Local association educating public on importance of controlled burns

In prairielands like Kansas, if there’s a lot of smoke in the air, there’s a good chance that a fire has started, but one organization wants the public to know that not all of these fires are wild. The Smoky Hills Prescribed Burn Association (PBA) has grown to around 45 members in its three years of existence in north central Kansas. Its main purpose is the promotion, assistance and education on the safe and responsible use of fire as a management tool and to be a resource to assist landowners and land managers with the necessary means to organize and conduct prescribed burns.
Source: Salina Journal

2024-03-01T07:34:26-06:00March 1, 2024|News|

National League of Cities, founded in Lawrence, celebrates 100th anniversary with city leaders

Leaders with the National League of Cities on Thursday were in the city where their organization was founded to celebrate a century of connecting and providing services to municipal officials across the U.S. …. a delegation from the NLC is in Lawrence this week as part of a cross-country roadshow celebrating the organization’s centennial. Lawrence, the first stop on the tour, is where the NLC was founded in 1924 on the University of Kansas campus. Clarence Anthony, the CEO and executive director of the NLC, is one of the leaders with the visiting delegation, and he presented a commemorative plaque to three members of the Lawrence City Commission — Mayor Bart Littlejohn and commissioners Amber Sellers and Brad Finkeldei — who were present for the group’s visit to City Hall Thursday afternoon.
Source: LJWorld

2024-03-01T07:24:41-06:00March 1, 2024|News|

Lessons in population health from small-city Kansas

Mahbub Rashid sees cities differently than most people. And you might say the dean of the University of Kansas School of Architecture & Design ought to do that. But Rashid has taken spatial analysis of urban development to the cutting edge of technology — and this view of small-town Kansas suggests to him that much more can be done to promote the health of people who live there. Rashid’s new book, “Built Environment and Population Health in Small-Town America: Learning from Small Cities of Kansas” (Johns Hopkins University Press), looks at how lifestyle behaviors and health indicators are associated with spatial planning and design factors in 36 small Kansas cities with populations between 2,500 and 49,999. Rashid measured the size and density of each city, its distance from a large city, its daytime population change and the average commuting time of its residents – and he found that all these factors seem to affect how population health is associated with the built environment there.
Source: University of Kansas

2024-02-28T16:19:13-06:00February 28, 2024|News|

Goat remains on the lam in Harvey County

… Sheriff’s Deputy RJ Wagner responded to a call asking for assistance in wrangling a goat that was on a person’s property … Wagoner reported spending about five minutes with the property owner, getting a rope around the goat and leading it to a lean-to pen. He said the property owner planned on trying to find the goat’s owner. He left and said between 10 to 15 minutes later, he received a call that the goat had escaped. As of Tuesday, it had yet to be located.
Source: Harvey County Now

2024-02-28T14:12:31-06:00February 28, 2024|News|

Sedgwick County homeowners see higher property appraisals again

Sixty percent of Sedgwick County homeowners will see higher tax appraisals when notices are mailed out March 1. Despite the bad news for three in five residential property owners, it’s actually the lowest proportion of appraisal increases since 2018. Appraisals went up for 80% of homeowners in 2023 and 88% in 2022. This year, the average median increase is 8%. Only 1% of the county’s 183,359 residential parcels declined in value. Tax appraisal increases are driven by sales of new and existing homes. “We still have shortages of housing. The unbalance between supply and demand is there and it pushes up those prices,” County Appraiser Mark Clark told the County Commission on Wednesday. Climbing valuations could lead to higher property taxes unless the County Commission lowers the mill levy. Even so, property owners will have a chance to appeal appraisals. The median sale price for a home in Sedgwick County increased to $243,200 last year — up just over 8% from $225,000 in 2022. The first year the county’s median price point topped $200,000 was 2021. The median price point for an existing house in 2023 was $223,000, compared to $382,770 for a new build. Home sales decreased by 16.8%, which Clark attributed to relatively high interest rates and high residential property prices. “You have property owners that don’t want to give up a mortgage with a rate of 3.5 percent or less for a mortgage that is 6.5 percent or greater,” he said. “The bottom line is, some potential buyers are forgoing the purchase of a home and are waiting for lower rates. At the same time, some potential buyers are becoming acclimated to these rates and they are simply choosing to buy smaller homes.”
Source: KLC Journal

2024-02-28T11:19:31-06:00February 28, 2024|News|

Topeka could hire new city manager by May

Topeka is getting closer to finding a new city manager. City leaders gave an update Tuesday on where the hiring process stands. Interim City Manager Richard Nienstedt said the city has received 42 applications for the position. The governing body reviewed each of those candidates during executive session at its Feb. 20 meeting. Nienstedt said the council hopes to select finalists at its March 19 council meeting. Once the finalists are announced, Nienstedt said in-person interviews should begin the second week of April. These interviews will involve multiple opportunities for the public to give feedback to council, including panel discussions and a community meet and greet event. Nienstedt said if the process goes according to plan, Topeka should have a new city manager by mid-May. “I want you understand this is entirely the council’s decision,” Nienstedt said. “So hopefully, they’ll work through those candidates, and you’ll have a new city manager by then that this community can look forward to.” Mayor Michael Padilla encouraged the community to attend these public events and give feedback on the candidates and selection process. Padilla said he wants to see diverse turnout that represents the population of Topeka.
Source: KSNT 27 News

2024-02-28T11:17:51-06:00February 28, 2024|News|

With complaints about noise, trash and booze, Johnson County city cracks down on Airbnbs

Shawnee is the latest city in the metro to crack down on Airbnbs and other short-term rentals in response to neighborhood complaints. The Shawnee City Council for months has debated whether to tighten restrictions on short-term rentals — or even outright ban them in residential areas — due to mounting complaints about noise, parking, alcohol and trash at Airbnb and Vrbo locations. And on Monday, the council voted 7-1 to add new regulations, joining a growing number of cities nationwide, and one of the first in Johnson County, to do so. Owners of such rentals have advocated for regulations that allow them to continue operating in Shawnee. But other neighbors have pleaded for a ban in single-family neighborhoods or harsher rules. Owners of short-term rentals must pay a $500 fee to obtain a special short-term rental license, which can be revoked for 24 months if regulations aren’t followed. Violators can also face $500 fines or six months jail time. In addition, the rentals can only house a maximum of two adults per bedroom, plus an additional adult, for a maximum of 10 guests total. The rental home’s agent, or operator, must live within 40 miles of the property. The city ordinance also spells out noise, parking and health regulations. The short-term rentals cannot be used for receptions or parties.
Source: Joco 913 News

2024-02-28T11:15:56-06:00February 28, 2024|News|

Neighbors can’t take the racket, so a Johnson County city is taking down pickleball nets

It seemed like a good idea at the time. Pickleball was soaring in popularity to become America’s fastest growing sport. Courts started multiplying throughout Kansas City, becoming a staple of parks, community centers and new entertainment complexes. And with high demand, Prairie Village — already needing to resurface its tennis courts at Windsor Park — decided to restripe for pickleball. But nearby neighbors say they can only take so much. Many say the constant “pop, pop, pop” reverberating through their neighborhood has been a headache since the courts were completed last June, at the park near Mission Road and south of 71st Street. While the paddleball-adjacent sport has won the hearts of active residents, it’s also led to noise complaints, neighborhood disputes and even lawsuits, both in Johnson County and across the country. Searching for a solution, the Prairie Village City Council has considered spending money on sound proofing panels to block the noise, or repainting to bring back the quieter game of tennis.
Source: Joco 913 News

2024-02-28T11:14:36-06:00February 28, 2024|News|
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