.2% for first time in two decades

The unemployment rate in Kansas declined to 3.2% in August and the state recorded expansion of 17,800 jobs in the private sector during the past year, officials said Friday.

Gov. Laura Kelly seized upon the latest monthly report as evidence of an economy capable of job growth and lowering of the jobless rate. It has been about 20 years since the Kansas unemployment figure moved under 3.3%.

“This is good news for Kansas,” she said. “My administration is focused on creating quality jobs throughout Kansas.”

Library project moves forward

Following a special meeting of the Newton City Commission and the library visiioning team, a firm was selected for a project to renovate or replace the Newton Public Library.

Commissioner Barth Hague moved, and Mayor Kathy Valentine seconded, to accept a contract with HBM Architects subject to City Attorney review. The motion carried 4-1 with commissioner Glen Davis voting against.

According to the meeting minutes, due to HBM Architects’ extensive experience with library projects and their detailed ranking process for site-selection, the committee was interested in hiring them. The fund-raising sub-consultant of Swanson House that WDM Architects teamed up with “was impressive and the committee asked if these two consultants could work together on the project.”

(Read more: Newton Kansan)

Little Jerusalem State Park opens Oct. 12

The wait is finally over.

The Nature Conservancy and Kansas Department of Wildlife Parks and Tourism (KDWPT) have announced that the Little Jerusalem Badlands State Park will open on Sat., October 12.

(Read more: Scott County Record RSS)

Hundreds turn out for fourth annual Clean Slate Day sponsored by city of Topeka

Long before the crack of dawn on Friday morning, folks started lining up in front of the Topeka Performing Arts Center for a chance to clear their criminal records during the fourth annual Clean Slate Day, sponsored by the city. For some, it meant setting a court date on an outstanding case, thereby dropping a warrant that had been issued for their arrest. For others, it was a chance to renew a driver’s license that had been suspended.

Pretty Prairie district gains students

Pretty Prairie USD 311 added students and staff this year. All-day preschool for 3- and 4-year-olds has made Pretty Prairie attractive for young families, said superintendent Randy Hendrickson. Friday was the day Kansas schools counted students, and Pretty Prairie school district’s number for K-12 was 287, up from 272 students a year ago. "We’re very excited," Hendrickson said. There’s a lot of growth in the elementary grades, Hendrickson said.

(Read more: Local – The Hutchinson News)