Olathe approves flat tax rate, higher utility rates, expanded rebate program for 2025

6 Friday, September 6

Olathe approves flat tax rate, higher utility rates, expanded rebate program for 2025

info2024-09-06T09:21:02-05:00September 6th, 2024|

Olathe has adopted a budget for 2025 that keeps the municipal property tax rate flat but raises city utility rates. That new budget — valued at roughly $611 million — will keep the property tax, or mill levy, rate static at 23.356. It is also expected to add about $10 a month to the average utility cost in the city for residents who use all of Olathe’s utilities. Ultimately, the 2025 budget passed 4-2 Tuesday, with councilmembers Kevin Gilmore and Robyn Essex voting no. Councilmember Matt Schoonover was absent. City leaders, including Mayor John Bacon and Chief Mike Butaud, marked the [...]

6 Friday, September 6

Petitions rattled Prairie Village last summer. Kansas appeals court will now hear the case.

info2024-09-06T09:19:32-05:00September 6th, 2024|

Last year’s hotly-discussed Prairie Village petitions are headed before a panel of three appellate judges next month. After nearly a year in the Kansas Court of Appeals, three much-discussed petitions — circulated by PV United, also known as Stop Rezoning Prairie Village, a group of residents who opposed zoning changes — are scheduled for a hearing at 1:30 p.m. on Oct. 16. City Administrator Wes Jordan told the Post via email on Wednesday that he anticipates both sides will be able to share “their perspectives of the case and be prepared to answer questions the Court may have.” Stop Rezoning PV’s [...]

6 Friday, September 6

City of Columbus announces new demolition grant program

info2024-09-06T09:17:10-05:00September 6th, 2024|

The City of Columbus announces the beginning of a new Demolition Grant Program, made possible by a generous donation. This program offers a valuable opportunity for local business owners and residents who need to remove abandoned commercial or residential structures, as well as outbuildings like garages and sheds. Through this program, eligible property owners can have these structures demolished at no cost, helping to enhance the community's appearance and safety without incurring expenses. To apply for the Demolition Grant Program or to get more information, interested parties can access the application form on the city's website: Demolition Grant Program Application. Source: [...]

6 Friday, September 6

The City of Pittsburg officially launches city trash service

info2024-09-06T09:16:16-05:00September 6th, 2024|

The City of Pittsburg hopes to help resident's trash concerns with the official launch of a city run trash service starting the week of Sept. 2nd. This comes after many residents have reported issues with services like CARDs Recycling & Waste Management (also known as CARDs) frequently not picking up trash while still charging customers. "We've stuck with (CARDs) until we get the Pittsburg one," says one Pittsburg resident. "The city's always been in trash. We've always been in the trash business. what we're doing is just getting a little better equipment and assigning some personnel," says Daron Hall, City Manager. [...]

6 Friday, September 6

Great Bend releases app to explore the community

info2024-09-06T09:14:31-05:00September 6th, 2024|

Great Bend has released an app that allows users to explore the city. The Great Bend Alive Tours app uses GPS navigation, photos, video, and audio narration to take visitors on two unique guided tours of the city. The first is a tour of the historic downtown, and the second is a tour of the city’s unique art. The historic tour takes visitors around the courthouse square and neighboring streets, where they will learn the history of historic buildings, as well as about sites where important structures once stood. The art tour showcases murals and sculptures around Great Bend and includes [...]

6 Friday, September 6

Mayor gives update on Cheney level, water restrictions

info2024-09-06T09:13:29-05:00September 6th, 2024|

Wichita Mayor Lily Wu is urging the community to remain vigilant about the drought. On Thursday, she said the city saw a slight uptick in water usage from previous weeks. Thursday marks one month since mandatory water restrictions began in Wichita and neighboring towns The graphic shows the volume of treated water going from the Hess Pump Station to the 500,000 water customers in Wichita and neighboring towns. The red line is when the restrictions began. The dips are on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays when no watering is allowed. Wichita began the watering restrictions because the water level at Cheney Reservoir [...]

6 Friday, September 6

Burlingame offers solution to ‘mitigate’ fox population

info2024-09-06T09:10:05-05:00September 6th, 2024|

The City of Burlingame recently shared a list of nuisance animal trappers who could help ‘mitigate’ the city’s local fox population – a process that usually kills the fox. On Aug. 19, a concerned citizen addressed the Burlingame city council about the overpopulation of foxes in the community. The citizen asked what the city could do to help with the problem. Chief of Police Matthew Baker said the city doesn’t handle foxes but said the city can loan live traps to citizens. He said once an animal is caught, it’s up to the person who trapped it to dispose of. Source: [...]

6 Friday, September 6

Voters will decide this fall whether Lawrence should change its government structure, including a directly elected mayor

info2024-09-06T07:46:29-05:00September 6th, 2024|

Voters won’t be choosing Lawrence’s city leaders in this November’s elections, but they will be weighing in on how they should be chosen — including whether voters should decide on the mayor themselves. Back in February 2023, the Lawrence City Commission approved a resolution to put a question on the November 2024 ballot about whether Lawrence should change its form of government to one with a directly elected mayor and geographic districts for commissioners. Source: LJWorld

6 Friday, September 6

Clearwater Schools struggle with rising chronic absenteeism rates

info2024-09-06T07:44:33-05:00September 6th, 2024|

“We had a pretty large increase in our chronic absenteeism,” said Jason Johnson, superintendent of Clearwater Public Schools. “So, prior to COVID, we were about 13% chronically absent, and this past year, we were about 25%.” When a student misses at least 10% of a school year, Johnson said a student is chronically absent. Source: KWCH

6 Friday, September 6

Lawmakers dig into proposed Bonner Springs theme park

info2024-09-06T07:16:36-05:00September 6th, 2024|

Kansas lawmakers heard an update on a theme park being developed by Mattel, the toy company behind Barbie and Hot Wheels, in Bonner Springs. The park is working with the city and state to secure Sales Tax and Revenue (STAR) Bonds to help pay for the project.... In April, Bonner Springs approved of a STAR Bond district boundary, which would allow the state to award funds to businesses that will be repaid over time with the sales taxes generated by in-district businesses. Source: Salina Journal