Moonlight Road & Grand Street Intersection Improvements
Expect Delays! Roadway improvements: Moonlight Road and Grand Street intersection improvements will begin on Tuesday, May 28, weather permitting. This project is scheduled to be completed by mid-August 2013, weather permitting.
Traffic will be directed through the project work zone via signage, cones and flaggers. Grand Street may close intermittently, and detours will be provided. This project consists of roadway widening to accommodate turn lanes, pedestrian walkways, underground storm sewer system, traffic signal, street lighting and more.
Please contact Mark Pottinger with the Gardner Public Works Department at (913) 856-0918 with any questions regarding this project.
The northern westbound lane of US-56 Highway will be closed from 8:00 AM to 3:30 PM from May 21st until June 21st in front of the QuikTrip currently under construction just east of Cedar Street. The cones required to delineate this closure, due to turn lane modifications associated with the proposed QuikTrip, will be removed and the lane restored every evening.
On Monday, April 15, a concrete pavement repair project will begin on eastbound and westbound U.S. 56 from just east of I-35 to the U.S. 56 bridges over New Century Road in Johnson County. Crews will complete partial and full depth patching to the existing concrete pavement. Work will take place Monday through Friday during daylight hours.
Beginning on Monday, April 15, eastbound and westbound U.S. 56 will be reduced to one lane in each direction, 24/7 round the clock, throughout the project duration. Traffic will be directed through the project work zone via signage and cones. There will be no posted speed limit reduction or lane width restriction on this project.
Advance message boards will alert drivers to the lane closures. Drivers should expect some delays during the peak hours and should use alternate routes, if possible. Updated daily traffic information for this pavement repair project can be viewed online at: www.ksdot.org/kcmetro/laneclose.asp.
The Kansas Department of Transportation urges all motorists to be alert, obey the warning signs, and “Give ‘Em a Brake!” when approaching and driving through the project work zone.
Realm Construction Inc. (Blue Springs, MO) is the primary contractor on this $1.1 million concrete pavement repair project. This concrete pavement repair project is scheduled to be completed by early August 2013, weather permitting.
This project is funded by T-WORKS, the transportation program passed by the KansasLegislature in May 2010. Find out more about this and other T-WORKS projects at: http://kdotapp.ksdot.org/TWorks/.
For more information on this concrete pavement repair project, please contact Kimberly Qualls, Northeast Kansas Public Affairs Manager, at (785) 640-9340, or Howard Lubliner, Field Engineering Administrator, at (913) 764-4525.
City Hall offices will be closed on Monday, May 27th in observance of Memorial Day and will reopen the morning of Tuesday, May 28th.
For electric and water emergencies during this time, please call (913) 856-6802.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 21, 2013 No. 13-053
CASH DONATIONS THE BEST WAY TO HELP OKLAHOMA RELIEF EFFORTS; STATE OF KANSAS STANDING BY TO ASSIST
The Kansas Division of Emergency Management is urging anyone wishing to contribute to disaster relief efforts ongoing in Oklahoma to donate cash to disaster relief organizations rather than donating goods.
“It is such a heartbreaking situation we are witnessing with our neighbors in Oklahoma and I know a lot of people want to help because that is just the way Kansans are,” said Gov. Sam Brownback. “We see a need and we want to do something about it. The best way we can help right now is to donate cash so that emergency relief organizations can purchase exactly what is needed when it is needed.”
KDEM recommends Kansans consider donating to reputable disaster relief organizations of their choice such as the American Red Cross (www.redcross.org), Salvation Army (www.salvationarmyusa.org) or United Way (www.unitedway.org) or local organizations within the communities affected.
Maj. Gen. Lee Tafanelli, the adjutant general and director of KDEM, urged people to volunteer their time and services through official channels rather than self-deploying.
“We understand everyone wants to help, and we also realize volunteers who self-deploy mean well,” said Tafanelli, “but they sometimes forget their presence will put a strain on food and shelter resources needed to help storm victims. It’s better to let relief organizations know that you are available and what skills and other resources you can bring. Then they can contact you if and when your help is needed.”
Any requests from Oklahoma for civilian emergency responders will come through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact system alerting the Kansas Division of Emergency Management of the need. Requests for Kansas National Guard troops to assist will come through National Guard Bureau to the state and likely also be routed through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact system. This ensures the state is reimbursed through FEMA and state emergency declaration procedures, and the response is part of the overall coordinated state effort.
“We are watching for any requests for assistance from Oklahoma and we have reached out to our state counterparts to let them know we are ready to help,” said Brownback.
Gardner Parks and Recreation has been working hard gearing up for yet another successful season at the Gardner Aquatic Center. We hope you and your family and friends will join us for this special kick off to another fun summer! The Aquatic Center will open at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 25. There will be free treats given to the first 250 guests. We will also be giving away sunscreen to the first 100 kids courtsey of Central National Bank. A DJ will be playing your favorite music from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Don't miss out!
Date: May 25
Time: 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Fee: Price of Admission
Location: Gardner Aquatic Center, 215 N. Center St.
Beginning May 25, pool hours are 1:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m. Monday through Sunday.
Gardner Parks and Recreation Night at the T-Bones
Join us at Community America Ballpark to catch the T-Bones in action for Gardner Parks and Recreation Day. Baseball, softball and t-ball teams will have the opportunity to sell tickets for the chance to throw out the first pitch of the night and all teams before the game are invited to participate in a parade around the field. Our group will be announced over the Public Address as well as our name on the scoreboard. Anyone can purchase tickets at a discounted price through GPRD. Come out, enjoy a great game and cheer the T-Bones on to a victory!
Date: June 9
Time: 5:05 p.m. (game start time)
Fee: $9.50 per ticket, no limit
Age: All; Children 2 & under are free unless they require a seat
Location: Community America Ballpark (Near Legends Shopping Center)
Deadline to purchase tickets: May 31
Purchase tickets at Gardner City Hall at the Parks and Recreation Customer Service Center or call us at 913-856-0936.
The Gardner Police Department will be participating in a special traffic enforcement program sponsored by the Kansas Department of Transportation. The “Click It or Ticket” enforcement campaign will run from Monday, May 20th through Sunday, June 2nd, 2013. Gardner Police Department will have extra enforcement during this time period and will be concentrating primarily on Adult, Teen and Child Safety Restraints. Gardner Police will have a ZERO tolerance for any safety restraint violations during this campaign. Please be safe, follow all state and local laws and have a safe and wonderful Memorial Day holiday!
On Saturday, May 4, 2013, Gardner Police Officers participated in a Special Olympics fundraiser at one of Gardner’s local restaurants. La Carreta hosted this event where officers served as “waiters and “waitresses”, along with La Carreta’s staff, to serve customers.
This was the first time for the Gardner Police Department to participate in the “Tip-A-Cop” campaign, following the Polar Plunge in January. Officers donned their aprons and served customers from 11:00am to 10:00pm. Citizens were eager to participate and officers raised $2,764.00 for Special Olympics during this time.
The Gardner Police Department would like to thank La Carreta, along with the citizens who donated so graciously. We look forward to our next fundraising event for Special Olympics and will continue to support our community and the participants of our own “Gardner Gold” Special Olympics Team. GO GOLD!!
The City of Gardner has launched a new and improved Facebook page! With just a click of the “Like” button, you can be added as a fan of City of Gardner, KS Government. The page is overseen by the Administrative Services Department and will serve as a tool to keep residents up-to-date on City events, projects, meetings and more!
To become a fan of City of Gardner, KS Government, please click HERE.
At their March 18, 2013 meeting, the City Council approved the Governing Body Rules of Procedure document which provides the necessary guidelines for the conduct of orderly meetings of the City Council.
Included on Page 19 of the Governing Body Rules of Procedure document is the new process for individuals wishing to address the Governing Body at City Council meetings. Those wishing to speak may do so during the public comments period at the start of the meeting. Interested persons may also speak to individual new business agenda items, not part of a public hearing, and will be allowed to do so following staff's presentation and preceding the Council's discussion of any given item. Please refer to the Governing Body Rules of Procedure to read the new process in its entirety.
Click here to be directed to the Governing Body Rules of Procedure document.
The City Council approved rate changes for water and wastewater at its October 15, 2012, meeting. For your usage in January 2013, water rates will increase 8% and wastewater rates will increase 11%. These changes will be reflected in your statement starting February 2013. The following is a summary of the rate changes by utility:
Water Rates
Water rates will be increasing 8%. The monthly service charge will increase from $10.70 to $11.55. The cost for the first 40,000 gallons of water will go from $4.80 per thousand gallons to $5.15 per thousand gallons. The average increase for a residential water customer is $3.05 per month.
Wastewater Rates
Wastewater rates will be increasing 11%. The monthly service charge will increase from $10.70 to $11.90. The usage charge will go from $6.85 per thousand gallons to $7.60 per thousand gallons of water used. The average increase for a residential wastewater customer is $4.90 per month.
The Johnson County Meals on Wheels program seeks Gardner-area residents who drive and who have a little time each week to help their neighbors in need - there is an open route in Gardner for Thursdays!
Johnson County Meals on Wheels is a service of the Johnson County Area Agency on Aging, providing nutritious meals delivered by volunteers to county residents who are 60 or older; homebound; unable to drive, shop for groceries, or cook their own meals; or have no one to assist with meal preparation.
The program, funded by the Older Americans Act, depends totally on volunteer drivers. Because of an increase in the need for meals in Gardner, an additional volunteer route is being formed there.
Without the noon meal, many homebound seniors would lose their ability to remain at home and would become candidates for a nursing facility. The meal gives them the opportunity to remain independently in their own homes as long as possible.
Meals are delivered10:45 to 11:45 a.m. Monday through Friday, but individual volunteers typically choose one day each week to deliver. Some deliver more often. Others make themselves available as substitutes.
Meals may be delivered by:
- Iindividuals
- Families
- Civic and other groups
- Faith-based community teams
- Fmployee teams
- Children are welcome to accompany a parent on the route!
If you are interested or want additional information, please call Arah at 913-715-8895.
Even though there has been some rainfall, Gardner is still under a Water Watch. The Hillsdale Reservoir has not recovered from the effects of the drought and is still behind for the year by about 12 to 14 inches. The City encourages all residents to continue their water conservation measures as much as they can over the next 4 to 6 months until a sufficient amount of rain replenishes the Hillsdale Reservoir.
In a Water Watch, residents are asked to take the following measures:
- Watering lawns on alternating days, with even addresses on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, and odd addresses on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, and no watering on Sunday
- Limit filling swimming pools
- Limit washing vehicles
- Wash full loads of laundry rather than partial loads
- Take shorter showers if possible
- Don't let faucets run
- Have leaking faucets or toilet fixtures repaired as soon as possible
Other conservation measures: There are suggested practices on the City web page under the Water Division of Public Works (http://www.gardnerkansas.gov/water_conservation). There are additional links under each bullet point on the Water Division Water Conservation page. Additional tips can be found at: http://www.h2ouse.org/tour.