Municipal News & Jobs

Kansas Municipal News

City Of Russell, KRSL/KZRS Russell Radio Partner For Russell Community Impact Award

The City of Russell is thrilled to announce the Russell Community Impact Awards launch, an exciting monthly celebration dedicated to recognizing and honoring the unsung heroes in our community who are shaping Russell into a better place to live, work and play. These awards, co-sponsored by the City of Russell, KRSL/KZRS Russell Radio, and the Kansas Municipal Energy Agency, aim to ignite a sense of community pride and civic engagement by spotlighting those individuals, businesses, and organizations that exemplify the very essence of our town’s values and potential.
Read more: KRSL

Municipal Bond Trends for January 4, 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 3, 2024

Next phase of Kansas’ gradual repeal of state sales tax on food to yield savings of $150 million

Gov. Laura Kelly said the next scheduled reduction in the state’s sales tax on groceries Jan. 1 would cut the rate in half to 2% and enable shoppers in Kansas to avoid $150 million annually in food costs. The agreement embraced by the 2022 Legislature and the governor established a three-year approach that included a Jan. 1, 2023, drop in the state sales tax on groceries from 6.5% to 4%. The next step on Jan. 1 moves the state’s assessment to 2% on food, food ingredients and certain prepared foods. That would trigger a reduction in state tax collections of $12.5 million per month. Kansas would join the majority of states by exempting groceries from state sales tax collections on Jan. 1, 2025. Local government sales taxes would still apply to groceries.
Source: The Lawrence Times

Marion County appoints County Clerk Tina Spencer as the first County Administrator

The Marion County Commission voted today to appoint County Clerk Tina Spencer as the first County Administrator. … Spencer is a Master-Certified County Clerk and holds a Mini MPA Certificate for Executive Development in Public Administration awarded by Wichita State University Hugo Wall School of Public Affairs. She has extensive county government experience, having served as Marion County Clerk since January 2013 after serving as Deputy County Clerk since 2005. Spencer also has private-sector management experience. During her time as County Clerk, she has held leadership roles in the statewide Kansas County Clerks & Election Officials Association. … Spencer’s appointment will create a vacancy in the County Clerk position, which will be filled by the Marion County Republican Precinct Committee. Spencer’s first day as County Administrator is slated for Feb. 1.
Source: Hillsboro Free Press

Former Manhattan Mayor, who led city through 1993 flood, passes away

Former Manhattan City Commissioner Roger Maughmer died Friday at Ascension Via Christi Hospital, following complications from pneumonia. He was 78. Maughmer served six years on the city commission from 1989 to 1995, serving as mayor during the 1993 flood and was a longtime member of the Manhattan Optimist Club. A native of Cheyenne, Wyoming, Maughmer moved to Kansas in 1965 and eventually settled in Manhattan, where he worked for Southwestern Bell for 25 years. He often returned to Wyoming to his family cabin and was involved in racing cars with his son. He is survived by his wife Barbara and sons Glen and Bob as well as his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. A celebration of life will take place at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Chapel. Memorial contributions may be made to the Midwest Dream Car Collection.
Source: 1350 KMAN

Fort Scott Has A New Human Resource Director and City Manager Reflects on 2023, Looks To 2024

Fort Scott City Manager Brad Matkin was asked what the city’s accomplishments were this year and also what is on the horizon for 2024 and he sent his reply. He also announced a new administrative position has been filled by Payton Coyan. Payton Coyan started as the Fort Scott Human Resource Director on December 27. She has four years of experience in driving strategic human resource operational initiatives, with a focus on talent acquisition, employee retention, succession planning, organizational development, legal compliance, and grievance management. She also has skills in recruitment, interviewing, resume screening, negotiating, conflict resolution, streamlining operations, and heightening employee productivity by mastering HR situations for integrating human resource functions with overall goals, according to a press release. She has experience managing employee benefits, employee hiring and onboarding, performance management, and HR records. Coyan is a graduate of Ottawa University. “Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with family and friends,” she said in the press release. ” I come from an amazing family and am fortunate to have… every one of them in my life. I am a lifelong resident of Bourbon County and love our community full-heartedly. In my free time, I enjoy…camping, (going) on a nature walk, walking downtown, or reading a book.”
Source: Fort Scott Biz

Edgerton Lake, dam exploration project moves forward

Two years ago, the City of Edgerton approved a $75,000 project to explore repairing the Edgerton Lake Dam as part of the city’s 2022-2026 capital improvement project. During the Edgerton City Council meeting last month, city council members agreed to pay Affinis $115,000 for a draft scope and contingency covering various project expenses related to city engineer time and printing materials. The draft scope fee is $105,425, and the contingency portion of the project is $9,575.City officials said the additional $40,000 will come from a special park and recreation fund, with the original $75,000 from the park impact fee. CIP project manager Holly Robertson said the original $75,000 project budget was developed based on an understanding that most engineering firms would be able to provide a similar level of service
Source: Gardner News

Governor Kelly Announces Grocery Shoppers Can Expect an Additional $150M in Tax Relief in 2024

Governor Laura Kelly today announced that in 2024, consumers in the Sunflower State are projected to see an additional $150 million in savings because of the “Axe the Food Tax” legislation >she signed in 2022. According to projections from the Kansas Department of Revenue, the reduction of the state sales tax on groceries from 4% to 2% will save shoppers $12.5 million per month in 2024. “By taking a middle-of-the-road approach, we have been able to continue putting money back in the pockets of every Kansan,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “This reduction is a step toward eliminating the state sales tax on groceries completely, which will happen in 2025.” After working tirelessly to put the state on solid financial footing, in 2021 Governor Kelly called on the Kansas Legislature to eliminate the state sales tax on groceries as soon as possible. The legislature ultimately passed legislation that gradually reduced the state sales tax on groceries over three years. In 2023, the state sales tax rate on groceries went down from 6.5% to 4%, saving consumers $187.7 million per year. By the end of 2024, it is projected that shoppers will have saved more than half a billion dollars in sales tax on groceries over the two years the reduction has been in place.
Source: Governor of the State of Kansas

For Public Finance, a Year for Stability and Cautious Optimism

For state and local government financiers, the good news for 2024 is that most financial functions will be more predictable. Budget projections will be easier and more reliable, at least for the calendar year, as the economy continues settling fairly smoothly to a slower pace with inflation easing and interest rates drifting down with it. Of course, a slowing economy can be expected to be accompanied by softening tax revenues, and that has been reported in some states already. Nonetheless — and absent the usual unforeseeables like new wars, oil shocks and pandemics — public finance is returning to something resembling business as usual. With a few exceptions, the “New Normal” is becoming the “Old Normal,” at least for budgeting, collective bargaining, pension funding, tax rates and debt issuance. Wall Street has come to a growing consensus that the economy is gliding to a “soft landing,” with the only question being how long this can last. Inflation likely won’t drop in 2024 to the Federal Reserve’s target of 2 percent, so while interest rates will likely drift somewhat lower, don’t look for anything near the unusually minuscule levels that prevailed before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Borrowers will still pay and investors will still earn a positive real rate of return on debt instruments. Mirroring that overall economic glide path, upward pressures on salaries are likely to ease. But labor markets nationally will remain tight by historical standards, making it an ongoing public-sector challenge to hire personnel amid tight budgets.
Source: Governing

County approves wage increases, splits on Rural Opportunity Zone program

The County Commission approved a budgeted raise for employees, as well as elected officials and itself. The Commission voted 3-0 to approve providing a 3 percent cost of living increase to county employees for 2024. “We discussed this in budget season too so it’s all been approved in the 2024 budget,” he said. The plan also allocates $147,000 to alleviate an issue County Administrator Anthony Swartendruber described as wage compression. As hiring wages have risen they’ve begun to outpace wages for existing employees. Swartzendruber said the money would help provide some gap between employees with longer tenures and new hires. 54 County employees would be affected by that provision. County Commissioners will now paid $36,014 annually. The County Attorney( District Attorney) will receive $124,521, the County sheriff $111,638, the County Clerk $87,630, the County Register of deeds, $78,094, the County treasurer $75,760. In other news, the County approved a resolution to participate in a state program aimed at drawing out-of-state college graduates to live in Kansas counties, but not before objections were raised. As part of the program, the recipient will receive $3,000 a year in college loan forgiveness for up to five years. The State, through the Department of Commerce, pays half of that cost and requires a local match for the other half. Harvey County has been part of the program since 2021, but provides no local match. Instead, businesses or other organizations are charged with paying the local match. Renewal of the program came up on the County’s Jan. 2 agenda and Amy Siple addressed the county during the public comment section of the meeting. “This feels like a slap in the face to Harvey County Citizens,” she said “You’re asking us to pay off student loans for people to move into Harvey County.”
Source: Harvey County Now

Wichita bans corporate political donations on last-minute party-line council vote

Corporations and limited liability companies will no longer be allowed to contribute to Wichita City Council and mayoral campaigns after a contentious debate and 4-3 vote Tuesday. The four Democrats on the council approved the measure over the objection of their Republican colleagues during the final meeting before incoming Mayor Lily Wu, a Libertarian, and two new Republican council members take office. In a break from standard procedure, outgoing Mayor Brandon Whipple made an emergency declaration, allowing the council to finalize the reform Tuesday and forgo the standard second reading that would have otherwise been required next week. Whipple said the emergency declaration was necessary because the state-mandated $500 contribution limit for individuals and businesses resets with the start of a new year. “If you gave tons of money last campaign, you now can do this tomorrow if this doesn’t pass today,” Whipple said. The Republicans didn’t buy his logic. “I don’t think anyone would think that this is an emergency, and as a public health professional before I was elected to this position, I am just concerned with diluting the word ‘emergency,’” council member Becky Tuttle said. “I also believe firmly that businesses should have a say in who runs our city,” she said. “Businesses pay property tax, they pay sales tax. I don’t think they should get to vote, but I do believe they should have a say.” The city previously barred political committees, corporations, partnerships, trusts, labor unions, business groups and other organizations from contributing to candidates. But those restrictions were dropped in 2015, five years after the U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark Citizens United decision, which prohibits the government from restricting independent spending for political campaigns by corporations and other groups.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle

Fire causes damage to Paris Park pavilion in Arkansas City

A fire damaged the Paris Park pavilion in Arkansas City on New Year’s Day. Arkansas City Fire/EMS Department responded to the fire around 4 a.m. Firefighters found heavy flames engulfing the south end of the pavilion. Crews were able to contain the fire in the area, preventing further spread and minimizing potential damage. Damage is estimated at $10,000. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact Arkansas City Police Department Lieutenant Detective Jason Legleiter at 620-441-4435 or Chet Ranzau, Arkansas City Fire Marshall, at 620-441-4430.
Source: KSN-TV

Kansas court systems slowly reaching finish line for complete restoration after cyberattack

The nightmare plaguing the state of Kansas’ court systems is almost over. On Tuesday, Kansas Courts spokeswoman Lisa Taylor said in a press release that a new portal allowing people to search through Kansas district court cases online is fully operational, with some drawbacks. For example, this portal is temporarily out of date while courts work to feed in case information filed on paper. The Kansas District Court Public Access Portal was one of several systems impacted by a cyberattack in October last year. Online systems associated with the Kansas Courts have been struggling to recover in the aftermath. “In the short time we’ve offered free online case search for district courts as part of our Kansas eCourt modernization plan, it has become our most popular service,” Chief Justice Marla Luckert said. “Restoring the ability to search case information online is yet another major milestone in our restoration plan.” Other features restored recently include the ability for people to pay fines, fees and costs online through the portal and the Kansas eCourt case management system. Information on recent payments, similar to case information, accessed through the portal may be out of date for the time being. Payments processed on Oct. 12 and after may not show up in the payment portal.
Source: KSN-TV

Orange line of Lawrence: City demands homeless camps move away from levy

A line drawn in the sand, or in this case, mud, accompanies a deadline from the city of Lawrence, demanding homeless camps move away from a levy along the Kansas River. WDAF-TV spoke to some of the people living beyond that border, one week away from the threat of their removal. Jan. 8 is the date the city of Lawrence posted, saying by then people need to move at least 15 feet away from the levy due to federal regulations and concerns about maintenance. But few tents have been moved so far. The area is in the sightline of City Hall, behind Johnny’s Tavern just north of the river. It’s the areas outside of the city-sanctioned camp that is being targeted, with a line of orange spray paint following the levy in the unmanaged, yet still busy, camping area. “But it seems to me that there’s going to be some kind of problem with people who don’t want to leave, and I can’t see them being invited to do something,” said Mark William Keplinger, who lives at the sanctioned camp. “Everyone’s arguing over who owns what or what owns what or what this is all becoming. And I’m like, it is what it is. Just get along with it,” said Jimmy Lee Lierhadley, who lives in the area outside of the city fencing. “Well I didn’t notice it went down really until they said something the other day,” said a 44-year-old man also living outside of the fenced area. The line cuts through his tent. He said it was painted while he was at work doing construction. “I told [my boss] my situation, and he needed a laborer and he went out and bought me these work boots,” he said, bringing the boots out of his tent.
Source: KSN-TV

Lyons raises money to continue Christmas bell and star

A holiday tradition in Lyons has been around for nearly a century. Those in the community take great pride in the tradition. “When I come home for the holidays, when I see that bell and star, that bell and star is home,” Teresa Schafer from Lyons said. “It means that I’m home for the holidays, and I know that that is a lot of people. You know you see the bell and star on the bell and star means home. And that’s not only me that is so many people.” In 1936, Oscar Laudick, Schafer’s great-grandpa, created the star to go on top of the courthouse. He was a custodian there. Then, in 1938, the bell was created after lights were hung from the star to the corner of the courthouse, looking like a bell. In 1951, a radio antenna was added to the courthouse, so the bell and star were moved to its current location, the Lyons water tower. Laudick rebuilt the star going from four feet to 10 feet. Each year, the bell and star is paid for by donations. Many will donate in memory of someone when they pass away. Laudick’s daughter JoAnne Arie always made sure there was money for the project, but she died in 2023. So, Schafer took it upon herself to set up a GoFundMe. They raised the $5,000 they needed in two weeks. The bell and star has gone up in price every year, but Schafer says the tradition will never stop. “There is not a single person that does not love that bell and star,” Schafer said. “There is not a single person that would not do what it took to keep that beloved star going.” The star looks like a star from any angle. The white bulbs are painted black, with a small spot of light showing on each side.
Source: KSN-TV

Researchers find high levels of fertilizer in area drinking water

Matthew Kirk has an unpleasant task: breaking the news to families about fertilizer chemicals in their drinking water. The Kansas State University geology professor and his collaborators check for nitrogen pollution in the private wells that so many rural households depend on. “Most of the well owners that I’ve talked to,” Kirk said, “this isn’t something that’s really on their radar.” Researchers aim to test about 150 private wells in south-central Kansas in Barton, Stafford, Pawnee, Edwards, Rice, Pratt and Kiowa counties. Students and scientists from K-State and Barton and Dodge City community colleges have teamed up to test about 90 so far. Of those, half contain more nitrate than federal regulators allow in public water systems. “Of those that didn’t,” Kirk said, “a lot of them were pretty darn close.” One well contained more than five times as much nitrate as the federal government tolerates in public water supplies. That household has started treating the water before drinking it. Drinking too much of these nitrogen compounds is dangerous for babies, and scientists are investigating suspected links to serious health conditions in children and adults, such as cancer. Public water sources have to comply with federal standards, so utilities treat water to reduce nitrate levels when necessary.
Source: Great Bend Tribune

New city commissioner hopes to give back to her community

Melanie Watson began her role as city commissioner on Dec. 12 and said she sees it as a way to give back to her community after the support she received while going through a difficult time in her life. Watson was the victim of domestic violence that eventually led to a violent attack from her husband after she filed for divorce. “I knew there would be consequences for me, physically, when I was trying to leave, I remember praying to God asking him not to kill me or disable me to the point I can’t care for my children,” Watson said. Watson was rushed to St. Francis where she said she had to be resuscitated twice along the way and again when she arrived at the hospital. Hospital staff told her family she wasn’t expected to make it through the night. She said that was when support from the community started with supportive calls from people she knew in Newton giving support to her family at the time. Watson stayed at the hospital for two months, and her arm had to be amputated during that time. After returning home she said the trauma had affected her mental state, and her mother moved in. Before going to the hospital, Watson had been working two jobs, but after leaving she was unable to work. Watson said during this time, she felt great support.
Source: Harvey County Now

Longtime Shawnee HR director Liz Barnard retires

After 28 years in public service, the City of Shawnee’s human resources director has retired. Having watched Shawnee grow for almost three decades, Liz Barnard said she’s proud of her time in the city. “It was just a treat to serve the City of Shawnee for so many years,” she said. In Barnard’s tenure, she said she worked with four mayors, 46 councilmembers and more than 500 employees. It all went by in a blur, she said. “They say the days are long, but the years are short or something like that,” she said. “It’s true.” She also said she saw the city expand and evolve. “When I started, we didn’t have Splash Cove. We didn’t have Station 74. We didn’t have the Justice Center,” she said. “Anything west of Pflumm was basically just houses. There was no commercial development. So it’s just been so cool to see the different things that have been accomplished, in large part, to the amazing staff that was there.” Barnard was involved with projects that include the first Mayor’s Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony, the Veterans Day celebration and helping lead the city’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
Source: Johnson County Post

Wichita city council approves new ordinance to stop landlords from retaliatory evictions

Tuesday morning the Wichita City Council approved a new ordinance that allows landlords to be fined up to $2,500 for evicting a tenant when they complain about terrible living conditions. “In this case we have people who reached out over the years that are tired of a lack of response from their landlord and then when the city comes out and inspects a finds a violation and writes them up, they end up getting evicted. Well that’s not right,” said Brandon Johnson, the city council member for district one. Johnson says this is an ongoing issue which is why the city council is approving an ordinance that will fine landlords up to twenty five hundred dollars for evicting someone in retaliation. “I really would like to see in the event of a landlord or slumlord not responding there’s some judgement,” said Johnson. After next Tuesday landlords can be fired for unfairly threatening tenants with eviction. If you have a challenge you can come to city hall, meet with a legal expert, show evidence, and then it goes from there. Any convictions will be posted of the city of Wichita website for all to see. The council says there are already state laws protecting tenants but this is taking it one step further. “There are laws on the book that prohibit landlord retaliation. We’ve just never had a mechanism to actually enforce it so this is what this was,” said Mike Hoheisel, a city council member for district one. Both Johnson and Hoheisel say they’re excited to pass this ordinance and bring more protections to tenants in Wichita but this is just the beginning. “We have a lot more work that we need to do when it comes around evictions and these records,” said Johnson. He thinks when there’s a continuous problem happening in the city it’s up to the council to step up and help.
Source: KAKE – News

Green light: City Council approves ordinance updates needed for new downtown parking plan

A revamped approach to public parking in Wichita’s core has cleared a key step. The City Council on Tuesday approved a pair of ordinance updates necessary for the city to move forward with a long-discussed plan that will include increases to parking fees and meter technology updates in the downtown, Old Town and Delano areas. Local government and economic development officials have said modernizing public parking in the core is an important component for Wichita’s expected downtown growth spurred by a planned $300-million biomedical campus and other major projects. The Council approved the plan itself in March 2023. Among other components, it allows the city to collect parking revenue in new ways, including via smartphone app technology and credit and debit cards. Council member Bryan Frye, who voted in favor of the ordinance updates, said he’s seen other cities with updated parking technology and that it’s “about time” Wichita is doing the same. “As a frequent user of downtown parking, to get with the times and get modern equipment is sorely needed,” he said. “So I’m grateful for that.” Coins will remain a payment option. Handicap parking will not have meters.
Source: Wichita Business Journal

Municipal Bond Trends for January 2, 2024

‘Stars are aligning’ for a Kansas water conservation plan, Kelly says

Gov. Laura Kelly said she is planning to spend a significant amount of political capital on water during the upcoming legislative session. The aquifers under several western Kansas towns are depleted beyond the minimum threshold for aquifer density, meaning what remains couldn’t support things like center-pivot irrigation. Other areas are luckier, with an estimated 25 to 100 years of water use. Still, those areas need to change water use to be able to support agriculture long term. Kelly said since the water shortages reached crisis levels, there hasn’t been a politician in the unique position she’s in as a second-term governor who isn’t planning to run for higher office again.
Source: Hutch News

New guide documents historic structures in unincorporated areas of Douglas County — barns, farmsteads, cabins, outhouses and more

The guide is the product of a 12-year study by the county’s Heritage Conservation Council, and it documents around 2,400 historic resources in the unincorporated areas of the county. That includes the grain bin, buggy shed, stone fences and farmhouse on Coffman’s land — but also a diverse mix of other structures throughout the county, from a turn-of-the-century Victorian-style house in Marion Township to a potato barn in Grant Township to a cabin at Lone Star Lake. It’s all part of an effort to bring more attention to these old buildings, keep them in good condition and highlight structures that property owners might not have even known had historic value.
Source: LJWorld

Goessel Council honors long-time council member

The Goessel city council met on Dec. 12, a week earlier than usual, because of a school concert on the regular meeting date. This was the last meeting for long-time council member Dean Snelling. Mayor Evan Esau presented a plaque to Snelling and thanked him for his 10 years on the council. Esau talked about Snelling’s expertise and said, “We’re going to miss you.” No other current council members have been on the council as long as Snelling has been. He has served with the leadership of several different mayors. Turning their attention to another matter, the council welcomed new part-time police officer James Bowlin to the meeting. “I’m excited about being here,” he said, “excited to serve the community.” The council talked with him about a school presence and the need to have police in town at different times. Bowlin said he is willing to do that. He also works in Moundridge, 12-hour shifts. Bowlin is scheduled for a challenge exam in December and then can start his work at Goessel.
Source: Hillsboro Free Press

City approves continued reduced rates for licensed daycares

A continuation of the reduced electrical demand charge program for licensed daycare facilities was approved by the Garden City Commission at their regular meeting on Dec. 19. Mike Muirhead, Garden City Public Utilities Director, said the program was initially approved on Sept. 20, 2022 for licensed childcare facilities within the city that are on the Church and School rate, but the minutes of that meeting did not specify if the program was to be a one-year credit or if it would be an ongoing program and if it was, when the commission would reevaluate its continuance. The program works by reducing $1 from the total electric monthly demand charge for the number of authorized childcare positions per licensed facility, Muirhead said. For example, Little Leaders of GCK Early Learning Center is authorized by the state of Kansas to have 97 childcare positions, so, they receive a $97 credit for each month they were open in 2023. It’s a reduction off of that demand charge. Muirhead said he checked in with the state on Dec. 7 and there were some changes in the number of childcare centers in Garden City and the number of authorized childcare positions for each center this year. This year there were three new facilities, Muirhead said. Dreamz Child Care Center, which has 75 childcare positions; Garden Academy Early Learning Center, which has 97 childcare positions; and the Kansas Childrens Service League, which has 66 childcare positions.
Source: Garden City Telegram

Kansas Tops Nation in Economic Growth Over Fall 2023

Governor Laura Kelly today celebrated that, according to data released by the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), the Kansas economy grew by 9.7% in the 3rd quarter of 2023 — the fastest rate in the nation. This improves on an already impressive record of economic growth; in the 2nd quarter of 2023, Kansas’ economy grew at the second-fastest rate in the nation at 7.4%. “This data shows that our efforts to support businesses, create a stable economy, and grow our workforce are paying off,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “Now, Kansas is outstripping the entire nation in economic growth and attracting business investment. Last week, I announced Kansas surpassed $18 billion in business investment since I took office in 2019. It’s clear we have the momentum to continue this trajectory of economic success into 2024 and beyond.” The Kelly Administration’s work to support the agriculture, forestry, fishing, and hunting industries helped drive this economic growth. While those industries decreased nationally and in 33 other states, they were leading contributors to growth in Kansas. Kansas also ranked third in the nation for growth in personal income, with personal income growing at 4.9% over the 3rd quarter of 2023. Farming, which decreased nationally and in 41 other states, was the leading contributor to the increased earnings in Kansas. Kansas’ economic growth is measured by the change in its real gross domestic product (GDP), or the market value of goods and services produced in the state. The second quarter of 2023 included April through June; the third quarter included July through September.
Source: Kansas Department of Commerce

New Downton Pavilion Is In the Works For Fort Scott

The Fort Scott Downtown Pavilion is located between Old Fort Blvd. and Stanton Street on North National Avenue and construction is slated for completion in mid-January. A new 70-foot by 150-foot pavilion is in the works for downtown Fort Scott between Old Fort Blvd. and Stanton Street on North National Avenue. The Fort Scott Farmers Market Pavilion, or Fort Scott Downtown Pavilion is part of many additions in “The Gathering Square” in Fort Scott’s vibrant downtown district, according to Fort Scott Mayor Matthew Wells. ‘The farmers market pavilion would aim to be a dynamic community hub,” according to a press release from Wells. “This outdoor pavilion stands in the original location of the first farmer’s market in the community’s history and champions access to fresh produce by hosting the Farmers Market every Tuesday and Saturday from May to October. Beyond the market, the pavilion transforms into a cultural stage.” “The current plan is to make it available to rent, like Riverfront Park, or the (Gunn Park) shelter houses,” Wells said. “The city has first right-of-refusal on any use other than the set times guaranteed to the farmers market.” This gathering space offers Bourbon County’s farmers a direct link to the community, fostering healthier lifestyles with the offering of fresh produce and enhancing local commerce, he said. The pavilion is constructed with sustainability and adaptability in mind, and the design aligns with the International Building Code of 2015, according to the press release. The pavilion committee also envisions music, theater, and community gatherings coming alive in the space. It is adjacent to the newly constructed splash pad and sensory park that was constructed last summer. Also on the horizon is a much-needed public restroom near the site.
Source: Fort Scott Biz

E-scooters to cease operations in Manhattan after company announces U.S. shutdown

E-scooters will no longer be a mode of transportation in Manhattan in the new year. City officials announced this week that effective Sunday, the LINK/Superpedestrian e-scooters will no longer be available throughout the community or on the Kansas State University campus. The company that oversees those e-scooters, Superpedestrian, will cease operations after the new year, due to financial challenges as reported by Tech Crunch earlier this month. E-scooters were introduced in Manhattan in August 2020 after the city contracted with Superpedestrian (formerly LINK) for a pilot program, deploying about 150 scooters into the city, at the request of Kansas State University. That fleet of scooters eventually expanded to 450. Since that time, officials say more than 412,000 trips have been taken throughout the community. City and university officials are planning to discuss other opportunities in 2024 to bring e-scooters back to the community.
Source: 1350 KMAN

One of the two water tanks complete in Newton

The City of Newton recently announced the completion of its First Street water tank. The city has been working since 2016 to replace a 3.1 million gallon water tank located nearby with two concrete 1.9 million gallon tanks. In 2021, the city purchased property to build the new tanks on from BNSF, due to the closeness of the location to existing infrastructure that serves the old tank. The project began in May of 2022 and then was put on hold for 10 months by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment due to new pollution being discovered on the property. Over that time period, costs of the project increased, and the city estimated it would pay $1.57 million extra to complete the project when it discussed the issue in May. The total estimate of the project was $8.3 million. The city took work back up and in a recent release reported the first tank to be ready for the chlorination process to begin in January. In the coming months, work will begin on demolishing the old water tank as well as installing the second water tank. The exterior of the old water tank has turned a mostly green, black color due to the City choosing not to clean or repaint it since it was slated for demolition.
Source: Harvey County Now

Hillsboro moves forward with housing plans

Housing was once again the main topic of discussion at Tuesday’s Hillsboro City Council meeting. In a follow-up from the Dec. 6 meeting, the group voted and agreed to transfer six acres of land to Mennonite Housing for a workforce housing project. Mennonite Housing will be applying for tax credits to pay for a 24-unit project that will be located near Dollar General and Carquest. The plan is for the housing to be made up of 12 Duplex buildings and would include a clubhouse maintenance garage. Duplexes would be two and three-bedroom units—each with a garage unit to fit within the requirements of the program. The units will be constructed in an energy-efficient manner and include a range, refrigerator, space saver microwave, dishwasher and washer/dryer. The furnace and tankless water heater will be gas. The air conditioner and appliances will be electric. Residents will be responsible for all utilities except trash. The clubhouse will have a manager’s office, community room, kitchen, restrooms, computer room and a covered rear patio. Free WIFI will be available in the clubhouse. Outdoor amenities include a playground and basketball court. The requirement for applicants to be able to be residents and live in the tax credit property is that their gross household income needs to be below 80% of area medium income (AMI). The annual gross household income amounts would be based on the number of people that are in the household. A limited number of units are available at lower monthly rent amounts for households with annual gross household income below 30% or 50% of AMI. There are also a limited number of units available for households with annual gross household income between 60% and 80% of AMI.
Source: Hillsboro Free Press

UG approves new funding source for affordable housing, childcare

Wyandotte County leaders will start 2024 with a new plan for funding community programs. Earlier this month, the Unified Government of Wyandotte County/Kansas City, Kansas, approved an ordinance creating a Community Benefits Fund. Beginning in January, half of all administrative and issuance fees paid by developers receiving tax incentives through tools like industrial revenue bonds (IRBs) or tax increment financing (TIF) will be placed into the fund and used for community programs. The fund aims to leverage fees from developments in the western part of the county to support historically underserved or underdeveloped portions of the county. Funds will support the senior home repair program, affordable housing trust fund and licensed childcare programs. The Mayor’s Business and Economic Development Taskforce, which is chaired by former Fourth District Commissioner Harold Johnson, spurred the idea. “The Community Benefits Ordinance makes good on the promise made decades ago that development on the west side of Kansas City, Kansas, would be leveraged in order to improve all areas of KCK, specifically east of I-635,” Johnson said in a news release. In the coming weeks, Mayor Tyrone Garner and UG commissioners will work to appoint 11 people to a the Community Benefits Advisory Board, which will make recommendations to the UG for the use of the funds. The advisory board will be comprised exclusively of county residents and business owners in the county.
Source: Kansas City Business Journal

Overland Park development defaults on bonds meant to help attract commerce to Kansas

The Prairiefire development has defaulted on close to $65 million in outstanding bond debt, further substantiating concerns among Kansas lawmakers that the Overland Park project hasn’t generated enough sales to make payments in a timely manner. Bondholders recently were notified that Prairiefire missed the Dec. 15 maturity date for $14.9 million in sales tax revenue (STAR) bonds, the balance of a $15 million tranche. That tranche was the first of three Overland Park issued in 2012, totaling $65 million, to build the 56-acre retail and entertainment complex south of 135th Street, between Lamar and Nall avenues. STAR bonds are a state program designed to attract more tourism and revenue to Kansas by helping municipalities finance commercial, entertainment and tourism projects. Trustee UMB Bank had not received sufficient funds to make $14.9 million in principal and $1.75 million in interest payments due for Prairiefire’s STAR bonds as of a Dec. 18 event notice. The bank said it had transferred the $3.8 million balance of the bonds’ reserve fund to help cover debt service. “The Trustee is currently evaluating certain provisions of the Indenture which provide conflicting guidance on how to apply funds in this scenario,” UMB Bank wrote in the notice. “The Trustee will provide additional updates to Bondowners as they become available.”
Source: Kansas City Business Journal

Olathe reworks requirements for developers to get tax incentives

Olathe is changing how developers can get tax incentives. Earlier in December, the Olathe City Council approved amendments to multiple economic incentive policies, updating the requirements for the use of tax abatements, Community Improvement Districts (CID), Tax Increment Financing (TIF) and the issuance of Industrial Revenue Bonds (IRB). The changes bar incentives for delinquent taxpayers and prevent tax breaks for developers threatening legal action against the city. Beginning Monday, incentives typically granted through a CID, TIF or the creation of a benefit district will not be approved if the developer has a financial interest in an existing development with delinquent taxes within the city. Applicants seeking incentives for new development will be required to certify, under oath, that they are not financially tied to a property with delinquent taxes and have no federal or state tax liens in Kansas. The City Council will no longer consider applications for the creation of CID or TIF districts if the developer, company principals or any affiliates are engaged in or have threatened legal action against the city.
Source: Kansas City Business Journal

Call it ‘Swiftonomics’: How Taylor Swift brought a gold rush to Kansas City

2023 was a big year for Kansas City. The Chiefs beat the Philadelphia Eagles in the Super Bowl in February. Taylor Swift’s two-night Eras Tour performance in July included an additional song in her set and a new music video debut to accompany her release of “Speak Now (Taylor’s Version).” The city went all out for her stop, creating a lineup of Swift-themed events. But perhaps the most unexpected high for the city was when Swift showed up at a Chiefs game in September, making her relationship with Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce public. Swelce — or Traylor, or Tayvis — brought renewed worldwide attention to Kansas City. Mayor Quinton Lucas says Swift’s given Kansas City a big reputation — one that doesn’t have anything to do with the Wizard of Oz. With this relationship, he says Kansas City is in its superstar era. “I happened to be in Paris this year for the Rugby World Cup. There was a woman from the Foreign Service in New Zealand who said, ‘Oh my gosh, you’re from Kansas City,’” Lucas said. “She’s like ‘Taylor Swift, right? And she’s dating some not-very-famous footballer.’ Like, actually, he’s kind of a big deal for us.” VisitKC says the city made about $200 million just from Swift’s eras tour this summer. After her relationship with Kelce went public, StubHub reported that ticket sales for all Chiefs home games tripled for the rest of the season. Derek Byrne, a spokesperson for VisitKC, says it’s opened a lot of doors for the city to promote itself. “Even if Taylor Swift’s name isn’t in some of the work we’re doing, it is still giving people a reason to think of us a little more seriously,” Byrne said. According to an analysis by Google Trends, searches asking, “Where is Kansas City?” more than doubled in the U.S. over the past three months and search interest in local restaurants skyrockets each time the couple visits one. Even searches for flights based on the pair’s travel patterns out of Kansas City, are rising.
Source: KCUR News

Researchers are finding high levels of fertilizer in drinking water from rural Kansas wells

Salina Fire Department has a new alerting system

The Salina Fire Department announced on Wednesday that they have implemented a new fire station alerting system. According to the SFD, the Phoenix G2 Fire Station Alerting System by USDD Honeywell offers the latest standards and technologies in emergency response. The new system features “heart-healthy ramping tones, lights, message boards, and color-indicating lights that provide a comprehensive alerting system for the firefighters.” The SFD says that this system will enhance efficiency and safety for both the SFD and Saline County Rural Fire Districts serving Salina and Saline County residents. “The automation of the alerting process allows dispatch to stay on the line with 911 callers, collecting crucial information or providing instructions while crews are dispatched,” said the SFD in a Facebook post. “It’s important for people to understand that while technology, such as the Fire Station Alerting system, plays a role in dispatching emergency services, there are still real people involved in the initial stages of receiving and assessing emergency calls. The combination of human expertise and technology helps ensure a prompt and effective response to emergencies. The change in tones and the automated voice for dispatching units is a noticeable change to those with scanners.” According to SFD, they are the first fire department in the state to be using this system.
Source: KSN-TV

Marching on: City band director plays in Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

Jenna Morris, a music teacher at Southern Coffey County and director of the Iola Municipal Band, took part in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade this year. The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is a spectacle enjoyed by millions every year, but for Jenna Morris, a local musician and music educator, it became a dream come true as she recently took part in the parade with the Band Directors Marching Band. Morris, a music teacher for the Southern Coffey County school district in Le Roy, had the opportunity of a lifetime to join the group of band directors and music educators from across North America. The band, organized by Saluting America’s Band Directors, paraded through the streets of New York City with an impressive 400 members during the annual parade. Morris shared, “I applied through Saluting America’s Band Directors, submitting a resume and answering questions on my philosophy of musical education and experiences. It’s an incredible opportunity, and I was grateful to be a part of it.” With more than 900 applicants, Morris was one of the talented 400 selected. A graduate of Pittsburg State University in December 2021, Morris has been immersed in the world of music since sixth grade. Her journey led her to the bassoon, an instrument with unique scholarship opportunities. In the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, however, she played the sousaphone. Her favorite part of the Macy’s Parade experience? “The energy and the sheer scale of the event were incredible. Being at the end of a row, seeing people everywhere – the energy was so cool.” Morris shared, “We had four main practicing sessions, mostly marching rehearsals at Weehawken Riverfront Park in New Jersey. The scale of the balloons and the whole experience were something you can’t fully grasp until you’re there.”
Source: The Iola Register

Wichita arts groups generated more than $184 million in economic activity last year

A national arts group found Wichita’s nonprofit arts organizations are leaving a large economic footprint. Americans for the Arts conducted an Arts and Economic Prosperity Study to gauge the economic impact of the arts in Wichita and in more than 370 regions. In 2022, the arts generated more than $184 million in economic activity in Wichita, the report said. “There’s so much more money out there being generated,” said Lindsay Benacka, director of the Division of Arts and Cultural Services for the city of Wichita. “We’re just looking at this slice of nonprofit as a general admission.” Nonprofit arts organizations in Wichita support slightly less than 3,000 jobs, spend about $78 million and generate more than $106 million in audience revenue, according to the study that was released in the fall. Wichita’s tax revenue from the arts was about $4 million. The numbers top both Topeka and Johnson County. Topeka, whose nonprofit arts organizations spent $25 million last year, brought in $20 million in audience revenue. Johnson County’s arts organizations spent $15 million in 2022 and brought in $23 million in audience spending. Nonprofit arts organizations in Topeka generated 1,000 jobs and a little more than $1 million in tax revenue, while Johnson County’s arts organizations generated a little less than 700 jobs and about $900,000 in local, state and federal revenue. The study included about 70 Wichita public and nonprofit organizations. The list did not include music venues, comedy clubs, melodrama/dinner theaters or commercial art galleries.
Source: Wichita Business Journal

A Sedgwick County firefighter’s invention helps those in his profession

Firefighter Nathan Helten was tired of having wet gloves when heading out to a fire. He knew there had to be a solution, but he couldn’t find any — so he invented one. After more than a year in the preliminary stages, Helten took his startup to market. With the advice of fellow Sedgwick County firefighters and the Intellectual Property and Technology Transfer at Wichita State University, the Handy Hook became a reality. “I knew there had to be a better way,” said Helten, who has worked as a firefighter for more than a decade. “I’ve always had that mentality.” Helten was in the middle of building a house in Garden Plain when the idea came to him. The Handy Hook not only keeps firefighter’s gloves dry between events, it helps them get ready for fires more quickly, Helten said. By allowing gloves to hang outside of the uniform instead of squashing wet gloves into pants pockets, they dry faster. In addition, Helten said, the clip minimizes glove-up time, helping to get the uniform on quicker with the hook. “I thought of an idea of being able to take your glove off by sticking something narrow down into a glove and pulling it off. So Christmas break, four years ago, I built this wicked little chunk of metal that I bolted to the side of my pants — I literally bolted it,” Helten said. From that U-shaped contraption, he continued to adapt the model, changing it more than 150 times. Finally, Helten realized he had discovered the ideal mechanism. That’s when he realized he needed help. A little more than a year ago, Helton visited the Tech Transfer and Commercialization department at Wichita State University and asked for advise on his new product.
Source: Wichita Business Journal

Augusta airport looks to bring in larger aircraft with runway repairs

After more than a decade in the works, the Augusta Municipal Airport is getting ready to repave its runway. Because of disrepair and large bumps on the pavement, the runway will be fully shut down from Jan. 8 until mid-February, and then again in late March through October. As the airport has one runway, airplanes will not be able to take off or land during construction, which is an approximately $11-million effort. “The runway is in poor condition,” said Ray Self, Augusta Municipal Airport manager. “It has pretty decent-sized cracks. It’s pretty rough when you land on it.” Along with being narrower and shorter than many runways, the Augusta Airport, a taxpayer-funded public location, has a large hump in the middle of the runway, creating a line-of-sight problem. “So if you’re on one end of the runway, you cannot see the other end of the runway, which is pretty important if there’s an aircraft on the other end,” Self said. Because the airport is shifting the runway south by about 500 feet, the area will need extra work. The airport will close for preliminary dirt work on Jan. 8 and reopen at 8 a.m. Feb. 19. The final closure for repair work will begin at the end of March or early April and last through the first or second week of October, Self said. The Federal Aviation Administration is funding most of the $11-million project, but the other 10%, around $1 million, will require local funding. Because the runway is both shorter and slimmer than current standards, it will increase both its length and width, moving from 4,200 feet to 4,500 feet and widening from 60 feet to 75 feet, meeting current FAA standards. The increase in size will not only help smaller aircraft, but it will allow larger planes to utilize the Wichita-area airport.
Source: Wichita Business Journal

Municipal Bond Trends for December 28, 2023

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Burrton getting multiple housing starts

Burrton residents can expect new neighbors in the coming years after the city has three housing starts this year. According to City Clerk Kim Ryan, in previous years the city had about one housing start a year. Beth Anne Kingsley, a real estate agent for the Burrton area, said she expected at least three more housing starts next year, as well. “I thought that was a pretty cool thing,” Kingsley said. The population of Burrton has declined steadily since 2000. According to the national census, between 2010 and 2020, the population decreased by 4.4 percent. In other parts of the county, Hesston and Newton’s populations have also decreased since 2010, but Halstead’s population has increased by 4.5 percent. Kingsley said she talked with JCL Construction to build one of the homes and said the company has plans for two more housing starts next year. The current house they’re working on already had a basement, and the owner agreed to let them build on it. “The gentleman that owns that also owns Stinger and is very active in the Burrton community,” Kingsley said. “[He] wanted to see new houses, so he made it easy for my builder.” In addition to the houses JCL Construction will work on, the free lots Burrton offers got some attention this year. Burrton has offered several free lots in the past for housing starts, but they’ve had little interest until now. Ryan said no one had taken advantage of the lots before now. Kingsley said one of the lots is now spoken for and will start moving forward soon.
Source: Harvey County Now