Kansas Municipal News
Administrator discussion tabled, but public input still sought
A discussion item on the Reno County Commission’s Tuesday agenda on desired traits in a new county manager was delayed until next week due to the absence of the commission chairman.
Vice-Chairman Ron Hirst said he wanted to put off the discussion until all the commissioners were present.
Commissioner Ron Sellers voiced concern, however, that the discussion needed to occur quickly or it could the selection process. The two agreed the commission should try again next week to have the discussion.
(Read more: News – The Hutchinson News)
Mission, Roeland Park push for negotiations on deannexation process along shared border
Mission and Roeland Park are struggling to resolve a conflict over the terms to switch ownership of seven-tenths of an acre along a shared border of the two cities. But out of an effort to value the two cities’ history of working together on other issues, the cities have agreed to revisit negotiations on those terms in the next several days.
The plot of land in question is located on the northeast corner of Johnson Drive and Roe Boulevard. Both cities agree that under a deannexation agreement, Roeland Park would take over half of the financial responsibility for the traffic signal at Johnson and Roe, and Roeland Park would pay for expenses incurred in the deannexation process.
(Read more: Prairie Village Post – Neighborhood news and events for Prairie Village, Fairway, Mission Hills)
Shawnee Mission superintendent announces 3 new advisory groups, says much work will be open to public observation
The Shawnee Mission School District is set to convene three groups tasked with fleshing out parts of the recently completed strategic plan, Superintendent Michael Fulton announced on Monday — and the groups’ work will be open and observable to the public.
That openness is a notable change from the work of the Digital Learning Task Force, which met earlier this year in closed door meetings and whose work was criticized by some members as being “designed to silence critics and stifle debate.” The Shawnee Mission Post filed a Kansas Open Meeting Act violation complaint against the district for closing the Digital Learning Task Force meetings from observers. The Kansas Attorney General’s Office informed the Post this summer that it was continuing to investigate the complaint.
(Read more: Prairie Village Post – Neighborhood news and events for Prairie Village, Fairway, Mission Hills)
Edwardsville Police Officer to be Honored for Life-Saving Event
On September 23, 2019, the City of Bonner Springs will recognize Edwardsville Police Officer Michael Hart for a recent event where the officer provided life-saving assistance for a community member in need.
Officer Hart was attending a concert during his off-duty hours where he came into contact with an unconscious individual. Officer Hart then provided CPR to the individual. The act is attributed as a major reason why the individual remains alive today.
(Read more: Edwardsville, KS – News Flash)
Merriam Police Officer Receives Life Saving Award
A 61-year-old Merriam woman’s heart stopped beating on a warm, afternoon last month. When Merriam police arrived at her home, Master Police Officer Matthew Hirsch sprang into action and performed CPR for several minutes.
The woman survived thanks to his efforts and those of the Overland Park Fire Department and Johnson County Med-Act, who arrived shortly after to help during the medical call. She has since made a full recovery.
For his quick actions, MPO Hirsch received a Life Saving Award during the City Council meeting on Sept. 10.
(Read more: Merriam, KS news)
Inadvertently mixed chemicals lead to minor haz-mat situation at Mission wastewater facility
Firefighters from Consolidated Fire District No. 2 and the Overland Park Fire Department were called in to assist Johnson County Wastewater after chemicals were accidentally mixed inside a wastewater treatment substation.
Johnson County Wastewater called for the fire department to respond to the substation, located at 5395 MartwayStreet in Mission, about 10:30 Monday morning and were on scene until about 4 p.m. The facility is directly behind the fire-damaged Mission Bowl building.
(Read more: Prairie Village Post – Neighborhood news and events for Prairie Village, Fairway, Mission Hills)
Overland Park officials sour on plans for Metcalf site once touted as textbook case for tax incentives
The Metcalf Crossing project that was once touted by Overland Park leaders as a textbook example of how tax incentives can be used to remove blight was delayed again Monday, after the city council balked at plans to replace retail pad sites with a car wash.
Instead of approving a revised plan and special use permit, council members said they’d take up the matter at their Oct. 7 meeting. Delaying action would give them a chance to take a second look the tax incentive package they approved for the project.
(Read more: Prairie Village Post – Neighborhood news and events for Prairie Village, Fairway, Mission Hills)
Great Bend school district seeking feedback following failed bond issue
USD 428 Superintendent Khris Thexton says he would like to put together information to present to the Board of Education to see what the next plan is following a failed bond issue. Thexton addressed the board Monday night following last week’s results from a mail-in ballot that rejected a $44.87 million school bond issue. Part of that information will include how other districts across the state have responded once a bond issue election failed.
“We understand the sensitivity of taxes and some have more ‘skin in the game’ and we get that too,” said Thexton. “We want to make something that is agreeable by the majority of the community and make our district the best it can be with what we have.”
So, when can a bond be presented to the voters again? Thexton says only one school bond can be presented to voters per calendar year and there has to be enough money under the state’s bond cap.
Discussion with SJCF Architects will continue but with no extra cost to the district.
(Read more: Great Bend Post)
Earthquake, two aftershocks reported in Rooks County
The Kansas Geological Survey has reported an earthquake and two aftershocks in Rooks County during the weekend.
The organization says a 3.7 magnitude quake was recorded Sunday morning about 9 miles west of Plainville. That was followed Sunday night be aftershocks of 2.4 and 2.2 magnitude.
Geological Survey data shows 49 earthquakes have been reported this year in the northwest Kansas county. The strongest was a 4.8 magnitude on June 22.
The Kansas Corporation Commission currently is investigating about a dozen earthquakes near Hutchinson in Reno County, including several in mid-August. Two quakes with a magnitude of 4.2 were recorded three days apart in the county, where 31 quakes have been reported this year.
(Read more: Hays Post)
Scammers impersonating United Way staff offer cash grants for personal information
The United Way warns Kansans to be on guard after a pair of reports in the eastern U.S. about scammers claiming to represent the organization to get personal information.
“Recently two United Ways, one in Pennsylvania and another in Alabama, reported similar occurrences where individuals were duped by scammers claiming to be associated with United Way,” the organization says.
These calls were different, but included similarities the United Way says are “striking.”
(Read more: KWCH News)
Wichita in top third for public transportation, says WalletHub
The personal finance website Wallethub released its 2019’s Cities with the Best & Worst Public Transportation survey Tuesday.
“Wichita ranked 29th overall,” said analyst Jill Gonzalez. “We did look at 100 cities here in terms of their public transportation. That’s in the top third, definitely something to be proud of. It did particularly well when it comes to its safety and reliability of public transportation.”
Wichita was 7th in that ranking.
“We looked at three things there,” said Gonzalez. “We looked at the public transit safety and security events per miles traveled. That would be things like collisions, derailment, fires, security. Those number of events were relatively low. We also looked at injuries and fatalities per passenger miles traveled.”
(Read more: WIBW News Now)
Goessel museum features ‘Russian Mennonite Clocks and More’
Examples of timepieces spanning two centuries of design and craftsmanship are now on display at the Mennonite Heritage and Agricultural Museum. “Time to Celebrate: Russian Mennonite Clocks and More” is on exhibit through the month of September.
The oldest clocks in the museum are Russian Mennonite wall clocks with metal faces that are about 18 inches tall. A pendulum and chains hang down behind the clock’s face, making its total length about four feet.
“The museum has three of these antique Russian Mennonite wall clocks; the oldest is dated 1822,” said Fern Bartel, director of the Mennonite Heritage and Agricultural Museum. “In addition, we are displaying four Russian Mennonite wall clocks owned by Jerry and Leann Toews that are working.”
(Read more: News – McPhersonSentinel – McPherson, KS)
How many lazy rivers does Johnson County need? New community centers controversial
Inside Lenexa’s new, resplendent recreation center, couples play pickleball, kids zoom through water slides and parents float down the lazy river.
The $35.5 million Lenexa Rec Center opened two years ago, and so far, center manager John Forbis said, it’s exceeded expectations. More members are signing up to swim, take classes and sweat through workouts. And the center is hosting more events, Forbis said, including around 20 birthday parties each weekend.
Now other cities throughout Johnson County are looking to build their own shiny, new fun palaces. But with taxpayers often footing a large chunk of the bill, the projects have come with their own controversies. And those who haven’t hopped on the bandwagon yet are starting to wonder whether they should.
(Read more: Joco 913 News)
First hearing scheduled in Pretty Prairie Wind lawsuit
A Reno County judge has finally scheduled a hearing in the lawsuit filed in July by NextEra Energy and some 69 landowners challenging the denial of a conditional-use permit for a proposed wind farm in the southeast quadrant of Reno County.The hearing, set for 10:30 a.m. Sept. 30 before District Judge Tim Chambers, however, is just to determine whether 18 landowners who filed protest petitions against the Pretty Prairie Wind permit can join the lawsuit as defendants.
(Read more: Local – The Hutchinson News)
Lawrence board votes to recommend allowing 2 houses per lot with certain restrictions
The city’s Affordable Housing Advisory Board has approved a proposal that would allow two houses to be built on one lot if both homes are affordable, supporting recent changes restricting use of the so-called density bonus in some neighborhoods.
At its meeting Monday, AHAB voted unanimously to recommend the proposal, which would allow lots of a certain size to be divided in two as long as both homes are permanently designated as affordable housing. Some residents have criticized the proposal, dubbing it “double density” and saying that it will cause problems for neighborhoods.
Read more: LJWorld.com.
Lawrence City Commission to consider changes to how city manages sidewalk repair requirements
City leaders will soon discuss changes to its sidewalk repair policy, which garnered strong opposition when initiated this spring in northwest Lawrence.
As part of its work session Tuesday, the Lawrence City Commission will provide feedback to city staff on the administrative policy regarding sidewalk repairs, which are the responsibility of the adjacent property owner under city ordinance. The ordinance has been on the books for decades, but the city did not strictly enforce it until this spring. The ordinance was enforced using a process laid out in the policy, which was created last year.
Read more: LJWorld.com.
Man to talk to county about wind farms
Labette County commissioners later this month will hear concerns from a rural Oswego man concerned about site placement for wind farms, especially if they get developed in Labette County.
Mel Hass visited with county commissioners Monday during the public comment period. Hass also spoke to the Parsons Planning Commission in August about its potential regulation of wind farms in the 3-mile area around Parsons. Planners agreed to restrict wind turbines in the area to 200 feet tall, which would rule out commercial wind energy. The planners will have a public hearing on the issue in October before the city commission will consider the recommendation.
(Read more: Parsons Sun)
Newton-area bridge over I-135 reopens
The Kansas Department of Transportation reopened the 36th Street bridge over I-135 just south of Newton on Monday.
The 50-year-old bridge had been closed since last Tuesday, Sept. 3, so workers could repair a deteriorated section of the deck surface with a large patch and allow the repair to cure.
With continued deterioration that prompted the bridge’s closure, KDOT has decided to do a more extensive project to repair an underlying issue that has caused surface cracking. KDOT anticipates that the project will begin next spring.
(Read more: KSN-TV)
New development on the way to Riverside
For years the Riverside Academy was home to youth that were considered at-risk. Going back decades it was home to unwed mothers.
This week the Academy, formerly known as the Booth Hospital, is coming down.
“It’s bittersweet to see it go,” said Riverside resident, Chris Hagman. “It’s such a piece of history to Riverside.”
(Read more: KSN-TV)
Jewish Community Center plans $11M expansion in OP
The Jewish Community Center of Greater Kansas City is set to start work on an $11 million expansion next month.
The project, which will expand the center’s footprint by about 30%, will include a second gymnasium space and an indoor turf soccer field in addition to other spaces such as a yoga studio and a ceramics room.
CEO Jim Sluyter said the community center has raised about $11 million of the $13 million needed. The additional $2 million will go toward an endowment to maintain the building.
(Read more: Kansas City Business Journal – The Business Journals)