Kansas Municipal News
Local government news, municipal finance updates and job openings, collected for city and county officials.
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Once banished to trailer parks, manufactured homes are moving to suburbia
Manufactured homes are gaining traction in suburban neighborhoods as policymakers and developers look for more affordable, faster-to-build housing options amid soaring home prices. Although long stigmatized and restricted by zoning rules, new laws and improved construction quality are opening the door for factory-built homes to…
Shawnee County puts a pause on data center applications
Shawnee County commissioners approved a six-month moratorium on new data center applications citing transparency. Read more: Topeka Capital-Journal Press Releases
Ark City man arrested under public nudity law his own walks helped inspire
An Ark City man whose nude walks through his neighborhood helped prompt Cowley County to adopt a new public nudity law last year has become the first person arrested under it. Sean Barnard, 46, was arrested around 11:30 a.m. Tuesday after Cowley County sheriff’s deputies…
AI to look for guns at Goessel schools
As classes start this week, Goessel schools have deployed an artificial-intelligence gun-detection system. The new security, purchased through a state grant monitors the district’s 35 security cameras for any visible signs of guns, superintendent Scott Boden said. Software and human analysis are designed to identify…
Residents, funds limit overpass for 126 years
As Newton’s Main Street rail crossing shut down for three days last week, residents began to ask, “Why doesn’t the city build an overpass?” It makes sense. If there were an overpass on Main Street, the work to replace a water main and train tracks…
Review of city’s economic development policy slated for September 3 City Commission Work Session
City Manager Toby Dougherty told Commissioners last week he expects a review of the city’s economic development policy to be on the September 3 City Commission Work Session agenda. A review of the city’s current policy was requested by Commissioner David Vilaysing. Dougherty reported to…
Topeka Planning Commission discuss zoning changes for data center development
Topeka city planners discussed a text amendment to the city’s zoning code that could affect where data centers, including large-scale “hyperscale” facilities, can be built. The proposed amendments were discussed Monday night as part of the city’s review of zoning regulations and requirements to include…
Rural Kansas fire response at risk amid declining volunteerism
A southeast Kansas fire department says they’re feeling the impact of a nationwide trend. Staff at the Hackberry Township Volunteer Fire Department say a lack of volunteer personnel make every call they respond to that much more challenging. Foster says it’s not just his department…
City, County approve plan to transform downtown Wichita
The Sedgwick County Commission approved the Downtown Wichita Action Plan 2035 on Wednesday. The Wichita City Council also gave the plan the green light this week, so the nonprofit in charge of the plan, Downtown Wichita, can move ahead. The nearly 170-page document lays out…
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