Kansas Municipal News
Pittsburg balances business losses with promising growth
Some Pittsburg businesses have closed in the past few months, but community leaders still have high hopes for the area’s growth. “Any time you have a business that closes in your community, that’s not a good thing,” said Blake Benson, Pittsburg Area Chamber of Commerce President. For example, the 87-year-old diner Harry’s Cafe announced a temporary closure, while Bling Pittsburg in the Meadowbrook Mall permanently closed last month. But despite those vacancies, Benson says the community continues to show business growth.
Source: KSNF/KODE
City eyes structural rehab program to bolster housing stock
Manhattan homeowners may soon have the opportunity to receive financial assistance to fix up their houses. City commissioners on Tuesday supported a housing rehabilitation program that would reimburse local nonprofits for performing structural repairs on qualifying homes to build up and maintain Manhattan’s workforce housing stock.
Source: themercury.com
Pott County mulls changes to dust control program
Dust from gravel roads can not only be a nuisance for those living along them, but can also be a safety concern for those traveling on them. Pottawatomie County started the Dust Control Program in the early 90s to make county roads safer, and over the years it has evolved. Each year the county commission reviews the program, and this year county staff is recommending eliminating the option.
Source: themercury.com
Lawrence school board president foreshadows potential public comment pause
Lawrence school board President Kelly Jones floated the idea of pausing public comment after a confrontational exchange between the board and a frequent Lawrence public commenter on Monday. Board members told the commenter he was violating their public comment policy’s decorum rule, which he protested. The situation Monday lasted around 25 minutes, during which the board took two recesses.
Source: The Lawrence Times
Municipal Bond Trends for February 13, 2025
The interest rate table above illustrates recent changes in a sample of AA rated bond trades reported to the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board’s EMMA® system. Every issuer’s credit is different, and other financing sources may be available. To obtain comprehensive Financial Advisory services for your local government, contact your Ranson Financial Municipal Advisor, Larry Kleeman, or Henry Schmidt.
Municipal Bond Trends for February 12, 2025
The interest rate table above illustrates recent changes in a sample of AA rated bond trades reported to the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board’s EMMA® system. Every issuer’s credit is different, and other financing sources may be available. To obtain comprehensive Financial Advisory services for your local government, contact your Ranson Financial Municipal Advisor, Larry Kleeman, or Henry Schmidt.
City leaders to look at ways to make back money spent on Hotel Topeka
City leaders are looking at ways to make back all the money that they’ve put into Hotel Topeka. While nothing has been brought to the governing body yet, it was talked about Tuesday night at a board of directors meeting. Topeka leaders are discussing implementing a community improvement district for the hotel. If it’s approved by the city council down the road, a small amount of every dollar spent at the hotel will go back in the city’s pocket, even after a buyer is found for the hotel. This would include purchases of food, beverages and hotel rooms.
Source: KSNT 27 News
After city ignored petition about property taxes, Topekan makes his case in court
McIntosh argues the city should have taken some kind of action. Since Topeka didn’t, McIntosh is asking the court to intervene and force Topeka to either adopt the city ordinance requiring public vote for tax raises above revenue neutral or the court can require the city to have a public vote about the ordinance.
Source: CJonline
Municipal Bond Trends for February 11, 2025
The interest rate table above illustrates recent changes in a sample of AA rated bond trades reported to the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board’s EMMA® system. Every issuer’s credit is different, and other financing sources may be available. To obtain comprehensive Financial Advisory services for your local government, contact your Ranson Financial Municipal Advisor, Larry Kleeman, or Henry Schmidt.
Municipal Bond Trends for February 10, 2025
The interest rate table above illustrates recent changes in a sample of AA rated bond trades reported to the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board’s EMMA® system. Every issuer’s credit is different, and other financing sources may be available. To obtain comprehensive Financial Advisory services for your local government, contact your Ranson Financial Municipal Advisor, Larry Kleeman, or Henry Schmidt.
County commission approves property tax relief policy
The Cowley County Commission approved a change to property tax procedures at their Tuesday meeting, which allows property owners to request a waiver from paying taxes if their property is destroyed during the tax assessment period. Property tax valuations are set on Jan. 1 every year, so “if your house burned down Jan. 5, you would be charged for the whole year” under the previous policy, said Cowley County Clerk Karen Madison, who presented the resolution to the commission.
Source: Cowley CourierTraveler
County-wide housing study announced
The City of Arkansas City, the City of Winfield and the Cowley County Economic Development Partnership announced a new collaborative effort Friday to update the Cowley County Housing Study, last completed by Hanna:Keelan Associates of Lincoln, Neb. in 2014. The updated study will provide essential insights to guide future housing development throughout Cowley County. The Comprehensive Housing Study will help create a strategic framework for future housing development that meets the needs of residents across all income sectors. The updated plan is set to be completed by April 1.
Source: Cowley CourierTraveler
Valley Center rec ready for opening
The Valley Center Recreation Commission is preparing for the opening of a new recreation and aquatic center. The facility, located at 1050 N. Meridian in Valley Center, is set to open on Feb. 22, and there will be a ribbon-cutting ceremony to commemorate the milestone. The grand opening will include tours from 9 to 11 a.m., with the ribbon cutting at 11 a.m., which will officially open the facility.
Source: Derby Informer | Area
City looking to launch housing repair assistance program
At Tuesday’s work session, Manhattan city commissioners will discuss a housing rehabilitation and repair assistance program. Commissioners in October expressed interest in funding a housing rehabilitation program with the workforce housing sales tax, according to city government documents.
Source: 1350 KMAN
Edgerton to unveil community center, town’s first new downtown building in 100+ years
The first new brick building in over 100 years in downtown Edgerton will open Saturday, Feb. 22. Located at 404 E. Nelson St., The Greenspace is an approximately 13,000-square-foot community center that will open a year and a half after the city first broke ground in August 2023.
Source: Johnson County Post
City of Wichita set to pay $250,000 to settle case where driver was injured amid police pursuit
The City of Wichita is poised to pay $250,000 to a motorist who was hit and injured on Dec. 1, 2020, by a man fleeing police in a stolen vehicle. Wichita City Council will vote on the settlement Tuesday. Kelly L. Sandwell, who was 64 when the wreck occurred, was taken to the hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries from the wreck, police previously said. The suspect who was fleeing police, Donald Tucker Jr., 36, of Chanute, was thrown from the vehicle and died after he clipped the 2014 Toyota Corolla Sandwell was driving.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
Public comments return to Johnson County commission’s online livestream
Public comments at the beginning of Johnson County commission meetings are once again being streamed live along with the meeting. The policy reverses a decision made two years ago by county Chair Mike Kelly, which was later approved by the commission. The decision not to stream public comments became a flashpoint, particularly for conservatives who have made a habit in recent years of showing up to opine on everything from the county’s COVID-19 response to the 2020 election.
Source: Prairie Village Post
Municipal Bond Trends for February 7, 2025
The interest rate table above illustrates recent changes in a sample of AA rated bond trades reported to the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board’s EMMA® system. Every issuer’s credit is different, and other financing sources may be available. To obtain comprehensive Financial Advisory services for your local government, contact your Ranson Financial Municipal Advisor, Larry Kleeman, or Henry Schmidt.
AG Opinion 2025-4: County attorney serving as county counselor
When a county has established the position of county counselor and there is a temporary vacancy in that position, a county attorney is not prohibited from receiving a fee in addition to the county attorney’s salary for performing the duties of the county counselor on an interim basis.
Source: Kansas Attorney General Opinions
AG Opinion 2025-3: Incompatibility of office
The common law doctrine of incompatibility of office precludes a person from concurrently holding the positions of a county hospital board member and a physician in the same hospital.
Source: Kansas Attorney General Opinions