Kansas Municipal News
‘A special building’: Historic hotel in Alma reopens to the public
A hotel originally constructed in the 19th century has new life. Friday marked a grand opening of the two-story Brandt House, 402 Missouri Ave. in downtown Alma. Built in 1887 by Christena and Joseph Brandt, the hotel was named to the National Register of Historic Places in 2008. After going through several ownership groups — and previously named the Alma Hotel — Brandt House’s current owners consist of Alma couples Morgan and Tyler Holloman, as well as Alex and Amanda Gnadt. The four acquired the hotel originally in November 2023 and received $73,400 through the Kansas Department of Commerce’s Attraction Development Grant program.
Source: themercury.com
Commerce Unveils Groundbreaking Overhaul of Community Development Block Grant Program
The Kansas Department of Commerce announced today significant changes to its Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) – Community Facilities program to allow a rolling application process, lower local match requirements and an expanded scope of eligible projects. The revamped CDBG – Community Facilities program opens the door for projects ranging from emergency sirens and ADA upgrades to new libraries and major park developments. Notably, the transition from an annual competition to a rolling application process means that cities and counties can apply for funding year-round, receiving decisions in a matter of weeks rather than waiting months for a single funding cycle. Additionally, the local match requirement has been reduced from its normal 25% to a 10% match for small projects and 20% for large projects.
Source: Kansas Department of Commerce
El Dorado City Manager says Andover water connection is sustainable
With an increase in water rate usage and the previous summer’s drought, the Andover City Mayor, Ronnie Price, has made his voice clear: he no longer wants to buy water from Wichita for Andover residents. Mayor Price says he’d like to avoid future issues like these by connecting Andover to the El Dorado Lake, but is it sustainable? The City Manager of El Dorado, David Dillner, says yes. When looking at water sustainability and how much a lake has in its reservoir, the equation is much more than what meets the eye when looking at the lake from the outside. The lake itself is just the beginning. What is taken into consideration when projecting water sustainability is the water table, watershed, and other factors. The water depth at the lake dam is about 60 feet deep which is why the volume doesn’t move much.
Source: Andover American
De Soto OKs deal with KDOT to realign Lexington interchange, build roads at Astra
As Panasonic prepares to come online at Astra Enterprise Park, city and state leaders are teeing up plans to address a key interchange’s capacity to handle growing traffic. During the past six months, the Kansas Department of Transportation has been negotiating with property owner Sunflower Redevelopment Group to buy about 1,850 feet of railroad track under the Kansas Highway 10 interchange along Lexington Avenue.
Source: Kansas City Business Journal
Some Wichita schools are easing up on recess rules, citing the benefits of ‘risky play’
The scene at Wichita’s Allen Elementary School is pretty typical for a school playground at recess — lots of running, jumping, climbing and screaming. But there’s something different that you might not notice right away. Allen is one of three Wichita elementary schools experimenting with a new kind of recess that eases up on rules and lets kids play more freely. The approach, sometimes called “risky play,” follows research that shows children benefit from climbing high, running fast and testing their physical limits. Wichita decided to try it after some physical education teachers complained that students weren’t getting enough unstructured play time.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
40-year-old woman dies after trying to break up pit bull fight at west Wichita home
A 40-year-old Wichita woman who was attacked while trying to break up a fight between her two pit bulls Saturday died from her injuries Sunday morning, police said. She was identified as Moeshae Thomas, Wichita police spokesperson Aaron Moses said in an email.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
Crews monitor downtown Hutchinson area after gas leak, explosion cause evacuation
Officials will continue to monitor the site of a gas explosion that occurred Saturday in downtown Hutchinson. The Hutchinson Fire Department and Kansas Gas allowed some residents back into their homes after being evacuated Saturday. “Currently there is 18 businesses and 1 residential home without gas service,” the Hutchinson Fire Department said Sunday morning. “Kansas gas will continue to have a large presence in this area for the next couple days… to remedy the situation.”
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
Legislature revisits local regulations on home-based businesses
The Legislature is revisiting a bill that would limit local government’s ability to regulate what is described as a “no-impact” home-based business. The House on Thursday voted 74-49 to approve a bill barring cities and counties from banning “no-impact” home-based businesses but would provide for some regulations.
Source: Sunflower State Journal
Senate moves to expand STAR bonds incentives
The Kansas Senate approved a bill late Wednesday expanding one of the state’s most powerful tax incentives to help save dying malls. The bill would allow sales tax revenue – or STAR – bonds to be used for redevelopment of malls that are at least half empty. It would require a minimum $10 million investment.
Source: Sunflower State Journal
Water grants a boon for Humboldt, LaHarpe
Humboldt will get $3 million and LaHarpe $750,000 in state water grant funds. Humboldt’s will go toward the city’s planned $13 million water system replacement project; LaHarpe’s will pay to replace the city’s six sewer lift stations.
Source: The Iola Register
Kansas Attorney General Opinion 2025-5: Teacher Contracts
Synopsis: The purpose of continuing contract law is to prevent any uncertainty or controversy regarding the status of a teacher’s continued employment by treating the time between the end of a teaching contract and the beginning of the renewed contract as part of continued employment. Continuing contract law does not apply after a contract’s term ends when the teacher has provided the school with proper notice of nonrenewal. After a contract ends and is not renewed, the teacher is no longer considered employed by the school. The teacher is entitled to receive all benefits from the contract but is not entitled to continued voluntary benefits like optional group life insurance. Thus, Barton County Community College is not required to withhold and remit premiums for optional group life insurance to Kansas Public Employees Retirement System after a teacher on a nine-month contract provides notice of nonrenewal of the contract and the contract’s term ends. Cited herein: K.S.A. 72-2251; K.S.A. 74-4940.
Source: Kansas Attorney General Opinions
Finding the best local fit
Shopping malls may seem like they’re shrinking, but most are only transitioning to what best fits their market. … Malls now face the challenge of being overbuilt, causing them to have to adjust by identifying what’s best for the area.
Source: CJonline
Municipal Bond Trends for February 19, 2025
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.
Municipal Bond Trends for February 18, 2025
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.
City, county have $15.5M to spend fighting opioid use. Here’s an early look at the plan
People in Sedgwick County could see expanded treatment options for substance use as the city and county plan how they will spend $15.5 million in opioid settlement funds. Local officials heard recommendations recently about how the money could help mitigate the opioid crisis in the county. Options focused on expanding substance use treatment services, stigma reduction, overdose prevention and integrated care. Overdose deaths are trending downward in Sedgwick County but are still much higher than other parts of the state. In 2023, 243 people died from an overdose – most fentanyl-related – in the county, according to the health department.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
More details released after cockfighting raid in Mulvane where 400 roosters and hens found
More details were released Friday about a possible cockfighting operation in Mulvane that law enforcement and animal officials raided on Tuesday after a two-year investigation. No one has yet been arrested and names will not be released until charges are filed, Sumner County undersheriff Mike Westmoreland said in an email Friday afternoon. “More than 400 roosters and hens were found living in small wire or wooden structures with little protection from the below freezing temperatures, some without access to clean drinking water,” according to a joint release sent out Friday by the sheriff’s office and Humane World for Animals. “Some of the roosters and hens were suffering from apparent respiratory illness, with eye and nasal discharge. Two roosters found on the property were covered in dried blood, suffering with open wounds.”
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
Is enrollment declining in Wichita schools? What’s happening in city and suburban districts
Public school enrollment has been falling in Wichita for years, following a national trend that has left many districts wondering how to best use resources going forward. Since the 2014-15 academic year, Wichita Public Schools has lost nearly 10% of its students, and it’s projecting a similar drop over the next 10 years. This past fall, enrollment sat at 46,154 students — 9.5% less than when it peaked during the 2015-16 school year, according to Kansas Department of Education data. Overall student enrollment in every grade in elementary and middle school, excluding preschool, is down compared to 10 years ago, with the largest drops in kindergarten, first and second grades, an analysis of the data shows.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
This small Kansas town is paying people to move there. Here’s what it’s offering
A small town about a two-hour drive from Wichita is offering tempting incentives for people willing to relocate. Neodesha in southeast Kansas has a population of about 2,300 and is looking for that number to grow through a partnership with the company MakeMyMove. The goal? To bring people back to rural communities. The full incentives package includes up to $15,000 in student loan repayment assistance, 100% Kansas state income tax waiver through 2026, a college scholarship incentive reaching up to $25,000 and more.
Source: Wichita Eagle
Winfield considering goats to manage vegetation
The City of Winfield is considering the use of goats to help manage vegetation around Island Park, according to information presented at Thursday’s work session. The process would involve hiring a company the brings in a herd of goats, pens off a portion of the land where the goats will graze for a couple of days, then moving the pen and the goats until all of the land has been grazed, Winfield public improvements director Patrick Steward said to commissioners. “It’s relatively low risk, and other communities have had a positive response,” Steward said about using goats as vegetation control.
Source: Cowley CourierTraveler
Lawrence school district reaches 8 inclement weather days; still unclear whether makeup time will be needed
Lawrence Public Schools will be closed for a second day in a row this week because of snow and continued freezing temperatures in the forecast, making for eight total days canceled so far this year. The Kansas State Department of Education forgives local districts the same number of inclement weather hours or days they build into their calendars and use. Wednesday will mark the district’s eighth inclement weather day so far in the 2024-25 school year, the first four happening during the first week classes resumed after winter break.
Source: The Lawrence Times