Municipal News & Jobs

Kansas Municipal News

Landlord Incentive Pilot Program begins second round of operation on Feb. 1

The second round of Johnson County’s Landlord Incentive Pilot Program began Feb. 1, 2024 following its approval by the Board of County Commissioners on Jan. 18, 2024. The program will be available until funds are exhausted. The pilot program provides landlords with financial incentives to rent their units to low-income tenants using federally funded housing subsidy vouchers. The Board approved $200,000 in federal funds to continue the program. The first round of funding was available from July 1-Nov. 15, 2023, before the federal grant funds were successfully expended. In the first round, the county recruited 23 new landlords to participate in the Housing Choice Voucher program and six returning landlords who previously left the program. A total of 41 landlords participated. As a result, the program provided 83 families with long-term, stable housing – including families with disabled members, working families with children and families experiencing homelessness. A survey gathered feedback from landlords who participated in the first round of the Landlord Incentive Pilot Program. The survey found that 96% of landlords indicated they offered units to the program that they would not have because of the incentive. Additionally, 90% of new landlords stated they would not have tried the program without the sign-on bonus. Find more information on the survey. While families with vouchers are no more likely than any other tenant to damage units, the county also offers landlords reimbursement for tenant-caused damages. Landlords who participated in the incentive program have indicated the damage reimbursement fund was important for continued partnership with the Johnson County Housing Authority. To date, the damage reimbursement fund has not received any claims for tenant damages. “People on our program tend to be long term renters, so that one-time initial investment to get landlord partnerships will lead to vulnerable populations having stable housing for a long period of time,” said Jessa Molina, landlord liaison for Johnson County. Since the incentive program’s inception, the Housing Choice Voucher program has seen an increase in its utilization rate of vouchers by 4% to 89%. The goal is to continue to raise the rate to 93% by the end of the second round of funding.
Source: Johnson County Kansas

Johnson County releases 2024 market study analysis

Johnson County has released its Market Study Analysis for the Assessment Year 2024, examining the real estate market in the county – including both the residential and commercial markets. The analysis is completed by the county’s Appraiser’s Office, using data from its annual valuation process. During the process, the office reviewed the sale of more than 19,000 residential properties, completing a sales comparison analysis to developed market values. The study found that nearly 90% of residential properties increased in value for 2024. The median single-family residential sale price rose 7-8% from 2022 to 2023, leading to an average increase in residential values in the 7-9% range. Commercial real estate also remained steady, with commercial values increasing at a rate of 6-10%. The commercial market includes the following sectors: Industrial: The industrial market remained steady in 2023, with more than six million square feet of industrial new construction permits issued. Multifamily: The multifamily market continues to perform better than many markets in the country, with mixed-use development and vertical construction remaining popular. Office: Office market rental rates remained stable. Vacancy is slightly up for some properties, but vacancy rates were well below national averages. Retail: Retail remained stable due to continued redevelopment and mixed-use development – including the Metcalf corridor and Bluhawk in Overland Park. Hotel/Motel: Hotels and motels are generally operating at or above pre-pandemic levels. The daily rate growth outperformed recent forecasts, and occupancy continues to climb.
Source: Johnson County Kansas

Questions posed on Fort Scott Community College’s finances, future

Fort Scott Community College President Jason Kegler fielded questions on topics ranging from the college’s recent financial struggles to moving the college into the future during a Community Conversation Jan. 24 at the Danny and Willa Ellis Family Fine Arts Center. In an introduction to the forum, Kegler said he is an “open book” and he would answer all questions he is able to answer. He said there were two topics that he would not address during the forum; personnel matters, and individual grievances. He said he would be willing to meet with anyone individually to discuss those topics.
Source: Fort Scott Tribune

Towns could turn on to solar

Both Marion and Hillsboro are candidates for a Kansas Power Pool project to build arrays of solar panels to generate electricity in nine Kansas cities. In November, Hillsboro approved leasing land to KPP for the solar array. Marion approved leasing land Jan. 22. Hillsboro city administrator Matt Stiles said KPP started eyeing building solar panel arrays 11 months ago. “They directly engaged with us in June, and we approved participation in November,” Stiles said. To build the panels, KPP applied for a forgivable loan from Rural Utilities Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Powering Affordable Clean Energy program. “Right now there’s a lot of support, and there are a lot of federal programs that people are taking advantage of,” Stiles said. If KPP’s application is successful, the company plans to build solar arrays in Hillsboro, Marion, Clay Center, Ellinwood, Greensburg, Kingman, Mulvane, Wellington, and Winfield. While waiting to see whether the forgivable loan is approved, KPP is doing feasibility studies on the potential locations. Hillsboro plans for the array to be built west of its wastewater facility. The array is expected to cover seven acres. Marion plans its array to be built north of the county transfer station.
Source: HILLSBORO Star-Journal

Pratt Fire Chief retires after nearly half a century of service

“Thank you for your fearless service and dedication to serving our community for 48 years,” a Pratt dispatcher said over the radio. This was part of Pratt Fire Chief David Kramer’s final call Wednesday night as dispatch thanked him for nearly half a century of sacrifice for the town. Kramer hangs up his hat leaving behind a legacy that the community will never forget. “He is probably more, or just as a father figure as my own father. He is probably all these guys’ father figure as well,” said firefighter Justin Garrett. Garrett is taking over the department, but he says he has big shoes to fill. Kramer’s love for PFD started as a boy watching the man he looked up to the most, his father. “I was born in ’55, and he started with the department in ’54. So that’s why I’m saying I’ve been around the fire department literally all my life,” Kramer said, showing us old photos. “That’s kind of a funny one. That’s my dad right there. It’s kinda funny, a guy with the newspaper used to be on the fire department too, and he would a lot of times take pictures.” As soon as Kramer was old enough, he joined the department, which is made up mostly of volunteers, and served for 23 years before taking the reins as chief. Forty-eight years later, Kramer spent his last day with the people he will always call family, including the only person who has been with the department longer than him – Deputy Chief George Stevens. “David and I knew each other before we were on the fire department,” Stevens said. “It’s just been a, like I said, a fun ride. I respect him, and will do that to the day we are not on this earth anymore.” As much fun as the team had Wednesday, it’s no surprise it got a bit emotional at times. “I can’t say enough how much I appreciate, and thank you guys, for your dedicated service to this department. And also to me personally,” Kramer said to the group. But the hardest part was something he wasn’t expecting. After passing the torch to Garrett, he got one last call from dispatch. Climbing into Engine One for his final ride with tears of mixed emotions in his eyes, dispatch paid him tribute on behalf of the countless lives in the Pratt community impacted by his legendary career.
Source: KAKE – News

Events bring in visitors and their dollars

In a couple of weeks, USD 250 will host the Kansas 5A Regional Wrestling tournament. More than 200 wrestlers from 18 different 5A schools from across the East side of the State. The tournament begins on Friday, February 16, and will continue through the weekend. “It is a huge honor to be hosting this tournament in Pittsburg,” PHS Activities Director, Jeff Staley said. “It really is a reflection on the City of Pittsburg, our community and our school district that we were chosen to host here, it means other schools enjoy coming to our town and facilities.” Staley also pointed out that for some, this may be their first and possibly only time ever coming to Pittsburg, making it important to make a good impression. “The support in our community is phenomenal,” Staley said. “It is not only an undertaking on our facilities, it affects our whole community when we have a large event like this. We recognize and extremely appreciate how supportive the community of Pittsburg is when we have great opportunities like this for our students.” The event is such a big deal that USD 250 has cancelled classes throughout the entire district during the tournament so that it can focus on being a gracious and accommodating host to the competitors and fans. Pittsburg is no stranger to such large events. USD 250 and Pittsburg State have both played host to several large sporting events in the past. These events can create a buzz, but what is their economic impact on the community? Hosting any event will bolster cashflow for restaurants and gas stations and other businesses may also see an uptick in sales, but Chris Wilson, marketing & communications manager for Explore Crawford County, points out that with high school sporting events, there are some additional short-term and long-term benefits that can’t be overlooked. “When it comes to events with kids and especially high school students, these are potential students for Pittsburg State – potential renters, employees and customers short term, and investors, entrepreneurs and donors long term,” Wilson said. “For those visiting families, it’s an opportunity for them to see our community firsthand and see why we choose live here.” Although state and national events get more attention, Wilson said conference and regional sporting events, like the upcoming wrestling tourney, usually bring in more participants, especially for indoor and outdoor track & field competitions.
Source: Morning Sun

Endowment could help fund future courthouse repairs

When Miami County voters last fall chose not to support a proposed quarter-cent sales tax to renovate and expand the Miami County Courthouse, Paola attorney Sandy Hartley started thinking about another way to preserve the historic building. The courthouse, which was built in 1898 and designed by renowned architect George Washburn, has special significance to Hartley. Thanks to her senior law school project 50 years ago, the courthouse was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973. Hartley also knows how well an endowment can work in a community that supports it. The courthouse, which was built in 1898 and designed by renowned architect George Washburn, has special significance to Hartley. Thanks to her senior law school project 50 years ago, the courthouse was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973. Hartley also knows how well an endowment can work in a community that supports it. “Your endorsement will mean a lot to our endeavor,” Hartley said. Miami County Administrator Shane Krull asked about the early-year projections for the endowment, and Hartley said it likely would not provide a funding solution for the courthouse within the first few years but instead provide more of a long-term solution. Krull and the commissioners acknowledged the benefits of a long-term endowment, but Krull also said the county will likely need to seek other options in the interim to tackle needed renovations at the courthouse that could cost between $10 and $13 million, according to an architect’s estimate.
Source: Local News | republic-online.com

Chetopa City Council seeks new home for city library

The Chetopa City Council in January closed the city’s library at 312 Maple because of the deteriorating condition of the building and the repairs that are needed. The city is also looking for alternative locations for the library until a permanent home can be found. Angela Forquer, the city librarian, posted on Facebook that the building was built in 1942 and was converted into the library in the early 1970s. She enumerated the problems with the building: Estimates to fix the plumbing, electrical and HVAC were over $150,000, but attempts to get contractors to travel to Chetopa to bid on it have been unsuccessful; The building has two layers of drop ceiling which is starting to fall because of a leaking roof. The ceiling is also full of mold; The windows and doors are no longer seal and are not energy efficient; Termites are in the ground, foundation and in several spots on the interior walls. The only way to inspect and treat them would be to drill holes in the floors and tear down walls, costing more money; Water pipes under the foundation broke several years ago. The building has functional plumbing but there are still issues with it; The exterior of the building is cracking and shifting, which is causing the interior walls to crack and fall apart. It is a structural issue that creates a safety issue that will be costly to fix. Forquer wrote that the decision to close the library was not ideal, but everyone’s safety had to be considered. She wrote that since the cost is so high, the library needs another building.
Source: Parsons Sun

KDOT grants funding Active Transportation alternatives

The Kansas agency best known for its highways, the Kansas Department of Transportation, is trying to help communities across the state improve other ways to get around. KDOT is starting the application process for its Transportation Alternatives Projects, which funds projects focused on pedestrian, bicycle, and other non-car modes of transportation, as well as Safe Routes to School projects. “You have these small communities, and they don’t have a big budget, but they’ve made it a priority. The community has told the leaders that they want their kids to be able to walk and bike to school,” KDOT Active Transportation Manager Jenny Kramer said. Many of the projects get less than $1 million, which isn’t much compared to what other infrastructure projects cost. But, Kramer says it’s what’s needed to either help build these projects or help small communities get plans designed that can be funded later. That can be especially helpful in rural communities trying to make sure students can get to school consistently and safely. “We fund them to be able to create a plan on where are the best routes, and then to figure out what’s needed on those routes,” Kramer said. “Are there sidewalks, gaps needed, accessibility, making sure it’s accessible for those who have mobility disabilities?” Communities can register for informational webinars being held on Monday, Feb. 5, at 10 a.m., Thursday, Feb. 8, at 2:30 p.m., and Friday, Feb. 9, at 11 a.m. The first concept forms are due March 1 with awards announced in the summer.
Source: KSN-TV

Kansas bill ending municipal regulation of plastic bags, containers raises constitutional issue

University of Kansas scientist Nancy Muma said the average person inadvertently accumulated in the body a credit-card sized amount of plastic each week by breathing air and consuming water. Muma, who earned a doctorate in pharmacology and toxicology, said this involuntary consumption of bisphenols, phthalates and perfluoroalkyls created a wave of endocrine disruptions that altered hormones and reproductive systems in humans. Children and developing fetuses were especially vulnerable to these toxins, but the damage could emerge at all stages of life in the form of heart disease, obesity and cancer, she said. “The good news is that you can help solve this costly and life-threatening problem by voting against House Bill 2446 and supporting regulations to reduce the use of these toxic single-use plastics,” Muma said. She made the plea to members of the Senate Federal and State Affairs considering legislation passed by the House in March 2023, but sidelined by the Senate until Tuesday. The bill would allow the state to block city or county governments from adopting or enforcing ordinances or resolutions that “restricts, taxes, prohibits or otherwise regulates the use, disposition or sale of auxiliary containers.” In simple terms, the bill aggressively promoted by the Kansas Chamber would forbid municipal bans on plastic straws and the thin, cheap plastic shopping bags often given consumers by retail stores and carryout restaurants. The prohibition would broadly define auxiliary containers as cups, packages and bottles made of cloth, paper, plastic, foamed plastic, cardboard, aluminum, glass or a recycled material. Eric Stafford, who represents the Kansas Chamber at the Capitol, said the pending bill was similar to legislation vetoed by Gov. Laura Kelly in 2022. The issue was brought to the forefront in 2024 because businesses in the state needed “a clear and predictable regulatory framework by which to operate” and legislators rather than elected city and county government officials were in the best position to shape that regulatory landscape, Stafford said. “We have seen a growing trend across the country by local governments to ban plastic products because of their perceived damage to the economy, but we don’t have to look any further than our own state, as Lawrence became the first city to ban plastic bags effective March 1,” Stafford said.
Source: The Lawrence Times

Bond passes with 88% support

Voters in the USD 410 school district took to the polls on Tuesday, Jan. 23 where they voted on the general obligation bond issue in an amount not to exceed $13,350,000. The results will not be final until after the official canvass on Wednesday, Jan. 31, but the preliminary results were 464 yes and 59 no. “We are absolutely thrilled with the overwhelming support of the bond issue. 88% of voters supported the bond with a yes vote. That level of support is unheard of,” said Superintendent Clint Corby. There was a surprisingly large turnout despite cold, dreary weather on Jan. 23. For the Hillsboro poll site, 455 ballots were voted out of 2,368 registered voters with eight provisional ballots for a 19.55% overall turnout. For the Tampa poll site, 18 ballots were voted out of 209 registered voters with no provisional ballots for an 8.61% overall turnout. 24 ballots (11.48%) were done in advance by mail and 30 (14.35%) were done early in-person. The final numbers were 527 ballots voted and eight provisional ballots out of 2,577 registered voters for an overall turnout of 20.76%. “I have said it before and I will say it again. USD 410 is great because our community is great,” said Corby. The bond projects focus on student safety, infrastructure and facility enhancements. For safety, the main project is a tornado shelter that will function as additional classroom space. Secure entrances in the elementary and middle high schools are also on the agenda, along with fire alarm system replacements, and elevator repairs and improvements. There are several projects planned for infrastructure enhancements including HVAC, broiler and chiller replacement, exterior brick repairs and restoration, furniture and carpeting repairs and replacement, roof replacement and guttering, plumbing improvements, painting, concrete repairs, door repairs and improvements and window replacements. For facility enhancements, there will be auditorium upgrades, gym HVAC and painting, a greenhouse and kindergarten and 1st grade playground projects.
Source: Hillsboro Free Press

Municipal Bond Trends for February 1, 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 January 31, 2024

Water main breaks spiking

Topeka water mains are breaking significantly more often than they used to. Over the past 10 years, the city averaged 46 water main breaks per month. But in 2023, the city saw a total of 777 water main breaks, which averages out to 64.75 per month.
Source: CJonline

Federal Reserve holds interest rates steady, sets the stage for cuts

The Federal Reserve announced it will leave interest rates unchanged Wednesday, setting the stage for rate cuts to come — and paving the way for relief from the combination of higher rates and inflation that have hit consumers particularly hard. Although Fed officials indicated as many as three cuts coming this year, the pace that they trim interest rates is going to be much slower than the pace at which they hiked, according to Greg McBride, chief financial analyst at Bankrate. “Interest rates took the elevator going up; they are going to take the stairs coming down,” he said.
Source: CNBC – Bonds

2024 January Kansas Employment Forecast Released

Kansas has rebounded strongly, surpassing the national and the Plains region averages in each quarter of 2023. The state’s growth peaked at 9.4% in Q3 of 2023, significantly higher than the national average of 4.8% and the Plains region of 5.1% in the same quarter. The underlying contribution to the growth within the state over the previous year was agriculture, which was from a combination of prices and drought insurance. Manufacturing regained its strength in the second and third quarters of the year, as agriculture waned slightly. Both industry drivers have fueled additional growth within construction, retail, and government, which picked up in the second quarter. Kansas’s real GDP trajectory indicates an economy that has overcome challenges over the previous decade and is now expanding rapidly. Although it will not likely maintain the top-growing economy in the United States over the next few quarters, it should maintain a more robust economy than its peer states.
Source: WSU CEDBR

Recycled ambulance saves fire department money

By reusing the old box, the Newton Fire Department saved nearly $100,000 when replacing its ambulance. The department had its old ambulance box remounted onto a new vehicle. According to logistics division chief, Joe Martin, this recycling practice is common among departments. “Remounts have come a long way,” Martin said. “It’s becoming an industry norm as budgets don’t keep up with inflation.” Martin said the department was particularly excited by the addition of a power load system to the ambulance. The power load system manually lifts and lowers the stretcher so they don’t have to pick up everyone being loaded into the ambulance. The devices are installed in all the first-out ambulances, according to Martin. The vehicles typically run on seven-year cycles, and Martin said the old vehicle had engine problems, making the department due for a new vehicle. The ambulance has a new design, and Martin said the department was able to save money by using vinyl graphics rather than painting the vehicles. Martin said he knows some departments recycle boxes three or four times, but Newton plans to only reuse them once before replacing them with all-new ambulances to avoid boxes getting too old. Martin added that the department planned to use this remounting method on all its ambulances.
Source: Harvey County Now

USD 440 Steering committee completes bond information meetings

USD-440 and the district’s steering committee completed its third and final bond information meeting last week at Bentley Primary School, holding one in each of the three schools. After receiving feedback from the community, the steering committee will have one more meeting to shore up their plan that they initially introduced to the school board in January. With a month to consider the committee’s recommendations, the board will discuss and possibly make a decision on whether to proceed during their Feb. 12 meeting. Steering committee chair Alex Williams said that, to date, the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. He said the biggest input he’s received is the support for the proposed renovations with the industrial arts and metals facilities. He said that the proposed addition for seventh and eighth grade classrooms connecting to the high school would mean the students would still participate in activities such as sports and music in the middle school facilities. He said that students are already making the trek between the two schools for classes, and the addition would shorten the walk.
Source: Harvey County Now

See an extra 1% charge on your receipt in Overland Crossing? Here’s why.

If you’ve been shopping recently in the Overland Crossing Shopping Center and noticed an extra charge applied to your receipt near the sales tax, that’s a private fee. The fee — that appears on a Whole Foods Market receipt in the center as “OVRLAND GIF” — is a private general improvement fee, or GIF, of 1% on each purchase. Dave Claflin from Legacy Development said the GIF functions similarly to a Community Improvement District or a Tax Increment Financing District, in that the revenue generated by the extra fee pays for improvements within a set area. These private financing arrangements are sometimes called a public improvement fee, and have been used elsewhere in the U.S. In this case, the GIF is paying back improvements Legacy Development did on the Overland Crossing Shopping Center as part of the district’s redevelopment effort, including parking lot improvements, new parking lot islands and new walkways. Claflin said the fee could also be used to help pay for improvements to the shopping center in the future, like HVAC replacements or more parking lot replacements. “That stuff’s an ongoing concern for all shopping centers,” he said. “But especially bigger ticket things that you typically run into when you’re really renovating a center like we did, that’s when you really need it.” Whole Foods Market is one of more than half a dozen stores in the Overland Crossing shopping center that has a 1% charge on all purchased items. Photo credit Kaylie McLaughlin.
Unlike with a CID or a TIF, the city has no authority over the administration of a GIF. Instead, a third party is collecting the fee revenue and administering its distribution to pay back bondholders, Claflin said. “It basically just takes that idea of the TIF and takes the city out of the equation and relieves them of the responsibility of administering it and puts it in the third party’s hands,” he said. City officials stress though that the GIF isn’t a tax.
Source: Shawnee Mission Post

KwiKom asks for county buy-in with broadband

County co-investment in a broadband grant application process was central to Tuesday’s commissioners meeting. KwiKom Communications of Iola is currently seeking the county’s assistance in a $2 million broadband project that will bring internet to the area between Iola and Humboldt, as well as near the airport. “It’s a $1 million Kansas Broadband Acceleration grant, but a $2 million project,” noted John Terry, KwiKom Director of Government Affairs and Business. “The state will be putting $1 million towards this project and KwiKom will be investing $1 million.” Terry clarified that any county contribution will offset Kwikom’s share of the project. Initiated in 2020, the Kansas Broadband Acceleration Grant Program aims to allocate $85 million over a decade to narrow the digital divide within the state. The program plays a crucial role in Kansas’ strategy to eliminate statewide broadband gaps. It focuses on directing funds to regions that are unlikely to have access to broadband service without financial support from the state or federal government. There are approximately 150 service points included in KwiKom’s proposed project. One of the components of the grant is community co-investment. “I’m here to have that conversation and find out if the county can co-invest,” said Terry. At the estimated total project cost of $2 million, each service point would be $13,300. “Obviously, without grant funding, that’s not an attractive build,” added Terry.
Source: The Iola Register

New exhibit showcases 1951 JoCo time capsule. Here’s what was found inside.

The Johnson County Museum will display the contents of a time capsule discovered in the cornerstone of the 1952 Johnson County Courthouse through May. The new exhibit is called “Inside the Box: A 1951 Time Capsule.” The capsule, a 10.5-inch-by-13-inch copper box at the center of the exhibit, was all but forgotten to history until crews found it while demolishing the old courthouse in downtown Olathe after the new courthouse opened across the street. “A lot actually was stuffed into that box, and it gives a really good picture of the immense change that the county was going through in the post-war era,” said Andrew Gustafson, curator of interpretation and the project leader on the capsule exhibit. The bulk of the items enclosed in the capsule were paper records, like maps, directory books and dozens of letters from elected officials as well as letters from 14 cities in Johnson County. Also included were nearly 50 photographs — including some from the ceremony of dedication for the cornerstone that contained the capsule — and an 18-minute audio tape. Plus, a reel of microfilm museum officials initially believed was unsalvageable was ultimately successfully digitized by a conservator.
Source: Johnson County Post

Barton house moving down the road

Bobbi and Guy Barton of Halstead are planning on moving, but they’re doing it a little differently than most people. Instead of just moving out of a house, they’re having the house moved, since they had another one built on their property and live there now. The home where they used to reside in rural Halstead is devoid of people now. “We can’t have two houses on the property,” Bobbi said, adding they wanted someone to move it, versus having to tear it down. Because of Harvey County code, they’re not allowed two houses on one property, Bobbi said. The white house, which is the one someone purchased and is moving, was built in 1900. The Bartons moved there in March 2006, Guy said. “Two years ago, we started building this house,” Bobbi said, meaning the newest home they have. “We knew at the time we would rather have someone take this house,” she added about the older one. It’s 1,700 square feet and has good bones. “We figured we would have to advertise the house to sell it,” Bobbi said, adding that, out of the blue, a farmer named Eddie Weber called and said he wanted to take a look at it. He did and said, “I’ll take it.” “So no advertising needed, thankfully,” Bobbi said. Weber plans to move the house in the spring, when he’ll have it put on his property in rural Halstead. The reason they decided to build was because Bobbi had some injuries.
Source: Harvey County Now

Library offers non-traditional items to community

Reading books and using computers are just some of the reasons people are piling into the Wichita Advanced Learning Library. Behind its doors, podcasts are being made, medical equipment is being checked out, as well as other items like hot spots and telescopes. “We decided that we wanted to listen to what community members want through surveys and customer feedback and that’s how we started building our library of things,” said Communication Specialist Sean Jones. Introducing non-traditional items began back in 2021. Jones said the library is considered an urban library and part of a network called the Urban Libraries Counsel. He said they work with their counterparts at these library systems and share ideas and information about what is going on in the different communities. Jones said this is a way of keeping the community coming in. Because Sedgwick County is at medium risk for radon, the first item outside of books they had available for checkout was a radon detector and it was flying off the shelf. The AV studio has become popular for more than just recording music or creating podcasts, people use the room to work on graphic design projects using the Adobe Creative Suite offered. Technology Trainer Janelle Mercer said, “If you’re needing help with an iPhone and iPad or maybe you want to learn how to check out our e-books, we can help you with that or if you want to learn to use something like our AV studio or even our chrome books.” Jeanne Mitchell, a regular at the library, said, “You can start as a toddler and learn to read and then you can create and as an old person, senior, now I just have a great time.” Also introduced are passport application services at some of the other library branches.
Source: KAKE – News

City of Marion asking McAnarney to serve as interim city manager

The city of Marion is looking for a new city manager, and it has reached out to former Emporia city leader Mark McAnarney to fill the role on an interim basis. Marion is looking for a city manager after the resignation of Brogan Jones on Nov. 15, as reported by the Marion County Record. McAnarney served the city of Emporia for over 30 years, first as assistant city manager starting in 1989 and then as city manager in 2013. He retired in late 2021. McAnarney has not said whether he plans to take the Marion post. He served as Neodesha’s interim city manager between October and earlier this month.
Source: KVOE Emporia Radio

Jackie Robinson statue found burned and in pieces at Wichita park amid citywide manhunt

A Wichita youth-baseball league’s Jackie Robinson statue — which was cut at its feet and stolen from McAdams Park last week, leading to a citywide manhunt and national media attention — was found charred and in pieces Tuesday morning in Garvey Park. Garvey Park is in south Wichita, about seven miles from where it was stolen. “It’s not salvageable at this time,” Wichita police spokesperson Andrew Ford said. Ford said they are still investigating to find suspects. First responders were called to a trash can fire at the park around 8:38 a.m. and found the statue. When firefighters extinguished the flames, they found pieces of the statue. It’s unclear if the statue, valued at $75,000, was cut or fell apart while being burned. It appears a fire was lit in a dumpster behind a pavilion bathroom at the park. Police were searching the area for other clues. Wichita Police Department Lt. Aaron Moses said that he didn’t think anyone was in custody. Chief Joe Sullivan and other city leaders held a news conference at 10:30 a.m. at the park. On Monday, police announced that they found what they thought was the truck used in the crime unoccupied somewhere in the city. The truck wasn’t reported stolen and police have talked with the owner. He said police have conducted close to if not over 100 interviews since the statue was stolen early Thursday morning. Vandals cut the statue at the feet and then loaded it in a truck and took off, according to surveillance video from WPD.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle

Towns struggle as aquifer dwindles

Brownie Wilson pulls off a remote dirt road right through a steep ditch and onto a farmer’s field. He hops out of his white Silverado pickup, mud covering nearly all of it except the Kansas Geological Survey logo stuck on the side with electrical tape. Dry cornstalks crunch under his work boots as he makes his way to a decommissioned irrigation well. He unspools a steel highway tape measure a few feet at a time and feeds it into the well until gravity takes over. He keeps a thumb on it to control the speed. How much of the tape comes out wet lets him calculate how much water has been lost here. Wilson crisscrosses western Kansas every January to measure wells and track the rapid decline of the Ogallala Aquifer, which contains the nation’s largest underground store of fresh water. Last year, some wells had dropped 10 feet or more because of the severe 2022 drought. But this year, they stayed about the same or dropped a couple feet. Some of these wells have dropped more than 100 feet since Wilson started working for the agency in 2001, he said. “Some of our issues looking forward look gargantuan,” Wilson said. “But I do think we can peck away at it and make some headway.” The Ogallala Aquifer, the underground rock and sediment formation that spans eight states from South Dakota to the Texas panhandle, is the only reliable water source for some parts of the region. But for decades, states have allowed farmers to overpump groundwater to irrigate corn and other crops that would otherwise struggle on the arid High Plains. Now, the disappearing water is threatening more than just agriculture. Rural communities are facing dire futures where water is no longer a certainty.
Source: The Iola Register

How could Kansas’ new open enrollment law change Johnson County and KCK schools?

After this school year, Kansas students will be allowed to go to any public school district in the state, as long as it has the room. Previously, districts have had discretion over whether to admit students from outside of their attendance areas. But starting this summer, schools are required to do so, which has created a complicated situation for highly ranked districts in Johnson County, which are now scrambling to prepare for a potential influx of students. “Really since the legislation passed, certainly the number of people calling us has increased. We get a few calls every week from people either checking into the process or saying they want to enroll,” said Olathe Superintendent Brent Yeager. Johnson County school leaders say that as they ready to open their doors to out-of-district students, they’re concerned about maintaining appropriate class sizes, having adequate staffing levels and taking on unexpected costs. “There are districts where it won’t be a big deal because they have only one school or three schools. For those of us in larger districts, it’s a much bigger challenge,” Yeager said. Kansas lawmakers approved the open enrollment requirement in 2022, as part of a broad K-12 finance bill. The provision says each school must determine its capacity for the following year, and accept applications from non-resident students when open seats are available.
Source: Joco 913 News

Municipal Bond Trends for January 30, 2024

Municipal Bond Trends for January 29, 2024

USD 392 Osborne County Hires New Superintendent

USD 392 Board of Education announced the selection of Mr. Ron Orsak as the new Superintendent of Osborne County School District. Mr. Orsak will take the helm on July 1, 2024, from Mr. Langdon who officially resigned from his post in November of last year and will be the new Elementary Principal at Sacred Heart Schools in Colby this Fall. We thank Mr. Langdon for his efforts and wish him all the best in his future endeavors. Mr. Orsak emerged from a very thorough search process as the right candidate to lead the district. The initial step was to gather input utilizing focus groups, comprised of faculty and staff from within our district, and online community surveys. The board contracted the services of KASB to conduct extensive background and reference checks, including the review of applications and supporting documentation during the hiring process. The board selected two finalists, who were greeted by community members and staff and interviewed by the Board in January. With the decision to hire Mr. Orsak, the Board feels they found a strong match to the search criteria presented, making him the right selection to serve our students, staff, and our community.
Source: Sunflower State Radio

Sewer bills going up for Andover residents

Starting in February, Andover residents will see their sewer bills increase. The City says they are wrapping up the design phase for the expansion of the wastewater plant. This year Andover will begin the process of upgrading and expanding the facility to address increasing demand and replace and update equipment to meet upcoming regulatory requirements. The rate will increase by $5 to $40 a month for residential customers. Later this year, the Andover City Council will decide on a multi-year billing structure based on the projected costs of the expansion project. Andover’s wastewater facility was first constructed in 1977 and underwent upgrades, expansions, and improvements in 1996, 2011, and 2019.
Source: KSN Local News

City of Galena clarifies when school crossing light is supposed to run

The Mayor of Galena, KS, Ashely Qualls Groves, addresses the ongoing concern regarding a Galena school traffic lights and the timing of them. “I want to clarify that those are set automatically and although it seems like odd hours, the school has after school programs nightly throughout the school year. Many kids attend these programs and in working with the school personnel, our goal is to provide the utmost safety protocols for our students.” According to city officials, they receive a lot of complaints about reckless drivers in the school zones therefore they are working to make the existing protocols safer while any students are in the building.
Source: KOAM News

City of Fort Scott addresses foam seen on local river

The City of Fort Scott addresses complaints regarding foam accumulation being seen in the river at Gunn Park. The following is from the City of Fort Scott Facebook post: “The foam that is being seen in the river at Gunn Park is caused by the amount of phosphorus in the water and is not harmful to our water supply. It is caused by the change of weather we have had over the last week (thank God for the rain). The Dam in Gunn Park is before the City of Fort Scott’s River Intake system so the water will be treated with several layers of chemicals before going into our drinking water. Remember, there are a lot of things in our river water system that goes through our water intake system so we are equipped to treat these things. So again it is not harmful to anyone.”
Source: KOAM News

Agriculture built these High Plains towns. Now, it might run them dry

Here’s where Sedgwick County plans to build a 50-bed psychiatric hospital

Construction of a 50-bed psychiatric hospital on the outskirts of southwest Wichita could be completed by 2026. The Sedgwick County Commission voted unanimously Friday to acquire 11 donated acres at the northwest corner of MacArthur and Meridian for the project. The land is being donated by real estate broker and investor Jeff Lange, who has been developing plans for a 70-acre behavioral health complex at the site for the last four years. Lange Realty is Sedgwick County’s on-call real estate agent. “I’m excited this day is here,” Commissioner David Dennis said. “A lot of people came together for this today so that we can finally say yes, we are going to have a regional mental health hospital in Sedgwick County.” Selection of the southwest Wichita site was made at the recommendation of a committee made up of Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services and Sedgwick County staff.
Source: The Wichita Eagle

‘Stealing from the kids’: Reward offered for recovery of Jackie Robinson statue

The hunt to find a bronze Jackie Robinson statue and the thieves who stole it from McAdams Park is ramping up. The Wichita Metro Crime Commission and League 42 are offering up to $2,500 for any tip that leads to an arrest, and an additional $5,000 if the statue is recovered. “Our city wants the statue returned. We also want the individuals who robbed our community of a treasure to be held accountable for their actions, and I assure you they will,” Police Chief Joe Sullivan said at a Friday afternoon press conference. One key element of the investigation has been contacting scrap metal businesses from around the region to notify them of the theft. Surveillance footage shows the vandals sawing off the statue at its feet and loading it into a dark-colored, short-bed pickup truck before making off with it early Thursday. “I’m hoping that they didn’t know what they were doing,” Parks Director Troy Houtman said. “If they would just bring it back, no questions asked. We’d move on and repair the statue. Hopefully, they’ll wisen up to do that.” But he said the statue, which is valued at $75,000, will be replaced “one way or another.” “We’re either going to do repairs or replace. We’ve already started investigating on what that’s going to take,” he said. District Attorney Marc Bennett said the window for leniency is rapidly closing.
Source: The Wichita Eagle

Newest Council Member Brings Grant Writing Experience, Passion To Bentley City Council

A few years ago, Jeff Witherspoon experienced a couple of shootings within a few blocks of their house, so after living in Wichita all his life, Witherspoon and his wife, Rhonda, moved to Bentley. They were already tired of the crime and traffic. So Witherspoon used UbuildIt to build his house and said he chose Bentley, because his biggest challenge in relocating was finding land, and Bentley offered him an affordable lot. Now retired, Witherspoon spent 25 years with Consumer Credit Counseling Service, a nonprofit company, helping people with financial issues. His degrees from Wichita State University include business management and financial planning. Witherspoon said his passion is helping people spend their money more wisely and help them get out of debt. He’s taught some classes at Bentley’s senior center and regularly teaches at nonprofits and schools in Wichita. “It bothers me to see people struggle, and sometimes they struggle for reasons they don’t understand,” Witherspoon said. “There’s people that spend money, and they just feel like that’s the way you’re supposed to do it. But I’m always looking for ways to still survive but to spend less money.” Witherspoon joined the Bentley City Council this month after being elected back in November.
Source: Harvey County Now

Friends on the Farm gives students a glimpse of agriculture

Area fourth graders attended the 25th annual Friends at the Farm event Thursday at the Finney County Fairgrounds. Carol Deaver, Finney County Farm Bureau Board president, said about 775 fourth grade students attended the event this year from Finney, Gray, Haskell and Kearny Counties. At their first event 25 years ago, they only had 250 students attend, Deaver said. It’s grown considerably since then. Deaver said the goal of the event is to inform students about what happens on farms and ranches in Finney County and southwestern Kansas and how many of the things they use daily originate on a farm or ranch. “Whether a seed or livestock or that kind of thing, people don’t realize all the byproducts that come from out of commodities and livestock raised on farms in addition to food, fiber and energy that we’re all pretty familiar with,” she said. Jennifer Gerber, Finney County Farm Bureau member and County Coordinator, said the event is about helping students make connections between food and where it comes from, it’s what she likes most about the event. She’s gone into classrooms and helped with after school programs and when kids are asked where chocolate milk comes from, unfortunately a lot of times they say brown cows, so she feels events like Friends at the Farm are needed to help people understand where the food comes from.
Source: Garden City Telegram

LCECC to bring 911derWoman Academy to Emporia next month

The Lyon County Emergency Communications Center will present the 911derWoman Academy: Finding Your Career in 911, from Feb. 6 – 7 at the Anderson Building. 911derWoman Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit started by Sara Weston after the death of her close friend that began as an online support group. The membership of 911derWoman across the world has grown from a group of 100, to over 15,000 women on social media. 911derWoman now not only has a large presence online, but has grown its mission to include educational offerings that are both virtual and in person. According to a written release, the two-day academy will focus on transforming the attendees’ 911 career into a journey of continuous growth and advancement. Attendees will focus on areas of improvement, promotion, and gain the tools, skills, and inspiration to take control, advance their careers and thrive in emergency dispatch.
Source: Emporia Gazette

Broadband Acceleration Grant makes $10M available

Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland today announced $10 million is available to enhance broadband infrastructure statewide through the Broadband Acceleration Grant program. Grants funded through this program are designed to offset the capital expenses needed to deploy in unserved areas. In its fourth year through the bipartisan Eisenhower Legacy Transportation Program (IKE), the Broadband Acceleration Grant program aims to provide high-quality, reliable broadband access throughout the state, prioritizing unserved areas, economically distressed communities, and areas of compelling need. “Empowering communities through broadband infrastructure buildout allows Kansas to lean into our innovative spirit as we grow businesses, keep talent here, and pursue new opportunities,” Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland said. “The IKE program is a great example of how state agencies, local communities and the private sector provide high speed internet to all Kansans.” During the first three years of this program, high-speed internet has been delivered to 8,000 homes and businesses in 25 counties. The cumulative $15 million generated another $17.5 million in matching funds.
Source: Kansas Department of Commerce

County discusses possible zoning

At Friday’s county commission meeting, the possibility of zoning the entirety of Crawford County was discussed as a way to combat the building of solar and wind farms within the county. As of now, three-quarters of the county is not zoned, meaning any developer that wants to build such a farm can do so with little interference from the county. Commissioners discussed asking for a moratorium to delay construction of wind and solar farms. According to County Counselor Jim Emerson, a moratorium can only be used to create zoning ordinances, or at the very least, to pass regulations that address some issues. Several neighboring counties are considering the same. Passing zoning laws can allow the county to outright ban the construction of farms in the county. The issue is that zoning laws are very unpopular with Crawford County residents. When broached in the past, the issue was met with angry residents packing the courthouse.
Source: Morning Sun

Long time, no see

After nearly eight months of restoration, the two-story building known as “Gay Parita” has returned to the town of Carona, which is nestled at the north end of Cherokee County, just five minutes west of Scammon. Under building owner John Parsons’ leadership, the Gay Parita, which has been vacant for decades, is restored to its former state. From the mid-1930s to the mid-1970s, the Gay Parita served as a destination for dance and music lovers from across the Four-State area and beyond. Parsons said in restoring the iconic night spot, he is seeking to bring back its historical relevance. Carona was initially one of the many settlements that sprang up during the coal mining era in southeast Kansas, where immigrants came in the late 1800s, seeking employment in the mines. One of the many immigrants seeking a job included Pete Ferraro, who immigrated from Italy in 1901, according to James M. Green’s historical account from 1985 of the Gay Parita Ballroom. Ferraro soon opened a grocery store that burned down before building another during the prohibition years. In 1934, Ferraro entered a partnership with Frank (Chee Chee) Parise, building a huge ballroom for $11,000. The two inserted a local newspaper advertisement announcing a contest for the new ballroom’s name. The name “Gay Parita” was chosen and the opening night of the ever-popular event center was June 23, 1934.
Source: Morning Sun

Kansas communities receiving $1.4 million in rural economic development grants

21 projects across Kansas will receive almost $1.4 million in funding from the Historic Economic Asset Lifeline (HEAL) grant program. The program, which receives bipartisan support from Governor Kelly and the Kansas Legislature to provide annual allocations, aims to help rural communities revitalize downtown buildings and create safer downtowns with more job opportunities. Projects being funded in this round of awards include upper-story housing, child care facilities, retail businesses, and restaurants. In addition, the projects will receive more than $3.4 million in private local matching funds. “Vibrant, safe downtowns spur economic growth by attracting businesses and jobs and establishing community pride,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “Investments like this bring life back into these communities and are instrumental to their long-term success.” The Kansas Department of Commerce’s Office of Rural Prosperity, Community Development Division, and Kansas Main Street collaborate on HEAL to revitalize underutilized and dilapidated downtown structures where the cost to rehabilitate exceeds the limit that conventional financing can cover. Downtown landmarks that get new life breathed into them through HEAL are transformed into spaces that serve multiple purposes. Projects are to be completed within two years.
Source: KAKE News

New fire engine arrives in Holton

It’s been almost 25 years since Holton’s volunteer fire department welcomed a new fire engine with a high aerial ladder for fighting fires from above. But shortly after 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, a brand-new fire engine with a 109-foot aerial ladder — 44 feet longer than the aerial ladder on the fire department’s previous “first-out” fire truck — arrived in Holton, and members of the fire department were on hand to welcome it. “We’ve been wanting a new aerial for about 10 years,” Holton Fire Chief Scott Baum said on the arrival of the new fire engine, purchased through Hays Fire and Rescue Sales and Service of Hays and built by Rosenbauer Motors of Wyoming, Minn., where Baum and four other firefighters visited earlier in the week to give the new fire engine it’s final inspection. On Thursday, after a long and arduous two-day drive through snowpacked Minnesota, Iowa and Missouri, that “new aerial” was backed into a rear bay at Holton’s Public Safety Building by Greg Moody of Hays Fire. Baum said he plans to get Holton’s firefighters trained on all aspects of the new fire engine before making it the department’s “first-out” vehicle. In the meantime, the department’s current “first-out” truck, a vehicle with a 65-foot aerial ladder in service since 1999, will remain in service. “We’ve got some training coming up,” Baum said. “We’re going to go over the aerial operations and the general operations of it all, and then as a department, we’re going to train on it and make sure that we’re knowledgeable on all the parts.”
Source: Holton Recorder