Municipal News & Jobs

Conflict over urban expansion into rural areas of Johnson County has inspired an effort in the Kansas Legislature to restrict city annexation authority elsewhere, including for Topeka, at a time when the capital city is looking to grow.
Source: CJonline

The Federal Reserve in a closely watched decision Wednesday held the line on benchmark interest rates though still indicated that reductions are likely later in the year. Faced with pressing concerns over the impact tariffs will have on a slowing economy, the rate-setting Federal Open Market Committee kept its key borrowing rate targeted in a range between 4.25%-4.5%, where it has been since December. Markets had been pricing in virtually zero chance of a move at this week’s two-day policy meeting. Along with the decision, officials updated their rate and economic projections for this year and through 2027 and altered the pace at which they are reducing bond holdings.
Source: Bonds

Wichita took steps this week to protect its public drinking water supply in case of a catastrophic failure at its new $574 million water treatment plant. The new plant — Wichita Water Works — is expected to be certified and permitted for safe operation within the next few months. It would replace the city’s Main Water Treatment Plant as the sole provider of drinking water for about 500,000 residents. Demolishing or mothballing the old plant would have undercut a major reason the city built the new plant: to address concerns that its water plant is a single point of failure, meaning if it fails, the whole system goes down.
Source: Wichita Kansas Local News, Crime & More |

After much back and forth, the Wichita City Council has approved a law that allows golf carts to be driven on some city streets. In January, the council passed a more restrictive ordinance, then withdrew it and sought feedback from residents at district advisory board meetings. “This will save police time. It’ll legalize golf carts so police don’t have to go out when somebody calls and says ‘somebody’s riding a golf cart,’” councilmember J.V. Johnston said. State law prohibits the use of golf carts on city streets unless a city passes its own ordinance regulating golf cart use. The new ordinance allows golf carts to be used on streets where the speed limit is 30 mph or less.
Source: Wichita Kansas Local News, Crime & More |

After months of pushing back and forth between Peabody Main Street Association and Kansas Department of Commerce, the two have resolved their differences and Main Street will get the second half of a grant awarded in 2023. Lt. Gov. David Toland announced last week that Commerce would pay out the second half of Main Street’s $1.5 million COVID-19-era Building a Stronger Economy grant. The grant came into dispute after Commerce learned the grant was being administered by a former Commerce employee and convicted felon still on probation in Pennsylvania for forgery, theft, and attempted theft. The former employee, Jonathan Clayton, still owed nearly $200,000 in restitution.
Source: Marion County RECORD

If there were any qualms about support for rebuilding a local nursing home destroyed in a Friday fire, those were answered emphatically when more than 70 locals crammed into the fire station for a special Yates Center City Council meeting. Yates Center Health and Rehab was destroyed after a nearby grass fire, fueled by wind gusts in excess of 50 mph, quickly consumed the facility. All 38 residents were safely evacuated, and transported to other nursing homes in the area. Monday’s meeting, as much as anything, served as a rallying cry for the community, and for a brainstorming session as to what a new facility — if it’s rebuilt — would entail.
Source: The Iola Register

Experiences of local tenants prompted Lawrence city commissioners to pursue creation of a tenant bill of rights, and to explore what it would take to ensure tenants can have legal counsel. Those discussions — among other possible actions — are still in early stages, but the first step came with a presentation to the commission Tuesday evening. Lea Roselyn, the city’s affordable housing administrator; Christina Holt, assistant director of KU’s Center for Community Health and Development; and Vince Munoz, of Lawrence Tenants, presented results of a Lawrence and Douglas County tenant survey. The survey is the work of LiveWell Douglas County’s Sexual Violence Prevention Work Group. The group launched the survey in 2023 to find out about tenants’ experiences with security deposits, screening and applications, maintenance, nonrenewals of leases, evictions and more.
Source: The Lawrence Times

Lawrence city commissioners on Tuesday voted to change occupancy limits to allow a maximum of four unrelated adults per household in the least dense areas of town, and a maximum of five in the rest of town. The city’s new land development code was created over a two-plus-year process, with a 14-member steering committee and several public meetings. Commissioners approved it in November, and it’s set to go into effect in April. The code aims, among other things, to improve affordability and availability of housing. One way it intended to do that was by increasing the occupancy limit in some neighborhoods from three to five unrelated adults who can live in a home together. 
Source: The Lawrence Times

The Kansas Senate Committee on Assessment and Taxation restored the revenue-neutral transparency protections to a bill passed by the Kansas House of Representatives by a vote of 115-6. The bill would have rewarded local governments for raising taxes while stripping those provisions from property tax increases. House Bill 2396 removed the “Truth in Taxation” bill’s revenue-neutral requirements — which require county clerks to send notices to taxpayers of every taxing subdivision notifying them of a proposed increase and the time and date of a hearing at which the entire tax increase would be voted upon. HB2396 instead would have replaced those requirements with a “protest petition” in which voters would have 30 days “Qualified voters of a taxing jurisdiction would have 30 days following the date the governing body of a taxing jurisdiction certifies to the county clerk the amount of property tax to be levied to sign a protest petition.”
Source: The Sentinel

Sunflower Electric Power Corporation announces the construction of its newest renewable energy resource, the Sunflower Electric Solar @ Russell facility, is complete. The commissioning process and initial synchronization to the electric grid are now underway, marking a significant step forward in Sunflower’s commitment to supplying reliable, cost-effective energy to its member utilities.
Source: Homepage

A tower of 100 empty plastic gallon jugs might seem an unlikely object in a museum exhibit. But the tower presents an effective monument, making the often invisible clear to see: the importance of water in our history and everyday lives. “Ripples. Water, Community and You” will be on display at the Johnson County Museum through Jan. 10.
Source: Johnson County KS News & Sports |

Kansas students are spending fewer days in school than they did decades ago, and the state’s top education leader wants that to change. Education Commissioner Randy Watson is urging districts to cancel breaks or extend the school year to make up for days that were canceled because of inclement weather. Most districts lost about eight days of school this winter because of snow or bitterly cold conditions. Watson recently told the Kansas State Board of education that districts should also consider half-day summer school in June and July, at least for kindergarten through third grade students who are below grade level in reading or math. He said the boost is needed to make up for learning losses that began before the COVID-19 pandemic.
Source: News

The Wichita City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to create a municipal ID, the City of Wichita ID, in an effort to lower barriers for Wichitans who lack standard documentation for a state-issued ID, such as people who are homeless. IDs will be issued at City Hall and the Multi-Agency Center, where services for the homeless are being consolidated. The ID will display a person’s name, photo, address, date of birth and ID number, making it I-9 compliant to verify an individual’s identity for employment.
Source: KLC Journal

Wichita has a rich history of hosting one of basketball’s biggest events. The NCAA Tournament has tipped off in the city 12 times since the 1950s. Eight of the dozen were played at what is now Charles Koch Arena. One was at the old Kansas Coliseum, and the remaining have been hosted at Intrust Bank Arena. The tournament first visited the Air Capital in 1956 at the Roundhouse, which was then called the University of Wichita Field House.
Source: KSN-TV

A lot of preparation has gone into getting Wichita ready for tens of thousands of fans, and that includes safety. KSN’s Derek Lytle sat down with a Wichita Police Lieutenant, Stephanie Neal, to learn how they are keeping Intrust Bank Arena and the surrounding area safe. Lt. Neal said anytime fans gather for a large sporting event, law enforcement is on high alert.  “We’re going to have the drones, the mounted unit, officers on foot, officers on bikes, the SWAT team will be down there, the bomb squad will also be down there, explosive detection K9s that will be doing sweeps every day, and throughout the day, just to make sure everyone’s safe down there,” said Neal. 
Source: KSN-TV

Parts of central Topeka have a history of high crime and low overall neighborhood health, but it’s motivating people to inspire positive change. The Central Topeka Grocery Oasis, Omni Circle and Keep America Beautiful are leading an effort to clean trash and repaint outdoor amenities in the Capital City. “It’s nice when people see the need and are ready to jump in and fill the need, which is to tidy up the community,” said Omni Circle COO Nikki Ramirez-Jennings. “We’re going to be repainting the playground equipment with the help of Shawnee County Parks and Rec. Stormont Vail is going to lead that charge. Schendel Lawn and Landscaping will be planting beautiful flowers and will help us maintain them.”
Source: KSNT 27 News

It may not be every council member’s favorite time of the meeting, but purchase requests are part of the job. On Monday, the Arma City Council reviewed and approved multiple requests from city superintendent Austin Spragg with one pertaining to utility poles. Earlier this year, a utility pole failed and caused the loss of power to an entire neighborhood in the midst of a winter storm. To stay ahead of the game and avoid future hefty costs and repairs, Spragg and city electrician Chuck Burns recently patrolled the city and compiled a list of utility poles that need to be replaced entirely, noting the ones that are of the highest priority.
Source: – Latest Stories

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.

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.

Governor Laura Kelly joined federal, state and local officials this past Saturday to officially mark the opening of Hilmar Cheese Company’s new production facility in Dodge City, Kansas.
“I am pleased that Hilmar Cheese Company chose to build its new production facility in Dodge City,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “This investment in our state is a strong signal to industry leaders around the globe that Kansas has the workforce and infrastructure for companies to be competitive.” Hilmar Cheese Company, Inc. is one of the world’s largest cheese manufacturers and a global supplier of high-quality whey ingredients. Hilmar’s new Dodge City facility makes American style cheese which is then sold wholesale to customers and used in a variety of nutritious foods. The site also produces a wide range of high-quality innovative proteins to meet the needs of customers worldwide. “We are grateful to the state and local officials who supported this project and are thrilled to celebrate with them today,” Hilmar’s President and CEO David Ahlem said. “We chose to build in Dodge City because of the local and skilled labor force, supportive and expanding agricultural region, and excellent transportation network. The superior collaboration with local, regional, and state leaders in Kansas has further confirmed that we made the right choice.”
Source: Press Releases – Kansas Department of Commerce