Ark City local news summary

Voter turnout below 20 percent in county-wide election

City approves plan for $300,000 housing rehabilitation grant

New medical director hired for Fire/EMS department

Commission authorizes $25,000 emergency contribution to humane society

Proposals received for new fire station, pickleball projects

County employees to receive pay increase; commissioners freeze own salaries

Public works to test two-broom system in cost-saving move

Detour planned for bridge work near fairgrounds

Cowley Community College campus named among top 200 in nation

Voter turnout below 20 percent in county-wide election

COWLEY COUNTY, Kan. - Fewer than one in five registered voters participated in the Nov. 4 general election, according to official results from the Cowley County Clerk’s Office. County-wide voter turnout was just 19 percent, with 3,851 ballots cast out of 20,543 registered voters. The election decided numerous municipal and school board races across the county, including seats for the Winfield and Arkansas City commissions as well as several local bond issues.

City approves plan for $300,000 housing rehabilitation grant

ARKANSAS CITY, Kan. — The city commission on Tuesday unanimously approved the 2025 Community Development Block Grant housing rehabilitation plan, setting the rules for a $300,000 grant program aimed at improving local properties. The plan establishes the eligibility requirements and selection process for qualifying homeowners and landlords, who can receive up to $25,000 per housing unit for renovations. With over 70 pre-applications already submitted, city officials stated the funds will be awarded on a "first come, first served" basis to applicants who meet all program requirements.

New medical director hired for Fire/EMS department

ARKANSAS CITY, Kan. — The city commission has approved a professional services agreement with a contracted physician, who will serve as the new medical director for the Arkansas City Fire/EMS Department. The medical director will provide medical oversight, training approval and protocol development as required by the Kansas Board of EMS. Officials expressed optimism that the appointment will improve communication and collaboration between the department and South Central Kansas Medical Center, where the contracted physician also provides services. The appointment fills a position that had been temporarily covered following the departure of the previous director.

Commission authorizes $25,000 emergency contribution to humane society

ARKANSAS CITY, Kan. — The Cowley County Humane Society will receive a one-time operational contribution of $25,000 from the city after a unanimous vote by the city commission. The funds are intended to help the organization cover rising operational costs and continue services through the end of the year. The payment, which will be drawn from the city's general fund, matches a similar contribution from the city of Winfield. Officials noted that while the humane society has successfully secured grants for capital improvements like a new cat patio, fundraising for day-to-day operations has become more challenging.

Proposals received for new fire station, pickleball projects

ARKANSAS CITY, Kan. — Progress is being made on two major capital projects, as the city has officially received proposals for the new fire station and the construction of new pickleball courts. City Manager Randy Frazer announced the receipt of the requests for proposals during his update to the commission. He said city staff is currently reviewing the submissions and will bring recommendations to the commission at an upcoming meeting to determine the next steps for both projects.

County employees to receive pay increase; commissioners freeze own salaries

WINFIELD, Kan. - The County Commission unanimously approved a new pay plan Tuesday that will provide county employees with a 2 percent cost-of-living adjustment and a 2 percent merit-based raise for fiscal year 2026. The plan, presented by County Administrator Lucas Goff, also formalizes a consistent longevity pay program for long-serving staff. While approving the raises for employees, commissioners voted to freeze their own pay, which will remain at fiscal year 2025 levels. The resolution for elected officials' compensation, which includes the same adjustments as the employee plan, also passed 3-0.

Public works to test two-broom system in cost-saving move

WINFIELD, Kan. - After a lengthy discussion about equipment costs, the County Commission directed the Public Works Department to operate with two road brooms instead of three for the next year as a trial. The decision came during a debate over purchasing a new broom for Shop 2. Public Works Superintendent Jon Jordan noted a new machine could last 30 years but is only used to maintain about 40 miles of road four or five times annually. The commission agreed to a plan proposed by County Administrator Lucas Goff to salvage parts from a storm-damaged broom and test a more efficient, consolidated two-broom operation across the county’s three shops.

Detour planned for bridge work near fairgrounds

WINFIELD, Kan. - Drivers should prepare for a detour near the county fairgrounds as the Kansas Department of Transportation prepares for bridge work. The County Commission approved an agreement with KDOT on Tuesday to establish an unofficial detour route during the upcoming project. Details on the specific route and the timeline for the bridge work were not immediately available. The agreement allows the state to proceed with its plans while ensuring local traffic is managed.

Cowley Community College campus named among top 200 in nation

WELLINGTON, Kan. — Cowley College has been selected as one of the top 200 community colleges in the nation and is now eligible to apply for the prestigious Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence, Sumner Campus Director Zach Cooper announced Tuesday. The Aspen Prize recognizes institutions with high and improving student success outcomes. In the report to the council, Cooper highlighted the achievement as a significant recognition for the local campus. It was also announced that a graduation ceremony for the college’s paramedic program will be held Dec. 16 and that the Tiger Eatery on campus now offers a 25 percent discount to students on Mondays and first responders on Thursdays.

Found a mistake? Have a news tip or feedback to share? Contact our newsroom using the button below:

citizen journal offers three flagship products: a daily national news summary, a daily Kansas news summary, and local news and school board summaries from 15 cities across Kansas. Each issue contains 5 paragraph-length stories that are made to be read in 5 minutes. Use the links in the header to navigate to national, kansas, and local coverage. Subscribe to each, some, or all to get an email when new issues are published for FREE!