Library looks to expand tax area

25 Wednesday, September 25

Library looks to expand tax area

info2024-09-25T09:31:14-05:00September 25th, 2024|

The Arkansas City Public Library is hoping to generate more income by expanding its taxing boundaries from the city limits to the borders of the entire USD 470 District. Library Director Mendy Pfannenstiel said those outside of the city limits are able to make used of the library but don’t pay taxes to support it. While Ark City residents most recently paid 6 mills, those in rural areas currently pay 1.229 mills to the South-Central Kansas Library System in Hutchinson. The expanded boundaries would bring in an estimated $700,000 compared to the current $450,000 for library operations. That’s if voters approve [...]

25 Wednesday, September 25

Cyberattack on Ark City water treatment facility under investigation

info2024-09-25T09:29:14-05:00September 25th, 2024|

The FBI and Homeland Security officials are in Arkansas City to investigate a cyberattack at the city’s water treatment facility that occurred Sunday morning. The city put out a statement Sunday assuring residents that the water supply remained safe and that service was not disrupted. The treatment facility has switched to manual operations while the situation is being resolved. “Residents can rest assured that their drinking water is safe, and the City is operating under full control during this period,” City Manager Randy Frazer said. On Monday Frazer provided more details. The cyberattack took out the water treatment’s control systems and [...]

25 Wednesday, September 25

Travel writers tour towns

info2024-09-25T09:27:34-05:00September 25th, 2024|

A group of travel writers touring Southeast Kansas saw small-town revitalization in action Friday during stops in Iola and Humboldt. “The story of Humboldt has inspired a lot of other towns,” said Colby Sharples-Terry, who led the tour on behalf of Kansas Tourism through TravelKS.com. “It’s been revitalized in a very distinct way. Everything even down to the doorknobs has style and grace. It’s done very elegantly. A lot of times when people think ‘small-town American,’ they think rustic. Humboldt shows you can combine the rural aspect and also new age and industrial. “And Iola is just a fabulous community. Their [...]

25 Wednesday, September 25

ICYMI: Panasonic Plant Could Revolutionize Region’s Economy

info2024-09-25T09:24:15-05:00September 25th, 2024|

“For Gov. Kelly, the impact of the Panasonic project is huge and ongoing. “It already has changed Kansas’s perception of itself – the fact that we were able to attract a business like Panasonic,” Kelly said. “People out in Hays are fully aware this is happening. They have a sense of pride and anticipate what else is to come,” the governor said. Laura Kelly of Kansas believes the opening of the $4 billion electric car battery manufacturing plant in DeSoto early next year will revolutionize the region’s economy, lifestyle and self-image. “The overall impact of this is just truly transformational,” Kelly [...]

25 Wednesday, September 25

Wichita continues drought response

info2024-09-25T09:22:40-05:00September 25th, 2024|

The City of Wichita is continuing Stage 2 of its drought response plan, which restricts outdoor watering to one day a week. All water customers are being urged to continue to find ways to cut back on water usage. Even though the outdoor irrigation season is coming to a close, there are still ways to save water by changing some daily habits. The city said 302 warning letters have been issued to water customers who were reported to be watering outside of their allocated day, and water use in the community is starting to increase. Before stage 2 restrictions, weekly highest [...]

25 Wednesday, September 25

Leon brings back local police department

info2024-09-25T09:21:17-05:00September 25th, 2024|

The City of Leon has reintroduced their local Police Department after putting a pause on the agency two years ago. After stopping the Leon Police Department in September 2022, the city has decided to bring it back due to local needs. The City of Leon contracted with the Butler County Sheriff’s Office to keep a deputy on patrol in Leon a certain number of days during the day. As the contract progressed, city leaders and citizens realized they needed more evening and weekend coverage in addition to the daytime coverage they were receiving. Source: Andover American

25 Wednesday, September 25

Sedgwick Council adopts strategic plan

info2024-09-25T09:18:37-05:00September 25th, 2024|

After months of work from the Wichita State Public Policy and Management Center, the City of Sedgwick was presented with a strategic plan during the Sept. 18 meeting. The project began with interviews, four focus groups and a survey running between April and July 2024. Participants in the focus groups included local business owners, local organization board members, USD-439 students and community leaders. “It’s a great day to live in Sedgwick,” City Administrator Kyle Nordick said. “We have a lot of great things going on.” Nordick explained the PPMC was contracted to develop Sedgwick’s first ever strategic plan. Kate Young was [...]

25 Wednesday, September 25

Olathe commission deals blow to ‘workforce housing’ proposal out south

info2024-09-25T09:16:52-05:00September 25th, 2024|

A mixed-use and “workforce housing” development proposed in southern Olathe has hit a snag. On Monday, the Olathe Planning Commission unanimously recommended the denial of the HōM Flats rezoning and preliminary site development plan application. The proposal features just over 200 apartment units and several thousand square feet of planned commercial space on a 14-acre property west of 161st Street and Mur-Len Road. That’s near some single-family homes, a neighborhood center with retail, some lower-density multifamily and a fire station. Currently, the property is zoned mostly with rural and low-density designations from before Olathe annexed it from Johnson County, plus a [...]

25 Wednesday, September 25

This Johnson County city is the next to explore allowing accessory dwelling units

info2024-09-25T09:14:54-05:00September 25th, 2024|

Another northeast Johnson County city is exploring new housing options to allow under its city code. The Merriam City Council on Monday unanimously voted to direct the city’s planning commission to draft an ordinance that explicitly allows accessory dwelling units, sometimes referred to as granny flats or mother-in-law suites. Over the past couple of years, accessory dwelling units proved a major sticking point in Prairie Village’s heated housing debate, with some residents expressing concerns that allowing for ADUs could lead to increased traffic, strained infrastructure and crowded schools. Prairie Village’s code allows for what are called accessory living quarters, which require [...]

25 Wednesday, September 25

Prairie Village will address speeding on neighborhood street after residents’ petition

info2024-09-25T09:13:16-05:00September 25th, 2024|

Speed tables are coming to a connecting street near Meadowbrook Park. The Prairie Village City Council last week unanimously approved the installation of two speed tables along 90th Street between Somerset Drive and Roe Avenue, just north of Meadowbrook Park. This comes after residents along the street banded together to petition for a traffic calming measure along the street.> Source: Johnson County Post