Kansas Municipal News
Governor Kelly Announces More than $320,000 for Seven Kansas Water Plan Partnership Initiative Projects
Governor Laura Kelly announced on Friday that more than $320,000 will go toward seven new partnership initiatives for the second year of funding through the Kansas Water Office’s Kansas Water Plan Partnership Initiative (KWPPI). KWPPI invests State Water Plan Fund resources into projects centered around conserving and protecting the High Plains Aquifer, improving state water quality, reducing vulnerability to extreme events, and increasing awareness of Kansas water resources. “These projects continue the work we are doing to secure our state’s water future,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “The investments we make today will affect generations to come. The Kansas Water Plan Partnership Initiative ensures progress on meeting the water needs of communities in our state.” In addition to the guiding principles, Regional Advisory Committees across the state have established water-related goals specific to their region, which applicants could cite when submitting their proposal.
Source: Governor of the State of Kansas
National League of Cities Releases Research Brief Series Chronicling History of Municipal Government
Local governments have evolved over the last century to serve their communities and respond to the needs of their residents. As part of its centennial celebration, the National League of Cities (NLC) researched and collated the history of municipal government in the United States with a focus on governance, workforce finance and the power of local authority. The four-part series explores population shifts, the types of government that dominate local governing bodies, expansion of the municipal workforce as well as municipal finance and infrastructure and the history of home rule.
Source: www.nlc.org/contents/rss-feed
Hillsboro discusses plans for fire station
The Hillsboro City Council met on Tuesday, Nov. 5 where they heard from Hillsboro Fire Chief and Building Inspector Ben Steketee. Steketee presented the annual department head report with a PowerPoint report on the building department and fire department activities. He highlighted the contributions of Caren Funk who assists with contractor licensing, permit process and fire department secretary duties. Steketee also gave statistics including 59 building permits issued, 94 contractors licensed and $1730,764.38 in project value. Steketee also updated the council on training activities, including wildland fire training and rescue tool comparison events. He reported that training events include physical exertion tests and EMS assist calls, with firefighters undergoing rigorous training to ensure readiness. Steketee informed the council that the fire department has responded to 13 wildland fires, 11 vehicle accidents and nine rescues this year. Steketee emphasized the importance of a new fire station to accommodate the growing number of firefighters and equipment to serve the city and the greater area.
Source: Hillsboro Free Press
Wichita officials say Cheney Reservoir still needs water
Wichita officials say recent rainfall has helped with the ongoing drought situation, but the drought continues and Cheney Reservoir still needs more water. While the city has received above average rainfall for November, the reservoir is still almost 8 feet below the needed level. About 26 billion gallons of water will be needed in the reservoir to get out of the drought. The current level is 56.24 percent full, and the 12-month average of the conservation pool was at 65.1 percent. The city remains at Stage Two of its drought response plan, which has placed a restriction of one day a week for residents and businesses to water their lawns. The city is still encouraging residents to take steps to reduce their water usage.
Source: 101.3 KFDI
Sedgwick County Corrections changes restraint policies
The Department of Corrections for Sedgwick County has changed its policies on the use of force and restraints on people who are in custody. The policy will eliminate the use of a “Safe Clinch” maneuver that is no longer practiced. The changes will affect county corrections facilities and the Juvenile Intake and Assessment Center. The changes are a response to the September, 2021 in-custody death of 17-year-old Cedric Lofton after a struggle with staff at the JIAC. A community task force made a number of recommendations for the juvenile justice system after Lofton’s death. The Team Justice juvenile advisory board gave approval to the policy changes in October, and Sedgwick County Commissioners gave their approval during their November 13th meeting.
Source: 101.3 KFDI
Westwood gets first look at new park design, but lawsuit has snagged plans indefinitely
The city of Westwood’s new park envisions walking paths, natural play and restrooms — but planning is on hold indefinitely due to an active lawsuit. On Thursday, the Westwood City Council during a work session got a first look at three different ideas for a new park planned for the former Westwood View Elementary site. This proposed 3.8-acre park is part of Karbank Real Estate Services’ controversial Rainbow Boulevard project, a six-building office-retail development that the city approved last year. In exchange for building on Joe D. Dennis Park — which is Westwood’s main park — Karbank agreed to give the city money to purchase the original Westwood View Elementary property for a replacement park. The city is stopping all park planning where it currently is — with the meeting on Thursday — due to a lawsuit that is trying to block the sale of Joe D. Dennis Park to Karbank.
Source: Johnson County Post
Fallen marshal to be honored on national memorial
A lawman killed in Cherokee County nearly 125 years ago will soon be honored nationally. Empire City Marshal Marion Thomas will soon be added to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C. In 1900 – present day Galena was known as “Empire City.” On February 4 of that year, Marshal Thomas entered a saloon near Main and Columbus Streets around 3 that afternoon for a report of shots fired inside the establishment. When he entered, he was shot multiple times, he died instantly, leaving behind a wife and three kids. The Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office learned earlier this year that Marshal Thomas’ ultimate sacrifice was not included on the memorial in DC – so they used historical documents to petition for his inclusion. A formal dedication ceremony is scheduled for May 13, 2025. There will be a candlelight vigil as part of National Police Week.
Source: KSNF/KODE
City manager finalists selected in Junction City
Locals in Junction City can meet with the finalists for the city manager position later this month at a local opera house. The City of Junction City announced in a press release on Friday, Nov. 15 that four finalists for the city manager spot will be available to meet with from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 22 at the 2nd-floor rehearsal hall at the C.L. Hoover Opera House located at 135 West Seventh Street. Each of the finalists will be on hand to speak with locals in an informal setting. Source: KSNT 27 News
Homeless crimes divide officials
Police officers in some communities struggling with homelessness are not likely to dole out tickets or arrests for the low-level crimes. That’s led to some Kansas lawmakers questioning if communities struggling with homelessness are too lax on law enforcement and not doing enough to try to help address homelessness.
Source: Salina Journal
Municipal Bond Trends for November 15, 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.
Marshall County sales tax vote passes, narrowly
Eight votes were the difference Thursday as a county sales tax for the local hospital passed by a narrow margin — 2,374 to 2,366 — at the Marshall County Board of Commissioners’ official count of this fall’s general election. The question of whether to renew Community Memorial Healthcare’s countywide half-cent sales tax for another five years was the only special question on the the 2024 general election ballot.
Source: The Marysville Advocate
About 1,500 Kansas students change school districts under new open enrollment policy
Kansas school districts showed caution in allowing transfers through a new open enrollment option that lets students attend school outside their home district, data presented Wednesday to the Kansas State Board of Education showed. About 1,500 students transferred out of their home district under the new law for the 2024-2025 school year, making up just 6% of all district transfers, according to data from the Kansas State Department of Education. Transferring between districts has been permitted for years under different methods, and even with the new law, the total number of students who transferred to a district outside their own declined overall this school year. The new “school choice” open enrollment option was wrapped into an education funding bill in 2022, and it mandated schools accept students who don’t live in the district if they can accommodate them. Students have a right to stay at their chosen school until graduation if they remain in good standing, and districts must set limits ahead of enrollment deadlines on how many students it can accept. Skeptics have said the option works against public schools by making it easier for families who have the means to access better-performing schools and widening an already large gap in public education.
Source: The Lawrence Times
City broadens energy portfolio
Iola City Council members agree it’s a good idea to diversify the city’s energy profile. How? By adding 3-megawatts of power to the city’s energy portfolio through a solar agreement. Recently, the Kansas Municipal Energy Association (KMEA) and NextEra Energy entered into a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA). Through the agreement, KMEA anticipates purchasing up to 90-megawatts of electric energy from a 200-megawatt solar facility called Ninnescah Flats Solar in Pratt County. As a member of KMEA, the City of Iola is eligible to purchase a portion of the energy.
Source: The Iola Register
Kansas Republicans say changes to ‘the most hated tax’ are top priority for next year
For months Kansas Republicans campaigned on promises to take action on property taxes as soaring home values in recent years enraged voters. Now comes the time to deliver. After Republicans bolstered their supermajority in the Legislature in last week’s elections, lawmakers have begun weighing plans for the 2025 session that begins in January. They are emphatic that property taxes sit at the top of the to-do list. “We’ve sort of got a mandate from voters,” said Sen. Virgil Peck, a Havana Republican who sits on the Senate Tax Committee. “The property tax relief issue, I think, is urgent. That is the most-hated tax in the state of Kansas.”
Source: Homepage
10-year Treasury yield jumps on week as Powell says Fed not in a hurry to keep cutting rates
U.S. Treasury yields were higher on Friday, ending a week where the 10-year Treasury yield jumped amid new inflation data and comments from Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell that suggested the central bank may not be as aggressive next year with its rate-cutting campaign. The 10-year Treasury yield was last higher by about three basis point to 4.451%. The 10-year rate ended last week around 4.31%. The yield on the 2-year Treasury rose by nearly five basis points to 4.341%. The 2-year yield ended last week around 4.25%. One basis point equals 0.01% and yields and prices move in opposite directions. Investors monitored Powell’s speech on Thursday for hints about future monetary policy decisions. Powell said that strong U.S. economic growth means the central bank won’t need to quickly cut interest rates. “The economy is not sending any signals that we need to be in a hurry to lower rates,” Powell said in his speech. “The strength we are currently seeing in the economy gives us the ability to approach our decisions carefully.”
Source: CNBC – Bonds
Powell says the Fed doesn’t need to be ‘in a hurry’ to reduce interest rates
Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said Thursday that strong U.S. economic growth will allow policymakers to take their time in deciding how far and how fast to lower interest rates. “The economy is not sending any signals that we need to be in a hurry to lower rates,” Powell said in remarks for a speech to business leaders in Dallas. “The strength we are currently seeing in the economy gives us the ability to approach our decisions carefully.” In an upbeat assessment of current conditions, the central bank leader called domestic growth “by far the best of any major economy in the world.” Specifically, he said the labor market is holding up well despite disappointing job growth in October that he largely attributed to storm damage in the Southeast and labor strikes. Nonfarm payrolls increased by just 12,000 for the period. Powell noted that the unemployment rate has been rising but has flattened out in recent months and remains low by historical standards. On the question of inflation, he cited progress that has been “broad based,” noting that Fed officials expect it to continue to drift back toward the central bank’s 2% goal. Inflation data this week, however, showed a slight uptick in both consumer and producer prices, with 12-month rates pulling further away from the Fed mandate.
Source: CNBC – Bonds
Governor Kelly Announces Nearly $6M in KDOT Cost Share Program Projects
Governor Laura Kelly announced Thursday that $5.9 million will be awarded to seven transportation construction projects through the Kansas Department of Transportation’s Cost Share Program for fall 2024. This cost-share investment will leverage $9.8 million in community matching dollars for a total investment of more than $15 million. “Infrastructure projects funded through the Cost Share Program aren’t just about roads and bridges; they are about increasing job growth and retention and strengthening the economic climate across Kansas,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “By leveraging this partnership with KDOT, communities are able to address necessary, long-term solutions to their local transportation issues.” The Cost Share Program is designed to help rural and urban areas advance transportation projects that improve safety, support job retention and growth, alleviate congestion, and improve access and mobility. The program is part of the Kelly administration’s 10-year, bipartisan Eisenhower Legacy Transportation Program, or IKE.
Source: Governor of the State of Kansas
Wichita asking for input on bicycle plan
The City of Wichita is asking for public input on an update of the city’s Bicycle Plan. A process was started in 2023 for a ten-year update of the plan and it will go to an advisory board and then the City Council. The goal of the plan is to create a comprehensive biking network that identifies priority projects to make biking safer, more comfortable and convenient, and it is aimed at representing the community’s vision and goals for biking across the city.
Source: 101.3 KFDI
‘Makes me proud to be from De Soto’ — New mural pays homage to JoCo city’s rural roots
A giant goat now looks over a sunflower field facing east from downtown DeSoto. The DeSoto Arts Council, helped by a grant from the Kansas Creative Arts Industries Commission, commissioned Kansas City-based artist Alex Eickhoff to paint the city’s second downtown mural. Council President Leanna Donald said the group had been looking for an opportunity to bring more art to the community, after the first mural of sunflowers by artist Emily Euler was completed in 2018. “We wanted the mural to represents the community’s past and future, have a small town vibe to it, be colorful and fun and of course give a playful nod to the occupants of the buildings,” she said. “It is a colorful and playful mood.” Donald said the Caprine Supply store’s location at the corner of Shawnee and 83rd streets was the perfect canvas for public art. (The store, open since 1978, specializes in feed and products for goats. Hence, the visual references to goats in the new mural.)
Source: Johnson County Post
Mission gets closer to adopting tree preservation policy
Another northeast Johnson County city is getting closer to adopting a tree preservation ordinance. The Mission City Council during the Nov. 6 community development committee moved a draft tree preservation ordinance forward to a city council meeting for formal consideration. This comes a few months after the city of Mission began discussing a tree preservation ordinance, with a focus on protecting mature trees on commercial or a big residential project. In nearby Roeland Park, the city council recently adopted a tree preservation ordinance after years of discussion on the issue. Other cities like Fairway and Prairie Village have had such ordinances on the books but have revisited these policies in recent years.
Source: Johnson County Post