Kansas Municipal News
GBED competition will bring businesses to Barton County
Great Bend Economic Development launched a competition Friday that will result in one entrepreneur winning $50,000 to open/start a business in Barton County. A total of $95,000 will be given away at the end of the IGNITE Rural Business competition, including $50,000 to the grand finale winner in October of 2023. Second place will be awarded $30,000 and third place gets $10,000, according to GBED President Sara Arnberger. Those following along the journey of the competition will vote online for the People’s Choice Award and award a business with $5,000. New inventions/businesses are encouraged to apply as well as startups.
Source: Great Bend Tribune
Municipal Bond Trends for November 18, 2022
The interest rate table above illustrates recent changes in a sample of MBIS “investment grade” yields. Every issuer’s credit is different. For rates that may be applicable to your municipality, contact our Municipal Bond Advisors, Larry Kleeman and Beth Warren.
Students seek civic service with the Engage Dodge program
Presenting the youngest class to graduate from the City of Dodge City’s Engage Dodge program! Dodge City High School and Dodge City Community College students were honored Nov. 16 for their dedication to learning all the facets of civic engagement during the six-week Engage Dodge course. They were presented with certificates and street signs bearing their names. …Dodge City USD 443 ESOL and Diversity Engagement Coordinator Blanca Soto said… “Our hope is they will share the information they learned with their friends and families.”
Source: Dodge City Daily Globe
Emporia Spanish Speakers luncheon tackles community inclusion, cohesion
Can a city truly be bilingual? That was the question Emporia Spanish Speakers attempted to answer at its luncheon event with the Kansas Leadership Center Wednesday afternoon. ESS members, community leaders and Emporia residents gathered in The Next Level bar above Casa Ramos Wednesday for a luncheon discussion about the future of a bilingual Emporia. The conversation was sparked by Emporia Spanish Speakers’ recent feature in a state publication… Can one city have two languages? For ESS Founder and Director Lelan Dains, the answer is simple: Sí. Yes.. “When we think about bilingualism we tend to think about native Spanish speakers who learn English,” Dains said. “That is the predominant form of bilingualism that we find in Kansas, it’s absolutely the predominant form here in Emporia and if I can be so frank it has been the expectation of us native English speakers that the obligation is upon them to learn English.”
Source: Emporia Gazette
Wichita has had a record number of pedestrian deaths already this year, data shows
A man who was killed Tuesday while crossing South Seneca is the latest in a record number of pedestrians killed in Wichita this year. This year’s number of pedestrian fatalities is roughly three times higher than it was for 18 years — before a spike in the past four years. Police records on pedestrian deaths, which go back to 2000, show that Wichita had five or fewer deaths each year until 2018, when eight people were killed. There were 11 in 2021; and there have been 14 so far this year.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
Chetopa beer sales on Sundays to begin in January
Chetopa residents will be able to purchase beer on Sundays in the near future. The Chetopa City Council gave its approval for the ordinance Nov. 1. Sixty-one days from now the ordinance will go into effect, so around the middle of January. It had to be published twice in the Labette Avenue newspaper. The second notice was published today, Chetopa City Clerk Toni Crumrine said. Once it goes into effect, people will be able to buy beer from noon to 8 p.m. Sundays.
Source: Parsons Sun
New National Broadband Map Offers Granular Look at Service and Gaps
The Federal Communications Commission on Friday released an initial draft of a national map showing in greater detail than ever before what locations in the country have broadband service. The move is a major step toward making sure roughly $42 billion to increase high-speed internet service that was included in last year’s bipartisan infrastructure law goes to the places that need upgraded connections the most. The prior map used to distribute federal dollars has been criticized because of its lack of detail about service availability.
Source: Route Fifty – All Content
USD 383 prepares to name Eric Reid as next superintendent
The Manhattan-Ogden school board will officially consider naming assistant superintendent Eric Reid as the next superintendent. Board president Curt Herrman this week said the board would vote on the matter, which the board previously approved as a succession plan, at the meeting Dec. 7. If approved next month, Reid will replace Marvin Wade, who will leave June 30 after the board accepted his retirement during Wednesday’s meeting. Reid is no stranger to serving as superintendent. He was the leader of USD 327 Ellsworth-Kanopolis-Geneseo for four years before joining USD 383 in 2015. Reid replaced Robert Seymour, who retired from the assistant superintendent position.
Source: themercury.com
Haysville honors officer with Life Saving Award
A Haysville police officer was honored at Monday’s city council meeting with a Life Saving Award from the police department. Chief Jeff Whitfield presented the award to officer J.D. Willis. Whitfield said Willis was dispatched to back up Sedgwick County Sheriff’s officers at a motor vehicle accident on May 20, 2022. When he arrived on the scene, Willis saw that a motorcycle passenger had suffered a traumatic amputation of a leg in the accident. He applied a tourniquet and medical personnel said that his quick thinking and action saved the victim’s life.
Source: Times-Sentinel Newspapers » Feed
Argonia will soon have its own police force again
The City of Argonia will soon have its own police force again. During the Nov. 7 Argonia City Council meeting, council members made the decision to offer part-time positions to two different officers. Both potential hires are currently working in federal law enforcement. The city has not employed a police officer since the end of September 2020. The hirings will become official after the candidates complete required paperwork and finish some required training for local police officers.
Source: Times-Sentinel Newspapers
STAR bond projects near completion in Goddard
…the Goddard City Council recently received reports that several pieces of the city’s STAR bond project are nearing completion. Of those developments, developer Rodney Stevens notified council members that the Genesis Health Club is now open. He also expects a soft opening for the water park in November and the debut of the city’s new natatorium to follow two weeks later. The Hampton Inn hotel is also set to complete construction on Dec. 1.
Source: Derby Informer | Area
City of Wichita vs. Griffie: Constitutionality of an ordinance
The City of Wichita (City) charged Gabrielle Griffie with unlawful assembly under Wichita Municipal Code of Ordinances (W.M.O.) § 5.73.030 (2020) several days after she organized and participated in a protest on the streets of Wichita and the steps of its federal courthouse. The City’s theory of the case was that Griffie planned the protest for the purpose of engaging in “disorderly conduct”—more specifically, engaging in “noisy conduct tending to reasonably arouse alarm, anger or resentment in others.” W.M.O. § 5.24.010(c) (2020). After the municipal court found Griffie guilty, she appealed to the Sedgwick County District Court and requested a jury trial. Griffie argued that the district court should strike down the “disorderly conduct” provision used to support the unlawful assembly charge as unconstitutionally overbroad because it prohibits a wide range of expressive conduct protected under the First Amendment to the United States Constitution. The district court denied Griffie’s request, and a jury found her guilty of unlawful assembly under the “noisy conduct” definitional ordinance. Griffie appeals, renewing her constitutional challenge to the “noisy conduct” provision of W.M.O. § 5.24.010(c). For the reasons stated, the Kansas Court of Appeals reject Griffie’s facial challenge to the constitutionality of the ordinance and affirm the district court’s judgment.
Beck vs. City of Blue Rapids: Nusiances
David Lewis Beck appeals from the district court’s denial of his petition for injunctive relief to prevent the City of Blue Rapids, Kansas, from removing nuisance conditions on his property. Beck asserts the district court erred in determining the conditions were nuisances. But those factual matters were undisputed at trial. Finding Beck has not shown the district court erred, Kansas Court of Appeals affirms.
Municipal Bond Trends for November 17, 2022
The interest rate table above illustrates recent changes in a sample of MBIS “investment grade” yields. Every issuer’s credit is different. For rates that may be applicable to your municipality, contact our Municipal Bond Advisors, Larry Kleeman and Beth Warren.
With as many as 200 people living outside, Lawrence shelter options remain limited as temperatures fall
As overnight temperatures drop into the teens, there is still no place for the up to 200 people who are living unsheltered in Lawrence to sleep that is fully protected from the elements. While the city is working to set up its emergency winter shelter, it is still in the process of hiring staff, and there are no plans to open the shelter ahead of the previously scheduled date of Dec. 1. Lawrence Community Shelter leaders have said LCS is not able to increase its capacity without more funding, and the shelter continues to provide beds for only 50 people.
Source: LJWorld
Infrastructure law has sent $1.5 billion to Kansas so far. Here’s how it will be spent.
Kansas has been allocated about $1.5 billion in the first year of since the federal government provided an infusion of infrastructure money, primarily targeted on bridge and road construction. The White House announced to-date funding totals on Tuesday, the one-year anniversary of the bipartisan infrastructure law. … Kansas is in line for more money for roads and bridges, with a formula projecting $2.8 billion over five years. … More than $28 million is going to Kansas airports. Kansas is also getting more than $23 million for ports and waterways. … Kansas will receive at least $100 million for high-speed internet coverage.
Source: CJonline
Petition to repeal Salina pit bull ban likely headed to City Commission in near future
A growing number of people in Salina are hoping the city will reconsider a ban on having pit bulls in the community as a petition is slowly gathering the signatures it needs to go before the City Commission. The group Salinans Against BSL, or breed specific legislation, led by Debrah Corrales and Tyler Sartain, has spent the past several months at various locations around Salina collecting signatures for a city ordinance which would repeal the 2004 ordinance enacted by the commission which bans specific breeds of dogs, pit bulls, from the city. “We’ve been thinking about an (official) petition for (awhile),” Sartain said.
Source: Salina Journal
Salina bike sharing program focuses on user friendly experience
KANcycle, a bike sharing program through OCCK Transportation, has updated its system to be more user-friendly via a mobile app. The new offering enables riders to plan a multimodal trip and unlock a bike in just a few steps in the Transit app. As a worldwide service, the Transit app allows users to navigate public transit with accurate real-time predictions, trip planning, step-by-step navigation and convenient payments. Now, Salina’s local bike sharing program can be viewed and accessed through the app.
Source: Salina Journal
Colby is getting a new hospital
The town of Colby is on its way to having a new hospital. On Thursday, the U.S. Department of Agriculture officially announced that it is lending more than $108 million to the project. Citizens Health says it wants to expand critical health care services. The new facility will incorporate operations of the current hospital, Citizens Medical Center, and Family Center for Health Care clinic under one roof. Work has already started. Crews broke ground for the new hospital two weeks ago. It is south of the existing hospital that was built in 1982.
Source: KSN-TV
Farm-to-School initiative enters phase one in Pittsburg
Phase one of a $10 million “Farm-to-School” initiative program begins in Pittsburg. Community Green Farms is partnering with Leafy Green Farms to provide ten hydroponic farms to ten schools in southeast Kansas. Typically, food travels 1,500 miles from a farm to your plate. But, Leafy Green Farms is known as “hyper-organic,” which means it can be grown locally and consumed within 100 miles. Food grown in the hydroponic farms will be used for school meals. “Leafy Green Farms was started with the idea of moving the nutritional needle here in southeast Kansas. We don’t believe that income should dictate nutritional levels, especially in children. So we began our farm and started our proof of concept farm at Pittsburg High School to show that farms can be in rural areas where children can start growing food year-round and provide better nutrition for the entire community,” said Brad Fourby, Founder of Leafy Green Farm.
Source: KSNF/KODE
With plans moving forward for a hotel-convention center in northwest Emporia, downtown may see hotel-only concept
Can Emporia have two convention centers in town? According to Emporia Main Street Director Casey Woods, the answer is yes — if they are placed in the right areas. Next question: will Emporia have two convention centers? That answer hinges on a potential hotel-convention center in northwest Emporia and longstanding plans for the so-called Breckenridge Hotel and Convention Center downtown, which may well be halted if the property sells and new ownership moves in a different direction.
Source: KVOE Emporia Radio
Incentive-averse Shawnee approves unusual TIF district
After two hours of discussion, a public hearing and much angst over perceived threat of eminent domain, the Shawnee City Council this week approved a special taxing district in a largely undeveloped area on the western side of the city. In so doing, the council’s 6-2 vote gave a blessing to a novel use for tax increment financing, a tool most often used to the benefit of developers. The new Hickok-Zarah district, which encompasses 2.58 square miles between Monticello Road and Woodland Drive, is set up in a similar way to more traditional, developer-oriented TIFs.
Source: Shawnee Mission Post
Douglas County invites community to discuss process to move to 5 commission districts
Douglas County leaders will hold a community meeting to discuss the process of moving to five commissioner districts. Voters in the Nov. 8 election voted roughly 61% to 39% to add two additional commissioner districts to the current three. During the meeting, “County Clerk Jamie Shew will provide an overview of the process for moving to five districts. There will be an opportunity for the public to weigh in on the districts during roundtable discussions at the meeting,” according to information from the county. “The Board of County Commissioners will adopt a resolution outlining the new districts before or on Jan. 1, 2023. All of the districts need to be contiguous and have the same population size.”
Source: The Lawrence Times
UG charter ordinance subcommittee review underway
The Unified Government’s Charter Ordinance Subcommittee on Tuesday went over the ordinance line by line to determine what areas committee members wanted to work on. Topics that came up during the review included who had the actual authority over employees and the administrator – the mayor, administrator or the commission, or all? Whether the administrator or interim administrator should be required to live in Wyandotte County? Also, how many commissioners are needed to make the decision to appoint or dismiss the administrator, what is the meaning of majority in this phrasing? These issues may be addressed at future meetings, according to subcommittee leaders.
Source: Wyandotte Daily
Advisory board will be created for Sedgwick County Fire District 1
Sedgwick County Commissioners have voted to create a nine-member Steering Council for Fire District 1. The Council will function as an advisory board and it will have five members appointed by the district’s largest cities: Bel Aire, Goddard, Maize, Haysville and Park City. The Sedgwick County Association of Cities will appoint a member, two members will come from the unincorporated area, and one member will represent an aviation company with 5,000 or more employees that pays taxes in the fire district. Commissioner Jim Howell wants to establish the board to give smaller communities and unincorporated areas a voice in decisions affecting the Fire District.
Source: 101.3 KFDI
Dad sues Shawnee Mission district over ‘troubling pattern’ of closed-door meetings
A father is suing the Shawnee Mission school district, alleging that it violated Kansas open meetings law by excluding the public from work group sessions studying boundary changes for his child’s school. On Monday, the school board unanimously approved new attendance boundaries for Briarwood Elementary School, near 86th Street and Nall Avenue in Prairie Village, which officials say is over capacity.
Source: Joco 913 News
Kansas cities dealing with higher water and sewer plant costs
The price you pay for water and sewer could be going up as many cities across Kansas say it is getting more expensive for them to operate the plants. “If you’d asked me just about any city, I would tell you they’re being pinched the same as we are,” said Nick Gregory, McPherson City Administrator. Some cities like Wichita and Derby have already taken steps to raise water rates at the beginning of the new year. In Wichita, the recommended rate adjustments are 6.25% for water and 3% for sewer. The average impact is $3.54.
Source: KSN-TV
Results flip in Louisburg council race following canvass
When Tiffany Ellison walked into the Miami County Clerk’s Office on the morning of Thursday, Nov. 17, for the canvass of votes to certify the results of the Nov. 8 election, she was still trailing challenger Kevin Roche by two votes in the Louisburg City Council Ward 2 race. Just a few hours later, once 88 provisional ballots from throughout the county were approved and added to the official final election results, Ellison learned she had now won the council race by two votes. Only a few of the approved provisional ballots impacted the Louisburg council race, but it was enough to give Ellison the victory, as she gained four votes to win 210 to 208, according to the official final results posted by the county Thursday afternoon.
Source: Local News | republic-online.com
Labette County views study to expand internet
A 256-page study could serve as a roadmap for internet service providers to expand broadband coverage in Labette County. Labette County commissioners, who paid Finley Engineering of Lamar, Missouri, $69,350 to complete the study, accepted the work on Monday and reviewed highlights with Jim Zaleski, the city of Parsons economic development director. The county paid for the study with its American Rescue Plan Act funding from the federal government. The study featured in-depth interviews with residents, businesses and internet providers in the county. The study also listed varied broadband speeds in the county, most of which are poor. Much of southern Labette County reported download speeds of 10 to 13 megabits per second and upload speeds of 1 mbps. Oswego reported faster speeds, though County Counselor Brian Johnson, who lives in Oswego, noted that he pays for a 25 mbps download speed and has topped out at 13.
Source: Parsons Sun
Court rules against officers in Kansas wrongful conviction
A federal appeals court has rejected an appeal by several Kansas law enforcement officers who were seeking qualified immunity for their roles in the arrest and prosecution of a man who was wrongfully convicted of killing a young girl. Floyd Bledsoe spent 16 years in prison after being convicted of killing 14-year-old Camille Arfmann in November 1999 in rural Jefferson County, Kansas. Floyd Bledsoe’s brother, Tom, was originally charged with murder after he confessed and led authorities to the body. But those charges were dropped and Floyd Bledsoe was arrested. He was convicted in 2000 of murder, kidnapping and indecent liberties with a child and sentenced to life in prison.
Source: Wichita Eagle
USDA Rural Development Invests $108 Million to Improve Health Care in Colby Kansas
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Kansas State Director Christy Davis today announced that USDA is lending $108,249,000 to help Citizens Medical Center in Colby expand critical healthcare services. “There is no better way to celebrate National Rural Health Day than to invest in our state’s rural healthcare infrastructure.” Davis said. “USDA is committed to ensuring rural Americans have access to reliable quality health care, like that provided by Citizens Medical Center.” The details of this investment are: $108,249,000 in loans will help construct a 184,000 square foot replacement hospital and rural healthcare clinic facility in Colby. The Citizens Medical Center project will deliver quality patient care that meets current and future needs for the area.
Source: USDA
Salina bike sharing program revamps user experience
KANcycle, a bike sharing program through OCCK Transportation, has updated its system to be more userfriendly via a mobile app. The new offering enables riders to plan a multimodal trip and unlock a bike in just a few steps in the Transit app. As a worldwide service, the Transit app allows users to navigate public transit with accurate real-time predictions, trip planning, step-by-step navigation and convenient payments. Now, Salina’s local bike sharing program can be viewed and accessed through the app.
Source: Salina Journal
Municipal Bond Trends for November 16, 2022
The interest rate table above illustrates recent changes in a sample of MBIS “investment grade” yields. Every issuer’s credit is different. For rates that may be applicable to your municipality, contact our Municipal Bond Advisors, Larry Kleeman and Beth Warren.
Manhattan to start Aggieville parking garage fees January 2nd
Starting January 2nd, Manhattan will begin charging for parking in the Aggieville Parking garage, with the first two hours free – with street parking also limited to two hours from 8 to 5 on weekdays. The Commission Tuesday unanimously approved the regulations – previously considering a 1-hour free parking time frame at a prior meeting before agreeing to a compromise on the matter with the Aggieville Business Association. Manhattan is hoping to incentivize long-term parkers to utilize the garage, leaving street stalls open for quicker stops in the district.
Source: 1350 KMAN
USD 235 applies for grant to rehab walking trail
A list of facilities improvement projects to be considered at USD 235 has not yet to be determined. In the meantime, Uniontown USD 235 Board of Education members on Monday, administrators are working towards funding renovation of the walking trail and replacing some playground equipment.
Source: Fort Scott Tribune
County to transfer former hospital building, COVID-19 funds to Legacy Health; specifics not revealed
Bourbon County officials are making the next steps toward the future of health care in the county. On Tuesday, Bourbon County Commissioners approved a series of motions related to a potential future project involving the Bourbon County Medical Building, formerly the Mercy Hospital building. County officials will sign agreements with Legacy Health LLC, a California company.
Source: Fort Scott Tribune
Fed’s Waller says he’s open to a half-point rate hike at December meeting
Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller said Wednesday he’s open to reducing the level of interest rate increases soon so long as the economic data cooperate. The rate-setting Federal Open Market Committee is set to meet Dec. 13-14, with market expectations running high that policymakers will approve another rate hike, but this time opting for a 0.5 percentage point, or 50 basis point move. That would come after approving four consecutive 0.75 percentage point increases.
Source: Economy
Giant Communications receives grant to expand service in Denison
Giant Communications has been awarded nearly $900,000 in grant funds from the state to expand internet services to residents living in Denison and the surrounding area, Gov. Laura Kelly announced on Monday. “This grant will allow Giant to build fiber-to-the-home to the town of Denison and close surrounding areas,” said Austin Taylor, Giant Communications general manager. “This was one of our largest problem areas during the COVID pandemic, when attempting to connect homeschoolers, anyone in need of telemedicine and folks who needed to work from home.” A total of $15.7 million will be awarded to seven service providers, including Giant, that will bring high-speed broadband service to underserved, economically distressed and low-population areas of the state, it was reported.
Source: Holton Recorder
Hays USD 489 discusses potential branding changes
The Hays USD 489 community could soon be debating on whether or not to change the high school’s mascot: The Hays High Indians. That’s why the district held a community conversation Tuesday night. The district’s superintendent says the goal of the meeting was not to make any final decisions or changes but rather to create a “launch point” to gauge how the Hays community feels about the district’s branding moving forward.
Source: KSN-TV
How a Kansas ghost town got its name
Tucked away in Butler County, not far from a bend in the Little Walnut River, lies the ghost town of Boder. There’s not much left of the town itself. There’s the old post office which closed shortly after the start of the 20th century, a farmhouse, the ruins of a grist mill, and the Little Walnut Pratt Truss Bridge, which is on the National Register of Historic Places. However, Boder isn’t the town’s true name. It’s not even Bodarc, as it was often pronounced.
Source: KSN-TV
Commissioner contends new Emporia policy prohibiting ‘unlawful camping’ on public property is aimed directly at local homeless population
Emporia City Commissioners have enacted a new policy that will make “unlawful camping” in a public space a misdemeanor crime. The ordinance will establish a new city code prohibiting camping on public property without a permit. According to City Attorney Christina Montgomery, the city, in cooperation with the Emporia Police Department, will now begin developing the permit application process. Commissioners approved the ordinance 4-1 with commissioner Susan Brinkman serving as the lone no vote. During the meeting, Brinkman stated the ordinance was full of “sanitized language” and believes the ordinance directly targets the city’s homeless population.
Source: KVOE Emporia Radio
Planners to consider container facility
A Rose Hill man’s application to create a facility to modify shipping containers a mile south of Hillsboro will be reviewed Dec. 1 by the county planning and zoning board. Quentin Heidt wants to build a staging and operating location to modify new and recycled containers to customers’ specifications. Heidt listed one of his reasons as providing assets for community members.
Source: PEABODY Gazette-Bulletin
Bodycam video shows Leawood Police pull woman from burning SUV
Bodycam video released by Leawood Police show officers pulling a woman from a burning vehicle. A 51-year-old woman suffered severe burns Monday afternoon after her SUV crashed and caught fire near the Tomahawk Creek trailhead, just east of Tomahawk Creek Parkway and Town Center Drive. First responders got to the scene just before 2:10 p.m. and found the SUV flipped on its side, its front engulfed in flames. The video clip released by Leawood Police is just under minute long and shows the perspective of one arriving officer, who approaches the SUV as other officers and Leawood firefighters are attempting to extricate the woman.
Source: Prairie Village Post
Task force seeks retail ban on single-use bags, Dillons working on phased elimination
Lori Lawrence, of Bag Free Wichita, and Sheila Regehr, of Dillons Food Stores based in Hutchinson, outlined on the Kansas Reflector podcast strategies aimed at taking a bite out of demand and supply of plastic bags. Lawrence is part of the Wichita City Council’s task force studying potential of an ordinance prohibiting use of plastic bags by businesses starting in 2023. Regehr is on Wichita’s task force but said Dillons, which is part of Kroger Co., has a plan to eliminate use of these bags in its stores by 2025. “I’ve been an environmentalist for some time and plastic bags are something that cannot be avoided in our city at this point. They are everywhere in the stores, but they’re also everywhere on the streets and in the trees and in our parks,” Lawrence said. “We finally got the single-use plastic bag task force set up with the city of Wichita, and we’ve had a great group of people working on this. We’ve come to a decision on banning bags.”
Source: Pratt Tribune
Future of Kansas town’s library uncertain after outpouring of support at commission meeting
Following public outcry about censorship, the St. Marys City Commission decided to table a vote on renewing the Pottawatomie Wabaunsee Regional Library’s lease. The lease is under threat because the library refused to comply with the commission’s request to remove all LGBTQ, sexual, racial or otherwise “socially divisive” content from its shelves. But with the lease ending in December, the library is still in a precarious situation. Every chair in the commission meeting room was filled for Tuesday night’s discussion about the library, with residents lined up against the walls to listen to debate. The majority of residents who spoke said they wanted the library to stay open.
Source: The Lawrence Times