Municipal News & Jobs

The city of Wichita has launched a survey to get feedback from residents on priorities for the next city manager. It’s the first opportunity residents have to engage in the search process after the current manager, Robert Layton, announced his retirement earlier this year. “The survey will provide another qualitative snapshot into what residents’ priorities are for the next City Manager,” a release by the city said.
Read more: Wichita Eagle

The Newton City Commission has adopted updates to the City’s building codes to bring them up-to-date and more closely match the City of Wichita, where most Newton contractors also do business. The updates included the 2024 editions of the International Building Code, the International Mechanical Code, and the International Existing Building Code, and the 2018 edition of the International Residential Code. The new code adoption followed multiple work sessions to solicit feedback from local contractors and building owners. It also followed adoption of the new International Fire Code earlier this year.
Read more: Ad Astra Radio | Your Hometown Radio Stations & Local News Source

On the heels of a particularly rainy week in early September, water conservation was a focal point of the Derby City Council’s Sept. 9 meeting. Following recent action taken by the city of Wichita — Derby’s water supplier — to impose permanent watering restrictions, the council was left to follow suit, adopting an ordinance enacting similar restrictions throughout Derby as of Sept. 15.
Read more: www.derbyinformer.com – RSS Results in news,news/* of type article

The City of Lawrence is raising the tax it charges for hotel rooms and short term rentals. The Transient Guest Tax (TGT), now set at 6% and going up to 8%, could be a money maker next summer with hundreds of thousands of fans expected in the Kansas City-area for the World Cup. Lawrence plans to use money raised by the tax to fund events and improvements the city wants to make for the World Cup.
Read more: FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports

While being formally introduced to the Barton County Commissioners Tuesday morning by Administrator Matt Patzner, one adjective was used on several occasions to describe the new Assistant County Administrator / Human Resources Director Casey Hubbard. That word was “professional.” Hubbard officially took over his new role with the County on Monday, Sept. 8.
Read more: Great Bend Tribune

Governor Laura Kelly has ordered flags across Kansas to be flown at half-staff from sunrise to sunset on Thursday, September 11, 2025, under Executive Order #20-30. The tribute honors the lives lost in the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. “We will never forget the horrific tragedy that occurred 24 years ago, taking the lives of nearly 3,000 Americans and injuring thousands more,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “In the face of a terrorist attack, we reflect on the valor and bravery demonstrated that day by our nation’s first responders, who saved the lives of many despite losing more than 400 of their own. We owe them a debt of gratitude for their selfless service and sacrifice.”
Read more: KCLY Radio

It’s a Monday morning at the Wilson County Citizen, and the paper’s staff is chasing breaking news: The annual Fall River barbecue won’t be held this year. Staff might be an overstatement. The family-owned paper in Fredonia is run by Meredith Odell, with help from her sister, Ginger, and Ginger’s two dogs, Biscuit and Pepper. Meredith Odell has worked at the paper since she was 4, more than 50 years ago. The Wilson County Citizen is one of four papers listed for sale on the Kansas Press Association’s website. And KPA director Emily Bradbury said all of them share a common thread: The owners are aging and want to retire.
Read more: News

A stolen vehicle alert from the Parsons Police Department’s Flock Safety license plate recognition system led to the arrest of a Texas man on multiple felony charges Sunday evening.
Read more: www.koamnewsnow.com – RSS Results in news/local-news of type article

Two log jams are clogging rivers in north central Kansas, one just south of Tescott in Ottawa County and another still in Salina in Saline County. James Peterson, Tescott’s head of maintenance, says the log jam formed during Monday’s rain and contributed to widespread flooding. But for residents, it’s not the top concern. “Everything I’ve been dealing with and hearing is people taking care of their own house and own property, and their neighbors and anybody else that needs something. Most of them don’t care about a log jam in the river,” he said. Peterson says similar log jams have formed in that spot before. Ottawa County commissioners, however, are taking it seriously and plan to discuss solutions at their next meeting on Monday.
Read more: KSN-TV

Wichita residents are being asked to share their priorities for the city’s next manager as the search to replace longtime City Manager Robert Layton continues. The City Manager Selection Advisory Committee, working with CPS HR Consulting, has launched a community survey to gather feedback on what qualities and goals residents want in the city’s next chief executive. Layton announced earlier this year that he plans to retire on Dec. 31 after serving as city manager since 2009.
Read more: KSN-TV

The Wichita City Council approved two ordinances Tuesday aimed at addressing crime in Old Town and prostitution activity along Broadway. One ordinance sets a $500 mandatory fine for crimes in Old Town, including assault, drug offenses, trespassing and public nuisance violations. Judges can also bar offenders from the district during probation or diversion, with violations carrying up to $1,000 in fines or a year in jail. The second ordinance updates prostitution-mapping rules first created in 1995 for the Broadway corridor, identified decades ago as a hotspot for prostitution. Courts can now ban offenders from the area not only after convictions but also in diversion cases. Violations could bring fines up to $2,500 and jail time.
Read more: KSN-TV

County commissioners decided Monday to restrict wakeboarding boats on the county lake and to draft a policy on blasting after Orsted blasted a blade off a wind turbine a week and a half ago.
Lake residents often complain about the potential for damage to docks and tied boats because of the large waves wakeboarding boats produce. “Nobody likes them unless they have one,” lake superintendent Isaac Hett said.
Read more: Marion County RECORD

After almost six months on the job, Robert Reece has resigned from his position as Nemaha County Administrator effective Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2025. This announcement was made during the Monday, Aug. 25, Nemaha County Commissioners meeting. Reece was hired during the Jan. 7, 2025, Nemaha County Commissioners meeting by the former board of commissioners, which included Ben Glace, Dylan Keim and Jason Koch. Reece was hired on a 2-1 vote, with Koch voting nay.
Read more: The Sabetha Herald

The Hutchinson Planning Commission voted unanimously to rezone the property at 714 Cloverdale Drive to allow for goats on the property. The 9.26-acre property was rezoned from R-4 Residential Neighborhood Conservation District to R-1 Suburban Residential District. The property owner, Tammy Depperschmidt, was issued a zoning violation on July 24, 2025, as a result of having goats on the property. Under new R-1 zoning, she could theoretically host a total of 45 goats; however, a protective overlay was put in place to limit that number to ten. “By all means, I do not want 45 goats,” Depperschmidt said.
Read more: The Hutchinson Tribune

With two absences Monday night and a supermajority required to pass a charter ordinance, South Hutchinson City Council needed a 4-0 vote to reduce the size of the council from six to five members. Instead, the measure failed, 3-1, with Kyle Cokely voting against it and Matt Nisly, Valerie Griffin, and Matthew Elliott voting for it, City Administrator Jeff Schenk said Tuesday. Schenk said the change in council structure would have made the mayor a voting member. Currently, the council elects one of its members to serve as a non-voting mayor, he said.
Read more: The Hutchinson Tribune

The sun-faded sign with missing letters of Camptown will soon have a flashy new look, much like the building’s interior. After decades of sitting empty and unused, the former dog track at 313 U.S. 69 Highway is being revitalized as Camptown Event Center.
Read more: – Latest Stories

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.

Three miles outside of Newton sits the third busiest airport in Kansas, according to the number of operations, according to airport director Brian Palmer. Palmer and the other seven airport employees work for the city of Newton, but the city and county co-own the airport, each contributing $90,000, which makes up eight to nine percent of the airport’s annual revenue. Palmer said that according to the Kansas Department of Transportation, the airport provides about $187 million in economic impact to the city and the county on an annual basis. The airport doesn’t have any commercial traffic, but has 90 T-hangars and around 30 corporate planes based at it. They contain 14 employers in the field, accounting for a little over 500 employees.
Read more: Harvey County Now

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.

Water Smart Hays, the water resources department for the city, took to social media to share the message that the wipes labeled as “flushable” often aren’t. While these products often point to features like being biodegradable, that doesn’t mean they can’t clog your pipes or create backups in sewer systems.
Read more: KSN-TV