Municipal News & Jobs

Reno County began assembling a task force on Wednesday, March 25, to look at the county’s approach to economic development, including data centers and battery energy storage facilities. During the Reno County Commission’s meeting, County Administrator Randy Partington said Commission Chairman Ron Hirst talked with him about establishing a committee following the recent approval of a job creation incentive for Superior Holding. Partington said it could make sense to involve the cities of Hutchinson and South Hutchinson, particularly as it relates to data centers and battery energy storage to establish similar expectations across the three jurisdictions for such developments.
Read more: The Hutchinson Tribune

The Andale City Council is moving forward with plans to make the city website the official city newspaper. After briefly considering switching to a different local newspaper, the Times-Sentinel, City Attorney Andrew Marino suggested making the city website the city’s newspaper as a way to save money. This would mean the city would put legal notices up on their website instead of putting them in the paper for distribution. City Clerk Patty Hein said it would be easier for her but said there might still be some things needed to be sent out. Chad Smith said he was alright with this decision, because he doesn’t read the newspaper. “It would give us more money for police,” Smith said. He was referring to an earlier request by Police Chief Scott Harris to add an officer, which the council planned to look into more in the future. Based on estimations by Harris and City Administrator Ben Johnson, the requests would require raising the mill levy from about 44 mills to 52 mills.
Read more: The Hutchinson Tribune

Deep Fission says its Kansas nuclear project will start with test wells, not a full reactor. Deep Fission is clarifying priorities for the company’s 1-mile underground nuclear reactor site in Kansas, now saying the group is only committed to drilling data acquisition wells in Parsons. In an email to the Kansas News Service, Deep Fission’s Vice President of Communications Chloe Frader said this was always the plan for this stage of the process. Deep Fission’s CEO, Liz Muller, echoed the sentiment in an interview earlier this month. “We’ve committed to doing a test well here, but again, we haven’t yet committed to how big this commercial project could potentially be,” Muller said. “That is something that we’re going to need a lot of input from the community, and that’s input that I expect we’re going to get over the next few weeks and months.” This test drilling enables Deep Fission to gather critical geological, hydrological and thermal data in preparation for an actual 30-inch borehole that could house the small reactor — according to a company press release.
Read more: The Iola Register

Heinrich was one of about 30 who attended Tuesday’s community conversation hosted by Thrive Allen County, where participants had plenty of thoughts about what they appreciated and liked about LaHarpe, followed by an even lengthier discussion about wants and needs. TUESDAY’S 90-minute talk started with the good stuff, highlighted by Thrive Allen County CEO Lisse Regehr’s note that TLC Garden Center has been awarded a $46,000 state tourism grant to fund a miniature golf course, and what promises to be the world’s largest watering can attraction. Participants noted LaHarpe has taken advantage of other grant opportunities to help address infrastructure improvements through the years, as well as an attractive City Hall and added park amenities.
Read more: The Iola Register

Following months of tense discourse about tenant right to counsel, Douglas County commissioners on Wednesday voted 3-2 for a pilot program that will grant some tenants facing eviction access to legal representation. In March 2024, Lawrence and Douglas County set a goal to establish a tenant right to counsel (TRTC) program for those facing evictions in Douglas County as part of the joint “A Place For Everyone” plan to end chronic homelessness. Over the course of more than a year, county commissioners have participated in a work session on TRTC and it’s been on the regular agenda four times. The pilot program in development does not mean the commission is committing to a full-blown, long-term TRTC initiative. 
Read more: The Lawrence Times

Topekans will soon be able to advocate for their views directly with the mayor’s office. During a March 24 monthly press conference, Mayor Spencer Duncan announced the launch of a workforce development task force. “From the beginning of being elected, I’ve stressed the importance of ensuring the voices of our citizens are not only heard but actively part of the decision-making process,” Duncan said. This task force is one of multiple advisory groups that will be formed over coming months, he said. Other citizen groups include an economic advisory group, a community engagement team, a government innovation committee, a formulated youth council, a transportation and mobility team, and a community health group.
Read more: Topeka Capital-Journal

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.

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.

Wellington’s available electrical capacity, room for growth, and ability to move quickly were all cited as key advantages for attracting a project of this kind. A data center in Wellington could support existing industries while also attracting new business by providing access to advanced computing resources.
Read more: www.ctnewsonline.com

3D-printed homes are a new type of housing development popping up across the country, and the first printed home in Kansas is in progress in Topeka. Kansas Representative Mari-Lynn Poskin sees a future where 3D-printed homes start to pop up closer to the Kansas City metro.
Read more: KSHB News

A ribbon-cutting ceremony took place Monday at the Salina Airport Industrial Center. The 90,000-square-foot facility is a delivery center that has now generated nearly 500 jobs, which Amazon said is more than expected.
Read more: KSN-TV

Governor Laura Kelly today announced over $8.77 million in federal funds will go toward 13 projects to enhance safety on rural roadways in Kansas. The effort is part of the Kansas Department of Transportation’s High Risk Rural Roads (HRRR) Program.
Read more: KDOT

Communities across the country are feeling the strain of a nationwide affordable housing shortage, and Topeka is no exception. Local leaders say the challenge is not only the number of homes available, but also whether families can realistically afford them.
Read more: KSNT 27 News

The Kansas Water Office today announced more than $19 million will be awarded to 44 water-related communities and special districts across Kansas as part of the third round of grant funding created by the Senate Substitute for House Bill 2302 Grant Programs. These programs provide funding for water projects, technical assistance, and loan assistance to small communities across the state. See the full list of funded projects here.

The grants help communities across Kansas create a Safe Route to School (SRTS) plan and begin programs that help support kids walking to and from school. Applications for the grants, which are administered by the Kansas Department of Transportation, are available from April 1 until May 1 at 5 p.m.
Read more: KSDOT

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.

Business leaders and community members got a glimpse inside the Girard Power Plant, Friday, at a chamber coffee hosted by the Girard Area Chamber of Commerce. Known as one of the one of the few cities west of the Mississippi River to generate its own electricity, the city’s venture into municipal electricity began in 1904. The original building was erected in March of 1887 by the Sperry Electric, Motor, and Car Brake Company. In 1904, the Girard City Council purchased a small steam-driven electric light plant from Captain J.A. Marshall for $3,500 (roughly $99,000 today). Over the years, the facility has seen numerous upgrades and improvements to meet the electric demand of the city. Today, the facility produces 10 megawatts of power for a population of nearly 2,500.
Read more: Morning Sun

Families searching for child care in Lyon County may be finding a slightly more stable landscape than in recent years, but local providers are still facing major challenges — especially when it comes to staffing. Jamie Roberts, a child care licensing specialist covering Lyon County and seven surrounding counties, said the local child care system appears to be in a better place than it was in the years immediately following the COVID-19 pandemic. “For 2023 into 2024, we were seeing a lot of vacancies,” Roberts said. “We had a good handful that closed because they didn’t have kids. They couldn’t make a living.” Now, she said, most providers in the area seem to be full again or at least as full as they would like to be. Part of that shift has come as families and providers moved further past the disruptions of the pandemic, but Roberts said the opening of Little Lyons has also helped add needed capacity in Emporia.
Read more: www.emporiagazette.com

The Wyandotte County Board of Commissioners voted Thursday night to lift the residency requirement for employees within the Unified Government. The board voted 5-5 with Mayor Christal Watson voting yes to break the tie. According to the motion, the residency requirement would be lifted except as it applies to executive level positions and above, which is range 19 and above on the non-union pay scale. It also includes public safety being fire and police from the chief and deputies. The county’s previous policy required UG employees to live in Wyandotte County or move there within 12 months of being hired.
Read more: FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV

The Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada has given an Award for Outstanding Achievement in Popular Annual Financial Reporting to Johnson County for its Popular Annual Financial Report for the fiscal year that ended Dec. 31, 2024. The Award for Outstanding Achievement in Popular Annual Financial Reporting is a prestigious national award recognizing conformance with the highest standards for preparation of state and local government popular reports. In order to receive an Award for Outstanding Achievement in Popular Annual Financial Reporting, a government unit must publish a Popular Annual Financial Report, whose contents conform to program standards of creativity, presentation, understandability and reader appeal.
Read more: Johnson County Kansas