Sebelius predicts quick wrap-up session

Topeka — Gov. Kathleen Sebelius on Tuesday said the Legislature would probably have a short wrap-up session and then state officials would await a Kansas Supreme Court decision on school finance.

Sebelius’ comments came to reporters after she signed an executive order on emergency preparedness.

On Friday, the state Supreme Court announced a timetable to review the Republican school finance plan in response to an earlier court decision that said school funding was inadequate and unfairly distributed.

The state must file written legal arguments by Monday, and attorneys for the school districts by May 5. A round of oral arguments is set for May 11.

The timetable puts any decision from the court after the wrap-up session, which starts April 27.

Legislative leaders have said that they expect the wrap-up session to last three or four days.

Applications taken for Supreme Court seat

Topeka — Applications for the Kansas Supreme Court are now being accepted for the vacancy created by the death of Justice Robert Gernon.

Nomination forms are available at any district court or from the clerk of the appellate courts.

Nominations must be submitted by noon May 3. After that, the Supreme Court Nominating Commission will convene to consider nominees to be submitted to Gov. Kathleen Sebelius.

Gernon, 61 died March 31 from complications of cancer.

County Commission rethinks rural plan

Douglas County commissioners on Monday outlined areas they would like the city-county planning commission to focus on as it crafts the rural planning and development chapter of the Horizon 2020 plan.

Commissioners said that they were concerned they might not be able to agree among themselves about the currently proposed revisions to the county’s comprehensive planning guide or be able to sell it to the public.

Commissioners agreed they would like the plan to include: a mapping process to help determine where subdivisions should be located in the Urban Growth Area; a review of rules and concepts involving the five-acre exemption rule; and an outline of frontage requirements.

“I think that captures a lot of the essence of what the planning commission brought forward to us,” Commission Chairman Charles Jones said. “But it kind of shrinks it down into a package that I think people can get their heads around and understand.”