Kansas Municipal News
Logan Burns hired as Great Bend City Administrator
Great Bend Assistant City Administrator Logan Burns has been named the new City Administrator, effective Monday, Aug. 12. The decision was approved at the Aug. 5 City Council meeting with a 6-1 vote, following a 20-minute executive session where council members discussed the position. This Friday will be the last day for the current City Administration, Brandon Anderson, who announced his resignation in July. Councilman Davis Jimenez attended the meeting via telephone and was the only council member voting “no” to the appointment. Councilwoman Jolene Biggs was absent. During the meeting, Anderson mentioned a change of other department heads. Darren Doonan has been promoted in the utilities department to Utilities Supervisor. Jenna Pitchford, the previous utilities supervisor, has been named Street Superintendent. The new appointments went into effect on Aug. 5. Also at Monday’s meeting, Mayor Cody Schmidt appointed Dirk Becker to a position on the Airport Advisory Board. That was approved as part of a consent agenda that also included permits related to parking and other matters at upcoming events, and a door-to-door license for Venessa Favela with Quick & Right Roofing LLC, based in Great Bend. The consent agenda also included paying 2024 bills to date and paying the payroll register ending July 20, in the amount of $559,560.79.
Source: Great Bend Tribune
Voters will decide the fate of Great Bend’s 1/2-cent sales tax
A half-cent sales tax that went into effect in 2020 is set to end in 2025 unless Great Bend residents vote for it to continue. At Monday’s Great Bend City Council meeting, a resolution was passed that will place the question on the ballot in the Nov. 5 general election. As soon as the resolution was approved, the City was ready to post information about the sales tax on its website, greatbendks.net. Brandon Anderson, attending his final meeting as City Administrators, said the half-cent sales tax was set up by the City Council with input from the public to give 45% of the proceeds to Capital Improvements (Public Safety upgrades), 20% to Economic Development and 35% for property tax relief. The tax has not changed since its inception. City Attorney Allen Glendenning said the resolution approved by the City Council on Monday gives notice of the City’s intent to continue the tax and calls for a special election. He noted that the tax was reaffirmed by voters in 2004 and again in 2014. “If we didn’t have this, it probably would have raised property taxes,” he said. Anderson agreed, stressing the election will be to keep an existing tax, not create a new one. If the public votes “no” and the tax fails to continue, Anderson said, “We will need to make significant cuts for public safety upgrades/improvements and economic development projects. Without this sales tax, the City will have to significantly increase property tax or make cuts to public service. “A vote ‘yes’ will renew the current half-cent sales tax. The sales tax will NOT increase with this vote. It is 8.7% now and will stay 8.7%.” To check out the City’s online information at greatbendks.net, type in 2024 Sales Tax Renewal in the search bar. Anyone needing assistance or information may also send an email to City Hall at business@greatbendks.net.
Source: Great Bend Tribune
City Commission to vote Aug. 6 on new City Manager for Manhattan
The City of Manhattan is pleased to announce that the City Commission will vote on Tuesday, August 6 to appoint Danielle Dulin to serve as Manhattan’s ninth City Manager, with an anticipated start date of Monday, October 14. Dulin was selected following a nationwide search conducted by Strategic Government Resources (SGR) that produced a field of 50 candidates and an extensive interview process involving four finalists who visited Manhattan. “The process went smoothly, and we were very pleased with SGR’s services. The high quality of our candidate pool speaks to Manhattan’s tremendous appeal,” said Mayor Susan E. Adamchak. “Our community will benefit from Danielle’s extensive experience and dynamic leadership. I’m excited to work with her.” Dulin has more than 10 years of municipal leadership experience in the greater Kansas City area, including her current role as City Manager of Warrensburg, Missouri. Prior to her tenure with Warrensburg, she served as Assistant to the City Manager for the cities of Lenexa, Prairie Village, and Mission Hills.
Source: Manhattan – News Flash
Goessel Council hears strong opposition to wind turbines
Goessel city council met on July 14 and reviewed the survey the city had conducted about wind turbines. While many of the respondents do favor other forms of alternative energy, the overwhelming majority do not favor wind turbines. The survey asked about a buffer around the city, and most of the respondents would like a 10-mile buffer. Mayor Evan Esau said he has sent a letter to the other cities in the county to ask their opinion about wind turbines and a buffer. Council member Amanda Voth said the next county planning and zoning meeting is scheduled for Aug. 22. Community members are encouraged to attend that meeting and speak out about wind turbines.
Source: Hillsboro Free Press
With journalists scarce, Wichita Documenters keep eyes on public meetings
The journalism industry is in crisis, and there aren’t nearly enough reporters around to cover all the public meetings they used to attend. So what if a small army of citizens could be recruited to attend and make a record of those meetings? That’s kind of the idea behind Wichita Documenters, a program launched earlier this year. Retired librarian Sharon Ailslieger is one of the Documenters. “I believe in civic engagement, and I think people should be aware of what’s going on in their government, especially at the local level,” Ailslieger said. Affiliated with the national Documenters Network, Wichita Documenters is funded by the Wichita Foundation and managed by the Kansas Leadership Center in partnership with members of the Wichita Journalism Collaborative (of which The Active Age is a member). The program’s initial funding is for three years. Ailslieger spent her career as a librarian for Boeing, Friends University, Garden City and McConnell Air Force Base. A friend told her about the Documenter program. After applying, she attended training at the leadership center. She was already familiar with the operations of many public bodies from her early years as a member of the League of Women Voters, when the organization routinely sent observers to public meetings. Like journalists, Documenters try to be accurate and objective. Unlike journalists, Documenters don’t ask follow-up questions, interview participants or incorporate other sources of information into what they write. Documenters are encouraged to take photographs and insert “hyper-links” — which are digital links to other sources of information — into their notes.
Source: KLC Journal
City of Bel Aire enacting water restrictions
Beginning Monday, the City of Bel Aire will join Derby and Wichita in enacting water restrictions. Bel Aire gets its water from Wichita and the Chisolm Creek Utility Authority. Because Bel Aire receives water from Wichita, the city will be enacting the same restrictions on water usage. The restrictions will be in place for the next two months, after which the restrictions will be reevaluated.
Source: KSN-TV
Haysville says its water supply is secure
The City of Haysville is addressing residents concerns about its water supply. The City says the public has been asking about the water supply following the announcement of water restrictions in Wichita and Derby. Both are now in Stage 2 of their drought response plan, with mandatory restrictions going into effect Monday. Haysville Public Works says the city’s water supply comes from five local wells and is stable and secure. Low water levels at Cheney Lake and other water sources do not affect the supply. However, the public works department says residents should still be mindful of their water usage and that water conservation is important for the future sustainability of the city’s water supply.
Source: KSN-TV
Derby enters phase 2 of water conservation
The City of Derby has moved to phase 2 of its water conservation plan following Wichita’s Thursday announcement of mandatory water restrictions beginning August 5. Mandatory restrictions will also go into effect Monday for Derby, which receives its water from the City of Wichita. The City of Derby will also take steps to conserve water, including monitoring its daily usage, repairing all leaks within 24 hours of detection, flushing hydrants and water mains, washing vehicles only in emergency situations, and making efforts to repurpose the water used in those instances. “Let’s all try and do our part to help the entire region by working together to be good stewards of our limited water resources during this time of drought,” said City Manager Kiel Mangus in a news release. “A reduction in outdoor lawn and landscape irrigation can make a huge impact at this time. The City as a whole averages over two times as much daily water use during the summer months due to irrigation compared to usage during the winter months.”
Source: KSN-TV
City asks community to help choose next Topeka Police Chief
Topekans met with the city for the second time to say what they hope to see in the next police chief. The City of Topeka held its second of three input sessions for the community to say what they would like to see in the next police chief. The City Manager offered three available times throughout this week and into the weekend, as well as an online survey to try and reach as many people as the city can. These sessions and survey let people voice their opinions on what they would like to see in the police chief to help better the community. Many community members showed up to speak on what they would like to see with the common themes surrounding clarity, transparency, and inclusiveness interaction. “I’m just here out of concern for the community. We all have to work together. It’s not just on the city manager,” LaRonna Lassiter Saunders, Justice Advocate and Attorney, said. “It’s not just on the Chief of Police. It’s on me, and it’s on you to come together and you know talk about what we need and then stop talking and put some action into place.”
Source: KSNT 27 News
Wichita firefighter Ty Voth lived and died as a hero, WFD chief says
The city of Wichita is taking steps to honor a 27-year-old firefighter who died in the line of duty on Thursday, and the firefighters union president is calling for a full investigation into what happened. Wichita firefighter Ty Voth, a 5-year veteran of the Wichita Fire Department, responded with a crew on Engine 19 to “a heavy fire at a modular home down in Haysville” on Thursday afternoon, Chief Tammy Snow said at a Friday morning news conference. His crew was assigned to attack the fire. “He was extremely dedicated and a brave firefighter who served our community,” Snow said. “Ty ran in to danger when others ran out. He served valiantly for others, for the greater good. We value the critical services and sacrifice of firefighter Voth. This is a loss that weighs heavily on all of us. Ty was a proud member of Station 5, and his station brothers and sisters in our entire community grieve deeply together. “He lived as a hero. He died as a hero. And he’ll be remembered as a hero.” The city of Wichita has lowered its flags to half-staff and will illuminate City Hall in red lights to honor Voth, Wichita Mayor Lily Wu said on Friday.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
K-State community health worker project helps rural Kansas and agricultural workforce
A large collaborative K-State 105 project is bringing together 12 partners — including Kansas State University units, other higher education institutions and health organizations — to help improve rural and agriculture-connected health across the state. The Rural Ag Health Community Health Worker project focuses on sustaining the health and safety of rural Kansans and the agricultural workforce. The project is establishing resource and service hubs staffed by community health workers who are co-supervised by local K-State Research and Extension units and health care partners. The project has received funding and support through the K-State 105 initiative. “Local extension units participating in the Rural Ag Health Community Health Worker project serve as a gateway to help rural residents manage chronic conditions, prevent injuries and reduce risk of illness,” said Elaine Johannes, Kansas Health Foundation distinguished professor in community health and state extension specialist. “Extension units are known for providing education to promote and improve health; now, with the addition of community health workers, extension will be a resource and partner for local health care teams.”
Source: The New Sunflower State Radio Network
Municipal Bond Trends for August 2, 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.
This JoCo suburb is celebrating its 75th anniversary with several upcoming events
Like one of its northeast Johnson County neighbors, the city of Fairway is turning 75 years old this year. To celebrate, the city is hosting several free events in the coming months at Neale Peterson Park — including a citywide party and a free concert.
Source: Johnson County Post
Fed holds rates steady and notes progress on inflation
Federal Reserve officials on Wednesday held short-term interest rates steady but indicated that inflation is getting closer to target, which could open the door for future interest rate cuts. Central bankers made no obvious indications, though, that a reduction is imminent, choosing to maintain language that indicates ongoing concerns about economic conditions, albeit with progress. They also preserved a declaration that more progress is needed before rate reductions can happen.
Source: CNBC – Bonds
Overland Park will soon break ground on its newest park, which will have a touch of Germany
Overland Park announced the name of the park as part of the city’s festivities celebrating the 20th anniversary of the sister city relationship with Bietigheim-Bissingen, Germany, back in 2019. With that connection in mind, Overland Park has drawn “architectural and cultural inspirations” from the German city and incorporated that into the park’s design, according to the city.
Source: Johnson County Post
Lenexa could get parkland out of rare land swap with developer
The city of Lenexa is exploring a trade with developers that would net the city about 12 acres of parkland in the vicinity of Prairie Star Parkway & Mize Road. It’s a rare move and a precursor to an as-yet undefined residential project that could eventually be proposed in the city’s far western reaches.
Source: Johnson County Post
Johnson County school districts see small number of transfers
In Kansas, it’s the first year of open enrollment, where parents can apply to send their kids to any public school district they want, no matter where live. One of the stipulations though is that the desired building in that other school district has to have room or capacity for that student. Early estimates from two of Johnson County’s largest public school districts show that a small amount of parents took advantage of this new law this year. Shawnee Mission School District (SMSD) Chief Communications Officer David Smith says 38 students are transferring into the school district from outside of its boundaries for the 2024-2025 school year. “When we think of about 38 students, that’s out of 26,000, so it’s just a little over one tenth of one percent,” Smith said in an interview with FOX4 Wednesday. “That’s a really small number. and I guess to me, that means that there probably wasn’t a lot of public interest or support.” Republican State Senator Molly Baumgardner supported the bill that called for the open enrollment policies. She said there were more than 1,000 openings available in the SMSD for the upcoming school year. The only other Kansas school district in the metro bigger than Shawnee Mission is Olathe. At a July board meeting, Olathe Public School (OPS) leaders talked about this issue and went more in-depth about the transfer numbers in. District wide at the elementary level in Olathe, there were 386 openings available but just 28 open enrollment applications into the district. At the middle school level, there were 119 openings and 21 open enrollment applications into the district. At the high school level, there were 85 openings available and 29 applications to enroll into the district. “I don’t think that school districts knew really what to predict,” Baumgardner said in an interview with FOX4 Wednesday. As to whether a school district can accommodate more students depends on whether they’re growing, according to Baumgardner. “You have some school districts such as Spring Hill which just like Maize, that’s west of Wichita, they are the two fastest growing districts,” she continued. “They have very little [transfers in]. In fact Maize said, we have no openings for anyone except for those students that live within our service area.” The enrollment for OPS has dropped since 2021, according to their website. In 2021, they had 29,404 students. In 2022, they had 29,043. In 2023, they had 28,619. The application process for a parent wanting their child to attend a different public school district than the one they live in in Kansas closed at the end of June for this upcoming school year.
Source: fox4kc.com | FOX 4 – WDAF
Governor Kelly Announces Summit Truck Bodies Investing $50M, Creating 80 New Jobs in Wathena
Governor Laura Kelly announced today that Summit Truck Bodies (STB), a leader in service and lube truck body manufacturing, will invest $50 million to construct a new state-of-the-art facility in Wathena. The strategic expansion, which will double the company’s production output and create 80 new jobs, aims to meet the rising demand for high-quality service trucks. The new plant is being built next to its existing facility, and construction is expected to be completed in 20 months. “Summit Truck Bodies’ expansion is proof that our dedicated workforce, quality of life, and central location draw businesses across various industries,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “Kansas will continue to partner with first-class companies like Summit Truck Bodies to ensure communities throughout the state have opportunities to prosper.” The new facility will include a 200,000-square-foot manufacturing space and 20,000 square feet dedicated to office spaces and showrooms. It will be located adjacent to the existing production and warehouse facility to ensure efficiency, optimize workflow, and double production output. This expansion will focus on service body production and the final assembly of service trucks. “The most exciting aspect of this expansion is the integration of new technology and streamlined processes that will maximize our production efficiency,” Summit Truck Bodies Plant Manager Chris Walter said. “The advanced equipment will improve fabrication and paint speed, reduce physical strain on our workers, and ensure consistent high quality. This expansion will significantly decrease lead times and enhance after-sales support, directly benefiting our customers.” The current 132,000-square-foot facility will be transformed to streamline capability in key areas, shifting its focus to manufacturing lube trucks, drawer systems, cranes, body refurbishments, and parts sales. “A concerted focus on strengthening our state’s advanced manufacturing sector is not only attracting companies from around the world but encouraging existing companies to expand operations right here in Kansas,” Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland said. “Working with companies like Summit Truck Bodies is what will keep our state on the dominant trajectory of growth we’re experiencing.” “We are excited about Summit Truck Bodies’ investment and their expansion of their facility in our city,” Wathena Mayor John Hontz said. “Summit has proven to be a great employer, providing valuable opportunities and benefits to our community. The Wathena City Council is pleased to be partners and stands ready to assist them in any way possible.” Summit Truck Equipment (STE), a sister company of STB, is focused on selling custom service and lube trucks and equipment STB produces. The recent expansion of Summit Truck Bodies’ manufacturing capabilities will significantly elevate STE’s capacity to meet market needs. “The expansion of Summit Truck Bodies will improve our responsiveness to market needs, shorten lead times, and improve customer experience,” Summit Truck Equipment National Sales Manager Daniel DeAces said. “This growth will allow us to hire more sales team members to cover open territories, expand our market reach, build stronger relationships, and gain deeper insights into our customers’ needs. With strategically located sales representatives across the U.S., we can connect with new clients and grow our customer base by leveraging brand recognition, trust, and factory support.”
Source: Governor of the State of Kansas
Fed holds rates steady and notes progress on inflation
Federal Reserve officials on Wednesday held short-term interest rates steady but indicated that inflation is getting closer to its target, which could open the door for future interest rate cuts. Central bankers made no obvious indications, though, that a reduction is imminent, choosing to maintain language that indicates ongoing concerns about economic conditions, albeit with progress. They also preserved a declaration that more progress is needed before rate reductions can happen. “The Committee judges that the risks to achieving its employment and inflation goals continue to move into better balance,” the Federal Open Market Committee’s post-meeting statement said, a slight upgrade from previous language. “Inflation has eased over the past year but remains somewhat elevated,” the statement continued. “In recent months, there has been some further progress toward the Committee’s 2 percent inflation objective.” However, speaking with the media, Chair Jerome Powell indicated that while no decision has been made about actions at future meetings a cut could come as soon as September if the economic data showed inflation easing. “If that test is met, a reduction in our policy rate could be on the table as soon as the next meeting in September,” Powell said.
Source: Finance
Outdoor watering limited to once a week in Wichita as historic drought continues
Wichitans will soon see mandatory restrictions on lawn and flower watering as the city copes with an ongoing drought. City pools also will close earlier than usual. Officials announced Thursday that the city is entering Stage 2 of its drought response. When the restrictions go into effect on Monday, Aug. 5, Wichitans will be limited to watering lawns and flower gardens once a week and will be prohibited from watering between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. “We must all come together to change our lawn care practices in order to preserve our most precious resource,” City Manager Robert Layton said. “We’re probably going to have to get used to brown lawns in order to make sure that we have safe drinking water for all of our residents.” Water levels at Cheney Reservoir have dropped below 62% as of the last reading, a historic low. City officials had previously encouraged Wichitans to reduce water use voluntarily. With the Stage 2 restrictions in effect, residents will now be fined for perpetual violations. Food-producing gardens are exempt from the restrictions as long as they are watered by irrigation rather than an automatic sprinkler system. Residents who use well water for irrigation are also exempt. Businesses dependent on water use for operations such as hospitals, car washes and golf courses are exempt from watering restrictions.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle