Municipal News & Jobs

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.

Various tornado warnings and severe thunderstorm warnings were issued, but no injuries or deaths were noted on the website of the weather service’s Topeka office.
Read more: CJonline

Riley County’s six-month moratorium on data centers and battery energy storage centers has a scheduled end date. The Riley County Commission agreed last month to adopt a moratorium, but the implementation process didn’t start until commissioners signed a resolution Monday. The resolution will go into effect from the time it’s published in The Mercury until Nov. 12.
Read more: News Radio KMAN

Arkansas City commissioners will consider a resolution tonight authorizing the purchase of radar-controlled traffic lights. If approved, the Radar Vision system will be installed by Gades Sales Co. Inc. to serve the intersection of US 77 and Summit Street, the last stoplight on South Summit Street, for an amount not to exceed $21,175. The city currently has three radar traffic systems in operation. Radar systems are able to function more reliably in bad weather and darkness than the current camera-controlled systems. Radar systems allow traffic lights to adjust in real time instead of using fixed timers to reduce waiting time and improve safety and efficiency.
Read more: www.ctnewsonline.com

Firefighters across southwest Kansas are preparing for another dangerous day as massive wildfires continue burning. After four straight days of fast‑moving fires across Kansas and Oklahoma, some departments are now dealing with injuries within their own crews while still trying to protect communities.
Read more: KSN-TV

The City of Topeka is looking for public comment to improve its housing and community development efforts. The City of Topeka announced in a press release on May 18 that it’s expecting $12 million over the next five years in federal funding to support housing, neighborhood improvements, public services and community development projects. City officials now want feedback from residents to guide how to best use the funds.
Read more: KSNT 27 News

The Reno County Planning Commission reviewed possible changes to parking and off-street loading requirements in county zoning rules during its Thursday, May 14, meeting. County Planner Mark Vonachen said the proposal was spurred by how often the planning commission waives those requirements as part of conditional use permits because a business doesn’t need as much parking as county rules normally require. To alleviate that, he suggested removing parking minimums from the baseline requirements and instead making them part of conditions for approval of permits. That would give the planning commission the ability to tailor parking requirements to each project.
Read more: The Hutchinson Tribune

A few spaces are exempt from Kansas’ new bathroom law that requires people to use the facilities in government buildings that match their sex assigned at birth, Attorney General Kris Kobach said in an opinion he released Wednesday. Kobach’s opinion, which carries no legal authority, exempted some government spaces — such as skilled nursing rooms at the Kansas Office of Veterans’ Services — from complying with the bathroom law that went into effect in February.
Read more: The Lawrence Times

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.

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