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Category Archives: Government
KS Virtual Job Fair Oct. 19
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KS Lifetime Hunting, Fishing License’s Available for Kids
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Fort Scott Get $1.5 Million For U.S. Hwy. 54
Governor Laura Kelly Announces 34 Cities
Across Kansas to Receive $28M
for Local Highway Improvements
FORT SCOTT – Governor Laura Kelly announced today that 34 cities across Kansas have been selected to receive a total of $28.65 million for improvements to the State Highway System located within city boundaries. The funds will be directed to preserve and improve pavement, add turn lanes, and modify intersections along essential roadways in both rural and urban areas throughout the state.
The grants are administered through the Kansas Department of Transportation’s City Connecting Link Improvement Program (CCLIP). The program is an important component of the state’s bipartisan transportation program, IKE, passed under the Kelly Administration.
“By making this investment, we’re improving the safety and accessibility of Kansas roadways that are local centers of community life,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “Through these grants, we’re delivering economic opportunities throughout rural and urban Kansas.”
Governor Kelly and Transportation Secretary Julie Lorenz announced the CCLIP awards in Fort Scott, where $1.5 million in CCLIP funds will be directed to improvements on U.S. 54, also known as Wall Street.
KDOT was able to increase CCLIP funding level for this selection cycle by more than $10 million over previous years due to additional federal funds coming to Kansas as part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Legislation (BIL). Both federal and state funds are designated for the CCLIP program and local matching funds are required based on city population.
“With the Connecting Link program, KDOT partners with communities to find solutions to support local transportation priorities,” Transportation Secretary Lorenz said. “I very much appreciate the power of the state and communities pooling funds to make improvements.”
A City Connecting Link is defined as any routing of the State Highway System located with the corporate limits of a city, not including the Interstate System. For this CCLIP cycle applying to state fiscal years 2024-2025, KDOT received 54 applications requesting $38 million.
There are three categories of CCLIP projects: Surface Preservation (SP), which extends the life of the driving surface; Pavement Restoration (PR), which rehabilitates or replaces pavement; and Geometric Improvement (GI), which addresses safety or capacity by improving roadway turn lanes, intersections, or modifying lane configurations.
For each project – the category, city, highway, and amount awarded include:
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Category |
City |
Highway |
CCLIP Funds |
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Northeast Kansas |
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SP |
Atchison |
US-59 |
$400,000 |
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SP |
Bonner Springs |
K-32 |
$400,000 |
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SP |
Emporia |
US-50 |
$400,000 |
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SP |
Kansas City |
US-169 |
$400,000 |
|
SP |
Lawrence |
US-59 |
$400,000 |
|
PR |
Marysville |
US-77 |
$1,250,000 |
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North Central Kansas |
|||
|
SP |
Clay Center |
K-15 |
$400,000 |
|
SP |
Concordia |
K-9 |
$400,000 |
|
PR |
Herington |
US-56B |
$1,250,000 |
|
PR |
Moundridge |
K-260 |
$800,000 |
|
PR |
White City |
K-4 |
$1,250,000 |
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Northwest Kansas |
|||
|
SP |
Colby |
K-25 |
$400,000 |
|
PR |
Smith Center |
K-204 |
$1,300,000 |
|
PR |
Smith Center |
K-204 |
$1,300,000 |
|
PR |
Stockton |
US-24 |
$1,100,000 |
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Southeast Kansas |
|||
|
PR |
Baxter Springs |
US-69A |
$1,000,000 |
|
GI |
Fort Scott |
US-54 |
$1,500,000 |
|
SP |
Independence |
US-160 |
$400,000 |
|
SP |
Independence |
US-160 |
$400,000 |
|
GI |
Madison |
K-58 |
$1,500,000 |
|
PR |
Parsons |
US-59 |
$1,250,000 |
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South Central Kansas |
|||
|
PR |
Anthony |
K-44 |
$900,000 |
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SP |
El Dorado |
US-77 |
$400,000 |
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SP |
Great Bend |
US-281/US-56 |
$400,000 |
|
PR |
Hoisington |
K-4 |
$1,250,000 |
|
PR |
Kingman |
US-54 |
$1,250,000 |
|
SP |
Larned |
US-56 |
$400,000 |
|
PR |
Pratt |
US-281 |
$750,000 |
|
PR |
Wellington |
US-81 |
$1,250,000 |
|
SP |
Winfield |
US-160 |
$400,000 |
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Southwest Kansas |
|||
|
SP |
Dodge City |
US-50 |
$400,000 |
|
PR |
Lakin |
K-25 |
$1,250,000 |
|
PR |
Ness City |
K-96 |
$1,000,000 |
|
GI |
Ulysses |
US-160 |
$1,500,000 |
|
TOTAL: |
$28,650,000 |
Bourbon County Rural Water #4 and Fulton Receive Federal Grants
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Kansas Director for Rural Development Christy Davis today announced that USDA is investing $5,517,200 in loans and grants toward eight community projects across the state.
Project details of today’s eight announcements are:
- A $900,000 loan will help complete the rehabilitation of the existing water treatment plant for Rural Water District 4 in Bourbon County. Previous funds for the project included $488,000 applicant contribution from the Rural Water District and a $2,772,000 loan from Rural Development in 2020.
- A $312,000 loan and a $650,000 grant will make improvements to the water distribution system of the City of Fulton. Improvements will include replacing the original water distribution system, meter assemblies, valves and fire hydrants. The city received a $15,000 grant in Aug. 2019, from Rural Development via the Special Evaluation Assistance for Rural Communities and Households Grant to complete a Preliminary Engineering Report.
- A $90,000 grant will assist Tabor College in creating the Central Kansas Entrepreneurship Center (CKEC). The center will provide support for small businesses including marketing, pitch development, operations and management, finance and accounting and will be located on the Tabor campus in Hillsboro. It is anticipated 46 full time jobs will be created.
- A $50,000 grant will assist in purchasing a fire truck on behalf of the Almena Rural Fire Department. A new brush fire truck will provide fire protection throughout Norton County and, when needed, to surrounding counties and southern Nebraska.
- A $47,200 grant will help purchase a fully equipped vehicle and other equipment for the City of Neodesha law enforcement department. Funds from this project will provide rural residents with new and improved public safety services.
- A $29,000 grant will be used to prepare an engineering evaluation for the City of Blue Mound‘s water system. The city needs an evaluation of their water facility and distribution system to determine what improvements are needed to mitigate line breaks. With this evaluation the city will be able to plan future water system improvements.
- A $1,640,000 loan and a $995,000 grant will help complete improvements to the City of Hiawatha‘s wastewater collection system. This project will upgrade the system’s ability to process wastewater and make needed improvements to the north lift station.
- A $143,000 loan and a $661,000 grant will help complete the first phase of improvements to the City of Vermillion‘s water system. The city previously received $1,279,000 in grants and a $272,000 loan for the project.
Governor Kelly In Fort Scott Oct. 12 For a Transportation Announcement
Governor Laura Kelly will join the Kansas Department of Transportation in Fort Scott on Wednesday to announce funding for multiple transportation projects happening throughout the state.
She along with Transportation Secretary Julie Lorenz will be at Fort Scott National Historic Site at 11 a.m. on Oct. 12 to make the announcement.
Survey to begin on K-52
Survey to begin on K-52
The Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) plans to start a survey at the Little Sugar Creek drainage culvert on K-52 in Linn County the week of Oct. 17. The culvert is approximately 1 mile west of the K-7/K-52 junction (see map).
The survey area of 2,500 feet is based on the existing alignment. Survey crew members will gather information for a future culvert replacement project. KDOT expects the survey to be complete by Dec. 30.
Activities include the use of survey instruments on the ground to determine locations of existing features within the corridor. A member of the survey crew will contact property owners or tenants for permission to enter private property. John Lilak of Bartlett & West will manage the survey for KDOT. Persons with questions may contact KDOT Public Affairs Manager Priscilla Petersen, (620) 902-6433.
KanDrive App now available on cell phones
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U234 Board of Education Minutes of Oct. 10
Monday, October 10, 2022
Members of the USD 234 Board of Education met at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, October 10, 2022, for their regular monthly meeting at the board office.
President Danny Brown opened the meeting.
The board approved the official agenda, and the consent agenda as follows:
- Minutes from September 12, 2022, Board of Education meeting
- Corrected minutes to reflect an August 1st date versus August 15th date
- Financials – Cash Flow Report
- Check Register
- Payroll – September 20, 2022 – $1,517,827.10
- Activity Fund accounts
- FSHS Choir Fundraiser, FSHS Orchestra Fundraiser
- FSHS Orchestra Extended Trip
Assistant Superintendent Dalaina Smith updated the board on building consistency among processes in the district, thanked the community and parents for their support of PLCs, and provided an update on curriculum.
Finance Director Gina Shelton reported on the September 20th count day, the ESSER III application to include expansion of the preschool, health insurance renewal, and sanitation devices received.
The board approved the following items:
- Approval of quote for student computer cases
- Personnel Report – following
The board went into an executive session for personnel matters and the superintendent evaluation process.
President Danny Brown adjourned the meeting.
PERSONNEL REPORT – APPROVED EMPLOYMENT
RESIGNATIONS/TERMINATIONS/RETIREMENTS:
- Gordon Harris – Resignation as Eugene Ware/FSPC Custodian, effective Sept. 19, 2022
- Stuart Troutman – Resignation as district technology help desk, effective Oct. 14, 2022
- Lyle Brittain – Termination as FSMS paraprofessional, effective Sept. 10, 2022
- Megan Webb, FSPC teacher, leave of absence
EMPLOYMENT/REASSIGNMENTS – FOR THE 2022-23 SCHOOL YEAR
- Michelle Laubenstein – FSHS CTE Coordinator
- Leah Carter – FSMS After-School Coordinator
- Brent Cavin FSMS assistant basketball coach
- Paul Martin – FSMS assistant girls basketball coach
- Abby Stepps – Eugene Ware Leadership Club
- Trisha Whitehead – Eugene Ware After-School Coordinator
- Rachel Patton – Eugene Ware paraprofessional
- Andrew Ables – FSHS assistant debate/forensics coach
- Jon Barnes – FSHS assistant Scholars Bowl
Adam Clements – FSMS assistant boys basketball
Tips to Keep Unwanted Pests Out
District Extension Agent, Horticulture
Southwind Extension District
111 S. Butler
Erie, KS 66733
Office: 620-244-3826
Cell: 620-496-8786
Tips to Keep Unwanted Pests Out
As the weather cools, it is inevitable that certain outdoor pests are going to try to find their way inside homes. One of the best ways to limit unwanted intrusions of insects or rodents is to deny them entry. It is often easier to prevent entry into a home or building than trying to control them once they are inside.
Here are seven useful tips for pest proofing.
- At the base of all exterior doors, install door sweeps or thresholds. Gaps of 1/16 inch will permit entry of insects and spiders; ¼ inch wide gaps are large enough for entry of mice. The bottom corner of doors is often where rodents and insects enter.
Applying calk along the bottom outside edge and sides of door thresholds will exclude ant and small insect entry. Garage doors should also be checked for bottom seals. A rubber seal is best as vinyl seals poorly in cold weather.
- Utility openings should also be sealed. This includes areas where pipes and wires enter the foundation and siding, around outdoor faucets, receptacles, gas meters, clothes dryer vents and telephone/cable TV wires. Plug holes with caulk, cement, expandable foam, steel wool or other suitable sealant.
- Use a good quality silicone or acrylic latex caulk to caulk around windows, doors and fascia boards. Use a high quality caulking gun. A gun that has a back-off trigger to halt the flow of caulk is best.
- Repair gaps and tears in window and door screens. Doing so will help reduce entry of flies, gnats, lady beetles and other overwintering pests in the fall. However, there are some insects such as hackberry psyllids that are small enough to fit through mesh window screens. The only way to prevent entry of these tiny insects is to keep windows closed.
- Attic, roof and crawl space vents should be covered with ¼ inch wire mesh to prevent entry of birds, bats, squirrels, rodents and other wildlife.
- An exterior (barrier) insecticide treatment can also be applied. Sealing is by far the most permanent way to exclude pests. However, it can be labor intensive and sometimes impractical. For situations like that, an exterior insecticide treatment may be best. You will get the most for your efforts by applying a longer lasting liquid formulation containing synthetic pyrethroids. Read and follow label directions before using any pesticide.
Barrier insecticide treatments should be applied to the base of all exterior doors, garage and crawl space entrances, around foundation vents and utility openings and up underneath siding.
- Pests such as lady beetles are often best controlled with a little manual labor by using a vacuum cleaner or broom to sweep them up.
Krista Harding is a K-State Research and Extension Agricultural agent assigned to Southwind District. She may be reached at [email protected] or 620-244-3826.
K-State Research and Extension is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
Governor Kelly in Fort Scott at KDOT on Oct. 12
Governor Laura Kelly to Announce Transportation Project Funding in Fort Scott on Wednesday
TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly will join the Kansas Department of Transportation in Fort Scott on Wednesday to announce funding for multiple transportation projects happening throughout the state.
Who: Governor Laura Kelly, Transportation Secretary Julie Lorenz
What: Transportation Grant Announcement
When: 11:00 a.m.; Wednesday, October 12, 2022
FS City Commission Amended Agenda for Oct. 11
The following attachment is the agenda for the 10-11-2022 City Commission Meeting. You will find an addition under New Business for the Consideration of Bids for the 900 E. National Trenching Project.