Kansas Municipal News
After school shutdown, rural Kansas community tries to divorce district
Barton County residents will decide whether to break up with their school district and “start fresh” following heartbreak and anger over the closure of a rural community’s high school. The change could result in hundreds of students displaced and three more schools shut down. The Aug. 1 disorganization vote is a test case for rural communities that increasingly have to make decisions to shut down or consolidate as populations dwindle and schools face financial strain. “This is brand new territory for the Department of Education, for the State Board of Education and basically every district in the state of Kansas,” said KSDE general counsel Scott Gordon during a June 27 meeting in Claflin. Dissolving the district is likely to have widespread consequences for all district schools and likely will increase residents’ taxes, according to opponents of disorganization.
Source: The Lawrence Times
Overland Park tourists spend $850M, helping pandemic rebound
Overland Park’s tourism is bouncing back after a dive in 2020, when visitor spending declined 40.4% from the year before. In 2021, Overland Park saw a 42.1% increase in visitor spending, as well as a 19.5% increase in 2022. The data comes from a recent report from Tourism Economics. “Overland Park’s visitor economy has rebounded beyond pre-pandemic levels,” Warren Wilkinson, president of Visit Overland Park, the city’s marketing organization, said in a release.
Source: Kansas City Business Journal
This poisonous weed is growing in Wichita yards this summer. How you can identify it
A poisonous plant that bloomed in great numbers in the Wichita area last year has recently caught the attention of the public on online forums like Nextdoor. Poison hemlock is an invasive plant found throughout North America since its introduction in the 1800s. With a two-year life cycle, the noxious weed is usually not noticed until the second year, when they can reach 4 to 10 feet tall. Because of the number of poison hemlock plants in bloom last year, Matthew McKernan, horticulture agent with the Sedgwick County Extension Office, expects most in the area this year to be in their ground-level phase.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
From HEAL Award to Rural Champion Playbook: Lincoln County is one to Follow!
With the recent announcement of the Spring 2023 HEAL awardees, we thought we would first highlight Post Rock Fitness LLC. This project was part of our first round of HEAL grants in February 2022 and finished in December 2022. This is an amazing example of what the HEAL grant can help with when rehabbing a downtown building. When the property owner purchased the building in 2019, the building had no functional bathroom or plumbing, a nearly 40-year-old marginally operational heating and air conditioning system, and a leaking roof on the back addition. At the time they applied for the HEAL grant, the building had been vacant since 2015. Known as the C.R. Building/Hundertmark’s Variety, the building is a contributing resource in Lincoln’s National Register-designated downtown historic district and individually listed on the Register of Historic Kansas Places (RHKP). All historic character on the interior was hidden underneath a drop ceiling installed in 1981, and the basement was full of 100-years’ worth of accumulated junk. The rehab resulted in the restoration of historical details (such as the original ceiling and plaster walls) along with structural enhancements, new bathrooms, new mechanical systems (heating/air conditioning, plumbing, electrical), new flooring, and a new roof on a portion of the building.
Source: Kansas Department of Commerce
‘We got it done’: Kansas OKs gaming license for Golden Circle casino outside Wichita
The Kansas Racing and Gaming Commission cleared the way Thursday for Phil Ruffin to open a casino in the Wichita area, granting the billionaire casino mogul and Wichita native a major victory in a nearly two decade battle to put gambling machines inside the Wichita Greyhound Park. The gaming commission on Thursday granted Ruffin’s Golden Circle casino the state’s only license to operate 1,000 historical horse racing machines. The HHR machines look and play like slot machines — which voters rejected in Sedgwick County by a narrow margin a few months before Ruffin decided to close the greyhound park — but outcomes are based on random past horse races instead of randomly generated numbers. “We are ecstatic with the news,” said Phil Ruffin Jr., who lives in Wichita and will be the general manager of Golden Circle when it opens. “We’ve been working to try to renovate and reopen Wichita Greyhound Park.” The greyhound park near 77th Street North and Hydraulic has been closed since 2007. Under Ruffin’s plan, he will spend $128 million to renovate it into a three-floor casino called Golden Circle.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
Allen County: Finding workers comes with a cost
Most county departments are facing increased costs, primarily due to more pay to attract and retain personnel. … Chairman David Lee said most of the requests were due to wages and benefits. Department heads requested 5% wage increases. Commissioners may ask them to reduce that number to 3% or 4%. “We’re going to have to see how finances are looking and if we can support those requests,” Lee said. “The resounding theme from department heads is that the cost of doing business has gone up over the past two or three years.” Lee said his priority is to attract and retain employees, and that could mean taking a comparative look at wages in nearby counties. “We need to make sure our wages are competitive with counties, cities and industries around us,” he said.
Source: The Iola Register
Economist says there’s no need for the Fed to keep hiking interest rates
Nobel Prize-winning economist Christopher Pissarides believes there’s no need for the Federal Reserve to keep raising interest rates in the coming months, saying policymakers at the U.S. central bank should instead look to take a breather in the battle against inflation. His comments come shortly after data on Wednesday showed U.S. inflation fell sharply to a two-year low of 3% in June. The reading appeared to underscore the Fed’s relative success in containing price rises following a rapid increase in interest rates. The Fed has previously signaled its intent on pushing ahead with additional monetary policy tightening. … The U.S. central bank held its key borrowing rate steady in a target range of 5% to 5.25% last month, but policymakers at the meeting indicated the likelihood of half a percentage point more of additional tightening before the end of 2023.
Source: CNBC – Bonds
Municipal Bond Trends for July 13, 2023
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.
Municipal Bond Trends for July 12, 2023
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.
Ellinwood increases recycling commitment
As a show of support to local participating businesses, the City of Ellinwood agreed on Tuesday to pick up half the tab for future recycling services to the community. At Tuesday’s meeting of the Ellinwood City Council, Shelby Zuniga, executive director of Sunflower Diversified Services in Great Bend, told council members present that their organization had experienced increased costs over the past few years, resulting in the development of a direct-pay rate structure for participating businesses in the area. “We started to charge a fee in Great Bend in the middle of 2021,” Zuniga said. “We’ve had to increase the rates.”
Source: Great Bend Tribune
Planners to consider container homes
More than a year after Hillsboro developed a district north of 3rd St. for potential placement of container homes, city planners will have a July 27 hearing on an application to place the first container home in the district. Developer Felix Ramirez and then-partner Crystal Leatherman initially planned to install container homes on land purchased from developer Russell Groves. Reluctant to allow container homes to be installed without meeting city requirements, city planners and council members drew up an overlay for the proposed area. The overlay set standards not just for homes made from shipping containers, but for other alternative housing construction.
Source: HILLSBORO Star-Journal
Hugoton’s Park Day big success, winners announced
Hugoton celebrated Independence Day with Park Day Tuesday, July 4. Boy Scout Troop 189 presented the Colors and the Hugoton High School Show Choir sang the National Anthem. Winners with vouchers need to go to the Hugoton Area Chamber of Commerce to pick up your winnings. The winners in the Little Miss / Mr. Hugoton contest sponsored by Flatlanders Farm and Home were: birth to six months Little Miss first place Juliette Turner, second Thalia Ordonez and third Wrenley Maravilla; Little Mr. winner was Kord Luke Kallenbach.
Source: Hugoton Hermes News
Wyandotte nation looks to expand casino, hotel in Park City after court ruling
It’s Wednesday afternoon and dozen of people are testing their luck inside the Crosswinds casino in Park City. The small casino was opened by the Wyandotte nation back in 2021, and originally the building was only supposed to be a temporary site before the tribe launched a bigger operation. “You know our plans are to build a casino resort,” says Wyandotte nation Chief Billy Friend. “We have 10 and a half acres that has been taken in trust for gaming. and then we also have another 100, approximately 125 acres.” Those plans had been on hold while the state of Kansas was challenging a ruling from the US Department of the Interior back in 2020 that granted the tribe the ability to have gaming on part of its land.
Source: KAKE – News
Kansas plumbing company penalized more than $300K after trench collapse
An investigation into a Salina trench wall collapse determined Precision Plumbing LLC willfully violated federal trench safety regulations, resulting in proposed penalties of more than $300,000. In January 2023, a worker from Precision Plumbing, a Cheney plumbing company, was connecting a plumbing line to a Salina municipal sewer in a trench nine feet below the surface when he was buried due to a wall collapse, according to Monday’s U.S. Department of labor news release. The company foreman entered the trench to dig out the buried worker when the trench collapsed further, burying him to the knees.
Source: Kansas Reflector
Topeka metro cuts back on bus services, here’s why
Local transportation officials made several changes to existing bus routes in Topeka following a special meeting earlier this month. Keri Renner with the Topeka Metro said in a press release that on Friday, July 7 the Topeka Metro board of directors came together at the Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library to cast votes on proposed service changes. These changes will take effect starting Sept. 3, 2023. This meeting came after three other previous meetings on the same topic and after taking comments from the public.
Source: KSNT 27 News
USD 252 Southern Lyon County to fund portion of Olpe Fitness Park project
USD 252 Southern Lyon County will fund a portion of the Olpe Fitness Park project. Board members voted 4-3 to have the district contribute $600,000 to the project as a part of their board meeting Wednesday night in Hartford. The fitness park is a three-stage project, which will see the district distribute $200,000 immediately, $200,000 in July 2024, and the final $200,000 in July 2025. New USD 252 Superintendent Ryan Muhlig said the project is beneficial to the district. The district might be tight on funds, but community members are raising 70 percent of the funds.
Source: KVOE Emporia Radio
‘Urban Cowboy’ nightclub with $128M Golden Circle casino pitched for old greyhound park
Billionaire casino mogul Phil Ruffin wants to build a massive nightclub that will be familiar to fans of the 1980 hit movie “Urban Cowboy,” a film that brought cowboy hats, line dancing, mechanical bulls and pearl-snap shirts to the mainstream. Gilley’s Dance Hall and Saloon, a replica of the popular Texas honky-tonk featured in “Urban Cowboy,” would open as early as fall 2024 as part of a $128 million Golden Circle casino redevelopment at the defunct Wichita Greyhound Park, which has been closed since 2007 after voters rejected a plan to allow slot machines at the track. Ruffin also would build a 110-room hotel near the casino and dance hall after renovations were completed. The plan hinges on a decision expected Thursday from the Kansas Racing and Gaming Commission. Ruffin is seeking approval for a license to operate 1,000 historical horse racing machines to make the rest of the project economically viable. Ruffin is the last remaining applicant after one dropped out and another was disqualified.
Source: Wichita Eagle
Businesses looking to move to Hutchinson
Although many in Hutchinson are not seeing the day-to-day progress, there are large investors looking at heading to the Salt City. The Hutchinson/Reno County Chamber of Commerce is taking phone calls, giving tours and fixing prospective business leaders up with options. Several businesses are looking at locating in the Kansas Enterprise Industrial Park as well as the recently closed Sonoco Hutchinson Paper Mill, although the building has not come on the market yet.
Source: Hutch News
County’s jail housing costs on rise; Officials consider cutting costs by keeping inmates elsewhere
Housing a healthy inmate costs $100 a day at the Shawnee County Jail but about half that at the Anderson County Jail in Garnett, 75 miles southeast of Topeka, says Shawnee County Commissioner Kevin Cook. Speaking at a work session focusing on the budget of the county’s corrections department, Cook suggested Shawnee County try to save money by keeping some of its inmates in the Anderson County Jail. After learning later that the Anderson County Jail houses only 48 inmates and therefore might not be of much help, Cook said Shawnee County could still cut costs by keeping some inmates at other jails in northeast Kansas that might be willing to take them.
Source: CJonline
Inflation rose just 0.2% in June, less than expected as consumers get a break from price increases
Inflation fell to its lowest annual rate in more than two years during June, the product both of some deceleration in costs and easy comparisons against a time when price increases were running at a more than 40-year high. The consumer price index, which measures inflation, increased 3% from a year ago, which is the lowest level since March 2021. On a monthly basis, the index, which measures a broad swath of prices for goods and services, rose 0.2%. … Traders are still pricing in a strong possibility that the Fed will enact a quarter percentage point rate hike when it meets July 25-26. However, market pricing is pointing toward that being the last increase as officials pause to allow the series of hikes to work their way through the economy.
Source: CNBC
The bus stops here: Wichita cracks down on fights, underage drinking, nudity on party buses
The city of Wichita plans to start requiring licenses for party bus operators in an effort to curtail reckless passenger behavior that police say oftentimes crosses the line into criminality. “Underage drinking, fights, disorderly conduct, violent crimes that include shootings, and other unsafe behavior,” said Travis Rakestraw, special investigations captain with the Wichita Police Department. “By requiring a city of Wichita license for a party bus to operate, it will help control any businesses not willing or able to control its customers.” The City Council voted 7-0 Tuesday to establish a new ordinance requiring entertainment vehicle operators to pay a $100 annual licensing fee and agree to a code of conduct for acceptable party bus behavior. Kansas already regulates commercial vehicles, requiring inspections and insurance, but there are no state-level regulations for onboard activity.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
Lawrence-Douglas County Fire Medical recognizes service of pioneering firefighter
Lexie Engleman was one of the city’s first female firefighters, and now her name is on the training room at Station No. 1. Lawrence-Douglas County Fire Medical (LDCFM) recently dedicated the training room to Engleman, who served the department nearly 30 years until she retired as a captain at age 60 in December 2010, according to a news release. Family, friends, other LDCFM retirees and current staff members joined Engleman to celebrate the recognition. A plaque with Engleman’s portrait will hang in the room. The plaque says that when Engleman joined the Lawrence Fire Department in June 1981, she became one of the first female firefighters in the city’s history.
Source: The Lawrence Times
Newton city manager submits resignation
Newton City Manager Kelly McElroy has announced she will leave her position in October after seven years of service to the Newton community. McElroy has been city manager since January 2020. She joined the Newton staff in October 2016, first as community development director, city planner and historic preservation officer, and later as assistant city manager. “It has been an honor and pleasure to work for the City of Newton and the community,” McElroy said. “I am very proud of our staff team that has strong ambition, creativity, and servant leader hearts. The leadership the City Commission has provided us over the past several years has been invaluable. We are fortunate to have such dedicated individuals serving, focusing on big picture endeavors, and leading the community into a rapid growth mode.” As city manager, McElroy led the City through the COVID-19 pandemic, construction of a new public pool, the new Railer Field at Centennial Park, a new Newton Public Library, remodel of the Law Enforcement Center, the City’s Sesquicentennial celebration, and a surge in new residential, commercial and industrial development in the community.
Source: City of Newton
Municipal Bond Trends for July 11, 2023
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.
Parks & Rec planning survey for comprehensive plan, potential indoor waterpark
The Manhattan Parks and Recreation Department is nearing the start of a comprehensive master plan that will take a deep dive into overall planning of the department’s future. Director Aaron Stewart says a community survey is due to come before the city commission next month, with an early fall rollout likely. Stewart says once the survey is completed, Parks & Rec should have a better understanding of the community’s needs and wants, including a measure on how much the community is willing to support funding of a potential indoor waterpark. Stewart estimates such a project would carry a roughly $40 million price tag.
Source: 1350 KMAN
One expanded gambling proposal disqualified from consideration
Boyd Gaming’s “Diamond Jo” proposal was disqualified. The Gaming and Racing Commission adopted a policy change it said better reflected what the state legislature wanted. Since Boyd Gaming already operates the Kansas Star Casino in Mulvane its application was taken out of the running to prevent a potential monopoly in one of the state’s gambling zones. The decision leaves one proposal in the running-Ruffin Holdings’ “Golden Circle”, to be built at the old Wichita Greyhound Park location at 77th North and Hydraulic.
Source: KAKE – News
Dodge City named Most Charming Small Town in Kansas
A popular travel publication has named Dodge City the Most Charming Small Town in Kansas. TravelMag announced Tuesday that Dodge City had won the award. The small town in southwest Kansas also won the award in 2022 from a publication called Trips to Discover. TravelMag says it surveyed more than 100 travel experts to identify the 20 most charming towns in the Midwest. It only considered towns with populations of less than 100,000 residents. “We are thrilled to receive this distinction from TravelMag,” said Megan Welsh, director of the Convention and Visitors Bureau for Dodge City. “This recognition allows us to reach new audiences who may not have considered us as a vacation destination before. We look forward to welcoming these visitors and sharing the unique experiences Dodge City has to offer.”
Source: KSN-TV
Humboldt Council clamps down on big rig parking
The ordinance to restrict semi-trailers from parking along city streets has been on the books for decades, Humboldt Council members learned Monday night, but never enforced. That willingness to turn a blind eye caught up with them when “just one guy,” turned into several parking their rigs in front of people’s homes, causing a problem for fellow residents. Last month, Council members ordered City Attorney Fred Works to draft an ordinance banning the parking of large vehicles along city streets.
Source: The Iola Register
USD 259 has a new superintendent
Kelly Bielefeld has been named the new superintendent for the USD 259 school district. “We believe in the value of every single student. We take everybody and we do our best to get them ready for their future,” said Bielefeld. Bielefeld is just starting his new position in the district and he celebrated beginning his tenure by touring College Hill Elementary School where he was introduced to students, staff, and a new game: 9-square. At an initial news conference today, Bielefeld detailed his plans for the upcoming school year.
Source: KAKE – News
This area Route 66 stop is gaining notoriety
If you love Route 66, you aren’t alone, it’s one of the most traveled roads in the whole world. And one stop along the Mother Road is getting notoriety for what you do while you’re there. Aaron Perry was already thinking about starting his own Route 66 business in 2018 when he drove by an old service station near the Kansas-Missouri border on the Mother Road. “And I jokingly tell people it got dark, a beam of light shone down, angels played harps, and we ended up with an old Texaco in Galena Kansas,” said Aaron Perry, Owner, Gearhead Curious.
Source: KSNF/KODE
Hundreds of old oil and gas wells in Johnson and Miami counties need capping
Oil and gas wells that are in some cases over a century old, abandoned and emitting methane, are targeted for being plugged up as part of a comprehensive federal investment in infrastructure that may eventually include 378 wells in Johnson and Miami counties. U.S. Department of the Interior Secretary Deb Haaland and Democratic U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids toured some of those wells this week in Johnson County, as part of an effort to call attention to President Joe Biden’s economic priorities. Haaland, Davids and Susan Duffy, chair of the Kansas Corporation Commission, stopped at the Virginia Sue Field of Dreams near 183rd Street and Pflumm Road in Bucyrus to visit three of those sites on Monday. Kansas has already received $25 million to plug wells and is eligible to receive another $25 million in federal grants in another round of funding, Haaland said.
Source: Shawnee Mission Post
Tour De Kapellen bike ride spotlights history of Ellis County
Three-hundred cyclists rode across Ellis County Saturday to visit several Volga German Chapels and experience the culture. This is the fourth-annual Tour of Chapels, including stops at St. Catherine Church in Catharine, The Basilica on the Plains in Victoria, Holy Cross Church in Pfeifer and St. Francis Church in Munjor. Cyclists chose from a 15-mile casual ride to a 100-mile ride across the county that began at Hays Municipal Park. The ride concluded in the Municipal Park with meals and refreshments as The Joe Dolezal Polka Band performed.
Source: Hays Post
Can county stop strays?
Stray animals are commonly found in rural parts of Seward County, but with kennels already full of animals found in Liberal, the city’s animal shelter has adopted a policy of not accepting animals from rural areas of the county. The issue was brought to light at the June 13 town hall meeting hosted by the Seward County Commission, and the commission addressed the problem at its June 20 regular meeting. After the town hall meeting, Administrator April Warden researched what other Kansas counties were doing with their local animal shelters, and she got an array of responses. “We had anywhere from $9,000, $7,500, $4,500 the counties are contributing. They have a memorandum of understanding within the cities, and most of them said it’s usually the sheriff’s office,” she said. Warden said sheriff’s office officials would get called out for stray animals in the county, and they would bring those animals to the shelter.
Source: Liberal First
Ellis County Celebrates Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library 200 Millionth Book Milestone
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is turning over a new chapter in the Imagination Library legacy — celebrating 200 million books gifted globally since inception in 1995. The early childhood book-gifting program mails a high-quality, free book each month to children from birth to age five. The Dane G. Hansen Foundation, which sponsors the program, and local partner, Ellis County Imagination Library, are excited to celebrate with every child and family enrolled locally. In July, 921 children who live in Ellis County were enrolled in the Imagination Library, which has been available in the county since 2012. To celebrate this global 200 million book milestone, seven enchanting Dolly bookmarks will be randomly hidden inside Imagination Library books gifted during International Literacy Month (September) to children currently enrolled in the program. (Children must be enrolled by July 31 to receive Imagination Library books in September).
Source: Hays Daily News
Hesston gets into Pizza business but debate comes with extra sauce
The City of Hesston’s going into the pizza business. The City Council approved purchasing a $9,414 Pizza Oven in order to operate a Godfathers Pizza ToGo location at the Hesston City Golf Course. City Administrator Gary Emry discussed the idea as a way to fill the gap left by of D’Angelos closing in Hesston, draw in eaters to the golf course, and make some money. … Council Member Larry Fuqua wanted to know if the City could get a Godfather’s sign. He was told he could. “We could get Larry dressed up as the Godfather,” Mayor David Kauffman joked of possible marketing for the location.
Source: Harvey County Now
Municipal Bond Trends for July 10, 2023
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.
Phase 3 of Manhattan Regional Airports Runway Project has been pushed back
Phase 3 of Manhattan Regional Airport’s Runway Project has been pushed back. Airport Director Brandon Keazer says this is due to recent weather conditions. Keazer says the contractor is working quickly to make up lost time and will most likely finish phase 3 before August 2. Additionally, Keazer says the delay will not affect the start date of phase 4. The Manhattan Regional Airport services will resume early September.
Source: 1350 KMAN
Girard Public Library hosts backyard chicken workshop
The Girard Public Library, in collaboration with the Wildcat Extension District, is hosting an event titled “Backyard Chickens & Incubating Eggs.” Organizers say the presentation was by Adaven Scronce from K-State Research & Extension. The event covered topics such as caring for chickens, housing requirements and design, and the fundamentals of incubating eggs.
Source: KOAM News
Public safety crisis in Wichita?
At least two members of the Wichita City Council are sounding the alarm, saying that there’s a public safety crisis. With recent violent crimes and a possible officer shortfall on the way, some are saying that we need to spend money now. “It’s pretty clear what’s happening in Wichita right now, and we have a public emergency,” said Wichita City Councilmember Bryan Frye on Monday. Frye, who is running for mayor right now, says the city needs to take a hard look at spending some of the City of Wichita’s projected $12.6 million surplus for the next budget cycle on hiring and retaining cops.
Source: KSN-TV
Johnson County law enforcement train for active shooter
First responders across Johnson County Monday received a lesson in active shooter training. FOX4 got a look inside a hostile event response training at Shawnee Mission West High School. Several agencies are working to stay alert in the name of safety. A hostile situation can mean anything from an active shooter to a bomb threat. Agencies from across Johnson County are working together to stay ready to respond. This was training made to feel real. The bullets were blanks, but the practice police, fire and EMS receive is vital.
Source: KSN-TV
Emporia commissioners move forward on $250k skate park
After an anonymous quarter-million-dollar donation and subsequent leasing issues, plans to build a renovated skate park in Emporia were moved to a new location. In 2021, 13-year-old Maddox Gutierrez started a petition to improve the Santa Fe Skate Park in Emporia. After the anonymous donation, the project ran into an issue: BNSF was the owner of the Santa Fe Skate Park land and only leased the property to the city under the condition it was used for ballparks. A new location was found on city-owned land at Whitter Park.
Source: KSNT 27 News
Topeka Fire Department opens Citizens Academy applications
Starting Monday, the Topeka Fire Department (TFD) will be taking applications for the Citizen’s Academy, an event for the community to learn about TFD and to increase fire safety awareness. The Citizen’s Academy is returning “after a brief hiatus” and will hold classes from 6-8 p.m. from Sept. 14 to Oct. 12. Attendees will graduate with a certificate of attendance and learn about CPR and first aid training, fire prevention, home escape planning, fire extinguisher operation, experience an extraction demonstration and more, according to the TFD.
Source: KSNT 27 News
Shawnee using $90K national grant to support health wellness programming
Throughout 2023, Shawnee has been working to build a program that emphasizes health and wellness in the community and capitalizes on existing partnerships with outside organizations. And, it’s all supported by a $90,000 grant city staff landed last year. The timing was everything for Shawnee’s grant. Last year, Shawnee Parks and Recreation Program Manger Matt Mann heard about a grant opportunity from the National Recreation and Parks Association and the Wal-Mart Foundation called the Community Wellness Hub. He said the timing was perfect since the city had just recently wrapped up its parks and recreation master plan process, which lays out the vision for the city’s park system and programs for the next decade or so.
Source: Prairie Village Post
This Mission park is getting a brand new $306K walking trail
Mission’s Broadmoor Park is on track to get a brand new walking trail later this year. Located at 5701 Broadmoor Street, a full demolition and rebuild of the walking trails at the park is expected to cost the city $306,935. The city council will consider approval at a future meeting. This is a longtime priority for the parks, rec and tree commission. The city began master planning improvements for each of its five major parks in 2019, said Penn Almoney, parks and recreation director. About $2 million worth of conceptual plans for Broadmoor Park were ultimately approved, including a trail improvement for 2023, he said.
Source: Prairie Village Post
$23 million in IRBs sought to renovate east Wichita apartment complex
The owner of Brentwood Apartments says much work needs to be done for the complex, built more than half a century ago, to be a viable affordable housing option in Wichita moving forward. And it’s asking the City Council for a hand. On Tuesday, Virginia-based CRS Housing Preservation Inc. will request a letter of intent from the Council to issue industrial revenue bonds up to $23 million to finance the costs for Brentwood Place LP, a newly created entity tied to the organization, to purchase and renovate the 196-unit complex at 6602 E. Harry. The request also involves a sales tax exemption on construction materials.
Source: Wichita Business Journal