MARC News

MARC welcomes new member county and cities

April 25, 2007

For the first time in its 35-year history, the Mid-America Regional Council has added a new member county. Miami County, Kansas, located just south of Johnson County was officially added to the membership during the MARC Board meeting on April 24. Its four cities — Fontana, Louisburg, Osawatomie and Paola — are also new members. County Chairman Jim Wise, Chairman Pro Tem Lyle Wobker and County Administrator Shane Krull were in attendance for the vote and shared history and details about their county and its cities with those in attendance.

Miami County’s origins can be traced back to 1855, when it was named Lykins County. In 1861, when Kansas became a state, the name was changed to Miami. Major economic influences include agriculture, railroad and natural gas production. Currently the county has a population of 31,000 and welcomes approximately 750 new residents a year.

This addition increases MARC’s membership to nine counties and 120 cities.

The county has not joined the Metropolitan Planning Organization boundary for transportation.

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