Hutchinson local news summary

Final Flood Plain Maps Delayed to 2028

Hutchinson City Council Approves Tax Rate Increase Amid Citizen Concerns

Downtown Business Owners Plead for Action on Avenue A Park Issues

Food Bank of Reno County Announces Major Expansion Plan

City Reverses Course, Approves Funding for Grace Arbor Park

Reno County Approves Job Incentive for Wifco Steel Expansion

Council Approves Path for Historic Bernard’s Restaurant Demo, Renovation

1. Final Flood Plain Maps Delayed to 2028

HUTCHINSON – Hutchinson property owners facing inclusion in a new FEMA flood plain received some positive news at the September 2 City Council meeting. City Engineer Evan Patterson reported that the new flood maps will not be finalized until at least the spring of 2028, a significant delay from the original timeline. More importantly, it was discovered that the engineering models used to create the maps did not include any of Hutchinson’s large-diameter underground stormwater infrastructure, such as culverts and conduits. Patterson stated that providing this data to the state for inclusion in the models will hopefully result in a “significant decrease” to the flood plain boundaries, offering relief to residents and businesses concerned about mandatory flood insurance and development restrictions.

2. Hutchinson City Council Approves Tax Rate Increase Amid Citizen Concerns

HUTCHINSON – The Hutchinson City Council voted to approve a resolution that will lead to a property tax increase, following a contentious public hearing. During the September 2 meeting, several residents on fixed incomes expressed deep concern, stating that rising property valuations and taxes were making it difficult to afford their homes. One resident noted his property taxes have gone up 40% in recent years and now require one full month of his Social Security benefits to pay. Council members acknowledged the difficulty, explaining that the increase was necessary to fund essential services like road maintenance and combat years of high inflation. Despite lowering the mill levy over the past five years, the proposed increase would bring it back to a level from approximately five years ago to meet rising costs.

3. Downtown Business Owners Plead for Action on Avenue A Park Issues

HUTCHINSON – Tensions over safety and blight in downtown Hutchinson’s Avenue A Park were a central theme of the September 2 City Council meeting. Local business owner Mark Buckley stated that issues with the homeless population, including drug use, discarded needles, screaming, and public urination, are hurting sales and intimidating customers and employees. The council engaged in a lengthy discussion on potential solutions, acknowledging that a proposed camping ordinance would not solve the problem, as many individuals congregating in the park are not homeless but are dealing with substance abuse and mental illness. Councilmember Greg Fast advocated for increased enforcement of existing nuisance laws and suggested positioning a police officer in the park to deter illegal activity, noting the problem seems to be getting worse despite ongoing efforts.

4. Food Bank of Reno County Announces Major Expansion Plan

RENO COUNTY – The Food Bank of Reno County is taking major steps to combat growing food insecurity, as detailed in a presentation to the Reno County Commission on August 27. Citing disturbing statistics—including that 70% of students in USD 308 qualified for free or reduced-price meals last year—a food bank representative announced plans to purchase and renovate the former Family Dollar building at 4th and Severance. The new, larger facility will solve critical space issues that currently force the food bank to turn people away daily and limit the amount of donated food it can accept. In a significant partnership, the new location will include rental space for other services like First Call For Help, creating a centralized “helping corner” where residents can access multiple services in one place. The organization is launching a capital campaign to fund the project.

5. City Reverses Course, Approves Funding for Grace Arbor Park

HUTCHINSON – After hearing passionate pleas from neighborhood children and residents, the Hutchinson City Council reversed an earlier budget decision and signaled its intent to fund a new park in the Grace Arbor neighborhood. The project, originally budgeted at $750,000, was cut during budget discussions. However, at the September 2 meeting, residents, including several children, spoke about the lack of a nearby park, with the closest options being a 42-minute walk away. They clarified they were not asking for an elaborate design but simply a safe, usable space with basic equipment like swings and a slide. Convinced by the testimony and data showing the area is a “park desert” with a high density of students, the council directed staff to move forward with a scaled-down project estimated to cost around $100,000.

6. Reno County Approves Job Incentive for Wifco Steel Expansion

RENO COUNTY – The Reno County Commission on August 27 approved a letter of intent to provide a job incentive grant to aid Wifco Steel Products, Inc. with a major expansion. The company, which has diversified its business since the COVID-19 pandemic, plans to hire 20 new employees over the next year at a wage of at least $21 per hour. Under the county’s policy, Wifco will be eligible for an incentive of $1,500 per job after proving the employees have been retained for a full year. The expansion is driven by a nearly $2.8 million investment in state-of-the-art equipment, including a high-power fiber laser that will be the first of its kind in the Midwest.

7. Council Approves Path for Historic Bernard’s Restaurant Demo, Renovation

HUTCHINSON – The Hutchinson City Council on September 2 voted to overturn a decision by the Landmarks Commission, granting an appeal for the demolition of the historic Bernard’s Restaurant at 2100 South Bonebrake Street. The building, which is on both state and national historic registers, was previously declared unsafe and dangerous by the city. The Landmarks Commission had denied the demolition permit, as its purview is to protect historic integrity. However, the property owner’s contractor informed the council of a plan to demolish the unsalvageable portions of the building while preserving its historic character and rebuilding the rest, a path that city staff found acceptable. The council’s 4-0 vote allows the owner to move forward with the partial demolition and renovation plans.

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