Kansas Municipal News
Community sues plastics industry: Ford County says recycling misrepresented
Ford County, Kansas, is suing Exxon, Chevron, Dupont and a handful of other oil, gas and chemical companies alleging them of misrepresenting the recyclability of plastics causing increased costs for waste management.
Source: Salina Journal
Municipal Bond Trends for December 5, 2024
The interest rate table above illustrates recent changes in a sample of AA rated bond trades reported to the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board’s EMMA® system. Every issuer’s credit is different, and other financing sources may be available. To obtain comprehensive Financial Advisory services for your local government, contact your Ranson Financial Municipal Advisor, Larry Kleeman, or Henry Schmidt.
Overland Park officials differ on ideas for new green building code
Overland Park is still working on a new code that seeks to increase the sustainability of new and renovated city facilities, but two of its city council committees have offered different recommendations on how to proceed.
Source: Johnson County Post
Olathe tweaking incentive policy to encourage higher wages, sustainability
Olathe is looking to update its industrial revenue bond and tax abatement policy to incentivize higher wages and more sustainable buildings. These drafted amendments follow months of back and forth among councilmembers about whether the existing policy goes far enough to encourage the types of development the city wants or create jobs with livable wages.
Source: Johnson County Post
New burn resolution proposed in Marion County
The old resolution prohibited burning when any part of the county was in high fire risk. The proposed amendment divides the county into four areas. Burning will still be allowed in quadrants where risk is not high.
Source: Marion County RECORD
Junction City hires veteran as new city manager
Junction City has found a U.S. Army veteran to serve as its next city manager. Officials on Wednesday announced Kim Zimmerman will take over the position Jan. 2, replacing Allen Dinkel after his retirement in July. Zimmerman resigned from his position as chief administrator of Lewistown, Pennsylvania, in late August.
Source: themercury.com
Municipal Bond Trends for December 4, 2024
The interest rate table above illustrates recent changes in a sample of AA rated bond trades reported to the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board’s EMMA® system. Every issuer’s credit is different, and other financing sources may be available. To obtain comprehensive Financial Advisory services for your local government, contact your Ranson Financial Municipal Advisor, Larry Kleeman, or Henry Schmidt.
Municipal Bond Trends for December 3, 2024
The interest rate table above illustrates recent changes in a sample of AA rated bond trades reported to the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board’s EMMA® system. Every issuer’s credit is different, and other financing sources may be available. To obtain comprehensive Financial Advisory services for your local government, contact your Ranson Financial Municipal Advisor, Larry Kleeman, or Henry Schmidt.
Overland Park firms up plan to overhaul city development codes
Overland Park is taking steps to update its rules and regulations for future development and redevelopment projects to match the priorities of the city’s new comprehensive plan. On Monday, the Overland Park City Council voted 12-0 to approve an agreement with White and Smith, LLC, for consulting on the revision of the city’s development codes called the Unified Development Ordinance. Earlier in the evening, the council’s Community Development Committee also unanimously recommended approval of the contract for the ordinance update. Overland Park has earmarked just shy of $560,000 for consulting services on the project, which is expected to take several months. “This is a big step,” Mayor Curt Skoog said of the review process.
Source: Johnson County Post
Overland Park intends for new, renovated city buildings to be greener. How?
Overland Park is one step closer to adopting a new code that aims to increase the sustainability of new and updated city facilities. Last month, the Overland Park City Council Finance, Administration and Economic Development Committee voted 5-1 to recommend adopting green building objectives for city facilities. For the most part, the members of the committee were supportive of adopting a sustainability code for city construction projects, though there was some disagreement about how strict the new building objectives should be.
Source: Johnson County Post
County commission approves administrator job listing
After multiple weeks of discussing how to fill the Harvey County Administrator role, the commission made steps to start the hiring process. County Administrator Anthony Swartzendruber gave his resignation last month, prompting the commission to begin plans to replace him. Swartendruber’s last day is Dec. 27. The county commission approved a job description written by Human Resources Director Heidi Huber and analyzed by county counselor Brad Jantz. At the previous meeting, the commission requested a first draft of a job listing be written up.
Source: Harvey County Now
Trash service costs spiking in Burrton
Residents in Burrton will see a significant increase in their solid waste fee starting this month. On Monday, Dec. 2, the city approved an increase to trash service rates from $18 to $28 per month, which is an increase of more than 50 percent. Kim Ryan, Burrton city clerk, said the increase will start with the December trash bill going out this month. Ryan said the increase would help the city keep up with increased costs from Nisly Brothers, the trash company the city uses, as well as inflation costs.
Source: Harvey County Now
Transition from journalism to public service easy for new city admin
North Newton has hired a new city administrator. The City of North Newton announced that Bradley Harris will fill the open position. Harris comes to North Newton after working as the assistant to the city manager in Oak Point Texas, as well as a job working for the City of Lawrence.
Source: Harvey County Now
State sales tax dropping off food
In less than a month, state sales tax on groceries will be eliminated. However, you’ll still see local taxes on purchases of food items. On Jan. 1, the state sales tax on food and food ingredients will drop from a 2 percent tax on purchases to 0 percent. The change represents the final action in a 2022 law that gradually reduced the sales tax on food, which had been 6.5 percent.
Source: Harvey County Now
Governor Kelly Announces $10.7M to Expand Internet Access to Devices and Public Wi-Fi
Governor Laura Kelly announced Tuesday that applications will open Thursday, Dec. 12, for a second round of the Advancing Digital Opportunities to Promote Technology (ADOPT) program. The program will provide $10.7 million to organizations working to expand access to public wi-fi and connected devices. “Our digital opportunity programs empower Kansans to reach their full potential in work, education, and entrepreneurship,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “The ADOPT program provides resources for communities to thrive in a digitally connected economy.”
Source: Kansas Department of Commerce
Water bills for Wichita customers will be going up. Here’s when and how much
Wichita water and sewer customers can expect to see their bill continue to increase at higher than expected rates as the city’s new water treatment plant comes online. The City Council approved a combined 6.14% rate increase for next year – which amounts to approximately $3.21 more a month on residential customer bills, according to the city. However, other fees associated with water use will rise significantly. Account origination fees, which are added to water customers bills when they first start an account with the city, are currently $34. With the council’s approval, it will now be $53. Fees also increased for meter maintenance, connection and testing services. Those fees are adjusted every two years, according to Public Works Director Gary Janzen.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
Olathe sets up incentives for new downtown restaurants
Olathe has started the process of issuing incentives to two new eateries that are coming to the city’s downtown area next year. Pizza 51 South and Third Street Social have both requested industrial revenue bonds and 10-year full property tax abatements, as well as 2% Community Improvement District special sales taxes. The two businesses are part of a trio of Kansas City-based restaurants that recently announced plans to open new locations in downtown Olathe. The third is Char Bar, which also is expected to eventually add pickleball courts to its new Olathe venue.
Source: Johnson County Post
Under revised rules, Leawood developers would be on hook for replacing trees or paying for them
Leawood may become a little more flexible on its tree replacement policy for developers, if an ordinance recently approved by the city’s planning commission gets final council approval. In a 5-2 vote the Tuesday before Thanksgiving, commissioners put their support behind a new proposal that would allow developers of commercial property a way around rules that require them to replace trees over a certain size that they plan to tear out. Under the proposed changes, the developers could either partner with nearby property owners to plant trees on their land or pay the city for the value of the trees to be destroyed.
Source: Johnson County Post
No violation found in ethics complaint against Wichita Mayor Lily Wu
The City of Wichita Ethics Board met on Tuesday to discuss a complaint against Wichita Mayor Lily Wu. On Oct. 23, the president of the International Association of Firefighters Local 135, Ted Bush, signed a complaint alleging three violations by Wu: Wu “improperly instructed” Wichita Fire Chief Tammy Snow to lay off 42 WFD employees during a private meeting; Wu interfered with or expressed improper interest in the City hiring process; Wu did not act by majority vote and gave instructions as an individual council member to a department head. Both Wu and Bush provided the Ethics Board with their side of the story, including documentation and recordings. Source: KSN-TV
Survey shows early response to Wichita Public Schools $450M bond proposal
The Wichita Board of Education has an early idea of how the vote on a $450 million bond proposal for Wichita Public Schools could go in a couple of months. A research firm conducted a phone survey in mid-November and presented the results during Monday’s BOE meeting. Of the 301 people surveyed, 77.6% said they were in favor of the bond proposal. At first, 36% were opposed, but some switched to favoring the proposal when they were told the $450 million bond would not change the current tax rate or mill levy. You can expect to hear a lot about the proposal over the next few months. The vote is scheduled for Feb. 25 and will be for registered voters living in the Wichita school district.
Source: KSN-TV