Data centers are on the fast track in communities across the Midwest and Great Plains, but rising concerns over water, energy and noise leave lawmakers rushing to catch up. Plus: Supporters and opponents are debating a proposed data center in southwest Kansas. Read more: KCUR News

Although some projects already have secured city approvals and land purchases, others face legal challenges and are working through planning with local governments. Read more: Kansas City Business Journal

Data center regulations under discussion by the Pottawatomie County government would impose limits on noise, limit the height of the data center buildings, and prohibit any perceptible vibrations. Any data centers also would have to submit a plan to “mitigate the depletion of water,” document how much water they’re using, produce a plan to mitigate the impact of the development on plants and animals, and allow annual inspections by the county to assure compliance. And they would have to be located within 1,000 feet of an existing high-voltage power transmission line. Those are some of the highlights of a new nine-page [...]

Emily Roush is all too familiar with the struggles facing rural grocery stores. Emily, an Iola native, and husband Kaden have stressed creativity and flexibility in keeping their own small grocery afloat in a community of 180 in rural Smith County. It’s why customers hungry for high-quality, locally produced meat, (and now a wide selection of gluten-free products) will travel from miles around to Main Street Mercantile, which aside from a local co-op station, is Lebanon’s sole business. The Roushes also have taken a novel approach to other issues most folks don’t think about, such as ensuring grocery orders are large [...]

Galena residents say foul odors and smoke from a nearby landfill are harming their quality of life and raising health concerns. Residents of Galena, Kansas, are complaining about a smelly construction and demolition landfill outside of the city that they say is impacting their quality of life and could affect their health. They’ve been complaining about two odors — a rotten-egg smell that the Kansas Department of Health and Environment identified as hydrogen sulfide gas (H2S). The second odor is a smoky smell from a smoldering fire that started last year The smells are coming from different sides of the landfill, [...]

The first council meeting of June came with a wide variety of agenda items. The meeting began with the council approving previous meeting minutes and agendas, as well as approving a financial audit presented from the Loyd Group. The meeting continued with Haven resident Nikolas White, who requested a hearing after receiving a citation in regard to the length of his lawn. White told the council he had plans of growing a pollinator-friendly yard. “The idea is to turn the entire lawn into a pollinator-friendly ecosystem with a mix of vegetables, flowers and grasses all working together in a symbiotic relationship,” [...]

Public commenters urged the Lawrence City Commission to adopt a temporary moratorium on data center development while the city studies the issue and creates permanent regulations. About 50 people attended Tuesday’s public comment period, with some overflowing into the City Hall lobby. Several speakers said a moratorium would protect residents from unwanted developments near neighborhoods and farmland. Some expressed concern that large-scale data centers could strain water and electricity supplies, increase noise and light pollution and alter the character of surrounding land.  Read more: The Lawrence Times

Lawrence city commissioners on Tuesday selected Majed Al-Ghafry to serve as the next city manager following contract negotiations led by city staff. Mayor Brad Finkeldei said Al-Ghafry’s background and experience fit the bill for Lawrence’s city manager position. “Beyond his education, his experiences in public works, economic development and management of large and complex projects in multiple cities will serve Lawrence well in the coming years as we move into what I call the execution phase of our planned growth,” Finkeldei said. Vice Mayor Mike Courtney echoed Finkeldei’s sentiments. Read more: The Lawrence Times

City commissioners approved changes to the city’s dog ordinance in a 4-1 vote, replacing breed-specific regulations with a behavior-based framework. All commissioners were present for the vote and Mike Skidmore cast the opposing vote. Ottawa City Attorney Blaine Finch presented the proposed changes, outlining both the reasoning behind the updates and the structure of the revised ordinance. Read more: The Ottawa Herald

The interest rate table above illustrates recent changes in a sample of AA rated bond trades reported to the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board’s EMMA® system. Every issuer's credit is different, and other financing sources may be available. To obtain comprehensive Financial Advisory services for your local government, contact your Ranson Financial Municipal Advisor, Larry Kleeman, or Henry Schmidt.