The Leavenworth Times
A Leavenworth County commissioner suggested Wednesday the county government ask people to sign a consent waiver before receiving a dose of the new Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine.
Commissioner Mike Stieben wants people receiving the vaccine to understand it was developed using cell lines derived from aborted fetuses.
Commissioners ultimately discussed developing an information sheet about the vaccine instead of requiring a signed waiver.
So far, the Leavenworth County Health Department has administered only doses of a Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. The Health Department has not received doses of the new Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
Stieben raised the issue during a weekly meeting of the County Commission.
The Leavenworth Times
Leavenworth County commissioners plan to form a committee to address issues related to the Leavenworth County Development Corporation.
Commission Chairman Mike Smith suggested the formation of the committee Wednesday as commissioners met with representatives of LCDC.
LCDC receives funding from the cities of Leavenworth, Lansing and Tonganoxie as well as the county government. The organization also receives money from the Leavenworth County Port Authority, which is provided funding from the county government. LCDC also receives support from private sector partners.
Basehor previously provided funding to LCDC, but the city recently withdrew from the organization.
Smith said Wednesday he wants LCDC to be successful. But he also wants county officials to feel they are getting a return on their investment.
Graeber, longtime public servant, dies at 87
Clyde Graeber, who represented the Leavenworth area in multiple positions in state and local government, died Sunday.
He was 87, according to an obituary prepared by Davis Funeral Chapel.
Graeber served as the mayor of Leavenworth and represented the area in the Kansas House of Representatives. He also served as the state treasurer and secretary of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.
He more recently served on the Leavenworth County Commission.
“I really enjoyed working with Clyde,” County Clerk Janet Klasinski said.
She said Graeber was a true gentleman who cared about each person in the county.
The Leavenworth Times
When they met Wednesday, Leavenworth County commissioners discussed whether they should rezone the entire county to match a new comprehensive plan.
Commission Chairman Mike Smith ultimately recommended not taking any action for now.
“I would say let this sit for right now,” he said.
The issue came up as Planning and Zoning Director Krystal Voth was providing a quarterly report to the County Commission.
Commissioner Jeff Culbertson asked about plans for updating zoning in the county to match a future land use plan that was created as part of a new comprehensive plan for the county.
Voth said rezoning the entire county would be unusual.
LETTER: Mask petition
To the editor:
There is disappointment in the Leavenworth County Commission, with the exception of Vicki Kaaz, in not supporting a mask mandate. Now we have We the People of Leavenworth County (objection to this inclusive group title as we all live in Leavenworth County). They are initiating petitions to declare the mask ordinances in Leavenworth, Lansing and Tonganoxie unconstitutional. If they succeed in obtaining the required number of signatures for each city, then an election must be held in each city. We, the people of these cities, will bear the cost of these elections.
Please refer to Leavenworth Times columnist Marti Crow’s excellent article in the Dec. 18 edition of the Leavenworth Times. A mask mandate is not a political or a constitutional question, but a matter of life and death. Our city leaders are to be commended for their service to us and passing mask ordinances.