Kansas Municipal News
Governor Kelly Announces More than $930M in Highway Projects Added to IKE Development Pipeline
Governor Laura Kelly and Kansas Transportation Secretary Calvin Reed today announced the addition of 17 highway modernization and expansion projects – a total investment of $932 million – to the Eisenhower Legacy Transportation Program’s (IKE) Development Pipeline. IKE is the Kelly administration’s bipartisan 10-year, $10 billion transportation program. The announcement clears the way for preliminary engineering work to begin on these projects, which are in every region of the state. “These highway projects tackle long-standing transportation needs across the state – improving safety, expanding economic development opportunities, and strengthening our communities,” Governor Kelly said. “My administration is committed to making short- and long-term infrastructure improvements to benefit future generations of Kansans.” The 2024 Development Pipeline announcement took place in the Kansas Statehouse. Joining Governor Kelly and Secretary Reed to provide remarks were stakeholders representing three of the selected projects: Dr. John Wyrick, Superintendent of Labette County Public Schools, USD 506; Corey Peterson, President, Lindsborg City Council; and Kevin Schoendaler, City of Hoxie Councilmember. Today’s announcement results from the Kansas Department of Transportation’s (KDOT) fall 2023 statewide Local Consult listening tour. More than 1,400 Kansans from across the state participated in these public meetings.
Source: Governor of the State of Kansas
New Kansas bill requests $40 million for homeless shelters, requires enforcement of camping laws
A bill supported by Sedgwick County and the city of Wichita is requesting $40 million from the state for homeless shelter infrastructure, and it also requires localities to enforce ordinances on camping and vagrancy. The bill is born out of a months-long effort in Sedgwick County and Wichita to address homelessness. Last December, the city and county signed a letter to the governor seeking $50 million in a state grant program to “address local homelessness infrastructure.” Wichita needs at least $20 million of those dollars to help build a new one-stop shop for people experiencing homelessness, with shelter and affordable housing units. The governor’s budget, released in January, included $40 million in grants for local governments to address and prevent housing insecurity. The county helped write a new bill to request that the money focus solely on homeless shelter infrastructure. The bill also adds language requiring governments that receive the dollars to “enforce local ordinances regarding camping and vagrancy,” which has drawn some pushback from service providers and advocates in Wichita. “It could lead to unnecessary criminalization of people experiencing homelessness who have no alternative but to camp,” wrote Sally Stang, as the chair of the Coalition to End Homelessness in Wichita and Sedgwick County, in testimony on the bill.
Source: KLC Journal
Municipal Bond Trends for March 7, 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.
Johnson County vs. State Fire Marshall: Fire code applied to group homes
Six years ago, the State Fire Marshal’s office issued citations for fire code violations to two group homes for developmentally impaired adults operated under the auspices of a Johnson County social service agency. The Fire Marshal considered the homes to be care facilities requiring protective devices they didn’t have. Johnson County pushed back. Since then, the dispute—pitting the Johnson County Board of Commissioners against State Fire Marshal Doug Jorgensen has evolved into a legal tussle having little to do with the particular citations and a great deal to do with how those group homes and about two dozen others like them in Johnson County may be regulated. Johnson County has argued the group homes should not be treated as care facilities regulated under the Kansas Fire Safety and Prevention Act (state fire code), K.S.A. 31-132 et seq., so the safety features the Fire Marshal found lacking would be unnecessary. In addition, Johnson County requested what it has characterized as a reasonable accommodation under the federal Fair Housing Act (FHA), 42 U.S.C. § 3601 et seq., that would excuse compliance with the state fire code. The Fire Marshal denied the request. The district court upheld the Fire Marshal’s position, as do we.
Source: Supreme Court of Kansas
Shawnee County found in violation of Kansas tax law. What it means.
Shawnee County property owners could have part of last year’s property taxes refunded back to them. The Board of Tax Appeals of the State of Kansas found the Shawnee County Commission had violated state law when setting the property tax rate last year and the county has been ordered to return the extra collected funds to county taxpayers. … In 2021, the Kansas Legislature required local governments to follow a list of actions if their property tax rate exceeds what was generated in property tax dollars the year before. These actions include sending a notice that the governing body is considering exceeding the rate, holding a public hearing where citizens can comment, publicly voting to exceed the rate and placing another public notice stating the rate will be exceeded.
Source: CJonline
Salina says Cozy Inn mural is commercial sign; Cozy Inn disagrees
The City of Salina is hiring special legal counsel to help defend the lawsuit filed by Cozy Inn. … Work on a mural with a hamburger on the north side of Cozy Inn in Salina was halted last year. The city of Salina is engaging with outside legal counsel after Cozy Inn filed a lawsuit against the city in regards to the mural. This comes less than a month after the restaurant filed a freedom of speech suit related to a mural it began having painted on the side of its building, which was halted after the city determined the mural is a commercial sign.
Source: Salina Journal
Municipal Bond Trends for March 6, 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.
Newton strengthens regulations against pollution
Newton’s city commission approved an ordinance increasing fines for polluting stormwater drains. The increase is directed at companies. Suzanne Loomis, director of public works, proposed the change to the fines at the meeting on Feb. 27. Loomis said she proposed the change in hopes of getting businesses to think twice before polluting. “Corporations may think it’s easier to pay the fee,” Loomis said. “Now it’s more expensive to have to pay for it to get cleaned up.”
Source: Harvey County Now
Flushable wipes clog up city resources
Toilet clogs can be a pain for homeowners, but flushing wipes may turn into an issue for neighbors, as well. Newton’s public works recently spent time unclogging a large sewer blockage caused by flushable wipes. Suzanne Loomis, director of public works, said the wipes are a problem because although they’re labeled as flushable, they don’t dissolve, and they clog lines. Loomis said marketing them as flushable is a problem, because it’s misleading and makes people think they’re safe to flush.
Source: Harvey County Now
Rejecting car wash plan sparks debate on downtown Overland Park’s future
A new Tommy’s Express Car Wash location proposed in downtown Overland Park won’t be able to move forward due to concerns about whether it would fit in with the city’s long-term plans to reinvest in the corridor…. Councilmembers who voted to deny the plans for the Tommy’s Express worried that the car wash fails to support the community’s goal of remaking its downtown into a more pedestrian-friendly urban core.
Source: Johnson County Post
JoCo cities say bills threaten local control
Cities in Johnson County are lining up in opposition to two bills circulating in the Kansas Legislature that take aim at municipalities’ powers when it comes to zoning and citizen petitions. One bill would sharply curtail a city’s ability to rezone private property, and the other would strengthen petitioners’ efforts to put a question on a local ballot, circumventing a city’s ability to stop it.
Source: Johnson County Post
Kansas Attorney General Opinion 2024-3: Election-Day Buffer Zone
Synopsis: County election officers may constitutionally prohibit electioneering on private property within 250 feet of a polling place on election day. Cited herein: K.S.A. 21-6602; 21-6611; 25-2430; 25-2435.
Source: Kansas Attorney General Opinions
Kansas Attorney General Opinion 2024-2: Transient Guest Tax
Synopsis: The Transient Guest Tax Act is a nonuniform act. As such, a county may exempt itself from provisions of the Act under its home-rule powers through a charter ordinance or resolution. Sherman County’s Charter Resolution No. 18 was a permissible use of its statutory authority. However, once it exempted itself, Sherman County cannot then require the Kansas Department of Revenue to collect the tax. Cited herein: K.S.A. 12-1696; K.S.A. 12-1697; K.S.A. 12-1698; K.S.A. 12-1699; K.S.A. 12-16,113; K.S.A. 19-101; K.S.A. 19-101a; K.S.A. 19-101b; K.S.A. 75-704.
Source: Kansas Attorney General Opinions
City manager pushes for updated Newton city plan
After looking over the current comprehensive plan for the City of Newton, planning commissioners realized that much of the plan had already been done. Daniela Rivas, Newton’s city manager, said at the planning commission meeting on Monday, March 4, that she would like to see a “refresh” of the plan as well as begin work for the new comprehensive plan. The current plan deals with the city’s goals for several areas, such as land use and transportation. City employees said the plan is a guide for the direction they take. The current plan is for 2010 to 2030.
Source: Harvey County Now
Wichita City Council lifts ban on corporate political donations, with one requirement
The Wichita City Council voted Tuesday to lift a short-lived ban on corporate campaign contributions to city candidates. The rollback of the campaign finance reform was approved 7-0 as council members came together in support of an amendment requiring candidates to report the name of the principal owner of the company that gave to their campaign. Another amendment introduced by council member Brandon Johnson that would have banned the practice of giving multiple donations through different companies failed 3-4 without the support of the council’s three Republican members or Mayor Lily Wu, a Libertarian. In cases where one limited liability company is owned by another, candidates for Wichita mayor and City Council will be required to list the name of the parent LLC’s owner in their campaign finance reports.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
USD 259 parents petition to stop closure of six schools
After the Wichita Public Schools board voted to close six schools, parents are petitioning to have the decision reviewed on the state level. Parents KSN News has spoken to are upset, and you can see it. In the video above, you can see signs dotting a lawn, protesting the BOE decision and encouraging parents to get involved. On Tuesday, parents started going door to door to get a petition signed trying to stop these closures. Parents say closing the six schools was a decision they don’t feel they had a say in. “I think it’s pretty evident that most of us already felt like the decision was made when we walked in the building,” said Thomas Montiel, a parent at Cleaveland Traditional Magnet Elementary School. “We found out the same day the staff members found out and the staff members only got notified I think an hour or two before the news stations published their articles so we all were in shock together,” said Ruth Lehman, a parent at Cleaveland Traditional Magnet Elementary School. The district says no one likes to close schools and that their hands were tied.
Source: KSN-TV
Wichita Fire Department to host Citizens’ Fire Academy this spring
The Wichita Fire Department will be hosting another Citizens’ Fire Academy this spring. Classes will be held every Tuesday evening starting in April and go through the beginning of June. Although the WFD has not released what time the classes start, they say the classes will last 2-3 hours and take place at the Regional Training Center, 4746 E. 31st St. S. #4494. The last meeting will be held at a City Council meeting to recognize the participants for completing the academy. (…) “The Wichita Fire Department Citizens’ Fire Academy is dedicated to increasing public awareness by familiarizing and informing the citizens of Wichita, our customers, and associates of the various divisions, duties, and responsibilities of the Fire Department,” said the WFD. “Through education, demonstration, and participation, class members will better understand what we do, how we do it, and why.” The WFD says after completing the program, participants will be able to use their knowledge to create a safer home and work environment as well as educate others about the Wichita Fire Department and the services it provides to the community.
Source: KSN-TV
Abilene in the running for best historic small town contest
A small town situated in the heart of Kansas is in the running for a national contest hosted by USA Today. The Abilene Convention & Visitors Bureau announced in a press release on Monday, March 4, that Abilene will be a finalist for USA Today’s Readers’ Choice ‘Best Historic Small Town’ contest. Abilene came close to the number-one spot in 2022 and 2023. “This honor is truly remarkable!” Director of the Abilene Convention & Visitor’s Bureau Julie Roller-Weeks said. “Achieving this recognition once is a significant accomplishment, and securing it for six consecutive years in a nationwide contest against other exceptional small towns is beyond imagination!” Abilene has routinely appeared in the top ten for the contest due to the town’s rich history. Places like the Seelye Mansion, Eisenhower Presidential Library, Museum and Boyhood Home, Abilene & Smoky Valley Railroad, Old Abilene Town and more are part of what makes Abilene stand out. “Embracing Abilene as one of the nation’s best historic small towns also embraces the impact tourism plays: a positive ripple effect, boosting our local economy and enriching the lives of our residents,” said Jessica Goodale, Dickinson County Economic Development Corporation Director.
Source: KSN-TV
Governor Kelly Announces More than $14M to Improve 37 Kansas Airports
Governor Laura Kelly announced today that 58 projects at 37 airports have been selected to receive $14.3 million through the Kansas Airport Improvement Program (KAIP). “Improvements made to our aviation infrastructure are vital to local economies, even in rural parts of Kansas,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “These enhancements ensure that no matter where they are in the state, businesses and communities have every opportunity to grow and prosper.” The Kansas Department of Transportation’s Division of Aviation received 135 applications seeking more than $84 million for projects in this round of KAIP grants. The selected projects focus on pavement preservation, safety, and air ambulance accessibility. “These general aviation airport improvements couldn’t happen without local partners and KDOT working together,” said Kansas Transportation Secretary Calvin Reed. “Programs like this help Kansans have access to renewed and reliable transportation options available to them in every region of the state.” Local matching funds are required, though the amount varies depending on the project. With the matching local funds, the total KAIP project value is more than $34 million.
Source: Governor of the State of Kansas
Powell reinforces position that the Fed is not ready to start cutting interest rates
Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell on Wednesday reiterated that he expects interest rates to start coming down this year, but is not ready yet to say when. In prepared remarks for congressionally mandated appearances on Capitol Hill Wednesday and Thursday, Powell said policymakers remain attentive to the risks that inflation poses and don’t want to ease up too quickly. “In considering any adjustments to the target range for the policy rate, we will carefully assess the incoming data, the evolving outlook, and the balance of risks,” he said. “The Committee does not expect that it will be appropriate to reduce the target range until it has gained greater confidence that inflation is moving sustainably toward 2 percent.” Those remarks were taken verbatim from the Federal Open Market Committee’s statement following its most recent meeting, which concluded Jan. 31. In total, the speech broke no new ground on monetary policy or the Fed’s economic outlook. However, they indicated that officials remain concerned about not losing the progress made against inflation and will make decisions based on incoming data rather than a preset course. “We believe that our policy rate is likely at its peak for this tightening cycle. If the economy evolves broadly as expected, it will likely be appropriate to begin dialing back policy restraint at some point this year,” Powell said in “But the economic outlook is uncertain, and ongoing progress toward our 2 percent inflation objective is not assured.” He noted again that lowering rates too quickly risks losing the battle against inflation and likely having to raise rates further, while waiting too long poses danger to economic growth.
Source: CNBC – Bonds