Municipal News & Jobs

Municipal News & Jobs2018-08-05T16:28:50-05:00

Kansas Municipal News

$12B data center campus near Kansas Speedway gets initial UG approval

Plans for a $12 billion data center campus, Wyandotte County’s largest economic development project to date, scored initial approval from the Unified Government Thursday. The Unified Government of Wyandotte County/Kansas City, Kansas, approved a master plan amendment and request to rezone 550 acres for a six-building data center campus near the Kansas Speedway. Aaron Wolofsky of Red Wolf DCD Properties LLC plans to build three 330,000-square-foot data center buildings and a substation on each side of Parallel Parkway. The 600-megawatt campus would cover multiple land parcels generally located between 131st and 118th streets.
Source: Kansas City Business Journal – Local Kansas City News

Petition to force ban or public vote on Battery Energy Storage Systems submitted

A group opposed to a possible battery energy storage system has submitted a petition to force a vote on an ordinance banning certain kinds of the technology within the City of Halstead. Kevin Henderson stated that he and others delivered a 30-page petition with 252 signatures on Friday to City Hall and received a receipt for the submission. State law requires a City Council to vote on a submitted ordinance if it receives a petition with signatures of registered voters that equal 40 percent of the number of people who voted in the previous City election.
Source: Harvey County Now

Chiefs seek STAR bond extension after Kansas stadium talks hit six-week lull

The Kansas City Chiefs want Kansas to extend enhanced STAR bonds that could publicly finance a domed stadium and other team projects across the state line. Approved in June 2024, Kansas’ stadium offer would allow sales tax revenue bonds to be issued up to 70% of a $1 billion-plus stadium. The legislation is set to expire June 30, but the state’s Legislative Coordinating Council can retroactively extend it up to a year, until June 30, 2026. Senate President Ty Masterson on Thursday said that at the Chiefs’ request, the council would meet July 7 to discuss an extension, potentially to no later than the end of this year.
Source: Kansas City Business Journal – Local Kansas City News

Even with Panasonic, De Soto park has thousands of acres to develop

The start of production at Panasonic’s $4 billion electric-vehicle battery plant in De Soto is nearing. Although the company hasn’t given a precise date, a ceremonial grand opening celebration is planned for July 14. It’s no secret Panasonic’s buildout has become a catalyst for economic development — in De Soto and well beyond — but as battery production looms even as construction pushes forward on other parts of the plant, opportunities for other companies to snag land neighboring the massive battery plant are filling up fast.
Source: Kansas City Business Journal – Local Kansas City News

Proposed 45,000-Pig Farm Near Minneapolis Spurs Public Hearing

A proposed hog farm in rural Ottawa County is drawing public attention ahead of a scheduled hearing next month. The facility, named Smoky Hills Pork, would house more than 45,000 pigs and be located near Minneapolis. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) announced a public hearing on July 9 in Minneapolis to discuss a proposed water pollution control permit for the project.
Source: KCLY Radio

KDOT Seeks Public Input on Proposed Amendment to 2025–2028 Statewide Transportation Plan

The Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) requests comments on an amendment to the Federal Fiscal Year 2025-2028 Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) document. The STIP is a project specific publication that lists all KDOT administered projects, regardless of funding source, and includes projects for counties and cities as well as projects on the State Highway System. The list of projects being amended to the STIP can be viewed at ksdot.gov/about/publications-and-reports/state-transportation-improvement-program-stip. The approval of the STIP amendment requires a public comment period, which concludes July 10. To make comments on the amendment, contact KDOT’s Division of Program and Project Management at 785-296-3254.
Source: KDOT

Beating the Heat: Clay Center Zoo Adjusts Animal Care for Summer Weather

Early this year, during the dead of winter, we spoke with Clay Center Zoo Curator Garett Payne on how they care for animals in the extreme cold and snow. Recently, we spoke to Payne on how the animals are cared for during the heat of summer. Payne said the addition of the new buildings makes it much easier for the animals and caretakers.  Most of the animals have full access to air conditioning when they get too hot. He spoke about the few animals that don’t have access to AC.
Source: KCLY Radio

Kansas Supreme Court: Tort Claim’s recreational exception includes library services

A public library’s core services of allowing patrons to read and borrow books and media fit within these common and ordinary meanings of recreation. In fact, a brief internet search reveals the terms “recreational reading,” a.k.a. “leisure reading,” are in common use and many articles, studies, and books have been published on the subject. … Therefore, we decline Zaragoza’s request to narrowly interpret the term “recreational” in the statutory immunity exception to include only those recreational activities that “involve physical activity or any increased risk of injury.”
Source: Zaragoza v. Johnson County.

Municipal Bond Trends for June 26, 2025

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.

New art on display in Johnson County Administration Building’s exhibition space

A new collection of art is now on display in the Johnson County Administration Building, through the county’s partnership with InterUrban ArtHouse on a rotating art exhibition. This is the Administration Building’s third collection of art since the rotating exhibition began in Sept. 2024. The new art, created by Melanie Nolker, features oil paintings of birch and aspen trees, abstract acrylic paintings and more.
Source: Johnson County Kansas

Johnson County develops a southwest-area transportation connection plan near Panasonic

Johnson County is developing a transportation connection plan for the rural, southwestern fringe, all in response to the new Panasonic Energy Electric Vehicle Battery Plant in De Soto about to come online at the former Sunflower Army Ammunition Plant. The county’s transportation plan — the draft of which can be found here — seeks to connect the site of the former plant, now dubbed Astra Enterprise Park, to neighboring southwest communities Olathe, Gardner and Edgerton as well as Douglas County to the west.
Source: Johnson County Post

How are Johnson County cities preparing for the World Cup? It’s not just Kansas City hosting

The countdown has officially begun to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be hosted across North America, including in Kansas City. Local officials on Monday morning unveiled a World Cup countdown clock in front of the fieldhouse at Overland Park’s Scheels Soccer Complex near 135th Street and Switzer Road. The event followed a weekend World Cup kickoff party at the Aspiria campus in Overland Park.
Source: News

Go to Top