Welcome to the Pat Hill Team Overland Park KS News. For the Latest Area News Go to www.opkansas.org. We specializine in Overland Park KS Real Estate and Overland Park KS Homes for Sale. The following is up to date news about Overland Park KS The City of Overland Park KS has called a special election to be held on Jan. 29, 2008, to ask voters to approve a new 1/8 cent sales tax to take effect on April 1, 2009, the day following expiration of the existing 1/8 cent sales tax. The current 1/8 cent sales tax that 71.5 percent of participating voters reauthorized in 2003 will end March 31, 2009. If reauthorized on Jan. 29, the 1/8 cent sales tax will apply to purchases made by residents and non-residents in retail businesses in Overland Park KS and will expire March 31, 2014. This special election will be the largest mail-in ballot ever held in Johnson County, according to the Johnson County Election Office. About 120,000 ballots are expected to be mailed to registered Overland Park voters OVERLAND PARK KS SMOKING BAN BEGINS JANUARY 2 Overland Park's ban on indoor smoking, one of the most restrictive in the metro area, goes into effect Jan. 2. Smoking will be prohibited inside places of employment, restaurants, bars, hotel and motel sleeping rooms, meeting rooms, convention facilities and retail establishments, excluding those whose primary business is selling tobacco products. The new smoking prohibition includes bars and private clubs, which some cities exclude. Currently, Overland Park has three smoking classifications that apply to restaurants: · Smoke free, smoking prohibited in the entire establishment; · Smoking, smoking and non-smoking seating provided; and · Smoke restricted, smoking areas are completely enclosed and served by a separate ventilation system from the non-smoking area. Overland Park KS currently prohibits smoking in fast food restaurants. Punishment for violating the new ordinance includes a $100 fine for first offense; a $200 for second violation within a year; and $500 for each additional violation within one year. Contact the Health and Environment Division at 913/895-6270 to notify the city of a complaint. For more information about the smoking prohibition, see the city's Web site at www.opkansas.org. ARBORETUM LUMINARY WALK EXPANDS TO TWO WEEKENDS The Overland Park Arboretum and Botanical Gardens will once again set the mood for the holiday season with its annual Luminary Walk. This year, the event will be held the weekend after Thanksgiving (November 23 and 24) and the following weekend as well (November 30 and December 1), from 5 to 8:30 p.m. each night. Please note that these are Friday and Saturday nights. The popular event features approximately one mile of candlelit trails through the woods and gardens and around the lake, festive light displays, live holiday music, Santa Claus, a bonfire, and refreshments. "The warm holiday ambience makes this highly acclaimed event very special, and in order to accommodate the crowds, we’re offering four nights this year for visitors to choose from," said Teri Shields, event chair. "This is a rare opportunity for those who appreciate nature to experience the thrill of the nighttime woods." The Holiday Luminary Walk is the highlight of the winter season at the Arboretum, and is sponsored by Friends of the Arboretum (FOTA); Shughart, Thomson & Kilroy; Metcalf Bank; Dan Smith Home Building Company; JMA Information Technology; Aggreko, LLC; Cloud Foundation; Prosperity Advisory Group; Miami County Medical Center; Louisburg Cider Mill; Gill Studios; Bayer CropScience; and United Rental/Belton. Admission is $6 per adult, $5 for children 5-11, and free for children 4 and under. Parking is free. No pets please. Pasted from <file:///C:\Documents%20and%20Settings\Mary%20C\My%20Documents\copy%20pages\Pat%20&%20Tom%20Hill\Overland%20Park%20KS%20News%201-18-08.doc> |