Kansas Municipal News
Parsons PD receives safety tool donation to boost officer visibility
Flashing lights could be the thing that saves a police officer’s life. “During those periods when officers are out working traffic crashes and other incidents in the middle of the night, they need to be seen,” said Robert Spinks, Parsons Kansas Police Chief. Visibility and more safety are a couple of important things the Parsons Police Department will now be able to increase with the help of a new tool. “This is an opportunity where we’re taking custody of enough Guardian Angel devices to equip all of our patrol officers,” said Spinks. On Monday, Parsons Police Chief Robert Spinks announced the department received the donation from local manufacturer CST Industries, worth about four thousand dollars. “CST again, safety is number one with CST, so being able to funnel that out into the community is important to us. So, like I say, there’s no hesitation in being able to give these to the Parsons Police Department,” said Steve Trimble, CST Plant Manager. “On behalf of everybody at Parsons Police Department, I’d like to thank CST for their donation,” said Officer Frank Pousher, Parsons Police Department. Patrol officers such as Officer Frank Pousher can use the lights to assist them with traffic stops, crash scenes, and when the weather hinders visibility. They have settings like blinking “SOS” in Morse code or blinking red and blue lights. “Help me by being a little bit more visible. If I work nights on that traffic accident, I don’t want to be hit by doing traffic stops. So that helps,” said Pousher. All with preventing injuries on the roadway in mind. “To the level that the community supports the men and women who are out there 24/7 trying to do the right thing for the right reason to make our community as safe as possible,” said Spinks.
Source: KSNF/KODE
Topeka city council urges tax entities to keep rates low
The Topeka City Council unanimously passed a resolution to urge all local tax entities to keep property tax rates as low as possible for homeowners and renters. The resolution was brought by District 8 City Councilman Spencer Duncan last month after the council chose to ignore a tax petition brought by Earl McIntosh. McIntosh is now suing the city over that decision. The Topeka Metropolitan Transit Authority (TMTA) is one of several entities that influence property taxes in Shawnee County. Rod Miller, a TMTA board member, presented at the council meeting to explain why their operating costs are forcing them to raise their tax rates above the minimum. “Fuel costs are higher also this year along with health insurance,” Miller said. “I can give you almost any number of reasons why we’re going to be over that, just because inflation is inflation.” It remains to be seen which of the other entities, if any, will also raise rates above the state-defined revenue-neutral rate. Other entities include: State of Kansas, City of Topeka, Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library, Washburn University, Metropolitan Topeka Airport Authority, Public Schools. As for the tax petition, the city has until Sep. 3 to respond to McIntosh’s lawsuit.
Source: KSNT 27 News
Kansans raise concerns over government’s proposed transmission line corridor
A proposed electric transmission corridor that could run through Kansas is prompting questions from Kansans. The Pawnee County community met at the Larned Community Center Thursday evening to ask those questions, share their stories, and share their concerns. “I’m really concerned because this is our house. This is our home,” said one resident who spoke during the meeting. “How long have you known about this going to happen? When did we find out? A lot of us did this week. We didn’t even understand or know anything about this. It hit us in the face. This has been in process. Why didn’t we get to be part of that process? Even if it was thought of in the future, our land is our future. So why weren’t we considered in the future?” Part of the project centers on the Grain Belt Express, a high-capacity transmission line set to go through parts of Kansas. Parts of that project are already approved. Pawnee County Attorney Douglass McNett says it is a private venture, and the company worked with landowners to purchase easements for the project. He says the new concern is a federal energy corridor on either side of the transmission line that could use eminent domain. “I think where the confusion has arisen between the Grain Belt and the Department of Energy’s proposed energy corridor is it looks like the Department of Energy simply used the schematics or the drawing that Grain Belt has established privately as their basis and just said ok we’ll go 2.5 miles either side of that grain belt transmission line,” said McNett. He says Pawnee County does not have concerns with the transmission line itself. The U.S. Department of Energy has released a preliminary list on its website of 10 potential National Interest Electric Transmission Corridors (NIETCs) it says to “accelerate the development of transmission projects in areas that present an urgent need for expanded transmission.” The Midwest-Plains corridor would run through Indiana, Illinois, Missouri and Kansas. It would be approximately five miles wide and 780 miles long. “The Federal Power Act authorizes the Secretary of Energy to designate any geographic area as a National Interest Electric Transmission Corridor (NIETC) if the Secretary finds that consumers are harmed by a lack of transmission in the area and that the development of new transmission would advance important national interests in that area, such as increased reliability and reduced consumer costs,” reads the U.S. Department of Energy’s website. The government website lists other potential NIETC geographic areas it is considering: The U.S. Department of Energy lists the below reasons for moving forward with the project: Maintain and improve reliability and resilience. Potential electricity shortfalls leave the region vulnerable during extreme weather. Electricity demand growth, generator retirements, and increased intermittent generation contribute to reliability risks in the region. Alleviate congestion and reduce consumer costs. Congestion between the Midwest and Plains regions prevents cost-effective generation from being delivered to where it is needed, when it is needed. Meet future generation and demand growth. There is a significant need for additional transfer capacity between the Midwest and Plains regions to meet various power sector scenarios. Analysis finds a 175% increase is needed by 2035 under moderate load and high clean energy growth scenarios (median need relative to the 2020 system), in line with current market and policy conditions. Increase clean energy integration. Increased access to more diverse, clean energy generation resources is necessary to lower power sector greenhouse gas emissions.
Source: KSNT 27 News
Topeka releases results of new police chief survey
The City of Topeka has released the findings from public sessions as part of the hiring process for a new police chief. From July 22 to Aug. 3, the City of Topeka collected 260 responses to the community survey. Three public sessions were also hosted where citizens could share their thoughts. “The community emphasized the need for a police chief who values communication, transparency, and community engagement, with a focus on reducing crime, improving public safety, and addressing mental health and homelessness,” City Manager Dr. Robert Perez said. “We will use this feedback from community members to make sure we find the best candidate for this community.”
Source: KSNT 27 News
Great Bend dealing with trash, dead animals dumped at compost
Issues at the compost site caused the City of Great Bend to release a press release Monday on the proper usage of the site south of town. Permitted by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, the compost site is only permitted to take trees, tree limbs, grass and leaves. City Administrator Logan Burns said the compost site has been receiving banned material such as construction material, processed lumber, tires, household trash and even dead animals.
Source: Great Bend Post
Report predicts Kansas population will grow by half-million in 50 years
Kansas’ population is expected to grow by nearly 500,000 people in the next 50 years, and non-white residents are predicted to drive that growth, a research center forecasts. A report from Wichita State University’s Center for Economic Development and Business Research said the state is predicted to add more than 469,000 residents by 2072, which will amount to a 16% increase from the state’s 2022 population.
Source: Little Apple Post and CEDBR
32-mile stretch of I-70 to close next month despite objections, safety concerns
The Sheridan County Sheriff’s Department said this week that the Kansas Department of Transportation will close a 32-mile stretch of I-70 for one day next month for the removal of the 150th Avenue bridge in Trego County. … The Sheridan County Sheriff’s Office said the initial plan was to close I-70 from the Levant exit, No. 45, to WaKeeney. Sheridan County objected to the change because it believes part of the detour route on K-23 is unsustainable for heavy traffic because of its numerous hills and lack of shoulders and because no wide loads will be able to travel north or south on K-23 on Sept. 4. The sheriff’s office said the Hoxie school district will close on Sept. 4 because of additional traffic through the area, which it said could affect response time for emergency crews.
Source: KWCH
Derby: Conservation efforts paying off in drought response
In the first two weeks of mandator water restrictions, the City of Derby is among Wichita-area communities reporting a significant water usage reduction. The City of Derby reports a 44% reduction in water usage already. Early this month, the City of Wichita announced that it was moving into Stage 2 of its drought response plan due to lowering levels of Cheney Lake, a main water source for the city. In turn, Wichita water customers, including several surrounding communities, followed suit with restrictions. Derby is Wichita’s largest water customer.
Source: KWCH
Municipal Bond Trends for August 19, 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.
Salina and Saline County seek public input for downtown government buildings
Salina and Saline County are looking at reimagining the government spaces shared between them downtown and want the public’s input. A series of study sessions by the governing bodies of both the city and county happen this week, leading to a public open house with initial concepts Thursday night.
Source: Salina Journal
Plans to revive this JoCo city park include bike trails, dog park and arboretum
The city of Roeland Park is zeroing in on a vision for a renewed Nall Park.City staff is working on the first update to the Nall Park master plan in 17 years, and the Roeland Park City Council reviewed the status of that plan earlier this month. Based on public feedback from workshops held in the spring, a new and improved Nall Park — which sits at the northern termination of Nall Avenue, across from Johnson County’s Nelson Wastewater Treatment Facility — may feature renovated bike trails, an adventure playground, an arboretum and a dog park.
Source: Johnson County Post
Mandatory microchips: How the new city ordinance may affect Wichita pet owners
The Wichita City Council approved new regulations for pet owners this week. One major change is an amendment to pet microchipping. It costs about $20, and your pet doesn’t need to be put under. It’s injected like a vaccine. The city council is also looking into grants to help pay for some of the costs. The goal: lowering euthanasia rates in overpopulated shelters.
Source: KSN-TV
Johnson County will lease 50 shuttle buses for 2026 World Cup
In an effort to secure rides for thousands of FIFA World Cup visitors before prices go up, Johnson County commissioners have agreed to lease fifty shuttle buses for two summers from now. The fleet of 50 Ford F650 Glaval Concorde III vehicles — which each can carry up to 35 passengers each — may not totally cover the county’s transit needs while the international tournament is in town in 2026, but “it was as many as we could get,” said Josh Powers, the county transit director.
Source: Johnson County Post
City of Lawrence to close camp behind Amtrak Station
The City of Lawrence announced Friday that it is closing the camp where people are living behind the Amtrak Station in East Lawrence. “The City’s Homeless Response Team began working with individuals staying at the camp several weeks ago and informed them today that the camp must be vacated by Tuesday, Oct. 15,” according to a news release from the city. The city in fall of 2022 opened its sanctioned camp behind Johnny’s Tavern in North Lawrence. That camp was also the first major camp the city closed, effective in April. Some people have been living in the woods near the Amtrak station for years; some moved there after the city-sanctioned camp was closed. Some advocates and residents of the camp have said they feared once the city-sanctioned camp was closed, Amtrak would be next. “Helping the individuals relocate can be a time-intensive project as the Homeless Response Team is focused on finding the best solutions for each individual’s or family’s needs,” according to the city’s release. “Over the next two months, campers will be supported with wrap-around services to aid in their recovery from homelessness and get connected to shelter or housing.” “The goal of this effort is to help each person living at the camp exit unsheltered homelessness by October 15,” the release continued. “Investments in the multi-disciplinary Homeless Response Team, which allowed team members to begin forming relationships and understanding the needs of these individuals, and expanded shelter capacity make this effort possible.”
Source: The Lawrence Times
Humboldt to celebrate new school buildings
USD 258 will have a ribbon cutting ceremony Wednesday for its new elementary school classroom wing and technology building. The district also laid out its budget for next year. School officials will cut ribbons Wednesday to mark essential completion of a new classroom wing and technology building within Humboldt USD 258. The ribbon cutting ceremonies will be at 6 p.m. at Humboldt Elementary School, which is getting the new classroom wing, bus lane and parking lot. The ribbon cutting for the new technology building will be at the high school at 6:30, Superintendent of Schools Dr. Amber Wheeler said. An open house is expected in early 2025, after the rest of the work encompassing the $17.5 million bond issue is completed. Wheeler expected the rest of the work, including replacing an elevator at the high school, replacing and renovating the heating and cooling systems and new fire alarms and roof work, to be done by the end of the year. CONSTRUCTION progress was a centerpoint of Monday’s USD 258 Board of Education meeting, Wheeler said, although board members approved a few other items. They hired Penny Herder, Klhoeigh Shaffer and Anya Woods as paraprofessionals at HES. Board members also scheduled a Sept. 3 budget hearing to discuss the district’s 2024-25 spending plan, which would be supported with an ad valorem tax levy of about 55 mills. That levy is a full mill lower than this year’s levy of 56.469 mills. That’s because of a slight decrease in the levy for USD 258’s local options budget, from 14.7 to 13.8 mills. Combine that with the 20 mills assessed for general fund obligations, another 8 mills for capital outlay projects and 13.5 mills to pay for the aforementioned construction projects, and you have a projected total of 55.339 mills, although that number may change a smidgen once final assessed valuations are determined later this fall.. That means the owner of a $100,000 home would spend about $636 to support USD 258 for the fiscal year. That figure does not account for property taxes to support other entities, such as the City of Humboldt, the county or Allen Community College. And while the mill levy should be slightly lower, the total tax dollars generated will increase, because of an uptick in the school district’s assessed valuation.
Source: The Iola Register
New law gives county more power to go after nuisances
The Riley County government will now have more power to go after local nuisances in unincorporated areas, something that has been a long time coming, local officials said. Senate Bill 384, which Gov. Laura Kelly signed in April, sets up procedures for the removal and abatement of nuisances in the unincorporated areas of the county. Riley County deputy county counselor Bryant Parker said Thursday the bill will give the government more authority to stop nuisances from going unaddressed.
Source: 1350 KMAN
JC commission weighs making its own website the ‘city newspaper’ to save money
The Junction City Commission this week considered establishing the city government’s own website as the “city newspaper” to avoid paying for the publication of legal notices. Three commissioners — Pat Landes, Jeff Underhill and Ronna Larson — expressed support for the idea and asked city attorney Britain Stites to provide more information on website visits and how much the city government would save by doing it. Currently, The Junction City Union is the official city newspaper. “What has happened, in the last 20 years, the internet and online publications have affected the paper press,” Stites said. “Not saying it’s good, not saying it’s bad; but that has been the reality of the market there. The reality is, their prices have gone up, but the readership has gone down — so if we publish things in there, are people really getting notice? The charter ordinance establishing the city website as their newspaper would require publication in the newspaper and to go through a protest period so it’s not a one-and-done thing or easy to do.” Stites said the city spends “hundreds if not thousands of dollars a year” on public notices. Because The Union is weekly, he said publishing notices that way also limits them on their time frame. He asked some questions on how the newspaper switching to a magazine format would affect deadlines. He also did not contact The Union before putting this on the agenda. Legally, governments have no control over the format of newspapers, which are necessarily separate (usually private) entities because they report on governments. Pinaire expressed opposition to the idea, saying having a community newspaper is valuable and doing this would “cut the knees off of the newspaper.” “I think the quality of the journalism has improved and so have the pictures, and it’s a valuable tool for the community,” Pinaire said. “This is our only newspaper,” Pinaire said, adding that communities across the nation that have lost their newspaper have set up non-profit organizations to replace them. “I think we need more support of the newspaper, not less. It’s been a rough business, sure, to survive, and we’ re not going to help it by that approach.”
Source: themercury.com
Microchip requirement among new animal regulations in Wichita
Pet owners in Wichita will have to have their dogs and cats microchipped under new animal regulations that are going into effect in Wichita. The requirement is one of several recommendations made by the city’s Animal Services Advisory Board, and the recommendations have been approved by the City Council. Jan Jarman with the city’s legal department said the requirement will be hard to enforce, but it’s important to have pets microchipped because that helps in returning lost pets to their owners. She said the city will be doing outreach activities to make people aware of the requirement. The Wichita Police Department recommended a number of changes to the city’s animal laws: Increased fines for dog bite convictions with a first-time bite increasing from a $250 mandatory fine to a $500 fine, a second offense from a $500 fine to a $1,000 fine, and a third offense from a $1,000 fine to a $2,500 fine; Removal of mandatory dog pen requirement for dangerous dogs, leaving the determination to the discretion of Animal Services; Require microchip on all dogs and cats at the age of five months, unless a veterinarian advises that it is not in the best interest of the animal; Simplify pet licensing prices to $15 for spayed/neutered and $50 for those that are not. This is not an increase for spayed or neutered pets but is a $15 increase for those that are not; Simplify veterinarian requirements regarding vaccination and license information that is transferred to City Licensing; Allow licenses to be purchased for length of a rabies vaccine, up to three years; Allow three dogs/three cats per household. An animal maintenance permit will be required for four; Allow a dangerous dog to be cared for by an animal professional for evaluation; and The licensing provisions will take effect January 1, 2025, due to necessary computer upgrades.
Source: 101.3 KFDI
Belle Plaine arboretum gets mural grant
Through the Kansas Department of Commerce and Kansas Arts Commission, Belle Plaine’s Bartlett Arboretum was recently awarded a Public Arts and Murals grant to install a new mural at the front gate. Highlighting natural floral and fauna, the mural is intended to hint at what’s within the arboretum, with Wichita artist Elisabeth Owens transforming the entrance into a display of arboreal delight. Owens has completed murals along Wichita’s Douglas Avenue, been exhibited at the Wichita Art Museum and participated in Art at the Arb. Plans are to debut the mural during TreeFest on Nov. 10.
Source: Derby Informer | Area
Mulvane set for Old Settlers festival
An end-of-summer tradition, Mulvane is getting set to host its Old Settlers Days festival from Aug. 22-25. The theme for this year’s 151st iteration is “Party by the Pix.” Starting out as a community picnic, the annual festival has grown to include a number of events focused on “preserving the past and building for the future.” Festivities planned for this year include the traditional parade, rodeo, talent show, carnival, a pair of street dances and more.
Source: Derby Informer | Area