Over 900 vacant lots in Junction City have been sitting in the Land Bank waiting to be sold for nearly eight months and the City is wanting to get at least some of those lots on the market as soon as possible.

During Tuesday nights Land Bank Board of Trustee’s meeting Allen Dinkel, City Manager explained that the City needs to get properties on the market and the County has offered to do that process.

“If we can’t get lots out on the market in the next couple of months, we’ve got to do what we’ve got to do to get the lots out there, because they’ve got to be sold, we’ve got to get them back in here, we’ve got to create tax revenue and get houses built out there.”

Both Dinkel and Dave Yearout, Junction City/Geary County Zoning and Planning Administrator explained they have developers interested in purchasing some of the lots.

Pat Landes, Land Bank Trustee/City Commissioner aired some of his frustration on his difficulty in trying to set up a meeting of the Ad Hoc Committee.

“We’re in the same boat we were in six months ago. He said nothing has happened, and all that is needed is to get the lots where there is clear title and get them going. ” But we need to have a meeting of the Ad Hoc Committee first, that’s the first thing that’s got to happen.”

Landes went on to explain that the Ad Hoc Committee will get the procedural needs taken care of and develop a recommendation for the Board of Trustees/City Commission in order to move forward.

The Trustee’s did schedule the Ad Hoc Committee meeting for Monday, June 15th. The Ad Hoc Committee is expected to have a recommendation for the Board of Trustees/City Commission by there next meeting on that following Tuesday, June 16th.

The Junction City Commission approved the site plans submitted by Geary USD 475 for proposed building additions to Westwood Elementary and Franklin Elementary.

Bill Clark, USD 475 Chief Operating Officer informed the Commission that the additions address safety and space needs at the schools.

“Franklin for example does not have a controlled entrance,” said Clark. “If you go over to Washington Elementary for example it has a controlled entrance where the staff can control who comes in and who goes out, that does not exist. To create that at Franklin we have to modify the office which modify’s the music room. Which then requires the addition that you see before you, a new music room just to the north end of that building.”

Franklin would also receive a new playground and a new staff parking lot in the future.

He went on to say the need for the addition to Westwood Elementary is due to both safety concerns and overcrowding.

“Over at Westwood, what we have right now is we have what we call eight specialty teachers, ELL and ESS for example, who are operating out of one room. By adding that addition it allows us to spread them out to provide a better learning environment for students. Additionally the addition at Westwood becomes the FEMA Shelter, we’re going to reinforce it so in case there is an emergency for bad weather there is a place for them to go.”

The Metropolitan Planning Commission recommended the City approve the site plans, with a requirement that the school district can not add anymore teachers or staff at the school due to parking issues.

Clark indicated that the additions will not increase the capacity of the school and that the District is addressing parking issues at their facilities district wide through a six year plan. This summer alone the district is adding parking lots at Morris Hill Elementary, Lincoln Elementary and the Early Childhood Complex.

The goal is to get the additions started as soon as possible in order to have them completed by the time school starts in August.

The City Commission approved the site plans per the recommendation of the MPC.

Geary Community Hospital has announced that Dr. Teran Naccarato will be joining their GCH Rural Health Clinic in Junction City, effective September 8.

Dr. Naccarato is a native of Wichita and received his bachelors and master’s degrees from Wichita State University and his medical degree at The University of Kansas School of Medicine in Wichita. After completing a family medicine residency at Via-Christi Family Medicine in 2008, Dr. Naccarato began practicing in Newton and then moved to Winfield where he currently practices.

The hospital is not only gaining a new family medicine physician but they have also hired Dr. Nacarrato’s wife, Tiffany as a nurse practitioner.

Dr. Joe Stratton, GCH CEO explained that there were a number of things about Dr. Naccarato that the hospital liked.

“He was very congenial, very personable fella and then of course his medical skills. Once we took a look at the references, background, and did the credentialing on him we know that he’s strong in terms of his physician practice, if you will,” said Stratton.

The Nacarratos have already been active in the hospital despite not starting until early September.

“He’s actually been up here with his wife Tiffany to participate in our ‘Chase for the Cause’ 5k that we had sponsored here by the hospital about a month ago. I know that there are some other events that we’re hosting throughout the summer that they will be in attendance at.

Dr. Naccarato is a Diplomate of the American Board of Family Medicine and a member of the American Academy of Family Practice. He will assume the former practice of Dr. Ron Mace/Dr. Rafael Velasquez in Suite 305 of the Medical Arts I building.

 

Two weeks ago a fundraising effort was announced for a new senior center in Geary County.

Geary County Commissioners received information from Senior Center officials this week, with Commission Chairman Ben Bennett stating, “There’s been some confusion with a self selected group of senior citizens that are looking at raising some funds to build a new facility, or move the facility. But I don’t think there’s a 100 percent agreement of that among senior citizens from the presentation we got this morning.”

The original project announcement called for a facility to be located in the central part of Junction City instead of on the west side of town adjacent to South Spring Valley Road, and for the funds to be raised for the project with no impact on the property tax levy.  Possible fundraising options are still being investigated.

 

The extensive rainfall this spring is welcome but can hamper construction schedules.

The new Fort Riley Elementary School is under construction on post. The goal was to have that facility ready for the beginning of the upcoming school year.

Dr. Corbin Witt, Geary USD 475 Superintendent of Schools confirmed on Tuesday that officials are hoping the rain will stop so workers can get going. “Slowed us down a little bit with all the rain and things, put us a little behind schedule. We’re cautiously optimistic that we’ll be able to start. We may not have it to where it’s in perfect condition when we start the year. We may have to have some signs that say please excuse our mess for a little while. But we hope to start the school year there.”

Witt added they’re at the mercy of mother nature right now, but there will be backup plans to ensure the needs of students are met now what happens.

After four years of service to the Flint Hills Regional Council, Jeffrey Adams will be leaving the local intergovernmental organization to become the Community Development Director in the coastal resort city of St. Marys , Georgia.

Saint Marys is an 18,000 population coastal community that acts as gateway to Cumberland Island National Park.

 

 

In lieu of our monthly MAC Breakfast, the Manhattan Military Relations Committee and the JC Military Affairs Council will be hosting a joint luncheon during Victory Week! The Luncheon will be onWednesday, June 10, Noon, at Riley’s Conference Center, Fort Riley. BG Eric Wesley, Acting Senior Commander, Deputy Commanding General (Support) for the 1st Infantry Division will roll out the 1ID and Fort Riley Campaign Plan for 2020 as our guest speaker.

 

As always, Reservations are important. The deadline to register for the luncheon will be Friday, June 5 at Noon.

 

When making a reservation, please specify if you have access to Fort Riley in the form of a DOD card, Access Badge, or Pass. If you DO NOT have Fort Riley access, please provide the following:

 

Full First Name

Middle Initial

Full Last Name

Driver’s License State & Number OR Birthdate

Phone Number or Email

 

Cost of the lunch is $15 per person, payable by check or cash at the door, or online here. Lunch begins at Noon.

 

To make a reservation, please contact Kaitlin at the JC Chamber,junctioncitychamber@junctioncitychamber.org  or 785-762-2632. If you wish to be invoiced, please make sure we have your email. Thank You!

UPDATE:

At 2:41`p.m. Public Works announced that water service had been restored.

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Junction City Public Works reported at 1:54 .m. Tuesday that water has once again been turned off for West Pine, South Clay, and Sheridan Streets.

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Service was restored to the impacted areas just after noon on Tuesday.

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Junction City Public Works has announced that 700 Pine Street, Sheridan Street, and 500 South Clay Street will experience no water for the next hour for hydrant repair. ( 11 a.m. to noon on Tuesday ).

ABILENE- A Kansas woman was injured in an accident just after 7 a.m. on Tuesday in Dickinson County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2001 Dodge passenger vehicle driven by Kayla C. Peck, 22, Salina, was eastbound on Interstate 70 six miles east of Abilene.

The vehicle hydroplaned and entered the south ditch.
Peck was transported to the hospital in Abilene.

She was properly restrained at the time of the accident according to the KHP.

According to the National Weather Service of Topeka, temperatures will be on the rise this week, reaching near our seasonal normals in the upper 70s to mid 80s. There will also be several chances for showers andthunderstorms, however do not expect this week to be a complete wash-out. A few scattered showers and storms are expected across the area this morning with dry conditions by this afternoon. Otherwise, at this time the better chances for additional precipitation this week look to be Wed. night and again Thu. afternoon and evening.

Hazardous Weather Outlook

Early This Morning: Mostly cloudy. A 20 percent chance of thunderstorms early in the morning. Near steady temperature in the mid 50s. Southeast winds 5 to 10 mph.

Today: Partly sunny. A 20 percent chance of thunderstorms early in the morning. Highs around 81. Southeast winds 10 to 15 mph with gusts to around 25 mph.

Tonight: Mostly cloudy. A 20 percent chance of thunderstorms after midnight. Lows around 66. Southeast winds 10 to 15 mph. Gusts up to 25 mph in the evening.

Wednesday: Partly sunny with a 40 percent chance of thunderstorms. Highs around 84. South winds 10 to 15 mph with gusts to around 25 mph.

Wednesday Night And Thursday: Mostly cloudy. A 50 percent chance of thunderstorms. Lows in the mid 60s. Highs in the mid 80s. Southeast winds 5 to 15 mph.

Thursday Night: Mostly cloudy with a 50 percent chance of thunderstorms. Lows in the upper 60s.

Friday Through Saturday: Mostly cloudy with a 30 percent chance of thunderstorms. Highs in the lower 80s. Lows in the mid 60s.

Saturday Night And Sunday: Mostly cloudy. A 50 percent chance of thunderstorms. Lows in the mid 60s. Highs in the mid 80s.

Sunday Night And Monday: Mostly cloudy. A 20 percent chance of thunderstorms. Lows in the mid 60s. Highs in the lower 80s.