Kansas Municipal News
Barber County first responders do simulation training
First responders in Barber County held a training exercise on Friday with a school bus and truck carrying hazardous materials. The victims? Actors. The smoke? Non-toxic. “Our goal was to see how our protocols, whether we were EMS, fire, law enforcement, work and handle a mass casualty like this,” Anna Schurter, the director of Barber County EMS, said. Mike Loreg, the Barber County Emergency manager, said it was important to get on-the-job training rather than just working in a classroom. “In a classroom or training facility, you study books,” Loreg said. “It’s easy to write policy on a piece of paper, but when we come out here and test them, we find the gaps.” Most of the emergency services in rural Barber County are largely volunteer, so the simulation training offers an opportunity to work calls they don’t normally get. “We have the same problems, the same hazardous materials the big cities do,” Loreg said. “If we don’t practice these, there’s a lot of people that can get injured because we don’t have the resources everybody else does.”
Source: KSN-TV
How is Topeka addressing homelessness after SCOTUS ruling?
Homeless people across the country can now be penalized for sleeping outside, but the Supreme Court says it should be up to each local government. The Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) voted 6-3 Friday morning that it is constitutional to ban people from sleeping outside. 27 News spoke with Topeka’s City Attorney Amanda Stanley about what this means for Topeka. “The ability to have every tool in our toolbox is what the Supreme Court gave us,” Stanley said. “I think that’s really helpful when you look at such a hard problem. No one solution is going to fix it.” Earlier this year, Topeka began its homeless abatement process. Current city ordinances claim it’s unlawful to camp near public infrastructure. So far, crews cleared more than 200 tons of trash along the Kansas River and other public areas. “You have to think about the community as a whole,” Stanley said. “Which is why you need to try to get people in housing, but also in neighborhoods, kids need to be able to walk down the street and not deal with feces or other issues.”
Source: KSNT 27 News
City of Lawrence files case against landlord for refusal of housing vouchers
The City of Lawrence has filed what appears to be its first Douglas County District Court lawsuit against a local landlord for allegedly refusing a prospective tenant based solely on their use of housing vouchers. Sue Herynk and her husband Joe Herynk, of River City Homes Inc., are named as defendants in the case. Sue’s responses indicate that they are eager for another chance to contest the city’s ordinance banning source of income discrimination, which they call unconstitutional. The Lawrence City Commission in February 2023 approved an ordinance change that creates a protected class based on renters’ source of income, as well as their status as a survivor of domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking or stalking. It also disallows discrimination based on prospective tenants’ immigration status. The ordinance went into effect June 1, 2023. A Douglas County judge in May ruled against the group Landlords of Lawrence, which had sued the city over the ordinance. A complainant wrote in September 2023 that she had seen an ad for a unit in the 4700 block of Moundridge Court, according to documentation in the city’s lawsuit. The townhome was for rent at $1,400 per month, according to a Zillow listing. The complainant wrote that she called Sue Herynk, the property owner, who said the unit was available and just needed its carpets cleaned before new tenants could move in. “Up to this point the conversation had been positive. I then asked about payment of the rent, and explained that my payment would be in the form of a housing voucher (Section 8),” the complainant wrote. “Ms. Herynk stated that she would not accept my housing voucher, no matter the circumstances. She stated that a housing voucher would leave the landlord with uncovered liability in the case that the tenant were to abandon or damage the property. She rejected my request to be considered on the same basis as any other would be renter.”
Source: The Lawrence Times
Municipal Bond Trends for June 28, 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.
Municipal Bond Trends for June 27, 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.
Russell Awarded a Grant for Street Lighting Upgrades
The City of Russell is excited to announce that it has been awarded $122,783 in grant funds through the Kansas Corporation Commission (KCC) Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant to upgrade 311 streetlights to more energy-efficient technologies. The KCC received a $1.9 million Block Grant from the Department of Energy (DOE) as part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL). Under this program, the KCC supports projects that replace traffic signals and street lighting with energy-efficient technology, with a particular focus on rural communities in Kansas.
Source: City of Russell
Supreme Court Expands Cities’ Power to Remove Homeless Camps
The Supreme Court loosened the restraints on city officials confronting homeless encampments, overturning a lower court that found it unconstitutional to penalize people for sleeping in public when they have nowhere else to stay. Writing for the court, Justice Neil Gorsuch said the Eighth Amendment ban on cruel and unusual punishments, which a lower court invoked to strike down the city’s ordinance, had no role to play in limiting government responses to homelessness.
Source: WSJ.com: World News and U.S. Supreme Court
Construction begins on expansion of Wichita homeless facility
A groundbreaking ceremony was held to begin construction of a major expansion for the Union Rescue Mission in north Wichita.
Construction will get started on July 8th to create several enhancements to the facility at 2800 North Hillside. The Union Rescue Mission raised over $2 million through its Dreams Rebuilt capital campaign that began in December, 2020. Kurt Yowell, chairman of the URM board of directors, said in a press release, “These renovations will not only freshen a well-worn facility, they will also provide a Chapel, additional classrooms, an updated emergency overnight shelter facility, improved security and safety features, and a degree of privacy and dignity for the men in programs.” The project is expected to be completed in March, 2025. The Mission also plans to raise an additional $110,000 to upgrade security in the parking lot behind the facility.
Source: 101.3 KFDI
New city administrator hired in Hiawatha
Brad Scott–who has served the City of Hiawatha as Public Works Director and as Interim City Administrator–was officially hired as the new City Administrator at the end of Monday’s City Commission meeting. All city commissioner members voted in favor of Scott taking the position.
Source: City Government | hiawathaworldonline.com
Lyon County Commission approves six-month moratorium on medical facility zoning applications
The Lyon County Board of Commissioners passed a resolution establishing a moratorium on certain types of zoning, land use, and building permits related to medical facilities within the unincorporated areas of Lyon County Thursday morning. The resolution, presented by County Counselor Molly Priest, highlighted the lack of specific definitions and guidelines for medical facilities in the county’s existing zoning regulations. Priest said the resolution was crafted County Zoning Director Sam Seeley. “Our zoning regulations do not contemplate the breadth of medical facilities that exist today,” Priest said. “There are at least eight different types of medical facilities defined at state and federal levels, including general hospitals, ambulatory surgical centers, and rural emergency hospitals, none of which are clearly defined in our current regulations.” The moratorium will last until January 1, 2025, providing six months for the zoning administrator and the planning board to draft and propose new regulations. During this period, no new applications for zoning, conditional use permits, site plans, or building permits related to medical facilities will be accepted.
Source: Emporia Gazette
Admire to celebrate new multiuse court with ribbon cutting, community festivities
The City of Admire is set to host a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 6 p.m. July 3, to mark the completion of its new multiuse sport court. This event signals the final step in a project that has been eagerly awaited by the community. Following the ceremony, people are invited to join in a potluck dinner, enjoy a game of horseshoes, watch a spectacular fireworks display, and socialize with family, friends, and neighbors. The new multiuse court, designed to accommodate pickleball, basketball, and tennis, was made possible by a $30,000 implementation grant from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas. This grant is part of the Healthier Lyon County’s Pathways to a Healthy Kansas initiative, aimed at promoting active and healthy living in the region. Despite initial delays with fencing contractors, the court has been resurfaced and is now ready for community use.
Source: Emporia Gazette
Tax change creates headaches for county clerks
Homeowners may see a break on their property taxes this year but the change is creating extra work for the County Clerk’s Office. The tax relief package adopted by the Kansas Legislature at the June 18 special session changed the School Finance Levy Residential Exemption. Beginning in tax year 2024, the amount of residential property exempt from that statewide levy will increase from $43,049 to $75,000 of appraised value. County Clerk Bev Schmeidler told the Barton County Commission on Tuesday that her office was notified of this change on Friday afternoon and given until July 1 to update their abstracts, values, and budget sheets. Barton County Counselor Patrick Hoffman noted this affects counties throughout the state. “It is a little bit of a mess. Not just here.”
Source: Great Bend Tribune
Johnson County wants and needs a homeless shelter. But who will pay $500K a year?
Operating the proposed homeless shelter in Lenexa would require annual funding not only from Johnson County but also its cities, under a new plan, totaling almost $500,000 in public money, presented to county commissioners on Thursday. The idea sparked a heated discussion among commissioners, as leaders work to push forward the long-needed shelter, but have yet to secure any financial commitment from cities to help run it. The board voted 4-3 to move the discussion forward about a fund that would require $62,000 a year from the county. The plan also asks for varying amounts from each city, based on population, totaling nearly $420,000 a year. The commission in the coming months will vote on whether to approve the funds, while cities in the meantime decide whether to participate as well. Johnson County has begun the process of purchasing the shuttered La Quinta Inn and Suites off of Interstate 35 in Lenexa to convert into a year-round shelter, a major milestone for the county where advocates have long pushed for such a resource.
Source: Joco 913 News
Leawood officials keen to add veterans memorial on city hall grounds
A proposal to designate part of the grounds of Leawood City Hall as a veterans memorial plaza got a favorable reaction from city councilmembers last week as they met in a special work session.
A temporary committee that had been meeting since November recommended the city hall location near the entrance flagpoles and the bubbling rock fountain because that area would require only minimal upgrades and because it already has space for gatherings. Councilmember Debra Filla said the location seems to be a good fit. “It’s that ‘Eureka’ moment of doing it right here in the courtyard which is a beautiful space that does not get enough traffic in my estimation,” she said. Councilmember Julie Cain also gave it a good review. “The idea of having that out there only enhances our courtyard,” she said. “It’s an elegant solution and costworthy and functional. It pretty much checks all the boxes.”
Source: Johnson County Post
Overland Park sets rules for parking in city EV spots, adds 2 more chargers
Overland Park will require all vehicles parked at public electric vehicle charging stations to be actively plugged into the charger.
Earlier this week, the Overland Park City Council voted 10-0 to approve the new ordinance in the city’s traffic code. Earlier this year, Overland Park started solidifying its electric vehicle plans by adopting its 95-page Electric Vehicle Readiness Plan. That plan fell short of formalizing any policy decisions, but it laid out recommendations aimed at helping the city “implement a thoughtful strategy identifying needs and best practices” for EVs. It also suggested departments in which Overland Park could potentially expand its electric vehicle fleet overtime and identified possible public-facing city facilities that might be a good fit to set up EV chargers. That included mostly spots that attract community members and visitors, such as the Matt Ross Community Center downtown and the Overland Park Arboretum and Botanical Gardens. At the time the city’s EV plan was adopted 11-1 in March, Councilmember Melissa Cheatham called it “essential,” noting that she felt it was “timely, if not overdue.”
Source: Johnson County Post
‘A line in the sand’ — SMSD considers prohibiting cell phones during school
A district-wide ban on smartphones in the Shawnee Mission School District will be considered as part of the district’s five-year strategic plan, administrators said Monday.
The idea is listed under the technology category of the plan, which was presented to the board at its regular meeting. The item concerned creating a development guide to age-appropriate use of technology including “personal devices.” Although it did not specify smartphones, incoming superintendent Michael Schumacher acknowledged a ban on cell phones during school hours would be first on the list of things to consider as the school year begins in August. Schumacher also stressed that more work needs to be done and feedback should be sought from the community. “Our community certainly is asking for it,” Schumacher said. “We need to have that discussion. We need to listen about this.”
Source: Johnson County Post
School board approves sale of Park Elementary to Wichita for $1
The Wichita School Board voted 6-1 on Thursday to approve the sale of Park Elementary to the City of Wichita. The school, located at 1025 N Main, is now set to sell for $1 to the City. The vote comes just weeks after the City announced the former school is set to become a multi-agency resource center for the homeless. In March, the school board voted to close six Wichita schools due to a $42 million budget shortfall.
Source: KAKE – News
Wichita firework tents hope for big year after city legalizes aerial fireworks sales
There are big changes coming to Wichita this year, and firework tent owners are hoping it will mean more sales than ever. It’s one of the busiest days of the year for firework tent owners like Teresa Lybarger. After doing it for over a decade, she says she knows there won’t be much sleep ahead of the first day of sales Thursday.
“You spend all day long, and sometimes into the night to get all your fireworks in the right place, to get all your lights, to get everything in order to be able to open up the next morning,” said Lybarger. Lybarger and her family run the tents in the Walmart parking lots at 53rd and Meridian, and Pawnee and Broadway, and she says there’s a lot more to it than most people realize.
“We are required to have people here 24/7,” said Lybarger. On top of the heavy lifting in the grueling heat, Lybarger says there are strict laws she has to follow, and no matter what time of day or night it is, at least two people are always inside her tents working. But Lybarger says there’s a major change in Wichita that she hopes will make it her best year yet. “It’s kind of exciting for this year because Wichita went full power,” Lybarger explained. “We’re hoping for bigger sales, of course, because now they could spend their money here, instead of going over to Andover to Haysville, or, you know, any of the other places that are full power.”
Source: KAKE – News
Kansas’ effort to lure Chiefs, Royals puts STAR bonds in the spotlight
Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly signed a supercharged tax incentive deal aimed at enticing the Kansas City Chiefs and Kansas City Royals to move across the state line.
During a special session, Kansas lawmakers expedited plans to allow temporary changes to the sales tax revenue (STAR) bond program. This comes despite data from existing STAR bond developments giving mixed signals about the program’s performance. The economic tool that lets municipalities issue bonds to finance developing big commercial entertainment and tourism projects throughout the state. City or county governments identify potential STAR bond district boundaries and submit the proposed map to the Kansas Commerce Department. If approved, the local city council or commission holds a public hearing and adopts an ordinance to create the district. From there, a feasibility study is completed, and project plans are submitted to local officials for further review. They then hold a second hearing to review and adopt the plan. The Commerce secretary then must approve the plans and the terms of the STAR bonds. Bonds can cover as much as 50% of project costs and are paid off over 20 years using the incremental sales tax revenue the project generates. In metropolitan areas such as Kansas City, Kansas, or Overland Park, STAR bonds can be used only for projects anticipating capital investment of $75 million, with at least $75 million in projected gross annual sales. The state does not set financial investment thresholds for STAR bond projects in rural areas. Since 1999, more than 20 STAR bond projects have been developed in 11 cities in nine counties. The bonds have been used to fund numerous tourist attractions, including the Underground Salt Museum in Hutchinson, the Museum at Prairiefire in Overland Park and Kansas Speedway in KCK. According to the state treasurer’s 2023 annual report, Kansas had 18 active STAR bond projects when fiscal year 2023 ended July 1, 2023. Katherine Carttar was economic development director for the Unified Government of Wyandotte County/Kansas City, Kansas, from 2019 to 2022. She now is executive director of the Urban Land Institute Kansas City. “The thing that really supercharges a STAR bond is the inclusion of the state sales tax. That’s just something that most states just do not touch,” Carttar said. “With the inclusion of the state sales tax, that just really makes it so much more powerful in terms of the amount of revenue that can be redirected back into the project.” Annual financial reports show Kansas diverted $40.5 million in sales tax through the STAR bond program in fiscal year 2021, $54.1 million in 2022 and $66.9 million in 2023.
Source: Kansas City Business Journal
REQ Q&A: Kansas Commerce official talks STAR bonds’ effectiveness, how they work
In the next two years, Kansas lawmakers will decide whether to renew the sales tax revenue (STAR) bond program or allow it to sunset in July 2026.
Legislators’ approval of tweaks designed specifically to lure the Kansas City Chiefs and/or Kansas City Royals from Missouri has driven much recent attention to the program. But since 1999, STAR bonds have played a big, and sometimes polarizing, part in numerous area projects — from Village West, which paid off bonds years early and now yields more than $40 million in annual state sales taxes, to Prairiefire, where inaccurate revenue estimates led to the program’s first default. The Kansas City Business Journal’s Thomas Friestad spoke with Bob North, chief counsel of the Kansas Department of Commerce, about the state’s approach to STAR bonds. How do you assess the STAR bond program’s performance? First and foremost is financial success: Are the projects generating enough sales tax revenue so the bonds are going to be repaid? That’s a critical component, and around 80% of the projects have either paid off early or, based on current revenue streams, are going to pay off early (before their 20-year bond term). We also look at visitation. One of the purposes behind STAR bonds is to bring new visitors, new sales tax to the state, so we look at a couple things, one of which is how many people are coming from more than 100 miles away and how many folks are coming from out of state. State auditors in 2021 found that of 16 STAR bond projects reviewed, only three met Commerce’s tourism goals. Commerce disputed the audit, saying it should have considered other goals, like general and economic welfare. How does your department weigh goals with relation to each other? The 30% (visitors from at least 100 miles away) and 20% (out-of-state visitors) goals are, to an extent, aspirational. We do need new visitors. We do need new sales tax dollars. But that’s not the sole criteria that we would evaluate. General economic welfare and then quality of life is also an important factor. The state exports a majority of its college graduates, and we’ve got more jobs than we do people, and so … how do we keep those people here, and how do we attract them to come back? We think STAR bonds are a very effective tool, if you like museums or if you like water parks, if you’re into racing or if you’ve got kids that play youth sports.
(Auditors) are in the middle of looking at this quality of life and trying to quantify what that might look like.
Source: Kansas City Business Journal