Kansas Municipal News
Downtown KCK is ready for a rebirth, starting with a $70M ‘game-changer’
Kansas City, Kansas, has had its share of ups and downs over the years, from the closing of the Indian Springs Shopping Center, to the development of the Kansas Speedway and Legends area. But the city’s downtown has remained a challenge. It has seen spurts of activity through the years, including the opening of the Children’s Campus of Kansas City in 2010, the University of Kansas Health System opening its Strawberry Hill Campus in 2019 in a building that sat empty after the departure of the Environmental Protection Agency’s regional office and the opening of a new grocery store in 2020. A pair of new projects promises to inject new life into the city’s downtown and could tip the scales toward a long-awaited renaissance. Kansas City Kansas Community College recently began work on a $70 million project at the corner of Seventh Street Trafficway and State Avenue. KCKCC is partnering with Swope Health and Community America Credit Union to create an all-encompassing education and wellness center.
Source: Kansas City Business Journal
Kansas lawmakers talk about the homeless impact on cities
Homelessness is an issue Kansas lawmakers are addressing. A special committee met at the statehouse on Thursday to talk about the impact on cities across the state and possible solutions. The issue has gotten so bad that the homeless are being sent to Lawrence, where it is becoming a growing problem. “People are being transported,” Rep. Susan Humphries, R-Wichita. Law enforcement officers say that some are being sent across county lines to areas that may have more resources. Even in those bigger cities, resources are running low. … Lawmakers are getting feedback from stakeholders across the state. It includes business owners who say they’re struggling to deal with the rising homeless population.
Source: KSN-TV
Affordable senior housing coming to former Kansas Masonic Home facility
With its Spanish architecture and tile roof, the Kansas Masonic Home is a staple of Wichita just west of downtown, and it’s served the community for over 125 years. Most recently, the KMH was a senior care facility drowning in lawsuits for deaths due to alleged neglect, hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines, and reports from the health department saying that inspectors found horrible living conditions like nurses failing to change a resident’s bandage for eighteen days. At the end of last year, the KMH abruptly announced it was closing because of overwhelming debt, giving its residents just weeks to get out. “They had to scramble to find a place to live,” said Chris Dennis. That’s where Dennis and his team at Wichita-based Oxford Senior Living came in.
Source: KAKE News
Powell says Fed is ‘not confident’ it has done enough to bring inflation down
Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell said Thursday that he and his fellow policymakers are encouraged by the slowing pace of inflation but are unsure whether they’ve done enough to keep the momentum going. Speaking a little more than a week after the central bank voted to hold benchmark policy rates steady, Powell said in remarks for an International Monetary Fund audience that more work could be ahead in the battle against high prices. “The Federal Open Market Committee is committed to achieving a stance of monetary policy that is sufficiently restrictive to bring inflation down to 2 percent over time; we are not confident that we have achieved such a stance,” he said in his prepared speech. The speech comes with inflation still well above the Fed’s long-standing goal but also considerably below its peak levels in the first half of 2022.
Source: CNBC – Bonds
KDOT gives update on potential Amtrak expansion into Wichita
An Amtrak passenger train rolled into Wichita’s Union Station back in 2017 as part of an inspection ride to see the viability of service. It was only a test at the time but soon, the real thing could return to the air capital. Wednesday the Kansas Department of Transportation held a virtual update on the proposed expansion of the Heartland Flyer line that would connect Oklahoma City to Newton. Sedgwick County Commissioner Pete Meitzner was listening to the update and said it seems like there is a lot of momentum behind the project. “You hate to over promise but you can kind of feel the enthusiasm and the confidence on that call.” It would be a major connection for the region.
Source: KAKE – News
Miami County voters shoot down $40 million school bond proposal and new sales tax for courthouse
Voters took a stance against taxes and unseated school board incumbents in Paola and Osawatomie during the Nov. 7 general election. Two of the biggest questions on the ballot were Paola USD 368’s $40 million school bond proposal and Miami County’s proposed quarter-cent sales tax for the renovation and expansion of the historic Miami County Courthouse. Both proposals failed by similar margins, with 60 percent of voters saying “no” and 40 percent saying “yes.” … One tax-related question was successful on election night. Osawatomie voters renewed the city’s quarter-cent sales tax for public safety equipment with 233 “yes” votes to 180 “no” votes, according to the unofficial results.
Source: Local News | republic-online.com
Allen County residents seek answers on new floodplain maps
An open house on Tuesday was designed to answer questions about a new floodplain maps. Most Allen County residents got good news, as 85 properties no longer are listed in the floodplain. Eight were added. Debbie Menzie was surprised to receive a notice that her home is now in a floodplain. It’s never flooded at her home in the north part of Iola, just off Washington Street. Not even close. She attended an open house on Tuesday at the Community Building in Riverside Park, hosted by the Kansas Department of Agriculture to review new floodplain maps. The new maps show 85 properties are no longer in the floodplain. Eight, including Menzie’s home, have been added. Property owners who have a federally-backed mortgage must have flood insurance if their home is in the floodplain. Menzie said she has never needed flood insurance. She doesn’t have a mortgage so she isn’t required to carry it. She attended Tuesday’s event to discuss her options. She’s not sure if she wants to purchase flood insurance, just in case. “It’s a risk,” Menzie said. “I’m still not sure what I’m going to do but I’ll look into it.”
Source: The Iola Register
Allen County voters reject courthouse remodel
A proposal to renovate the Allen County Courthouse because of security issues failed with 76% of voters opposed. The other bond issue on the ballot, for renovations at the Crest school district, passed comfortably. City council and school board races also were decided. Allen County voters overwhelmingly rejected Tuesday a proposed $9.95 million bond issue to renovate the Allen County Courthouse. … Such huge margins represent a stinging defeat for the plan’s proponents, which included District Judge Dan Creitz and Allen County Sheriff Bryan Murphy, who attempted to convince voters the renovations were needed to improve security at the courthouse.
Source: The Iola Register
Community input vital to winning public’s support on bond issues
It took four bond issues for local citizens to support building a new school in Iola. Administrators learned the secret was paying attention to public input. A countywide referendum on whether to renovate the Allen County courthouse likely drew more voters to the polls Tuesday than in a typical off-year election. An estimated 2,510 voters — or about 29% of Allen County’s 8,698 registered voters — weighed in. … As local school administrators can attest, community engagement is vital to passing bond issues. After three failed measures to build new schools — 1979, 1985 and 2014 — local voters in 2019 approved a $35 million issue to build a new elementary school, high school science center and an HVAC overhaul for the middle school.
Source: The Iola Register
Kansas officials begin process of restoring court information access after ‘security incident’
Nearly a month after a “security incident” with all the hallmarks of a ransomware attack, Kansas judicial officials are slowly renewing public access to court information. But for now, that access requires a trip to the state’s capital city. The state’s judicial branch on Tuesday announced it has opened a public access service center at the Kansas Judicial Center in Topeka. … efforts to bring the judicial branch systems back online will occur in phases and that no firm timeline has been established on when all functions will be fully restored. The massive outage on Oct. 12 left attorneys unable to search online records and forced them to file motions the old fashioned way — on paper. The disruption has caused a huge slowdown of court operations across the state.
Source: KMBC.com
An old Johnson County fire station will soon become a coffee shop. ‘It’s exciting’
In the ’70s, the brick building at 19115 Midland Drive in Shawnee was home to volunteer firefighters. The side of the building, now painted with sunflowers, was once a garage door that opened for wailing fire trucks. Then the fire department built a larger station, packed up its hoses and traveled across the street. One day Courtney and John Nelson, now owners of the building, looked at the old firehouse and thought: “Coffee shop?” Yes, a great spot for a coffee shop, they agreed. “It’s exciting,” Courtney said. “It’s something that we liked and thought would be a good addition.” Early next year, the Nelsons hope to open Station 3 Coffee Shop inside the old Shawnee Fire Station 3. Possibly in January.
Source: Joco 913 News
Overland Park approves new weed ordinance
This isn’t about the “weed” some might be thinking of. The Overland Park City Council met Monday night to approve an update to the city’s Weed and Vegetation Enforcement Act. The act encourages those living in the city to grow native plants. This is the first adjustment made to the ordinance since 2011. “The ordinance was also out of sync with sustainable landscaping practices promoted through the City’s stormwater cost-share program,” City Sustainability Manager Lara Isch said. “This program promotes beneficial native plantings and rain gardens, and the update brings the City’s code into alignment with that goal.”
Source: fox4kc.com | FOX 4 – WDAF
A baby bust hits Kansas, bringing tough choices for Kansas school districts
Kansas is in the midst of a baby bust. Numbers released in May by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment tell the plain story: In 2022, there were 34,476 live births – a slight decrease from 34,697 births the year before, but a huge drop from the nearly 42,000 new Kansans born in 2008 amidst the Great Recession. Put it in a different context – there were just 11.7 new babies born for every 1,000 Kansans in 2022. That is a historically low number. “This is the lowest birth rate for Kansas residents since the state created a centralized vital records system in 1911,” KDHE said. Talk to demographers and you’ll hear myriad reasons explaining the bust. They’ll also tell you it’s not just a Kansas thing: Birth rates have been falling across the country for more than a decade. “I think one of the things that’s apparent from that research is there’s no single explanation,” says Sarah Hayford, a sociologist at Ohio State University who studies family formation and reproductive health and has been tracking the national decline. But observers say that other demographic shifts – young Kansans moving away from rural areas to cities, suburbs and very often out of state – have exacerbated the drop in births here.
Source: KLC Journal
Governor Kelly Announces More than $10M to Build Community Multi-Purpose Facilities, Expand Access to Child Care
Governor Laura Kelly and the Kansas Children’s Cabinet and Trust Fund today announced the first round of Capital Projects Fund Accelerator (CPF Accelerator) awards, which will go to three Kansas communities to build or renovate multi-purpose community facilities. These facilities will create 313 new licensed child care slots; provide access to high-speed internet; and house programs that facilitate work, education, and health care monitoring. “Kansas parents need safe, affordable child care so they can join the workforce without worrying how they’ll make ends meet,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “That’s why we’re investing in these community centers, which will offer more options for child care along with providing essential health, educational, and technological services.” The CPF Accelerator Request for Proposals remains open for a second round of submissions through December 18, 2023. Approximately $28 million remains available to continue supporting the expansion of multi-purpose community facilities that meet all program criteria. Combined with the Child Care Capacity Accelerator Grant programs previously announced this year, the Kelly administration is on track to infuse more than $94 million towards expanding access to child care for working families.
Source: Governor of the State of Kansas
Municipal Bond Trends for November 9, 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 November 8, 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.
In Garden City, 20-year-old son of Vietnamese immigrants wins city commission seat
Tom Nguyen wanted to run for office after his parents, both Vietnamese immigrants, became U.S. citizens in March. “What’s more American than to run for public office?” Nguyen said. Nguyen, 20, won a seat on the Garden City city commission according to unofficial results Tuesday from the Finney County Clerk’s Office. Nguyen secured his seat with 1,682 total votes, more than any other of the five candidates who were up for three open seats. “My heart is so full of all of the love that has been offered to me by our community,” Nguyen said. “My win has plowed the ground for the younger generation to see how important and invaluable their young voices are.”
Source: KAKE – News
Voters decide on sales tax issues across Kansas
Voters decided on sale tax issues across Kansas. Derby increases its sales tax by 1%, with 55% percent of voters approving it. The new tax will bring in $5 million a year for roads, parks, new police cars and fire equipment. In Fowler, voters approved a one-cent sales tax. Most of the money goes to the school district for art and music teachers. The rest will pay off debt and lower property taxes. Conway Springs voters gave approval to a 2% hike. The money will be used to fix roads. Plains in Meade County rejected a half-cent sales tax that would have been used to repay a $500,000 loan the city received to open a grocery store in 2021.
Source: KSN-TV
Solar developers are flocking to Kansas. But many communities are skeptical of their proposals.
About 10 miles north of El Dorado on U.S. Highway 77, a break appears in the rolling cattle ranches and farmland of the Flint hills. It’s a different sort of farm – a solar farm. It supplies electricity to several small towns throughout Lincoln Township in Butler County. “We’re not anti-solar,” said Terry Lowmaster, a trustee of the township, which gets some of this electricity. “We have a one megawatt here in our backyard that benefits our local residents.” At the same time, he and other local residents protested earlier this year when a Chicago-based developer applied for a permit to build a new solar farm – a $550 million dollar, 3,500-acre project. His reasoning for his opposition to one, and not the other? The existing solar farm is just 12 acres. Plus, it’s run by a local rural electric cooperative. “They have an office downtown. The employees live in the area. Their kids go to school with our kids, our grandkids,” Lowmaster said. “It’s home, you know? It’s a community, and they’re part of it.”… Lowmaster doesn’t see why he should trust solar corporations from out-of-town. He wondered how they could be held accountable on certain promises, like the number of jobs the project is meant to create or training for local firefighters. “They swoop in, they develop, they sell, and they’re gone,” Lowmaster said.
Source: KCUR News
Kansas Attorney General Opinion 2023-11: Submission of Land Surveys
Synopsis: A register of deeds cannot require a submitting land surveyor to certify that a survey complies with all zoning ordinances and regulations.
Source: Kansas Attorney General Opinions
Municipal Bond Trends for November 7, 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.
Derby votes to approve a higher sales tax
Derby voters approved a sales tax increase expected to generate around $4 million to $5 million annually with the aim of alleviating property taxes while supporting public safety, streets, sidewalks, parks and trails. The tax increase was approved by 55% of voters, according to Sedgwick County unofficial election results Tuesday night. The “1% Derby Difference sales tax” will replace the current half percent sales tax that expires on Dec. 31, 2024, according to the city’s website. The new 1% sales tax would start on Jan. 1, 2025 and run through Dec. 31, 2034. Derby’s overall sales tax rate now is 8%, with most of that going to the state. The increase will push Derby’s overall sales tax rate to 8.5% in 2025. “I’m excited for the City of Derby, I can’t help it,” Derby Mayor Randy White said in a phone call after the vote. “I’m excited that the citizens can see what good things we can do with this 1% sales tax.” In a survey earlier this year, a majority of Derby residents said they prefer sales tax over property taxes. Sales tax dollars would go to public safety equipment, capital improvements and maintenance, and improvements to streets, sidewalks, parks and trails.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
Leawood sends funds to Israeli sister city amid ongoing war
The city of Leawood has stepped in to help Israelis during the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas. The Leawood City Council on Monday approved a $25,000 donation to its sister city, the Gezer Region of Israel. The donation goes to the Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City, which will send the funds directly to humanitarian efforts in Gezer. The Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City has already raised roughly $2.6 million for Israel through its own efforts, according to representatives from the organization. Leawood and Gezer officially became sister cities in September 2003, after Leawood city representatives visited Gezer in 2002. In 2009, the city of Leawood built and dedicated Gezer Park at 133rd Street and Mission Road to its sister city, and the 10-acre park also features two public art pieces in tribute to Gezer. Gezer is one of two sister cities to Leawood — the other city being I-Lan, Taiwan. The $25,000 comes out of the city’s annual budget for both sister cities, Gezer and I-Lan.
Source: Prairie Village Post
Stop Rezoning-backed candidates win four seats on Prairie Village City Council
In some of Johnson County’s most-watched general election races this year, Prairie Village candidates backed by the Stop Rezoning group won four city council seats. A fifth Stop Rezoning-backed candidate remains in a close contest and will need to wait until provisional and mail-in ballots are counted for a final result. This year, the Prairie Village City Council election was in the spotlight as the 11 candidates vying for six seats were split on the hotly contested housing discussion, which has divided the city for more than a year. More than half of the candidates were supported by Stop Rezoning Prairie Village, the group of residents who banded together last year in opposition to the city’s ad hoc housing recommendations.
Source: Prairie Village Post
Darth Blader? Wichita has named its winter snow plows and you can track their progress
The weather may not feel like winter quite yet, but the first snow of the season could come sooner than you think. In preparation for slushy streets, the city of Wichita held a news conference Monday to discuss its plan for inclement winter weather and highlight some changes for the coming season. When the city experiences inclement weather that requires snow plows, it prioritizes the first 1,500 emergency routes and emergency facilities, major arteries, hospitals and schools. Wichita has 148 hired snow plow drivers to respond to roadway conditions, officials said. The city does not maintain state highways, like Kellogg and Interstate 135. It also doesn’t plow residential streets, and the city does not maintain a means for residents to request plow services. … community members can track where the snow plows are working at wichita.gov/snowremoval.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
KwiKom cuts ribbon for $1 million fiber internet project in Paola
A recent ribbon-cutting event marked the completion of KwiKom Communications’ installation of 23 miles of new fiber optic infrastructure that will offer high-speed internet to residents and businesses in northern Paola. The project was made possible by a grant that KwiKom and the city of Paola received in May of 2022 from the Kansas Office of Broadband Development Acceleration Grant program. The 50-50 state grant allowed for up to a 50 percent co-investment of the matching funding, and KwiKom asked the city of Paola for a co-investment commitment of $250,000, which is 25 percent of the project’s nearly $1 million total. KwiKom’s plan was to deliver scalable, 10 gigabit capable fiber to more than 500 homes and businesses within the northern city limits north of Baptiste Drive and around Lake Miola, and the Oct. 30 ribbon-cutting marked the completion of that task. The ribbon-cutting took place in Paola’s Industrial Park, which is where discussions first began about the project.
Source: Local News | republic-online.com
Louisburg in the running for $50,000 grant for dog park
Louisburg is one of 25 finalists for the PetSafe Unleashed Contest that offers a $50,000 grant to the winning community to build a dog park. Local residents can help Louisburg win the grant by voting online through the PetSafe Unleashed Contest website at petsafeunleashed.petsafe.com. The community that receives the most votes between now and Nov. 30 will be awarded the $50,000 grant, according to a news release. People can vote once per day. Louisburg entered the PetSafe Unleashed Contest as part of a community project led by a group of residents who formed Friends of Louisburg Dog Park, which has a goal of establishing an off-leash dog park for Louisburg and surrounding areas. Louisburg residents Jessica Crozier and Michelle Olson have been spearheading the effort for about 15 months. The group has worked hand-in-hand with the city of Louisburg to align on the need for a dog park, secure a location, and work through the details for constructing the park. The organizers have presented multiple times to the Louisburg City Council, Park and Tree Board, and Planning Commission.
Source: Local News | republic-online.com
What nickname do you use for Topeka?
Topeka has more than a few nicknames in the local lingo, depending on who you ask. Kansas’ capital has gone by several names over the years. Some exist as playful renditions of the city’s name while others pay homage to the history of the Sunflower State’s capital. The color of gold has long been a staple symbol of Topeka going back many years. It can most commonly be seen on the city’s seal and flags. But where does this come from? The phrase, “The Golden City,” was established by early settlers of the area due to the beauty of the city’s sunlit rolling hills and autumn, according to Visit Topeka’s website. One of the earliest references to Topeka as “The Golden City” comes from a book written in 1890 by Mary E. Jackson called “Pen and Camera Sketches.” Appearing in many local businesses like TopCity Comedy, TopCITY Golf, Top City Athletics and more, this nickname has caught some traction in Topeka. Visit Topeka encourages locals to use #TopCity on photos posted to social media. Seeing less use than other nicknames, this has seen a recent revival through the annual Get Down in T-Town event which celebrates the diversity of the community.
Source: KSNT 27 News
McPherson school bond vote fails
McPherson residents voted against an $88.5 million bond that would have gone to improve schools. The vote was 1,843 yes and 2,149 no. The $88.5 million bond would have created a new academic building at the high school, replacing the old structure from the 1960s. It would have connected to an updated fine arts section. The bond would have provided HVAC updates to every school in the district. McPherson County Clerk Hollie Melroy said they replaced their central counting machine Monday night to make sure they were ready to count ballots for the school bond. Melroy said it was working Tuesday morning, but it quit working before 9 p.m., and they could not finish the count until a new machine arrived.
Source: KSN-TV
Grant Co. will not get a new jail, two ballot issues fail
Two issues on the ballot in Grant County revolved around a new jail. The current facility was built in 1972. Grant County Commissioners wanted to pass a $15,500,000 bond project to replace the jail. That issue failed, with 64% of voters saying “no.” The other issue would have created a 1% citywide retailers sales tax to pay for the facility. That issue also failed by 64%. District 3 Commissioner Mark McGaughey believes voters did not understand why a new jail is needed. “A lot of people didn’t attend our Q/A sessions that we had in the community. We wish more people would have came and asked some questions,” said McGaughey.
Source: KSN-TV
America’s first female mayor came from a tiny town in Kansas. And she got the job by accident
These days, it’s common to see women on the ballot for school boards, city council and mayoral races in Kansas. The state’s top official, Gov. Laura Kelly, is in the middle of her second term. But women running for office — heck, even women voting — is only a little more than 100 years old in most of the country. Except in Kansas. There, women were allowed to vote in school board elections in 1861. By 1887, women could vote in Kansas in a municipal election. And by 1912, women had full suffrage — a full eight years before the passage of the 19th Amendment. “Kansas was ahead of most other states but it took a long time to get to the ultimate goal. Kansans, some Kansans, were struggling for a better place from the beginning,” says historian Virgil Dean, retired editor of Kansas History: A Journal of the Central Plains. Dean traces suffrage efforts back to 1859, when there was an unsuccessful move to grant women and African Americans full suffrage at the Wyandotte constitutional convention. Not only was Kansas ahead of the curve in terms of granting the right to vote, it also beat the rest of the country to elect a woman to office. That honor falls to Susanna Madora Salter of Argonia, Kansas, who, on April 4, 1887, became the first woman ever elected mayor in America.
Source: KCUR News
For years, wind was the power source of the plains. Now, Kansas is seeing solar step up
The city of Pratt, Kansas, is home to around 6,500 people. But the small town is rife with new developments. Driving around town, vice mayor Doug Meyer and Jamie Huber – Pratt’s director of electric utilities – point them out: a new swimming pool, recently resurfaced tennis courts, a 16-unit housing project. One of their proudest projects, though, is a six megawatt solar farm that came online in 2019. It’s right on the edge of town. “A lot of people don’t see it – I’ve got people who still ask me where it’s at,” Huber said. Over the past decade, renewable power on the Kansas prairie typically meant one thing – wind turbines. But now, solar energy in Kansas is booming, with developers proposing utility-scale solar farms from Sedgwick County to Great Bend to Johnson County. The city of Pratt operates its own electric utility. That means it generates, buys and sells its own power instead of relying entirely on the grid. In 2016, Pratt officials decided it wanted a solar farm to replace an expiring contract with a coal plant. Solar was a reliable energy source during high-demand times of day. And its price stayed steady, unlike electricity from the grid.
Source: KCUR News
Pottawatomie County voters again say no to road and bridge sales tax question
For the second straight year, Pottawatomie County voters have turned down a quarter percent sales tax to fund road and bridge improvements. The measure failed on a 56 to 44 percent margin (2,547 voting no, 2,032 voting yes), a year after it also failed by a 53 to 47 percent margin. County officials previously noted that such a tax would’ve generated approximately $2 million annually for about a dozen infrastructure projects. They had hoped to pay for the needed upgrades through the sales tax rather than utilizing property taxes. Most of the projects earmarked were in the Green Valley area and along and near the US 24 corridor.
Source: 1350 KMAN
Great Bend amends short-term rental rules
Following complaints from local Airbnb owners, the Great Bend City Council Monday night approved an ordinance amending short-term rental regulations, that cover such businesses, that it had OKed in June. At the Oct. 16 council meeting, Terri Bahr, who operates a number of Airbnbs in Great Bend and other communities, and Jarod Chansler, who runs an Airbnb in the downtown area, addressed the council with their concerns. “The existing short-term rental regulations were the culmination of considerable hard work on the part of the Assistant City Administrator Logan Burns, Building Inspector Matt Schafer, their staffs, and the Planning Commission,” said City Attorney Allen Glendenning. “Considerable research was done into the regulations in place in various cities in Kansas and neighboring states and that information was discussed and considered in multiple meetings of the Planning Commission.”
Source: Great Bend Tribune
Commerce Announces $2M in CDBG-COVID Resiliency Competitive Grants
The Kansas Department of Commerce today announced 15 Kansas communities would receive their share of $2 million from the Community Development Block Grant-COVID Resiliency (CDBG-CVR) competitive grant program. This program was funded via the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. CDBG-CVR was designed to empower Kansas businesses to enhance their resiliency in the face of future community illnesses and public health emergencies. “These grants will be a game-changer for many Kansas businesses,” Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland said. “This investment in pandemic resiliency not only will help retain jobs but help our state attract new businesses, further boosting our emerging economy.”
Source: Kansas Department of Commerce
Allen County OKs plan to accept plastic recyclables
The county’s first foray into recycling might look a little different than they expected. Allen County commissioners agreed Tuesday to allow a recycle and trash service provider from Erie set up a bin at the landfill to collect some types of No. 2 plastic items such as milk jugs. “It’s not cardboard, but it’s a start,” Mitch Garner, Public Works director, said. The county had identified cardboard as its top recycling need. Kenny Schettler, whose company collects trash for the City of Humboldt, offered to set up a container to collect only No. 2 plastic, a sturdier type of plastic that includes such things as juice and milk containers, bottles for cosmetics and household cleaners, plastic chairs and some types of toys. No. 2 plastics can be recycled up to 10 times.
Source: The Iola Register
Bentley Birthday Bash: a huge success with room for growth
The recently concluded Bentley Birthday Bash has left the local community buzzing with excitement after a resounding success that exceeded all expectations. The grand celebration, held in honor of Bentley’s 135th birthday, not only drew an impressive crowd but also showcased the event’s profound potential for future growth. Families, friends and visitors from neighboring towns flocked to the event, eager to join in the festive spirit and show their love for Bentley. The organizers left no stone unturned in curating a diverse range of attractions, ensuring there was something for everyone.
Source: Harvey County Now
Long-time city clerk in Sedgwick retires
Janise Enterkin has attended 464 city council meetings, 108 special council meetings, and 57 Hillside Cemetery meetings during her 19 years as Sedgwick’s city clerk. She served through four mayors and 18 council members. Now, after 21 years, Enterkin is retiring from the City of Sedgwick, effective Dec. 1. But if you want to see her in the office one last time, this Thursday (Nov. 9) will be your last chance. She’s using vacation time to bridge the gap. Enterkin heard about a position at the city 21 years ago while working for Jerry Alderson at Voice and Data Connection. When things at her job got slow, she started looking around, because her children were in school, and she wanted to work in town.
Source: Harvey County Now
Voters approve change to Reno County liquor law
The people of Reno County have voted to enact changes to the liquor license law so restaurants no longer need to have 30% of their sales be from food to keep their license. The food rule was passed by the State of Kansas in 1986, with it’s three classifications for county alcohol sales. There are wet counties with no restrictions, dry counties with no alcohol sales and semi-dry counties, where in order to have a liquor license you need to have 30% of your sales be food. Because of this law, Sandhills Brewing in Hutchinson was almost forced to close since they were not selling enough food. Sandhill offers snacks and pizza but the product they sell most of is alcohol.
Source: KAKE – News
Kansas abandoned wells project reinvigorated, but thousands left to plug
The state’s efforts to plug abandoned wells are back on track after delays in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to project coordinators. Ryan Hoffman, conservation division director with the Kansas Corporation Commission, updated lawmakers on the well situation during a Tuesday legislative meeting. The Kansas Corporation Commission oversees the well plugging process. “We are moving forward,” Hoffman said. Wells left unplugged can pose a health and safety risk to Kansans if they are near communities. Due to leakage, abandoned wells could leak into the water supply and or release methane into the air.
Source: Kansas Reflector
Municipal Bond Trends for November 6, 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.
Liberal creates new way for public to engage
The City of Liberal has launched the use of Polco, an online engagement platform, in an expanding effort to gain resident feedback to support local government decision-making. City staff will use Polco to post surveys and poll questions for citizens to participate in using Polco’s app or website, where users can answer and comment on a variety of topics. “Our staff and commission agree that creating a better future for Liberal takes all of us, and it’s important for us to hear from our citizens in order to work to meet needs effectively,” Liberal City Manager Rusty Varnado said. “We also understand people lead busy lives. Polco is a convenient way for all members of our community to share feedback about topics they care about.”
Source: Liberal First
KDOT warns of staffing shortages ahead of winter
The Kansas Department of Transportation is committed to keeping the highways clear whenever inclement weather impacts the state. However, KDOT staffing shortages create the potential for highways to not be cleared of snow and ice in a timely manner. The agency is in need of equipment operators – the agency’s primary snowplow operators. The agency has dealt with reduced staffing in the past, but the shortages have been greater in recent years. Across the state, KDOT is about 25% short of its preferred number of snowplow operators needed to be fully staffed.
Source: Little Apple Post
Emergency winter shelter to open in NE Wichita
Wichita Mayor Brandon announced on Thursday that an emergency winter shelter will open in northeast Wichita. The facility will be located at 2220 E 21st St. N., the former Fundamental Learning Center. The mayor said the shelter will serve about 250 people nightly. They’ll also be able to stay during the day. The City of Wichita owns the facility, which HumanKind Ministries will run. “We want to make sure that we have everything in place, first and foremost,” Wichita Assistant City Manager Troy Anderson said. “We don’t want to compromise safety and security, impact on the neighborhood.” The city said there will be on-site security personnel and one entrance.
Source: KWCH News
Why Municipal Bonds are Outshining Treasuries
Thanks to their par values and steady coupon rates, bonds are often seen as the ‘safe’ asset class, particularly when compared to stocks. But lately, federally-backed bonds aren’t seeming too safe. The recent debt ceiling issues, credit downgrades, and rising deficits have many investors on edge. Treasury bonds might not be as safe as they seem. But municipal bonds? It’s steady as she goes. According to asset manager Northern Trust, munis’ credit quality is better than ever before. And that makes them a great buy, potentially over Treasury bonds. For investors, adding a dose of munis continues to be the right play. … It turns out that, while the United States Treasury may be in a weakening state, state and local governments are facing the opposite situation. They are getting better in terms of credit quality and ability to pay their debts. While all the pandemic stimulus may have been a weakening factor to the federal balance sheet, it’s been a big win for states.
Source: Municipalbonds