STAR bond zone change raises questions

30 Monday, January 30

STAR bond zone change raises questions

info2023-01-30T23:22:14-06:00January 30th, 2023|

Following recommendation of approval from the Planning Commission, a zone change request within the STAR bond district came before the Derby City Council for final action at its Jan. 24 meeting. The request was to change the site of the STAR bond project’s final phase – northeast of the Tall Tree/Rock Road intersection – from R-1 (single-family residential) to B-3 (general business). The council voted unanimously to approve the request. With the zone change, final phase development of the lagoon, hotel, glamping site and more will be allowed to proceed. City Planner Scott Knebel also pointed out that certain special uses [...]

30 Monday, January 30

Pillars of light rise from Goodland, other Kansas towns

info2023-01-31T07:26:05-06:00January 30th, 2023|

The bitterly cold temperatures that grabbed ahold of Kansas this weekend created an interesting phenomenon — pillars of light. But you had to brave the cold to see it. Brandon Vincent with the U.S. National Weather Service office in Goodland got some video of the pillars rising from Goodland early Sunday. An NWS Goodland Facebook post says the video was shot at 3:45 a.m. MST when the air temperature was 1 degree, the wind was from the north-northeast at 15 mph, and the wind chill was 18 below. Source: KSN-TV

30 Monday, January 30

De Soto calls in nonprofit — and well-known area leader — to monitor $4B Panasonic project

info2023-01-31T07:27:01-06:00January 30th, 2023|

De Soto officials will turn to a nonprofit to help it monitor planning and construction of the new $4 billion Panasonic EV battery plant. And while the nonprofit is based in Virginia, its team includes someone very acquainted with the Kansas City area — Overland Park Mayor Curt Skoog. De Soto contracted with the Institute for Building Technology and Safety to provide plan review and inspection services during construction of the 5.5 million-square-foot battery plant being built for Panasonic Energy Co. Ltd., according to a release. Construction of the project, which broke ground in November, is set to be completed in March 2025. Source: Kansas [...]

30 Monday, January 30

“A Practical Solution to Aid in the Effort to Lower Property Taxes” by Russell City Manager Jon Quinday

info2023-01-30T16:36:24-06:00January 30th, 2023|

A few weeks ago, I wrote an article about property taxes and quoted author Adora Svitak who said, “The first thing anyone can do about any issue is get informed.” I chose this quote for two reasons: Property tax is the most criticized and misunderstood source of local government revenue, and in the past ten years, I’ve seen very little public participation during the budget process. I can only speak to the City of Russell’s process, which begins in April and ends in August. April begins with a look back at how we’ve performed in the past, where we can improve, [...]

30 Monday, January 30

Why Hutchinson will see more fires in February

info2023-01-30T10:59:08-06:00January 30th, 2023|

The Hutchinson Fire Department plans to set a bunch of fires in February north and east of the town. But it plans to put those fires out, too. The burning is part of the fire department's wildfire mitigation plan -- by torching dead grass and weeds, there won't be as much fuel for any wildfires that start later in the year. Doug Hanen, HFD division chief of operations, says that when new grass grows in the burned areas, the vegetation will have moisture in it and be less likely to burn. Source: KSN-TV

30 Monday, January 30

With Panasonic aboard, what’s next for the rest of De Soto’s former Sunflower plant?

info2023-01-30T12:26:49-06:00January 30th, 2023|

The buildout of De Soto's Astra Enterprise Park, formerly Sunflower Army Ammunition Plant, won't begin and end with Panasonic's $4 billion electric vehicle battery factory. Here's a look at what the 9,035-acre site, which the partnership has owned since 2005 and in the fall renamed Astra Enterprise Park. No Wizard of Oz theme park is in the cards this time, but the vast swaths of land Sunflower has set aside for projects — and preservation — nevertheless promise significant new vitality for the former World War II powder and propellant plant site's longtime owners have envisioned. Source: Kansas City Business Journal

30 Monday, January 30

Hixson retiring as Mulvane city administrator

info2023-01-30T12:26:59-06:00January 30th, 2023|

At its Jan. 16 meeting, during an executive session, Kent Hixson announced to the Mulvane City Council his plans to officially retire from his position as Mulvane City Administrator in 2023. Hixson has served as the city administrator in Mulvane since 1994, holding a master’s degree from the University of Missouri and a bachelor’s degree from Wichita State University. He has been an ICMA credentialed manager since 2002. While the city will start the search for his replacement shortly, in his announcement the 67-year-old Hixson noted he plans to stay on in his role through Oct. 6. Source: Derby Informer | [...]

30 Monday, January 30

New RCPD director settling in to new position

info2023-01-30T12:27:15-06:00January 30th, 2023|

In the first month since taking over as the sixth director of the Riley County Police Department, Brian Peete has done a lot of visiting with members of the public. A well-attended meet and greet was held Thursday at the Flint Hills Discovery Center. A day later, Peete visited with KMAN, calling the ceremony both heartwarming and emotional. “It’s extraordinarily refreshing and blessed to be part of a community that has high expectations, but also understands that it takes everyone to move public safety and to move just the general vibe of a community forward,” he said. Peete was hired by [...]

30 Monday, January 30

Deputies Recovering Well After Dodge City Shooting

info2023-01-30T10:54:10-06:00January 30th, 2023|

The Ford County Sheriff’s Office provided updates Friday on the condition of the deputies injured during an officer-involved shooting in Dodge City Monday morning. Deputies Gary Salmans and Brandon Hornback were identified as the Ford County deputies who were injured. Deputy Salmans was hit by shrapnel during the incident. He was treated and released from St. Catherine’s Hospital in Dodge City Monday afternoon. Deputy Hornback was shot and taken to a hospital in Wichita where he underwent surgery. The Clark County Sheriff identified Undersheriff Wallace Long as the third deputy who was injured. He too was taken to a hospital in [...]

30 Monday, January 30

As petition gains steam, Manhattan official says fees are needed to maintain Aggieville parking garage

info2023-01-30T12:28:23-06:00January 30th, 2023|

An online petition calling for free parking for Aggieville employees has more than 5,900 signatures as of Friday. Fees for the new parking garage on North Manhattan Avenue took effect on Jan. 17. But a city official says the city government needs the money for upkeep of the building. Employees at Aggieville’s Bluestem Bistro started the petition — “Free Parking for Aggieville Employees” — three weeks ago on change.org. “Employee parking in Aggieville has been a struggle for years, and with recent construction, it is only getting worse,” said a statement on the online petition. Source: themercury.com