It’s always Sunny in Lawrence

Posted on March 8, 2012 by Eric J. Gruber

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Who's been given an A+ for the transparency of its website? This city!

The City of Lawrence has been given a Sunny Award! The award is given to honor the most transparent government websites in the nation. Out of more than 6,000 government websites ranked by Sunshine Review, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to government transparency, only 214 received the award.

Lawrence was one of three Kansas cities to receive an A+ ranking.

Sunshine Review used a “10 Point Transparency Checklist” to analyze 50 state websites and more than 6,000 local government websites.

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Glass recycling bins added around the city

Posted on February 27, 2012 by admin

Reading time: 2 – 3 minutes

Lawrence residents and businesses now have more locations to drop off glass for recycling.  Today, City of Lawrence Waste Reduction and Recycling crews are placing four Ripple Glass bins in Lawrence for residents to use.  The glass recycling drop-off bins are located in the parking lots of:

Residents can place all glass food and beverage containers of any color in the bright purple glass recycling drop-off bins.  All brown, green, blue, and clear glass bottles and jars can be mixed together in the same collection bin.  Labels on the glass containers do not have to be removed.  Items not accepted for recycling in these collection bins include plate glass (windows), mirrors, Pyrex, CorningWare, ceramics, and dishes.

“This program is beneficial to Lawrence and the Kansas City region in many ways,” said Mayor Aron Cromwell. “First, by offering multiple bins in Lawrence, we’re providing a convenient way to keep glass out of the landfill and allow the product to be recycled for optimal use.  Second, Ripple Glass’ process takes our discarded glass and turns it into insulation at a factory in Kansas City.  Our partnership helps provide jobs and manufacturing in the Kansas City area and is an excellent example of how recycling benefits the economy and creates a product that is in demand nationwide.”

This addition boosts the number of City-sponsored public recycling sites to thirteen at various convenient locations.  Contact the City’s Waste Reduction and Recycling Division at 832-3030 or visit LawrenceRecycles.org for a complete list of the recycling drop-off locations.

Ripple Glass is the brainchild of the people behind Boulevard Brewing Company.  Each year Boulevard sells more than 10 million bottles in the Kansas City area alone.  Before Ripple Glass, most of those bottles landed in local landfills.  Ripple Glass is a local solution to a local problem of waste glass.  Ripple Glass collects glass locally, processes it locally, and then a local manufacturer, Owens Corning uses the material to make fiberglass insulation.

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Trash Talking Continues at City Hall

Posted on January 13, 2012 by admin

Reading time: 1 – 2 minutes

The Solid Waste Task Force will hold a public meeting to review the final draft of the task force’s recommendations to the City Commission.  The meeting will be Thursday, Jan. 19 at 6 p.m. at Lawrence City Hall, 6 E. 6th Street.  The public is welcome and encouraged to attend.  A full version of the report is available for review at www.lawrenceks.org/swtf/files/swtf_draft_publicmeeting_2012jan19.pdf.

The Solid Waste Task Force was established in March 2011 to develop recommendations to the City Commission regarding the long-term solid waste service options for the citizens of Lawrence. An important part of this process is receiving public input.

If you can’t make the meeting on Jan. 19, feel free to submit your comments online at www.lawrenceks.org/swtf/feedback.

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A lot of talk about recycling

Posted on December 16, 2011 by Megan Gilliland

Reading time: 1 – 2 minutes

There is a lot of “trash” talk in Lawrence lately.

The Solid Waste Task Force has been working for months to develop ideas for the future of Solid Waste services in Lawrence.  Their recommendations will soon be presented to the City Commission for review but we’ve had a lot of questions lately on recycling and how to find out more about where to recycle in Lawrence.  The city’s guide to recycling is available here (PDF).

Check it out to see where to take your recyclables – everything from glass to used motor oil. Speaking of trash talk, we’d love to hear feedback on solid waste services.  You can submit your comments online at http://lawrenceks.org/swtf.

Comments are forwarded to the SWTF to review.  As soon as the SWTF recommendations are available, we’ll post that info online, too….stay tuned.

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Snow? City website is where to go to stay in-the-know.

Posted on December 2, 2011 by admin

Reading time: 2 – 2 minutes

New snow map

The City of Lawrence recently unveiled a newly redesigned snow operations page and mapping system. During snow operations, residents can set their browsers to lawrenceks.org/snow to receive the latest information on snow plowing, salting, city closures and other related information.   The website will provide a listing of current press releases, contact information, citizen responsibilities and snow-related resources.

The snow operations map will only be utilized when crews are in full snow operations mode; crews may pre-treat areas if slick road conditions are predicted but the map will be most helpful when accumulation or major winter weather is predicted or occurring.

During snow operations, Public Works staff will be responsible for monitoring areas that have been addressed and updating the snow map. The operations map will provide citizens with general information on where trucks are operating, where streets have been plowed, sanded or salted, and the ability to review traffic cameras at major intersections to see how traffic is flowing during snow operations.

“We’ve tested the system on multiple occasions and we’re encouraged by how easy it is to use,” said Megan Gilliland, communications manager. “I hope that our residents see the benefit in having a system like this and we’re very proud that the system was built using in-house staff expertise.”

So, when the ‘flakes start to fall in Lawrence, make sure your first stop is to lawrenceks.org/snow to stay up-to-date and ready for winter weather.

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Project: Sticky Note complete

Posted on November 18, 2011 by Megan Gilliland

Reading time: 2 – 3 minutes

The city’s Solid Waste division just completed Project: Sticky Note.  What could that be?  Well, this Thanksgiving, Solid Waste crews be enjoying the holiday with their families on Thanksgiving Day (November 24) and the day after Thanksgiving (November 25).  Regularly scheduled Thursday trash service will be picked up BEFORE Thanksgiving Day instead this year.  See the chart below for your trash service next week:

Thursday Residential Customers Only Thanksgiving week collection will be:
North of 23rd Street/Clinton Parkway Tuesday, November 22, 2011
South of 23rd Street/Clinton Parkway Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Solid waste crews just finished tagging the front doors of homes and trash receptacles with sticky notes relaying the change for next week.  For more information, contact the Solid Waste Division at (785) 832-3032 or visit www.lawrenceks.org/public_works/thanksgiving.

… and have a happy Thanksgiving.

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Traffic cameras now available in the interactive map

Posted on November 11, 2011 by Micah Seybold

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traffic cameras

There’s a new feature to the City of Lawrence Interactive Map to allow visitors to view current snapshots of traffic conditions in Lawrence.

The pictures are updated every five minutes for the six intersections that were part of the recent Intelligent Transportation Systems project along parts of 6th & Iowa streets.  More ITS projects are in the works for the near future which means more cameras will be added when available.

When you open the interactive map, click on the camera icon at the top of the map and click to view current traffic and road conditions at camera ready intersections.

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2011 Thanksgiving Trash Collection Changes

Posted on November 10, 2011 by admin

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There will be no residential trash collection on Thursday, November 24th or Friday, November 25th due to the Thanksgiving holiday. Only residential customers with regularly scheduled trash day on Thursday will be affected. During Thanksgiving week, Thursday residential trash collection will be moved as follows:

Thursday Residential Customers Only Thanksgiving week collection will be
North of 23rd Street/Clinton Parkway Tuesday, November 22, 2011
South of 23rd Street/Clinton Parkway Wednesday, November 23, 2011

For more information, contact the Solid Waste Division at 832-3032 or visit www.lawrenceks.org/public_works/thanksgiving.

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Mega menu for mega usability

Posted on October 10, 2011 by Eric J. Gruber

Reading time: 1 – 2 minutes

We’ve added a minor change to what we call the global navigation bar to help you find your way around the website more easily.

We’re rolling out changes to the navigation bar with the addition of what is known as a mega menu. Hovering over the Services link with your cursor brings up additional options for some of our most visited links as well as to city departments.

services mega menu

We’ve done the same thing for the Contact link, with additional sections to stay informed (receive information from us) and to connect (to send us feedback and  comments).

services mega menu

We hope you find this minor change to be useful to navigate around the website while saving you a few clicks. And although hovering usually don’t work on touchscreen devices, if you click on either Services or Contact while using a device with touch technology, you still will benefit from the mega menu.

As always, please feel free to let us know your comments below, or send feedback to webmaster@lawrenceks.org.

Thanks for reading!

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Change5 to help Lawrence win the Take Charge Challenge!

Posted on September 22, 2011 by Megan Gilliland

Reading time: 3 – 5 minutes

Change5Have you changed 5? With only 9 days left in the Take Charge Challenge, Lawrence is lagging behind Manhattan and we have just a few days left to change the outcome to beat Manhattan (and KSU!) and bring home bragging rights to Lawrence that we won the 2011 University challenge!

What is Change5?  It’s about saving money!  Did you know that if you change the 5 most used bulbs in your house that you’ll save $75 a year?  That’s $75 you save on bills and $75 you can spend on other things.  Why not Change 5?

How can YOU help? We’re asking everyone in Lawrence to log on to the Take Charge Kansas website and register ANY bulb switches (from incandescent to CFL) that you’ve made in 2011.  If you’ve already registered your bulbs, then tell a friend! If everyone in Lawrence registers 5 bulbs, then Lawrence can win and bring home the $100,000 grand prize for LOCAL Lawrence projects.

Why should YOU care? The projects selected would not happen in our local community without the funding from the Take Charge Challenge.  What will Lawrence do if (when) we win:

  1. Fire Station #5 – Take Charge Challenge funds would be used to install solar photovoltaic panels at Fire Station #5 at 19th and Stewart Ave. The project would cost approximately $66,000. Fire Station #5 is the largest user of energy amongst the five Lawrence stations.  The panels would reduce energy usage by 16,500 kWh or 2% annually.
  2. Prairie Park Nature Center – Take Charge Challenge funds would be used to install solar thermal panels at Prairie Park Nature Center in southeast Lawrence.  The panels would cost approximately $8,000 and would reduce energy uses by 2,500 kWh annually.
  3. East Lawrence Recreation Center – Take Charge Challenge funds would be used to install large fans at East Lawrence Recreation Center. The fans would reduce HVAC energy costs by 15% annually and save approximately $1,400 per year.
  4. Energy Audits for city buildings – The remaining funds will be used to help improve efficiency in city buildings – fewer dollars for energy costs means more dollars available for services and programs.

What NOW? Log on to the Take Charge Kansas website and register your bulbs immediately.  Or, send this email to all of your friends and contacts in Lawrence and encourage them to do the same.  But, don’t wait — time is running out and we only have 9 days left!

Don’t have any more bulbs to change?  Tell a friend or neighbor! We need EVERYONE to get involved – KU students, landlords, homeowners, neighborhood organizations – anyone who wants Lawrence to win and be able to complete these great projects for our community.

Thanks for helping out.  Please forward this email to EVERYONE in Lawrence that you know and ask them to support the Take Charge Challenge by changing 5 bulbs and REGISTERING the switches on the Take Charge Kansas website by September 30, 2011!

Go Lawrence, Beat Manhattan!

Update, 9/23/11:

  • To register your bulbs, visit this website: http://www.takechargekansas.org/Site_Data/Sub_Pages/City.php?City=8
  • On the right side near the middle of the page under Take Action is reads “Enter Your Email Address To Start or To Modify Your Switches.”
  • Enter your email address, press the Login button, and that will get you started.
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