First City Connection Connection information for leavenworth’s residents and businesses
fall 2014
Leavenworth Animal Control Center opens to the public The Leavenworth City Commission, City staff and local volunteers celebrated the opening of the new Leavenworth Animal Control Center July 21. The new building is 7,800 square feet and allows for a 10 percent increase in space for animals. The $2.3 million facility was constructed on higher ground than the previous facility at 1720 S. 2nd Street. The new building was constructed with not only cost-efficiency in mind, but also the environment. The kennels have exposure to natural light, both as a tool to help improve the health of the animals and to reduce dependency on electric light. Motion censors shut off lights when Leavenworth’s new Animal Control Center is located behind Price Chopper, Fourth and Marion streets. they are not needed. Improved insulation The Leavenworth City Commission broke ground in 2013 and construction was completed in one year. from the previous building will help with In an effort to improve animal health, the surgeries, a community room for pet the City’s cooling and heating costs. new facility has separate heating, cooleducation programs and a viewing area The new address for the facility is 2019 ing and ventillation systems to prevent for community members who would like S. Third Street, behind Price Chopper at air from being transferred from the to adopt a pet. Fourth and Marion streets. areas where sick animals are kept. The Hours will continue at the new facility Flooding had previously been a major new building also has separate rooms 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday and every issue with the old facility. In 2011, floodfor immediate intake, quarrantine/sick second Saturday, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. To find ing of the adoptable pets, contact the facility at Missouri River animals, isolation or potentially dangerous animals, and adoptable animals for 913-682-0268 or visit www.petfinder. forced the both dogs and cats. There’s a new exam com. City to move room for visiting veterinarians to perform animals to an alternate location for several • Heating, cooling and ventillation system prevents animals from getting sick. months. The • Built on higher ground that has not flooded in recent history including the old facility 1993 flood. had flooded • Features such as natural lighting and motion sensor lights make the building three times more ecologically and economically friendly. in the past six • A safe place to adopt dogs and cats and support your local Animal Control. years.
Facts about the new Animal Control Center
INSIDE:
• Fall 2014 Leaf program begins Nov. 3 • Update on Leavenworth hotels
• Ongoing street construction projects • Fire Department goes door-to-door to promote safety • Meet the new City Planner, CVB Manager
CITY PHONE NUMBERS City Manager’s Office City Hall, 100 N. Fifth St. 913-680-2604 City Clerk’s Office City Hall, 100 N. Fifth St. 913-682-9201 Economic Development City Hall, 100 N. Fifth St. 913-680-2660 Fire Department (Administration calls only) 3600 S. 20th Street Trafficway 913-682-3346 For Burn Permits: 913-758-2980 Human Resources City Hall, 100 N. Fifth St. 913-680-2637
Leavenworth City Commission Meets 7 p.m. Tuesdays at City Hall. Each 2nd and 4th weeks are regular sessions, 1st and 3rd weeks are study sessions. Visit www. lvks.org for copies of the agendas and minutes.
Mark Preisinger Mayor 913-775-2822 mpreisinger@firstcity.org
Inspections City Hall, 100 N. Fifth St. 913-684-0378 Leavenworth Public Library 417 Spruce St. 913-682-5666 Municipal Court Justice Center, 601 S. Third St. 913-758-2900
Lisa Weakley Mayor Pro-Tem 913-682-6297 lweakley@firstcity.org
Parks and Recreation Riverfront Community Center 123 S. Esplanade St. 913-651-2203 Planning/ Community Development City Hall, 100 N. Fifth St. 913-680-2626 Police (Admin calls only) Justice Center, 601 S. Third St. 913-651-2260
Larry Dedeke Commissioner 913-651-3322 ldedeke@aol.com
Public Housing Planters II, 200 Shawnee St. 913-682-2200 Public Information Office City Hall, 100 N. Fifth St. 913-680-2610 Public Works/Engineering City Hall, 100 N. Fifth St. 913-684-0375
Laura Janas Gasbarre Commissioner 913-758-1834 lgasbarre@firstcity.org
Service Center (Street and Refuse) 790 Thornton St. 913-682-0650 Sewer Emergencies (24 Hours) 913-682-1090 Water Pollution Control 1800 S Second St. 913-682-1090
Davis Moulden Commissioner 913-651-4979 dtm@lvnworth.com
Free curbside leaf program begins Nov. 3 for residents south of Spruce Street The City of Leavenworth will offer curbside leaf pick-up service to residents from Spruce Street to Eisenhower Street beginning Nov. 4. Crews will work from South to North. This program is weather-dependent. Only two passes through the City are planned at this time. Residents from Metropolitan Avenue to Spruce Street not on the collection route can bag their leaves for regular Refuse Collection or the Brush Site at 1803 S. Second St. for free disposal of leaves. How do I know when leaf pick-up crews will be in my neighborhood? The City will utilize its website, www.lvks.org, Channel 2, Facebook and Twitter to publicize where crews will be working. Tips to placing leaves for pick-up: n Residents should place the leaves as close to the street as possible, without covering the sidewalk. The piles must be free of materials such as branches. Please do not rake leaves into the street. Please do not block your mailbox (or your neighbor’s mailbox). n To provide the leaf collection equipment better access to the streets, residents are encouraged to rake leaves away from vehicles. n Leaves will not be collected if they are placed in plastic bags or boxes. Residents choosing to bag their leaves need to have the bags on the curb no more than 24 hours before their scheduled refuse pick-up day. The bags of leaves will then be picked up with their trash by the Refuse workers as part of their normal weekly service. Can I take leaves somewhere other than the curbside program? Disposal of leaves and grass is available to residents free of charge at the Brush Disposal site, 1803 S. 2nd St. The site is open Tuesday through Saturday, 8:30 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. until the last day of November. Clippings at the Brush site are used for making compost. The compost is available to residents free of charge at the brush site.
Trash Bag Delivery is Sept. 27 Fall cleanup means bagging leaves. The City has trash bags delivered directly to residents twice a year, in March and September. A roll of trash bags contains 50 heavy-duty bags. Additional bags may be purchased at the City Clerk’s Office, Leavenworth City Hall 100 N. 5th Street for $6 per roll. NOTE: FALL TRASH BAG DELIVERY WILL BE SEPT. 27.
A major construction project is underway at Second Avenue and Limit Street. The road is being realigned, an overhead rail bridge has been removed (with the stone bridge left in place) and the road bridge will removed. Workers are now building the roadbed for a new road bridge. The new road will have improved drainage and new sidewalks and gutters in addition to a new asphalt driving surface. This project is one of the major projects funded in part through the Leavenworth Countywide Sales Tax initiative. The Countywide Sales Tax charges a one percent sales tax at the register anytime shoppers buy goods in Leavenworth County. The One Percent Countywide Sales Tax has been in place for two decades in Leavenworth, providing funds for efforts throughout the County, such as the Leavenworth County Justice Center. In 2015, Leavenworth County will again
ask voters to renew the Leavenworth Countywide Sales Tax. Look for more information on Channel 2 and the City and County websites about how to cast
First City Connection Newsletter
Countywide Sales Tax helps to fund 2nd and Limit improvement
your vote in the 2015 Spring Election.
Three new hotels: 1 completed, 1 under construction, 1 in negotiations Three new hotels are underway in the City of Leavenworth. Two are scheduled to be completed by this time next year. Fairfield Inn & Suites at Fourth and Metropolitan streets plans to open in the fall of 2014. A hotel along Choctaw Street and Fourth Street just south of downtown began construction and is scheduled to be completed in 2015. Additionally, the City of Leavenworth has entered into an agreement with Equis Hospitality Management for an extendedstay hotel at
Third and Delaware streets, the site of a former Ramada Inn in downtown Leavenworth. The City of Leavenworth will benefit not only from having nicer hotels for our friends, relatives and guests, but also from having guests stay overnight in Leavenworth. Tourists can then spend money at Leavenworth businesses and pay sales tax and transient guest taxes to Leavenworth instead of Kansas City. Transient guest tax dollars go toward the Leavenworth Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, which provides marketing and information to encourage outside tourism to Leavenworth. Developers have assured the City Commission all new hotels will be quality products backed by national brands.
ALMOST DONE (ABOVE) The Fourth and Metropolitan street intersection is the site of a new Fairfield Inn and Suites scheduled to open this fall. The hotel has hired a new manager and is in the process of preparing to open in October, weather permitting.
Fall 2014
IN NEGOTIATION (Right) In 2014, the City of Leavenworth tore down the old Ramada Inn at Third and Delaware streets. The City has entered into an agreement with a developer with experience serving the military, who plans to build an extended-stay hotel.
UNDERWAY (LEFT) A private developer purchased this site at Fourth and Choctaw streets. The developer submitted building permits to the City of Leavenworth for a Hampton-Hilton Inn hotel at this site. Work is ongoing.
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Fall 2014
Ottawa Street improvements scheduled for fall completion Work is underway for for Ottawa Street, a streets improvement project partially funded by the Leavenworth Countywide One Percent Sales Tax. The old roadbed was completely torn out and new material was added to stabilize the roadbed before new asphalt was added. The project included widening the street, adding storm drainage inlets and piping, gutters and sidewalks. This section of Ottawa Street previously had no curbs or gutters, and no sidewalks for children walking to nearby David Brewer Elementary School.
Ottawa Street Update: In this photo, contract crews working on Ottawa Street have removed old asphalt and are installing a specialized gridwork underneath to stabilize the roadbed.
Leavenworth Public Works improved roads, sidewalks during 2014 Pavement Management Program for 2014 The following streets received new asphalt during the summer 2014: - Osage Street from 13th Street to 17th Street - 20th Street from Ottawa to Shawnee streets - Oak Street from Fifth to Seventh streets - Choctaw Street from Fourth to Fifth street Additionally, 20th Street Trafficway between Spruce
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JULY STORM CLEANUP
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A storm July 7 brought winds of up to 61 mph, damaging Leavenworth trees. To assist residents with cleanup, city crews collected brush left at the curbside, which was then taken to the Leavenworth Brush Site.
Street and 19th Terrace received epoxy patching and curb replacement. KLINK Repaving of Streets The City participates in Kansas Connecting Link (KLINK) projects with Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT). These projects cost share in paving projects on most state highways inside the city limits. Kansas Connecting Link provides 50/50 cost-sharing for funds to cities for pavement maintenance on state highways inside the City limits. Projects for 2014 include: - Fourth Street between Walnut and Shawnee streets - Fourth Street between Pottawatomie and Cheyenne streets - Spruce Street between Sixth Avenue and Central. Sidewalk Improvements 2014 The Sidewalk Committee recommends that the 2014 Projects include: • Additional repair work on 10th Avenue from Ohio Street north to Spruce Street. • Additional repair work on Spruce Street from West Intermediate School to Sixth Avenue. • Repair work on 20th Street Traffic Way KLINK, Sidewalk ramps KDOT requires the use of KLINK funds be accompanied by improvements related to accessibility, such as missing sidewalk sections and poor handicapped accessible ramps. These accessibility requirements are entirely the responsibility of the City. KLINK-eligible locations include Spruce Street from Sixth Avenue to Central, Fourth Street from Walnut Street to Cherokee Street and Fourth Street from Pottawatomie to Cheyenne street. These recommendations are based on citizen contact, Leavenworth Public Schools input on school walking patterns, coordination with other infrastructure projects, direction from the City Commission and committee discussions including rating and inspection.
Dog Tags required in City All dogs residing in the City must have a dog license. Puppies under 3 months old do not need to be registered, however puppies/dogs 4 months and older do need to be registered. When registering your dog for a license, you must have proof of rabies vaccination and proof of spaying or neutering. The annual fees are $10.00 for spayed or neutered dogs or $20.00 if unaltered. Dog licenses may be obtained from any of these locations: • • • •
Members of the Leavenworth Fire Department and the Kansas City Region of the American Red Cross went door to door to install smoke detectors and share fire safety information July 12 in a Leavenworth neighborhood affected by a fire death. Firefighters reported there were no functioning smoke detectors in the home in which the incident occurred. The Leavenworth Fire Department conducts in-home visits anytime to help residents properly install smoke detectors. Call 913-682-3346 to schedule an appointment.
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City Hall, 100 N. Fifth St. Leavenworth Animal Control, 2019 S. 3rd St. Dog & Cat Clinic, 1101 N. 5th St. Pioneer Veterinary Hospital, 3525 S. 4th St. Broadway Veterinary Clinic, 1116 N. Broadway St. Kansas Country Store/Hope Clinic, 728 Cherokee St. Lowemont Veterinary Clinic, 33511 Santa Fe Trail. (Easton)
First City Connection Newsletter
Fire Safety Education goes door-to-door
City employs women to fill two key positions On July 24, the City of Leavenworth welcomed two new employees to its ranks -- a new City Planner and a new Leavenworth Convention and Visitor’s Bureau Manager. The City of Leavenworth recently changed its agreement Tammie Ferguson with the Leavenworth Lansing Area Chamber of Commerce, which had been providing the CVB position to the City. The new
Licensing & Miscellaneous Services • •
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class is $10. Massage Establishments - New Business $350. and Renewals $175. Cereal Malt Beverage license renewals effective January 1, 2015 need to be submitted by December 3, 2014 for processing and approval To distribute flyers door to door requires a permit. Door to door solicitors are required to purchase a license with the City. If you encounter individuals soliciting at your home, ask to see
to come to Leavenworth. Julie Hurley also began her new position as City Planner July 24. She comes to Leavenworth from the City of Shawnee, where she was a neighborhood planner. Hurley’s new role will be to assist with historic preservation, code compliance and helping residents and businesses understand land use regulations.
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a copy of the city license. Tree trimmers are required to obtain a yearly license. Before hiring someone to trim or cut your trees down, ask to see the tree trimmer’s license. Rental Registration requirements apply to all rental dwellings, including rented single-family and multi-family dwellings and rented dwelling units in owner-occupied dwellings – There is a one-time registration fee of $20.00. Staff available Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Call 913-682-9201.
Fall 2014
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Trash bags may be purchased through the City Clerk’s Office at $6 per roll. Garage sale permits are required at a cost of $5. All restaurants are required to have a Health Permit at a cost of $100. per year. All Employees working at any Food Establishment must attend a Food Handler Class. Fee for the
agreement will make the CVB manager a City employee with support from the Chamber. Tammie Ferguson is the new CVB manager, taking over from Connie Hachenberg who retired in July. Ferguson comes to the City Julie Hurley of Leavenworth from the Heartland Habitat for Humanity. Her role with the City will be to encourage outside tourism and tourism spending
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Fall 2014
Know The Code Yard Maintenance All drainage ditches on the property must be kept clear of all trash, brush and leaves. Snow removal is the responsibility of the property owners/occupants and all sidewalks -- including the public sidewalk -- must be kept free of all snow and ice. Garbage and Trash Refuse, rubbish, garbage and household trash cannot be left in the yard and must be disposed of properly. This includes auto parts, appliances, furniture, building materials, tires, cardboard, plastics or any other collected materials. Tree trimming and fallen limbs must be disposed of within a week. Junk on Private Property City ordinance states: It shall be unlawful to park, store, leave or permit the parking, storing or leaving of any vehicle, machinery, appliances, implements or equipment, including abandoned, discarded or unused objects or equipment such as automobiles, furniture, stoves, refrigerators, freezers, cans or containers, lumber, junk, trash or other debris, which is in a wrecked, junked, partially dismantled, inoperative, unsafe or abandoned condition on private property in the City, so located upon the premises as to be visible from any public place or any surrounding private property, unless it is in con-
Planning and Code Enforcement Call 913-680-2626 to report a violation or visit www.lvks.org.
nection with a business enterprise properly operated in the appropriate business zone pursuant to the zoning laws and other ordinances of the City. Vehicles • All vehicles must be operable and legally licensed or stored in an enclosed structure. All cars not enclosed must be parked in an approved driveway or parking area. Vehicles may not be parked on any lawn/ yard area. All vehicle parking spaces shall be paved. Gravel is only allowed off an alley and as a parking pad and must have a border around all four sides to contain the gravel. • RV’s, boats, and campers may be parked for no more than 72 hours per month in the front or side yards, but may be parked in the back yard on a paved or aggregate block surface indefinitely. • No commercial vehicles or trailers (12,000 Gross Vehicle Weight), including but not limited to panel trucks, large equipment trailers, semi-trailers, etc., can be parked overnight in a residential area. • Small utility trailers may be parked on the property (less than 12,000 Gross Vehicle Weight), including small trailers for hauling, leaves, wood or other yard debris.
Stay informed: News and Events from the City of Leavenworth Don’t miss out on all the great things going on in your First City! Here’s how to stay in touch:
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TELEVISION
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TWC Channel 2 in Leavenworth: City Commission meetings air at noon and 7 p.m. daily, Planning Commission meetings air 2 p.m. daily, Leavenworth school board meetings, informational slides and events. - VIDEOS of City Commission meetings available on the Internet on YouTube for those without Time Warner Cable: www.youtube.com/leavenworthkansas
ON OUR WEBSITE, www.lvks.org.
• Check out “In the News” on the homepage • Upcoming Events calendar. • Subscribe to E-news updates to get the latest news items, job postings and other information straight to your e-mail inbox. • Report a Code Violation and Report a Pothole on “Citizen Response Form” on the bottom of our homepage.
SOCIAL MEDIA
- Follow Social Media sites for quick updates: Facebook “City of LeavenworthGovernment,” Facebook“City of Leavenworth Parks & Recreation Department” Facebook “Leavenworth Police” Twitter “Leavenworth KS” Twitter “Leavenworth PD”
IN PRINT
First City Connection newsletter and First City Activity Guide distributed to residents three times a year: Winter/Spring, Summer and Fall. It is mailed to City of Leavenworth residents. Additional copies available on our website (receive through Enews subscription) or: Leavenworth Public Library 417 Spruce Street Leavenworth, KS 66048 Riverfront Community Center 123 S. Esplanade Leavenworth, KS 66048