Kansas Municipal News
County commissioners fed up with road conditions
County commissioners, tired of roads in the Diamond Vista wind farm area not being maintained to their standards, discussed taking action against the company Monday.
Damage from heavy rains has led to a dispute over whether the county or the wind farm company should be responsible for repairs. Enel Green Energy, the company developing Diamond Vista, considers the heavy rains to be an unforeseeable event not in the scope of their responsibility.
(Read more: Marion County RECORD)
Rules for dollar stores in Hutchinson could stir debate
Hutchinson city staff received the go-ahead to draft rules for future dollar stores that could affect their proximity to each other and spell out how much floor space they should dedicate to fresh food.Hutchinson Planning and Development staff took the idea Tuesday night to the Hutchinson Planning Commission. It voted 5-1 to direct staff to draft dollar store regulations.
(Read more: News – The Hutchinson News)
Cherokee County leaders discuss possibility of land bank at Monday night’s meeting
Some structures that stand in Cherokee County were bustling years ago, but now stand vacant and deteriorating.
County leaders are looking for a solution.
“We have had some general interest in creating a land bank in the county, but didn’t have a lot of information,” explained Janet Miller with Cherokee County Economic Development. “So, we’re hoping to learn directly from people that have been down that road before.”
Who better to hear from than leaders from Pittsburg and Fort Scott, as both cities have their own land banks?
These land banks work to help a city or county acquire deteriorating or vacant structures in hopes of repurposing them.
(Read more: KSNF/KODE – FourStatesHomepage.com)
Johnson County Commissioner says collaboration is key to increasing housing options
Housing affordability is a critical issue in Johnson County and in larger metropolitan areas across the nation. Johnson County’s cost of living has grown by double digits across all household sizes since 2014 according to the Economic Policy Institute. Housing costs is a key component of this increase.
If these trends continue, will young adults and families be able to rent an apartment or buy a home? Will longtime residents be able to retire here? First time home buyers in my First Commission District are met with “sticker shock” when greeted with an average sale price well over $300,000 in some portions of my district and few homes available for under $200,000.
(Read more: Prairie Village Post – Neighborhood news and events for Prairie Village, Fairway, Mission Hills)
Johnson County Chair Eilert discusses role of county commissioners
There are two different responsibility areas: state-mandated activities and basic community services. Some responsibilities might fall in both of those categories. For instance: sheriff’s office, jails, community corrections, district attorney office and district court services are state mandated but are also public safety services we cannot function without.
County treasurer, records and tax administration, appraiser’s office, department of motor vehicle, public health department, election office are other examples of state required services. The state government does provide funding for some of those services but in most areas, it requires significant local tax dollars.
(Read more: Prairie Village Post – Neighborhood news and events for Prairie Village, Fairway, Mission Hills)
Neosho County recognized as ‘Community Supporting Breastfeeding’
Neosho County is now one of the 24 counties that have received the Community Supporting Breastfeeding designation from the Kansas Breastfeeding Coalition, Inc.
The designation was presented by Brenda Bandy, the executive director of the KBC, which is a statewide nonprofit that works to promote breastfeeding by helping those that provide clinical support to breastfeeding moms.
The Community Supporting Breastfeeding designation was created in 2014. According to Bandy, they designed the program around a vision of what a “breastfeeding utopia” would look like.
(Read more: The Chanute Tribune)
Marion County Commissioners discuss various security measures
The county’s courthouse will get a security upgrade, but what it will look like is anyone’s guess.
The district court requested security upgrades months ago, and commissioners decided to table the subject for further discussion.
Commission chairman Kent Becker said he believes security upgrades would be good for both the courtroom floor and the courthouse as a whole.
(Read more: Marion County RECORD)
The Codes Administrator issues a reminder about business signs for closed businesses
The Code Administrator / Fire Chief for the City of Junction City, Terry Johnson, has released a statement for all property owners of vacant commercial businesses. He noted that it’s the city’s responsibility to tell all property owners of the requirement to ensure compliance with city code ordinance.
The Code Enforcement Division has received concerns from citizens and property managers about the magnitude of signs in the community for closed businesses is a nuisance. City ordinance puts the responsibility of each property manager, business and citizen holding a commercial property that is no longer in business to remove or change the signage to meet the city code ordinance.
(Read more: Junction City Post)
Garden City names NDS director
The City of Garden City has named Carol Davidson as the next Neighborhood & Development Services Director.Davidson is currently a senior planner with the City of St. George, Utah, and had previously worked for the City of Garden City from 2013 to 2017. She served as the Assistant Director of Neighborhood & Development Services under former Director Kaleb Kentner who resigned in July 2019, to become the Director of Development & Neighborhood Services in Weatherford, Texas.
(Read more: News – The Garden City Telegram)
KDOT holds meetings on future of Kansas transportation
he Kansas Department of Transportation held a meeting in Wichita Tuesday for people to voice their opinions on the future of Kansas transportation plans.
They highlight a 25 year plan that will start for the fiscal year 2020. Included are projects in and outside of the Wichita area for smaller communities. Money is a big topic in the discussion according to one department of transportation official.
“We’ve identified over $18 billion worth of wants and needs by communities,” said Julie Lorenz, secretary for the Kansas Department of Transportation.
(Read more: KAKE – News)
Key yield curve inverts to worst level since 2007, 30-year rate under 2%
Long-term Treasury rates added to their monthlong slide Tuesday, aggravating a key yield curve inversion and sending the 10-year yield to its lowest level against the 2-year rate since 2007.
The yield on the benchmark 2-year Treasury note, more sensitive to changes in Federal Reserve policy, fell to 1.526%, 5 basis points above the 10-year note’s rate of 1.476% after closing inverted on Monday. Before August, the last inversion of this part of the yield curve was the one that began in December 2005, two years before the financial crisis and subsequent recession.
The spread between the 3-month Treasury yield and that of the 10-year note — the Fed’s preferred inversion metric — slumped to -52 basis points, its lowest since March 2007.
The 30-year bond yielded 1.955% and was poised to close below the 3-month bill yield for the first time since 2007.
Read more: CNBC.
Developer wants to light up OP with huge digital display. But city could pull the plug
Overland Park artist Jeff Hanson has seen his bold, textured paintings in People magazine and on the side of a NASCAR race car. He’s even sold one to Elton John.
But he’s never seen his artwork displayed on a massive digital board, animated in multicolored LED lights. Until Tuesday night.
Developer Kenneth Block lit up the display and demonstrated what he hopes will be a permanent addition to one of his new office buildings at CityPlace. He said the digital art adds some life and color to his new stone and glass WellSky Corporate Office at 11300 Switzer Road in Overland Park.
(Read more: Joco 913 News)
City of Wichita asks KDOT to consider improving Kellogg and I-135 interchange
Drivers who depend on Kellogg and I-135 for their daily commute know all too well some of the traffic issues.
“When you get off Kellogg and you’re going south bound on 135, the merge lane is so short,” said Amber Herbel of Park City. “So sometimes you have to slam on the breaks because drivers don’t have the etiquette to get over when there are people trying to merge.”
“There’s a lot of accidents there. said Devry Jeffress of Goddard. “There’s a lot of issues with people getting on and getting off the freeway right there.”
The city said the interchange is reaching its capacity of 100,000 vehicles a day and that number is expected to continue to grow. They expect it to increase to 125,000 vehicles a day on US-54 and 115,000 on I-135 by the year 2040.
(Read more: KSN-TV)
Maize residents overwhelmingly pass bond issues
Maize residents overwhelmingly passed two bond issues to make improvements within the district.
Proposition number one included two new intermediate schools for fifth and sixth graders, improved safety and security throughout the district and upgrades to both high schools.
The proposition passed by a vote of 2,549 to 437.
The second proposition will allow the district to build an indoor pool and auditorium, upgrade playgrounds and add a STEM lab at the elementary schools.
Proposition number two passed by a vote of 2,292 to 684.
(Read more: KSN-TV)
Atlanta to celebrate Labor Day
A cornhole tournament is a highlight at the 134th Labor Day celebration in Atlanta, which begins Saturday.
In addition to the annual horseshoe and softball tournaments, the new cornhole contest on Monday will pit teams of two against each other, with the winners earning a prize. Those interested in competing in the cornhole tournament can call Chuckie Kidd at (620) 741-4815 to sign up.
“The more the merrier,” Labor Day chairman Darren Blackburn said.
The theme for Labor Day this year is “Raising the Roof on Atlanta, Kansas,” referring to the recent renovations at the Atlanta Community Building. Atlanta has “raised the roof” on the improvements.
(Read more: The Arkansas City Traveler)
Prairie Village prepares to kick off ‘Village Vision 2.0’ comprehensive planning process
Twelve years ago, the Prairie Village City Council adopted Village Vision, a wide-ranging comprehensive plan that set priorities for the investment of time, energy and resources in the coming years.
Many of the priority items that plan identified have since been either partially or wholly addressed. Corinth Square, which had fallen into a state of some disrepair at the time, has been largely renovated — and redevelopment of the center continues. The city has updated its building codes to encourage home renovation while maintaining the character of neighborhoods, and it’s enacted a program to encourage residents to improve aging homes. And work has been done to improve the 75th Street corridor — though those improvements fall short of the “boulevard” concept identified in the plan.
(Read more: Shawnee Mission Post – Community news and events for northeast Johnson County)
Pottawatomie County major projects submitted to KDOT for funding
Pottawatomie County has submitted two potential major road projects for state funding through the Kansas Department of Transportation.
Prior to his presentation at a local consult meeting in Topeka, Public Works Director Peter Clark shared highlights with the county commission Monday. One of the projects would see an interchange constructed at Hwy 24 and Flush Road. If approved, it would include a new 200 foot bridge over the highway, in addition to a new tighter diamond interchange design and improvement to the vertical and horizontal geometry of the intersection. Clark says the reason this project was selected was for improved safety and improved traffic capacity and travel times.
(Read more: 1350 KMAN)
County pledges $5,000 support to Big Kansas Road Trip
The Brown County Commission has pledged $5,000 toward the costs of hosting the Big Kansas Road Trip in May 2020.
Linda Duesing and Connie Werner, co-chairwomen of the BKRT Brown County committee, approached the commission earlier this month and asked for funding of $8,350 to cover marketing and other expenses related to bringing the Road Trip to town next May.
In its third year, the BKRT will encompass Nemaha, Brown and Doniphan counties May 7-10, 2020. The announcement was made during this year’s Big Kansas Road Trip (BKRT) that took place May 2-5 in the northwest Kansas counties of Cheyenne, Sherman and Wallace. The inaugural BKRT was held the year prior in Barber, Comanche and Kowa counties.
(Read more: Hiawatha World Online)
Sedgwick County Sheriff seeks to rename Lake Afton Park after Dep. Kunze
The Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office wants to rename the former Judge Riddell Boys Ranch space at Lake Afton Park after Deputy Robert Kunze.
Deputy Kunze was killed in the line of duty in 2018.
Sedgwick County sent out a Facebook post soliciting names for the park, which was recently refurbished to include baseball and softball fields and other recreational areas.
The Sheriff’s Office suggested “Robert Kunze Memorial Activity Park,” saying Kunze spent a lot of time at the park fishing during his personal time.
(Read more: KWCH News)
Kansas State Fair launches new mobile app
Want to find the nearest cheese curds? Need a bathroom in a hurry? Searching for a product — may be a new mop or a fancy grill — to help make your life easier? Or, perhaps, you just don’t want to miss any of the Kansas State Fair action.
The answers — plus more — can be found in the Kansas State Fair’s new mobile app. The app, sponsored by Mattress Hub, is free to download for both iPhone and Android devices. It will help plan your day at the Fair. It will also send real-time notifications — such as when the next calf at the birthing center is being born.
(Read more: The Salina Post)