Municipal News & Jobs

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

County commissioners on Monday extended a moratorium on data center development for another year while reopening questions about whether past wind-energy regulations were adopted through proper public process. After hearing a planning commission recommendation to delay action until after the county updates its comprehensive plan, commissions unanimously approved extending a moratorium on applications related to data centers in unincorporated areas through June 1, 2027.
Read more: Marion County RECORD

The Leavenworth County Commission voted 3-2 Wednesday to impose a 90-day moratorium on data center development. The move comes as residents in Tonganoxie debate a proposed a 1,000-acre hyperscale data center north of Interstate 70, dubbed Project Bluestem. In a public comment meeting earlier this year before the commission, many Tonganoxie residents expressed concerns with the project proposal moving forward.
Read more: KSHB News

Edgerton is the latest town in southern Johnson County to consider a new data center, despite continued pushback from residents — and this time, the community might not have a choice. Tuesday night, the Edgerton Planning Commission approved, by a 4-0 vote, a preliminary plat that combines three properties to convert an existing 400,000-square-foot warehouse at Logistics Park into a large-scale data center. The commission, however, also by a 4-0 vote, tabled the final site plan from Dubai-based company DAMAC Digital, putting off a final decision on the project for now. Planning Commission Secretary Jordyn Mueller was absent from the meeting. Logistics Park Kansas City is already zoned to include data centers. With the proper zoning for the DAMAC Digital site already in place and the application meeting Edgerton’s requirements, the planning commission’s hands are essentially tied. While the commission sat looking for answers on Tuesday night, people in the standing-room-only crowd yelled, “Just deny it.” However, according to City Attorney Todd Luckman, denial must be based on established code. If the city denies a project that conforms to code, it opens itself up for litigation.
Read more: Johnson County Post

CrossFit championships, the Pickleball Open, Top Gun fast-pitch softball tournaments — these are all sporting events on the calendar in 2026 that are expected to draw hundreds, if not thousands, of visitors to Overland Park. They’re all examples of sports tourism as well, a multibillion-dollar industry in the United States that’s seen major gains in the last decade or so. Visit OP — the nonprofit that serves as the city’s official visitor and tourism organization — wants to see Overland Park get a bigger cut of that economic impact.
Read more: Johnson County Post

One of the several grass fires burning in southwest Kansas caused an evacuation that has since been lifted for Meade. Meade County Sheriff Douglas Ritter said numerous fire crews from across Kansas and Oklahoma fought the fire south of town early Friday. Crews finally stopped its progress around 3 a.m. There were no injuries.
Read more: KSN-TV

Duplex boom is attracting middle-income earners to the Midwestern city.
Read more: Wall Street Journal

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.

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.

If the Federal Reserve still has any reasons to cut interest rates in the near future, they’re getting harder and harder to find. Friday’s jobs report for April provided the latest evidence that the central bank’s larger concern isn’t a flagging labor market but rather a cost of living that is getting increasingly harder for ordinary Americans to bear.
Read more: CNBC

The Manhattan Public Library made history this week by debuting the first-ever lactation pod installed in a Kansas public library. Mayor Susan Adamchak said it’s great that Manhattan offers this kind of health service. “One of the participants in the ceremony yesterday said that she believed that this was the first to be located in a public library in Kansas,” she said. “So I think that was terrific.”
Read more: News Radio KMAN

Despite economic headwinds nationally. Kansas Lt. Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland says Kansas is more than holding it’s own. Toland told Iola Radio News Friday since he and Governor Laura Kelly took office nearly 7 ½ years ago, there has been over $33 billion in private investment in Kansas, along with creation of 80,000 jobs. Another positive sign appeared last week, when Moody’s Investment Services raised the credit rating of the state of Kansas. Even in southeast Kansas, where the economy has lagged behind other areas in the state, there is positive news, such as the recent announcement of 40 new jobs in Fort Scott, where a company is taking over the building of a business that closed operations a couple of years ago. He added there are a couple of more announcements coming soon for the region.
Read more: Ad Astra Radio

As Emporia and Lyon County continue to manage manufacturing losses and uncertainty surrounding local economic development leadership, Kansas Lt. Gov. and Secretary of Commerce David Toland said Monday that Emporia is uniquely positioned to attract new industry. “There’s a lot of expansions happening at the moment in different sectors, and so we think Emporia is well aligned to be able to get some meaningful wins,” he said. Toland visited the Trusler Business Center on Monday, bringing key state officials to meet with representatives from the city of Emporia, Lyon County and the RDA, as well as Rep. Mark Schreiber and Sen. Mike Argabright. Toland said the purpose of the meeting was to discuss potential economic development opportunities and identify assets the state could use when discussing sites for potential business additions and expansions.
Read more: www.emporiagazette.com

The City of Lenexa unveiled its long-in-the-works plans for three World Cup watch parties that will be held at Lenexa City Center. On Tuesday at the Lenexa City Council meeting, Assistant City Manager Mike Nolan detailed three watch parties that will take place in Lenexa City Center, as well as the amenities and activities it will feature. The watch parties were planned to avoid clashing watch parties with Shawnee Mission Theatre in the Park. The plans were part of two World Cup-related agenda items that the Lenexa City Council unanimously approved, 8-0, including approval of a special event permit for the three watch parties and a resolution authorizing the sale, possession and consumption of alcohol during the events.
Read more: Johnson County Post

Sen. Jerry Moran recently joined other lawmakers in introducing legislation to extend the Rural Community Hospital Demonstration program for another five years. The proposed Rural Community Hospital Demonstration Reauthorization Act would continue support for rural hospitals by allowing them to test alternative Medicare payment models designed to improve financial stability and maintain healthcare access in rural communities. Two Kansas hospitals currently participate in the program: Stormont Vail Health Flint Hills Campus in Junction City and McPherson Hospital in McPherson. Sen. Moran has supported the program since it began in 2004 and has repeatedly backed efforts to renew it during his time in Congress.
Read more: KCLY Radio

More than 150 years after its founding, Neodesha has transformed from an oil-dependent town into a thriving community that offers new opportunities for families through economic diversification and educational support.
Read more: www.koamnewsnow.com

Fort Scott Area Home Developers met on Thursday to discuss the city’s needs and plans. The city says a 2025 study proved Fort Scott faces a housing shortage. The city expects several hundred more jobs to come to Fort Scott over the next year, making the need for housing even more acute.
Read more: www.koamnewsnow.com

Voters may get to decide whether to redirect a city sales tax toward public safety after the City Commission discusses the topic at its meeting Monday. 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 the city is considering asking voters to continue the tax to support public safety equipment and infrastructure. The required citywide vote for the sales tax would be in November. 
Read more: The Eudora Times

The Reno County Commission will hold a public hearing and consider establishing a sales tax and revenue (STAR) bond district for the Salt Lick Golf & Hunting Resort under development east of Hutchinson during its regular meeting at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, May 13. Developers of the resort are seeking STAR bonds to finance about $26 million of the project, approximately one-third of the total planned cost, commissioners heard in a special meeting on Thursday, May 7. The bonds would be repaid using sales tax revenue from the district, which would exclusively consist of the resort.
Read more: The Hutchinson Tribune

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 City of Kingman, in partnership with MakeMyMove.com and through a state grant program announced in October, is now offering financial incentives to bring in new residents, remote workers and skilled professionals.
Read more: KSN-TV

Staff recommended data center and crypto currency mining facilities be allowed in industrial-zoned areas and battery storage in districts where other utility-scale uses are allowed, if they also receive a conditional use permit from the County Commission. However, commissioners raised concerns about the demands on local infrastructure and whether it was enough to even sustain a data center or crypto mine.
Read more: LJWorld

Craig Owens has spent his whole career looking for challenges – from blue-collar factory communities to suburbs to a densely packed city in Missouri with nearly 50 high-rises.
Read more: LJWorld

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.

With a mill levy of 121.799, Hays has a significantly lower property tax compared to four peer communities (Dodge City, Garden City, Emporia and Pittsburg.) That’s no coincidence says Grow Hays Executive Director Doug Williams because the City’s “pull factor” is consistently one of the best in the state. “More people spending money within the city limits from outside of Hays benefits everyone because of the City of Hays use of sales tax funding for operations and their general fund.
Read more: Hays Daily News

Arkansas City Senior Genevieve Herrera is receiving first-hand experience on how the court system works. For the past six months, she has served as an intern with District Judge Christopher Smith at the court facilities in Arkansas City and Winfield. The ACHS intern program allows students to work with local employers to experience careers that match their studies or interests. Students have the opportunity to explore a wide range of career paths.
Read more: www.ctnewsonline.com