Kansas Municipal News
Jail proposal election set for Tuesday in Marshall County
Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday for a special election to determine if Marshall County voters support a funding proposal for a new jail. Voters are asked to decide whether the county should enter a lease-purchase agreement not to exceed $6.5 million in principal to finance a portion of the proposed new jail. Advance voting in person, which is under way now at the Marshall County Courthouse, 1201 Broadway, will close at noon Tuesday.
Source: The Marysville Advocate
Municipal Bond Trends for April 20, 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, Beth Warren or Henry Schmidt.
Tornado Alley is moving east, new study says. But here’s why Kansans might not notice
A recent study from Northern Illinois University projects that supercells, which are the leading cause of tornadoes, could become less common in the Great Plains and more frequent in eastern regions of the U.S. But Kansans won’t notice much of a difference, according to author and atmospheric scientist Walker Ashley, Ph.D. “I don’t think that the declines are going to be noticeable to the average human walking down the street in Wichita,” he said. “These are things that carry out over decades.”
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
Marion council leery of container homes
Two Marion City Council members said Monday that they wouldn’t want to see a shipping container home go up next to their own houses. That was in response to a plan by Elite Container Homes to build a home out of two shipping containers at 201 N. Freeborn St. Felix Ramirez, who owns three shipping container homes in Hillsboro that he rents on Airbnb, is one half of Elite Container. His partner, Dustin Burke, joined him at the council meeting. … A zoning change would be necessary because current regulations don’t allow people to live in shipping containers in Marion, according to Mayor David Mayfield.
[Marion County RECORD
Marion hires new city administrator
Marion has hired a new city administrator — Brogan Jones, a Lyons building and code inspector … City council members voted unanimously Monday to approve a contract that Jones signed ahead of the meeting. His signature was on a copy of the contract included in agenda packets. Jones, who grew up in Sterling, will start May 1. “I’m just excited to get going,” he said after the council meeting. He expects his first week to be filled with meetings — staff, community leaders, business owners, and others. “It’ll be a busy week,” he said. Council member Zach Collett said he and his colleagues were impressed by Jones’s attitude.
Source: Marion County RECORD
Top Fed Official Signals Support for May Interest-Rate Increase
A top Federal Reserve official said the central bank had more work ahead to bring down inflation, suggesting another interest-rate increase would be warranted at the Fed’s meeting in two weeks. “Inflation is still too high, and we will use our monetary policy tools to restore price stability,” said New York Fed President John Williams in a speech Wednesday night to a group of financial-industry professionals in Manhattan. Investors see a greater than 80% chance that the Fed will raise rates by a quarter point at its May 2-3 meeting, according to CME Group. Mr. Williams, a close ally of Fed Chair Jerome Powell, offered little to push back against those expectations just days before central-bank officials begin their traditional premeeting quiet period when Fed officials don’t communicate publicly before their decision. Fed policy makers raised rates by a quarter-point at each of their two meetings this year, most recently in March, to a range between 4.75% and 5%. The Fed has been trying to slow investment, spending and hiring to combat inflation.
Source: WSJ.com: US Business
Wichita City Council looking at strengthening city code on rental property conditions to fight bad apartment conditions
For almost a week now you’ve seen the conditions inside both vacant and occupied apartments at Emery Gardens in South Wichita. However, Councilman Brandon Johnson says this was just the latest in a string of bad conditions at rental properties across Wichita. “I’ve seen it in multiple apartment complexes, that’s just not acceptable. We need to be able to do more about it.” Johnson says he and other council members like Mike Hoheisel, who toured Emery with him last week, have been working with the MABCD and other city staff on changes to city code to better help inspectors deal with bad apartments. “What are the gaps that we have on enforcement, and then what other additional powers do we need to be able to make sure people have decent living spaces.”
Source: KAKE – News
What counties have the most historic sites in Kansas?
Kansas has a rich history stretching back more than a hundred years, with more than a thousand historic sites standing in testament to those that came before. The Sunflower State is home to numerous historic sites recognized by the Kansas Historical Society (KSHS) and the National Register of Historic Places. These are scattered among Kansas’ 105 counties, but they are concentrated in some areas more than in others.
Source: KSN-TV
Wabaunsee deputies perform intentional collision
Wabaunsee County deputies were helping a driver on I-70 south of Paxico when they saw a sedan racing toward oncoming traffic. Around 4 a.m., deputies heard tires screeching and saw semi-trucks swerving to avoid crashing into the sedan, according to the Wabaunsee County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies crashed into the car to stop the driver, according to WCSO. The vehicle came to a stop in the middle of the highway. The suspect ignored deputies’ commands, according to WCSO. Deputies apprehended the driver and moved the vehicle into the median.
Source: KSNT 27 News
Local fire department talks controlled burn safety
April is the height of grass season, and local landowners are burning off last year’s field to make room for Kansas’ famous native grasses. However, such controlled burns can quickly get out of hand. In addition to property damage, injury is always a concern when fire is involved. Sometimes even the most experienced farmers and landowners find themselves in undesirable situations when setting controlled burns. Kansas wind combined with low humidity levels can cause fires to get out of control, even if it’s unintentional.
Source: KSNT 27 News
Emporia leaders cut ribbon on new electric vehicle charging station
The City of Emporia’s newest electric vehicle charging station is open for business. A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held Wednesday for the new station at 1005 Mechanic Street. The new station was made possible through a partnership between the Emporia Natural Resources Advisory Board and Evergy nearly two years ago. Daphne Mertens of the NRAB says the new station is a great resource both for residents and the thousands of visitors that pass through the city each year.
Source: KVOE Emporia Radio
Johnson County residents should ‘fully expect’ another property tax cut
Another rollback in Johnson County’s property tax rate appears likely, now that county officials have had time to absorb the news of a second consecutive year of double-digit property value increases. County commissioners and administrators are only beginning their consideration for a 2024 budget that is presenting challenges on multiple fronts: inflation, a workforce shortage and persistent fears of a possible recession.
Source: Prairie Village Post
Shawnee’s Don Cawby heads to Leawood
Don Cawby, Shawnee’s city finance director, has resigned, taking a job in another Johnson County city. He is the latest in a string of recent high-profile departures from Shawnee City Hall, including former city manager Nolan Sunderman, who is now the chief strategy officer in Olathe. Shawnee recently hired Doug Gerber to be the new permanent city manager. More recently, city communications manager Julie Breithaupt also left and is now working in the private sector. Cawby’s final day with the city of Shawnee will be Tuesday, May 2. He said he will start his new job in the city of Leawood on May 8.
Source: Prairie Village Post
Manhattan discusses programs to lower cost of housing
The Manhattan City Commission heard Tuesday about programs that could help address needs identified in the recent housing market analysis. Stephanie Peterson, director of community development, outlined two state programs, the Moderate Income Housing and Rural Housing Incentive District, for the commission. Peterson said the two programs can work together to reduce the cost of housing in new developments. The Moderate Income Housing grants and loans come from the Kansas Housing Resources Corporations. The funds could apply to single- or multi-family structures between 60 and 150% of the area median income.
Source: themercury.com
Cowley County to continue discussion on solar project
Cowley County Commissioners gave their approval Tuesday to continued discussion between the county administrator, county counselor and representatives from Florida-based NextEra Energy Resources regarding a potential solar panel installation southwest of Winfield. The project would cover between 1,000 and 1,500 acres, acquired through private leases with landowners, according to John Felitto with NexEra, who spoke to commissioners at the meeting. Felitto said the company is in the process of finalizing leases with the landowners.
Source: Cowley CourierTraveler
Dozens of police K-9s are in Butler County this week. Here’s what they’re doing
Dozen’s of K-9 officers from roughly 37 law enforcement agencies across Kansas roamed an open field in rural Butler County. Barks and sniffs could be heard across the field as dogs and their handlers performed training exercises during the 25th annual Kansas Police Dogs Association weeklong re-certification conference. Training exercises include search and rescue, patrolling, detection and trailing tactics for the annual re-certification. Most Kansas law enforcement agencies make it mandatory for their K-9 units to get re-certified, said Andover Police Department Lt. Mickey Farris, treasurer for the association.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
Facade program making a difference
Mel Waite of Ellinwood was grateful for the Barton County Commission’s Facade Improvement Grant Program, telling the commissioners Wednesday morning that it has made an impact and sparked countywide effort to make communities look better. “I applaud the commission for taking the initiative to take on this project,” said Waite, who came before the governing body Wednesday with a project of his own. Other improvement in Ellinwood inspired him (or shamed him) to seek the funds for his business.
Source: Great Bend Tribune
Municipal Bond Trends for April 19, 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, Beth Warren or Henry Schmidt.
Catalytic converters added to regulation law amid property crimes
Junk dealers will now have to collect information from catalytic converter sellers, if they weren’t already, under an amended Kansas scrap metal law signed Monday by Gov. Laura Kelly. Kelly signed House Bill 2326 into law after it previously passed the House 119-0 and the Senate 39-1. The bill started as an extension of the scrap metal law, which was set to expire July 1, but lawmakers chose to add language clarifying that catalytic converters are covered by the law. The renewed law is now set to expire in 2028.
Source: CJonline
Hutchinson neighborhood has new name
Hutchinson’s oldest neighborhood has a new name − Founders Neighborhood. Hutchinson City Council voted to approve the name the residents came up with during this week’s city council meeting. They also approved allowing a tract of land to be donated to the city so fire trucks can have an easier time maneuvering, helping support a day initiative of New Beginnings and giving designated ARPA funds to businesses who applied for them.
Source: Hutch News
Electric Distribution Systems Recognized By APPA For Reliability Efforts
The American Public Power Association has honored 219 public power utilities with a Certificate of Excellence in Reliability for reliable performance in 2022. In Kansas, Garden City Electric Utilities, Gardner Energy, McPherson Board of Public Utilities and Russell Electric Distribution System were honored. Utilities that are subscribers to APPA’s eReliability Tracker service are eligible to earn these certificates. To earn a certificate, a utility’s 2022 System Average Interruption Duration Index must fall in the top quartile of all utilities’ SAIDI numbers averaged from the past five years based on Energy Information Administration Form 861 survey data. The certificates recognize utilities that have provided exceptionally reliable service and power to their communities.
Source: KRSL
‘City trees’ enemy of native ones: Evergy, Kansas Forest Service trying to eradicate Bradford pears
For decades, the stately looking, white-flowered Bradford pear tree had a good reputation. One Topeka-area service organization celebrated Arbor Day in 2011 by planting a Bradford pear. But things have since changed so much that Evergy, the Kansas Forest Service and Shawnee County Parks and Recreation now all support eradicating this area’s Callery pear trees, of which Bradford pears are a part. Organizers say the invasive, fast-spreading Callery pears wreak havoc upon the environment by killing native trees, plants and grasses that provide food for birds, butterflies and other wildlife.
Source: CJonline
Fed’s Bostic sees one more quarter-point rate hike, then a hold ‘for quite some time’
Atlanta Federal Reserve President Raphael Bostic said Tuesday he envisions the central bank approving one more interest rate increase before pausing to see how policy tightening is impacting the economy. “One more move should be enough for us to then take a step back and see how our policy is flowing through the economy, to understand the extent to which inflation is returning back to our target,” Bostic said during a live interview on CNBC’s “Squawk on the Street.” That 0.25 percentage point increase likely will come at the rate-setting Federal Open Market Committee’s May 2-3 meeting. If a majority of the committee has the same view as Bostic, who is a nonvoting member this year, that would take the federal funds rate to a target range of 5%-5.25%, the highest since August 2007.
Source: CNBC – Bonds
Gov. Kelly visits Garden City High School
Kansas Governor Laura Kelly visited Garden City High School on April 12 to have a conversation with employees about Garden City USD 457’s Teacher Apprenticeship program. The program was started in 2019 and works as a joint partnership between Kansas WorkforceONE (a local workforce development board in Western Kansas) and the Kansas Office of Apprenticeship under the Department of Commerce. The program’s goal is to recruit and train local community members to be teachers in an area where there are dozens of open teacher positions.
Source: Greater Garden City
Council approves $6.15 million pickleball complex in south Wichita
The Wichita City Council has allocated $6.15 million for a state-of-the-art pickleball complex at South Lakes Park, paving the way for completion by February 2024. The 24-court facility, which will cost more than twice what was initially approved in 2021, was approved 7-0 after Bryan Frye’s motion to delay a vote until June failed. “USA Pickleball is hugely excited about this,” Parks Director Troy Houtman said. “They really want to use this site as a showcase.” … The higher price point is due in part to increased materials and construction costs.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
New motel owners: Iola ‘feels like home’
As newcomers to Iola, Manish Sahdev and wife Karisma have already felt welcomed into the community. Now, the new owners of Iola’s Regency Inn are intent on extending that same hospitality to their customers. The Sahdevs acquired Regency Inn about two months ago, and have immediately made efforts to ensure their motel is the preferred destination for anyone staying in Iola on a short- or long-term basis. … On top of their overnight business, they’ve also instituted long-term room rentals, starting at $650 a month. “It’s about helping people in the community,” Manish said, including senior citizens, workers needing housing for extended periods, or simply folks simply down on their luck and unable to find a rental property.
Source: The Iola Register
Hesston schools garnering more interest after Walton decision
Hesston has been getting a spillover effect since USD 373 announced its plans to close Walton Rural Life Center. Hesston Elementary School Principal Alisa Krehbiel told the USD 460 Board of Education last week that a lot of parents had been asking about enrolling their students in Hesston since the Newton district made its decision March 27. She said she had been encouraging parents to bring their children to the kindergarten roundup, which was held this past Monday. She said she would have to look at balancing classroom sizes to see what the district could do.
Source: Harvey County Now
Chanute, Evergy to build solar plant
Chanute is adding a 6-megawatt solar plant to its energy portfolio. Chanute City Commissioners agreed at their April 10 meeting to proceed with the plan. Evergy energy company will build and operate the solar farm on 47 acres of land, the Chanute Tribune reported. The city will purchase the electricity from the solar farm at a fixed rate, and has an option to buy the facility after six years. Commissioners noted, however, Chanute likely will not be in a position to buy the solar farm then, the Tribune reported, because of anticipated water treatment and sewer projects.
Source: The Iola Register
Mulvane to add use of county alert system
The Mulvane City Council recently approved the use of a new mass notification platform through Sedgwick County that will now be available to all residents, as of the council’s April 3 meeting. In August 2022, the county alerted the city of Mulvane to its system – available to all cities in the county at no cost, with residents able to opt-in. The system is primarily email based, but also offers the ability to send text messages for urgent matters.
Source: Derby Informer | Area
Derby discusses expansion of golf cart usage
After updates made in 2021, Derby is once again looking at expanding golf cart usage in city limits. Following its addition to the priority list, an update to the municipal ordinance regarding golf cart usage was brought before the Derby City Council at its April 11 meeting for a first reading. The proposal would change the ordinance from allowing golf carts on public streets in The Oaks residential neighborhood to allowing golf carts on all city streets – with certain restrictions.
Source: Derby Informer | News
Emporia commission to discuss homelessness taskforce findings this week
The Emporia City Commission will receive its first report on the homelessness taskforce, created to find workable solutions for the community last year. The taskforce is expected to recommend that a camping ordinance be maintained in the City of Emporia through July 8, in order to give the group more time to study the ordinance and formulate longterm solutions and recommendations for the city. The homelessness taskforce was established in Dec. 2022 following the city’s approval of an “unlawful camping” ordinance on Nov. 17, 2022.
Source: Emporia Gazette
Wichita City Council approves multi-million dollar pickleball complex
Drive around some Wichita parks on a day like Tuesday and you’ll find people enjoying the nice weather by playing pickleball. It’s a sport people like Patti Mackey love. “It all started, my husband was at the downtown Senior Center and he called me and he said, ‘Patti, there are some older people on this court with a little yellow ball and I just keep hearing, ping, ping, ping.'” Mackey is a volunteer ambassador for USA pickleball and was in the crowd Tuesday as the Wichita City Council voted 7-0 to put an additional $3.15 million towards its proposed pickleball complex at South Lakes Sports Complex.
Source: KAKE – News
Wichita approves $300,000 for improvements to city’s dog parks
The City of Wichita has approved spending $300,000 to make improvements to the city’s dog parks this year. The City Council unanimously approved the measure during its regular meeting Tuesday. A total of $600,000 is set aside in the city’s Capital Improvement Program for the project. Half the money is available this year and the other in 2024. “Not only do people love pets, but really want the best for their pet, and if we want to keep Wichita a vibrant city, we have to respond to the wishes of the public,” Wichita Mayor Brandon Whipple said. Whipple said the push for the project came from public feedback. Lily Graham visits K9 Rooster Dog Park in northwest Wichita with her dog Winnie almost daily and said any improvements are welcome.
Source: KAKE – News
A lack of affordable housing in Kansas prevents Section 8 tenants from using rent subsidies
Kamber Corpening felt relief when she first landed a Section 8 voucher in 2020, a promise that she qualified for substantial rent subsidies from federal taxpayers. Then came the hard part — finding a landlord willing to deal with the accompanying red tape and to open units to lower-income tenants. She tried almost 100 places over the course of a year and found few that took Section 8 vouchers. In the meantime, she crashed at shelters, in the homes of friends and with family.
Source: KCUR News
Pratt voters to decide on USD 382 school bond issue
Advance mail voting begins in Pratt for the school district’s special election. Election Day is May 9. Residents are deciding whether to support a $16.6 million bond. The money would renovate the ACE building or the old high school into a fourth and fifth-grade center. It would also add four new classrooms to the elementary school, which could double as a storm shelter. “We’re going to have our PreK there, and we can expand our PreK to all day three-year-olds, which is also part of that answering the challenge for child care and helping people get their kids to preschool so they don’t have to manage that,” said USD 382 Superintendent Tony Helfrich.
Source: KSN-TV
Take a closer look at northeast JoCo’s newest playground
The long-awaited playground at R Park in Roeland Park is finally open, completing the final phase of a three-part plan to revitalize the park on Juniper Drive. Improvement efforts for the park on the site of a former elementary school began in 2015. Weather-related delays this past winter set the playground’s completion date back earlier this year. Now that the playground is open — and the days are sunnier and warmer — children and their caretakers are flooding R Park to play and enjoy the new amenity.
Source: Prairie Village Post
Rural childcare shortage
Kansas is now facing a need for more childcare options for working parents. The problem is significant in our rural areas of Kansas. The COVID-19 pandemic further exasperated the shortage; many in Kansas now refer to this as a childcare crisis. According to Child Care Aware of Kansas, Kansas meets 49 percent of the needed childcare slots. Since 2020 Kansas has lost 344 childcare providers. Currently, Kansas needs 85,000 childcare slots to meet the current demand. Our local area faces similar childcare challenges as the rest of the state. The Meadowlark Extension District, which encompasses Jackson, Jefferson, and Nemaha counties, needs approximately 977 more childcare slots to meet demand.
Source: Sabetha Herald
Riley County talks with residents about city levee project
Riley County officials on Monday attempted to address two residents’ concerns about the Manhattan city government’s levee project. Amanda Webb, planning director, and Darrin Hobbs, planning compliance specialist, provided information and answered questions about the project during the county commission meeting. During the March 20 commission meeting, residents Richard and Angela Britt raised concerns about the project to the commission. Richard specifically pointed out what he said was the city’s lack of a “no-rise” certificate for the entire project, which is needed for floodway projects. To receive a certificate, a state-license engineer needs to determine the project won’t increase flooding risks.
Source: themercury.com
One year after tornado, Andover YMCA preps for May waterpark opening
Closed since it was struck by a destructive EF-3 tornado nearly a year ago, the Andover YMCA branch is targeting a May 27 reopening of its outdoor waterpark. “We’re cautiously optimistic about that, a few things have to fall into place but we’re working toward that,” said Ron McMahon, CEO of the Greater Wichita YMCA. “The waterpark will have all new features.”
Source: Wichita Business Journal
Clay Center takes next step toward child care center
In response to what officials say is a child care crisis in Clay County, the Clay Center City Council approved moving forward with a grant proposal seeking up to $2.8 million to design, build and begin operating a child care facility in Clay Center on the Lincoln school grounds. The action does not obligate the city to any expenditures but is required for the proposal to be considered by the funding agency.
Source: www.ccenterdispatch.com
Municipal Bond Trends for April 18, 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, Beth Warren or Henry Schmidt.
Fed’s Bullard says recession fears off-base and urges more hikes
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis President James Bullard said he favored continued interest-rate hikes to counter persistent inflation, while recession fears are overblown. “Wall Street’s very engaged in the idea there’s going to be a recession in six months or something, but that isn’t really the way you would read an expansion like this,” Bullard told Reuters in an interview published Tuesday. Fed policymakers have penciled in one additional quarter-point hike this year, lifting their benchmark rate to 5.1% according to their median forecast in March. Investors see that move happening at their May 2-3 meeting. Bullard, who doesn’t vote on rates this year, was cited by Reuters as supporting pushing rates 50 basis points higher than the median estimate, to a range of 5.5% to 5.75%. That’s in line with the view that Bullard laid out on March 24, when he disclosed that he had raised his forecast for where rates would peak.
Source: The Bond Buyer
Charlie Hunt will head Johnson County’s Department of Health and Environment
Charlie Hunt, MPH has started as the new director of Johnson County Department of Health and Environment on April 17. Hunt joined JCDHE as deputy director in 2021 and has served as interim director since November 4, 2022. If you go back to nearly the beginning of his career, Hunt worked at JCDHE as a communicable disease investigator and then became a health educator. His career includes 18 years in various positions with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, culminating with serving as the state epidemiologist and director of the Bureau of Epidemiology and Public Health Informatics for seven years.
Source: Johnson County Kansas |
Community raises concerns after City of Wichita proposes ordinance for Airbnb, short-term rentals
The City of Wichita has been looking at big changes for local Airbnb and other short-term rental owners since a deadly shooting that took place in April of 2021 in east Wichita. Thomas Carter and his wife have owned and operated an Airbnb for six months, a house that used to be Carter’s childhood home. The couple put at least $45,000 into it. Now, they say a proposed ordinance could put their dreams of expanding their business on hold…. Metropolitan Area Planning Commission (MAPC) planning director Scott Wadle says the majority of Wichita short-term rentals are in violation of the current code. “If you’re located in the majority of our residential zoning districts, you know, single family, you are required to, you cannot rent it for less than seven days,” said Wadle.
Source: KSN-TV
License plate readers coming to smaller towns in Wichita area
FLOCK cameras have been used in Wichita and parts of Sedgwick County for some time now to read license plates to locate suspects. Now the system is expanding to smaller towns like Rose Hill. “There are some valid privacy concerns, and I understand that,” said Rose Hill Police Chief Taylor Parlier. “These cameras are placed in very specific locations so as to only get the vehicle leaving. So it doesn’t see who is driving the vehicle. We can’t target individuals. We don’t have a live-stream access, so we can’t just sit there and watch the individuals that are driving or watch certain areas. It’s only meant to be reactive.”
Source: KSN-TV