Country 101.3 KFDI

Sedgwick County Commissioners have voted to approve an increase in the annual solid waste fee for next year. This is the fee that is charged with property tax bills to homeowners and businesses, and it provides funding for a variety of solid waste programs. The average increase will be 36 cents for 2023. Residential properties will go up from $7.90 to $8.38. Commercial and industrial properties will increase to a range from $5.33 to $10.67 a year, depending on how they’re classified. The fee is expected to generate $1.9 million, and the funding helps support the household hazardous waste operations, special [...]

A dozen bands are taking part in a benefit concert to help people impacted by the Andover tornado. The concert is set for May 22, at the Augusta Theatre. Along with music, there will also be food trucks at the venue. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased online or in-person the day of the concert. Online Ticket Sales “When I asked these local musicians to help our friends and neighbors devastated by the tornado, they didn’t hesitate,” said Eric Birk, event organizer. “The music community loves to come together for a cause and give back.” Source: Country 101.3 KFDI

Kansas Governor Laura Kelly has vetoed a bill from the Legislature that would prohibit governing bodies and public officials from taking certain actions related to infectious diseases, such as mask mandates. The bill also limits the powers of the state health secretary related to the enforcement of a quarantine and requiring student vaccinations. Senate Bill 34 was a response to actions taken by local government to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic. Source: Country 101.3 KFDI

Kansas Governor Laura Kelly signed a bipartisan bill Wednesday to eliminate the state sales tax on groceries. The governor signed the bill in a ceremony at a grocery store in Olathe. The bill will phase out the sales tax starting this year, and it will be eliminated by 2025. The governor said House Bill 2106 will provide Kansas residents with financial relief, especially as costs continue to rise. Kansans currently pay more for groceries than residents of almost every other state, due to the state’s 6.5 percent tax on groceries. Source: Country 101.3 KFDI

The Kansas Department of Transportation is working with state and local leaders to promote a safe driving campaign in Sedgwick County. Over the past year, Sedgwick County has seen a rise in crashes, several of which have resulted in deaths. This campaign is stressing the importance of seatbelts and other good driving habits. Speakers at a conference Wednesday morning also highlighted the dangers of speeding, distracted driving, and driving under the influence. In Sedgwick County, more than 23% of fatal crashes involved some kind of impairment. When looking at seatbelt use, 41% of traffic fatalities were found to involve a driver [...]

Sedgwick County commissioners have voted to extend the local disaster emergency declaration for the April 29th tornado that left destruction from the southeast part of the county into western Butler County.    Commissioners were told that the initial declaration issued by Commission Chairman David Dennis would only be valid for up to seven days, and action would be needed to extend it. The commission voted to extend it through at least May 18th. Source: Country 101.3 KFDI

In response to the tornado event on April 29, 2022, the City of Andover Community Development Department has conducted Damage Assessment of over 180 structures to determine the level of damage caused by the storm. All structures were given a rating of Safe, Unsafe, Habitable, or Limited Entry. As these structures are considered for re-occupancy, certain requirements must be met in order to have utilities re-energized and once again be suitable for occupancy. Source: Country 101.3 KFDI

Sedgwick County officials have released a map showing the damage path from the April 29th tornado. The tornado was on the ground for 21 minutes, starting in southeast Wichita and ending in Andover.   The storm damaged or destroyed around 100 structures in Sedgwick County with close to 1,000 homes and buildings damaged or destroyed in Andover. The tornado was rated EF-3 by the National Weather Service, but damage assessments were continuing Sunday. Source: Country 101.3 KFDI

Andover officials said Sunday that search and rescue teams and first responders have completed their final rounds through the neighborhoods damaged by the April 29th tornado. The storm damaged around 1,000 homes and buildings, but city staff continue the process of using GIS software to determine an exact number. Four people had minor injuries from the storm, and there were no fatalities. Andover police were restricting access to the hardest-hit areas by allowing only residents, requiring identification before letting them in. Source: Country 101.3 KFDI

Sedgwick County Emergency Management is planning a different test for the outdoor warning sirens. The sirens are usually tested on Mondays at noon in an alert mode, which is a steady tone used for tornado warnings. The test on Monday, May 2nd will be in attack mode, which is a rising and falling tone. Deputy Emergency Management Director Jonathan Marr said the attack mode has a more traditional sound and it would be used during times of war or for enemy attack. He said the message with both modes is the same, urging people to take shelter and check with news sources [...]