Municipal News & Jobs

Kansas Municipal News

El Dorado announces Assistant City Manager

The City of El Dorado announced the promotion of Tabitha Sharp to Assistant City Manager in November. Sharp has worked for the City of El Dorado since 2009 when she took the position of Intern to the City Manager. She was promoted to City Clerk in April of 2010. Since then, she has fulfilled not only the clerk functions, but also oversaw the Human Resources, Payroll, Tourism and Public Information departments. In 2022, she was promoted to Administration Director for the City. After advertising the new position of Assistant City Manager and doing interviews, Sharp was selected as the best candidate for this position. “Tabitha has demonstrated increasing responsibility within the organization, especially over the last few years while she served as City Clerk and most recently as the Administration Director,” said City Manager David Dillner. Sharp will take on more management responsibilities to assist the City Manager with general oversight of the municipal organization. Her position will continue to oversee Experience El Dorado, Human Resources, Finance, and Public Information functions, although several of the responsibilities currently assigned to her are anticipated to be delegated as a way of providing employees with increasing opportunities. In her new role, Sharp will also have the duties and responsibilities of Finance Director. She will assist the City Manager in overseeing and managing strategic initiatives and will have an increasing role in special projects and assignments. She will also serve in the absence of the City Manager when he is away from the office for an extended period. “I look forward to seeing where this new role for Tabitha will take the city in the future,” Dillner said. “She has a lot of offer the City of El Dorado and this new role will help utilize all of her talents and experience.”
Source: Andover American

Wichita Public Library holds vote for new library card design

The Wichita Public Library would like people to vote on a new design for their library cards. There are three categories, kid, teen and adult, with three designs to choose from in each. The categories break down into kid, teen and adult. The most popular card in each category will be the winner which will be announced in January. Once the winners have been announced, current customers will be able to trade in their old library card for one of the new designs for $2. To vote on which designs you would like the new cards to be, click the link in the source story.
Source: KAKE – News

Shop with a Wichita Cop brings smiles to two little girls who lost their father last year

Tuesday it was time for kids to do a little early Christmas shopping with some folks in blue. Also known as ‘Shop with a Cop.’ We went along as the kids got the chance to make their holiday dreams come true. Jaxyn and her sister Willa got a big treat shopping with a Wichita Police Officer and picking out anything they wanted for a grand total of $100 each. This is the second year the Wichita Police Department had teamed up with Walmart for Shop with a Cop. Children are identified through WPD Random Acts of Kindness submissions. Jaxyn, her sister Willa, and their mom have been trying to deal with a big loss in their family. “We lost my husband last year. So there’s been a lot of changes in our lives and I didn’t realize there were programs out here like this. A lot of changes from a two-parent household to just one. And I am the only one bringing in any money. They don’t typically get pick out for things themselves. Typically we have to budget pretty strictly,” said Jordan Minnis-Forck. Minnis-Forck says she couldn’t believe it when she found out her daughters were picked. “When I got the call to be part of it, honestly I cried for a good while,” said Minnis-Forck. So what did Jaxyn get? “I got a backpack that’s like, makeup in it. And I have a little school set and a little dress. And I have a little doll,” said Jaxyn Forck. A happy night for Jaxyn and more than a dozen other kids like her.
Source: KAKE – News

Potential sites for Sedgwick County psychiatric hospital have been reduced to four

The state of Kansas is about to make big changes to its mental healthcare system, with a new psychiatric hospital located in Sedgwick County. “We see the mental health crisis that’s occurring, we see the homeless crisis that’s occurring, we see it in our front yard, we see it out our back door,” says Historic Midtown Society President Makayla Welch. “So we had a vested interest in where they were planning on putting this hospital that is desperately needed.” Scott Brunner with the state’s Department of Aging and Disability Services unveiled the possible locations at a public meeting in Wichita on Tuesday. “We want to be sure that we provide information about what the project looks like, who the patients are going to be, how people get there, the project funding and the county and state involvement just so they have a good picture of the project,” Brunner said. “So they can make a judgment about those locations.” Of the four locations, the one located on Central and McLean in Wichita, would be the only one utilizing an existing building. Brunner said that there are benefits to both building a new facility, and using the former Riverside Hospital. “If you build the new building, we can corporate newer technology designed factors around natural light and open spaces, good sight lines for our nurses and clinical staff to be able to be safe and, and patients be safe as well in the environment,” Brunner said. “If you go into an existing building, or where there’s already a structure and walls, you’ve got to start figuring out how those things all fit together. And it does make some accommodations about sightlines and number of patients per wings and units.” Welch said that she’s happy this issue of mental health in Wichita is finally being addressed.
Source: KAKE – News

Garden City to break ground on new Fire/EMS station

A new station for the Garden City Fire Department and emergency services is coming soon. Garden City will be breaking ground on the new fire station on Dec. 19. It will be at East Schulman Avenue and North Jennie Barker Road. “This significant event marks a milestone in our community’s commitment to public safety and emergency services,” The Garden City Fire Department said in a news release. When finished, the station will be able to house up to 10 firefighters and six EMS personnel. GCFD said it will serve as a vital hub strategically positioned to respond swiftly to emergencies, ensuring residents’ safety and property protection.
Source: KSN-TV

Wichita to begin anti-violence program

Wichita City Council members have voted to approve an agreement with three agencies to begin the implementation of a violence prevention program in two areas of the city. The city began working with Chicago-based Cure Violence Global in 2022 to develop a violence interrupter program. The purpose is to detect and prevent potentially violent events, provide for behavior change and support to the highest-risk individuals, and change community norms that allow and encourage incidents in chronically violent neighborhoods. The program in Wichita will be focused on socially and economically stressed neighborhoods that have had high rates of gun violence. The city is contracting with the Wichita State University Community Engagement Institute in a partnership with Destination Innovation and the Institute of Development. The program will target an area in north Wichita between I-135 and Oliver, from 9th Street to 25th Street. The program will also be put in place in an area of south Wichita, between Broadway and Oliver from Pawnee to Galena and Wassall. Rebecca Johnson with the city manager’s office said the program will begin recruiting and hiring in January with staff training in February. The city is allocating $1.5 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds for the program, which will be directed at the highest-risk youth. City Council member Bryan Frye is urging the community to support this program and “help us get ahead of this, because it’s not getting better.” He said this should be part of the solution, and “we need you to be our eyes and ears as much as we need these violence interrupters.”
Source: 101.3 KFDI

Municipal Bond Trends for December 12, 2023

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 December 11, 2023

Governor Kelly Encourages Kansans to Vote on New License Plate Design

Governor Laura Kelly today shared how Kansans will be able to weigh in on the next State of Kansas license plate. Starting today, Kansans can go to KSPlates.kansas.gov to vote for their favorite plate among five designs created by Mammoth Creative Co., a Kansas-based marketing firm, in partnership with Kansas Tourism. Voting will end at 5 p.m. on Friday, December 15. … The five options, while continuing to align with Kansas Tourism’s “To the Stars” branding and the already announced guidelines, incorporate previous public feedback such as a lighter blue on the original proposal, a State of Kansas outline, wheat, and sunflowers. The plate proposals were also chosen because they prioritize public safety. Clear, simple designs enable law enforcement officers and traffic systems to quickly and easily read the license plate number.
Source: Governor of the State of Kansas

Going from economic rut to groove in Liberal, Kansas

Is Liberal stuck in a rut? A year and a half ago, José Lara thought so. The U.S. Census showed Liberal and Seward County losing population. There were only about 10 new houses being built each year in town. He wasn’t seeing new businesses open. “Our actual growth at that point was very, very limited. I definitely believe Liberal was in a rut,” he says. “We were not growing at a point that I would be comfortable with.” Lara, 32, an insurance agent who is married with three young kids, decided to get involved in his community. He ran for a seat on the Liberal City Commission, won and is now the first bilingual Latino mayor. … Language gaps such as the one Lara describes are an example of hidden barriers that can hold communities back. It’s hard for many to see them until there’s a crisis or an inadvertent solution comes along – in this case, Spanish-speaking commissioners coming on board – that quickly makes clear how things have advanced. But can community members also make conscious choices together that improve their economies? That’s what Lara and a group of about a dozen Liberal residents have been trying to learn through an effort over the past six months to improve what’s been termed the “entrepreneurial ecosystem.” … Through a three-month pilot program called Heartland Together… Liberal’s trailblazing dozen have been working to strengthen their leadership skills in order to get more people engaged in shaping their entrepreneurial ecosystem for the better. The hope is the training and activities associated with the program will help members of the community more effectively connect their networks and resources.
Source: KLC Journal

Kansas childcare task force calls for ‘one-stop shop’

A panel of early childhood leaders in Kansas is calling on state leaders to reduce “red tape” regarding the childcare system. Kansas Early Childhood Transition Task Force (ECTTF), established by Governor Laura Kelly through the first executive order of her second term, presented its final report for 2023 on Monday. Gov. Kelly responded to questions about what she’d be able to get done on her “wishlist” for early childhood education during next year’s session. “I don’t see it as a wishlist. I see it as a roadmap and a blueprint for how we can rearrange programs that we’re already providing, but do it in a way that makes it easier for families… [so] there’s more of a one-stop shop for early childhood services rather than this maze that they have to go through now,” Kelly said.
Source: KSN-TV and Governor of the State of Kansas.

JoCo Notes: Overland Park residents can weigh in on new parks master plan

Overland Park is revising its citywide parks master plan for the first time in a decade, and the public is being invited to weigh in. The city will host a public open house Monday night from 5-7 p.m. at Matt Ross Community Center, 8101 Marty St., in which residents will be able to provide their thoughts on city parks going forward. Residents can also share their feedback through an online survey through the end of December. The master plan revision, dubbed Playbook OP, is billed as way to guide Overland Park’s “efforts to acquire and develop parks and greenways and enhance recreation opportunities” in the future. You can read more about Playbook OP and the current parks master plan on the city’s website.
Source: Shawnee Mission Post

City of Hutchinson working to help homeless

The City of Hutchinson is seeing a rise in the homeless population, and community leaders said they want to do what they can to help. People sleeping under bridges is becoming more of a common sight in Hutchinson, but community advocates say this growing issue goes beyond not having a place to stay. “On a larger scale, there’s cuts and budgets with health care and mental health concerns and substance abuse so that directly affect homelessness, and that’s definitely something that we feel the weight and burden of that right now,” Jerome Bernard, the manager at Noel Lodge, said. The United Way of Reno County Director of Community Outreach, Valerie Taylor, said the homelessness crisis is also affecting youth. “We even see people in our high school who are unhoused, so I think that this is definitely something that is deep-rooted and is not singled out to one certain type of person,” Taylor said. The Noel Lodge, which is part of the nonprofit New Beginnings, is a temporary shelter for people to go to and has an occupancy of up to 25. Bernard said it’s a place for people to feel safe and welcome. “There’s so many different scenarios to why people are here,” Bernard said. “We tend to judge a certain group of people, saying this is the only group, but life happens to everybody.”
Source: KSN-TV

Kansas opens up vote on new license plate design

Kansans have less than a week to vote on the state’s new license plate design. Kansas Governor Laura Kelly shared how Kansans will be able to weigh in on Monday. Kansans have until Friday, Dec. 15, to choose from five designs. Residents can go to KSPlates.kansas.gov to vote for their favorite plate. “Kansans have offered their thoughts on our state’s next license plate through social media and elsewhere, even sending potential designs to my office. Many of these designs were beautiful, but we’re moving forward with this voting process to ensure law enforcement can easily read the selected license plate and to get safer plates on the streets as soon as possible,” said Governor Laura Kelly. “I encourage Kansans to make their voices heard and am looking forward to announcing the winner next week.” Each design was created by Mammoth Creative Co., a Kansas-based marketing firm, in partnership with Kansas Tourism. According to state officials, the five options continue to align with Kansas Tourism’s “To the Stars” branding and the already announced guidelines. They also incorporate previous public feedback, such as a lighter blue on the original proposal, a State of Kansas outline, wheat, and sunflowers. Officials say the plate proposals were also chosen because they prioritize public safety. Clear, simple designs enable law enforcement officers and traffic systems to quickly and easily read the license plate number. “It is critical that Kansans be able to quickly identify a vehicle by its license plate – whether that be when reporting erratic driving behaviors, crashes, or Amber Alerts to law enforcement,” Captain Candice Breshears, Kansas Highway Patrol, said. “Every second counts in an emergency, which is why we appreciate that the backgrounds of these license plates do not interfere with the plate combinations.”
Source: KSN-TV

Koester named superintendent of USD 413

The USD 413 Board of Education has hired Matt Koester as the superintendent of USD 413 schools. Koester said he is extremely grateful for this opportunity, noting his love for the school district and community of Chanute. “It just means a lot to me to be able to give back to our system and try to create the best system in the state of Kansas for our kids,” Koester said. Koester most recently served as interim superintendent since July. The board selected him as interim superintendent when Kellen Adams announced his resignation this past March. The USD 413 Board of Education made this announcement on Thursday. “We are pleased to announce that we offered Mr. Koester the position of superintendent and he has accepted. Mr. Koester has proved to be ‘all in’ for Chanute, and we are excited to see where he takes the district in the years to come,” said BOE President Heather Guernsey. Born and raised in Chanute, Koester is a 1994 graduate of Chanute High School and has worked in various roles for the previous two decades at USD 413. He previously served as the assistant superintendent, principal and assistant principal of Chanute Elementary School, interim principal of Chanute High School during the 2020-2021 academic year and also as a teacher. “Even when I started the career path of teaching, I would have never placed myself in the position I am in today,” he said. Spending his entire career here, Koester said USD 413 is the only place he wants to be.
Source: The Chanute Tribune

Lansing officials want to turn old section of state prison into a museum

Local authorities are mulling a proposal to turn a portion of the oldest penitentiary in Kansas into a tourist destination. Lansing officials and the Lansing Historical Society have announced a plan to save a large section of the Lansing Correctional Facility and preserve it as an income-generating piece of history. The plan would preserve the old prison, including some inmate cells and the prison auditorium, where music legend Johnny Cash performed for inmates in 1970. Roughly 24 hundred inmates still reside at the prison. The proposal reportedly still needs approval from the Kansas Department of Corrections before it can move forward.
Source: 101.3 KFDI

Dodge City named one of the most welcoming towns in Kansas

The iconic western town of Dodge City has been recognized as One of the Most Welcoming Towns in Kansas by World Atlas, a leading global publisher of travel and serving more than 165 million annual readers. Although once known for saloons, gambling halls, and gunfights, Dodge City has transformed into a peaceful, hospitable community that captivates visitors with its rich history and small-town charm. Nestled on the high plains in southwest Kansas, Dodge City offers travelers the opportunity to experience the spirit of the Old West. Must-see stops include the Boot Hill Museum, the Santa Fe Trail Rut Site, the Home of Stone Museum, and the historic downtown district lined with shops, restaurants, and the Trail of Fame. Annual events like Dodge City Days, an Old-Fashioned 4th of July celebration, the Ford County Fair, and Christmas in Dodge City draw visitors from across the country year-round. “We’re proud that Dodge City’s Midwestern charm and our community’s warmth shines through for visitors,” said Megan Welsh, director of Dodge City Convention and Visitors Bureau. “In Dodge City, we have embraced and preserved our Cowboy heritage for more than 150 years. We invite all travelers to experience our town’s hospitality and special brand of Western culture.” For more information about planning a trip or relocating to Dodge City, go to www.visitdodgecity.org. Discover why Dodge City tops the list as One of the Most Welcoming Towns in Kansas.
Source: Dodge City Daily Globe

Governor Kelly Announces Heartland Flyer Passenger Rail Expansion Moves Forward in Kansas

Governor Laura Kelly today announced the proposed extension of the Heartland Flyer passenger rail corridor is among the projects selected by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) for inclusion in the Corridor Identification and Development (ID) Program. The Corridor ID Program will provide funding for the development of a Service Development Plan (SDP), which is expected to be completed in spring 2024. In this first cycle of Corridor ID Program awards, $500,000 will go to the development of the Heartland Flyer Corridor SDP. The proposed Corridor would connect Amtrak’s existing Heartland Flyer intercity passenger rail service between Fort Worth and Oklahoma City, extending north to Wichita and then Newton. The proposed Corridor would include new station stops in the Oklahoma cities of Edmond, Perry, and Ponca City, as well as Kansas stops in Arkansas City, Wichita, and Newton. “The extension of the Heartland Flyer Passenger Rail would further connect Kansans to Oklahoma City and North Central Texas, unlocking business, educational, and cultural opportunities to Kansans and enabling our neighbors to the south to add to the Kansas economy,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “One of Kansas’ greatest assets is that we are in the center of the country, which is why my administration has supported rail projects like this to build on that strength.” The Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) submitted the Corridor ID Program proposal in partnership with the Oklahoma Department of Transportation and the Texas Department of Transportation. KDOT has already completed a scope, schedule, cost estimate, and other preliminary staging needed for the Heartland Flyer expansion. This advance work, combined with ongoing support of state and local governments, significantly strengthened the three-state application, and has advanced the Heartland Flyer extension into the FRA funding pipeline.
Source: Governor of the State of Kansas

Municipal Bond Trends for December 8, 2023

Local photographer retires, becomes new utility clerk

Longtime Hiawatha resident Deb Christian started her first full day as the new utility clerk for the City of Hiawatha on Dec. 3. Christian’s official start day was on Dec. 1, which is the same day she retired from photography and operating Deb’s Images. “I’m still finishing out some accounts in my photography business,” Christian said. “But I’m not taking any new clients.” Christian learned about the utility clerk position in the newspaper and saw it on Facebook a few times. “It was a couple of months ago,” Christian recalled. “And I thought ‘I wonder if I am qualified to do that job,’ decided to step out of my comfort zone and apply and that’s what happened. And I got it!” Christian is in her training phase in the clerk position. She also remarked that it has kept her busy and she is being trained on processing water payments. “There’s a lot to learn!” Christian remarked. Before becoming a utility clerk, Christian practiced photography for 30 years, and has operated a storefront for 25. She remembered enjoying photography but also gave reasons for needing to retire. “I loved every aspect of it except for the physical part, which was getting to be harder and harder and harder for me as I get older,” Christian explained. “And I have some health issues that are restricting me from doing the best of my ability.”
Source: Local News | hiawathaworldonline.com

Pool code update goes to Derby’s trades board

Following lengthy discussion and input, the Derby City Council took action at its Nov. 28 meeting for staff to take pool code language changes to the Building Trades Advisory board for review. The change would be to the international residential code (IRC) portion of the municipal code. After council feedback, staff brought an amended pool code policy forward for consideration. The updated policy would leave all pool safety requirements currently in the municipal code (needing security fencing, to follow nuisance abatement requirements, etc.) for in-ground and above-ground pools over 24” in height. However, any soft-sided above-ground pools (defined as movable prefabricated swimming pools that are constructed with nonmetallic, molded polymeric walls, or inflatable fabric walls) would be exempt from permitting requirements. Staff reported Derby has permitted and inspected 66 in-ground pools and 16 above-ground pools since 2018.
Source: Derby Informer | News

The state, county and Ideatek undertake Internet project for eastern Harvey County

The Kansas Office of Broadband Development awarded $3.9 million to Ideatek to fund building 150 miles of fiber-optic lines to serve 450 residents and businesses in eastern Harvey County. Harvey County, in turn, will pay up $250,000 for the project. In a release, Ideatek stated the total cost of the project to be $5 million. “This grant really helps us hit that business case that we need to bring fiber optic out to these rural areas,” James Krstolich, community and public relations manager for Ideatek, said. “The whole point of these grants is they help us get to these residents that wouldn’t be served any other way.” County Commissioner Randy Hague stated in the release by Ideatek that the expansion will provide improved access to information and services for residents and businesses alike. “These grant funds will deliver meaningful service in their everyday lives,” he said. “We appreciate Ideatek and the Kansas Department of Commerce for collaborating on this opportunity to benefit our citizens.” According to the release, the project will begin in 2024 and will be completed in phases. The work would connect into the City of Walton.
Source: Harvey County Now

A Hidden Risk in the Municipal Bond Market: Hackers

Local governments are spending big to mop up after hacks and prevent new ones. That means peril—and opportunity—for the investors who buy their bonds. Hacks are on the rise across all industries, but the public sector’s weak protections make it an increasingly attractive target for cybercriminals. Cybercrime has left schools, hospitals and utilities from Baltimore to Los Angeles struggling to pay ransom, restore services and boost security. Finances have suffered, threatening credit ratings. The number of K-12 public schools suffering ransomware attacks almost doubled between 2021 and 2022 to almost 2,000 a year, according to a report by Emsisoft, a cybersecurity company. The growing use of technology in education, which was accelerated by the Covid-19 pandemic, as well as healthcare’s reliance on IT infrastructure, has made schools and hospitals particularly vulnerable, according to analysts. “This year alone, we’ve seen a lot more of these attacks compared to prior years, and it’s a concern that has come up in almost every discussion that we have with issuers,” said Li Yang, lead analyst at S&P Global Ratings.
Source: WSJ.com: Markets

Wichita library adds locks to some bathroom doors for public safety

As you walk to the family restrooms at the Advanced Learning Library in Downtown Wichita, you’ll run into a problem. A small silver lock. The only thing that can open it is a tiny gold coin that you get from the service desk. The library added the locks a couple of months ago because it says there were multiple incidents of people locking the doors and spreading human waste around the bathroom as well as other things. “We have had some instances to be quite honest of drug use, and some other things going on,” said Sean Jones, the library’s communications specialist. That’s why the library installed locks on two of its three family restroom doors about two months ago. Jones says there was originally some confusion but now most people understand why this change is taking place. “It’s a little bit more inconvenient but if it helps with safety it’s fine,” said library visitor Behrooz Rahbar. Jones says the family restroom in the children’s area remains unlocked because he knows sometimes children have emergencies and parents need to be able to access the restroom quickly. While there’s now a coin slot it is still completely free to use the public restroom. Visitors will need to go to the front desk to get a small gold coin that they will use to unlock the door.
Source: KAKE – News

Overland Park moves to allow e-bikes, e-scooters on city trails

Overland Park plans to permanently allow e-mobility devices, like e-bikes and electric scooters, on its city trails. On Monday, the Overland Park City Council Community Development Committee voted 4-0 to recommend approval of the new ordinance and the repeal of an existing one prohibiting motorized devices and vehicles on trails. “To me, this kind of seems like something that’s coming to us whether we like it or not,” Councilmember Logan Heley, who chairs the committee, said. “They’re probably going to use the trails whether we say it’s OK or not.” Former Councilmembers Scott Hamblin and Fred Spears previously sat on this committee, but their terms have expired and the mayor has yet to fill their seats on the committee. The proposed ordinance formalizes two pilot programs that allowed e-bikes and scooters on city bike and hiking trails. The initial pilot program, which started in 2020, permitted some e-bikes on Overland Park trails. About a year and a half later, the city expanded the pilot to include more types of e-bikes and scooters. Mike Burton, park project coordinator for Overland Park, told the committee this week that allowing e-bikes and scooters on the trails was met with mixed reviews from the community, though the feedback leaned positive overall.
Source: Shawnee Mission Post

Double Trouble: Investors Fight Fed on Two Fronts

Investors are betting against the Fed—twice over. The first bet is the sudden turn from expecting the Federal Reserve to keep rates higher for longer to instead expecting rapid and deep cuts next year. The second bet is almost the exact opposite, that the Fed will have to keep rates much higher in the long run than it says it will. Treasury yields have come down, but at around 4.1% the 10-year yield remains more than 1.5 percentage points above the Fed’s forecast of long-run interest rates. Both bets go against the popular market dictum: Never fight the Fed. Yet, there are good reasons to think the Fed might be wrong, stronger in my view for the long-term wager than the short-term. The bet on rapid rate cuts became received wisdom remarkably quickly, which in itself is concerning. Six weeks ago the market was convinced that the Fed would keep rates high next year, with only two rate cuts priced in. Now, five cuts are priced in, against a Fed forecast in September of just one cut from current levels. The most extreme investors expect cuts really soon, with federal-fund futures showing a 14% chance of a rate cut in January, according to CME Group’s FedWatch Tool.
Source: WSJ.com: Markets

Emporia discusses rental registrations, vacant property ordinance

City commissioners were undecided on how to proceed with possible rental registrations and updates to the vacant property ordinance on Wednesday afternoon. According to the Director of Building and Neighborhood Development, Kory Krause, the city last discussed rental registration “364 days ago,” but it has come up several times over the last few years. Krause said a rental registration program would help ensure safer rental properties and improve accountability of rental units within the City of Emporia. “We’re still having problems,” Krause said. “We do have issues with rental properties. We’ve had some bad landlords here in town.” He mentioned that about 51% of the single-family homes in Emporia are rental properties. The problem arises when people purchasing the properties aren’t transparent about their intentions and aren’t completing work up to code. “What they’re doing is buying them, flipping them, and renting them out,” Krause said. “Sometimes we don’t hear about it. We’ve come across shoddy work. … Most of these are unpermitted.” This means people are doing the work without pulling the appropriate permits with the city first.
Source: Emporia Gazette

Power back on for most of Emporia after ‘equipment failure’

The lights are back on for nearly 3,000 Evergy customers in Emporia after an “equipment failure” took power offline for more than two hours Thursday afternoon. The outage, caused by a downed power line, knocked power out for 2,739 customers in Emporia according to the Evergy Outage Map. The outage was first reported just before 3:30 p.m. The outage stretched along U.S. Highway 50 from just west of Prairie Street and east to Sylvan Street, along parts of 12th Avenue, down Commercial Street, and south on Highway 99 past the David Traylor Zoo. As of 5:40 p.m., about 56 customers were still reported to be without power and Evergy was “reassessing” the situation.
Source: Emporia Gazette

Proposed overnight homeless shelter in Butler County causes controversy over location

For years some in the Butler County community of El Dorado have had no choice but to live on the street. But that could change when the El Dorado City Commissioners vote on a special permit for a proposed new building. The Butler County Homeless initiative applied for the new building. However, the Planning Commission recommended to the City Commission 7 to 1 to deny the application. But one homeless man we spoke to could use an overnight shelter in El Dorado. “I had a shower today, the first time I had a shower in three months,” said Richard Clark. Clark has been on the streets in El Dorado since he was 29. Now six years later, he talks about how this all began. “My family just pretty much disowned me, I lost a lot of love for them. My dad died before my 28th birthday, he died in 2016 and ever since then, I’ve been going downhill,” said Clark. Then came another tragedy in April. “My mom passed away this year and I didn’t even get to go to her funeral,” said Clark. Now, yet another setback for Clark and others like him. City Planning Commission members recently rejected a plan to turn this vacant building on West Central Avenue into El Dorado’s only homeless center. It came after complaints from residents who didn’t want it so close to their homes. The head of the group that wants to open the shelter, The Butler County Homeless Initiative says she thinks the fears are unwarranted. “Homeless people are not dangerous people, they are unhoused people,” said Debbie Hill, executive director of the Butler County Homeless Initiative.
Source: KAKE – News

Plan would turn former Kansas prison into tourist attraction

It’s a place where thousands of men paid for their crimes. One Leavenworth County city hopes to rescue an old prison from the wrecking ball and turn it into a tourist destination and a testament to local history. City leaders in Lansing hope to save a large section of the Lansing Correctional Facility, the state’s oldest penitentiary, which has roots that date back to the 1860s. The Kansas Department of Corrections still uses some of the campus. Plans to demolish the old state pen may go on hold for history’s sake. “There’s so much history here. Just like they saved Alcatraz,” Debra Bates-Lamborn, president of the Lansing Historical Society, said. Bates-Lamborn supports a proposal to preserve the old prison, including some inmate cells and the prison auditorium, where country music legend Johnny Cash played a concert for inmates. “I think it gives people a place to come and see a prison in a prison town. For years, we’ve been known as a prison town,” Bates-Lamborn said. At one point in time, Leavenworth County had five prisons at different security levels. Historians here point to a widespread interest in tourism based on defunct penitentiaries. Nowadays, Jermaine Wilson is the mayor of nearby Leavenworth, Kansas. However, times were different for him in 2008, when he was sentenced to three years in the Lansing lockup after being convicted of drug possession. Thursday was his first return to the old prison since his release. Wilson now works for a prison ministry, helping counsel and guide active inmates.
Source: KSN-TV

Fort Scott officials working to maintain local ER access

Fort Scott officials are still working to make sure Bourbon County residents still have local access to an emergency room after December 20th. That’s the date Ascension Via Christi has given for when they’ll cease operations of the emergency room in Ft. Scott. Fort Scott Mayor Matthew Wells said they’ve been working with U.S. Senator Jerry Moran’s office to give the current facility the Rural Emergency Health Care (REH) designation. When an eligible facility converts to an REH, it allows them to provide emergency department services, observation care, and additional outpatient medical and health services that don’t exceed an annual per-patient average length of stay of 24 hours. Wells said without Moran’s bill, they may not be able to get the REH designation. “As everyone knows, it was stated that on December 27, 2020, if you’re not an active hospital, you would not be able to apply. That has put our hospital and up to 100 other, I’m told, in the position where they can’t reopen or apply for that REH designation,” said Wells. Wells adds they’ve been working with the county to ensure there’s an increase of EMS services and extra ambulances available, as well as ensuring the helipad stays completely operational. Wells adds they’ve been working with two different strategic health care initiative partners who believe they’ll be able to reopen the ER after the first of the year.
Source: KSNF/KODE

Topeka City Council votes to extend interim city manager’s contract

The Topeka City Council approved multiple items at its Dec. 5 meeting. City leaders voted to extend the contract of Interim City Manager Richard Nienstedt. He will stay in this position until a permanent city manager can be hired. Nienstedt has held the position since June, following the sudden departure and later termination of former City Manager Stephen Wade. The city has enlisted the help of a recruiting company from Texas to fill the role. The council also signed off on a street project near the Oakland neighborhood. The voted unanimously to spend $1 million for mill and overlay work on Northeast River Road between Northeast Crane and Northeast Emmett streets. The work must be completed in 2024 so the road can be used as a detour while the Polk Quincy Viaduct construction work closes the Kansas Avenue and Topeka Boulevard bridges. This project will be funded by the city’s half-cent sales tax. The council also approved an amended version of the funding requested for the 2023 Alcohol and Drug grants. Topeka’s Special Alcohol and Drug (SAD) program requested $670,000 for programs across the city. Councilmembers approves Councilman Spencer Duncan’s motion to give PARS $169,000, the same funding it received in 2023, instead of the $131,000 recommended by the SAD committee. All participating agencies will now be funded through 2024 either the same or more than what the committee recommended.
Source: KSNT 27 News

Uniontown SD receives hydroponic farm from Leafy Green Farms

Last week the Uniontown district received a hydroponic farm from Leafy Green Farms. The district is partnering with Leafy Green Farms for five years to have a hydroponic farm classroom on campus so students can learn how to grow organic vegetables. This is a phase one initiative to place a hydroponic farm at ten schools in southeast Kansas. The project is a partnership between Leafy Green Farms and Community Green Farms. Leafy Green Farms is providing everything the school needs for the first three months of operations, including training, all equipment, seeds, and nutrients. Superintendent Vance Eden says they’re planning to use some of the produce in their food services. “We do plan on having it up and running at least the food service side of it in early January and then again we’ll have some community open house dates. And then also we’ll do the same thing in a similar scale for teachers, where teachers can come in and kind of see oh this is what it does, this is how it looks,” said Eden. Eden said their plan is to have an expert teach faculty and staff how to utilize the farm.
Source: KSNF/KODE

Municipal Bond Trends for December 7, 2023

Bel Aire finds manager at City Hall

Bel Aire looked no further than City Hall to find its next city manager. The city council on Dec. 5 chose current finance director and assistant city manager Ted Henry to replace Ty Lasher on April 1. Henry has served as the city’s finance director for seven years. Mayor Jim Benage said the governing body’s confidence in Henry and its familiarity with him made the decision not to spend money searching for other potential candidates an easy one. Lasher’s final day will be March 29, 2024. Lasher has been considering retirement since 2022 and was asked to give the city a six-month notice when he made the decision to step down. He gave that notice in early October. Lasher was hired by the city in 2007 after serving as city administrator in Cheney about six years. He was awarded the Buford Watson Excellence in Public Service award by the Kansas Association of City/County Managers in 2020.
Source: Ark Valley News

Matt Jensby to lead City of Kechi

Matt Jensby has been named Kechi’s new city administrator. Jensby replaces Kamme Sroufe following her resignation this fall. Jensby served as the police chief in Maize for 18 years after growing up in Valley Center. He is a 1990 Valley Center High School graduate and worked for the Valley Center Police Department for three years before transferring to Maize in 1996. Jensby said he witnessed incredible growth in Maize while working in the city and was inspired to pursue a second career in public administration.
Source: Ark Valley News

Committee working to revise Lawrence’s Land Development Code talks incentives, energy

While members of the Land Development Code Update Steering Committee didn’t take a look at any new sections of the revised rules for how Lawrence should grow on Thursday, they did participate in plenty of discussion about incentives and energy. … Those topics, in part, included a discussion of what types of zoning incentives could work in Lawrence. That resulted in a decently-sized list, including ideas like providing more options for developers through less linear incentives, waiving system development charges for affordable housing projects and offsetting the costs for developers creating open spaces or other public amenities.
Source: LJWorld

Municipal Bond Trends for December 6, 2023

Johnson County might buy this $6M hotel to convert into a long-needed homeless shelter

Johnson County is considering spending $6.5 million in federal COVID-19 relief funding to purchase a Lenexa hotel to be converted into a permanent homeless shelter. It would be a major step forward to meet a growing need in Kansas’ most affluent and populous county, after years of debates and inaction. Next week, the Johnson County Board of Commissioners is expected to consider purchasing the Lenexa property at 9461 and 9471 Lenexa Drive, the site of La Quinta Inn and Suites off of Interstate 35.
Source: Joco 913 News

A Wichita young professional dreams of living downtown, but it’s tough to overcome high rents

Kyle Ritterbush is one of the young, entrepreneurial professionals Wichita politicians talk so much about wanting to keep. At just 20 years old, he started his video production business last year after graduating high school. He wants to grow it – hiring someone part-time, taking on bigger projects – all while here in Wichita. On the side, he pursues his dream of filmmaking through the city’s Tallgrass Film Festival. He’s currently working on a horror short film to submit next year. But there’s an obstacle to launching his career and becoming a fully fledged adult: moving out of his family’s home. … Due to inflation, increased home prices and a lack of new development in the past several years, rents in Wichita have grown steeply since the COVID pandemic. According to a 2023 report by NAI Martens, this past year alone saw an “aggressive increase” in rental rates: 10.2%, the highest in Wichita in the last decade.
Source: KLC Journal

Amazon’s Park City warehouse: Delivering millions of orders and community investment

The Amazon fulfillment center has already delivered millions of orders this year and it says the busy season just started. It’s been a busy year at the massive warehouse in Park City. 900 workers have been sorting through shelves as far as your eye can see and processed six and a half million orders this year. Manager Dillon Cole says busy season has only just begun. Cole says Amazon’s involvement in the community means a lot more than just fast deliveries. The company says it’s created more than 8,500 jobs across the state and invested $6.2 billion through infrastructure and employee compensation.
Source: Fox Kansas

Great Bend OKs local lake kayak rentals

Kayak rentals will come to Veterans Memorial Park and Stone Lake after the Great Bend City Council Monday night approved an agreement between the Great Bend Convention and Visitors Bureau along with the Great Bend Recreation Commission. The rental kiosks will be managed by Northville, Mich.-based Rent.Fun LLC. “This was a very, very big team effort,” CVB Director Christina Hayes said. The CVB received a grant of $12,200 to help pay $10,000 for this project and extra to help advertise and market them. The majority of this is taken care of and paid for by the GBRC. The activation fee of $26,000 for the five-year agreement and it will be split between the city and GBRC. The city will pay $10,000 (covered by the CVB grant) and GBRC will pay $16,000. There will be four units at Veterans Lake and four at Stone Lake under this master services agreement with Rent.Fun LLC. Now, the city and Rec Commission just have to pick a date to get things started.
Source: Great Bend Tribune

Zoning hearing set for Park City casino

Plans are moving forward on a second casino in Park City, according to The Ark Valley News, with Ruffin Properties officially applying for rezoning of the former Wichita Greyhound Park property northwest of the 77th North/Hydraulic intersection. A zoning hearing will be held Dec. 18. The zone change would shift the property from commercial to a combination entertainment/business district and allow the developer to apply for a special-use permit to construct the previously announced Golden Circle Casino, which would feature historical horse racing (similar to slot machines). Other plans for the property include construction of a bar, restaurant, dance hall, hotel and more.
Source: Derby Informer | Area

Wichita city council to vote on ‘retaliatory eviction’ ordinance

Incidents of retaliation against tenants by landlords are catching the eye of the Wichita city council. “We are aware of a couple of slum lords that continue to do these things,” says District 1 city council member Brandon Johnson. “And unfortunately, there’s only state law, but there’s no state enforcement. And that’s why we’re looking at trying to do something on the local level to give some form of municipal justice to this injustice.” The council is set to vote on a proposed ordinance to fine landlords found to be using retaliatory practices. The fine would begin at $250 on the first offense, and would continue to go up if the landlord kept retaliating. Nate Johnson with the city’s law department says, however, that this wouldn’t just be for retaliatory evictions. “Things like diminished services, increased rent, and all of that done in response to normally a request to make the place more habitable,” Johnson said. Brandon Johnson said that while the issue of retaliatory evictions is important, it’s only one of many problems with hosing in Wichita. “Hopefully, these types of ordinances will allow people to push back in a way that gets those slumlords to stop acting that way, or eventually get somebody who’s a better owner or manager of property to buy those properties from,” Johnson said. Johnson said that he intends to vote for this new ordinance at the full meeting on December 19th.
Source: KAKE – News

Macksville library program fills preschoolers with happiness

The Macksville City Library hosted 21 excited local preschool students in the new library addition recently to celebrate Kansas Reads to Preschoolers month. This initiative takes place each November as part of a statewide project through the State Library of Kansas to ensure that all public libraries in the state promote early literacy. The featured book for 2023, “My Heart Fills With Happiness,” by Monique Gray Smith, was a perfect read-aloud during Native American Heritage Month, with its spotlight on Native American family life and culture. Thanks to a $400 donation from the Midwest Energy Community Fund, the Macksville City Library was able to offer some extra special activities for the local Pre-K students to enjoy. After listening to the story, everyone brainstormed and shared something that made them happy. From baby cats and family, to basketball and reading books, the list was long (and could have gone on and on!). Then, we divided into three groups so students could decorate a bookmark with something that made them happy, “fill” their new scarecrow bear with stuffing, and create a nametag for their bear. Some of the many unique names chosen were: Teddy, Clifford, Heart, Bob, and Tree. Finally, we all sampled some Bannock (Native American bread) that was mentioned in the story. Made with only flour, salt, baking powder, canola oil and water, it was a chance to try something new.
Source: Great Bend Tribune