Kansas Municipal News
Franchisees explain reasons behind McDonald’s closures in Wichita, Kingman and Anthony
The franchisee of the McDonald’s at 1050 N. Broadway that closed on Tuesday says the decision was made by McDonald’s corporate as part of an occasional “screening” the company does of all of its restaurants. The same process resulted in the closure of the McDonald’s in Kingman on the same day, he said. And Anthony’s McDonald’s also was scheduled to close on Oct. 31, but a fire earlier this month shut it down early. Michael Lane, who owns 11 McDonald’s restaurants in the area, said that the company didn’t share with him all the reasoning that led to its decision, but ultimately, he said, it was the company’s choice. “They make the ultimate decision, but as a franchisee, I have to say I understand,” he said. “There are three locations around that one that really serve 80 to 90 percent of the customers in that area, so it made sense to look at it that way and make that tough decision.” In addition to the fact that other McDonald’s restaurants are close by, including the one Michael Lane also owns at Broadway and Waterman, the dawn of digital options like ordering via app or for delivery has changed the number of physical restaurants that are needed in one area.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
Valley Center Recreation and Aquatics Center will add ‘quality-of-life’ amenity for residents, city official says
A project long-discussed in a suburban Wichita community is progressing toward reality. Work on the over 40,000 square-foot Valley Center Recreation and Aquatics Center began in August and is set to wrap by the close of 2024. Valley Center city administrator Brent Clark called the project “transformational” for the city just north of Wichita. “We have a town of nearly 7,500 people, but we also have over 750 residential lots coming online,” he said. “When we’re attracting residents and new homeowners, they look for quality-of-life amenities.” It was not a quick journey to get to this point. Clark said the community had been talking about the center since the early 2000s, but the city failed multiple times in getting a sales tax increase passed that would help fund the effort. Fast-forward to early in the Covid-19 pandemic, when Valley Center made the decision to temporarily shut down its large outdoor pool. That got some in the community fired up, and Clark said that energy was able to be turned into a case for revisiting the recreation and aquatic center as a long-term benefit for the city’s well-being.
Source: Wichita Business Journal
Lawrence school district to seek community input on skills graduates need
The Lawrence school district will hold two public input sessions to get the community’s feedback on how to best prepare graduates for what comes next. During its “Portrait of a Graduate” public input sessions, district leaders hope to learn the experiences and skills that community members think students should possess when they graduate. Patrick Kelly, chief academic officer, said the input will help the district “identify the postsecondary assets our community values and would expect upon graduation.” “In today’s world, the demands for students are tremendous as they move on to college, career, and adult life,” Kelly said via email from district spokesperson Julie Boyle. “It’s no longer enough to just graduate on time with the right academic credentials. The Kansas State Board of Education’s new graduation requirements include postsecondary assets aligned with the student’s individual plan of study (IPS).” Brad Neuenswander, founding director of KU’s Center for Evaluation and Educational Leadership (CEEL), and KU graduate student Sophie Robic will facilitate the input sessions. Afterward, they will provide the district with a report on the input they gathered, and administrators will share that information with the school board, Boyle said.
Source: The Lawrence Times
Saline County celebrates completion of new jail facility after decades of ongoing needs
As construction workers shook hands and exchanged greetings with government officials, Saline County Sheriff Roger Soldan stepped out into the cold October morning to welcome more visitors. People pulling into the public parking lot of the new Saline County jail were greeted with his smile and directions on where to park. His breath created a fog as he spoke through the 28-degree breeze. About 100 people gathered Tuesday at 800 Pacific Ave. in Salina to celebrate the opening of Saline County’s state-of-the-art jail facility. Remarks were made by nearly everyone who helped turn an idea into reality, and the ceremony was capped off by a thanks for the public’s $89 million investment and a ribbon cutting complete with giant scissors. “I’m more excited about people getting an actual tour, than I am of the ribbon cutting,” Soldan said. The Saline County community celebrated on Halloween what began two years ago, when on Oct. 21, 2021, the Turner Construction crew broke ground on some old farmland in north Salina. Since that time, the project kept within its voter-approved budget and finished within the original timeline for completion — a feat several public officials spoke about Tuesday.
Source: News – Salina Journal
Overland Park to turn old Marty Pool site into a new park
The site of the former Marty Pool in northern Overland Park is set to get a new life as a neighborhood park in the next couple of years. On Wednesday, the Overland Park City Council Community Development Committee voted 5-0 to recommend approval of a contract with landscape architecture firm Confluence to design the new park. Councilmember Sam Passer, who serves as the committee’s vice chair, was absent from the meeting. Overland Park decommissioned the pool near West 75th and Conser streets in 2022 after decades of offering neighborhood families a place to cool off in the summer. Mary Pool’s closure was part of a long-term plan laid out in the city’s Parks and Recreation Master Plan to decommission some of the city’s pools over the next couple of decades, (Pg. 36). Overland Park previously closed Roe Pool and converted it into a community park.
Source: Prairie Village Post
Affordable housing, size of city council on the line in heated Johnson County election
A chaotic past year in Prairie Village, first sparked by the city discussing affordable housing initiatives, is culminating in one of Johnson County’s most contentious elections this fall. The Nov. 7 election comes as the city considers ways the pricey suburb could allow more affordable housing, a conversation that has sharply divided the community. The debate has transformed into a deeper political battle, leading to two clear factions of candidates running for half of the City Council seats on Tuesday. The city remains tied up in a legal battle with a group of residents who call themselves PV United — first formed to oppose any zoning changes aimed at allowing more affordable housing — that filed petitions this fall pushing to let residents vote on limiting mayoral powers and cutting the council in half. The idea was especially controversial because it would have resulted in ejecting six council members from their seats mid-term.
Source: Joco 913 News
Pittsburg restores services following cyber attack
The City of Pittsburg is restoring some essential services following the cyber incident that occurred September 16, which caused an IT outage affecting online systems and phones. Utility payment systems, billing systems, and Municipal Court proceedings are now able to resume. City emails and phone systems are still affected, but should be fully functioning soon. The city’s utility payment and billing system is now back online after being unavailable for several weeks. City of Pittsburg Customer Service Department will be issuing bills for the September and October billing cycle. The city is suspending late fees and disconnections during this time. Customers can pay in person, via drop box, mail, or online. Municipal Court will also resume operations on Wednesday, November 8 at 1:15 pm (afternoon court only) at the Pittsburg Law Enforcement Center. Municipal Court was previously postponed and court-related fees were temporarily being processed at City Hall. The Municipal Court is now able to receive payments again via cash or money order at the Law Enforcement Center.
Source: City of Pittsburg
Municipal Bond Trends for November 3, 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.
Rural renewal: KU alumna restores buildings, bustle in Wilson, Kansas
The Midland Railroad Hotel welcomes visitors to Wilson today in much the same way it did over a century ago, when the town was a midway stop between Kansas City and Denver on the Union Pacific Railroad. Inside the stately, three-story limestone building with the red roof, guests still enjoy cozy accommodations surrounded by refurbished original woodwork and other trappings of a bygone era. But unlike long-ago railroad travelers, many of the Midland’s modern-day patrons consider the hotel itself the destination. “Coming to the Midland is like stepping back in time,” says Melinda Merrill, g’03, who has owned and operated the hotel since 2014 and turned the once-shuttered landmark into a renowned regional hub. “It’s a place where people can relax and get away from their day-to-day grind, and a place where people can just enjoy being in a small town.” The hotel is one of a handful of revival projects Merrill has been involved with in the rural community of Wilson, population 859, about 180 miles west of Lawrence via I-70. The structures under her stewardship, which also include a repurposed grade school and a rescued tin barn, take on new lives and, in turn, provide new opportunities for hospitality and connection in a place once short on such amenities.
Source: KU Alumni Magazine
Proposed sales tax could improve the city of Olpe
Olpe residents will soon be voting on a retailers’ sales tax in the city. On this year’s ballots, residents in Olpe will be voting to approve or deny a sales tax in the city. According to the Lyon County election office, 1/2 of 1% is the amount of sales tax that will be levied in the city of Olpe if this ballot question gets approved. The sales tax will go towards capital improvements to improve the city. Olpe City Clerk Joyce Wilson told 27 News there’s a few key projects the money from this sales tax would go to if it gets approved. If approved, the city of Olpe would add a fitness park with sidewalks, create wider sidewalks throughout the town and add parking near the football field.
Source: KSNT 27 News
Local mural artist turns a new leaf at the Hiawatha Chamber and Wenger wall
The wall facing the Arrow Twin movie theater features paintings of orange, red, and yellow-colored leaves that appear to be floating on the white wall on the metal building owned by Tim and Arthur Wenger close to Hiawatha Chamber and Visitors Bureau building across the street. Viewers taking in the sight will notice the words in the middle of the wall, which beckon them to “Fall in love with Hiawatha,” which is also the theme the Chamber used to help promote the project and Hiawatha to surrounding areas and even the nation and world at large.
Source: hiawathaworldonline.com
Topeka leaders address camping ordinance status
In less than three weeks, a new camping ordinance will go into effect in Topeka. The ordinance is the City of Topeka’s effort to address the city’s homeless population, specifically, homeless camping. The ordinance goes into effect on Nov. 17, according to the city, but there is still uncertainty on exactly what it will look like. It outlines where homeless individuals can’t go, but not where they can go after it passes. “There are a lot of suggestions, put them here, put them there,” Topeka Mayor Michael Padilla said.
Source: KSNT 27 News
Fed holds rates steady, upgrades assessment of economic growth
The Federal Reserve on Wednesday again held benchmark interest rates steady amid a backdrop of a growing economy and labor market and inflation that is still well above the central bank’s target. In a widely expected move, the Fed’s rate-setting group unanimously agreed to hold the key federal funds rate in a target range between 5.25%-5.5%, where it has been since July. This was the second consecutive meeting that the Federal Open Market Committee chose to hold, following a string of 11 rate hikes, including four in 2023. The decision included an upgrade to the committee’s general assessment of the economy.
Source: CNBC – Bonds
Goats to help with vegetation overgrowth in Wichita park
Wichita Park & Recreation announced that it will have Rex and his team of goats from Restoration Grazing, LLC at Oak Park starting Monday. The goats are expected to take up to a month to clear eight acres of overgrown weeds, poison ivy, and vegetation. Wichita Park & Recreation says the goats will not interfere with the disc golf course at Oak Park. “Disc golf players will probably have a lot of spectators 👀🐐😂,” said Wichita Park & Recreation. Wichita Park & Recreation welcomes the public to watch the goats in action. “We’re excited to see everyone out at the park!” said Restoration Grazing, LLC.
Source: KSN-TV
City of Wichita Library debuts new Book Bus
The City of Wichita Library debuted its new Book Bus Thursday. According to the City of Wichita Library, it was the Director of Libraries Jaime Nix’s idea to bring library services to areas of Wichita that don’t have quick access to a physical library location. The Book Bus will take to the streets in November to offer outreach programming and services to Wichita’s youngest readers. “The Book Bus will focus on early learning resources for our youngest readers,” said Wichita Public Libraries.
Source: KSN-TV
Sales tax increase to be decided by Pottawatomie Co. voters
Pottawatomie County residents will soon vote to approve or deny a retailers’ sales tax to fund projects across the county. On the ballots for this year’s general election, voters in Pottawatomie County will either vote ‘yes’ or ‘no’ for an additional retailers’ sales tax of 0.25% to be put into place Jan. 1, 2024. This proposed 0.25% retailers’ sales tax is in addition to the existing retailers’ sales tax of 1%.
Source: KSNT 27 News
Proposed sales tax would help Plains grocery store
Voters in Plains, in Meade County, will be voting on a sales tax to help the local grocery store. Grand Avenue Market opened in 2021. The city used a $500,000 federal loan to build the facility, and repayments start in a few weeks. Tuesday, voters consider adding a .5% city-wide special retailers’ sales tax to help pay off that debt. The money would go to the Community Enhancement Foundation of the Plains, a foundation that owns and operates the Grand Avenue Market. Store co-manager Kim Wurdeman said the money from the proposed sales tax will help them keep their doors open.
Source: KSN-TV
Ascension Via Christi Emergency department set to close in Fort Scott
The decision to close the emergency room at Ascension Via Christi in Fort Scott, Kansas, has sparked criticism from state leaders and residents alike. The move to cease emergency department operations, effective December 20th, has drawn concerns about the impact on rural healthcare accessibility and emergency services in the area. Ascension Via Christi cited several reasons for the closure, including a steady decline in emergency room visits and economic challenges.
Source: KOAM News
Emily Randel, Mission’s deputy city administrator, to leave after decade
Emily Randel, the city of Mission deputy city administrator, is leaving at the end of January. Randel has been with the city of Mission for 10 years and has worked her way up from a neighborhood services coordinator, who oversaw code enforcement and managed the grant program, to deputy city administrator over the past decade. Once she hit the 10-year mark in May, she said she saw it as a chance to evaluate next steps. Randel said she believes Mission is poised for a bright future, making it the right time to hand over her responsibilities to someone else.
Source: Prairie Village Post
Marshall Co. voters to see city sales tax question on ballots
Two towns in Marshall County are asking residents to vote ‘yes’ or ‘no’ for the creation of a sales tax to improve city-wide infrastructure. The cities of Waterville and Blue Rapids are asking its residents to vote on a retailers’ sales tax question that will be on the ballots for this year’s general election. Each city is proposing a 0.5% retailers’ sales tax that, if approved, will take effect Jan. 1, 2024, according to information from the Marshall County Election Office. In Waterville, the city will use the funds to reconstruct, repair, maintain and improve the streets, curbs and gutters in Waterville. ….In Blue Rapids, the revenue from the 0.5% sale tax will fund general governmental services that will be provided by the city.
Source: KSNT 27 News
City officially owns Hotel Topeka with a hefty price tag
The City of Topeka has finalized the purchase of Hotel Topeka. A spokeswoman for the City of Topeka announced the Topeka Development Corportation now officially has retained ownership of Hotel Topeka for more than $7.6 million. The hotel is remaining open for business and all services are expected to continue like normal. “We are excited about the purchase being finalized, and steadfast in our desire to see the hotel redeveloped and eventually brought back to private ownership,” Topeka Mayor Michael Padilla, who also serves as president of the corporation’s board of directors, said. “In the coming months, the corporation, board of directors, and staff will be working closely with our asset manager and partners to develop a long-term plan for the hotel so that it can be a staple in our community for many years to come.”
Source: KSNT 27 News
Derby Planning Commission considering changes for accessory structure regulations
Following discussion among the Derby City Council and an official addition to its list of priorities earlier this year, changes to the city’s zoning regulations for accessory structures came to the Planning Commission for consideration in October. Presenting on the history of zoning regulations, City Planner Scott Knebel said none existed in regards to accessory structures for single-family or two-family dwellings prior to 2022. However, leading up to that, several large, agricultural-style metal garages/barns were constructed on single-family residential lots, which led to “a lot of complaints.” Starting Jan. 1, 2022, the zoning regulations were amended to state that any accessory structure over 120 sq. ft. at a single or two-family dwelling must “be consistent architecturally” with the principal structure on the property.
Source: Derby Informer | News
Governor Kelly Announces $85M for Two New Water-Related Grant Programs
Governor Laura Kelly and the Kansas Water Office announced that $85 million over five years will go toward water projects with the launch of the Technical Assistance Fund Grants and Water Projects Fund Grants programs. Both grant programs provide funding for up-front technical assistance and on-the-ground actions needed to address water quantity and quality issues around the state. The grants were made possible when Governor Kelly signed Senate Substitute for HB 2302, a bipartisan bill from the 2023 legislative session that increased funding for the State Water Plan Fund and established these two grant programs.
Source: Governor of the State of Kansas
Municipal Bond Trends for November 2, 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 1, 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.
Mayor Mike Boehm: 32 years of celebrated service
Lenexa’s longest-serving mayor, Michael Boehm, will soon wrap up an exceptional career in service to our community. After five consecutive terms as mayor, he decided not to run for reelection in November. A lifelong resident of Lenexa, Boehm’s career in public service began on the Lenexa Planning Commission in 1991. He was then elected to the City Council in 1995 and became mayor in 2003. “It has been an honor to serve Lenexa as mayor for the past two decades, and I believe that now is the right time to step aside,” said Boehm. “What we have accomplished over the past twenty years was a team effort — not the work of any one individual….
Source: City of Lenexa
Buhler USD opening up daycare in 2024 to help with childcare crisis
Deanna Herron has been teaching math at Buhler High School for 4 years. Its easy for her to take care of her students, but for a long time it was hard to find someone to watch after her own because there wasn’t a lot of daycare options. “Finding daycare that was reliable, that I could trust with my kids and just leaving them in general with anybody, you know, you always have that sense of anxiety with it.” Herron’s kids are now old enough to be in school but her experience is one still many people are dealing with across Kansas. That’s something her district recognized and so it bought a former church building just north of Hutchinson to turn it into a daycare.
Source: KAKE – News
At the ‘UFO capital of Kansas,’ a celebration of the weird and wonderful
Welcome to Dimension G. Once you enter the Geneseo City Museum, it takes a few minutes to adjust to the high strangeness contained within. Never mind the creepy ventriloquist dolls in the corner staring at you with their dead eyes. What you’ll really want to concentrate on is the UFO Room, where you’ll find hair of a dog from Venus, spring water preferred by interplanetary travelers, and blueprint-like drawings from an entire fleet of craft from Venus, Mars and beyond. At least that’s what the man who collected these things believed, and the museum has done its best to preserve the imagination and personality of Elmer D. “Doc” Janzen. He was a chiropractor, minister, ventriloquist, inveterate collector and fervent believer that earth was visited frequently by interplanetary beings, who happened to look just like us.
Source: Kansas Reflector
Osawatomie power outage was ‘worst-case scenario’
Power was restored to all Osawatomie residences and businesses shortly after midnight Saturday, Oct. 28, ending a three-day nightmare for 250 to 300 residents who were left in the dark. A critical failure at the city of Osawatomie’s power plant substation caused the initial power outages in the overnight hours of Tuesday, Oct. 24, into Wednesday, Oct. 25. On Wednesday morning, power was restored to some neighborhoods through the city’s generators, but a secondary equipment failure impacting the generators triggered another outage, according to the city’s updates.
Source: Local News | republic-online.com
Southeast Kansas town is almost out of water, and signs of crisis are everywhere
It’s hardly a question of whether the water will run out for one town on the Kansas-Oklahoma border. It’s a matter of when. The stubborn drought that has hung over southeast Kansas for close to two years has brought Caney, a town of less than 2,000 people, within weeks of reaching the end of its water supply. Without rain, Caney could run dry by Christmas. “This is the worst it’s been since any of us have been alive,” said City Manager Kelley Zellner. Signs of the crisis are everywhere. At Eggbert’s, a diner at the edge of town, the price of bottled water is listed with the restaurant’s specials by the front door. Menus carry a notice that the staff can’t give out tap water. Cases of bottled water, donated by Walmart, sit in front of City Hall. There’s a portable bathroom trailer outside the junior and senior high school. And the town’s primary water source, the Little Caney River, is so low that the water that remains is stagnant.
Source: Kansas Reflector
How Leawood plans to regulate pickleball noise in neighborhoods
Leawood residents looking to build private sports courts in their backyard have new requirements to keep in mind. At last week’s meeting, the Leawood Planning Commission approved an amendment to the city’s development ordinance adding new guidelines to the approval process for building new tennis or pickleball courts. The amendment follows multiple planning commission work sessions after residents began raising concerns about noise and bright lights coming from residential pickle ball courts last year. The city explored several ways of addressing the problem, such as cutting back permitted court lighting hours and raising the minimum distance from neighboring property lines. Before last week’s change, residential sports courts — both tennis and pickle ball — already required a special use permit if they had lighting. The amendment approved last week requires residents to notify any neighbors by mail within 200 feet that they want to build a sports court. It also requires the court to be screened from neighbors by evergreen landscaping.
Source: Prairie Village Post
Protest petition blocks Hesston ordinance to home-rule out of printed legal notices
Harvey County Clerk Rick Piepho certified a successful protest petition that prevents a charter ordinance from the City of Hesston from going into effect, at least without a public vote. The ordinance, approved by the Hesston City Council in August, would have allowed the city to designate its website as its legal newspaper, removing state requirements to print various legal notices in an official print newspaper. Late Tuesday afternoon, Piepho certified that a protest petition against the measure had a sufficient number of valid signatures from registered Hesston voters. It took 73 verified signatures for a successful petition, 10 percent of the number of voters who participated in the last municipal election. The signatures had to belong to currently registered voters, and their addresses had to match their addresses on voter rolls. Hesston community members and Harvey County Now submitted a list of 97 signatures in anticipation of some being ruled ineligible. Piepho determined that at least 81 were valid.
Source: Harvey County Now
Ottawa voters to determine whether to keep, eliminate food sale requirement on liquor by the drink
When Melody and Dusty Gentry opened Not Lost Brewing in downtown Ottawa a few years ago, they wanted to share their passion for brewing specially crafted beers one glass at a time. The idea for the hometown brew pub was to introduce locals to different varieties of beer beyond the common commercial domestic types with brews such as Blackberry Milkshake India Pale Ale or Blueberry Wheat. While they also wanted to feature a few menu options like hummus, charcuterie plates and sandwiches and chips that would pair well and complement the craft brews on tap, the focus was always on showcasing the beer. But under Kansas law, breweries and other drinking establishments like Not Lost that sell liquor by the drink must derive not less than 30 percent of their gross receipts from food sales during a 12-month period. And for the Gentrys, meeting that requirement was getting tougher and tougher. “We were not on track to meet the 30 percent food requirement last fall,” Melody said.
Source: The Ottawa Herald
New Garden City Regional Airport terminal opens ahead of holiday travel season
The front doors of Garden City Regional Airport’s new terminal howl in high winds, providing a spooky soundtrack during blustery autumn days. The airport’s director, Rachelle Powell, said that’s one of a few kinks workers will smooth out as airport employees prepare for holiday travel season at the recently constructed terminal building. Kansas Reflector received a tour of the new terminal earlier in October. The original airport terminal was built in 1959 to serve passengers in southwest Kansas, as well as southeast Colorado and the Oklahoma-Texas panhandles.
Source: Kansas Reflector
135th Birthday Bash happening in Bentley this Saturday
Bentley turns 135 this year, and the town has big plans to celebrate. This Saturday, Nov. 4, Bentley will hold its Birthday Bash, an all-day celebration for the whole family. … Event organizer Shannon Catlin said they did some research and discovered that it’s been at least 15 years since Bentley has held a festival or celebration of an event other than the car show. She said she was cautious at the first meeting, but then 17 people showed up. “People want something. They want something like this,” Catlin said. “We’ve had a lot of great support. I’m excited.”
Source: Harvey County Now
Halstead’s hidden treasure in post office
When walking into Halstead’s post office, most people don’t take a second glance at the mural above the postmaster’s door or know about the Kansas history that it holds and others just like it across the state. Kansas artist Birger Sandzén was 70 years old when he arrived in Halstead to paint a mural that was a part of a New Deal-era program in 1941. The river scene he painted, called “Where Kit Carson Camped,” depicts the scenic location near Halstead where a powwow took place between frontiersman Kit Carson and Native American Chief Black Kettle. Sarah Green, co-director of the Kansas Sampler Foundation, said she visited Halstead this summer in preparation for the organization’s new guidebook publication. Among the highlights, besides the city’s iconic bridge, was the post office. “These murals are sometimes hidden, often overlooked, but remain exquisite examples of a program to help bring beauty and top-notch art into rural communities,” Green said.
Source: Harvey County Now
Sedgwick schools receive state recognition
The Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) and the Kansas State Board of Education recently notified Sedgwick Public Schools of USD-439 for achieving recognition in the 2023 Kansans Can Star Recognition Program. The KSDE and the state board presented Sedgwick Public Schools with the following recognition for 2023: Academically Prepared for Postsecondary: Copper; Graduation: Silver; Postsecondary Effectiveness: Copper. “We recognize the exceptional work your district is doing to reach the state’s vision for education—Kansas leads the world in the success of each student,” the organizations wrote in a letter to the district. “The Kansans Can Star Recognition Program recognizes district success in the outcome measures Kansans told us they value, and it is clear that Sedgwick Public Schools and other Kansas districts like yours are moving us closer to achieving the state’s vision.”
Source: Harvey County Now
Finney County Historical Society celebrating 75 years
The Finney County Historical Society is celebrating its 75th anniversary on Thursday. The anniversary reception is being held in conjunction with the Garden City Area Chamber of Commerce’s Business After Hours from 5-7:30 p.m. at the Finney County Historical Museum. Admission is free, and attendees should use the museum’s north entrance. Steve Quakenbush, Executive Director of the Finney County Historical Society and Museum, said the Historical Society was first established on Jan. 31, 1948. The organization’s first meeting and founding was held in the Finney County Courthouse. Quakenbush said he would love to know what the founders thoughts on the Historical Society turning 75.
Source: Garden City Telegram
Markets are on board with the Fed’s ‘higher for longer’ policy, CNBC survey shows
While respondents to the CNBC Fed Survey expect no additional rate hikes from the Federal Reserve, they have fully embraced its “higher-for-longer” mantra to the point where no rate cuts are expected until the third quarter of 2024. The 31 respondents, including economists, strategists, and analysts, believe the Fed is now on hold into September of next year, when 57% expect a rate cut. As recently as the summer, respondents had forecast rate cuts in the beginning of next year. … The change can also be seen in the outlook for the fed funds rate, the central bank’s benchmark for short-term lending costs. It’s now forecast on average to end 2024 at 4.6%, assuming about 75 basis points of rate cut. In June, the year-end 2024 funds rate was forecast at 3.8%, which assumed 125 basis points of cuts. A basis point equals 0.01%.
Source: CNBC – Bonds
Harvey County commissioners hear reasoning for recommended renewable energy ban
After years of discussion and research, a decision will be made at the next Harvey County Commission meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 14, regarding renewable energy regulations in Harvey County. Karen Rothe, director of planning and zoning, presented the Harvey County Planning Commission’s recommended changes to the Commercial Renewable Energy Project Regulations. As expected, Rothe told commissioners that the recommendation by the planning commission is to ban commercial-grade wind and solar energy. The planning commission passed the regulations unanimously. She said the reason for regulations is so people can understand what the county’s expectations are on their projects, what they want to be identified when doing a project, and what needs to be involved in the conditional use permit. The planning commission felt that Harvey County was not suitable for commercial (utility scale) wind energy conversion systems or community scale wind energy systems. The planning commission’s recommendations listed the reasons for the decision.
Source: Harvey County Now
Girard, school district OK partnership
Following last week’s Girard City Council meeting, the local council and Girard USD 248 announced a partnership that will soon allow residents to use one of the school’s facilities. USD 248 superintendent Todd Ferguson took the podium during the meeting, discussing partnership options between the city and school district regarding the use of the school’s Activity Center, located at 150 Apico Way on the north side of the building. “I believe you guys are probably relatively in the loop on this, but I just wanted to make sure that we’re comfortable with this moving forward,” he said. “As you may or may not know, we renovated our weight room in the basement at the high school this past summer, a state-of-the-art facility. What that means is we’ve taken some pretty good weight equipment and moved it out to the Activity Center. In talking to the mayor (Mickey Pyle), and everyone else involved, I’d love to see our community have an Activity Center where people can go out and work out, where people can go out and get on a treadmill, where people can go out and lift weights.”
Source: Morning Sun
Politicians mark start of $532 million project to replace Leavenworth’s 126-year-old penitentiary
Heavy construction machinery did the real work in advance of Monday’s groundbreaking for a $532 million Leavenworth federal prison and satellite prison camp to replace an antiquated structure constructed in 1897 that served as the nation’s first maximum-security prison. After the speeches and applause, a gaggle of local, state and federal politicians and Federal Bureau of Prisons officials dutifully grabbed ceremonial shovels and gouged the frigid dirt at their feet to celebrate a step forward for public safety. The imposing stone facade of the U.S. Penitentiary known as “Big Top” remained solid, but the federal prison’s electrical, plumbing, heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems long ago surpassed operational limits. The new prison project — a top priority of local officials in Leavenworth for two decades — belatedly gained traction in Congress about five years ago …
Source: Kansas Reflector
Kansas and Wichita homestead refunds are ‘here for us to take advantage of’
Property tax refund options for older homeowners are growing thanks to new state and local programs. But homeowners must know about the programs and fill out the correct paperwork to take advantage of them. This year marked the rollout of Kansas’ property tax “freeze’’ for qualifying homeowners. Called the Seniors or Disabled Veterans Refund (SVR), it is designed to keep an eligible homeowner’s taxes from increasing year to year. Over 10,000 claims for this refund have been filed across the state in 2023, according to the Kansas Department of Revenue. The popularity of the SVR tax refund program will spread in 2024 as it becomes more widely known, predicted State Sen. Tom Holland…
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
Horton mural honors the lives of veterans
A new mural in Horton is doing more than just beautifying what once was just a brick wall. It’s honoring the lives of those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. “We’ve had the dream for a number of years,” Reinvent Horton President Connie Werner said. “We got a hold of the artist that did this mural and then told them about the stories of the gentlemen that lost their lives and the history of our armory here and a number of different historical things.” So they got to work. In under two weeks, Chase Hunter along with other artists with “The Arts Department” made a dream into a reality. Something Hunter says he is grateful they got the opportunity to do. “It was an honor,” Hunter said. “I’m very grateful for the opportunity to put some paint where it ain’t and do something for the community and the people. The wounds are still fresh with these people and to kind of let them know these people aren’t forgotten and they deserve to be honored in the way we did.”
Source: KSNT 27 News
Truckload of Bottled Water helps Caney Valley School District midst water shortage
Caney Valley School District in Kansas is proactively addressing the ongoing water shortage by implementing innovative measures. School Superintendent Blake Vargas recently discussed the district’s approach, which includes temporarily closing school on specific days while ensuring compliance with the required number of school days for the year. Vargas explained the rationale behind the decision, stating, “The determination was made. It’s a variety of days. The majority are on Mondays; we do have a couple of Fridays. But up to our Thanksgiving and Christmas break, we will be off. Essentially, what we’ve done is by eliminating those days, we know that we can reduce water consumption during those days. We want to do our part with that. Even though we’ve seen a little rain in our area, we recognize the need for substantial rainfall.” The Caney Valley School District’s commitment to conserving water resources has included the purchase of trailer restrooms and the distribution of bottled water. While these measures have had financial implications for the district, they have been buoyed by generous donations from the community.
Source: KOAM News