Grain Belt Express to connect with wind, solar transmission lines

The Kansas Corporation Commission (KCC) has given approval with conditions to a siting plan for two 345 kV transmission lines, known as the AC Collector System, designed to connect wind and solar farms to the Grain Belt Express. One line is planned to run 46 miles through parts of Ford, Meade, and Gray Counties (the “Meade-Dodge City Line”) and the other approximately 16 miles through parts of Ford County (the “Bucklin-Dodge City Line”). Conditions imposed by the order require Grain Belt to file a routing analysis comparing the company’s originally proposed route of the Meade-Dodge City line to an alternate route, referred to as Boyd Alternative 2. The two routes only differ within one specifically-defined five-mile area. Upon completion of the study, which is due no later than January 15, 2025, the Commission will schedule a second public hearing and comment period to give affected landowners an opportunity to comment on both routes under consideration. The first public hearing on the company’s originally proposed route was held on July 10.
Source: Dodge City Daily Globe

info2024-09-30T09:09:24-05:00September 30, 2024|News|

Colwich, Bentley, Halstead, Newton firefighters attend natural gas training

Firefighters from Kansas towns including Halstead, Bentley and Colwich attended a natural gas firefighting training that evening put on by Black Hills Energy which has a local office in Wichita. Leading the demonstration was Arlen Thompson who retired from Black Hills Energy after more than 30 years and was a volunteer firefighter for more than 30 years in Freemont. Black Hills Energy is a natural gas utility that serves a variety of Kansas towns including Colwich, Maize, Sterling, Attica and Andale. “We serve 65 communities in Kansas,” James P. Williams, media person with the natural gas company, said. They rotate the training having it in different communities around the state in their service area.
Source: Harvey County Now

info2024-09-30T09:08:23-05:00September 30, 2024|News|

Public financing plan for derelict Olathe shopping center gets OK from county

In a rare discussion of a city redevelopment deal, Johnson County commissioners declined last Thursday to challenge tax increment financing for the Rosebud Plaza Shopping Center in Olathe. The Olathe City Council recently gave the go-ahead to start negotiating an incentive package for the $26 million development at the northeast corner of Santa Fe Street and Mur-Len Road. The developer has proposed a maximum $7 million reimbursement from a TIF in the area, possibly with a Community Improvement District — another type of incentive — to be added later. The shopping center was formerly anchored by a Hobby Lobby, which moved out in 2018. Since then, the complex has become run down.
Source: Johnson County Post

info2024-09-30T09:06:50-05:00September 30, 2024|News|

Southeast Kansas Fallen Firefighters Memorial revitalized by local crews

The Southeast Kansas Fallen Firefighters Memorial gets a revamp. The memorial was built in 2003, and the statue put in place in 2017. Firefighters began cleanup at 9:00 a.m. at the Girard Fire Department. Teams from across Southeast Kansas also helped put down new rocks, felt paper, and edging. A memorial service is held each October, but this year they wanted to make the memorial look more fresh. Girard Fire Department Captain, Daulton Crays, says it’s also a way to continue paying tribute. “This is important to us. The memorial is to honor all of the fallen firefighters for Southeast Kansas. So it’s important to us to carry on their legacy and keep this looking good and take pride in it,” said Daulton Crays, Girard Fire Department Captain.
Source: KSNF/KODE

info2024-09-30T09:05:36-05:00September 30, 2024|News|

Retention bonus approved for Shawnee County dispatchers

Shawnee County dispatchers are getting pay bonuses for their hard work and dedication after local leaders approved a one-time retention payout Thursday. Shawnee County commissioners approved of a new contract on Sept. 26 for people serving as dispatchers. Part of this plan includes a one-time retention bonus of $3,000 while also providing various pay rates for different shifts. The decision comes as the county looks to hire and keep dispatchers. Buddy Cordero, president of the local CWA Union, touched on the issue in a talk with commissioners.
Source: KSNT 27 News

info2024-09-30T09:04:05-05:00September 30, 2024|News|

County governments are often overlooked

Part of this is because Kansas, like the rest of the country, is quite urban, at least if you count where people actually live. For decades, the rural expanses of Kansas have emptied, with people moving to cities and their surrounding suburbs, increasing the focus on — and increasing the partisan competition over — city governments and municipal elections.
Source: Salina Journal

info2024-09-28T08:27:08-05:00September 28, 2024|News|

Roeland Park adopts tree preservation ordinance

Trees in Roeland Park right-of-ways and front yards are now protected in the city code. The Roeland Park City Council last week voted 7-1 to adopt a tree ordinance that intends to preserve the city’s tree canopy by protecting trees in the rights-of-way and front yards.
Source: Johnson County Post

info2024-09-27T12:28:25-05:00September 27, 2024|News|

A return on investment is coming to De Soto residents fatigued by Panasonic construction

Residents in De Soto, Kansas, are being affected by major infrastructure improvements spurred by the construction of a Panasonic battery plant. With $250 million in public works projects underway, community members are experiencing “construction fatigue,” but city leaders say they’re already seeing a return on investment from construction of the 300-acre battery factory.
Source: KCUR

info2024-09-27T12:28:07-05:00September 27, 2024|News|

City works to get driver’s licenses reinstated for some Wichitans

Wichita announced a new program to help residents get their driver’s licenses back after suspension. The program is called the Wichita Area Restoration Program (WARP), and it offers the following…
Source: KSN-TV

info2024-09-27T12:27:55-05:00September 27, 2024|News|

ACLU warns Shawnee councilmember for deleting residents’ Facebook comments

A Shawnee city councilmember’s alleged actions on social media have drawn the attention of a civil rights advocacy group and sparked a conversation about online interactions…. The issue goes back to the First Amendment… which protects free speech in a public forum. Because [the councilmember] operates both a personal Facebook page and a public one for updates on his work as a councilmember, the latter is considered an open forum.
Source: Shawnee Mission Post

info2024-09-27T12:27:16-05:00September 27, 2024|News|