Kansas Municipal News
Municipal Bond Trends for September 5, 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.
What you can do for your city
In a call-back to JFK, Neighbor Advisory Committee (NAC) member Bob Gilmore pointed out the negativity he sees in certain residents. He said all they do is complain, but never step up and do anything; that they want the city to solve all their problems. “We need to stop asking what the city can do for us,” Gilmore said, “but what we can do to help our city.” Homelessness and petty theft top the list of grievances. Gilmore suggested each neighborhood begin standing up their own neighborhood watch to report unusual activity to the police. A neighborhood watch can patrol the parks and public spaces and generally keep an eye on things. “The cops can’t patrol every block every minute,” Gilmore said. Another suggestion was to reconstitute the reserve police force. In years past, the department could call upon reserve officers to bolster the ranks of the full-time officers, especially on Friday and Saturday nights. Gilmore wasn’t sure why the program had gone silent, whether it was from lack of interest, liability issues, or both. The idea of neighborhood residents watching out for and helping each other is a primary reason the NAC was created. It is why the NAC has been so focused on creating the neighborhood map, so people knew which neighborhood they lived in and could begin to build a sense of community and pride with those neighbors. The other members agreed. There is only so much the city can do. The citizens must step up and pick up the slack. City officials advising the NAC have agreed to set up meetings with law enforcement to discuss the viability of these suggestions and how to possibly implement them.
Source: Morning Sun
The Kansas State Fair opens Friday and will be a more digital experience this year
The Kansas State Fair will open today in Hutchinson with several new high-tech features that will try to pull the down-home event into the digital age. Though the fair, which runs through Sept. 15, has had an app in the past, the newest iteration has lots of bells and whistles that will help people find exactly what they want while on the grounds, Schulz said. The app includes lots of “wayfinding” information as well as details on where to get certain foods. If, for example, fairgoers are craving funnel cakes, they just type the words “funnel cake” into the app and it will provide a list — with maps — of every vendor selling funnel cakes. The app also includes a searchable daily schedule, the concert lineup at the Grandstand, a guide to free entertainment, and a “shopping finder.” Visitors also can buy tickets on the app, share fair photos and get answers to frequently asked questions, such as “What are the top foods at the fair?” (Pronto Pups, deep-fried Oreos, Pizza Box Nachos, chicken salad cucumbers) and “When does the Midway open?” (At different times nearly every day.)
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
Lineman working for Wellington died after ‘contact with an energized piece of equipment’
A city of Wellington employee was killed after “coming into contact with an energized piece of equipment,” according to a city news release. It happened around 9:20 a.m. Wednesday at the city’s power plant. The electric distribution “lineman was part of a crew performing maintenance on wildlife guarding equipment,” the news release says. “Fire & EMS personnel transported the lineman to the local emergency room. Two other linemen at the work site were uninjured.” City manager Jeff Porter said they are not releasing “additional information about the employee or circumstances at this time.”
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
Olathe advances massive development with warehouses, apartments, duplexes on 247 acres
The Olathe City Council has approved tax incentives for a massive industrial and residential development off of US 169 Highway. The council recently voted 7-0 to rezone 247 acres of rural land, northeast of 167th Street and 169 Highway. The developer, Blue Springs Safety Storage South, is looking to build 13 warehouses, apartments, townhomes, duplexes and single-family homes. This week, the council voted 6-0 approving $252 million in industrial revenue bonds for the construction of the warehouses as part of a new business park, on 139 acres of the larger project, on the east side of 169 Highway between 159th and 167th streets. The industrial revenue bonds will allow the warehouse portion of the development to secure a 50% property tax abatement phased in for 10 years. The developer has not yet named any companies that plan to occupy the warehouses. But officials estimate the project would create more than 200 jobs in the first year, and more than 1,000 jobs within 10 years. Worker salaries are estimated to average $44,000 in the first year, and $57,400 after a decade.
Source: Joco 913 News
‘She walked where only men had’: Johnson County mourns longtime leader Annabeth Surbaugh
A citizen activist, Surbaugh started pushing leaders to do something, regularly showing up to meetings of the then-rural water board. Deciding she would need to sit on the board to enact the changes she wanted to see, Surbaugh joined in 1988, becoming its first female member. It was the start of a long career of firsts. She led the merger of the rural district with the county’s much larger public water utility. She later became the first woman to serve as chair of the WaterOne board. In 1992, she won a seat on the Johnson County Commission, and years later became the first countywide elected chair. Surbaugh, credited with helping shape Johnson County as it is today, died last week at the age of 79. “She was best known for being the first woman in places where women had not been before,” Johnson County Commissioner Becky Fast said. “She had gone before me and created a place for me, so I could be here today. She walked where only men had previously been allowed. And she left footprints for me to follow and for other women to follow. To me, that was the greatest gift.”
Source: Joco 913 News
Wyandotte County approves $1 million plan to treat tuberculosis outbreak, prevent spread
As diagnosed tuberculosis cases in Wyandotte County this year have eclipsed those seen across all of Kansas in 2023, local public health officials are putting forward a roughly $1 million plan to deal with the outbreak and prevent further spread of the disease. Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas, commissioners on Wednesday evening greenlit a months-long health department program that will use leftover federal COVID-19 pandemic relief money to stem the rising number of cases. Under the plan, public health officials plan to work with schools and employers to advise precautionary measures. Another component would involve routine, one-on-one interactions between public health officials and tuberculosis patients to ensure medication is taken as needed.
Source: KC Star Local News
‘Burden’ or ‘benefit’? KCK Mayor Garner floats selling the BPU to address cost concerns
Kansas City, Kansas, Mayor Tyrone Garner is calling on city leaders to join him in taking a critical look at Wyandotte County’s publicly owned utility — suggesting the local government should consider selling its nonprofit electric and water provider. Citing concerns over the cost of utility bills, the mayor says he’s heard from some Wyandotte County residents who think owning the Board of Public Utilities is “a burden” and “should be more of a benefit” than it is. “I think it’s time that we take a hard look at that,” the mayor told The Star by phone Friday, “to see what the options are that are out there.” Reasons for such an evaluation, the mayor said, align with his broader goal of finding ways to cut costs for Wyandotte County residents. The mayor plans to host a more detailed public presentation on the matter in City Hall next week, and is advocating for staff to study what selling the utility could look like.
Source: Kansas City Breaking News & Sports | The Kansas City Star
Pig verdict rendered, appeal could be in the works
Ginger the pig must be out of Newton within 30 days, pending an appeal. Judge Kelly Schodorf rendered the verdict after a trial of an hour and 20 minutes. “Ms. Grigoreava shall become compliant with the city code within 30 days of the order,” Schodorf said. “If the defendant remains uncompliant to the city code, the animal shall be confiscated and ownership transferred to the City of Newton.” The trial involved the city attempting to convince the court that Jessica D. Grigoreava harbored a pig. City ordinances do not allow residents to have pigs.For evidence, the city presented four body camera videos, as well as eyewitness testimony from Animal Control Officer Lyndsey Robinette and neighbor Brenda Upsinger. Towle played multiple recorded calls between Grigoreava and Robinette. In the calls, Grigoreava acknowledged having a pig. The calls included a discussion between Robinette and Grigoreava about finding a place to keep the pig. Girgoreava in one call said she had asked if pigs were allowed in the city years prior and was told by an officer that they were. She said she found out after they had Ginger that it wasn’t allowed.
Source: Harvey County Now
Hillsboro to take over bowling alley
The Hillsboro City Council met on Tuesday, Aug. 20 where they approved an agreement for the city to take over the bowling alley. “As we have discussed since spring, Hillsboro Development Corporation wants the city to take over ownership of the bowling alley to ensure that the operations continue. In the agreement the city would receive the bowling alley, all the equipment and existing bank accounts for the sum of $1. There are no outstanding liabilities against the property or operation. The value of the accounts is likely to be more than $20,000 which will be used to support operations at the alley. The city will pay the closing costs and cost of any inspections. There are no stipulations on the use of the alley applied to the sale,” said Hillsboro City Administrator Matt Stiles. Stiles explained that the intention is to keep the bowling alley as a separate unit from the normal city funds.
Source: Hillsboro Free Press
County hears wind farm concerns
The Marion County Board of Commissioners heard concerns about wind energy expansion from Goessel residents led by Brian Stucky. He explained that in October 2023, a story appeared in the Marion County Record to say that the Orsted Energy company was now looking to expand to the west part of the County, in the townships of West Branch, East Branch, Menno and Liberty. “Now we face the real possibility that 500-foot tall wind turbines will be near Goessel. There are positives and negatives. There are some who see wind turbines as a good thing, but there are some who absolutely do not want to live anywhere close to them for a variety of reasons. Turbines should be placed in areas with sparse population. Just not here,” said Stucky.
Source: Hillsboro Free Press
Olathe approves flat tax rate, higher utility rates, expanded rebate program for 2025
Olathe has adopted a budget for 2025 that keeps the municipal property tax rate flat but raises city utility rates. That new budget — valued at roughly $611 million — will keep the property tax, or mill levy, rate static at 23.356. It is also expected to add about $10 a month to the average utility cost in the city for residents who use all of Olathe’s utilities. Ultimately, the 2025 budget passed 4-2 Tuesday, with councilmembers Kevin Gilmore and Robyn Essex voting no. Councilmember Matt Schoonover was absent. City leaders, including Mayor John Bacon and Chief Mike Butaud, marked the opening of the reimagined Olathe Police Department headquarters with a ribbon-cutting in May 2024. Photo credit Kaylie McLaughlin.
How will this affect your tax bill? For 2025, Olathe will keep the city’s property tax rate of 23.356 mills. That’s still one of the lowest property tax rates among Johnson County cities. But Olathe property owners should expect to pay more next year on their annual property tax bill because home values — which contribute to the amount you pay — have continued their upward trend. Per the real estate statistics kept by Johnson County, Olathe’s average residential property value is $407,350, up about 7.3%. To calculate what your bill is, you multiply the value of your home by .115 (the residential assessment rate). Then, divide that number by 1,000. Multiply the result by the adopted mill levy rate of 23.356. For the average homeowner in Olathe, that means about $1,904 in property taxes owed to the city next year. Keep in mind that your total annual property tax bill also includes rates from other jurisdictions, like Johnson County and the school district you live in.
Source: Johnson County Post
Petitions rattled Prairie Village last summer. Kansas appeals court will now hear the case.
Last year’s hotly-discussed Prairie Village petitions are headed before a panel of three appellate judges next month. After nearly a year in the Kansas Court of Appeals, three much-discussed petitions — circulated by PV United, also known as Stop Rezoning Prairie Village, a group of residents who opposed zoning changes — are scheduled for a hearing at 1:30 p.m. on Oct. 16. City Administrator Wes Jordan told the Post via email on Wednesday that he anticipates both sides will be able to share “their perspectives of the case and be prepared to answer questions the Court may have.” Stop Rezoning PV’s spokesperson could not be reached for comment for this story. One petition called for limitations on rezoning in Prairie Village, and two separate petitions called for abandoning the city’s current form of government and adopting a new form. The “adoption” petition also wanted to slash the Prairie Village City Council in half from 12 councilmembers to six during a year when six council seats were up for election. This hearing comes nearly a year after Johnson County District Court Judge Rhonda Mason issued a ruling that only one of the three petitions — the “abandon” petition which called for less drastic government changes — was eligible for a future ballot. PV United filed a notice of appeal days after Mason issued her final ruling. The city filed its own appeal in response in early October 2023. Remember: These petitions are separate from a recent recall petition against Prairie Village Mayor Eric Mikkelson. That petition was circulated for signatures this past summer and failed to meet the necessary threshold to move forward. A breakdown of the petitions in question
Stop Rezoning PV circulated three separate petitions for signatures last summer, intending to get each petition on the November 2023 ballot. Thousands of residents signed each of the three petitions. Here’s what the petitions said, in summary: The “rezoning” petition called for limiting rezoning and, in particular, curtailing the use of accessory dwelling units — such as so-called “granny flats” — and other multifamily projects in single-family neighborhoods in Prairie Village. The “abandon” petition aimed to throw out the city’s current mayor-council form of government. The petition’s organizers have called the current form of government a “strong mayor” form and signaled an interest in paring back mayoral power. The “adoption” petition sought to replace the mayor-council form of government with a mayor-council-manager form of government. That petition included language that would have slashed the Prairie Village City Council in half from 12 councilmembers to six and would have effectively ended six councilmembers’ terms two years early.
Source: Johnson County Post
City of Columbus announces new demolition grant program
The City of Columbus announces the beginning of a new Demolition Grant Program, made possible by a generous donation. This program offers a valuable opportunity for local business owners and residents who need to remove abandoned commercial or residential structures, as well as outbuildings like garages and sheds. Through this program, eligible property owners can have these structures demolished at no cost, helping to enhance the community’s appearance and safety without incurring expenses. To apply for the Demolition Grant Program or to get more information, interested parties can access the application form on the city’s website: Demolition Grant Program Application.
Source: KOAM News
The City of Pittsburg officially launches city trash service
The City of Pittsburg hopes to help resident’s trash concerns with the official launch of a city run trash service starting the week of Sept. 2nd. This comes after many residents have reported issues with services like CARDs Recycling & Waste Management (also known as CARDs) frequently not picking up trash while still charging customers. “We’ve stuck with (CARDs) until we get the Pittsburg one,” says one Pittsburg resident. “The city’s always been in trash. We’ve always been in the trash business. what we’re doing is just getting a little better equipment and assigning some personnel,” says Daron Hall, City Manager. “Because right now, when the trash doesn’t get picked up by one of the contractors who is supposed to pick it up, it ends up falling to the city.” The service is available for anyone within the city limits or who receives city water. The city last projected there have been around 800+ signups for the service so far. The city now has two trash trucks, hundreds of roll carts and dumpsters and a designated team. Hall says residents aren’t required to sign up for the city service, it’s just another option available. And because the trash service is supported entirely by its own fees, residents who aren’t signed up for trash pickup with the city aren’t paying for it in any way. Residents signed up for the city trash service will not be charged for September according to Hall. This is because the new team is learning the routes and the stops, and he hopes residents will be patient and understanding of any mistakes. Customers will receive their first bills in October.
Source: KOAM News
Great Bend releases app to explore the community
Great Bend has released an app that allows users to explore the city. The Great Bend Alive Tours app uses GPS navigation, photos, video, and audio narration to take visitors on two unique guided tours of the city. The first is a tour of the historic downtown, and the second is a tour of the city’s unique art. The historic tour takes visitors around the courthouse square and neighboring streets, where they will learn the history of historic buildings, as well as about sites where important structures once stood. The art tour showcases murals and sculptures around Great Bend and includes interviews and audio clips with the artists who created them. The app was created through Great Bend Alive, part of Great Bend Economic Development, a public/private partnership focused on economic development in Barton County. They plan to expand the app’s features in the future. “The potential for this app is virtually endless,” said Lee Ann June, Communications Director for Great Bend Economic Development. “We have plans to use it with downtown events held by Great Bend Alive, the City of Great Bend, and others. The Great Bend Alive Preservation Team is also excited to develop new tours focused on historic events and properties in the area.” The app is available for both iOS and Android or through any web browser.
Source: KSN-TV
Mayor gives update on Cheney level, water restrictions
Wichita Mayor Lily Wu is urging the community to remain vigilant about the drought. On Thursday, she said the city saw a slight uptick in water usage from previous weeks. Thursday marks one month since mandatory water restrictions began in Wichita and neighboring towns The graphic shows the volume of treated water going from the Hess Pump Station to the 500,000 water customers in Wichita and neighboring towns. The red line is when the restrictions began. The dips are on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays when no watering is allowed. Wichita began the watering restrictions because the water level at Cheney Reservoir was dropping, and the mayor says it continues to drop. “The 12-month moving average conservation pool is at 67.2%, which is a decrease of 1.2% in the last month,” Wu said. “Cheney is currently at 59.7% full in total. The rain we have had in August didn’t provide much relief.” She says the city has sent almost 245 warning letters to residents suspected of violating the mandatory water restrictions. However, the number of letters sent has decreased each week. Last week, only 30 were sent. The city has not issued any fines yet. “We want to continue to emphasize education and the importance of coming together to safeguard our most important resource – water,” the mayor said. Wichita’s drought plan allows people northwest of Central and Broadway to water on Mondays, northeast on Tuesdays, southwest on Wednesdays, and southeast on Thursdays. Watering is limited to before 10 a.m. and after 8 p.m. NW Wichita can water on Mondays. NE can water on Tuesdays. SW can water on Wednesdays. SE can water on Thursdays. The City of Wichita continues to offer rebates to people who install water-saving devices. So far, the city has approved rebates for 343 devices totaling almost $25,000. More than $50,000 remains in the rebate program. The rebates are for many products, including rain barrels, rain sensor shutoffs, smart irrigation controllers, toilet repair kits and dual-flush converter kits. Click here to learn more.
Source: KSN-TV
Burlingame offers solution to ‘mitigate’ fox population
The City of Burlingame recently shared a list of nuisance animal trappers who could help ‘mitigate’ the city’s local fox population – a process that usually kills the fox. On Aug. 19, a concerned citizen addressed the Burlingame city council about the overpopulation of foxes in the community. The citizen asked what the city could do to help with the problem. Chief of Police Matthew Baker said the city doesn’t handle foxes but said the city can loan live traps to citizens. He said once an animal is caught, it’s up to the person who trapped it to dispose of.
Source: KSNT 27 News
Voters will decide this fall whether Lawrence should change its government structure, including a directly elected mayor
Voters won’t be choosing Lawrence’s city leaders in this November’s elections, but they will be weighing in on how they should be chosen — including whether voters should decide on the mayor themselves. Back in February 2023, the Lawrence City Commission approved a resolution to put a question on the November 2024 ballot about whether Lawrence should change its form of government to one with a directly elected mayor and geographic districts for commissioners.
Source: LJWorld
Clearwater Schools struggle with rising chronic absenteeism rates
“We had a pretty large increase in our chronic absenteeism,” said Jason Johnson, superintendent of Clearwater Public Schools. “So, prior to COVID, we were about 13% chronically absent, and this past year, we were about 25%.” When a student misses at least 10% of a school year, Johnson said a student is chronically absent.
Source: KWCH