Kansas Municipal News
Volunteer firefighters worry new OSHA safety standards could shut down some rural departments
Fighting fires has evolved, but federal safety regulations haven’t changed for nearly half a century. Now the Occupational Safety and Health Administration has proposed new safety standards. It’s great news for professional firefighters, but volunteer departments say the new rules could bog them down with expensive and irrelevant regulations. Hundreds of US firefighters die every year, and job-related cancer is far and away the biggest killer, according to Sean DeCrane with the International Association of Fire Fighters union. He places some of the blame on outdated federal safety rules that protect firefighters, enacted in 1980. “It’s long past due that the firefighters that are out there responding every day are provided some protection by the federal government when it comes to workplace safety,” said DeCrane. “If these regulations had been in place 40 years ago, we would have saved hundreds, if not thousands, of firefighter lives,” DeCrane said. “Just from early detection of cardiovascular disease, or understanding of exposure to toxins and carcinogens, proper training, proper equipment.” But while all of that sounds great to the professional firefighters DeCrane represents, most fire departments in the U.S. are not professional. According to the National Fire Department Registry, more than 4 out of 5 departments are all volunteer, or mostly volunteer. And for volunteer firefighters, the added money and time necessary to comply with OSHA’s new proposals are not welcome.
Source: KCUR News
City of Baxter Springs unveils new historic mural, ribbon cutting
The City of Baxter Springs partners with local organizations to celebrate the completion of a mural. The city says the mural covers the entire 100×12 ft. wall of the Water Works Plant building facing east, on the corner of Highway 69 and Route 66 across from the Baxter Springs High School. “After months of planning, discussion, and community engagement, we are thrilled to unveil Baxter Springs’ newest piece of public art”, stated Pam Mitchell, Baxter Chamber Tourism Chair and Kansas Historic Route 66 Association President. “We’d like to thank AJ and Jordan Wood for honoring our community with their creative vision.” “This is the first of many murals we hope to complete in Baxter Springs. We are incredibly grateful for Mayor Abbott’s and the City Council’s support. While on their journey across Historic Route 66, many groups from other countries have already stopped and spoken with the artists. They’ve overwhelmingly commented on the historical detail of the mural and added it to their favorites. Plans include electric lighting to be installed above the mural, as well as an informational Kiosk in the adjacent Military Park,” stated Jennifer Burton, Art Steering Committee Chair.
Source: KOAM News
Wichita City Council to consider gunshot detecting devices, water plant agreement
The Wichita City Council voted 7-0 to approve the purchase of 31 additional Flock license plate cameras and gunshot detection technology for the Wichita Police Department. In 2022, the WPD began using Flock Raven gunshot detection devices in places considered hotspots for gun crime. Based on a hotspot analysis of crime in Wichita, the department wants to add two square miles of coverage in District 6. The city has been testing gunshot detection for Flock in two square miles in District 1 and District 3. The cost to the City is just over $337,000.
Also, the council voted 7-0 to approve hiring Operational Technical Services (OTS) to temporarily run the new Wichita Water Works Facility. Mayor Lily Wu told KSN News that the City has struggled to find workers since the old facility still has to run. “The City of Wichita is still continuing to hire people for the new water treatment plant. They’ve been doing this over the last several months and have not been very successful in getting more people in,” Wu said. The City will still recruit workers. The one-year contract will cost nearly $1.3 million.
Source: KSN-TV
Derby firefighter returns back from Hurricane Helene recovery efforts
As more Kansas rescue crews head to Florida to respond to Hurricane Milton, others are just returning home after two weeks of search and rescue after Hurricane Helene. Captain Matt Ludwig with the Derby Fire Department says he would do it again. This is his third deployment for hurricane recovery and relief efforts. “The people that I encountered firsthand that they were all very hopeful and optimistic. They’re very, very kind people and just, you know, thankful for what they have left. And they’re going to they’re going to stay and rebuild,” he said.
Captain Ludwig says that the Kansas Task Force had a “task” that is unimaginable for many. “In North Carolina, we searched over 1,400 structures in three or four days. Sometimes, we were one of the first responders that had made it to that house to talk to those people,” he said. The task force saw miles of destruction.
Source: KSN-TV
Downtown improvements will require lowering Arkansas River
The City of Wichita is lowering the Arkansas River as part of a downtown improvement project. The project is along the west bank of the Arkansas River between Douglas and Waterman. The city says the design is similar to the projects to the north in front of the Drury Plaza Broadview Hotel and the River Vista Apartment Complex. The first phase involves constructing a sea wall and concrete cap beside the river, which requires the city to lower the water level. A $6,240,000 BASE grant from the Kansas Department of Commerce is funding the project.
At Tuesday’s council meeting, the Wichita City Council approved moving ahead with the project. The city says it will work with partners to ensure minimal impact on events planned for the area during construction.
Source: KSN-TV
Columbus Day Festival showcases classic cars and community fun
The city of Columbus celebrates day two of its 55th annual Columbus Day Festival. The Columbus Day Festival continued Saturday with a car show and entertainment around the Columbus Square. “I’m always excited because it brings our community together, it brings all different ages. There is something for everyone. And everybody likes to see other people they haven’t seen in a while, it’s just a wonderful event, it really is,” said Becky McDaniel, Columbus Day Festival car show host.
Source: KSNF/KODE
What Wichita-area firefighters saw in ‘devastation’ of Hurricane Helene in NC, Florida
When two Sedgwick County firefighters were told they would travel to North Carolina to help with Hurricane Helene relief, they didn’t hesitate. Luke Wiebe, captain for Sedgwick County Fire District 1, and Lt. Tyler Brenneman got the call Sept. 24 that they were being sent to help those impacted by Hurricane Helene. What they assumed would be two weeks full of rescues turned into connecting with the community. “[We] checked on people, door to door, see what they were needing, see if they’re OK, see if they wanted to be evacuated, and then also assess damage on properties, vehicles, pretty much anything that was misplaced,” Brenneman said. Wiebe and Brenneman said the damage they saw in North Carolina was extensive. “There’s whole trees knocked over, tree limbs down everywhere, water in multiple houses. Almost every house we went in had, you know, feet of water inside of it,” Brenneman said. Brenneman and Wiebe said considering the situation, they were surprised to see how positive the people impacted were. “They were actually in very good spirits,” Wiebe said. “Most people, when we checked on them, would actually ask us if we needed anything as well.” When asked if he had been to a scene similar to this one, Brenneman said that the Andover tornado in 2022 was the only one he could think of.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
Sedgwick County is counting homeless deaths for the first time. Here’s what to know.
The deaths of more homeless residents are being counted this year after local officials implemented a formal process to identify them — the latest symptom of the intensifying conversation around homelessness in Wichita. As of September, 46 homeless people had been confirmed dead by Sedgwick County Regional Forensic Science Center investigators. That’s more than the 42 that were counted all of last year through anecdotal numbers compiled via a collaboration between the Wichita Police Department, service providers and homeless advocates. The shift is the latest move to address homelessness in Wichita, following the opening of a new emergency winter shelter in a former elementary school, which city officials aspire to make a multi-agency campus, and amid talk of a “more aggressive” ordinance to remove homeless encampments. Homeless advocates have been requesting a more formal record of deaths for years, and the forensic science center decided this year to classify homeless people among its deceased following media reporting that highlighted the uncertainty surrounding past counts. When first presented with the data, registered nurse and homeless advocate Kathy Bowles leaned back in shock. “Oh my god,” she said.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
Girard History Museum expands
Saturday, as participants enjoyed Girard Homecoming and Fall Festival activities, just one block south of the square, the Girard History Museum held a reception to commemorate its recent expansion. Located at 300 S. Summit St., the Girard History Museum relies on community volunteers and members of Friends of Historic Girard to preserve historic sites and educate people about the town’s unique history. Since its opening in 2000, the museum has held tours in the former St. John’s Episcopal Church. Recently, however, the museum recently an expansion that created additional space for meetings and restoration. “We were just in the church building and it’s not conducive to do any work or to have any meetings. It’s nice for our displays but what we found is we had no place to work, to clean anything, to even have our board meetings, and we were trying to get on the internet and get out there more,” said Terri Harley, president of the Friends of Historic Girard. “We have a phone. We’ve never been able to have a phone. We have Wi-Fi now.
Source: Morning Sun
Developers request incentives for ‘ultra-accessible’ amusement park project in Olathe
More details for an “ultra-accessible” entertainment and youth athletic district proposed by members of the Hunt family in Olathe are starting to take shape. The project — proposed at the corner of 119th Street and Renner Boulevard — comes from Loretto Properties, a development company run by Lamar Hunt, Jr., and his son-in-law, James Arkell. They want to use the Kansas Sales Tax and Revenue, or STAR, bond economic development tool, as well as some local incentives. On Monday, the Olathe Planning Commission voted 9-0, finding that the planned Olathe Gateway STAR bond district development conforms with PlanOlathe, the city’s existing comprehensive plan. The commission also voted 8-1, finding that the associated tax increment financing district plan conforms. Commissioner Tony Bergida cast the no vote, voicing skepticism in his questions earlier in the meeting that the project met the threshold for the intent of a TIF district.
Source: Prairie Village Post
Roeland Park wants to connect park, community center to busy Roe Blvd.
Roeland Park is envisioning more connectivity near its northern city limits. Last week, the Roeland Park City Council unanimously voted to approve expanding an existing tax increment financing, or TIF, district to include Nall Park and the nearby Roeland Park Community Center.
By expanding the TIF district, the city can raise funds to help pay for a route to connect the park and community center to busy Roe Boulevard, giving motorists and pedestrians easier access to two of the city’s public amenities.
Source: Shawnee Mission Post
What Lawrence’s ballot question on the city’s ‘form of government’ actually means
There’s a lot of confusion around the “form of government” ballot question that, if voters approve, could make the city commission into a four-district city council with a nonvoting, directly elected mayor, among other things. The question (as well as one asking to increase the sales tax to support affordable housing and homelessness initiatives) will be on city voters’ Tuesday, Nov. 5 general election ballots. Here’s the text of the question: “Shall the City of Lawrence, Kansas, abandon the Commission-Manager form of government and adopt a Modified Mayor-Council Manager form of government and become a city operating under a Modified Mayor-Council Manager form of government?” That’s all that will appear on the ballot. There will be no further explanation to let people know what that means and what it might look like. That’s because state statutes dictate the language the city has to use for the question.
Source: The Lawrence Times
Mural is ‘beautiful,’ but not what the council requested
The new Fairview mural, which is catching eyes at the U.S. Highways 36 and 75 crossroads, is “beautiful,” but not what was requested by the Fairview City Council. The artist, Christy Klein-Tross, is a Fairview native and started painting the mural at the beginning of September. However, as Klein-Tross continued painting, some Fairview City Council members started to realize that it wasn’t what they had exactly requested Klein-Tross to paint. While the bottom portion of the mural is the only thing that can be seen by those passing by, the top portion of the sign, which says “FAIRVIEW,” also has been completed. However, it still has not been put up. The Fairview City Council met for their regular meeting on Thursday, Oct. 3, which is the first time they have met since the mural has been completed. During the meeting, guests present voiced their opinions on the mural not “representing Fairview,” or the mural was “degrading” to what is on the back of the sign, which is the Fairview Veterans Memorial.
Source: The Sabetha Herald » Feed
Manhattan Parks and Rec mulls new cost recovery policy to generate more revenue
Manhattan Parks and Recreation officials want to raise fees for some programs with a new cost recovery policy. Parks and rec director Aaron Stewart on Monday told KMAN the proposed policy aims to focus on total cost recovery instead of operational recovery, which is the basis of the current policy. Stewart said the new policy would reduce the percentage of taxes used for operations by generating more revenue. “We’re looking to approach the city commission with a fully vetted cost recovery, which includes all fees and services to be set administratively based on this policy,” he said. Parks and rec also is looking to help those with financial barriers to accessing those services. Stewart said the goal is to implement an equity program with help from the Parks and Rec Foundation to help those who can’t afford things like pools, for example.
Source: themercury.com
Municipal Bond Trends for October 14, 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 October 11, 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 October 10, 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 October 9, 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.
Douglas County to consider new pay plans that would boost county employee pay above area averages
Douglas County government should create a new goal to pay its employees — everybody from custodians to administrators — well above the median wage of similar employees in the region, county commissioners will be told at their meeting on Wednesday. … a human resources group, recommends that the county create a “compensation philosophy” that aims to pay county employees at a rate equal to the 70th percentile of wages for similar positions in the area.
Source: LJWorld
Governor Kelly Announces Virtual, On-Demand Meeting as Part of Water Local Consult Outreach
Governor Laura Kelly announced today that a virtual, on-demand meeting is now available for Kansans who want to provide input on water issues in the state. The virtual meeting is part of a second round of local consult meetings to gather input on strategies to implement the 2022 Kansas Water Plan. “These local consult meetings are critical to finding and implementing sustainable solutions to address our state’s water concerns,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “By hearing directly from Kansans, we can make further progress on the goals of the 2022 Kansas Water Plan.” The recent in-person and new virtual meetings build on the first round of local consult meetings held this summer, as well as Regional Advisory Committee meetings. The virtual meeting mirrors the content from the eight in-person meetings held across the state in September.
Source: Governor of the State of Kansas