County is the development of a municipal airport, which is part of a long term strategic plan. “That new airport has been in planning for over 20 years,” Robert relays. “We are slowly stepping up to the actual construction. Over the past several years, that’s involved the acquisition of land, most of it through private transactions, but some through eminent domain. All of the land is collected and ready to go for the project for next spring.” Childcare capacity has been a pressing issue statewide. “At one point the State of Kansas was saying we had 400 early childcare openings to fill,” Mendoza recalls. “We were able to add capacity in Burlingame and temporarily in Osage City, but we really realized this required a larger initiative.” The solution is now underway, with a new childcare wing being opened at the local school in Osage City, filling a need in the growing county. Another ambitious investment is the new law enforcement center, a $23 million, 120-bed facility offering both detention and mental-health services. 171 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 11 OSAGE COUNTY, KS
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