[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6477950,"mediaKeyId","5711034-5ed30136fe4abe83b1973730a86de850","parentId",5711034,"title","Harrington police ask public for help locating missing man James Allen Cole","audioSeconds",105,"startMs",1233000,"endMs",1338000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5711034-5ed30136fe4abe83b1973730a86de850&start=1233&end=1338","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5711034-5ed30136fe4abe83b1973730a86de850/thumbnail_1233000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6477950/Herington/Dickinson-County/Kansas/Harrington-police-ask-public-for-help-locating-missing-man-James-Allen-Cole","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6477950-7fe0c1dba27ad8ef00b1dac2b03986f3/orig.mp4?Expires=1771163580&Signature=J7giK13vwXCwwhn1wb0tptuf~bu8H8vkVJ1n3N2ceII0BQKefTMkf1-LB4TGjryYBfykhP9muE47wjugEof1yYzKv~JtGxDdg6U711Wnlk7hoPTOnBsvyQRw558JwBXaq1vFPdo7crS7cqEkhqjtlxthOrNxsWVWsuicG5YYVeUfZLT0g2oz9tESHzNdqODpt~HvaHD~6kMVc9h~uQ5zhjRHQTLOQhttoqwXYPcBjFTYiUShsQVaykMwLfwvL99lPuK4YCQ93cZ1Eh~gOqHrH64ydmvuR0zyQW2Oo56OLz4h4yFWmtpbTHtCmagMazVCZMecWhdnMJT1RGn7n0sd0A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Herington, KS","date","2025-09-03T12:51:04Z","article","Harrington police told the commission they are actively searching for 24-year-old James Allen Cole and asked residents to be on the lookout.

The police chief said the department has deployed drones and tracking dogs from other agencies and had tracked a scent about six miles into Morris County before losing it. Officers recovered a truck believed to be associated with Cole and have entered him into a national missing-person database and alerted surrounding agencies.

The chief said Cole does not meet criteria for a Silver Alert and is not considered an at-risk adult, but his disappearance is “out of the norm” and the department is continuing its search. The chief asked the public to monitor social media posts and local channels for a picture of Cole and his truck and to contact police with any leads.

Commissioners thanked the department for its efforts. No additional action or formal declarations were taken during the meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City of Herington - City Commission Meeting 9/2/2025 - RNR and Budget Hearings","oneSentenceSummary","Police briefed the commission on efforts to locate 24-year-old James Allen Cole, who has been entered into a national missing-person database; officers used drones and tracking dogs and said the subject’s truck is recovered.","taxTitle","Herington, Dickinson County, Kansas","taxId",61725,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6477955,"Residents push for clearer outreach on proposed 1¢ sales tax; commission schedules CIP meeting",5874,139000,6013000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5711034-5ed30136fe4abe83b1973730a86de850&start=139&end=6013","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5711034-5ed30136fe4abe83b1973730a86de850/thumbnail_139000.jpg","/articles/6477955/Herington/Dickinson-County/Kansas/Residents-push-for-clearer-outreach-on-proposed-1-sales-tax-commission-schedules-CIP-meeting","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6477955-4d0d41a2f05682889ad0585be97d211f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771163580&Signature=Yd8AOQmljtGw25I-mrvxhJj8wFjIkBh2k4Zi0F0pihi0nU3vwsL4MPkEB~X6LL4J-aDxH8QjNspZqR8ClD2i-o81Zffei5g5IwAfHyIzqSo~N5x~1k7on6uB1Gzp6~HhPqZ0AW3DNehvGQMSY8Sse60BbDvUNBn5-zFYoQzw2VXgx7xZTzcjeKExwBObgcQqcdn7lUw1K091ZSYenNkilYxxzD1gXJPHYKhNT0zviE8ifzLNUQiAxLa4sOJrzOkB1RokhAnhqg99VR08vuJk8P75c0WHscXsvp42WzvHN-664J1aWGEG8ZLYgd3~kP0DLIfivHYT9UyeLEBz149VNw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Resident Debbie Urbanek told the Harrington City Commission she has been advocating for the proposed 1¢ sales tax and said many residents oppose the proposal because of rumors that past sales-tax funds were misused.

“Every single person that I've had a conversation with has been against it, because it is their opinion in the past when we've had a, street sales tax that the funds were not used specifically for the streets,” Urbanek said. She urged the commission to “step up louder, and wider to share, you know, what this is all about.”

Commissioners and staff responded that the city has been promoting the proposal through community meetings and attached flyers in upcoming utility bills. Staff said the ballot question’s language restricts spending to the designated purpose and that the previous sales-tax language may have been broader, which could explain residents’ concerns.

The commission announced an open house on Sept. 25 at 5:00 p.m. at the Harrington Community Building to discuss streets and the capital improvement plan. Staff also said they will seek additional signage and ask the county about using an electronic sign to promote the meeting and other outreach efforts—including business outreach via Commerce Connections events.

Commissioners encouraged residents to attend the meetings to ask questions and said the city’s intent is to be transparent about how proceeds would be used. Staff said they will present a memo in a future meeting outlining what staff can do versus what commissioners can do on outreach and communications.","A resident urged stronger outreach about a proposed 1¢ sales tax intended for streets and capital projects; the commission said flyers were included in utility bills and scheduled an open-house to discuss the CIP and street projects.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6477960,"Commission approves easement and $32,546.40 raw-waterline reroute project",413,1754000,2167000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5711034-5ed30136fe4abe83b1973730a86de850&start=1754&end=2167","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5711034-5ed30136fe4abe83b1973730a86de850/thumbnail_1754000.jpg","/articles/6477960/Herington/Dickinson-County/Kansas/Commission-approves-easement-and-3254640-raw-waterline-reroute-project","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6477960-6c6d1775a2d85e836c1b071d6367cb0c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771163580&Signature=McxUNDAPfw6lgOlwm0YAe7Vgl-d8pcM73wi8zKs~R1GejD46FyrAgmwoTOsksv3Kv~2pSFrt7ok9zlsYUmvmzRdw0B2Z-JfsUmQVTHrJKuUZjKGH-EQKcF1cejsgxqdgBj~--xIRtarCprkW01prsxxSQQGKy2AZkZgSoe7XsIi8-PzPk0114-5CiF7UVp-j0hDKe8nN1lCCM-C8IzfC9K~keLGCK~ufvBWIAfOjwAkqjPck02dr1n-d1B-7cqVCZfT8D5J~vxgeTCbxd4VBXyEZlQsH94Kv6bWExc8TLH96txoNC300EZjVR4MnOK~rXmy5EeTI7HG3oHpuhzaxxw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Harrington City Commission approved an easement agreement and authorized a $32,546.40 raw-water line reroute project intended to bypass an eroded section of an older supply line.

City staff described the reroute as a bypass that will move the line east and tie into an existing segment to remove a deep, repeatedly repaired section that has experienced erosion and leaks. Staff said the line currently runs up a hillside to a basin the city no longer uses and that filling and deeding that basin section back to the adjacent property owner will be part of a longer-term solution.

Cody, a city staff member involved with the project, said the property owner had agreed to cooperate and requested removal of fencing and filling of the basin area; staff proposed completing work while crews are already on site for the expansion project. “It’s a good time to just finish this off,” Cody said.

Commissioners moved and seconded approval of the easement agreement and authorized the mayor to sign the document; that motion passed 4-0. The commission later authorized the raw-waterline project in the amount of $32,546.40, which staff said will be paid from the water distribution budget as in-house work. That motion also passed 4-0.

Staff noted a plan to deed the filled basin area to the property owner by 2027 and that the city hopes to use excess material from a railroad project to complete fill within six months to a year. Staff also said the existing line sits 12 to 14 feet deep in places and repeated digs have made the soil unstable, creating safety and shoring concerns if the city attempted further repairs in the same location.","The commission approved an easement agreement for a raw-water line reroute and authorized a $32,546.40 project to bypass an eroded section of an older line; city staff said in-house crews will do the work and funds are available in the water distribution budget.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6477965,"Harrington commission votes to exceed revenue-neutral rate, certifies 2026 budget at 87 mills",625,413000,1038000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5711034-5ed30136fe4abe83b1973730a86de850&start=413&end=1038","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5711034-5ed30136fe4abe83b1973730a86de850/thumbnail_413000.jpg","/articles/6477965/Herington/Dickinson-County/Kansas/Harrington-commission-votes-to-exceed-revenue-neutral-rate-certifies-2026-budget-at-87-mills","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6477965-d868e913190f1744b84e5fa449a5a1b6/orig.mp4?Expires=1771163580&Signature=euzLZyKWAGt8udspWfaU9DqQjOrYyU4iYyvJ6p-n-PywzDD2NdfM6znYKajR9QfU3vYKPqF83249lor4PbC-M0h~aqotzPs8sMGZu79Lncwc2NJu4bG8sO44lSX16b3vlUAYEHPpBWhl4SPuxrs69X75KLBxRxOnn-~KAi8Z8BM4UjYaPYcSMRu0ir1uDxfKpgJBwxC5sqwY~m91fhUC1RZ13AAEcxkjjYUw7-H6BCG7k79eBjF99fT7GdS~ZPpGpAfmdRSjUjxJ6~I680KnPpyvJHqNv7xUx5rcRgoM8DqSmtiSW-uCS9vN8tYoSXKHGpJo5L~cPs5SjaZeA3Pcww__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Harrington City Commission voted unanimously to exceed the revenue-neutral rate and certified the city’s 2026 budget based on an 87-mill levy.

City officials said the action was needed to fund basic operations and several items trimmed from earlier budget drafts. The commission opened and closed a public hearing on the revenue-neutral rate and later opened a separate public hearing on the 2026 budget before taking the two votes.

City staff summarized prior budget workshops and said the commission dialed the proposed increase back from earlier, larger proposals to the 87 mills before seeking approval. “We feel to adequately fund the budget next year, we're going to have to exceed the R and R,” a city staff presenter said, adding the commission reduced earlier proposals down to “87 to an amount that, you know, we got somewhat of a consensus on at the previous budget workshops.”

During the public hearing on the budget, resident Larry Mann urged commissioners to reduce spending and proposed using the cemetery fund to cover cemetery expenses. Mann said the cemetery fund balance was $155,000 and that the draft budget included about $50,000 for cemetery operations. He said he would oppose raising the mill levy unless necessary.

City staff and commissioners encouraged residents to petition the county assessor if they believe their property valuations are too high and reiterated an open-door policy for budget questions. Staff also recommended certification of the budget, saying the proposal “is going to fund the basic operations of this community.”

The commission first moved to approve a resolution exceeding the revenue-neutral rate and proceeding to 87 mills; the motion carried by roll call vote 4-0. Later the commission moved to consider and certify the 2026 budget at 87 mills; that motion also passed 4-0 by roll call.

The commission noted the city will need all four members to sign the certification document before it is filed with the county.

Looking ahead, staff said some capital projects (including airport and fire-station improvements) and grant applications remain under consideration and that they will present options in future meetings.","The Harrington City Commission voted 4-0 to exceed the revenue-neutral rate and certified a 2026 budget based on an 87-mill levy after public hearings and comments urging fiscal restraint and outreach.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Harrington police ask public for help locating missing man James Allen Cole

Residents push for clearer outreach on proposed 1¢ sales tax; commission schedules CIP meeting

Commission approves easement and $32,546.40 raw-waterline reroute project

Harrington commission votes to exceed revenue-neutral rate, certifies 2026 budget at 87 mills