Municipal News & Jobs

Kansas Municipal News

Small Kansas airports fighting to get SkyWest Charter

SkyWest submitted an application to the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) almost a year ago requesting commuter authority. “We are pleading with the DOT to take action and allow SWC to serve the airports in our region,” Corey Keller, the director of public works for Dodge City. The Department of Transportation has not approved that application yet. Small Kansas airports such as Dodge City, Salina, Hays and Liberal say getting this application approved is crucial to their airports and communities. Keller says without SkyWest Charter (SWC), the next steps are unclear. “If SkyWest charter is not approved, there’s the possibility of, you know, no air service, so going to rebid looking for other airlines, and there’s just not a lot out there right now that can provide a good, reliable, safe service. So, the biggest impact is the possibility of losing a good air carrier like we have right now,” Keller said.
Source: KSN-TV

Ozawkie celebrates its unusual heritage

Ozawkie, Kansas, celebrated its heritage this weekend. The small town put on its third annual festival that recognizes the original town of Ozawkie. The town was moved to its current spot after Kansas decided to make the Perry Lake dam in 1965. The festival included food vendors, face painting, games, old memorabilia from the original town and a special performance by Topeka High School’s marching band. The festival also gave local businesses a chance to sell their products.
Source: KSNT 27 News

Washunga Days set for this weekend in Council Grove

Council Grove will be the center stage for Washunga Days Friday and Saturday. The event will take place along the Neosho Riverwalk. Even with activities going into full force on Friday, there’s a free community event that’ll kick things off Thursday according to event organizer Jesse Knight.
Source: KVOE Emporia Radio

Split Shawnee council agrees to put parks and pipes sales tax up for renewal vote

Shawnee voters will be asked to renew the city’s special sales taxes during the upcoming general election this November. After a prolonged back and forth Monday night, the Shawnee City Council voted 4-3 to renew the 1/8-cent sales sales tax, often referred to as the “parks and pipes” tax. Previously, the council seemed poised to pursue a new tax in lieu of a renewal. Such a step — had the council opted to take it — would have allowed the city to use revenue from the sales tax for some parks operations in some situations.
Source: Prairie Village Post

Marshall County to get updated 911 system

Marshall County is preparing to switch to the Kansas 911 Coordinating Council’s New Generation Call Handling System. Michelle Reinhart, a terminal access coordinator for the Marshall County Sheriff’s Department, led the discussion about the new system at Monday’s county commissioners’ meeting. … Marshall County is the one of the last two counties in the state to join the system. “We are excited,” Reinhart said. “It’s $18,000 a year. It will come out of 911 monies. We will never replace another piece of equipment. We will never update mapping again.” An automatically updated statewide map will enable dispatchers to locate 911 callers more quickly. Additional location-gathering tools are included in the system.
Source: The Marysville Advocate

Sedgwick County firefighters take additional steps to protect both themselves and drivers

A new digital alert system is protecting firefighters and drivers alike. Sedgwick County firefighters have begun using HAAS Alert Service’s Safety Cloud to not only protect themselves but also to protect drivers. The digital alert system lets drivers know 30 seconds ahead of time when there is an emergency situation ahead. “Digital alerts are found to be 90 percent effective in reducing collisions compared to just lights and sirens,” said Vice President of Communications for HAAS Alert Brock Aun. According to Aun, most firefighters said they would rather go into a burning building than stop on the side of the road. “They can control a fire but they can’t control drivers,” he said.
Source: KAKE – News

Local businesses in Pittsburg brace for economic impact as students leave for summer

Perla Garcia, owner of a local business by Pittsburg State, would have felt the impacts of students not being in town if it wasn’t for one thing – she sells ice cream. While the students are her main clients, the frozen goods keep her busy when the warmer temperatures come around. But summer doesn’t work in every business’s favor. With only 20% of the 5,600 Pittsburg State students being local, businesses in the city need to find strategies for when the non-local students leave. The Kelce Business and Economic Research Center estimates that there’s a decline of more than 22.8 million dollars in student spending during the summer, in Pittsburg. Knowing that, business owners adopt different strategies to minimize the economic impact — from selling seasonal items like ice cream to changing their business hours.
Source: KOAM News

Pittsburg commission asked to rescind support of US-69

During the public comments segment at the beginning of Tuesday evening’s city commission meeting in Pittsburg, a half-dozen residents came forward to plead their case and ask the commission to rescind its 2001 support of a new US-69 bypass along the route proposed by the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT). The proposed new route, known as the West Alignment, has been a heated topic in Crawford County in recent weeks. Beginning a few miles north of Arma, the new bypass would run roughly parallel to 200th Street to US-400. Access to this bypass would be limited. The current kerfuffle was sparked by a $13 million grant from the federal government to be used in improving US-69 secured by Senator Jerry Moran. KDOT has begun to move forward on one of the key access points to the new bypass, extending US-160 west two miles from its current junction with US-69 near the state park in Frontenac. This extension runs through newly constructed homes and runs dangerously close to the small community of Capaldo. Concerns that this road will sit for 20 years, largely unused, while KDOT comes up with the $1 billion to finish the project have earned this extension the sobriquet of the “highway to nowhere.”
Source: Morning Sun

Chanutes 150th anniversary event planned

Chanute’s 150th celebration and downtown block party is coming up. The downtown block party to celebrate Chanute’s founding is planned for 2-8 p.m. Saturday, July 1. The city of Chanute was established in 1873. “It’s an afternoon of free, family-friendly activity,” said Mayor Jacob LaRue on Monday. “So it’s awesome what’s going to happen.” Inspyral Circus will perform and kids can participate in rock painting and a kids dash for cash. There also will be food trucks at the event. SEK Princesses will appear 4:30-6 p.m.
Source: The Chanute Tribune

0.25% sales tax question will be on November ballot in Chanute

Voters in November will decide the fate of renewing a 0.25% sales tax question that would benefit economic development and infrastructure efforts in Chanute. On Monday, the Chanute City Commission unanimously approved a resolution in order to place the question on the upcoming November ballot. “I think it hits all the points we’ve been discussing,” said Mayor Jacob LaRue. “I think it’s nice to have a consensus on the question.” If the sales tax question is approved, it will help the city maintain municipal buildings and further economic development initiatives in Chanute.
Source: The Chanute Tribune

Municipal Bond Trends for June 15, 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.

Installation of permanent pickleball courts approved in Salina

One of the fastest-growing sports in the world has already made its way to Salina, but players here will now have a permanent outdoor place after pickleball court overlays are coming to Oakdale Park. The move comes after approval by the Salina City Commission to award a bid for the project in the amount of $444,762 and approval to accept donated funds to pay for it. Parks and Recreation Director Jeff Hammond said pickleball has already been happening on the south courts in Oakdale Park, with temporary nets placed and lines painted for that use, but a more permanent option was wanted.
Source: Salina Journal

Reno County Commissioners look into changing fireworks regulations

All five commissioners asked the county administrator, Randy Partington, to draft a new plan for fireworks rules. The county already has rules for fireworks only going off from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. from June 30 to July 4. The commissioners want to keep those regulations but strike some of the other restrictions and go to “lawful state fireworks” rules. Reno County Counselor Patrick Hoffman said that fireworks emitting a shower of sparks more than sixfeet are prohibited under the current county resolution. Commissioners directed Hoffman to draft anupdated resolution allowing such fireworks.
Source: Hutch News

Nitrates found in Yoder water again

Nitrate levels have once again risen above allowable limits in the Yoder area. Residents are asked again to limit water usage, especially for infants under 6 months old and those who are pregnant. Reno County Public Works is currently in discussions with the City of Hutchinson regarding the purchasing of water for Yoder. The last nitrate level test, in Rural Water District 101, was collected on June 6, 2023. The level tested at 11.2 mg/L, which exceeds the Kansas and Federal (EPA) maximum contaminant level (MCL) of 10 mg/L for public water supply systems.
Source: Hutch News

Municipal Bond Trends for June 14, 2023

Walmart to Build $257M Case-Ready Beef Facility Create 667 New Jobs in Olathe

Governor Laura Kelly today announced Walmart will build its first-ever fully owned and operated case-ready beef facility in Olathe. The retailer will invest $257 million in the plant and create 667 new permanent jobs. Construction of the facility will also create 1,000 design, fabrication, and construction jobs. “Thanks to our work to make Kansas a top food and agriculture state, companies continue to invest in our communities and create high-paying jobs for Kansans,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “Walmart’s innovative new facility will support a more prosperous future for Olathe, for the Kansas City metro, and for our state as a whole.” The opening of the 330,000-square-foot facility will further Walmart’s efforts in creating an end-to-end supply chain for high-quality Angus beef while increasing transparency and capacity in its supply chain to deliver high-quality products for its customers in the Midwest.
Source: Kansas Department of Commerce

Harvey County pledges $250000 for grant application with IdeaTek

After much discussion, the Harvey County Commissioners approved a motion to commit $250,000 in matching grant money to partner with IdeaTek in applying for the Lasting Infrastructure and Network Connection (LINC) grant through the Kansas Department of Commerce. The motion also included providing a letter of support. It was approved by a 2-1 vote, with Commissioner Becky Reimer voting against. During the weekly commissioners meeting, Ethan Kaplan, a representative from IdeaTek, requested that the county partner with them in the application in order to enhance their chances of being successful. Kaplan told the commissioners that the total project, which includes three towers and 460 homes, will cost $5.25 million. The grant request is $4.6 million, and the required match is $460,000, but IdeaTek is including $650,000 in matching funds to improve the chances of their project being selected. The addition of the county’s pledge of $250,000 will bring total matching funds to $900,000 and give IdeaTek and Harvey County a strong chance at being successful in their application, according to Kaplan.
Source: Harvey County Now

Wichita temporarily drops aptitude test for police officers amid recruiting slump

The Wichita Police Department has temporarily lowered its standards at a time when it is struggling to recruit officers, a move that appears to conflict with a report that found a lack of minimum standards was sowing discontent within the ranks. The Wichita City Council has approved funding for more officers than the department has been able to recruit and hire. But the police union says lowering entry standards isn’t the answer. At issue is an aptitude test given to police recruits as an entry exam that was recently — and quietly — eliminated by the department after consultation with new Human Resources Director Jason Hood. The change wasn’t announced until the city released a dashboard tracking its progress on a list of changes recommended by national police consultant firm Jensen Hughes.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle

Newton could soon smoke tobacco out of city parks

The practice of using tobacco products in city parks might soon go up in smoke. The Newton City Commission got the chance to review and discuss language that would forbid tobacco products in all city parks, excluding the Sand Creek Station golf course. The discussion follows work by the health department and others picking up large amounts of cigarette butts in parks to show the commission the litter smoking caused in order to advocate for the change. The policy isn’t criminally enforceable. Offenders can be told they must leave the park for smoking and can be made subject to trespassing violations. The reviewed resolution would come with signage noting that no smoking is allowed in the parks. The signs will be paid for by Kansas Department of Health and Environment.
Source: Harvey County Now

Editorial: Cemeteries the history book of every town

Cemeteries are on my mind a lot lately, due to the time of the year I suppose, although I tend to think about them often. I sometimes watch videos on how to clean headstones and about people who repair headstones that have fallen over, I research people and photograph headstones for others. You can go out to most cemeteries on any given day and see someone walking the paths and of course, people placing flowers on graves and spending time in reflection. When people think about visitors coming to our towns, they don’t often think about the number of out-of-town visitors to our cemeteries. Not only do people travel to towns to visit family gravesites, genealogists roam cemeteries to research family histories all the time. In essence, our cemeteries represent our communities to those who visit. I’ve often said, “Show me a well-cared-for cemetery and I’ll show you a community that takes pride in its history and town.”
Source: Dodge City Daily Globe

Governor Kelly Announces WaKeeney Selected as Newest Kansas Main Street Community

Governor Laura Kelly visited WaKeeney today to announce its selection as the latest community added to the Kansas Main Street program, a Kansas Department of Commerce initiative to preserve and revitalize downtown districts across the state. This brings the total number of Designated Main Street communities in Kansas to 36. The Kansas Main Street program was originally launched in 1985. The Kelly Administration revived the program in 2019 after it was shut down in 2012 and has since welcomed 11 additional communities to the program. “I congratulate all who worked to ensure WaKeeney was added to the list of cities in the Main Street program – it is a rigorous process and a testament to the pride of this community,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “The Kansas Main Street program helps rural communities like WaKeeney bring back jobs and continue being places where future generations want to live and raise families.”
Source: Kansas Department of Commerce

Fed Holds Rates Steady but Expects More Increases

Federal Reserve officials agreed to hold interest rates steady after 10 consecutive increases but signaled they were prepared to raise rates next month if the economy and inflation don’t cool more. New economic projections, released Wednesday after their two-day policy meeting, strongly suggested officials were leaning toward slowing down their increases rather than stopping them altogether. Most of them penciled in two more rate increases this year, which would lift them to a 22-year high, and boosted their expectations for growth and inflation. The Fed fights inflation by slowing the economy through raising rates, which causes tighter financial conditions such as higher borrowing costs, lower stock prices and a stronger dollar. Officials had signaled growing disagreement in recent weeks over whether to keep raising rates. “We don’t know the full extent of the consequences of the banking turmoil that we’ve seen,” Powell said Wednesday. “It would be early to see those.” Other Fed officials have expressed more concern that inflation, hiring and consumer spending haven’t slowed more.
Source: WSJ.com: US Business

City of Emporia unveils new mass notification system

The City of Emporia unveiled a new mass notification system Monday, after receiving community feedback. According to a written release, moving to a new notification platform, Civic Ready, will allow the City to distribute information in a more efficient and streamlined manner; directly connecting its social media platforms, website, and other city platforms used for distributing information.
Source: Emporia Gazette

Marion cops get big raises

Marion City Council voted Monday to raise entry-level police pay 47.1% after Chief Gideon Cody said doing so would help recruitment. Top pay scale wages also will increase with first-year assistant chief pay rising 63.6%. Officers will make $20 to $25.09 an hour, up from a low of $13.59 now.
Source: HILLSBORO Star-Journal

Committee recommends $82K tax break for Borders building project in Lawrence but votes against $830K tax rebate

A city committee voted Wednesday in favor of one tax break for a project to redevelop the long-vacant Borders bookstore in downtown Lawrence, but against a much larger tax incentive that First Management Inc. had requested. First Management plans to remodel the building at 700 New Hampshire St. into corporate headquarters. The company seeks Industrial Revenue Bonds for a 100% sales tax exemption on construction materials for the building, and a 15-year, 90% Neighborhood Revitalization Area (NRA) rebate. The Public Incentives Review Committee voted 4-1 Wednesday to recommend approval of the IRB. According to agenda materials, that amounts to a value of about $82,000. Committee members, who voted on the IRB and the Neighborhood Revitalization Area (NRA) rebate separately, voted against recommending the NRA rebate on a 3-2 vote. That was valued at about $830,000, according to reports in the meeting agenda.
Source: The Lawrence Times

City of Holton sales tax renewed

Holton voters approved a 10-year extension on the city’s half-cent sales tax for infrastructure improvements by a margin of nearly six to one, despite a low voter turnout, it has been reported. Holton Interim City Clerk Teresa Riley thanked the city’s voters for showing support for extending the sales tax, which will now be extended through Dec. 31, 2033.
“The city is grateful and thankful to the citizens of Holton for continuing to support the improvement of our city through the sales tax,” Riley said. “Work will continue on our aging sewer system, maintenance of our electrical generation plant and other infrastructure improvements needed.”
Source: Holton Recorder

FOMC likely to skip June but hike interest rates in July analysts say

The Federal Open Market Committee is expected this week to hold interest rates at a range of 5% to 5.25%, but the revised Summary of Economic Projections will likely signal at least one more rate hike this year. “We expect the Fed to leave the federal funds rate unchanged although both the post-meeting statement and the dot plot will likely emphasize that inaction this week should be considered ‘skipping a rate hike’ rather than putting an end to monetary tightening,” said David Kelly, chief global strategist at J.P. Morgan Asset Management. “Indeed, Fed communications could explicitly warn of a possible further rate hike in July.” Although Kelly believes cooling data through the July meeting should suggest “no further tightening is warranted.” Others disagreed about the future. “The Fed will need to remain committed to curbing inflation and be ready to raise the rates again and keep them elevated if necessary,” said Emin Hajiyev, senior economist at Insight Investment. Inflation, he said, will dictate policy, calling it “the overriding concern.”
Source: The Bond Buyer

Municipal Bond Trends for June 13, 2023

Hope, hurdles remain for long-discussed west Wichita highway project

Since around the turn of the century, many have agreed that a northwest bypass would be a boon for west Wichita economic development and the region overall. Advocates point to what the early 1990s expansion of K-96 did for east Wichita, with growth showing no signs of slowing in areas just off the highway on Greenwich Road, among other intersections. Yet, the proposed highway project — which would extend K-254 from around 45th Street North and Maize Road to Kellogg, just east of Goddard — first studied in the late 1990s appears not much closer to coming to fruition than it did years ago. “At one time, there seemed to be strong momentum, and then it just fizzled,” said Dan Unruh, founding partner at InSite Real Estate Group. Despite the Kansas Department of Transportation beginning to purchase land for the project in 2006, only one-third of the right-of-way has been bought so far. That’s about where progress stood two years ago.
Source: Wichita Business Journal

Dodge City’s “Paving the future, property tax relief and street sales tax”

The 2023 Street Reconstruction Projects utilizing the new “Paving the Future, Property Tax Relief and Street Sales Tax funds” will begin soon. The Dodge City Commission recently approved a street project at Village Square Mall to mill and inlay Central Avenue from the northern drive to end of concrete pavement up to and including the US 50 and Central Avenue intersection. Another mill and inlay/overlay project will address much needed repairs tpi on Underpass Road from Trail Street. to Wyatt Earp Boulevard.
Source: Dodge City Daily Globe

Faces of Emporia mural comes to life downtown

Downtown Emporia is full of smiling faces today, as work continues on the Faces of Emporia Mural at 907 Commercial St. Pasted and sealed with wallpaper glue on the south side of the Nick Jacobs American Family Insurance building, 188 photos of smiling Emporians will make up the latest in a series of five new murals as part of the Visit Emporia Community Arts Alliance. The Faces of Emporia mural follows the Hispanic Heritage Mural on El Marmol restaurant, funded and talent scouted by local volunteer organization Emporia Celebrates the Flint Hills, with help from the Emporia Community Foundation, Kathryn L. & Elvin D. Perkins Fund, Hispanics of Today and Tomorrow and Visit Emporia.
Source: Emporia Gazette

Water consumption trending upward within Garden City

Fred Jones, Garden City Water Resource Manager, gave a mid-year update on water consumption withing the city at the Garden City Commission’s regular meeting Tuesday. Generally, water consumption within the city has increased significantly this past year, Jones said. About 6.5% more water was used in 2022 than the city’s five-year average. “Water consumption continues to trend upwards; we’re averaging about 1% per year, and the range consumption totals differs by approximately 89 million gallons over the past six years,” he said. “It’s going up, but it’s not dramatic.” Jones said irrigation tends to get the brunt of the abuse for that increase, but there are other uses of water that do increase in the summertime that the city is probably getting to a point, in terms of the industrial capacity in Garden City, that they need to look at, which is water required for cooling. This year they are going to do some analysis of that, to see if they can get a better picture of what the cooling footprint is in Garden City, which can include any large businesses, the hospital and Garden City Community College. “We may be looking for some ways we can work with some of those entities just to provide them some more information education to help them conserve some water and hopefully save their businesses some money as well,” he said.
Source: Garden City Telegram

Sedgwick’s council wants to continue the city sales tax

A 10-year, one-half-cent sales tax. That’s what the Sedgwick City Council hopes to convince residents to vote on in November. The council approved a resolution on Wednesday to give voters the opportunity to extend the current half-cent tax for an additional 10 years, tripling its original length. In November 2019, voters passed a five-year city sales tax that took effect in 2020 and will sunset on Dec. 31, 2024, unless it is extended by a successful vote in five months. City Administrator Kyle Nordick told the council that the special sales tax approved in 2019 has generated $509,507 in revenue so far. He estimated that the one-half of one percent (0.5%) retailers’ sales tax would generate approximately $195,000 annually. “It’s going right out the door for street repairs,” Nordick said. “That would be part of the marketing.”
Source: Harvey County Now

Citizens gather at El Dorado’s Graham Park to remember lives lost in 1958 tornado

Saturday morning, the sounds of kids playing in El Dorado’s Graham Park could be heard throughout the neighborhood, but on June 10, 1958 a different sound is what long-time El Dorado resident Betty Henderson recalls. Henderson had only been married to her husband Pete for two weeks when the tornado struck. “God, listen to that train,” Henderson said to him. Pete told her, ‘that isn’t a train’ and that they ‘better head to the basement.’ According to the City of El Dorado, 13 people died that day. Saturday evening a memorial was held in the park to remember the lives lost in the tornado. The siren rang at 5:45 pm and there were a couple of survivors there reliving the moment all over again. Fast forward to today and things are different. The neighborhood where the disaster happened is filled with people who weren’t even born 65 years ago or some were too young to remember. Graham Park will always keep the memory of those gone alive through their memorial.
Source: KAKE – News

WAMPO begins planning process to improve Wichita transportation

The Wichita Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (WAMPO) began its planning process in hopes of improving transportation throughout the Wichita region. WAMPO provides federal funding on transportation systems and improvements. The goal is to find solutions for safety, ease of travel times and improving connectivity for all modes of travel. According to WAMPO Executive Director Chad Parasa, every five years there is an update to the transportation plan. Parasa said several things are factored into these updates such as population and new business. Some of the current projects WAMPO funded include the Zoo Boulevard Bridge, 37th Street, Hydraulic and Hillside, Maize Road to 119th Street, and Meridian Avenue. Both Zoo Boulevard and Hydraulic and Hillside will begin construction soon. WAMPO is also focusing efforts on bicycling, public transit, walking and running.
Source: KAKE – News

Johnson County is recruiting gardeners to help prevent flooding

Kansas City sits at the intersection of many rivers — the Missouri River separating downtown from the Northland, the Kansas River in Wyandotte and Johnson counties, and Turkey Creek, the Blue River, Mill Creek and Brush Creek forming a spider web across the bistate area. And this is no accident, said Heather Schmidt, the stormwater program manager in Johnson County. “Whenever anybody develops or settles anywhere, they want to be by the stream,” Schmidt said. “It’s their water source, and it’s their source to get things away. And that’s always been problematic, because they also get flooded out.” Johnson County has a complex watershed — some water feeds into Mill Creek and eventually the Kansas River, and in the east it feeds into the Blue River or Brush Creek and into Missouri. Although the state line represents an important governmental boundary in Kansas City, floodwater does not respect state lines. And when flash flooding occurs, it can create a regional crisis that requires collaboration from cities and counties across both Kansas and Missouri.
Source: Prairie Village Post

City of Derby announces land donation for senior services

On June 5, the city of Derby announced an upcoming donation from the Cross of Glory Lutheran Church. The church will donate its building and land at 1315 S. Rock Road to the city later this year, which is planned to be the new home for the Derby Senior Center. The city announced via press release that plans to utilize the facility would focus on the senior services of Derby. The release stated that the donated property will be the future home of the Derby Senior Center. Cross of Glory Lutheran Church will continue its regular services and operations while working to determine its next steps throughout the rest of the year. According to spokesperson Linda Boaldin, the church is still an active congregation, and its primary focus at this time is directed at continuing to meet the needs of its members. Director of Senior Services and Transportation Jenny Foster-Farquhar noted that the donation will provide the green space that the Derby Senior Center has been lacking in its current location at the City Hall complex. “We are really excited about the opportunity to meet our current needs and expand our services. We are grateful for the generosity from the Cross of Glory Lutheran Church,” Foster-Farquhar said. “Not only will it provide opportunities for the future of the senior center, but it will provide opportunities for us to move our senior garden. We will have additional green space and could have some natural fits for intergenerational programs with Park Hill Elementary.”
Source: Derby Informer | News

Affordable High Speed Internet Project Coming to Bourbon County

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Kansas State Director Christy Davis today announced a $49.9 million loan to connect thousands of rural Kansans to reliable, affordable high-speed internet. The project will improve service for 149 businesses, 821 farms and over 4,000 people in Bourbon, Cherokee, Crawford, Labette and Neosho counties. “High-speed internet is essential in today’s world of online business, learning and communication,” Davis said. “This investment will help ensure rural Kansas remains a place of opportunity to live, work, and raise a family.” This is the fourth funding round of the USDA ReConnect Program. Since the beginning of the Biden-Harris Administration, the Department has invested in 142 ReConnect projects that will bring high-speed internet access to 314,000 rural Americans.
Source: Fort Scott Biz

City of Leawood and two police officers dropped from lawsuit alleging excessive force

The City of Leawood and two of its police officers have been removed from a lawsuit that alleged police used excessive force against a woman seeking treatment at a local hospital. Muriel Martin, 76, of Kansas City, filed a federal lawsuit on May 19 in the U.S. Court for the District of Kansas. An amended complaint now names Saint Luke’s Health System as the sole defendant. “The lawsuit in its original form included false and damaging statements about the Leawood Police Department and its employees,” said Chief Dale Finger. “We responded immediately to these untrue allegations by bringing forward undisputable evidence proving otherwise.”
Source: KC Star Local News

Overland Park let people keep chickens in their backyards, and it was a clucking success

As the program approaches its ending date December 31, the city animal control department noted there have been no documented complaints on properties with chicken permits since the pilot began in March 2022. City councilmembers now will begin to consider whether to make the chicken rules permanent, as some members of the council’s Community Development Committee proposed at a meeting Wednesday. They also discussed reducing the quarter-acre minimum requirement or even dropping it altogether. Since the pilot program began, chicken ownership has proved popular for those smaller lots, said city planner Colin Victory. The city approved 31 of its 57 permit requests. Of those approved, 22 were for lots from a quarter to a half acre. All of the six denials were because the property didn’t meet the minimum size. Only four of the approved permits were south of Interstate 435.There have been some calls and letters requesting that the lot size requirements be reduced, and the animal control department officials said as small as a 0.2-acre minimum would be acceptable. Anything lower could cause problems with duplexes, officials said.
Source: KCUR News

Four mobile mental health teams will soon be responding to 911 crisis calls in Wichita

Mental health professionals will soon be embedded in the Wichita Police Department to respond to 911 calls, providing face-to-face help for people in crisis, rather than relying on officers who may or may not be trained to do that. At least one of four teams will be on call seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 2 a.m. — when first responders say they receive the most mental health-related calls — and the clinicians can be deployed with officers or called to the scene after contact is made. “It’s an exciting time because we’re really looking at treating the person who’s in crisis where they’re at so we’re able to manage mental health-related calls and get people connected quickly to care at the time of crisis,” said Jennifer Wilson, Sedgwick County Comcare’s director of crisis services. The development of a 24/7 mobile mental health response system was one of 58 recommendations put forward by the task force charged with addressing systemic failures that contributed to 17-year-old Cedric Lofton’s death in 2021. Police responded to a crisis call about Lofton, then took him to a juvenile detention facility where he was fatally restrained. Source: KLC Journal

Municipal Bond Trends for June 12, 2023

Municipal Bond Trends for June 9, 2023

Hutchinson Airport, council, community weigh in on future plans

After obtaining a long report from a consultant, the Hutchinson Airport is getting ready to grow. On Tuesday evening, the city council, airport stakeholders and the community met to brainstorm on next plans for the airport. Lindsey Dreiling, who most recently served as deputy director of aviation and unmanned aircraft systems for the Kansas Department of Transportation and is currently the aviation director at Kansas State University Polytechnic, led the meeting, using engaging activities and to-the-point commentary as well as question and answer sessions. Through a series of questions and activities, stakeholders, employees, councilmembers and community members realized maintenance, hangars (where planes are housed) and more businesses − namely maintenance and repair − are top priorities.
Source: Hutch News

Pittsburg celebrates annual 620 Day

The City of Pittsburg’s Downtown Advisory Board (DAB) is inviting the community to celebrate 620 Day with an All-Day City-wide Celebration and a Downtown Block Party. The idea of 620 Day (or June 20) comes from Pittsburg’s area code. The purpose of this annual event is to cultivate pride and celebrate the Pittsburg community.

Source: City of Pittsburg