Municipal News & Jobs

Municipal News & Jobs2018-08-05T16:28:50-05:00

Kansas Municipal News

Wichita police plan to use a $1.6 million grant to increase surveillance around town

Wichita police are going to be adding more cameras around town. During a news conference Wednesday at City Hall, U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran announced $1.6 million in federal grant funds for more cameras and the Wichita Police Department’s Flock automated license plate reading camera system. The camera readers take photos of vehicles and record the make, model, color and license plate number and alert police about specific vehicles they are looking for. Police vehicles have had license plate readers on them since 2014, the department said. The Flock system being put on street lights started as a pilot program in November 2020. It’s helped in investigations of homicides and recovering stolen vehicles.
Source: Wichita Eagle

Archaeologists to dig in Halstead this Saturday

The extension of Halstead’s Main Street and new housing developments on the south side of town has run into a hiccup. The city recently learned that before it could proceed with its plans for the Cedar Meadows Second Addition and Powers First Addition, it must allow an archaeological survey of the area. City Manager Ethan Reimer explained that when the city pulled a state permit for Main Street to cross the slough, that permit was reviewed by several state agencies to weigh in on whether they had any potential concerns. The Kansas State Historic Preservation Office responded with a letter to the city requesting the area be surveyed by a professional archeologist before construction began. The area caught their attention because it’s been relatively undisturbed over the years, Reimer said. “The letter referenced they feel that gives them a greater propensity to maybe find something because it hasn’t been a farmed field,” he said. They believe prehistoric people may have settled near the area because of the proximity to water running through the slough.
Source: Harvey County Now

Augusta’s assistant city manager selected as next city manager of Evans, CO

The city of Evans[, Colorado] City Council has selected an assistant city manager from to be its next city manager following a national search. Cody Sims, who has been the assistant city manager in Augusta, Kansas since 2014, was selected over nearly 100 applicants, according to a news release from the city of Evans on Monday afternoon. Sims is expected to begin work in early 2023. … “We are thrilled to have someone with Cody’s experience and vision to lead our City,” Evans Mayor Mark Clark said in the news release. “Mr. Sims is a forward-thinker who has our residents’ best interest in mind. He has done great things everywhere he’s been and we believe he will do great things for the City of Evans.”
Source: Greeley Tribune

Daughter reflects on growing up with Hesston pioneer

Susan still has a copy of the original warranty deed for the tract that her great-grandfather purchased from Abraham Lincoln Hess, who—along with his brother, Amos—founded Hesston in 1886. She said her great-grandparents came from Lincoln, Nebraska, to Hesston to help develop the Holdeman church in Kansas. Susan said she didn’t think most of Hesston’s current residents knew who her father was or his contributions to the city. “The golden oldies knew who he was,” she said. “New people moving in have no conception. They don’t care, and that’s OK.” Susan said after her father invented the unloading augur, he knew he would be bringing in some important people to work at the factory. He wanted the town to look nice so he could impress future employees. “He insisted every street was curbed and guttered and every street paved,” she said. “He wanted it to look tailored.”
Source: Harvey County Now

County denies couple permit for living in camper

Verlin and Sonya Siefkes have a year in which they must find a more permanent living situation than the recreational vehicle they call home on North Webb Road. The Board of Harvey County Commissioners denied the couple’s request for a conditional-use permit on Tuesday. Planning and Zoning Director Karen Rothe provided the background for commissioners. She received a complaint from a neighbor that the Siefkeses had been living for years in an RV, which goes against the county’s unified development code. She said the Harvey County Planning Commission considered their application for a conditional-use permit, but it felt approving it would open the door to the whole county to violate the UDC. She recommended that commissioners deny the application and allow them a grace period of one year.
Source: Harvey County Now

Local libraries offer so much more than books

According to Jackie Nelson, the Hesston Public Library (HPL) director, HPL has around 40,500 books and 6,300 other items for a total collection of about 46,800 items, not counting their e-collection. And while libraries took a hit during the pandemic, readers are returning. The McPherson Public Library has had over 200 new cardholders in the last two months, according to Director Mckenzie Murphy. Murphy wants people to know that the library is more than a building full of books.
Source: Harvey County Now

Wichita police, Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office receive federal funding for cameras, license plate readers

State leaders announced the Wichita Police Department and Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office have received a federal grant for new technology to help prevent violent crime. Sen. Jerry Moran was in Wichita Wednesday to announce the funding. Combined, both law enforcement agencies will receive portions of over a million dollars in federal resources. “I do have some good news to announce today that I think will be beneficial not only to law enforcement, the sheriff and police chief, but…and as well as their officers, but valuable to the community as well,” Moran said. Wichita Police will receive $1.6 million. Interim Chief Troy Livingston said the department will spend the money on cameras for interview rooms, surveillance equipment and license plate readers.
Source: KAKE – News

Allen County looks at leasing tractors

Allen County will take a test drive, of sorts, with a decision to lease two tractors from the local John Deere dealership. Mark Griffith, road and bridge director, asked commissioners to consider a proposal to lease tractors rather than purchase them outright, especially as county departments have faced numerous equipment breakdowns this year. Over the summer, the county’s newest boom mower caught on fire and was destroyed. It was covered by insurance, but led to a debate over how to best replace the county’s fleet of large, expensive machinery. The proposal from John Deere offered four tractors available for lease for between $56,000 to $60,000 per year. The cost of a new tractor would be somewhere around $200,000. … Commissioners were intrigued by the lease proposal, but reluctant to go all-in. Instead, they asked Griffith to look at leasing two tractors as a sort of trial run.
Source: The Iola Register

South Hutchinson explores additional water sources

The South Hutchinson City Council made a couple of decisions Monday night in the ongoing pursuit of additional water for the city. But larger questions continue to loom on the complex issue. The council, by consensus, directed City Administrator Joseph Turner to pursue a water rate study while continuing negotiations with the city of Hutchinson on a plan to buy water from it in the future. The board also advised Turner to file an appeal with Equus Beds Groundwater Management District on its denial of an application to allow the city to tap an existing well for additional water by converting a nearby irrigation well to a municipal well.
Source: Hutch News

Airbnb host, Wichita officials speak about short-term rental recommendations

For the past year, Travis Dorion has been hosting guests at one of his properties through Airbnb and VRBO. He plans on listing two more short-term rentals in the near future. “The Wichita area is just starting to get traction in the Airbnb space,” Dorion said. In the past four years, the number of Airbnb’s in Wichita has more than doubled. However, City officials claim that every single one of the more than 400 short-term rentals are out of code. Dorion says while he (and dozens of others in Wichita’s tight-knit short-term rental community) is all for additional health regulations and proper permits, he’s currently questioning other proposed recommendations brought forth by the City on Tuesday. “We’re not opposed to it,” Dorion said. “I think that we just need to get on board and on the same page [on] what that looks like — how that affects us as hosts.”
Source: KSN-TV

Undersheriff faces trial in fatal shooting

A rural Kansas undersheriff who shot and killed an unarmed man with a homemade beanbag round faces trial in Kansas City, Kan. The case against Vergil Brewer is likely to focus on whether his lack of knowledge and training with the munitions amounts to reckless involuntary manslaughter.
Source: Cowley CourierTraveler

Champions of forests — and burbs. These Johnson County trees stand the test of time

Color, character and championships — Johnson County trees have it all. The county’s annual autumn brilliance may be delayed and dulled by drought this year, but the trees have much to offer in other ways. Consider, for example, the trees recognized not for seasons of color but for decades of resilience and majesty: The Kansas Champion trees. Of 144 Champion Trees on the 2022 list, Johnson County is home to 28. “It’s taken years of growth and love to make a champion tree,” said Dennis Patton, horticulturist at the Johnson County K-State Research and Extension Office.
Source: Joco 913 News

Hiawatha’s maples show their grand color

Hiawatha’s beautiful maples have a rich history that makes the fall splendor of the town even more intriguing. Hiawatha has long been known for it’s beautiful maples — first planted so many decades ago by Theodore H. Korthanke. He lived from 1860 to 1941 and was considered one of the founding fathers of Hiawatha — certainly the founding father of the maple trees found nearly on every block. … What Mr. Korthanke envisioned so very long ago — indeed a full century — has blossomed. The Hiawatha Chamber and Visitors Bureau reports they start getting phone calls in late September from potential visitors. Once October hits, the Administrator Sarah Kleopfer said the calls increase. Many people make a special trip to our Northeast Kansas community just to see the maple trees.
Source: Local News | hiawathaworldonline.com

Progress reported on task force recommendations for the Wichita-Sedgwick County juvenile justice system

Wichita and Sedgwick County are reporting progress in implementing the recommendations made by a community task force on the juvenile justice system.  The task force was created after the September, 2021 death of 17-year-old Cedric Lofton during a struggle with staff at the Juvenile Intake and Assessment Center. Wichita police lieutenant Scott Moon provided an update to City Council members during a Tuesday workshop discussion on the 14 recommendations made by the task force.  Moon said the Wichita Police Department will continue its ICT One program, which teams a police officer with an EMS and mental health professional.  Funding will be increased to allow the teams to operate on a 24/7 basis.
Source: 101.3 KFDI

Up to 600 acres burned in Garden City fire

Officials report Sunday’s wildfire in Garden City burned between 500 and 600 acres of land. The fire was reported just after 2 p.m. along Highway 50 and Towns Road. Responding crews found a large grass fire that had spread from the south side of the highway to the north. Multiple agencies responded and had the fire mostly contained by 7 p.m. During the fire, the highway was closed for several hours and seven homes were evacuated. Two firefighters were treated for smoke inhalation and a Ford F-350 firetruck was destroyed.
Source: 101.3 KFDI

Help Fort Scott In Documenting Infrastructure Issues

Fort Scott Assistant Manager Brad Matkin would like to try something new in dealing with infrastructure issues. “If you see a problem… a street issue, pothole, sign damage, water leak, general question, or whatever else please send me an email …” he said. Like all public entities, they do not have enough staff to drive around looking for problems and need help from citizens to let them know issues seen. “It is better to work together with good communication, he said. “We really feel this is a proactive and positive way to handle business.”
Source: Fort Scott Biz

Wind farm proposal denied in Osage County

Osage County Commissioners decided to deny Auburn Harvest Wind from constructing a wind farm in Osage County on Monday. Up to 30,000 acres of land would have been turned into a wind farm if the proposal was accepted. It was not the wind farm itself that caused the denial, but the confusing way of business, according to Commissioner Vernon Bailey. After weeks of consideration, they decided developers could not provide confirmation that the wind farm would ever make the profit it promised, pay the county the $56 million it promised or positively impact Osage County at all.
Source: KSNT 27 News

Madison City Council considering annexing portion of city lake

Preliminary conversations are underway within the city of Madison for the possibility of annexing a portion of the city’s swimming lake. According to Mayor Paul Dean, the conversations have been ongoing over the past several weeks as part of a strong push to “reinvigorate” the town. Dean says the city is looking at the north end of the lake as the area that could be annexed to allow for a housing development. He says the Madison City Council has received some early input from local residents with the majority being overwhelmingly receptive to the initial idea.
Source: KVOE Emporia Radio

New Reno County diversion program to help first-time drug offenders

Drug convictions could soon change for people in Reno County. Thanks to recent legislation, smaller counties now have a chance to implement new drug diversion programs. For about 20 years, state funding has been available through Senate Bill 123. This funding helps people get the treatment they need for substance abuse, but this comes after a conviction making it difficult for people to get back on their feet when recovering. “The purpose of us prosecuting possession crimes, in my opinion, is not to obtain convictions, but it is to get that person the help that they need,” said Reno County District Attorney Thomas Stanton.
Source: KSN-TV

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