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.

In November of 2024, the Macksville City Library announced thankfulness for receiving a $15,000 grant from the South Central Community Foundation. SCCF is a regional foundation that manages charitable funds for seven counties in south central Kansas. Our “Libraries Unite” project allowed the libraries in Macksville, St. John and Stafford to divide the grant equally, each utilizing $5,000 to improve programming, accessibility and outreach to patrons across Stafford county (and beyond). At Macksville, we have finally spent all of our grant funds in some very impactful ways!
Read more: Homepage

At a pre-meeting on July 15, the Garden City Commission heard a presentation on welcoming signs, city limit signs and wayfinding signs. Tyler Patterson, Public Works Operations Manager, said one of the City Commission Goals for 2025-26 is welcoming signs. There are three Welcome to Garden City signs, not including one at the Garden City Regional Airport and Flight Desk Restaurant, in Garden City, Patterson said.
Read more: Garden City Telegram

Newton City Commissioners gave an initial go-ahead for staff to begin formalizing an incentive package aimed at drawing in another hotel. In recent years, the City of Newton has seen a decrease in bed tax revenue, as well as guest space at some local hotels. Bed tax revenue funds city programs such as the convention and visitors bureau. During large events like last year’s adaptive golf open, many attendees found themselves staying in Wichita or other locations.
Read more: Harvey County Now

A federal judge drastically limited a developer’s lawsuit over an Edwardsville ordinance that would ban heavy truck traffic on a street abutting a $100 million logistics center. Scannell Properties spent millions preparing and planning to build more than 2.1 million square feet of light industrial as part of its Compass 70 Logistics facility. It remains under construction and sits in Bonner Springs, along the border with Edwardsville, just south of Interstate 70.
Read more: Kansas City Business Journal – Local Kansas City News

Natalie and Alex Beauchamp have moved five times in the past four years.  They’ve fit their lives into apartments across Missouri and the Kansas City area. It’s only recently, when Alex Beauchamp’s promotion required a move to Wichita, that the 20-somethings thought to try their luck at buying a home. City leaders talk a lot about attracting people like the Beauchamps to Wichita: young professionals ready to establish roots. But planting here is harder now than 20 years ago. Especially for first-time buyers.  The Beauchamps did just about everything right, according to their real estate agent, Jayna Reece. They arranged their financing, tempered their expectations and became eager students of her guidance about the home-buying process and the Wichita market. Even so, they had a six-week whirlwind of house searching. 
Read more: KLC Journal

It was a night of celebration in Andover as the city officially opened its newest park and welcomed back a beloved community space. Fire Station 2 Park, located just south of Kellogg and Andover Road, sits next to the newly opened Fire Station 2, which inspired the park’s name. The park was funded by the Family Future Forward sales tax, approved by voters in November 2021.
Read more: KSN-TV

In the shadow of the world’s largest hand-painted Czech egg stands the Wilson Czech opera house, a more than 120-year-old building that has been a member of the Wilson community since the town’s beginning. It was built by hand by some of the original residents of this small Kansas community back in 1902. Ford and Kenny Beneba, the Opera House Corporation’s president, says it was built by 26 men and eight mules. However, in 2009, a fire engulfed the century-old structure, leaving its future looking bleak. But like a phoenix from the ashes, the opera house has new life after the community came together to renovate the space into an open-air theater for the entire town to enjoy.
Read more: KSN-TV

Early voting is underway for the primary election in Sedgwick County. Along with candidates, voters in Maize have a special question. The city is asking its residents to approve a 1% sales tax. Maize City Manager Nick Gregory says this sales tax will help reduce future property tax increases while still investing in much-needed infrastructure improvements.
Read more: KSN-TV

Police are notifying Topeka pet owners of some changes the Topeka City Council made recently for cruelty to animals and dangerous dog ordinances.  The Topeka City Council voted on July 8 to amend Section 6.05.100 of the Topeka Municipal Code and repeal the original section. The council’s decision means local pet owners are required to provide animals with water at all times and changes violations of animal cruelty ordinances to a Class A nonperson misdemeanor. The Topeka Police Department said pet owners who have regained ownership of a dangerous dog can also petition the court for an extension of time to comply with the dangerous dog conditions. The court has to find there is a good reason for the extension.
Read more: KSNT 27 News

The leaders of the state’s new Water Program Task Force say they are committed to finding elusive solutions to the state’s long-simmering water crisis. Sen. Kenny Titus, a Republican attorney from Wamego, and Rep. Jim Minnix, a Republican farmer from Scott City who chairs the House Water Committee, appeared alongside Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly at a ceremony in Hays to outline their vision for the task force. The two lawmakers will co-chair a bipartisan group that includes business leaders and conservationists. Their mission: Evaluate risks to water quality and quantity, build a management system that addresses those risks, and secure a dedicated revenue source to ensure the plan, like so many before, doesn’t just sit on a shelf.
Read more: The Eudora Times

The Lawrence Police Department has rolled out a new program asking residents and businesses to register their security cameras on a list or integrate them for realtime access by police. Some community members worry the system could infringe on privacy.  Voluntary participants in the program can register their security cameras and contact information with the police department, allowing police to see where cameras are located and request footage if a crime occurs nearby.
Read more: The Lawrence Times

A meeting date has been set for Park City to vote on the project agreement for the $500 million Champtown mixed-use entertainment destination, making way for the development to receive key incentives from the state. During its meeting on Tuesday, Park City City Council set a public hearing for Aug. 26 to present and vote on the agreement. It has to receive two-thirds of the vote to pass.
Read more: Wichita Business Journal – Local Wichita News

The Kansas Court of Appeals ruled this month that Riley County District Court judge’s decision to affirm the approval of an amended planned unit development application for Liquid Art winery by county commissioners was valid. While the court saw the merit of Prairiewood Holding’s appeal, their final opinion upholds Judge Grant Bannister’s decision.
Read more: News Radio KMAN

Uncertain of the legality of products found in Carlsons’ Grocery in Marion, police seized 160 cans and bottles of THC beverages Saturday. Bearing names such as “Nowadays,” “Drink Easy,” “Drinking Buds,” and “Happi,” some come in flavors such as raspberry honeysuckle. The containers say that the minimum age to buy the product is 21 and that it contains no alcohol.
Read more: Marion County RECORD

Improvements are coming to Rural Water District No. 1. The district was in hot water earlier this month after Tampa and Ramona residents reported dark-brown water coming from their taps.
Last week, water board chairman Donald Mueller and operator Autumn Chisholm were joined by staff members from the Kansas Rural Water Association to induce flushing of large pipelines in hope of removing discolored water from the system.
Read more: Marion County RECORD

Lawrence Municipal Court for the next month will allow people to pay off $50 in fines with $15 worth of school supplies as part of an annual initiative. The supply drive began Wednesday and runs through Saturday, Aug. 23. It’s “designed to help individuals with outstanding fines while supporting local school children and families,” according to a city news release. The program only applies to existing traffic and parking fines, not future fines, and downtown meter citations issued after Jan. 1, 2025 are excluded, according to the release. Donating toward another person’s fines is an option.
Read more: The Lawrence Times

Area residents make their way around the Garden City Farmers Market July 19, browsing and buying items from vendors. Foot traffic at the event is picking up as vendors with produce have began participating.
Read more: Garden City Telegram

Dennis Alexander rode a lawn mower up and down St. Mary’s Cemetery rows on a recent summer day. Alexander is one of the volunteers at the cemetery who keep it running, make sure the grass is cut and perform other kinds of maintenance. Alexander will take over the cemetery sexton role when the current sexton, Carrol Langenhorst, steps down. Langenhorst is in charge of the cemetery and its maintenance. He said he recently got Alexander to start taking care of his responsibilities. “I don’t believe in throwing in the keys and walking away,” Langenhorst said. “It’s totally unfair to dump the job on someone else, especially a volunteer job.” Langenhorst has volunteered at the cemetery since 1983.
Read more: Harvey County Now

The City of Newton held a 15-minute work session to discuss updates to the city’s building codes. The city has been working in recent months on new versions of the international building code and international existing building codes it plans to soon adopt. The local codes also include numerous revisions and amendments made by city staff. The work session was meant to give developers and property owners a chance to speak on the proposed changes.
Read more: Harvey County Now