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The Hall Monitors
By City of De Soto, KansasGovernment
The Hall Monitors episodes
- Mayor’s Minute - October 16, 2026 - 99th Street Water Line Update & Noise Study Consultant
Hear a recap from the latest Council meeting on October 15th.
Highlights include:
- A revised resolution on eminent domain and property acquisition for the 99th Street Water Line Project.
- Selection of a consultant for the industrial noise study, with an initial assessment expected by the end of January 2027.
- The Waverly water tower replacement timeline
The Comprehensive Plan update is also underway, with opportunities to share ideas for De Soto’s future. Find the survey and learn more about Comprehensive Plan 2057: https://www.desotoks.us/499/Comprehensive-Plan-Update
October 15th meeting agenda and materials: https://ow.ly/A4Jl50ZXour
00:00 Welcome and Meeting Recap
00:10 Consent Agenda Highlights
00:36 99th Street Water Line Update
01:21 Rezoning Changes Near K-10 and Kill Creek
01:50 Developer Bond Financing Explained
02:26 Water Main Project Construction Manager Approval
02:50 Industrial Noise Study
03:31 Water Tower Replacement Timeline
04:00 Comprehensive Plan Survey
04:16 Closing Thanks
5 min - Mayor’s Minute - October 1st - Beale Agreement Update & 99th St. Water Main Project
Catch the latest Council update from the October 1st meeting.
Highlights include:
- Changes to the Mount Sunflower (Beale) development agreement, including a reduction in water usage and about $30 million in funding for water system and community improvements
- Updates on the 99th Street Water Main Project
- Scheduling a November 19th public hearing for a proposed Digital Realty tax increment financing (TIF) plan
- Approval of tax incentives for the Countryside Farms residential development near 95th Street and Lexington Avenue
October 1st meeting agenda and materials: https://ow.ly/LIAf50ZSJNs
00:00 Welcome and Agenda Preview
00:11 Consent Agenda Highlights
00:29 Mount Sunflower Water Changes
01:23 Community Investments Secured
02:13 99th Street Water Main Update
03:32 Digital Realty TIF Hearing Set
03:50 Countryside Farms Incentives
04:25 Wrap Up and Where to Watch
5 min - Mayor’s Minute - September 17th - Astra Enterprise Rezoning & Adopted 2027 Budget
Catch the latest Council update from the September 17th meeting.
Topics include:
- Rezoning land at Astra Enterprise Park to Light Industrial
- Adoption of the 2027 Budget, including a lower mill levy and added services
- Industrial revenue bonds for the second phase of Residences at Lexington
- A request to add approx. six acres to the Limestone Development Residential Housing Incentive District
September 17th meeting agenda and materials: https://ow.ly/3YPq50ZO57I
00:00 Welcome and Recap
00:12 Constitution Week00:25 Consent Agenda Highlights00:34 Astra Rezoning Decision01:30 2027 Budget and Mill Rate03:11 Budget Investments Overview03:35 Lexington IRB Approval03:58 Limestone RHID Update04:33 De Soto Days Thanks04:47 Closing Remarks5 min - Mayor’s Minute - September 2nd - Policy Review Process & 12.17 Mill Levy Proposal
Catch the latest Council update from the September 2nd meeting.
Mayor Walker shares a quick overview of the proposed 2027 Budget, including a proposed mill levy reduction and some of the key considerations behind the budget.
Other highlights include:
- Hunger Action Month and the De Soto Food Pantry donation barrel at City Hall.
- An update from the latest Johnson County Sheriff’s Office report.
- The review process for proposed changes to City codes, zoning regulations, and other policies.
September 2nd meeting agenda and materials: https://ow.ly/hvUP50ZHocE
00:00 Welcome and Recap
00:11 Hunger Action Month00:37 Consent Agenda Highlights00:50 Sheriff Office Update01:20 Code and Policy Overhaul02:22 Budget Review and Taxes03:47 Closing Thanks4 min - Mayor’s Minute: Data Center FAQ, Part 2 - What About Noise?
Over the past several months, a variety of questions have been raised about data centers in De Soto. This special Mayor's Minute series takes a closer look at those questions, one topic at a time.
Part 2: What about the noise?
In this episode, Mayor Walker explains where data center noise comes from, how the City’s current noise standards apply, and the role distance, site design, acoustic modeling, and other mitigation measures can play in addressing potential impacts.
He also discusses the City’s next step in selecting an independent industrial noise and acoustics expert to review existing regulations and advise whether additional standards may be appropriate.
Learn more, explore project documents, and find additional FAQs: https://www.desotoks.us/465/Data-Centers
0:00 Noise concerns
0:32 Sources of data center noise
0:57 De Soto’s noise standards
1:38 Low-frequency noise and infrasound
2:37 Independent expert review
3:34 Acoustic modeling and mitigation
4:20 Health concerns and the City’s approach
6 min - Mayor’s Minute - August 20th - Development Policy Discussion & 2027 Budget Proposal
Mayor Rick Walker is back with a recap of the August 20th City Council meeting. 🎧
Highlights include:
- A KDOT grant agreement to help fund a citywide roadway safety plan
- Policy proposals related to environmental health oversight, economic development NDAs, and private well permitting
- A proposed 2027 Budget that would lower the mill levy without increasing the amount of property tax revenue the City collects
August 20th meeting agenda and materials: https://ow.ly/Wvo150ZB1xE
00:00 Welcome and Recap
00:09 Consent Agenda Highlights
00:27 Sunflower Road Trail Upgrade
00:47 Safety Action Plan Grant
01:19 Development Policy Proposals
01:50 Environmental Health Oversight
02:36 NDA Ordinance Debate
03:10 Work Session and Outreach
03:36 Meeting Date Change
03:53 Budget and Mill Levy
04:22 Closing Thoughts
5 min - Mayor’s Minutes - August 6th - Digital Realty TIF Proposal & Environmental Oversight Discussion
Catch the latest Council update from the August 6th meeting. Topics include:
- Design plans to replace Well 12
- An update to the Wastewater Treatment Plant’s stormwater pollution prevention plan
- An initial TIF incentive request from Digital Realty
- Discussion of additional environmental oversight for large-scale industrial projects
August 6th Meeting Agenda and Materials: https://ow.ly/sGEP50ZwjXP
00:00 Welcome and Intern Kudos
00:29 Consent Agenda Highlights00:44 Water Well 12 Replacement01:10 Wastewater Stormwater Plan01:24 Digital Realty Data Center TIF03:33 Environmental Oversight Proposal04:24 Advisory Reports and Road Update05:05 Future Data Center Policy Talks05:37 Meeting Wrap Up and Links6 min - Mayor’s Minute - July 16th - Industrial Noise Study & NWCFD Shared Position
Mayor Rick Walker is back with a recap of the July 16th City Council meeting.
Topics include:
- Next steps for an independent review of the City’s industrial noise standards
- Creation of a TIF district for a proposed memory care facility on Commerce Drive
- Discussion of a shared fire prevention officer position with the Northwest Consolidated Fire District
- Continued work on potential service and capital enhancements for the 2027 Budget
July 16th Meeting Agenda & Materials:https://desotoks.us/AgendaCenter
00:00 Welcome and Meeting Recap
00:12 Permits and Street Overlays00:35 Grant for Public Art00:53 Industrial Noise Study01:46 Rezoning for Commercial Growth02:05 TIF District for Memory Care02:38 Shared Fire Prevention Role03:20 Economic Development Update03:48 2027 Budget Discussion04:20 Closing Thanks5 min - Mayor’s Minute: Data Center FAQ, Part 1 – Why Did the Project Get Bigger?
Over the past several months, Council has received many questions about data centers in De Soto. This special Mayor's Minute series takes a closer look at those questions, one topic at a time.
Part 1: How did the Beale data center become larger than what the City Council originally approved?
In this episode, Mayor Walker explains what the Council approved last August, why the proposed data center is larger than originally presented, and what that does – and does not – mean for the project.
Learn more, explore project documents, and find additional FAQs:
- Data Center Hub: https://www.desotoks.us/465/Data-Centers
- Beale Project Page: https://www.desotoks.us/496/Beale-Data-Center
00:25 How Council Handles Comments00:44 Series Goals and Scope01:26 Why the Project Grew01:36 What Was Approved Last August01:57 Site Plan Still Under Review02:38 Buildings vs Power Capacity03:04 Water Saving Cooling Design03:22 Compared to Warehouses04:07 Impact Summary and Next Steps04:30 Wrap Up and Resources5 min - Mayor’s Minute - July 2nd - Beale Water Infrastructure & Revenue Neutral Rate Discussion
Mayor Rick Walker provides a brief recap of the July 2nd City Council meeting.
Topics include:
- Next steps in the sanitary sewer easement process
- The 99th Street water main project for the Beale site and updated water system plans
- Continued discussion of the 2027 Budget and the revenue neutral rate
Check out the full meeting agenda and materials: https://desotoks.us/AgendaCenter
00:00 July 2 Meeting Recap00:10 Consent Agenda Highlights00:24 Riverfest Park Events00:37 Noise Consultant RFQ00:54 Eminent Domain Easement01:22 99th Street Water Main01:38 Reduced Water Demand Update02:06 Water System Upgrades02:29 2027 Budget Discussion02:43 Revenue Neutral Rate Explained03:09 Residential RNR Strategy04:05 Closing Thanks5 min
About The Hall Monitors
From the publisher's feed
Welcome to The Hall Monitors—a podcast brought to you by the City of De Soto’s communications team, recorded right here at City Hall. It used to be the hall monitors that kept an eye on this old…
school building. Now we’re the ones keeping up with the big projects, decisions and stories that shape our city. So, grab your hall pass, and let’s take a walk (not a run) through De Soto’s past, present, and future. Let’s get to class!