Kansas Municipal News
Leawood Mayor Peggy Dunn is passing the torch after 27 years in office
Leawood, Kansas, will swear in a new mayor next month for the first time in 27 years. Mayor Peggy Dunn announced in June that she wouldn’t run again. Dunn first entered public office in 1993 as a city councilmember, and after two terms in that role, she was elected mayor in 1997. Among her most significant contributions to the city were establishing major commercial shopping areas, like Park Place and Town Center, which allowed the city to keep property taxes down. “I kept running because I enjoyed it so much, and the city was in a time of historic growth,” Dunn told KCUR’s Up To Date. “So, it made it extremely interesting and just a great time to be involved to work with great people and see lots of progress and change.” Marc Elkins, a longtime public servant in Leawood, was elected mayor in November and will assume the role Jan. 2, 2024.
Source: KCUR
Kansas Amelia Earhart Museum contender for top new museum in the United States
The Amelia Earhart Hangar Museum is in the final stretch of online voting as one of 16 new museums across the United States nominated for the “Best New Museum” by USA Today’s Reader’s Choice Travel Awards for 2024. “With thousands of Amelia Earhart fans and admirers casting their vote for us — every day — until Christmas Day — we think the Amelia Earhart Hangar Museum can soar to the top spot,” said Mindi Love Pendergraft, the museum’s executive director. Celebrating Earhart’s aviation legacy in aviator’s Atchison, Kansas, hometown, the Amelia Earhart Hangar Museum is the only museum in the Midwest among the 16 new museums nominated across United States, a statement from the museum said. As of December 14, the Museum is ranking at #4 on the USA Leaderboard for Best New Museum. “This special honor will not only shine a bright spotlight on our state-of-the-art museum in Amelia’s hometown but also heighten the nation’s interest in exploring the many stellar museums and tourism attractions across Kansas and the Midwest,” added Love Pendergraft. The winner will be announced on Friday, January 5 at noon ET. USA Today 10Best provides original, unbiased and experiential travel coverage of top attractions, things to see and do, and restaurants for top destinations in the U.S. and around the world.
Source: KAKE – News
Amid enrollment declines and aging buildings, Wichita district could shutter some schools
Consultants hired by the Wichita school board say the district has too many small elementary schools and can’t afford to maintain them all. The consulting firm is developing a proposal that could recommend closing some school buildings. It plans to present options to the Wichita board before the end of this school year. David Sturtz, a partner with Ohio-based Cooperative Strategies, said nearly half of Wichita’s 54 elementary schools have fewer than 350 students, which is inefficient and costly to maintain. Twelve elementaries have fewer than 300 students. “Having a few schools that are that low (enrollment), you can supplement (budgets),” Sturtz said. “Having nearly half of your elementary portfolio under that enrollment? That’s a financial struggle.” Needed repairs across the district are estimated at more than $1 billion. “I will not recommend a scenario that says, ‘You know what? Just keep everything the same and pay $1 billion over the next five years,” Sturtz told board members Monday. “That’s not a real plan. … And it’s not what you should do.” Last spring, the Wichita school board used $1 million in federal COVID-relief funds to pay for a systemwide audit of district facilities.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
City shuts off water at some Towne West Square businesses for non-payment
Some stores in Towne West Square are without water after the City of Wichita disconnected service for not making payments on their bill, a city official said. “Two businesses at Towne West Mall had water turned off yesterday and one business was shut off today,” city communications manager Tyler Schiffelbein said. “The property manager for these businesses has not been making payments.” No other businesses will be impacted or have their service interrupted until the city makes contact with the property manager. “The Water Utility is reaching out to the property manager regarding significant lapsed payments for water service at the mall,” Schiffelbein added. Veronica Barrett is the corporate regional manager for Towne West Square, which is owned by New York-based Kohan Retail Investment Group. When asked about the situation over the phone, Barrett said “That’s not true, but I can check into it a little bit further tomorrow.” Barrett said that the investment group’s corporate office is closed, but that she would reach out to their accounting department tomorrow to “find out what’s going on… see if its been paid,” Barrett said. “I do know that, you know, there’s just been some struggles there at the mall,” Barrett added. The mall previously had the power shut off in September and November for failing to make bill payments to Evergy, The Eagle reported. The city did not say how far behind the mall was on water utility payments or how much the bill was for.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
JoCo Notes: Johnson County merges 988 and 911 call centers
Call takers at Johnson County’s Mental Health Center and Emergency Services have merged into one centralized location. On Tuesday morning, county officials celebrated the merger with a ribbon cutting and hosted an open house at the County Communications Center, 11880 S. Sunset Dr., in Olathe. This means Johnson County callers dialing 911 for emergency help or he 988 for a mental health crisis will be directed to the same dispatch center. County officials say the merger will make way for infrastructure and technology improvements for 988, and allow 911 dispatchers and mental health professionals to work more closely together on calls that necessitate a mental health response. More information on Johnson County’s 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is available online. Anyone in need of mental health assistance can call 988.
Source: Prairie Village Post
Funding gap for water sector remains despite federal assistance, Fitch says
Despite the significant infusion of funds from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), Fitch Ratings said it estimates a funding gap in excess of $85 billion over the next five years for water and sewer utilities that will need to be covered by paygo or additional debt. According to Fitch, federal funding under ARPA and the BIL is supportive of water utility credit quality as it helps maintain and improve existing infrastructure, thereby moderating increases in Fitch’s life cycle ratio, a measure of the age of capital assets. Federal grants under these laws also offset some of the need for new debt funding and significant rate increases to address capital plans, supporting overall affordability. Utilities face increasing capex costs given inflation, aging infrastructure, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) mandates and proposed rules, namely per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) remediation, Lead and Copper Rule Revisions (2021) and Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (2023), which would require most water systems to replace lead service lines within 10 years. Water supply and sewer construction spending were up 15.3% and 27.2%, respectively, in October 2023 from a year ago, according to Census data. Within the Fitch-rated portfolio, five-year capex/depreciation ratios have been increasing year over year, exceeding 150% since 2019, reflecting sustained, robust capital spending. This spending has kept the Fitch-calculated life cycle ratio relatively stable at around 37% for the last several years.
Source: Water Finance & Management
Board approves land transfers with two neighboring districts
After months of public discussion, speculation and closed-door conversations among the Prairie Hills USD No. 113 Board of Education (BOE) members and their attorneys, land transfer agreements have been made with two of the three neighboring school districts. After 55 minutes of executive session during their regular board meeting on Monday, Dec. 11, the Prairie Hills USD No. 113 board of education members — Leslie Scoby, Kathy Lippert, Phillip Buessing, Jim Scoby, Doug Renyer, Stan Keim and Kent Saylor — unanimously approved Memorandum of Settlement Agreements (MOSA) for land transfers with Vermillion USD No. 380 and Jackson Heights USD No. 335. This decision comes after the USD No. 113 mediation committee — consisting of Lippert, Keim and J. Scoby — met with USD No. 380 and USD No. 335 in separate mediation sessions on Tuesday and Wednesday, Dec. 5 and 6. The Prairie Hills USD No. 113 BOE approved the MOSA with Vermillion USD No. 380. Land which will be transferred from Prairie Hills USD No. 113 to Vermillion USD No. 380 will include the territory identified in the shaded areas labeled 2.1, 2.2 and 1.3 on the map shown on Page 7. This land transfer will go into effect July 1, 2024. Vermillion USD No. 380 also approved this MOSA at their meeting on Monday, Dec. 11. This unanimously approved MOSA is now subject to approval by the Kansas State Board of Education. The MOSA also stated that as the petitioning district, USD No. 380, will bear the cost of securing the necessary boundary descriptions and abstractor certification.
Source: Sabetha Herald
Atchison Public Schools preparing anew for future vision.
The USD 409 Phoenix mascot from this point on has a new look to call its own. Board members unanimously approved the re-branding of the image as part of the business at their meeting Monday. The action came after District Activities Director Tyler Lueckenhoff delivered some clarification. The proposed Phoenix image designed by Christa Reiger, of Storyweaver Studio, was introduced at the previous meeting as mainly composed in a scheme of four primary colors: red, gold, white, and black. Lueckenhoff said the Mascot colors remain the same as throughout school history red and gold. The white and black colors are utilized to highlight accents for some details like outlines and backgrounds. “It is Red and Gold all the way,” Lueckenhoff said. He explained the four separated feathers cut in the wings each represent the different USD 409 schools. The schools are Atchison High School, Atchison Middle School, Central School, and Atchison Elementary School. Dr. Renee Nugent, superintendent of schools, said there has been some concern if there will be changes to the letter “A” on the letter jackets. “The letter A remains the same,” Nugent said of the sports/activities status symbol. “Letter jackets are a staple.” Board members viewed a video produced by Robert Neidinger’s Video Production student Mr. Purdy showing some history of mascots and evolution toward the current re-branding of the Phoenix mascot.
Source: News | atchisonglobenow.com
Joe Waters, longtime county leader, to retire next week
Joe Waters, long-time Johnson County administrator, will retire next Friday after decades of service to the community. He is currently the assistant county manager, serving in that position for the past 10 years. “It has been my honor and privilege to spend most of my career in this outstanding organization that epitomizes excellence in public service and commitment to community,” Waters said in an emailed statement. His final day on the job is Dec. 22. Waters, an architect, started his career in consulting and facilities management. A University of Kansas grad, he would go on to work as an architect and assistant director in the facilities planning office at his alma mater. Waters served as a Johnson County bureau chief, then director of facilities for nearly 20 years. In all, he’s worked for the Johnson County government for almost 30 years. During his tenure, Johnson County built more than 20 new buildings and remodeled a total of 21 buildings. As assistant county manager, he also oversaw central county services, the county courts and the elections office. In a news release, County Manager Penny Postoak Ferguson described Waters as “humble” and “thoughtful,” noting that he “cares for our community and employees.”
Source: Shawnee Mission Post
New Beloit City Manager Announced
Mayor Tom Naasz and the Beloit City Council report that Halley Roberson is their approved candidate to be Beloit’s next City Manager. At its regular meeting on December 6, the City Council unanimously voted to move forward with finalizing Roberson’s employment agreement. “Ms. Roberson will arrive in Beloit with a proven municipal track record in overseeing construction of vital infrastructure projects,” said Mayor Naasz. “Her leadership skills and public service align seamlessly with our community goals. Our city is poised for sustainable growth under her guidance. ”Roberson’s diverse experience spans more than 20 years in local, state, and federal government management and nonprofit sector leadership. She leaves her position as Oberlin City Manager after serving more than six years. During her tenure, she led the construction of a new power plant and power line upgrades. She is credited with many other infrastructure and technology improvements, all accomplished without raising property taxes or utility rates. Her Oberlin tenure is also noteworthy for the many grants she obtained for community and economic development.
Source: Sunflower State Radio
KDOT superintendent becomes Abilene’s public works director
Abilene’s Brad Anderson will be the city of Abilene’s Public Works Department director. Anderson was previously a Kansas Department of Transportation area superintendent. He began his new job Dec. 4. “I just want everyone to know that KDOT’s been good to me, and it was a great opportunity and all that,” Anderson said. “I am kind of excited to get involved with the city and glad to have the opportunity. Glad they thought a lot about me to give me the opportunity.” Anderson said the director position allows him to work closer to his community and home south of Abilene. His current position requires him to drive to Clay Center and around north central Kansas. “When the position became available, it was something I thought about, and ultimately decided I’d look into. I’m grateful that I’ve been given this opportunity and was chosen as the new public works director here in my hometown of Abilene.” Anderson said. “I feel I can continue to use my knowledge in leadership, job activities and contract projects that the city of Abilene has upcoming.” Anderson said he has worked for KDOT for 23 years total.
Source: Abilene-RC
Choose Saline County rewards app supports local businesses
Since its launch in 2022, around 3,000 Saline County residents and visitors have been rewarded with and redeemed more than $150,000 to spend in local businesses thanks to the Choose Saline County app. Saline County decided to take part in the rewards program, developed by Colu, after a survey of residents indicated that supporting local business recovery was a top priority as the county used federal funding in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, including the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), which is being used for the program. “We wanted to do something more substantial, more meaningful and something that really changes our behavior,” said Melissa McCoy, public information officer for Saline County. McCoy said after officials rightfully encouraged people to stay home as a way to help prevent the spread of COVID, this led to many habits being formed, especially when it came to shopping, with many people browsing, buying and having items shipped from online retailers rather than from locally-owned options.
Source: News – Salina Journal
Municipal Bond Trends for December 14, 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.
Municipal Bond Trends for December 13, 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.
Wichita police, sheriff’s office now will investigate each other’s officer-involved shootings
The Wichita Police Department and the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office will start investigating each other’s officer-involved shootings, in-custody deaths and other critical incidents, officials said Wednesday. Sheriff Jeff Easter said Sedgwick County District Attorney Marc Bennett had pushed for this to happen since he was elected in 2012, when Easter was first elected as well. “The Wichita Police Department took a look at this concept and for whatever reason it just didn’t work out during those times,” Easter said. “Chief (Joe) Sullivan came here, we had a discussion about it and were both in agreement that it would be best for this community because this community has been asking for a change in how we investigate these.” Sullivan took over the department in November 2022. Sullivan said now “when an officer or deputy is involved in a critical incident, we have protocols in place to conduct an independent and transparent investigation.” Previously, the Wichita Police Department and the sheriff’s office would investigate each other’s officers only in cases that were potentially criminal. This new agreement will keep that, while adding the officer-involved shootings and in-custody deaths.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
Fed holds rates steady, indicates three cuts coming in 2024
The Federal Reserve on Wednesday held its key interest rate steady for the third straight time and set the table for multiple cuts to come in 2024 and beyond. With the inflation rate easing and the economy holding in, policymakers on the Federal Open Market Committee voted unanimously to keep the benchmark overnight borrowing rate in a targeted range between 5.25%-5.5%. Along with the decision to stay on hold, committee members penciled in at least three rate cuts in 2024, assuming quarter percentage point increments. That’s less than market pricing of four, but more aggressive than what officials had previously indicated.
Source: CNBC – Bonds
Lawsuit against City of Lawrence asks for court order to disband camps for people experiencing homelessness
Several business owners have filed a lawsuit against the City of Lawrence, asking the court to order the city to close and disband two camp areas where people experiencing homelessness are living. The lawsuit asks the court to address public health and safety concerns that plaintiffs attribute to the city’s handling of the local homelessness crisis. Specifically, the lawsuit mentions the city-sanctioned camp behind Johnny’s Tavern in North Lawrence — which the city has dubbed Camp New Beginnings — and other camp areas on the river levee, as well as the camp in the area of Seventh and New York streets near the Amtrak depot in East Lawrence. The complaint asks the court to declare that both of those camp areas as public and private nuisances, and that the city’s “allowance, maintenance, and encouragement” of the camps is beyond its legal authority and a breach of its duty. “The proliferation of the Encampments has endangered all people’s health and safety, and is inflicting damage not just on property owners, but also on those who are least able to afford legal counsel to vindicate the harm being inflicted by the City — the innocent involuntarily unhoused. The community cannot stand idly by while lawless zones that promote crime erode the well-being of the community,” the lawsuit states. The 36-page complaint, signed by attorney Todd Thompson of Lawrence law firm 333 Legal, is followed by 47 pages of exhibits — photos of campsites, people holding signs asking for money and more. The lawsuit includes 26 plaintiffs, half individual people and half businesses. “Plaintiffs are Lawrence residents, property owners, and business owners, who live, work, and/or own property in the lower-income neighborhoods of North Lawrence and East Lawrence where the City has allowed, encouraged, and assisted people to set up camps,” the complaint states. The first plaintiffs named in the lawsuit are Johnny’s North Lawrence Inc. and owner Rick Renfro. Renfro wrote in a letter he emailed to the publication along with the complaint Tuesday morning that the city has made it extremely difficult for him to protect his staff and to provide a safe, enjoyable environment for customers. “This lawsuit was not my first choice, or my second, or third. But the city has allowed vagrants from other cities to set up their own camps around the New Beginnings camp, and all along the river,” Renfro wrote. “The city provides them with water, food, tents and restrooms. The city has created, maintained and enabled a nuisance.” Under city ordinances, camping is not allowed in most locations. Before June 2020, it was illegal for people to camp on any public right-of-way area. But amid the COVID-19 pandemic, city commissioners made efforts to decriminalize homelessness by adopting an exemption to the ordinance that prohibited nightly camping (Ord. 9754). The exemption made it legal for people to camp on city property zoned in the downtown commercial district (CD) when shelters were at full capacity.
Source: The Lawrence Times
Assistant County Manager Joe Waters to celebrate retirement after nearly 30 years of service to Johnson County
Joe Waters, assistant county manager for Johnson County Government, will retire after nearly 30 years of service. He will be honored at a retirement reception from 2 to 4 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 14, in the Jury Room of the Johnson County Courthouse, 150 W. Santa Fe, Olathe. Waters’ last day with Johnson County will be Dec. 22, 2023. Members of the public are invited to join in the celebration of decades of service to Johnson County residents. Since 1990, Waters has leveraged his degree in architecture to help to lead facilities projects. As director of facilities for the county, bureau chief and his current role as assistant county manager, he has been involved in 21 brand-new buildings, purchasing and remodeling nine buildings and remodeling or expanding another 12 facilities. What’s harder to quantify is Waters’ influence on those facilities and programs. His job, as he defines it, was to make sure facilities being planned and built reflected the current and future needs of the community and the departments and agencies that would occupy them. Those plans also put Johnson County on the forefront of sustainability. The Sunset Drive Office Building, 11811 S. Sunset Drive, Olathe, achieved LEED Gold certification in 2006, just the second such achievement in the Midwest. Many county projects that followed were either designed to LEED standards or LEED certified, a mark of building healthy, efficient and cost-saving buildings that limit the impact on natural resources and the environment. In addition to facilities, Waters has led many other county operations over the years, including central services, the elections office and the courts. He acted as liaison to the Johnson County Library and Johnson County Park and Recreation boards. His influence is reflected not only in the county’s built environment but in community programs and services as well. “Joe is thoughtful and purposeful with keen insight on how to make our community greater and more beautiful than it was before,” said County Manager Penny Postoak Ferguson. “Johnson County is a better place to live because of his efforts. Joe has been instrumental in helping me lead the county for years. He is humble, thoughtful, a problem solver and cares for our community and employees. He will be missed, and his legacy beyond buildings is all those he coached, mentored and encouraged along the way.”
Source: Johnson County Kansas |
Heartland Flyer extension clears major hurdle
The train keeps rolling forward. Laura Kelly announced that the Heartland Flyer project, which would connect Amtrak service from Oklahoma City to Newton, has been awarded a $500,000 federal grant aimed at developing passenger rail lines. The grant pays for the development of a service plan for the connection of the Southwest Chief and Heartland Flyer lines.
More importantly, however, it represents an important selection hurdle cleared in a larger competitive grant process for federal infrastructure funds to develop passenger rail service lines. “It is a very big deal,” State Senator Carolyn McGinn said. McGinn has long advocated for passenger rail and helped craft state transportation plans supporting the funding of passenger rail. “I’ve been working on this for over 12 years,” she said. “I was very delighted. What it says is we’re going to have forward movement. Now we’re being looked at even closer.” The funding pays for the development of a service plan for the route, something that Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas have already begun work on. Following service and engineering plans, participating states in this project—Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas—would provide a 20 percent match to federal funds to pay for upgrades to extend the route. The funding for a possible extension was made possible by a 2021 $1 trillion infrastructure upgrade package. “I don’t think it’s a done deal,” Newton City Commissioner Rod Kreie said of the possibility of the Heartland Flier project, “But certainly when they’re going to give us money to do the studies we need to do, we know we were pretty high on the list, because we were part of the first groups to get funded with this pre-project money to do the studies that they’re wanting done.” He said that the project would allow residents to ride the train through various southern routes in the United States.
Source: Harvey County Now
Courts: Kansas Star Casino owed over $19 million
Sumner County and the City of Mulvane are paying back millions to the company that runs the Kansas Star Casino. The county and casino have been in court for years over how the casino is taxed. Boyd Gaming, which runs the casino, protested how much property tax it has to pay. The courts now say Boyd Gaming is owed more than $19 million in payments over tax disputes going back years. The City of Mulvane, the school district, and Sumner County have to pay that money back. “It’s a positive in that we know what to expect. Instead of waiting for a judgment to come out, we know what we’re paying. We know for the next five years we know our valuation is going to be correct,” said Austin St. John, Mulvane City Manager. The last tax assessment by Sumner County said casino property should be taxed at a value of roughly $190 million. After Boyd Gaming appealed, the courts said it was valued at roughly $85.5 million. Mulvane raised its mill levy in 2022 by another eight mills in anticipation of the settlement to pay back the casino.
Source: KSN-TV