Kansas Municipal News
Douglas County Commission selects interim county administrator for permanent role
The Douglas County Commission will forgo a search to fill its vacant county administrator position and will instead appoint interim County Administrator Sarah Plinsky to the permanent position.
At their meeting Wednesday, commissioners unanimously approved directing the county counselor to begin contract negotiations with Plinsky.
Plinsky has been serving as the interim county administrator since December, when the previous administrator, Craig Weinaug, retired after working for the county for 26 years. When Weinaug left the position, he said the county would conduct a search to find his replacement.
Read more: LJWorld.com.
Maize Schools bond issue up for vote now
Voters
Voters in the Maize school district can now vote on a bond issue to build two new intermediate schools. We first told you last spring about the district’s unexpected enrollment growth – almost twice what demographers had predicted.
Now it’s time for you to decide what happens next.
“We came out early to try to avoid the lines,” said Emery Bertrand after voting on the USD 266 bond proposal.
(Read more: KAKE – News)
Summer reading program puts more than 1300 free books in Salina homes
RAWR volunteers Michael Gutierrez, Meaghan Roths, Makenna Roths, Ariana Cannon, and Leonie Harzman. Photo courtesy Salina Area United Way
Seventy-six adult and teen volunteers spent time this summer reading to children at four of Salina’s schools’ thanks to the Salina Area United Way.
The listeners — children from birth to 18 — each week got to pick out a book of their very own. During the seven-week program, 1308 free books were given to children for their home libraries.
Staff and volunteers of the five-year program, Raising Active Wild Readers (RAWR), distributed the free books one day a week at each of the four schools. RAWR was offered this year at Heusner, Sunset, and Schilling elementary schools, and Heartland Early Education Center. The Salina Area United Way partners with the Salina Public Library and USD 305’s summer lunch program. Library staff selects books for volunteers to read. Each week the books have a different theme.
(Read more: The Salina Post)
Miami, Linn counties in flash flood watch
Miami and Linn counties are in a flash flood watch until midday Thursday, Aug. 22.
A serve thunderstorm was located in the Linn Valley and La Cygne area about 7:45 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 21, according to the National Weather Service (NWS). The weather service reported additional thunderstorms producing heavy rainfall are expected to develop Wednesday evening across Miami and Linn counties and continue overnight. Rainfall totals of up to 3 inches or more in some areas are possible, according to NWS.
Low-lying, flood-prone areas will be most susceptible to flash flooding, with areas near rivers, creeks, and streams likely to become flooded during and immediately after heavy rainfall, according to NWS.
(Read more: The Miami County Republic)
Two established local businesses moving to downtown Wellington
Two new businesses are headed for downtown Wellington.
The Wellington H&R Block Tax Preparation Office is making the move from its old building at 517 North G St. to 119 S. Washington Ave. which is the former location of RCB Bank in downtown Wellington.
H&R Block officials confirmed the move and the new office will be open as soon as next month. In fact, the website is already sporting its new address (see here). The new RCB Bank is now on U.S. 160, east of the Wellington McDonalds.
Another business, Travelin’ Smoke Barbecue which has the popular food truck on U.S. 81 (not far from the H&R Block old location by the way), will be relocating at Barefoot Jerry’s Pub and Grill.
(Read more: Sumner NewsCow)
Divided county commission OKs move regarding pickleball courts
Issues regarding pickleball courts that will be built in southwest Topeka once again brought division Thursday among members of the Shawnee County Commission.
Commissioners voted 2-1 that morning to seek quotes from companies interested in contracting with the county to design and build those courts, which will be located in a planned “Family Park” on property the county owns just south of S.W. 21st and Urish Road.
Commissioner Kevin Cook voted “no,” saying commissioners before taking that step needed to provide more opportunity for public input, including consulting the county’s parks and recreation advisory board.
(Read more: Local Government – The Topeka Capital-Journal)
Campaign at Fort Hays State approaches $100 million donation goal
Fort Hays State University Thursday announced progress in its effort to reach a $100 million donation goal.
That $100 million goal is par of the Journey Campaign in which money raised will go tot scholarships, athletics, academics and student life.
Fort Hays State Thursday announced it’s ahead of schedule in its donation efforts with $88 million raised as of June 30.
“We’re feeling very jazzed and optimistic that we’ll not only meet our goal, but we’ll exceed it,” says Journey Campaign Co-Chair Stephen Shields.
(Read more: KWCH News)
Junction City one cent sales tax renewal will be on the ballot for voters in November
A one cent sales tax will be on the ballot in Junction City in November. It will continue the current sales tax that began January 1, 2011 but is due to expire on December 31, 2020.
City Manager Allen Dinkel said it collects approximately $3.5 million per year for city debt relief. ” It takes more than sales tax to pay off the debt level we’re paying, because we’re paying about $11 million a year in debt, or debt payments with interest included. ” Dinkel added in the past five years or four-and-a-half years that he has been in Junction City the city’s general debt has decreased from $114 million to about $76 million.
The sales tax issue will be on the ballot in November so a special election will not have to be held next summer to continue the tax.
(Read more: Junction City Post)
Annual Tumbleweed Festival begins Friday evening
The annual Tumbleweed Festival gets underway this weekend featuring food, music and children’s activities.
Bring your lawn chairs and enjoy the great atmosphere of the West Green at Lee Richardson Zoo for the three day event August 23, 24 and 25.
Whether your musical preference is country, Americana, folk, bluegrass, jazz, funk, Latin or pop prepare your ears for some fantastic talent.
(Read more: Greater Garden City » Feed)
California philanthropists give $1M gift to McPherson College
McPherson College has announced a gift of $1 million from Richard and Melanie Lundquist, noted California philanthropists.According to a media release, the gift recognizes the work of renowned car restorer, Paul Russell and Company, and was announced at a private event hosted by McPherson College at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. Russell serves as president of the college’s national advisory board for automotive restoration.“We are committed to McPherson’s automotive restoration program, particularly since it is the only four-year program like it in the country,” Melanie Lundquist said. “The college strives to provide the best student experiences. We really enjoy the collaborative partnership we have developed with the college.”
(Read more: Great Bend Post)
Great Bend voters to decide fate of 2019 school bond
Residents in Great Bend received the 2019 school bond election ballot in their mailboxes Wednesday.
It is a two-question ballot and question one must pass in order for question 2 to pass.
“It would show the support we have in our community for our school district. We’re putting children first and we want to make sure that we’re reaching all the kids and giving them the best opportunity to be successful,” USD 428 superintendent Khris Thexton said.
(Read more: KSN-TV)
New Wichita police patrol: No guns, no badges; but golf carts, eyes and ears
The newest patrol in the Wichita Police Department doesn’t have guns, or badges, or Tasers, or Mace — just golf carts, polo shirts, ID cards, cell phones and, most importantly, their eyes and ears.
And they don’t get paid.
Meet the men and women of the Volunteers in Policing program — 11 concerned citizens who attended the WPD Citizens Police Academy and an extra three hours of extra training in observation, communication, personal safety and golf cart operation and maintenance.
(Read more: Local News |)
Do the small discount stores help or hurt communities?
As small discount stores proliferate across the state and country, some communities are taking a hard look at the economic and social impact of those businesses.
In February 2018, the Buhler City Council voted against rezoning an area across the street from the retirement community to allow for a Dollar General.
Mayor Daniel Friesen said he heard mostly negative feedback and a Dollar General didn’t fit into the future Buhler councilmembers envisioned, Hutchinson News reported.
(Read more: www.ctnewsonline.com – RSS Results)
Coffey County Hospital holds free Alzheimer’s education series
Alzheimer’s Disease and dementia affect nearly all families at some point.
Coffey County Hospital brings a free 12-session program for anyone who wants to learn more about memory disorders and caring for a loved one. Experts at the Alzheimer’s Association present the program in partnership with hospitals throughout the state.
“We know that working adults cannot attend daytime sessions, so we are offering the program in the evening,” Coffey Health System Director of Marketing Tracy Campbell said. “In our first series even families who have lived this journey for years learned new and valuable ways to make life easier — or at least understand better what the patient is feeling.”
(Read more: Emporia Gazette)
New Great Bend Deputy Fire Chief settling in
The Great Bend Fire Department added a new position last month as Brent Smith was hired to be the Department’s first Deputy Fire Chief.
Smith comes to Great Bend after spending 16 years with the Sedgwick County Fire Department where he climbed his way up the ladder to Station Captain. The Kingman native first became a member of that town’s volunteer fire department soon after college where his grandfather served as Assistant Fire Chief and his father and uncle were both firefighters. He worked as a firefighter in Chanute before taking the position in Sedgwick County.
Smith talks about what interested him in the position in Great Bend.
(Read more: Great Bend Post)
Jana’s Campaign receives $30,000 grant from Sunflower Foundation
Jana’s Campaign announced the week the award of a $30,000 grant from the Sunflower Foundation in Topeka, KS. Resources will be used to further expand and enhance implementation of our gender and relationship violence prevention education programs across the state of Kansas. Our educational programming provides an understanding of the warning signs of unhealthy relationship behaviors to ultimately stop the violence before it starts, teaches leadership to empower those in attendance to continue to be a part of the solution and encourages a strong culture of respect.
The Sunflower Foundation provided this funding through the Social Determinants and Social Needs: Moving Beyond Midstream grant opportunity. The programs selected to receive funding aligned with the mission to advance the collective efforts of state and local nonprofits to address social determinants of health and improve health outcomes for Kansans.
(Read more: Hays Post)
KCC launches investigation into Reno County earthquakes
The Kansas Corporation Commission (KCC) is collecting data and analyzing recent injection well activity in Reno County in an effort to uncover the cause of a series of earthquakes in the Hutchinson area. Amid damage reports and a concern for public safety, the KCC is conducting an investigation and will evaluate whether additional action is needed to safeguard Kansans.
In 2015, the KCC issued an order reducing injection rates in portions of Harper and Sumner counties after the number of earthquakes in that area began to trend upward. In 2016, the Commission issued a second order limiting injection in additional areas of Harper and Sumner as well as parts of Kingman, Sedgwick and Barber counties when earthquake activity there started to rise.
The area currently under study in Reno County focuses primarily on Arbuckle Formation depth wells and involves both Class ll oil and gas industry injection wells regulated by the KCC and Class l wells regulated by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE).
(Read more: Hutch Post)
Volunteers put an added touch to the operations at Hutchinson Regional Medical Center
Many who visit Hutchinson Regional medical Center see them and are in contact with them, but may not know just how much work they put in. It’s the hospital’s Volunteer Auxiliary. The program has 92 volunteers who work in various areas every day. The hours they put in are impressive.
The volunteers have donated 11,500 hours, equivalent to 479 days of time, assisting with the day-to-day operation of five areas of the hospital during Fiscal 2019, which ended on June 30. Bev Nash, the Volunteer Coordinator for the auxiliary, said the volunteers add a caring touch for the families of hospital patients.
(Read more: Hutch Post)
Junction City Police Chief Dan Breci will retire in September
Junction City Police Chief Dan Breci will wrap up a three-year stint as the leader of the JCPD when he retires on Sept. 20. He has worked in law enforcement for 46 years including nearly 20 years with the Junction City Police Department.
Breci feels it’s time step down. “I just turned 65 and it’s time to go and enjoy life. ”
Breci said he plans to travel and visit with family. He called the last three years in the police chief role challenging and rewarding. “It was something that I always wanted to do. I always envisioned myself one day as being a chief of police. I have had a great time dealing with the public in this city.”
(Read more: Junction City Post)
Pool in Ellis unlikely to be ready for next summer’s swim season
After the sudden closure of the Ellis City Pool, the Ellis City Council was hopeful construction on the new pool would begin quickly enough so the pool could open at the start of the swim season next summer, but Lamp Rynearson aquatics group leader, Andy Smith, informed the council Monday that would be unlikely.
“We’re just not in a position to go through all of the steps, in the order that they need to be gone through to get us there,” Smith said.
“It’s unfortunate really that the pool can’t make it one more year,” he said, “but I understand conditions, what they are, is the situation we find ourselves in.”
(Read more: Hays Post)