GIRARD, Kan. — A Pittsburg Police officer contacted County Counselor Jim Emerson recently about grant funds for the Safe Streets initiative. The call reminded Emerson of an ordinance that was overdue for signing.

The ordinance at issue began in 2022 when 12 southeast Kansas counties met to create the Southeast Kansas Regional Planning Commission (SEKRPC) in order to bring much needed infrastructure dollars to the region. Banding together, the reasoning goes, improves the chance of grant applications getting approved, because it shows a cooperative effort.

Since then, the SEKRPC has been putting together a comprehensive infrastructure plan for the 12 member counties. In 2025, the plan was completed and sent out for approval, but got lost in the hub-bub in Crawford County.

Until now.

The 200-plus page plan identifies issues in each county and offers suggestions for improvement. Regionally, the plan points out, between 2013 and 2024, there have been 39,000 traffic accidents in the region. Crawford County saw 6,878 of those accidents, with 48 reporting fatalities and 164 reporting serious injuries.

The study pointed out the trouble spots in the county with the highest number of accident reports. Among the more accident-prone areas are the intersection of U.S. 69 and K-47 south of Franklin; the Arma intersection with U.S. 69; U.S. 69 and Centennial Drive in Pittsburg; and the intersection of U.S. 69 with Kansas Crossing. K-47 and K-7 in Girard and K-47 intersection at 120th just a mile west of Girard also made the list. Lastly, the intersections at K-126 and U.S. 171 along 260th (Opolis Road).

Emerson put the resolution before the commission, saying that by approving it, the county is under no obligation whatsoever. It simply makes it easier for other communities in southeast Kansas to apply for grants and increases their chances of success.

The commissioners approved the resolution.

The 12 member counties of SEKRPC are Allen, Anderson, Bourbon, Cherokee, Coffey, Crawford, Labette, Linn, Montgomery, Neosho, Wilson, and Woodson.

Commissioner Bruce Blair, Crawford’s representative to the SEKRPC, commented, “It’s pretty staggering the amount of money that’s been brought into, not just southeast Kansas, but into Crawford County.”

This reporting is made possible, in part, by the Support Local Journalism Project Fund. Learn more at: southeastkansas.org/Localnews