Kansas Municipal News
Noise is one of biggest concerns with potential BESS
The Halstead Planning and Zoning Commission returned to its discussion of battery energy storage systems (BESS) after missing the special and regular meetings scheduled in May due to severe weather conditions. The city is considering a request by Concurrent, a company out of Texas that is leasing land in Halstead’s industrial park, to consider amending the city’s zoning regulations to allow for BESS so they can streamline their process of installing one on the leased land.
Source: Harvey County Now
Walton Township doing what it can to combat multiplying sinkholes
It’s still growing. That’s what Walton Township Trustee Mike Spangler said about the sinkholes on Osage Road north of Northeast 72nd Road on Monday. Unfortunately, it’s sinkholes, plural, with one on each side of the road. And yes, both holes overlap with the road. The road has been temporarily closed for nearly two weeks, but people continue to drive between the holes.
Source: Harvey County Now
Investigators find cause of Garden City house explosion
A house explosion that injured a person in Garden City Saturday evening was caused by a natural gas leak, according to investigators. The State Fire Marshal and the Garden City Fire Department say the leak was ignited when the victim turned on the stove. They say the issue was isolated to the gas line inside the home. The investigation is continuing.
Source: KSN-TV
Commerce Announces $390,000 in Emergency HEAL Grant Funding
Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland today announced more than $390,000 in Emergency Historic Economic Asset Lifeline (E-HEAL) grants has been awarded to five recipients. More than $770,000 private local matching funds will be added to that total, to help bring rural downtown buildings back from likely demolition or collapse – and rehabilitate them back into productive use. The Emergency HEAL program provides resources to address sudden and urgent needs of communities with buildings that are at risk of imminent loss, that are causing damage to surrounding downtown buildings, and/or have significant damage due to fire, storms, wind, water, etc. are eligible projects. Projects are to be completed within two years.
Source: Kansas Department of Commerce
Kansas Main Street Selects Eight Rural Communities for New Housing Grant
Lieutenant Governor and Commerce Secretary David Toland today announced eight inaugural grant recipients of the Residential Opportunities on Main Street (ROOMS) program. A total of eight projects in Designated Kansas Main Street communities are receiving $50,000 each to create a total of 35 new residential units in the upper floors of downtown buildings.
Source: Kansas Department of Commerce
Municipal Bond Trends for June 17, 2024
The interest rate table above illustrates recent changes in a sample of MBIS “investment grade” yields. 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.
Merriam homeowners got surprise tax cut last year due to ‘clerical error.’ Will taxes go back up in 2025?
Merriam residents are likely to see a sharp increase in their municipal tax rate next year. The city is considering an increase of 3.736 mills for its 2025 mill levy — or local tax — rate. That would bring the city’s municipal mill levy to 26.665 mills overall, according to early budget presentations from city staff. That relatively sharp increase comes after a “clerical error” on budget forms last year submitted to the county and state unintentionally slashed Merriam’s 2024 property tax rate by more than four mills, from 27.665 mills down to 22.929 mills the year before. Before that mistake, the Merriam City Council had approved lowering the 2024 property tax rate by 0.25 mills to 27.415 mills, the first proposed change to the mill levy the city had approved in more than a decade. But the error made it a bigger change than expected, actually cutting the 2024 mill levy rate by 4.48 mills, a much more dramatic decrease than the city intended. Still, the proposed tax increase for next year will leave the city’s mill levy rate below the level it was at before last year’s unexpectedly large cut.
Source: Johnson County Post
Local task force has been fighting underage drinking and substance abuse
While many in Marion County are unaware of the existence of the Marion County Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition (SAPC), the group has been hard at work. SAPC serves to support the prevention of underage drinking and substance misuse in Marion County. SAPC’s mission was first birthed in 2010 under the Families And Communities Together (FACT) organization and has since developed into a task force comprised of countywide members from 12 sectors, all working together to produce positive change in the Marion County community. SAPC diligently works within the five school districts of rural Marion County, partnering with the various law enforcement agencies, Prairie View Mental Health Center, Marion County Health Department, K-State Research and Extension and other local, county and state entities. “I think it’s important for the public to know that we do have drug issues whether it be alcohol or substance misuse within the county for the underage population. In the past, a lot of us just buried our heads and thought it doesn’t happen here. But it does,” said SAPC Director Terry Bebermeyer. “I think people are starting to come to realize that. SAPC’s whole purpose is to help people realize that and to do what we can as far as avoiding the problems and preventing abuse or even addiction.”
Source: Hillsboro Free Press
How the Fed Can Cut Rates This Summer Without Cutting Rates
The Federal Reserve has more than one way to work its will on the economy. It could soon start using its more subtle tools to start nudging rates down. That still would have a real impact on businesses and households. The central bank most directly controls short-term rates by setting a target range for the federal-funds rate, the rate at which banks lend money to one another overnight. On Wednesday it left this target unchanged while saying that Fed policymakers on average expect to cut this rate range just once this year, down from an expectation of three times in March. But there are a plethora of other rates that economic players charge each other across the economy, all of which can be indirectly influenced by expectations for what the Fed is likely to do, both in the near term and further out. The Fed can, and frequently does, sway these rates by communicating its future intentions, even without taking action on the fed-funds rate.
Source: WSJ.com: Markets
Humboldt brewery on tap
On April 10, 2015, brothers Tony and Josh Works set a goal. A year from that date, they wanted to sit on the patio at the future Union Works Brewing Co. and enjoy a pint of craft beer. It took nearly a decade to turn that dream into a reality, but last Saturday, they sat on the patio and raised their glasses to celebrate the opening of the brewing company’s tap room. Over the past few years, the brewery quietly continued in the background as A Bolder Humboldt, a local economic development group, finished other projects. Residents and visitors learned to be patient as the building at 919 N. 8th St. morphed from an old bread factory into a signature showpiece. Patience will still be required as the young new business continues to mature. Kitchen staff are training for a limited menu. Eventually, a full menu will cater to all sorts of tastes, both upscale and casual. “We knew Humboldt could use a destination restaurant and thought a brewery would be a nice thing to pair with that,” Tony Works said on behalf of A Bolder Humboldt. The tap room offers 10 craft beers.
Source: The Iola Register
Groundbreaking for 500 million dollar development in Park City
Friday was a day three and a half years in the making. It was the official groundbreaking for Champtown, a $500 million development in Park City, and parts of it could open as soon as next year. Champtown hopes to become Kansas’s newest major tourist destination and spur economic development in the area by providing state of the art amenities and entertainment venues. It’s something that could be exciting for the whole family. “There is not anything like this in Park City right now. Park City is a community that is really growing, we are expanding [in] every direction,” said Dana Walden, Park City administrator. Champtown is a 160-acre development that will be the new home to a one of a kind 80,000 square foot aquarium with more than 1500 animals, a butterfly conservatory, retail, restaurants, entertainment, and a baseball/softball complex with 8 fields and a stadium. “People are always looking for a new place to eat, a new place to go and this is going to give them that opportunity,” said Walden. City officials say Champtown will bring in 2 million new visitors to Park City each year and hundreds of jobs of all pay ranges and skill levels.
Source: KAKE – News
Wichitans, housed and not, lie in wait about a future homeless campus
In Historic Midtown sits a recently-emptied building, the once-oldest school operating in Wichita: Park Elementary, usually home to about 200 students, empty of the children and teachers that once walked its halls. The decision to close the school this past May hit Midtown residents hard, many of which are families with children. Now, a second government decision is coming their way: transforming the former elementary school into the city’s multiagency campus and center, often referred to as the MAC – a one-stop resource center that would house supportive low-income housing and a low-barrier homeless shelter. The idea isn’t cemented – yet. The June 6 announcement startled many in a neighborhood that felt all-too ready to share the responsibility of harboring homeless resources with other parts of town. Many hoped that the MAC could land at a former hospital on the other side of the river. In a week’s worth of policy announcements and public meetings, Midtown residents showed up in droves, peppering each room with dozens of questions regarding security, cleanliness and how the neighborhood became the hot spot for homeless services.
Source: KLC Journal
City of Pittsburg approves $10 Million funding agreement with PSU
The city of Pittsburg agrees to terms with Pittsburg State University for millions in funding for a new college of business. The Gorilla Rising Project aims to develop the new college, as well as on site parking, at 3rd and Broadway. It would also see the redevelopment of the Besse Hotel on 4th St. The city approved the funding agreement for $10,050,000. They also approved $32,500 in funding for the Kelce College of Business Economic Research Proposal.
Source: KOAM News
Smithsonian Magazine lists Humboldt among best small towns
The Smithsonian Magazine named Humboldt as one of the “15 Best Small Towns to Visit in 2024.” It’s an annual list of small towns “that make up the heart of America.” The towns all have populations fewer than 25,000, according to the most recent U.S. Census Bureau estimates. Humboldt’s is 1,850. Towns selected offer “vast cultural experiences, superb nature, and a plethora of activities and events, not to mention an anniversary or opening that makes 2024 an especially great year to visit.” Humboldt was selected as “A Revitalized Small Town.” The magazine outlines the work done by A Bolder Humboldt, established in 2016, to “reimagine and rebuild” the local business community.
Source: The Iola Register
Kansas Nonprofits receive more than $4 Million in Community Service Program Tax Credits
Governor Laura Kelly has announced that $4.1 million in Community Service Program (CSP) Tax Credits have been awarded to support the fundraising efforts of 26 nonprofit organizations across Kansas. These funds will enhance local access to quality childcare, healthcare, education, arts and housing services. “These tax credits are vital to ensure our nonprofit organizations have the necessary resources to positively impact communities across Kansas,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “Community Service Program Tax Credits are a valuable tool that encourages investment and engagement in local nonprofits.” Established in 1994, CSP provides substantial tax incentives to donors. A 70 percent tax credit is available for contributions in rural communities (populations less than 15,000) and a 50 percent tax credit in larger communities. The credits are a direct deduction from the donor’s state tax obligation. Each project addresses unique community needs, from modernizing infrastructure to enhancing cultural and recreational resources. The awarded projects include initiatives such as replacing city pool facilities, expanding and renovating community libraries, historic preservation efforts, and expanding arts facilities and senior care services. Awardees were selected through a competitive, score-based process. Out of 54 applications requesting over $9.8 million in tax credits, 26 projects were chosen.
Source: KRSL Russell Radio
City Manager candidates unveiled
The City of Atchison has announced that the search for a new City Manager for Atchison is advancing into an in-person interview process with four applicants in contention for the position. Three applicants are scheduled for a day of tours, writing exercises, and interviews on Thursday. A fourth applicant will interview in-person in the first week of July. The four applicants are: Celeste Chaney-Tucker, former Director of Financial Management for the Kansas Department of Administration and current Deputy Director of Water Services for Kansas City, Missouri; David Kees, former Interim Assistant City Manager and current Assistant to the City Manager for the City of Duncanville, Texas; Daniel Knoell, former City Administrator for the City of Broken Bow, Nebraska and current City Administrator for St. James, Missouri; and Mark Westhoff, current Executive Board Member of Prowers Economic Prosperity and current County Administrator for Prowers County in Lamar, Colorado. The city said community members are welcome to attend a happy hour style gathering at the Atchison Event Center from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. on Thursday to meet and greet the candidates. The event is open to the public and will feature hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar.
Source: www.atchisonglobenow.com
From the Flint Hills to the Flatlands: Hundreds of cyclists make the trek across the Sunflower State
50 years ago, the inaugural Biking Across Kansas ride kicked off with participants traveling through Tribune. For the anniversary year, over 700 riders gathered back in Tribune and have spent the past week cycling across the Sunflower State. BAK is the second longest across-state ride in the country. While the eight-day, 505-mile trip can be physically demanding, it’s the comradery with fellow riders that keeps them coming back year after year. Former participant and first-year Executive Director Bryan Toben considers everyone to be family. “It can be a challenge, but we always talk about doing this together,” Toben said. “There isn’t a rider out there that is doing it by themselves, so we just work together…while it can be a challenge it’s also very rewarding. You start that Friday night on the Colorado border with strangers, maybe people you have ridden with before, but by the time you are two to three nights in, it is people that you have slept next to, that have pulled you across the state, that you have hours of riding together and they really become a bond.” Aside from the bond, this ride gives participants a glimpse into the beauty of Kansas that many miss driving by.
Source: WIBW News Now!
Mercy looks to complete acquisition of Pittsburg hospital by Sept. 1
Mercy Hospital Joplin’s top official said Thursday progress continues toward the acquisition of the existing hospital in Pittsburg. Mercy announced in February that it planned to acquire the 50-bed hospital in Pittsburg from Wichita-based Ascension Via Christi ministry. Mercy’s presence in Southeast Kansas already includes the 26-bed Mercy Specialty Hospital Southeast Kansas in Galena and the 25-bed Mercy Hospital Columbus, as well as a number of clinics and medical offices. Mercy officials said the transition of the Pittsburg hospital was delayed for about a month by an apparent cybersecurity problem in the Ascension Via Christi computer system that forced the two groups to hold off on computer communications. Mercy Joplin President Jeremy Drinkwitz said the delay is not a major issue. “Our intention was to get it done by Aug. 1 but now we’ve pushed it back to Sept. 1,” Drinkwitz said in a telephone interview Thursday with the Joplin Globe. “In transactions, sometimes delays happen so we’re in really good shape to close on Sept. 1 and take over the hospital from Via Christi. We’re actually acquiring the hospital and its assets so we’ll take over management and ownership of the facility.”
Source: www.joplinglobe.com
Portrait of a Kansas town that went all-in on clean energy after a devastating tornado
Greensburg was mostly destroyed by the tornado of May 4, 2007. Some homes on the outskirts were repairable. But most of the core of the town was completely wiped out. Debris was everywhere. Hohl’s son’s bedsheet was lodged in a tree, where it would stay for 10 years. And the town’s roughly 1,400 residents had to not only figure out how to put their own lives back together but how to rebuild the town and the community that many had been part of for generations. The decision they made, not to rebuild the town as it was, but to use the tragedy as an opportunity for reinvention, made Greensburg a pioneer in the clean energy revolution. Today, many cities and towns around the world are racing to stave off the climate crisis by constructing environmentally friendly buildings and switching to renewable energy — steps that Greensburg began taking almost two decades ago. (…) After the tornado, multiple businesses committed to returning and some established families did, too, though many older residents chose not to rebuild. At town meetings, an idea emerged that Greensburg should build back green. The town brought in outside sustainability consultants, who helped residents draw up plans to rebuild Greensburg at the highest level of sustainable architecture and energy consumption.
Source: Yale Climate Connections
Freeman plans to open emergency room, 10 inpatient beds in Fort Scott, Kansas
Freeman Health System announced a further expansion into Southeast Kansas on Thursday. Freeman CEO Paula Baker told a crowd gathered around the emergency entrance to the former hospital in Fort Scott — now known as the Bourbon County Medical Facility — that Freeman would reopen the emergency department at the former hospital. Freeman would also have 10 inpatient beds in the building. Baker said: “We’re going to have six separate bays, and we will have 365-day coverage, 24/7, by licensed physicians and nurses that are specifically trained in emergency medicine. We’re also going to have some support for that emergency department, such as laboratory, radiology, computerized tomography and an inpatient pharmacy. All of those services play such an important role in the treatment of emergency patients. We’ll also have opportunities to have outpatient lab, radiology and CT services, which will be available to this community and surrounding communities.” It is Freeman’s second announcement of an expansion into Southeast Kansas in less than a year.
Source: www.joplinglobe.com
Municipal Bond Trends for June 14, 2024
The interest rate table above illustrates recent changes in a sample of MBIS “investment grade” yields. 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.
Municipal Bond Trends for June 13, 2024
The interest rate table above illustrates recent changes in a sample of MBIS “investment grade” yields. 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.
Wind energy banned in Shawnee County, solar on one year moratorium
Shawnee County Commissioners are moving one step closer to shaping the future of wind and solar energy within the county. … Commissioners voted unanimously in favor of the solar moratorium. That gives the planning department one year for extensive research into regulations, looking into the viability for solar farms in Shawnee County.
Source: KSNT 27 News
Newton police getting new training facility
The Newton City Commission approved the plans for a police training facility Tuesday night. The city bought a building near City Hall in August and is now asking contractors to put in bids to update it. Newton Police Chief Craig Dunlavy says headquarters will remain at the courthouse, but the department will use the new facility for monthly training and staff meetings as they need more space. Right now, they are asking community partners to borrow their space. The facility is not replacing the state law enforcement training center. It’s going to be used for auxiliary training purposes. Chief Dunlavy says it will also be shared with the sheriff’s department.
Source: KSN-TV
Pittsburg city leaders support $50 million “Gorilla Rising” project for downtown with $10 million investment
City leaders throw their support behind a project to bring a new college of business to downtown Pittsburg. Building on the success of Block 22, project Gorilla Rising is an initiative to build a new college of business at 3rd St. and Broadway. It`s expected the new college of business would be approximately 54,000 square feet and provide space for administrative and faculty offices, educational centers, and additional downtown parking space. Along with that, the historic Besse Hotel on 4th St. will be redeveloped, to create more than 60 new students housing beds and space for the PSU reading and testing centers. The city will invest $10 million to help cover part of the estimated $50 million plus price tag for the project.
Source: KSNF/KODE
In Newton, Professionals organize to serve, unite Latino and Spanish-speaking community
Navigating a new country, culture, bureaucratic system and language is no easy task. Sal Lujano Jr. said he watched his family do it firsthand when they came to Newton from Mexico. “When we first came here, we didn’t have a bilingual person to go to with many things,” he said. “My dad had to figure it out all on his own.” He said it doesn’t have to be that way anymore. He, along with seven other professionals in the community, have been working to create a group named “Latinos Unidos.” The group, with members fluent in Spanish and English, aims to help Spanish speakers in the city navigate a world that’s primarily in English. That might mean putting them in touch with services or providing help setting up a bank account or getting a loan. Lujano, a loan officer at People’s Bank and Trust said his experience growing up and, in his job, drove home the need for such an organization. “Speaking to other people it wasn’t just financing,” he said. “I got tired of seeing Google Translate documents floating around.” Daniela Rivas, who is the City Manager, is also part of the group. One of the goals she stated when coming to the city was to find ways of bringing more people and community members to the table and have them represented and participate in the process. “Our vision is empowering, advocating and celebrating Latinos to achieve their full potential,” she said of Latinos Unidos.
Source: Harvey County Now
Roeland Park now offering residents composting service. What are other JoCo cities doing?
There’s a new way for some Johnson Countians to start composting food waste. The city of Roeland Park is partnering with Price Chopper and Kansas City, Missouri-based nonprofit KC Can Compost to offer residents the chance to sign up for a monthly composting subscription.
This partnership follows similar efforts to divert food waste from the landfill by Overland Park and KC Can Compost to offer services to some apartment complexes in that city.
Here’s how Roeland Park’s pilot program works, and what composting looks like in other Johnson County cities.
Source: Johnson County Post
Tradition vs. economic opportunity for Kansas: How Kansans feel about possible KC teams relocation
Haysville teacher Kelly Kennedy doesn’t hide his love for the team that’s been his favorite since he was a kid. “I grew up in Haysville. And, and my dad was one that said you cheered for your home team,” Kennedy said. “We considered the Chiefs, our home team, even though they’re three hours away.” However, he has mixed feelings about the possibility of the Kansas City Chiefs possibly moving to Kansas. “It would be great for the state and everything else but my whole thing is Arrowhead is such an iconic stadium and that’s pretty much all I’ve known is Arrowhead Stadium,” Kennedy said. “I love that stadium. I love being up there and and so I hope they get it worked out.” As Missouri officials maintain both the Chiefs and Royals should stay on their side of the line, both Kansas Speaker of the House Dan Hawkins, and Senate President Ty Masterson are asking the Chiefs owners to consider a relocation. Saying in a statement last week they’ve asked the team to consider, “The possibility of using Kansas’ unique STAR bond funding tool and explore what that collaboration could hold.” That possibility is receiving bipartisan support in the legislature.
Source: KAKE – News
‘Time for a reckoning.’ Kansas farmers brace for water cuts to save Ogallala Aquifer
JETMORE, Kan. — An inch or two of corn peeks out of the dirt, just enough to reveal long rows forming over the horizon. Sprinkler engines roar as they force water from underground to pour life into dusty fields. Thunder cracks. The wind whips up dirt as a trail of dark storms looms. The crashing hot and cold fronts would probably set off tornado sirens — if there were any in this remote part of the state. It’s spring in southwest Kansas, a hub for the nation’s crop, dairy and beef industries. As the familiar seasonal rhythm plays out, some farmers are bracing for major changes in how they use the long-depleting Ogallala Aquifer. The nation’s largest underground store of fresh water, the Ogallala transformed this arid region into an agricultural powerhouse. After 50 years of studies, discussions and hand-wringing about the aquifer’s decline, the state is demanding that local groundwater managers finally enforce conservation. But in this region where water is everything, they’ll have to overcome entrenched attitudes and practices that led to decades of overpumping. “It scares the hell out of me,” farmer Hugh Brownlee said at a recent public meeting in the district on the changes to come. Last year, Kansas lawmakers passed legislation squarely targeting the Southwest Kansas Groundwater Management District, which spans a dozen counties. Unlike the two other Kansas districts that sit atop the crucial aquifer, this one has done little to enact formal conservation programs that could help prolong the life of the aquifer. The new law aims to force action.
Source: Kansas Reflector
Manhattan residents describe improvements to quality of life thanks to housing vouchers
While two great-granddaughters watched television in her apartment at Brookfield Residence, Janet Webster, a 75-year-old retiree, shared how the housing choice voucher program has enhanced her quality of life for more than a decade.
“For somebody who is on disability — I was hurt on the job in Colorado — and with Social Security, and I didn’t put much in, the income levels I started out with were pretty low,” Webster said. “I’m doing okay now with Manhattan Housing Authority assistance.” Webster worked as a legal assistant and later a truck driver in Colorado. While working as a truck driver, Webster was injured and sustained a chronic disability. Webster is one of the lucky HCV tenants who hasn’t faced much trouble finding a unit she could afford and is available to voucher holders, in part due to assistance from the Manhattan Housing Authority. That is, until the COVID-19 pandemic struck. “I didn’t have difficulty (finding housing) until COVID,” Webster said. “And everything raised in price.” Fortunately, Webster found an apartment at the Brookfield Residence, where she’s lived for several years now. Thanks to the discretionary income her voucher has enabled, she is eager to spend the summer with her five great-grandchildren.
Source: Kansas Reflector
Wichita offers online tool for input on 2026 city budget
The City of Wichita has opened an online budget simulator tool to help in collecting public input on the 2026-2027 budget year. The city will use the simulator as a way to get resident feedback on city budget priorities and to show some of the tough choices that will be made in the next budget cycle. The city is anticipating a balanced budget for 2025-26, but a $13 million shortfall is projected for the 2026 budget. This is due to a decrease in interest earnings along with expenditures growing faster than revenues. The simulator will allow residents to increase or decrease costs for budget areas. It does not have every department or budget line-item, and it’s a sample of the budget proposals that are expected to go to the City Council for consideration. They are organized by areas that residents have listed as highest and lowest priorities for the city in recent years. The City Council is working on the 2025-26 budget cycle with a recommended budget presented in July and adoption in August.
Source: 101.3 KFDI
Kansas City, Kansas, mayor says his downtown is perfect for a new Royals ballpark
As lawmakers in Kansas continue their push to bring the Chiefs and Royals to the Sunflower State, leaders in Kansas City, Kansas, say they can envision a ballpark right in Wyandotte County. In an interview with KCUR’s Up To Date, Kansas State Sen. Jeff Pittman and Kansas City, Kansas, Mayor Tyrone Garner both said that their downtown is an ideal spot for the Royals to put down their roots. “Land is cheap, it is ripe for development, it is centrally located in the Kansas City metropolitan area,” said Garner. “I think that a baseball team downtown would be great, not just overlooking the Kansas City, Missouri, skyline but overlooking the Kansas City, Kansas skyline, as well as our Missouri and Kansas rivers.” “There’s a lot of potential there to do some really awesome things that would be of great value to the great folks that live in that area in the eastern portion of Kansas City, Kansas,” Garner added. Garner said a new Chiefs stadium could work near the Legends — where Sporting KC and the Kansas City Monarchs already play.
Source: KCUR
Outdoor watering could soon be limited to once a week in Wichita. Here’s why
As drought conditions persist, Wichita may soon limit lawn and garden watering to one day a week and prohibit irrigation between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. For now, officials are asking residents to voluntarily adopt water conservation strategies so the city can stave off its first mandatory watering restrictions in more than a decade. Under the drought ordinance adopted in 2013, stage two of the city’s drought response will automatically kick in when 12-month average water levels at Cheney Reservoir dip below 69% full. April’s average was 69%, and the reading Thursday morning was 67.14% full. “We know that stage two is coming very quickly,” city spokesperson Megan Lovely said at a news briefing. But the City Council is set to hear a proposal on Tuesday that would give City Hall discretion to determine when public works should begin fining people for watering their lawns and gardens more than once a week or in the heat of the day.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
Pott County to reconfigure planning commission as county commission expands
Pottawatomie County is changing up how it appoints its planning commission members as the county commission expands from three to five members in November. Currently, each of the three county commissioners appoints two representatives to the 10-member planning commission, which serves as an advisory board to the county commission, making recommendations regarding land use, conditional use permits, subdivision development and site plan reviews. They also select four additional members at large. But the expansion of the county commission after this fall’s election means the planning commission needs to undergo reconfiguring, and members of both boards on Monday hammered out a plan to evenly distribute planning commission appointments throughout the county. The county commission will vote on whether to accept the proposal in an upcoming meeting. The new plan separates the county into four planning districts. Each of the five county commissioners will appoint one planning commission member from the district they represent. Then, each planning district will send one member to the planning commission, and an at-large appointee will bring the total number of members to 10. County administrator Chad Kinsley said the plan was the “best recommendation” he’d heard, and county commissioner Greg Riat said it was “fair.”
Source: themercury.com
Labette County close to agreement for battery storage facility
Labette County commissioners are close to an agreement with a company that wants to develop a battery energy storage system on Wallace Road near the Evergy Neosho Substation. Ben Weisel, senior director of development services for Plus Power, spoke with commissioners Monday about the company’s plans to build the battery storage facility south and east of Service Valley Charter Academy. The storage facility would be on the south side of the Evergy substation and start about 1,300 feet east of Wallace Road. The battery storage structures may be about 14 feet tall and will sit on a concrete platform. Weisel said the facility will store electricity in the batteries and release it as needed, sharing up to 300 megawatts, or 600 megawatt hours, of electricity with the Southwest Power Pool.
Source: Parsons Sun
Melvern abloom this weekend during annual Sunflower Days
Sunflowers will be blooming in “the great outdoors” in Melvern this weekend. The Osage County community will be celebrating its annual Sunflower Days Friday, Saturday and Sunday, June 14-16, 2024. This year’s parade theme will be “The Great Outdoors”; the parade begins at 7 p.m. Saturday, with line-up at the school grounds. The communitywide celebration will include a baby show, bingo games, live music, kids’ races, homemade ice cream, funnel cakes, watermelon and the grand parade finale.
Source: Osage County News
Humboldt named one of 15 Best Small Towns to Visit in 2024 by Smithsonian Magazine
Faced with a declining population, a group of Midwest natives kicked revitalization efforts into overdrive. In 2016, they established A Bolder Humboldt, an economic development organization formed with the support of the local community, which focuses on reimagining and rebuilding the 167-year-old town for a new generation of entrepreneurs, citizens and visitors.
Source: Smithsonian
Municipal Bond Trends for June 12, 2024
The interest rate table above illustrates recent changes in a sample of MBIS “investment grade” yields. 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.
Wichita’s mayor gives update on citywide cyber attack
After being shut down for a little over a month, the city of Wichita said almost all of its forward facing services are back up and running. These are things people use daily, such as public Wi-Fi, bus fares, and bills. “We had to work from the background to the foreground and so the background work has been happening over the last few weeks before we can turn the system back on,” said Wichita’s mayor Lily Wu.
Source: KAKE – News
Pittsburg advances downtown development with community input
The City of Pittsburg is continuing to work on the development of downtown. City staff have taken all of the thoughts and concerns from the community from last week’s Downtown Community Conversation and given them to a consultant to review and put into a report. Some of the feedback includes upgrading the general aesthetics within downtown, expanding parking options, and keeping the area safe.
Source: KSNF/KODE
Fed holds rates steady, indicates only one cut coming this year
The Federal Reserve on Wednesday kept its key interest rate unchanged and signaled that just one cut is expected before the end of the year. … New forecasts released after this week’s two-day meeting indicated slight optimism that inflation remains on track to head back to the Fed’s 2% goal, allowing for some policy loosening later this year. … For the period through 2025, the committee now sees five total cuts equaling 1.25 percentage points, down from six in March. If the projections hold, it would leave the federal funds rate benchmark at 4.1% by the end of next year.
Source: CNBC – Bonds
‘Take it seriously,’ SEC’s muni chief warns municipal bond market
The Securities and Exchange Commission’s chief of the Office of Municipal Securities Dave Sanchez urged issuers and muni professionals to stay vigilant in a smorgasbord of areas that regulators are watching, from late audits to shady conduit deals to unregistered advisors in the public-private partnership space. “If you guys aren’t able to have this discipline on your own, this is where outside forces will start to want to impose discipline,” Sanchez said Saturday, speaking to the Government Finance Officers Association’s Debt Committee during the GFOA’s annual meeting.
Source: The Bond Buyer
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Inflation slows in May, with consumer prices up 3.3% from a year ago
The consumer price index showed no increase in May as inflation slightly loosened its stubborn grip on the U.S. economy, the Labor Department reported Wednesday. The CPI, a broad inflation gauge that measures a basket of goods and services costs across the U.S. economy, held flat on the month though it increased 3.3% from a year ago, according to the department’s Bureau of Labor Statistics. Economists surveyed by Dow Jones had been looking for a 0.1% monthly gain and a 3.4% annual rate. The monthly rate rose 0.3% in April while the annual rate was 3.3%. Excluding volatile food and energy prices, core CPI increased 0.2% on the month and 3.4% from a year ago, compared with respective estimates of 0.3% and 3.5%. Following the report, stock market futures pushed higher while Treasury yields slid. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose about 250 points in morning trade while the 10-year Treasury yield fell to 4.27%, down nearly 0.14 percentage point. Though the top-line inflation numbers were lower for both the all-items and core measures, shelter inflation increased 0.4% on the month and was up 5.4% from a year ago. Housing-related numbers have been a sticking point in the Federal Reserve’s inflation battle and make up a heavy share of the CPI weighting.
Source: CNBC – Bonds
City of Wamego, ECODEVO respond to announcement of Caterpillar closure
Local officials are responding to Thursday’s announcement from Caterpillar that it plans to shutter its Wamego facility sometime next year. Wamego City Manager Stacie Eichem says they learned of the situation late in the day Thursday. Eichem says the announcement comes as a major blow to the community. Pottawatomie County Economic Development Corporation Executive Director Shanna Goodman provided the following statement Friday morning. “This news is a significant disappointment for our entire region, as Caterpillar has been an integral part of our community for decades. We are actively collaborating with regional partners to provide resources and support for displaced workers. However, with every challenge comes an opportunity. While we may not solve this issue today, I have full confidence that we can turn this situation into something positive for our community.” Caterpillar employs around 400 people at its Wamego plant. The company says it plans to close the Wamego facility in mid-2025.
Source: 1350 KMAN
Wichita proposes to buy former Park Elementary School to use as homeless shelter
Wichita wants to convert the former Park Elementary school into a new shelter for people who are homeless. For months, the city has been seeking a location for what it calls a multiagency center: a facility with emergency shelter beds, affordable housing units and social services. Now, the city has settled on the former school at 9th and Main. Wichita Public Schools shuttered Park Elementary earlier this year as the district faced a $42 million budget deficit. “Given its close proximity to multiple homeless service providers, the location is ideal for referrals and coordinated services, easy access and mobility for those needing services and collaboration among agencies,” Assistant City Manager Troy Anderson said. “The project is also more financially feasible as the property will be effectively donated to the city and appears to be readily adaptable to reuse.” The city hopes to get the building ready for use as an emergency shelter this winter. Last year, Wichita scrambled to find an emergency, no-barrier winter shelter. Neighbors protested the building the city selected at 21st and Grove, and Wichita promised it wouldn’t bring the shelter back this year. The Wichita school board will vote on the sale of the property to the city on Monday. Wichita will pay a “nominal” fee, Anderson said. He did not specify how much.
Source: KLC Journal