Municipal News & Jobs

Despite the controversial opinions of the USD 402 bond issue, the $55 million no-levy increase was passed unofficially this week. The bond passed with 1,745 total Augusta voters casting their ballot. Of those unofficial votes, 1,174 were yes and 571 were no. The post-election ballot audit, which is required by Kansas Statute 25-3009, was held on Thursday evening in the Butler County Commissioner’s room. The three-person team audited 1% of precincts that included Ward 1 and Ward 4.
Source: Butler County Times-Gazette

Sedgwick County recently announced that its new 2026 budget simulator has gone live as of May 6. Available at the county website, the simulator is a hands-on tool intended to get citizens to explore and influence how property tax-supported funds are allocated. The interactive simulation is part of the county’s commitment to transparency, civic education and inclusive public participation.
Source: www.derbyinformer.com – RSS Results in news,news/* of type article

The interest rate table above illustrates recent changes in a sample of AA rated bond trades reported to the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board’s EMMA® system. Every issuer’s credit is different, and other financing sources may be available. To obtain comprehensive Financial Advisory services for your local government, contact your Ranson Financial Municipal Advisor, Larry Kleeman, or Henry Schmidt.

The Federal Reserve on Wednesday held its key interest rate unchanged as it awaits fluctuations in trade policy and the direction of a sputtering economy. In a move that carried little suspense given the wave of uncertainty sweeping the political and economic landscape, the Federal Open Market Committee held its benchmark overnight borrowing rate in a range between 4.25%-4.5%, where it has been since December. The post-meeting statement noted the volatility and how that is factoring into policy decisions.
Source: Bonds

County Commissioners began discussions to restructure those departments within the county that the commission is over. They also ordered a safety study for the Elm Creek Lake Dam. Commissioner Mika Milburn talked about the need for an interim reference addendum to the county’s 2002 policy book as the commission revisits and revises it. She suggested assigning reference numbers to the forms and procedures as they make or revise them for easy reference during revision and in the final product. County Clerk Susan Walker has started adding reference numbers to forms as they are being amended. She has also requested an administrative procedure book separate from the original policy and procedure book. Commissioner David Beerbower agreed.
Source: Fort Scott Biz

It tore through the landscape, buildings and people like a fire does through a forest. But it wasn’t a fire. It was a different kind of gift from Mother Nature—an F5 (now called an EF5) tornado, and it caused damage and fatalities in Harvey, Sedgwick and Marion counties on May 25, 1917. It was part of one of the most intense and longest continuous tornado outbreak sequences on record, said Kris Schmucker, curator and archivist with the Harvey County Historical Museum and Archives in Newton. The outbreak killed at least 382 people, Schmucker said.
Source: Harvey County Now

Johnson County voters will decide this November whether the special public safety sales tax that paid for the new courthouse and medical examiner facility should be continued for another 10 years. County commissioners voted Thursday to put the Public Safety III quarter-cent tax on the ballot, saying it is a way to maintain vital county services at a time when inflation and ebbing revenues are straining the budget. The sales tax was originally approved in 2016 and is set to expire in March of 2027 unless voters extend it.
Source: Johnson County Post

Preserving Leawood’s original City Hall building for some unspecified future use remains on the table as the city council gets closer to finalizing a master plan for the building as well as an old fire station at 96th Street and Lee Boulevard. On Monday, the council hired Kansas City-based BBN Architects for $39,000 to come up with costs and use options for both buildings, which were constructed in the 1950s and are now largely vacant.
Source: Johnson County Post

In 2018, the Hen House in Merriam abruptly closed, and the northeastern Johnson County suburb of more than 10,500 people didn’t have its own grocery. Now, city leaders and a local developer think they have a winning project plan to bring a grocery store back within Merriam city limits. Overland Park-based Drake Development is proposing a two-block redevelopment on the northwest corner of Shawnee Mission Parkway and Antioch Road, which is currently home to the old Antioch Library building, as well as a Caribou Coffee and a gas station next door. Dubbed Merriam Grand Marketplace, the redevelopment envisions a 12,000-square-foot grocery store, 4,000 square feet of restaurant space to the west of that and a new apartment building.
Source: Johnson County Post

Governor Laura Kelly and Merck Animal Health announced an $895 million expansion at Merck’s De Soto, Kansas, facility—the second-largest private investment in Kansas history and Merck Animal Health’s largest to date. The project includes $860 million for manufacturing and $35 million for R&D, creating over 200 permanent jobs. The 200,000-square-foot expansion will increase production of large molecule vaccines and biologic products, with the site serving as a Center of Excellence within Merck’s global manufacturing network. Construction planning begins immediately, generating 2,500 temporary jobs, with commercial operations expected in 2030. Since 2017, Merck has invested more than $12 billion in U.S. manufacturing and research and plans to invest $9 billion more over the next four years.
Source: KCLY Radio

Dodge City pet owners, take note: Fido and Fluffy will soon need a tiny piece of tech to stay street legal. At Monday night’s City Commission meeting, officials approved an ordinance requiring all cats and dogs registered within city limits to be microchipped. The goal? To help reunite lost pets with their owners and promote responsible pet ownership across the community. Microchipping is a simple procedure where a chip about the size of a grain of rice is inserted under a pet’s skin, typically between the shoulder blades. The chip contains the owner’s contact information and can be scanned by animal shelters and vets, but it’s not a GPS tracker.
Source: KSN-TV

A community in Rooks County is being asked to conserve water. Residents of Palco have been asked not to water lawns, gardens, or fill a swimming pool for the next two days. The city says they are doing maintenance on the town’s water wells on Thursday and Friday, which requires residents to limit their water use. Palco says it will notify residents when water services are fully available.
Source: KSN-TV

Cowley County commissioners approved a new ordinance Tuesday that would make public nudity a misdemeanor offense, following years of public complaints about a man frequently seen walking without clothing. The ordinance allows law enforcement to charge violators with a misdemeanor, punishable by up to 30 days in jail and/or a fine of up to $500. The issue stems from repeated complaints about a local man who regularly takes walks in the nude. Despite ongoing public concern, no legal action has been taken, as the county sheriff has stated that Kansas’ nudity laws do not clearly apply in this case.
Source: KSN-TV

Coffey County residents vote no to the special bond vote focusing on USD 244. According to the Coffey County election website, the unofficial results are in: residents do not want special bonds to go towards a new Burlington Elementary School. According to USD 244, funding from the $45 million bond proposal would have allowed the elementary school to be built closer to the community’s middle and high schools, add early learning classrooms and provide classrooms with updated technology and resources.
Source: KSNT 27 News

Cowley County commissioners Tuesday morning voted unanimously to approve an ordinance to restrict public nudity. The vote took place at the courthouse assembly room in Winfield where commissioners held their regular meeting. One person spoke in opposition. The ordinance will be enforceable following the required publishing of public notices. A fine of $500 and up to 30 days jail time is the punishment.
Source: Local – Cowley Post

Buried deep inside the state’s $25.6 billion budget, there’s a measure that expands one of the state’s most powerful tax incentives to help save dying malls. What originally started out as a bill that died in the House became a proviso added to the state budget authorizing sales tax revenue – or STAR – bonds to be used for redevelopment of declining malls under certain circumstances.
Source: Sunflower State Journal

Sedgwick County health officials have confirmed the area’s first case of measles in eight years, officials announced Wednesday morning. The virus was identified in a child between the ages of 5 and 10 who is unvaccinated, a press release said. The health department is working to identify the source of exposure, and said the agency would notify those who may have been exposed.
Source: Homepage

A water task force meant to ensure the “precious resource is available for generations to come” received its first members this week. The 16-member panel of Republican and Democratic legislators, state officials and a handful of appointees from both parties will craft policy changes in an effort to evaluate Kansas’ current and future water supply, funding efforts for water projects and potential impacts on the state’s economy.
Source: Butler County Times-Gazette

The City of Arkansas City is working with the high school and Cowley College to bring students on board as uncompensated interns. Human Resources Director Marla McFarland said the program exposes students to the wide range of career opportunities available in public service. McFarland tries to pair the students with jobs that match their studies and interests. ACHS Junior Kennedy Barnes has worked with the city for the past two semesters and plans to seek a career in law after graduating high school.
Source: www.ctnewsonline.com – RSS Results

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.