Municipal News & Jobs

Maize’s population is expected to reach 10,000 by 2030 as the city pursues commercial development to match its residential boom.
Read more: Wichita Business Journal

As efforts to gain the upper hand on fires in Clark and Meade counties continue Friday morning, there’s a piece of good news as the evacuation order for the city of Meade has been lifted.
Read more: KWCH

The city of Wichita is making preparations for opening weekend, but a lifeguard shortage could change operations at city pools this summer. The staffing issue is not limited to Kansas.
Read more: KWCH

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.

Park City City Council voted on Tuesday to allow certain businesses to sell alcohol nearly around the clock during the FIFA World Cup. The temporary expansion of alcohol sales during the tournament runs from June 11 through July 19. KSN’s Jasmin Adous explains what businesses qualify and when they are allowed to pour drinks. The expanded alcohol sales only apply to bars and restaurants. They can serve drinks from 6 a.m. to 5 a.m. the next day during the tournament.
Read more: KSN-TV

Both Ellis and Victoria are making strides in residential housing and infrastructure development. According to the Grow Hays Annual Report 2025, five new homes are now under construction in Ellis, and four more are planned for 2026. In Victoria, marking the first new residential development since 2010, the Knights Addition infrastructure is completed, creating 11 new residential lots.
Read more: Hays Daily News

Eudora voters will decide in November whether to continue an existing city sales tax to instead go toward public safety after the City Commission Monday night approved putting the issue on the ballot. The city for 20 years has charged a 0.5% sales tax to pay off debt from building the Community Center and pool. That debt will be paid off this year, but city staff recommended continuing the tax to support public safety equipment and infrastructure.  Continuing the sales tax and shifting its focus to public safety would help the city accomplish one of its top priorities for 2027, funding at least three new full-time firefighters, without raising property taxes. 
Read more: The Eudora Times

The Hutchinson Planning Commission quickly gave its recommendation for approval of a zoning change for an unspecified drive-thru restaurant on 30th Avenue on Tuesday, May 12, before hearing that it will be tasked with establishing specific planning and zoning rules for data centers, likely starting June 9. The board unanimously voted to recommend approval of the zoning change. The planning commission’s recommendation will be presented to the Hutchinson City Council for final approval at a later date. Community Development Director Matt Williams told the planning commission that, following a resolution passed by the city council at its May 5 meeting, they will be asked to introduce temporary requirements for data centers while working on permanent regulations.
Read more: The Hutchinson Tribune

After mulling a data center moratorium during their May 11 meeting, South Hutchinson will once again explore the idea on May 25. This decision resulted from the fact that the moratorium, as drafted, would’ve halted the development of even small-scale, storage container-sized data centers. City Administrator Jeff Schenk made the recommendation to table the issue, and the council agreed. A new moratorium will be presented at the next meeting, specifically for large-scale data centers and battery energy storage systems.
Read more: The Hutchinson Tribune

SOLAR ENERGY is on the horizon for Humboldt. Council members unanimously agreed to have 124 solar panels installed behind the water plant. SEK Solar of Chanute was hired for the job. The installation will produce about 100,000 kilowatt hours per year, an annual energy savings of about $9,500, according to Daniel Zywietz, co-founder of SEK Solar, which also has plans to install solar panels at the new Pete’s convenience store being constructed in town. 
Read more: The Iola Register

Allen County may collect more than cardboard when it opens a recycling collection spot in Iola. Meanwhile, Iola City Council members approved a contract in order for a rebuild of U.S. 54 to begin. Though Allen County has yet to launch its planned recycling venture, it may already have changed in scope. Allen County Public Works Director Mitch Garner told the Register Tuesday the county may have an opportunity to collect more than just cardboard. Rather than a single large storage receptacle for cardboard, Garner said the county is considering a “roll-off” type of storage unit, capable of holding multiple recyclables, such as paper, aluminum and some plastics.
Read more: The Iola Register

Retiring North Newton Municipal Judge Levi Goossen was honored during the town’s city council meeting on Monday night. “Tonight, we are recognizing the career of the longtime Municipal Judge Levi Goossen,” North Newton Mayor Ron Ratzlaff said. “The city warmly congratulates him on his retirement and long-standing service to the City of North Newton.” Then, Ratzlaff presented Goossen with a gavel and shook his hand.
Read more: Harvey County Now

For an hour a day, four days a week, it will be quiet time at the Hesston Aquatics Center. This summer, Hesston Recreation and Community Education will be offering a low-sensory swim hour from 5 to 6 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays. There will be a focus on fewer people in the pool, with the sound system turned off during this time and emphasis on less splashing with no yelling. Cost for this time of low-sensory or adult lap swim is $2. Regular day passes run $5, with family passes starting at $120 and increasing depending on the size of the family.
Read more: Harvey County Now

Are Flock cameras constitutional? That’s the question that Commissioner Becky Reimer said a couple of her constituents asked her, so she asked Harvey County Sheriff Chad Gay about it during his monthly report to the commissioners. His simple answer: yes. He said the Flock cameras have been ruled constitutional by the courts. The county installed four Flock cameras in the summer of 2025, placing them on the east and west sides of Highway 50 at the county borders and the north and south ends of the county on I-135, also near the borders. The cameras take pictures of license plates as vehicles drive by. The information is stored in the Flock database so it can be used in investigations, not only by the Harvey County Sheriff’s Department but by law enforcement around the country. Gay said the cameras are constitutional because they’re only viewing the back of cars to identify the license plates, color, make and model of the vehicles.
Read more: Harvey County Now

Friday, May 15, marks the return of Burrton’s farmers market for 2026, with special entertainment by Mariachi Jalisco from 6 to 7 p.m. The markets run from 5 to 8 p.m. at the library park and are sponsored by the Burrton Community Foundation (BCF). Also at the market on May 15 will be Tortas Mary food truck and Veronica’s Kitchen with Agua Fresca. A piñata and various vendors with handmade/homemade/homegrown items round out the evening.
Read more: Harvey County Now

USD-440 Board of Education President Zach Mabry formally welcomed Halstead High School Principal Chad Baalman as the district’s next superintendent on Monday evening during the board’s monthly meeting. The board held a special meeting 30 minutes before graduation on Saturday to officially vote on the selection to replace current Superintendent Dr. Ron Barry, who resigned in April. Mabry congratulated Baalman on his new role. Mixing in a full day to interview in the middle of graduation week, Baalman called the last few days an emotional roller coaster. In an interview with Harvey County Now, Baalman said he’s excited with a little bit of normal nervousness about taking over as superintendent.
Read more: Harvey County Now

Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland today announced the Kansas Department of Commerce awarded over $1.3 million in Historic Economic Asset Lifeline (HEAL) grant funding to support 15 building renovation projects across the state. When matched with nearly $3.9 million in local contributions, this round of HEAL funding brings the total investment to approximately $5.2 million available to revitalize downtown buildings. By providing matching grants through a competitive process, HEAL helps communities transform dilapidated and underutilized spaces into thriving hubs for businesses, housing, childcare, arts, civic activities and entrepreneurship. These awards are specifically designed to revitalize rural downtown districts throughout Kansas. In doing so, HEAL fosters reinvestment, encourages community engagement, and boosts the overall economic health of Kansas communities.
Read more: Kansas Department of Commerce

Data centers are “unfortunately” here to stay, a Pottawatomie County official said this week. Shanna Goodman, Pottawatomie County Economic Development Corporation executive director, spoke Monday to the Pottawatomie County Commission regarding the ongoing discussions of data centers. She likened the conversation to similar discussions when Jeffrey Energy Center came to the county nearly 50 years ago. Goodman explained that regardless of any decisions the county makes, the digital infrastructure of data centers isn’t going anywhere.
Read more: News Radio KMAN

Jackson Turner is anxious and frustrated.  He and his family are worried that a proposed data center-plus-solar project in the sand hills of southwest Kansas could turn their farmland into an industrial site, displacing them and killing their crops.  Ross Marston, Turner’s stepfather and a longtime Sandsage Prairie farmer, is afraid of what might happen when out-of-town developers realize how difficult it is to construct anything on the extremely fine, powder-dry sand hills. Such skepticism and resistance is widespread. Kansans are flocking to public meetings statewide as numerous data center proposals are on the table in the aftermath of a 2025 law offering a 20-year sales tax exemption to such projects. Resident concerns about environmental and economic impact echo from border to border. Still, many residents, like Turner and his relatives, feel they’re not being fully heard.
Read more: KLC Journal

Reno County is hoping to become a premiere destination for golfing. After taking public comment, the Reno County Commission voted unanimously Wednesday to create a special district to help fund the Salt Lick Golf Resort development. Commissioners approved the boundaries for a Sales Tax and Revenue (STAR) Bond Project District. In those districts, bonds taken out for development are repaid with sales taxes generated in the designated area. In this case, the district is limited to land owned by the developer.
Read more: KSN-TV