Kansas Municipal News
Municipal Bond Trends for March 14, 2024
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.
Wichita vs. Griffie: Constitutionality of Noise Ordinance
This case requires us to decide whether the provision within Wichita Municipal Code of Ordinances (W.M.O.) § 5.24.010(c) criminalizing “noisy conduct tending to reasonably arouse alarm, anger or resentment in others” is unconstitutionally overbroad under the First Amendment. Both the district court and the Court of Appeals held the provision constitutional. We disagree. Applying the substantial overbreadth doctrine used by Kansas courts to adjudicate First Amendment overbreadth challenges, we conclude the noisy conduct provision within W.M.O. § 5.24.010(c) is unconstitutionally overbroad because it prohibits a substantial amount of protected activity in relation to the provision’s plainly legitimate sweep. But our conclusion does not require us to strike subsection (c) in its entirety because there is a satisfactory method of severing the unconstitutional “noisy conduct” provision from the constitutional “fighting words” provision within the same subsection.
Source: Kansas Supreme Court
Liberal city buildings to see solar panel installation
Green energy is becoming more important than ever and soon, the City of Liberal will be dipping its toes into just that. A handful of buildings throughout town will soon see the installation of solar panels, and Solar Grids Chief Operating Officer Jacob Koke said the project has been in the works for a little while. “We’d started working with the City of Liberal and took into account what their utility bills are and then did an analysis of multiple different sites throughout Liberal,” Koke said. “We determined the four best sites as far as having the best exposure to the sun …”
Source: Liberal First
Municipal Bond Trends for March 13, 2024
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.
Kansas Profile – Now That’s Rural: Mary Billington, Baxter Springs Museum
What town is in the very corner of Kansas? In southeast Kansas, it is the historic community of Baxter Springs. Today we’ll learn about how this community is honoring its history and that of the region. Mary Billington is director of the Baxter Springs Heritage Center and Museum, and the Route 66 Visitor’s Center in Baxter Springs. Baxter Springs is located in Cherokee County.
Source: Hays Daily News
Great Bend Municipal Court to dedicate Robert G. Suelter Courtroom
The Great Bend City Council and staff extend an invitation to the public for the dedication ceremony of the Robert G. Suelter Courtroom at the Great Bend Municipal Court. … The dedication ceremony honors the esteemed legacy of Suelter, retired City Attorney whose contributions have significantly impacted the legal landscape of our community. The newly built courtroom stands as a testament to his dedication and service.
Source: Great Bend Tribune
With toll lanes off the table, KDOT explores other ways to upgrade K-10 in Lenexa
As traffic is expected to increase in growing parts of western Johnson County, the Kansas Department of Transportation is looking to alleviate congestion in residential areas spilling off Kansas Highway 10. New neighborhoods and the Panasonic plant coming soon to De Soto have increased Johnson County’s residential and commercial activity further west, and KDOT has started looking for solutions to address that growth. Now that the idea of adding express toll lanes on K-10 are off the table, KDOT is exploring alternatives for two major north-south corridors passing through Lenexa and Olathe.
Source: Johnson County Post
New study will focus on Johnson County’s rural roads as area grows
Plans to study how to re-connect rural roads in and around the former Sunflower Army Ammunition plant are moving forward. … Late last month, the Johnson County Board of County Commissioners agreed the county should join in a seven-party agreement that would fund the Southwest Metro Area Transportation Connection Plan. The idea was to develop some expert recommendations on the future of roads in an area that is becoming more and more industrialized, especially with the construction of the Panasonic lithium ion battery plant. The study is set up so a consultant would make recommendations with the guidance of a “core team” made up of the Kansas Department of Transportation, Johnson County and city of De Soto, as well as a technical committee of other entities expecting related development projects.
Source: Johnson County Post
Water woes in Towanda: Close to $114,000 down the drain
A mysterious water leak in Towanda has city officials scrambling to find out when and how it happened. In a city council meeting just last month it was announced the leak was losing 50,000 gallons of water per day costing the city approximately $114,000. City Administrator Andy Newbrey said, “This whole thing has been baffling.” Newbrey thinks the leak started in June of 2023 when water costs jumped but after further investigation, he realized it may have started in June of 2022.
Source: KAKE – News
Can one tax solve problems with a different kind of tax?
Could higher sales taxes be the answer to slowing skyrocketing property taxes? That’s one idea Sedgwick County commissioners are discussing. Property tax relief is a growing concern for Kansans across the state, leaving local and state leaders scrambling for ways to lesson the burden. “We knew it was going to go up,” said Jeremy Lankton, a Sedgwick County homeowner.
Source: KAKE – News
Hays celebrates the grand opening of a new MicroFactory
The City of Hays is celebrating the grand opening of a new MicroFactory on Wednesday. … GrowHays said the MicroFactory is designed to meet the needs of startup manufacturers. The goal is to build a manufacturing base in Ellis County.
Source: KSN-TV
Battery energy storage system approval a decision not to be taken lightly
While Concurrent seeks predictability and wants to lower its risk of investing in a project only to have the city deny its permit, Halstead is taking a look at its own risks—namely, how safe are battery energy storage systems (BESS)? Last month, legal counsel told Halstead’s planning commission that the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) developed Standard 855 to provide minimum installation requirements for mitigating the hazards associated with energy storage systems. Standard 855 was developed in response to the many fires and explosions taking place. It was published in 2019. Harvey County Now will continue to research, but so far has been unsuccessful in finding firm data, probably because BESSs are still so new.
Source: Harvey County Now
Newton parks department preparing for spring at the cemeteries
In addition to maintaining parks, the City of Newton Parks Department is responsible for maintaining Newton’s loved ones’ final resting places. Parks Superintendent Hondo Collins said the cemetery keeps the department busy year-round, but with the warmer weather coming up, maintenance would be increasing. Newton has two city-run cemeteries: Greenwood and Restlawn. According to the city, Greenwood is one of the largest municipal cemeteries in Kansas, with 15,000 filled lots and between 100 to 150 burials each year. Greenwood was founded in 1872 and is 71.35 acres. Restlawn is 15.09 acres.
Source: Harvey County Now
House moving to close part of Main Street
Being stuck behind a train is a common excuse for being late Newton. Wednesday, motorists can be stuck behind a house. The City of Newton sent out a notification that parts of Main Street will be blocked Wednesday morning as crews will begin transferring a home northward upon Main Street to North Newton. The home will be moved a little under a mile northward …
Source: Harvey County Now
Wichita man loses toy laser after pointing it at law enforcement plane, police say
A 56-year-old Wichita man had his toy laser taken from him after shining it at a law enforcement plane flying above the scene of a drive-by shooting, police said. The laser incident, which appeared on a police report released Tuesday morning, happened at 2:08 a.m. Saturday in the 600 block of South Terrace, which is near Kellogg and Oliver. The laser was pointed at a Kansas Highway Patrol plane helping police after the drive-by shooting. Police interviewed and released the man, but took his laser as evidence. It’s a federal crime to point a laser at an aircraft, with the possibility of a hefty fine and up to five years in prison.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
City of Lawrence names new director of finance
Rachelle Mathews, currently the acting chief financial officer for the City of Topeka, will be the new director of finance for the City of Lawrence. The city announced Mathews’ hire in a news release Tuesday afternoon. Her position will be effective Monday, April 15. Mathews received her Bachelor of Arts in business and accounting from Kansas Wesleyan University and her MBA from Washburn University, according to the release. She’s a certified management accountant, and she began her career in public finance as an accountant in Topeka in 2015, according to the release. She is currently studying for the Government Finance Officers Association certified public financial officer credential. “As I enter this chapter of my career, I am very much looking forward to growing and learning inside the City of Lawrence,” Mathews said in the release. “This position is more than the numbers. It’s a commitment to serving this vibrant community and contributing to the financial well-being of the organization.” Mathews is an active member of Women in Public Finance, according to the release.
Source: The Lawrence Times
Consumer prices rose 0.4% in February and 3.2% from a year ago
Inflation rose again in February, keeping the Federal Reserve on course to wait at least until the summer before starting to lower interest rates. The consumer price index, a broad measure of goods and services costs, increased 0.4% for the month and 3.2% from a year ago, the Labor Department’s Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Tuesday. The monthly gain was in line with expectations, but the annual rate was slightly ahead of the 3.1% forecast from the Dow Jones consensus. Excluding volatile food and energy prices, the core CPI rose 0.4% on the month and was up 3.8% on the year. Both were one-tenth of a percentage point higher than forecast. While the 12-month pace is off the inflation peak in mid-2022, it remains well above the Fed’s 2% goal as the central bank approaches its two-day policy meeting in a week.
Source: CNBC – Bonds
Douglas County launching local program to restore people’s legal competency as they await trial
People who are booked into jails statewide have long waited several months — even more than a year — for beds at state mental hospitals, so their competency to understand court proceedings can be restored. Douglas County is now working on a local solution to that problem. The Douglas County Criminal Justice Coordinating Council heard a report about the program Tuesday morning. The county plans to launch the new process on April 1. The district attorney’s office cannot prosecute people who are not mentally competent to participate in their own defense, Douglas County DA Suzanne Valdez said Tuesday. Katy Fitzgerald, criminal justice coordinator for the county, said defendants are now seeing an average wait of about 14 months before a bed opens for them at a state mental hospital. But “A recent change in state legislation allowed counties — if they met certain conditions — to conduct competency evaluations and orders for restoration without sending those in custody to Larned or Osawatomie state hospitals,” according to a news release from the sheriff’s office.
Source: The Lawrence Times
High nitrate levels in Yoder water warrant source change
High nitrate levels in Rural Water District 101, which serves the Yoder area, warrant a change in water sources. It is not the first time the area has dealt with the problem. “Nitrate levels have continued to be above allowable limits,” said Reno County. The last nitrate level test was on March 4 and tested at 12.5 mg/L, which exceeds the Kansas and Federal (EPA) maximum contaminant level (MCL) of 10 mg/L. Nitrate levels in many water sources have increased due to applications of inorganic fertilizer and animal manure in agricultural areas, according to Reno County. Since initial test results and a public notice on Aug. 12, 2020, Reno County has tested quarterly. Each test has been above the EPA MCL. “On August 12, 2020, Reno County received a precautionary public notice for acute nitrate violation from KDHE,” said Reno County. “A warning was then sent to Yoder residents to limit water usage, especially for infants under 6 months. Subsequent notices were sent notifying residents that bottled water will be provided, upon request, to any household with members at increased risk from the nitrates, such as infants, nursing mothers, pregnant women, and other at-risk customers as identified by a health care provider.” Reno County says Public Works is talking to the City of Hutchinson to purchase water.
Source: KSN-TV
Municipal Bond Trends for March 12, 2024
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.