Municipal News & Jobs

On May 21st, Grow Clay County announced they received a $500,000 Goldstein Foundation Challenge Grant to support the building and expansion of the Clay Center Multi-Generational Life Center. Natalie Muruato, Grow Clay County Director, said they hope to start construction on the Life Center around August 1st. This generous Grant could greatly help in building the best facility possible for the community. The caveat to this Challenge Grant is that it is a matching challenge grant. With this, community support is needed more than ever to take full advantage of this opportunity by the anticipated construction date. Muruato said they will continue to fundraise.
Source: KCLY Radio

Wichita city officials have directed contractors to stop testing the water at the new $574 million Wichita Water Works treatment plant amid what they called “performance mechanical issues.” The water plant is more than six months behind schedule and tens of millions of dollars over budget. TOP VIDEOS The video player is currently playing an ad. You can skip the ad in 5 sec with a mouse or keyboard The latest issues were discovered in the plant’s clarifiers — large tanks where unfinished water is churned and allowed to settle to separate solids and contaminants from the water before it is treated further. They are an essential part of the water treatment process needed to make sure the water is safe to drink.
Source: Wichita Kansas Local News, Crime & More |

The City of Lawrence is asking the community for feedback on plans to implement memberships and fees to use recreational facilities. The Parks, Recreation and Culture department is proposing the fees as a way to offset its $1.8 million portion of the city’s projected budget shortfall of more than $6 million. The department has considered similar plans in recent years but did not move forward after community pushback. This year, however, the Lawrence City Commission has voiced some support for rec center fees early in the budget process.
Source: The Lawrence Times

The city of Wichita is looking at how to reduce a projected budget deficit, including eliminating animal control services, reducing firefighter positions and eliminating a municipal courtroom. The city is projecting it will see a $2 million deficit in 2026, and a $5.5 million deficit in 2027.
Source: Wichita Kansas Local News, Crime & More |

Overbrook City Clerk Jim Koger has announced his retirement, and everyone is invited to help him celebrate his years of service to the city. Overbrook City Hall will host an open house for Jim, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Friday, May 23, 2025. Everyone is invited to stop in congratulate Jim and his family.
Source: Osage County Online | Osage County News

Over the years, a special state incentive created to entice people to move to rural Kansas has been continually expanded. The incentive – a combination of income tax breaks and student loan repayments  – was created in 2011 by the Legislature at the behest of former Gov. Sam Brownback. At the time, it only applied to 50 counties with populations that had fallen by at least 10% over the previous decade. In 2013 and 2014, the Legislature designated 27 more counties as rural opportunity zones. Then, in 2021, the Legislature made any county with a population of less than 40,000 a rural opportunity zone, making 95 out of the state’s 105 counties eligible for the incentive.
Source: Sunflower State Journal

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced the allocation of $267 million in Brownfields Grants across the United States, with nearly $4 million specifically designated for communities in Kansas. This funding aims to transform contaminated properties into productive spaces, fostering economic growth and improving public health. “The $267 million in Brownfield Grants will transform contaminated properties into valuable spaces for businesses and housing, creating new opportunities that strengthen local economies and directly benefit American families,” stated EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin.
Source: The Sunflower State Radio Network

Governor Laura Kelly announced Thursday $14.5 million for 47 aviation projects across the state through the Kansas Airport Improvement Program (KAIP), which provides funding for planning, construction, and rehabilitation of public-use general aviation airports. “The Kansas aerospace industry is an essential part of our state’s economy,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “Keeping our aviation infrastructure in optimal condition is a large part of that economic growth and job creation, allowing local businesses and communities to prosper.”
Source: Butler County Times-Gazette

‘Far from over’: Kansas schools still see COVID’s effects on learning and behavior. Susie Kelley, a fifth grade teacher at Harry Street Elementary School in Wichita, leads her class in a “Mindfulness Minute” breathing exercise. Educators say they are still seeing the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on students, both academically and socially.
Source: Dodge City Daily Globe

Thankfully, the rains sprang down during the recent bout of monsoon season, or things could have become dicey for the City of Newton. Newton was about to be in a water emergency, as the groundwater levels had fallen to nearly 10 feet below normal seasonal level. Director of Public Works Ed Bonham said the recent rains had pushed the levels up a foot, but they need to keep an eye out.
Source: Harvey County Now

The Halstead City Council approved a new round of grant applications totaling $20,000 at the most recent city council meeting. The city provides grants to new and existing businesses in the downtown area who are looking to repair or update their businesses. There were two applicants for this round of applications: Making Memories China Rental and Metal Transformations.
Source: Harvey County Now

Job-seekers interested in public service careers can connect directly with City of Wichita departments during an upcoming career fair on Tuesday, June 3. The event runs from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Advanced Learning Library, 711 W. 2nd St. Attendees will have the opportunity to meet representatives from various departments, including CityArts, Fire, IT, Law, Police, and others.
Source: KSN-TV

Facing a need for more school bus drivers, Haysville Public Schools is hosting a two-day recruitment event this week to help fill key transportation roles for the upcoming school year. The event, titled “Be the Next Driver” will be held in the east parking lot of Campus High School, 2100 W. 55th Street S., on Wednesday, May 28, from 8 a.m. to noon and Thursday, May 29, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Source: KSN-TV

Arkansas City is rolling out new welcome signs. A ribbon cutting on June 5 will celebrate the completion of four new “Welcome to Arkansas City” signs—each featuring the city’s new logo, a design rooted in local history, water, and community pride. The ceremony will begin at 10 a.m. at the south entrance off U.S. Highway 77 on 61st Road, where the first sign was installed. Additional signs have been placed at the city’s north and east approaches, with the new branding also featured on the West Madison Bridge.
Source: KSN-TV

The recent rain in Kansas has helped Cheney Lake rise and gain half a foot of water. According to the latest data from the National Water Prediction Service, that lake is at 1,414.25 feet as of 7 a.m. Tuesday. At the beginning of the month, the lake was at 1413.7 feet. The lake is still measuring at 7.35 feet below normal. Jansen Roberson, a Cheney State Park ranger, said attendance was down this Memorial Day weekend due to weather and lake levels.
Source: KSN-TV

While some Kansas cities like Grinnell and Plevna are recovering from recent devastating tornadoes, others are reflecting. The Udall Historical Museum held a remembrance event for the 70th anniversary of the tornado that nearly leveled the town. On May 25, 1955, Udall was blindsided by a tornado, taking over 80 lives. The newest addition to the museum is a room dedicated to reconstructing the destruction.
Source: KSN-TV

Wichita teachers, support staff, and school security workers will see pay raises next school year under new agreements reached with the Wichita Board of Education. The deals, which cover the 2025-2026 school year, include a 3% pay increase for teachers, classified staff (such as custodians, food service workers, and paraprofessionals), and safety personnel. Security workers will also receive an extra 1% “catch-up” raise. Health insurance coverage and premiums will remain unchanged across all employee groups.
Source: KSN-TV

Wichita’s skyline is about to get an addition with the lighting of the Century II spire. It has been nearly 10 years since the last time the community saw it with lights. The lighting will happen on Sunday, June 1, during the Riverfest’s “I Choose Wichita” evening events. “Lighting the Century II spire after nearly a decade is a powerful symbol of unity and celebration,”; BreAnna Monk, Wichita Festivals president and CEO, said in a news release. “It’s an honor to mark the moment at Family Movie Night — a bright reminder of Wichita’s spirit.”
Source: KSN-TV

The Topeka Lodging Association is sounding the alarm on tourism in the capital city. They say a big part of that is due to Hotel Topeka and the closure of Heartland Park Racetrack. Topeka’s tourism taxes is $50,000 off track for 2025, 15% less than expected. They say most of the shortfall comes from Hotel Topeka, which the city purchased next to the Stormont Vail Event Center.
Source: KSNT 27 News

As the Memorial Day weekend approaches, the city of Winfield has launched a new online interactive cemetery map that officials call “a powerful tool designed to provide residents, genealogists, and visitors with easy access to burial information from the comfort of their homes.” The digital map is now live and available to the public through the City’s website. Users can search for loved ones, locate burial plots, and view cemetery layouts with enhanced clarity and convenience.
Source: Local – Cowley Post