City of Columbus, Kansas

09/03/2026

City of Columbus Burn Ban.
Until further notice-
City of Columbus, Kansas
Cherokee Co Sheriff's Office- Kansas

09/02/2026

City Hall will be closed on Monday, September 7 in observance of Labor Day. The sanitation route normally ran on Mondays will be completed the following day, Tuesday September 8.

Since it's so hot out, we've decided to keep the Splash Pad going through the weekend and until the extreme heat subsides.

We wish you all a Safe and Happy Labor Day weekend!

08/19/2026

08/18/2026

08/17/2026

CITY OF COLUMBUS SECURES $801,000 STATE GRANT FOR MAPLE STREET SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL IMPROVEMENTS

The City of Columbus has officially been awarded $801,000 in federal grant funding through the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) Transportation Alternatives (TA) program. The grant will fund the city’s Safe Routes to School Improvements - Priority 3 project, designed to significantly enhance pedestrian safety, accessibility, and stormwater management on Maple Street – the city’s main thoroughfare.

The funding is part of a statewide announcement made by Governor Laura Kelly and KDOT, distributing over $37 million to 33 active transportation and infrastructure projects across Kansas. Construction on these projects will take place in 2028.

The Columbus project is divided into two primary sections aimed at enhancing pedestrian safety and local connectivity:

• Section 1 (West Maple Street & Lakewood West): Sidewalk construction will begin on the north side of the road at the intersection of Washington Avenue and West Maple Street, extending west to Riverside Drive. This phase includes critical drainage improvements along West Maple Street to mitigate steep ditches. From Riverside Drive, the path will extend north, terminating near the new Lakewood West subdivision.

• Section 2 (East Maple Street & Reeves Park): Construction begins on the south side of East Maple Street, east of Highway 69, extending east to the Apple Glen Apartments. The sidewalk will then cross to the north side of East Maple Street at North 4th Avenue, continue east to North 6th Avenue, and turn north to end at the entrance of Reeves Park.

"This vital work will effectively link our west city limit boundary to the east with a safe, accessible sidewalk along Maple Street," said Jake Letner, Columbus City Administrator. "This project will connect the new Lakewood West subdivision to the interior community, while providing a safe pedestrian trafficway for residents at the Apple Glen Apartments to easily access the interior town and Reeves Park. Additionally, it will include vital drainage improvements on the north side of Maple Street, reducing the number of steep ditches and improving overall stormwater management."

The Transportation Alternatives program prioritizes projects that increase safety for pedestrians and bicyclists, particularly around school routes and residential hubs. KDOT evaluated 40 statewide applications using data from the state’s Vulnerable Road User Safety Assessment Tool, selection criteria based on safety countermeasures, local readiness, and geographic distribution.

To view the full press release, please visit this link: https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/KSOG/bulletins/4255ea4

07/28/2026

Just a reminder that the last day to pay utility bills to avoid service disconnection is the 25th day of each month.

07/13/2026

Milling work will resume tomorrow and continue for the remainder of the summer.

2026 Street Maintenance & Repair Update

Work on this year's street maintenance and repair project is underway. This year’s project will consist of resurfacing 12 street segments and alleys across the city, totaling an estimated 1,543 tons of new asphalt to provide smoother, safer travels.

Below is the complete list of scheduled areas for street maintenance in 2026:

100 Block of W. Sycamore
300-400 Blocks of E. Sycamore
100-200 Blocks of N. Tennessee
400 Block of E. Walnut
700-900 Blocks of W. Oak
100 Block of S. Delaware
100-300 Blocks of N. Parmenter
600 Block of N. Illinois
600-700 Blocks of E. Lake
600 Block of E. Mill
600 Block of N. Magnolia
The Alley by the Hospital/Clinic

The city's contractor will mobilize and officially begin the repaving work sometime this fall. Earlier this year, our Public Works department was able to procure its own milling machine. This allows the city to reduce asphalt accumulation on streets and save costs through the ability to self-perform the milling work.

Over the next few months, city staff will begin preparing these areas for final laydown by completing a 1.5” to 2” mill of the existing surfaces at the above-referenced locations. Crews began work on Tennessee Ave. this week and will work their way from east to west through the summer months.

We appreciate your patience, caution, and cooperation as we work to improve our city's infrastructure.

07/13/2026

**This issue is resolved and normal pressure is restored. We appreciate your patience.**

Public works crews are currently working on a fire hydrant in the Lakewood West subdivision. If you live in that vicinity, you'll experience a temporary reduction or loss of water pressure for the next couple of hours. We'll update this post as the situation develops.

07/02/2026

The City of Columbus is now hiring a Utility Technician. This full-time, hands-on role is perfect for individuals with experience in public utilities or a desire to learn. We offer stable hours and a great benefits package, including quality medical, dental, and vision insurance, a city-sponsored pension plan, 12 paid holidays, and generous paid vacation and sick leave. The pay range is $16.61-$23.12 an hour - starting pay will depend on qualifications and experience

If you or someone you know may be interested, please check out our listing on Indeed:

https://www.indeed.com/job/utility-technician-i-or-ii-e17973f181ade685

07/01/2026

City Hall will be closed on Friday, July 3 in observance of Independence Day. If your garbage is collected on Fridays, we'll pick it up tomorrow, Thursday, 07/02.

We wish you all a Safe and Happy Independence Day!