Municipal News & Jobs

Cowley County will consider actions it can take to try and slow down the construction of a proposed Evergy electric transmission line through the county, commissioners discussed during their Tuesday meeting. The project has been met with widespread opposition from property owners, who say it will damage the land and infringe on private property rights, among other concerns. The Cowley County Commission has also formally opposed the project. The transmission line, called the Buffalo Flats project after the name of the substation near Garden Plain where the line would begin, would cross through Sedgwick, Sumner, Cowley and Chautauqua counties, ending at the Kansas/Oklahoma border, with the remaining 30 miles built by another company before ending at an electric substation in Delaware, Okla. Evergy has said the project will enhance electrical reliability and strengthen the power grid.
Read more: www.ctnewsonline.com

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.

The Finney County Commission approved a task order for a US Highway 83/50 Bypass study at its regular meeting on Monday. Derek Ramos, Finney County Administrator, said Finney County Commission and the Garden City Commission directed staff to develop a task order via Wilson and Company in order to provide technical assistance to both governing bodies on the US Highway 83/50 Bypass study the Kansas Department of Transportation is conducting. A Request for Proposals for professional services related to the study is due to KDOT by Feb. 4, Ramos said. “KDOT anticipates executing an agreement with the selected consultant by the end of March 2026, with the study scheduled to begin April 1, 2026, and take approximately one year to complete,” he said. Ramos said the task order will have Wilson and Company serve in a technical advisory position specific to the Bypass study, providing technical representation for the governing bodies throughout the study’s process, assisting staff and elected officials in communicating and advocating for local interests.
Read more: Garden City Telegram

The Harvey County Food & Farm Council is celebrating a decade of finding ways to get food to people. They’ve done that in many ways, and they’re working on more. One of the council members, Peace Connections Director Kendra Davila, said she feels they’re building a more resilient food system. An example of that is the Double Up Food Bucks, which is a statewide food program. People can use the food bucks at the local farmer’s market if they qualify and then can purchase $20 worth of food there for $10. The council is an advisory group of the Board of Harvey County Commissioners, said Harvey County Health Department Director and Council Coordinator Lynnette Redington. The council has 16 members and two vacant spots. They don’t lobby. They just educate and advocate, if need be. They advise the commission on food and tell them about the council’s stance on topics.
Read more: Harvey County Now

The Halstead City Council referred another new technology to its planning and zoning committee for consideration and reporting back. Instead of a battery energy storage system (BESS), this time it’s data centers and cryptocurrency mining facilities. Following Harvey County’s moratorium on data centers, Halstead Mayor Gary Faelber asked the Halstead City Council to consider a moratorium on commercial data centers, as well. Council Member Charlie Robinson said he was opposed to a ban without P&Z having a chance to look at it and weigh in. Faelber said the facilities are a nuisance. “In my opinion, the people have already voted on such a subject, and it was a resounding, ‘We do not want this kind of stuff in our city,’” Faelber said. City Attorney Brad Jantz told the council they could instill a moratorium with little notice, and they could rescind it at any time, even if they put a specific time period on it. On Jan. 13, Harvey County Commissioners agreed on a moratorium on data centers in the unincorporated areas of Harvey County until Jan. 1, 2029.
Read more: Harvey County Now

With inflation at 3% and Hays City sales tax collection only up 1% in 2025, Finance Director Kim Rupp told City Commissioners that savings “across the board” helped keep the City operating in the black. “You can’t pinpoint any one particular thing. A couple of departments, Fire in particular, operated almost the whole year under-staffed so they saved some salaries,” said Director Rupp during the January 22nd City Commission Meeting. He added that a number of departments also did not use their contingency funds. “They kept expenses down, even with their regular general supplies and materials across the boards throughout all the budgets,” Director Rupp said.
Read more: Hays Daily News

Lawmakers are attempting to resolve a water dispute between two Kansas cities and a neighboring county that has spawned three lawsuits, one administrative case and, most recently, a piece of proposed legislation that could modify county authority. The outcomes could determine what roles state officials and local governments will play in securing quality water supplies for future generations. One lawsuit has been dismissed, another is making its way through the court system, and the administrative case before the state’s Water Transfer Panel is in a holding pattern. But a bill that advanced out of a House committee Tuesday would amend state law to forbid county authorities from regulating water appropriation in ways that may conflict with state authorities.
Read more: Kansas Reflector

As dozens of local officials and advocates recently took a peek at Maura Heft’s new three-bedroom home, she proudly showed off her spacious kitchen with dark wood cabinets and joyfully explained that the home came with a finished basement. Heft and her 6-year-old daughter were moving into their first home that they own. They are the first tenants to move into a new type of affordable housing constructed by Habitat for Humanity of Kansas City on the southern edge of Olathe in Johnson County. It’s a 14-home neighborhood built on a community land trust. That’s a real estate tool that allows the organization to sell the homes at a reduced price — and keep them affordable in the future. Habitat for Humanity sold the home to Heft for about $250,000, less than half of the average home price in the county. Heft said moving into the new home is a life-changing moment for her and her daughter — who have been homeless for five years while staying with family or living in transitional housing — despite Heft working a full-time job.
Read more: KLC Journal

The Leawood City Council has approved a new ordinance requiring minors to wear helmets on ‘motorized’ devices. The ordinance, passed Monday night, requires anyone under age 18 to wear a secured helmet while operating or riding as a passenger on electric-assisted bikes, scooters, skateboards, mopeds, and similar devices. City officials said the change follows concerns raised by police about the increasing use of e-bikes and e-scooters by juveniles, often without helmets. Violations of the ordinance can result in a warning or a citation carrying a $25 fine. Police have said enforcement will focus first on education and voluntary compliance as residents adjust to the new rule.
Read more: KMBC

Across Kansas, more judges are becoming attuned to the mental health struggles of those who step into their courtrooms. In Ellis County, 23rd Judicial District Chief Judge Curtis Brown has witnessed the revolving door of people who are battling addiction and untreated mental illness while simultaneously dealing with the court system. “I really like to try to help people out,” Brown says. “You’ve just got to bring in a human element and help these folks.” More than 250 miles to the east, Johnson County District Judge Robert Wonnell has grown more aware of the behavioral health challenges some people face through his work presiding over Division 6 of the 10th Judicial District. Wonnell gained a new perspective in 2019 when he attended a regional conference hosted by the National Judicial Task Force to examine state courts’ responses to mental illness.
Read more: KLC Journal

Thursday, Wyandotte County commissioners will decide whether they’ll give back a portion of new sales tax revenue to pay off a domed stadium for the Kansas City Chiefs. The development would go west of 118th Street, between State Avenue and Parallel Parkway, east of 126th Street. All 10 commissioners get to vote on this issue Thursday. Christian Ramirez is the Commissioner for the southeastern portion of the county. The stadium would go in the far western portion. “I don’t, no,” Ramirez said when asked if he knew how he was going to vote Thursday. “I still am reviewing all our comments. We’re taking all comments from yesterday. Right now, I’m just listening.” About 45 people spoke Tuesday night at a public hearing. Only a couple of them supported the way that the potential deal is drawn for Wyandotte County.
Read more: KSN-TV

Sedgwick County Fire announced on Saturday via Facebook that it now has a new tool that helps firefighters locate people underwater. The AquaEye Pro is a handheld sonar system designed to help first responders quickly locate drowning victims. According to the company’s website, the tool cuts the average search time by 90%. It can also scan up to 8,000 square meters of water in five minutes, equivalent to 1½ football fields. The device is currently housed at Fire Station 32 in Park City. Sedgwick County Fire says it’s hoping to get another device to keep at a station in Haysville.
Read more: KSN-TV

Sen. Jerry Moran announced on Wednesday that rural Kansas hospitals and community health centers are getting more than $7 million in federal funding. The money comes from fiscal year 2026 appropriations bills, including the one approved by Congress and signed into law by the president this week. “Access to medical care is often a deciding factor for many Kansans when determining whether they will remain in the rural communities they call home,” Moran said in a news release. “These resources will support rural hospitals and community health centers across our state and help to improve outcomes, invest in new medical capabilities, and bolster the critical work of rural providers in caring for Kansans.”
Read more: KSN-TV

The Pratt Regional Medical Center is delinquent on its rent, the county says. On Tuesday, KSN obtained a letter sent from an attorney representing Pratt County to the hospital. It is labeled “Notice of Default and Intent to Terminate Lease.” The letter, dated Jan. 23, said the hospital owed more than $1.58 million for rent from October 2024 to January. An additional $99,000 in rent was set to come due on Feb. 1. The letter also accuses the hospital of being out of compliance with two requirements in the lease: the debt-to-income ratio and the cash on hand clause that said the hospital should keeping a cash balance of at least 75 days of average operating expenses.
Read more: KSN-TV

Recent political advertisements from a Wichita organization are raising questions from the public about their legality. Wichita Forward, the group that introduced a citywide 1% sales tax proposal that will go before voters next month, is at the center of the controversy. On Tuesday, a complaint was filed alleging that one of the group’s ads may violate election or ethics laws by using a city employee in campaign messaging. The commercial features Wichita firefighters standing at what appears to be a fire station, along with several vehicles moving around the area. It includes a message from a firefighter named Warren, who focuses on how the sales tax could affect the fire department if it passes.
Read more: KSN-TV

The City of Wichita has renewed the Water Conservation Rebate Program for another year. On Monday, the city announced it has allocated $125,000 for rebates for customers who make purchases to help them save water. New this year is the inclusion of drought-tolerant grasses and shrubs.
Read more: KSN-TV

Incorrect information was sent to some Wichita voters, raising concerns about confusion, trust, and turnout ahead of the city-wide 1% sales tax vote. Wichita Forward, the organization that brought the sales tax to the council, circulated a mailer that included an advance ballot application listing the wrong deadline and time to vote. Sedgwick County District Attorney Marc Bennett held a news conference on Tuesday. On Monday, KSN heard from the League of Women Voters and the Sedgwick County district attorney about why accuracy matters and when a mistake could become a legal issue.
Read more: KSN-TV

Chuck Negron, a founding member of Three Dog Night whose lead vocals powered a string of hits including “Joy to the World," “One” and “An Old Fashioned Love Song” for one of the top rock acts of the late 1960s and early ’70s, died Monday. He was 83. He died of complications from heart failure and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease at his home in the Studio City neighborhood of Los Angeles, according to his publicist Zach Farnum.
Read more: KSNT 27 News

There are important meetings Tuesday night regarding the future home of the Chiefs. Late in December, the team announced they planned to build a new stadium in the western portion of Wyandotte County, near I-70 and I-435. If you want to weigh in on the city giving back some of its future sales tax revenue back to paying off the stadium development, you need to show up to Kansas City, Kansas, City Hall for Tuesday night’s meeting that starts at 5:30 p.m. The commission won’t vote on this issue until Thursday at 5:30 pm, but after talking with Unified Government of Wyandotte County Administrator David Johnston Monday, he wants the state and the local sales tax increment to be a much smaller portion of the county.
Read more: KSNT 27 News

USD 244 Burlington has a new superintendent. Donalyn Biehler was chosen as the district’s new leader last week. She currently leads USD 487 Herington. Biehler replaces Craig Marshall, who is retiring after 10 years leading the district. She officially begins her new duties July 1.
Read more: KVOE